At Isabella's place, after helping her fall asleep, Axel and Gale settled into the living room.
Gale collapsed onto the couch, his face drawn, eyes staring into nothing. Axel came in a few seconds later, gently closing the door behind him. He sat beside his friend, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on him.
— You said you were only going to take her home, Gale... Axel said bluntly.
Gale didn't answer right away. He leaned forward, hands clasped, elbows on his knees. A long sigh escaped him.
— I know. But things didn't go as planned.
— What do you mean?
— I found her at our usual bar... She had drowned herself in booze. She was trying to forget... or maybe punish herself.
Axel frowned, a chill running down his spine.
— Punish herself? Why?
Gale slowly turned his head toward him, his eyes heavy.
— She knows what happened to Isabella. What Klaus tried to do to her.
Axel went pale.
— How... how did she find out?
— She overheard you and Marlie. A conversation in an empty classroom. She was there. She heard everything.
Axel closed his eyes and put a hand on his face, crushed.
— Shit...
— She blamed herself. Badly. Like it was her fault. I saw her pain, how lost she was... so I walked her home. She asked me to stay. She just needed someone. And I was there.
A heavy silence fell, then Axel turned slightly to Gale, suspicious.
— And... that's it?
— (uncomfortable) Yeah...
— You're lying through your teeth, man. I know you. Tell me what really happened. I promise I won't judge.
Gale looked away, his jaw clenching. He hesitated a moment, then let out in a low voice:
— We slept together.
Axel sat up with a start.
— Wait… what?! Seriously?!
— Yeah...
— Are you kidding me?! When I asked you, I was joking! I thought you'd say "No, of course not, I'm not a bastard"!
— I know... I know, okay? Gale said, his voice shaking. I'm not proud. I should have left, I know that. But... I couldn't. She was lost, vulnerable… She hesitated, and I should have stopped. But I didn't. I pushed forward. I crossed the line.
Axel (stunned): But… did she push you away?
— No. She hesitated, but she didn't stop me. And I took that as a yes… Maybe I wanted to convince myself that she needed me.
Axel was speechless for a few seconds, trying to take it in.
— And Klaus? he asked finally. She loves him, right?
— Yes… Gale whispered. But that night, it wasn't Klaus she wanted. It was just someone to stay. Someone who understood. And even if I told myself I was helping... maybe I also used it to… give in.
He got up abruptly and started pacing.
— And now I can't stop wondering if I didn't break her more... if I didn't make things worse.
Axel stood too and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
— Do you think she regrets it?
— I don't know. When I left, she was still asleep.
— Then let's just hope… it didn't destroy her more.