Gabriel spent more time than I cared to admit making me look good. Mostly because he kept wiping make up off my face and restarting, saying that it wasn't my color or that he'd fucked it up. 
                          
He eventually decided with no makeup, not even to cover up the few injuries to my face. He said natural suited me better, and I deserved to show off my battle wounds. That made me uncomfortable, almost like I was going to this funeral to prove something. 
                          
But I knew that wasn't the case for me. I felt like it was a little for him, and everytime I thought about being upset with his point of view, I touched my scar on my palm. Faded and barely visible, it brought me peace. It reminded me of how happy I was when his father passed, despite Gabriel's pain.
                          
"...and finishing touches," Gabriel said, bringing out a pair of black glitter converse, "I know there's no way I'm getting you to learn to walk in heels fast enough to slay them today. But don't think you're off the hook, we start training tomorrow."
                          
"What if I don't want to?" I asked, mostly teasing as I accepted the shoes and slipped them on.
                          
Gabriel's response was immediate. "Then we won't do it. You're never going to do something you don't want to do again, not on my watch."
                          
I looked up at him, one shoe on, laces barely tied. The seriousness in his face, the way his jaw was set. It made me a little sad to see him so worked up, and guilty that I was the reason. But I also felt loved. 
                          
"I'll do heel training, for you," I managed a smile. 
                          
He worked up a frown and leaned down to tie my laces for me so that the bow was basically perfect. He helped me with the other shoe while I sat on the edge of the bathtub. 
                          
"You're in charge of your life now, Sang. Not anyone else, not me, or your brothers, or even this mom you're going to meet later. Don't even let Mr. Blackbourne tell you to do any shit you don't want to do."
                          
I nodded, swallowing back a ball in my throat. 
                          
"No, Trouble, I'm going to need to hear you say that you understand me."
                          
I almost complied, but then I promptly shut my mouth and lifted my chin, along with crossing my arms. He looked confused for a moment, standing up and brushing the knees of his pants. He blinked, and then smiled brightly at me. 
                          
"That's it, Trouble, you're in control."
                          
When we exited the bathroom, there weren't as many people milling about. Actually, there were none. Gabriel had a smart suit on, so purple it almost looked black. Together we walked into the livingroom, only for me to be surprised by everyone except Sean in a suit. 
                          
It was almost too much to handle, all these handsome guys dressed to their best. Even Mr. Blackbourne had stepped it up somehow. I found myself thinking that my mother wasn't worth all of this trouble, and immediately feeling like an awful person. 
                          
Because Gabriel had taken too long in the bathroom, I didn't get a chance to tell them all how good they looked, not that I was sure how to. I felt like repeating the same compliments eight times over would get a little less special as I went down the line, but I would have meant every word. 
                          
I got seated next to North and Kota. 
                          
Before I could remember to tell them they looked handsome, I started thanking them for their part in putting my room together. Kota got really excited about the books he'd gotten for me to try out, and North had brushed it off as no big deal. 
                          
I reached out and took his hand, like I'd done for Gabriel and they'd done for me. He looked surprised, but then he linked our fingers through each other and rested our hands on his leg, looking out the car window while Kota kept my attention with his book talk.