Title; Not So Untouchable
Rated; M just to be safe
Author; Me and ONLY me.
A/N:You probably won't understand everything completely for a while but, it's pretty obvious. Please read and review! I love hearing from you guys. For those of you who tried were reading my other recently started story, my computer got a virus so we had to wipe the hard drive :( I'm writting this story off my mom's computer until mine gets fixed. Hopefully it will soon. I'm sorry if you liked YABMY and wanted to read more. Maybe i'll re write it one day. But i want to write this story first.
If I didn't know any better, I would think this place we're pulling into is an execution center. The huge building was made of pure red bricks and cement blocks. I wasn't sure we had the right place, but the sign reading Lorning Recovery Center of Seattle told me other wise. My mother's eyes watched me closely. She'd warned me multiple times before and once we were in the car to watch my words around Lena. Just the way she said things to me lately made me feel small, like I was six years old, all over again. We filed into the elevator, my father pushing the fourth floor button. It seemed that as soon as the steel doors opened depression was clearly evident in the air. My ears heard sobbing and sounds of angered protest from around the rooms of the fourth floor.
The fourth floor was especially for depression patients. Leaving my sister in a place like this tore me up inside. It's not a suitable place for someone who had seemed so great, and full of life to exile them to this center. I saw a handful of pale-faced kids sitting in a conference with one huge table and several chairs encircling it. Watching them stare at each other and the bright room blankly made me want to run in and hug them all mercilessly. Kids shouldn't be forced to sit around doing nothing when they're diagnosed with "mental illness." Well that's what they're calling depression these days. It didn't sound right to me. It made them all sound psycho or crazy in the head. Which they're not. The 'brilliancy' of doctors these days made me snort. They should have the kids coloring, or reading books, or something! How do people expect someone to come out of a depression when they are sitting around, probably thinking about how depressing it is in here?
My dad talked to the nurse- whose nametag read Cheryl- asking to see my sister. Lena Montez, please.
"Montez, yes. Okay, right this way." She began bustling down the hallway, allowing us into Lena's room when we reached it. The girl sitting crossed-legged reading on a cot looked vaguely like the sister I used to play marco pollo with. This girl was deadly thin, her bones jutting out awkwardly. She didn't really resemble the spunky spitfire that used to light leaves on fire in the drive way with me when we were younger.
"Hey Giovanna." Lena called me an old nick name of the many she'd made up for me, ignoring my antsy parents for a minute. It was the first time I was being allowed to visit my sister in the center. It's been way too long since we've seen each other.
"Hey Lay Lay," I smiled softly back, hearing my mothers warn of watching my words around my sister echo in my head. She beamed at me and patted a spot next to her on the cot, forgetting the magazine she was reading previously. I flopped down next to her, accepting the tight hug she squeezed onto me right away.
"What's in the bag?" Lena pulled the bag from my grip and poked her nose into it, searching its contents.
"Some sweetish fish, a book, and your pajama bottoms. De-stringed." I smiled the last part sarcastically, earning an eye roll from the witty girl next to me. Our new thing was to make jokes about the psycho center my parents have placed her in. It was one way I could get her mind off other things, and get to see her smile once and a while. Lena's blue-black straight hair looked shiny in the bright lights, only causing her to look paler than she already is. In here, you can't have hoods or strings on any clothing. I knew she loved the pants though, so I pulled the string out just so she could have them. My older sister ripped the bag of gummy fish open at once, taking one for her and then offering one to me. I took the red fish and chewed on it.
"Hey dad, mom." Lena acknowledged our parents with a faint sign of a smile. She never really got over them exiling her into this center; her anger was always slightly obvious when she spoke with them. She didn't ignore them, but wouldn't completely be open with them either. The other night, my dad actually hinted that the center probably wasn't the best idea for Lena's 'problem.' I should probably tell Lena about this. I can't help feeling a little bit bad for my parents. They get acknowledged and I get hugs and kisses. My mom shuffled over to us and ran a hand through Lena's dark hair, my dad taking a seat in the chair by the door.
"How is it in here?" I asked, giving Lena's room another look over. It was a pretty simple room. When I say simple, I mean boring and plain. There was Lena's bed, a chair with a matching side table, which held a plant, and three or four magazines. It didn't seem like a complete hellhole, but it isn't what someone would call a luxury either. I noticed the simple things in the room that made it hazardless. There were no hooks, I noticed the shower was just simply closed off by a wall, no rail holding up a curtain, and there was always all the furniture being nailed to the floor. They thought of every way someone could injury themselves, and safe proofed it. The window didn't open and there were no blinds. I don't know how Lena lasted the seven days she's been in here so far. Some nurse opened the door, surveying the room quickly and then closed it again briefly.
"Besides everything being safe and bolted? It's just dandy in this bright white boring room. I have the company of no one, five very interesting magazines and the occasional nurse staring at me every ten minutes. Don't you want to join me Elle?" My face went sympathetic for my older sibling. This place doesn't sound inviting at all. My eyes flickered towards my mother, watching her face cringe for a minute. I know I shouldn't, but I'm glad my mom feels bad for putting my sister in here. Before we placed my sister in a facility, my parents should have looked around at different places. This place doesn't sound like it was built for depression. Wouldn't the cause of a facility like this be to cheer someone up and keep that person safe? Here it seems they've only covered the safe part. They practically child proofed the room my sister was living out of. Except my sister is seventeen, and a senior in high school. Lena lay on her stomach chewing on the sweetish fish and flipping through the book I brought her while my mom scratched her back. Lena loved to be scratched. It soothed her in a strange way.
"Is there anything you want me to bring you next time Len?" I asked, trying to be supportive and make her feel better at the same time. If we can't bring her home, I should be able to bring the home to her, right? That's what sisters are for.
"Yeah," My dad agreed from the chair now with his own magazine. "Anything you want that we could bring Lenny, we'll bring it." I was glad my dad was putting in an effect to get back on her nice side. Lena ignoring my parents was really tough at first. When Lena only asked for me when I wasn't there the first time my parents came had really upset my mom.
"I know the food must suck here…" I went on, trying to include my mom too somehow. "Maybe mom and I could cook something tomorrow and bring it to you for dinner?" My mom shot me a thankful look. It was like I was the messenger and the peacemaker in our family. I wasn't really emotional and I'm really good at listening to people. My mom always tells me I save her thousands because I'm like her personal shrink. My parents didn't seem to think I was enough of my own therapist though. I accidentally over heard them talking a few nights ago and they think I should go to therapy at least once a week. I really don't know why that's necessary. They'd only be throwing they're money away. If I went to therapy, it'd just be me and someone with a Dr.'s degree staring at each other. I'm not sure I would open up to a shrink.
Lena was lying with her eyes closed now, not chewing anymore. She sighed before giving her order for tomorrow night's dinner.
"Some rice and chicken would be nice."
"Will do," My mom assured and suddenly a nurse poked her head in again.
"We're going to have to ask you family to leave Lena. Visiting hours are coming to a close." Already? I asked myself. We haven't even been here that long and now we have to leave? I don't like this place at all.
"Lenny, what do you want me to bring you?" I asked running a hand over her hair. She sat up and looked around at all of us like a sad dog about to be left home alone. My heart swelled for my sister. I wish I could stay her over night and come right after school.
"Um, my pillow please. My orange blanket, some gum, a Snapple, Wes's sweatshirt and a picture of Maggie and Bruce." She said to me slowly, like she wasn't sure if that's all she needed to get by. I wish we could take Lena home, where she belongs. I nodded and made a mental list of those things in my head to make sure I remembered everything. Lena gave me one last sad look before she hooked her long arms around my neck, hugging me to her chest. I hugged her shoulders back just as tight as she held me, taking in her scent, storing it in my memory.
"Bye Lena."
"Bye Gabi." She waved me out of the room after she accepted the kisses and hugs from our parents. I really wish we could have stayed longer. You would think the center would want family to stay for a while; it would probably help the effort in yanking someone out of a nasty depression right? I don't understand visiting hours. Family should be able to see each other whenever they wanted. How can someone tell me when and when I can't see my older sister? I felt like crying from frustration. Lena isn't only a sister to me; she's like my best friend. I don't know why she did what she did to herself, but I know it's not home when she isn't home. The huge house feels so quiet, not to mention empty. My mom busies herself with her real estate work and my father is either at his office doing work, scouting a game, or coaching our schools basketball team. Not the girl's team, thankfully the boys. He's put a basketball in my hands since the day I was able to walk. Not with Lena, though.
I guess since I picked my favorite color as blue, instead of pink or purple like Lena, I was voted into his son he never had office. Not like I had any say or anything. It's not horrible either... Just tends to get on my nerves that he thinks so much of me while I'm only a junior in high school. Usually people start thinking about college when they're a senior right? Well my mind was already set for me. Freshman year. All it's been is Basketball. Travel Basketball. CYO Basketball. School Basketball. It was unbelievable how many teams he had got me on in the past. I don't think there is a season I've missed since the fifth grade. Last year, I conned my dad into letting me do soccer for the school a season for fun. And it was, because he doesn't care much for the sport and wasn't watching my moves like a hawk. He showed up to all the games, but didn't stress me out as much. When I would look over to him, he would be socializing and laughing with other dad's. But don't read me wrong here, I love being on the court with that orange ball under the control of my fingertips.
I just need a break from it once and a while. I've been constantly playing the same sport for the past six years, so you could kind of see how it gets boring. I'd star to enjoy it again if I'd only have to play on the school team. Three teams in one season is pretty hard for me to juggle. The car ride home was pretty quiet. My family wasn't a talkative one. Except for Lena, that is. She always knew what to say and what to talk about. She could have you fired up or make you feel bad in under three minutes. Lena is a people person. I'm not anything like her. She's beautiful, witty, smart, and funny. I'm plain, boring and an over achiever. There wasn't anything special about me, yet Lena was the one being locked up because everyone is afraid she'll kill herself. Life just isn't fair. I'd trade places with Lena in a blink, so she could live her life happily and doesn't have to suffer in that holding cell she's in. I watched my dad pull onto our road, gazing at our house as it came closer.
I wonder if someone from school could pick it out as mine. Does it even resemble my family? I doubt Bethany or Sarah could walk by and say, Oh look there! It's Gabriella's house! Neither girl has ever seen my house. And now that I think about it, I don't want them to see it either. They'll probably notice right away how empty it is. Without Lena's presence floating across the walls, I would feel like anyone who would come in is an intruder. Like I'm some guard dog watching the house saying, no you're not allowed in! Lena isn't home and asked me to keep you all away!
"Gabriella you have a game in an hour." My dad reminded me, slowing down while he drove down the long driveway and pulled into the two-door garage. My house is huge. Way bigger than I think we need. Especially now since nobody has an exact date as to when Lena is coming home. It has a pinkish purple shade to the sidings, tan shingles on the roof, huge glass front porch with chair swing, coffee table and two rocking chairs in the front and a little pond in the back yard.
" I know, dad." I let my eyes roll reflexively. I've been thinking about the game all day. Tonight's game is a tournament game that determines whether we're still in it or not. It's a single elimination tournament so if our team doesn't win tonight then we lose our chance at the championships. Of course Coach Collins wants to win more than anything. All games are championships to her. If we lose tonight, practice tomorrow is going to be a killer. She takes no mercy on us, let me tell you. Tie or lose, neither are good enough. Winning is the only option to her.
"Just reminding you." We all got out of the car and came in through the sliding doors that lead to the kitchen.
"Go get changed Gabi." I nodded and started for the stairs in the hallway. I had to rummage around a little before I found my scarlet red uniform; I was downstairs in two minutes with my hair tied up high.
"All right girls, Wildcats on three! One… Two… Three!"
"WILDCATS, LET'S FIGHT!" Our chant was kind of corny, but we couldn't copy the boys' and there was nothing else we could think of. In the gym, the home side of the crowd roared to life screaming for us. It almost looked like the whole population of East High was shouting out to us on the bleachers. Not to mention the various parents of the girls on our team. I warmed up in a blur. When your put as a center forward in a sport, the pressure to score is usually pinned out you and the other forwards. If I messed up, the whole school would be here to laugh in my face. The car ride home would be pretty painful too. Every other word coming from my dad's mouth would be what I did wrong or didn't even do. He was like that. It's not like he wants me to feel bad or hate myself. He just thinks he's helping when all he's doing is making it worse.
"Are you hyped up Gabi?!" A voice squealed in my ear, snapping me ruefully out of my own thoughts. I turned to Sarah with a forced smile. She shared some of the pressure to score with me, being my left wing woman. Her yellow blonde locks were tied up in a messy bun, making her tan skin look even darker.
"Yeah, real pumped." Sarah was one of those optimistic people who always thought for the best. Trying to keep the mood upbeat. If we lost tonight, she'd be the one inviting everyone over to pig out on ice cream before the long practice tomorrow. Sarah flashed her pearly white teeth at me in a grin. I could tell she was sure we were going to win tonight, whereas I wasn't so sure. A senior named Ellen got the ball in front of me in the line and passed once before receiving the ball back and shooting. She jogged to the other line when her turn was over and someone on the other side chest passed a ball roughly at me.
"Oaf," I caught the ball unevenly, catching Bethany's humorous expression as I shifted back to the foul and passed to her, then taking the shot when she passed back. When I got to the back of the line, Sarah was about to taker her shot but was cut short due to the ref blowing the whistle. Several girls that made up our team circled up around Coach Collins.
"Okay girls, starters out first. I'll sub everyone in as we go." Coach was meeting everyone's eyes before ordering us to put our hands in. Everyone put a hand in our circle and screamed in unison.
"WHAT TIME IS IT?"
"GAME TIME, HUH!" I took my own place on the big circle in the middle of the loud gym. Memories of Lena and me together shot through my head like a lightning bolt. I blinked it away, trying to focus or where I am now. I'm standing in the gym, I told myself. Don't over think it.
"Hey Gabi," My eyes searched for the voice calling to me and found it when I turned to my immediate right. Bethany took her place as my right wing in the outside of the huge sphere I stood in. She held my gaze for a minute.
"Don't be spacing out on me. I saw you before. You're here. Right here, with me and the rest of the team." I nodded at her words. Bethany and me have this sort of pick on each other fun relationship. We're always messing around somehow. It's nice being her friend. I don't have to put in any commitment and we have fun all the time. She's an easy person to be around, always cracking jokes this girl. The spitfire to my right side had a point. There's no need to be spacing out. I thought that until I turned towards the crowd and saw all the boys and girls from our grade watching me, routing out loud. Oh, no pressure.
"Game on Montez." Bethany had said.
"Game on Audly." I'd said back. And as some ginger bitch pushed me a little two roughly towards my fans, I fell to my butt clumsily sliding on the shiny wooden flooring and into someone's legs. I could hear my dad telling me to shake it off and just score again. He could never shut up. No matter how hard he tried. I breathed in and out for a minute, watching the ref call a foul on the girl who'd shoved me to the floor. Who does that bitch think she is? Something about the game brought out a competitive side in me. Someone's strong arms were behind me, pulling me up by my elbows. I turned my face to thank the person but my breath caught when I saw whose face was so close to me. His touch was scorching hot on my skin all of the sudden and I could feel the heat rise on my neck. His cerulean eyes burned me like a blue flame.
"You better get back out there Montez." He smiled at me. Troy Bolton was touching me, talking to me, and smiling at me all at once. I just being dreaming. I hope someone wakes me up now so I don't feel so sad later. I wouldn't know what Troy was like though because I've never talked to him. For all I knew he could be a complete jerk. But when Troy's hands were pushing me back onto the court, I was notified just how real this reality was. Ginger bitch was on the bench looking sour and there was thirty seconds left of the first half. I turned back to look at Troy while the ref blew the whistle and he just smirked at me, and winked. Troy winked at me. What is wrong with me? Why am I making such a big freaking deal out of some popular jock that's never talked to me before? There's going to be some catch. People like him don't do things like that.
"Hey Montez! Hit your butt to hard out there?"
"Your real funny Beth." I scowled at her for making me look away from the Abercrombie model by the bleachers. I sipped on my water and wiped the sweat from my face with my jersey as coach talked. The score is one-zero, and we were up. It still doesn't mean they can't come back, Collins repeated many times in her little speech of victory. She'd also said something about how she hated to break it to us girls but losing wasn't an option. She is expecting five hundred percent from every person on this team, which includes you water girl. I bit back a laugh when Coach said that one. Collins was taking things a little too seriously. How was a water girl supposed to give everyone five hundred percent? Sometimes I worry about coach.
When we were sent back out onto the court, we were on the opposite side, our defense being right next to the parents and students on the bleachers. The second half, we played more of a defensive game than offensive. But when the ball was in my hands, and I had the feeling I would sink a three pointer, I went for it, jumping just the slightest bit over some Asian chick. Before I could even be sure it was in, the girls on my team were swarming me like a whole bunch of pissed off bees.
"Ahhh! Nice shot Gabi!" I heard Sarah shrieking over all the girls and couldn't help but laugh to myself. That girl has the Jaws of Life!
"Thanks, but the games not over yet!" I glanced over at the scoreboard seeing about two and half minutes of the game left. I was determined to get Sarah a point. She deserves it for being so great to all of us. We set up in our positions again for the last two minutes. I pushed myself into overdrive, stealing the ball away immediately. Dribbling up close to the basket, Bethany and I played keep away with the other teams defense while I waited for Sarah to get open. I backed up motioning for her to come closer to the hoop. She spun off her defender and came under the hoop, calling for the ball. I passed and she shot a lay up, both of us watching the ball circle the rim anxiously. Finally it dropped throw the net, Sarah tackling me to the ground. We rolled around laughing and the rest of the team piled on top. Collins came over and watched us with a smirk standing on the court while we dog piled.
"Come on, girls. Get off the ground. I'll see you ladies at practice tomorrow." She let out a small smile and left the gym with her clipboard and car keys in hand. We all stood up from the floor and greeted our parents or friends. Bethany hip checked me while I started making my way over to my parents.
"So… Troy Bolton. He's a hottie isn't he." Bethany wasn't asking me, she was putting it out there. I nodded with a smile. Troy Bolton was simply beautiful, jerk or no jerk.
"Yeah, he kinda threw my concentration off."
" I can see how that happened. I would have passed out." Bethany grinned at me, looking beautiful even with her hair up and sweaty in her red uniform. I felt a twinge on jealous pang me in the stomach. Bethany could look beautiful if she rolled out of bed in sweats with no makeup. I don't hate her though because she doesn't act like a bitch, doesn't make fun of me, and makes me laugh more than anyone I know. It would be easier to hate her if she were a bitch. But she's the complete opposite. I was about to say something back, but was interrupted by someone yelling my name.
"Hey Montez!" Bethany twisted her head and so did I when I realized the voice was coming from that way. Troy started jogging over to us but Bethany had to go.
"Catcha later Gabi." Bethany said and we grabbed hands, hitting shoulders before she left. I know it's kind of a boy gesture, but we use it as out handshake. Why not? It was what made us different. I turned towards Troy questioningly when he reached me and Bethany was gone.
"Nice game tonight Gabriella." Troy's musky cologne filled my nostrils and had the faintest idea of what I smelled like right now, wanting to take a step back.
"Why do you look so uncomfortable all of the sudden?" He asked me, his forehead crinkling in question. He was so cute, I felt bad for poising him with my sweat smell, even if turns out he's an ass.
"I probably smell really bad right now…" The words were out of my mouth before I even realized what I had said. The little gears clicked into place in my head and I could feel my pupils dilated a little. Those were the first words I've said to Troy Bolton and they had smell and I in the same sentence. What a first impression. I felt like saying, It's okay Troy, you can go make fun of me with your friends if you want, I'd rather go sit under a rock right now. Surprisingly he laughed, and I felt a smile twitch onto my lips too. I felt my cheeks get hot under his gaze. Jeez Gabriella, get a hold of yourself!
"Don't worry about it, you should see how bad I've smelt after a game. I'm afraid to admit, it isn't to pretty." Troy scratched at the back of his neck, his grin sheepish. Giggles vomited from my mouth naturally, I didn't even have to think about it.
"Gabi! Time to go!" My lips twitched downward when I heard my mom calling me to go home. I didn't want to leave Troy that quickly, I wanted to see what he was like. Determine whether he was a jerk or not. I gave Troy a weak smile. "Well I have to go…" He nodded with a small smile. Did he really think I was that interesting?
'Gabi!"
"I'm coming mom!" I yelled over at her with an irritated look. Sometimes I don't understand how we're related. If my daughter was talking to some cute boy, I totally wouldn't be yelling obnoxiously across the court for her to come so we could go home.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow?" I asked Troy, kind of wishing he would say yes.
"Yeah," Troy's eyes swept across my face. "I'll see you tomorrow."