Forbidden by Amy Miles Page A

she pulled Sadie towards her.   “I think you’ve had a bit too much fun for one night.   Let’s get you home.”
    The only answer she got was a gentle snore as Sadie passed out in her arms.   Roseline lifted her legs and carried her out of the house.   Judging by the moon overhead it was well past two in the morning.   The house was dark as she approached but Roseline could hear Sadie’s parent complaining about the noise from their bedroom on the back side of the house.  
    Glancing around to make sure she wouldn’t be seen, Roseline clutched Sadie tightly in her arms and scaled the tree.   She slipped in through the cracked window, gently tucking her snoring friend under the covers.   Roseline hesitated, smiling down at Sadie.   It was amazing how sleep could tame the wild beast.
    “Goodnight,” she whispered from the window before leaping to the ground.  
    Deciding it’d be best not to go back through the door she’d exited only a couple minutes before, Roseline slipped down between the two houses.   An eight foot fence stood between her and Gabriel’s back yard.   Roseline stepped back then jumped straight over the top, landing silently on the other side.
    “How could you embarrass me like that with Oliver?” an angry voice called out through the night.   Roseline ducked behind a tree, wincing at her bad luck.   She’d just landed in the last place she wanted to be…right in the middle of Gabriel and Claire’s confrontation.   Fate was obviously having a laugh at her expense.   Roseline peeked out, unable to stop her curiosity.
    “Oh that was nothing,” Claire replied, slumped on a lounger.   “Why do you even care?   You were fooling around with that slutty new girl.”
    “Take it back,” Gabriel growled, yanking Claire to her feet.   His face contorted with anger.
    Claire’s high pitch laugh grated on Roseline’s nerves.   “Are you serious?   You’re actually defending her honor?   Oh that is too good!”
    “I said, take it back.”
    Claire’s laugh cut off.   “What’s gotten into you Gabe?   You fall for some new girl and now you’re ready to give up everything for her?   Have you even seen who she hangs with?   Sadie Freakshow Hughes!”
    “You know what,” Gabriel said, releasing Claire’s arm.   “I’m glad Sadie got out.   At least she didn’t have to stick around and let you dig your claws into her.”
    Claire spat at him, unwilling to take that comment lying down.   “We both know you haven’t changed.   It’s all just an act to get in that girl’s pants.”
    Gabriel rolled his eyes.   “Sure.   That’s my motive.   Just like I’ve worked so hard to get into yours!”   His voice was rising right along with his blood pressure.
    Roseline was sure Claire’s howl could be heard by all of the neighbors.   “You jerk!   How dare you talk to me like that!”
    “Why?   It’s the truth.”   Gabriel’s response was surprisingly emotionless.   Roseline couldn’t help but pump her fist in triumph.   So Gabriel hadn’t fooled around with Claire.   That was nice to know.  
    “You’re just trying to ruin my reputation!   Everyone knows you can barely keep your hands off me,” she screamed, making sure all of the questioning ears plastered to the windows heard.   “You can’t get enough of me.”
    “We both know how much you’d like to believe that.”   His bitter laugh mashed Claire’s cry of indignation.   “And it’s not like you work hard to make everyone believe that you’re an upright girl.   You spend more time on your back than you do shopping!”  
    The sound of Claire’s slap didn’t surprise Roseline.   In fact she was surprised it hadn’t happened earlier.   “We’re through.   Do you hear me Gabriel Marston?   I never want to see you again!”
    “Fine by me,” Gabriel replied, slamming the glass door in Claire’s face.   The eavesdroppers scattered, diving behind couches or slipping down the