I know I should not be writing this. I have too many stories go on, but I assure you, this will be a short one. It will only be 6-7-8 chapters.
I read a book a few weeks ago and could not get this out of my head. I reccommend this book to all of you: Eternal Ones, but Kirsten Miller. It is AMAZING.
This has a few of the same ideas, but I changed a lot, and added my own things in. It's mainly the past life stuff I got out of it.
Do not blame this on my lack of updates. Senior year is kicking my ass and I am supposed to get a job soon. I have to apply to college, take the SATs, do Senior Project, and actually have a social life this year, it is so hard :( I am working on all my stories, I am just so worn out lately. Once I get into a good routine I should be getting out some chapters. Please have patience. I have both stories' next chapter started, take comfort in that!
Please review. Some of it may be confusing, but it will all make sense over the course of the story.
Don't hate me for starting a new story please, haha.
Summary: Gabriella knew the visions she had been recieving since she was born were from a pastlife, her pastlife. She was once Annabelle and was in love with a boy named Ethan. They had always found each other in life, but as time goes on in this life, she begins to worry that this may be the one life that they don't find eachother. Troyella.
I blended the chalk pastel into the paper and racked my brain for which shade to use next. It's not perfect yet and it won't be finished until it is perfect. The bell rang above me and I cursed myself. Even if you go to a creative arts high school, they still don't like tardiness. It sucks for me because I am frequently getting caught up in my art classes and have too many lates already.
"Mrs. Winnow, can I have pass to stay after and finish?" I pleaded when she walked by.
My advanced visual arts teacher gave me a sympathetical look. "Gabriella, you know that the drawings are due at the end of the class today," she insisted to me as she did to all those who asked for the same earlier. She looked over my pastel drawing. We had to do a period piece on any time period we chose. I chose the nineteen twenties, you can tell by the flapper dress and look of the drawing overall. "Gabi, it looks done. In fact, it looks like one of your best," she complimented.
I shook my head angrily. "I can't get his hair right, everything else is perfect but his hair is darker than that. I just can't get it right and I won't like it until it is," I stressed.
"I hope you're not trying to simulate someone else's work, Gabriella," Mrs. Winnow commented. Please, like I would even try.
I shook my head again and brushed hair out of my face. "I'm not, I just know exactly what he looks like in my head, and that is not his hair color," I stated while pointing at the man's hair in the drawing I made.
"I'm sorry, hun, but you're going to have to turn it in as is," Mrs. Winnow said.
I sighed and looked down at my hands. They were covered in numerous pastel chalk colors. "Gabi, are you coming?" my best friend Taylor asked as she poked her head in. She has a TV production class right next to mine. Taylor is majoring in media theatre while I'm in the arts minoring in fashion design. I would have majored in fashion design, but if I couldn't get the images out of my head and onto paper, I would have gone crazy long ago. Art keeps me sane.
I nodded. "Yeah, I just have to spray Workable Fixative on my drawing and clean up," I muttered while going to the sink quickly. When I went back to my work desk and actually looked at my drawing in it's entirety I was surprised by what I had created. It was a beautiful woman in a dark blue flapper dress with her hair up and a black flower adding flare to her appearance. She was leaning against a brick building with a man practically wrapped around her. He was in a gray suit, you could barely see his face, but you could see his full head of dark auburn hair, the same hair I couldn't get right. You could see the lights of the city behind them, illuminating the picture.
I put the can down on the table as I felt my knees go wobbly and the familiar sensation of my eyes rolling into the back of my head as I fell to the floor and fainted.
"Annabelle!" Ethan yelled while running after me.
I tried to walk faster down the sidewalk, ignoring him. I heard him getting closer and knew it was only a matter of time before he caught up to me.
"Annabelle, where are you going?" Ethan questioned and grabbed my elbow to stop me from walking. "You shouldn't even be walking at this time by yourself, you know that," he added.
I ripped my arm from his grasp. "I can take care of myself!" I exclaimed. "If you must know, I am going home," I stated while clutching my purse with an angry hand.
Ethan stepped closer and I stepped away. "What exactly is going on? Why did you leave the party without me?" he questioned.
"I don't see why it matters," I replied, avoiding his eyes and looked into the window behind him. I saw my reflection staring back at me. I saw my short, brown, wavy hair up in a clip with a few tendrils framing my face, my hazel eyes, and beautiful face. And, I saw the back of Ethan, his wide muscular frame and dark auburn hair.
"What are you talking about, Annabelle?" he asked me.
My eyes met his and got caught up in the emerald green with specs of gold. "I saw you with her, Ethan," I spat out.
He knew exactly what I meant and nodded while looking down at me. "Eliza found me, she came up to me, I don't know what you saw, but I can assure you it was nothing," he stated.
I ground my teeth together but said nothing. It's always 'nothing' with them when Eliza certainly thinks it's something.
Ethan grinned and pulled me into the alley between the two buildings and pushed me against the brick wall. "I love your jealousy," he said softly before his head swooped down and kissed me.
I gasped before wrapping my arms around his neck. His lips moved over mine gently and coaxed me into kissing him back. I hate how he can do this to me, just kiss me and make me not angry at him anymore. I especially hate how he knows he can do it which is exactly why he does it. I instinctively opened my mouth and his tongue slipped inside. "Ethan," I pushed him off, but my voice came out as a moan. If I had let him kiss me for longer, I would have never been able to pull away.
His hand slipped down the side of my dark blue silk dress and began to pull it up by its end. "I love you, Annabelle," he told me as my hand covered his as he slid up my dress to the top of my thigh. I should have stopped him instead of helped, but I couldn't find the strength in me. He dipped his head so he could nuzzle my neck. "I've always loved you, only you, how could doubt that?" he asked in a husky rumble. The feel of his breath on my neck made me shutter. I felt him smile before pulling away so he could see my face.
"I don't," I promised while looking into his eyes. "I merely cannot trust her," I whispered, silently wishing he would kiss me again.
"You don't have to," he replied while his lips came so close to mine they brushed together. My insides quivered with anticipation. "You just have to trust me," he said and that was when our lips finally touched once more.
I sat up as soon as I woke. I saw myself in the nurse's office, on one of the beds. "Gabi," Taylor said, making me turn to her. "Are you okay? Mrs. Bartley said if you weren't up in twenty minutes she was going to call your parents and ask them if she should call an ambulance or something," she informed me. "Mrs. Bartley!" she called out a moment later.
"I'm fine," I told her automatically, but my heart was still pounding my chest. I could still feel Ethan's hand on the top of my bare thigh; I could still feel his lips on mine. I wished they were.
"I know you are," she said although she was the one who asked how I was in the first place.
"Miss Montez," the nurse spoke up as she came in. "Are you feeling okay?" she wondered. "Miss McKessie assured me that this is the norm with you, but you haven't fainted in school in years," she insisted. "Should I call your parents?" she asked.
I shook my head. "No, Mrs. Bartley, Taylor's right, I'm fine," I assured her. The truth is, I have fainted in school, I was just never in class with a teacher. I'm usually with a friend and they always know to call Taylor. I faint pretty regularly. "I should get to history anyways," I added while slipping off the bed. Mrs. Bartley looked skeptical but let us go and even gave us a pass so we wouldn't get in trouble.
"So, what happened?" Taylor asked once we were in the deserted hallway and away from the nurse.
"You know what happened, Taylor," I reminded her.
She rolled her eyes. "I know I know, what I mean is what did you see?" she corrected herself.
I pulled my bag further up onto my shoulder. "We fought. I was pissed and jealous about Eliza," I told her. "Ethan followed me and told me he loves me and yeah," I finished with a short cough.
"And yeah is code for acted naughty, right?" she wondered as we approached our history class.
I laughed. "Yes, Tay," I answered and she opened the door. We interrupted a pop quiz and pissed off our honors history teacher, but at least we had a note. I breezed through the quiz in only a few minutes, which I knew pissed off Mr. Lucket even more. I'm good at history without even trying, always have been. I just know some things because of my past.
My past, well, my past is something even I don't know all that much about. I've had visions about it since I was a little girl. The visions are always about Annabelle and usually about Ethan. When I was little, I told more people about them. A five year old saying she is twenty and her name is Annabelle is believable, a sixteen year old is a whole other story. I realized to stop when I was ten and told the whole playground about the birds the bees and proceeded to get sent home and a stern talking to from my parents who wanted to know how I knew so much. I didn't know how I knew, okay, I did, but I couldn't just tell them.
"Hey, Mom, you know how some people believe in past lives and reincarnation? Well, I think I'm one of those people only I have my past memories. Plus, I'm only ten, but because of this gift, I know all about sex!" That's just about the same as asking for a room with padded walls and a therapist on the side.
I didn't even know if what I was seeing was real or just me literally going insane. So, when we were fourteen me, Taylor, and my older brother Julian made a trip to the historical society. Before we went in, we went over what I thought I knew. Annabelle Lennox was born in 1902 and died in 1924 in a fire with her husband, Ethan. Although when she died, her last name was Calloway and they were married for two years. She was born in New York City and lived in an apartment over looking Central Park until she moved to a cottage with Ethan. Her parent's names were Joanna and Eugene. She was an only child. When her grandmother died, she left her entire fortune to Annabelle. Annabelle loved to design and create things, just like I do. I told them what she looked like and what Ethan looks like. I even told them his information that I knew. He was an orphan, he was poor, but I was in love with him, as Gabriella and Annabelle.
We were all surprised to find out I was right. Everything I knew was correct. It was Julian who labeled it reincarnation and I knew that was exactly what it was. And, I know, somewhere, Ethan is out there, looking for me. I can feel it in my bones; he was reincarnated just like I was. I could spend hours thinking about Ethan, in fact, I have before. I have sketchbooks full of different angles of his face and my diary (yes, I still have one. I prefer the word journal) has detailed passages that show how much I long for him.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to be completely in love with someone you can't be with, at least, not yet? I haven't even met him in this life and I don't know when it will be. It could be tomorrow, it could be in five years. I don't know and it kills me inside. I just have to have faith he'll find me again, like he always has. There is always this ache within me that will never be healed until I meet him again.
"Yoohoo, Gabi," I was broke from my trance by Kelsi, a friend of mine.
"Huh?" I questioned, looking over at her from the passenger seat.
She laughed at me. "We're at your house, you know, the apartment in which you live?" she told me.
I looked over and up. "Oh! I'm sorry," I apologized while taking off my seatbelt. "Are you guys gonna stop by the restaurant tonight? I'll have a free food platter comin' your way!" I reminded them.
Taylor, Kelsi, and Martha all nodded. "Definitely," they agreed before going off towards Martha's house.
My family owns a restaurant steered towards the exotic foods of Mexico and Italy. An odd combination, but it's only because my dad is full Mexican and my mom is full Italian. It does very well financially though, which is what I care most about. Even though we are financially stable (finally!) I am still applying for scholarships left and right to pay for my dream school. I don't want my parents to pay for my school, they shouldn't have to, and it's my responsibility. We fight about it a lot, especially recently. My dad says I shouldn't worry about it, when I get my acceptance letter to NYU (which should be here any day now) we'll deal with it. But, I want to deal with it. It's my college tuition. I refuse to let my family suffer while I am the reason. I have a college fund, but it won't pay for more than two years, more like a year and a quarter even if I would live at home and go to the Brooklyn campus. It helps that we, you know, live in Brooklyn. I love New York. I lived here as Annabelle too, obviously.
I went up to my family's apartment after getting the mail. Nothing for me came, at least, not from NYU. Our apartment used to barely fit us with three small rooms, one bathroom, a small living room, and an even smaller kitchen, but when the restaurant took off my parents bought the apartment next door and we remodeled. Now there are four rooms, a nice sized living room, kitchen (the kitchen being my mom's dream come true) and dining room, plus one and a half bathrooms. The rent is double, but it was worth it.
My oldest brother Gino is a senior at his culinary arts school and plans on owning the family bizz one day and being head chef, but he knows it won't be handed to him. Julian is about a year older than me and is a freshman in college but has no idea what he wants to be. I, on the other hand, want to be a clothing designer and an artist. I've been going to my creative arts school since freshman year on a scholarship. My brothers both still live at home rather than dorms, but pay rent to my parents on their insistence. I don't have to pay rent yet seeing as I'm still in high school even if I am newly eighteen.
Right now, I wish I applied for early acceptance. I was going to, but pussied out. I didn't want to find out I didn't get in earlier and ruin my entire senior year, just half. "Who is home?" I called out as I dropped my keys and school bag.
"Living room!" Julian's voice shouted back.
I smiled when I saw him. "Ah, the ever-committed college student," I joked as he died on the Xbox. "Hey, have you noticed who has the highest score in his game, big brother?" I questioned when I plopped down on the couch next to him.
"Do you want to live to get your acceptance letter from NYU, little sister?" Julian replied in mocking tone.
I ignored the NYU comment. "Do I have to watch you play Xbox for the next hour?" I wondered in a sigh. "Because, if I do, I'd rather go chill in my room until work," I insisted. I waitress at the family restaurant a few days a week and Julian does the same but it's more on a permanent basis. I have the luxury of telling my dad not to put me on the schedule if I have a lot of school work or friend stuff that week.
"Would you really put up with me playing Xbox for the next hour?" he questioned.
"No," I answered while looking over at him.
He smiled. "Then, you have your answer," he said while changing it so we could actually watch TV. "How was school?" he asked nonchalantly which is code for 'did you faint today?'
I shrugged. "Fine, I was pissed when I had to turn in a pastel drawing I just could not get right, but other than that..." I trailed off.
I only tell Julian what I think he has to know. I don't even tell Taylor everything. Some things I like to keep between me and Ethan, er, Annabelle and Ethan. Like, when Annabelle lost her virginity or their deep talks I get sneak peeks of every once in a while. I don't know everything, but I know a lot. My visions can be as useful as me knowing the exact moment I saw Ethan and falling in love at first sight, but they can be as useless as figuring out how much x is in a math equation. I mean, it's not completely useless, I get to see their flirty banter and talks of the future, all which make me fall more and more in love with Ethan James Calloway. Anyways, Taylor knows of Eliza, but Julian doesn't. I don't want him to not like the new Ethan when we meet him, he'll be my only family ally. It's not like new Ethan and I will take it slow, you know. We were married.
"What couldn't you get right on the drawing?" he wondered, sincerely interested. My entire family supports my artistic talent and approves of my career hopes. They're very supportive and it means a lot to me.
I pulled out my phone. "I took a picture of it during free period," I commented as I pulled up the picture. "I couldn't get his hair color right. I never can with pastels," I sighed as he looked it over. I wonder if he is a red head in this life. It wasn't even really red back then; it was dark, way dark. I wonder what he looks like. Ethan was so handsome... I wonder when I'll get my next vision. Even though they cause problems in my personal life (who wants to be friends with a girl who faints at the oddest moments?), I love getting them, but I can't control them. I can get as many as one a day, to one a month. It's annoying.
"What the hell were you doing in the past, young lady?" my brother demanded to know, knowing the picture is Annabelle and Ethan.
"Really? Like I could control that," I responded, taking the picture back. "Did you like it?" I asked a moment later.
He nodded. "I liked the background, how you could tell it was lights, and the way you did it," he told me.
"It was pastels," I informed him. "I am covered in chalk as you can see," I said while patting my now colorful jeans.
Julian snorted. "You're always covered in something, chalk, paint, marker, whatever. You should be used to it by now," he said.
"That's so true," I sighed, smudging the calk into my jeans and got the color on my hands.
"Did you get the mail today?" he asked a few minutes later, trying to sound smooth about it.
I shook my head while playing with my pants more. "Yeah, but nothing was in it for me," I stated. "As Dad would say, nada," I added.
"It'll come, sis. You have so much talent, they'd be stupid not to accept you," he stated.
"My letter will be here sometime in the next week, I'm dreaded and excited," I mentioned. "If I get in, it'll hurt the family financially, if I don't, then all my dreams are crushed," I mumbled.
Julian's arm wrapped around my shoulders. "Gabi, don't worry about it," he insisted. "We'll figure something out, we always do," he reminded me. "If you going to the college of your dreams means I have to work at the family restaurant and live here forever to help out Mom and Dad, then I will," he told me.
"It shouldn't have to be like that," I responded. "It's my dream, I should pay for it," I stated. "Look, I don't want to get into this again, you and Gino are just like Dad, we'll only fight about it," I said.
"It's only because we all know how much talent you have and how well you can do if you go to NYU. And, I know more than any of them, that this literally your true gift," he reminded me.
I looked over at him. "I love you for being nice and understanding and this is really a beautiful brother/sister moment," I started, making him laugh. "But, you know me better than almost everyone. I'm going to find out a way to go to NYU without putting all the financial stress on Mom and Dad and you and Gino, you know I will. So, I have to change and stuff before work, come get me when you're ready to go," I told him before going to my room.
I took off my black leather jacket with a faux collar and collapsed on my double wide bed. I took off my gray knee-high boots and let out a deep breath as I looked at the picture pinned above the end of my bed. It's a headshot of Ethan I painted about a year ago. His hair is perfect in this one, everything is perfect, and it's why I pinned up it up there. My whole room is covered in pictures, some are Ethan, some are Annabelle, some are scenery drawings of New York and Rome I drew from memory, and some are actual pictures of me and my friends and family. I've never been to Rome in this life, but I have been as Annabelle and a lifetime before that, but I don't remember.
Sometimes I wish I never put the picture up because it just hurts when I look at it. I took it down once, but the next morning when I woke and didn't see it, it simply didn't feel right.
I rolled over and hugged the body pillow next to me while squeezing my eyes shut. I've always whole-heartedly believed in soulmates, if not because of Ethan, because of my parents. They're hitting forty and they're still happily married. They can barely keep their hands off each other, and yes, it is gross, but it's always something I've wanted. It's something I have, just not right now exactly.
I worry all the time. I worry that Ethan won't be able to find me. I worry that I should be doing some more to find him, but there is nothing I can do. I don't know who he is now, where he is, what he looks like, I don't even know his new name. It makes me second guess so many decisions. What if I made the wrong choice by not going to the store with my mom, what if that was my chance, what if Ethan was there and I missed my chance?
I held my pillow tighter. I've needed something to hold as I sleep my whole life. I remember once when I was ten I had a bad dream and immediately rolled over, somehow expecting Ethan to be there, but he wasn't, it was the pillow. I cried so hard my dad heard me and had to come calm me down. He thought it was the dream, but it really wasn't.
I know this whole reincarnation/soulmate/remembering my memories thing is a gift, but it's also so hard to deal with. Yes, I remember what it is like to be completely in love. Yes, it is fascinating to remember a past life. Yes, I appreciate it. But, the main thing I remember, I don't have, and remembering only makes it hurt that much more. I know what I can have, it's so close, but I can't reach it. Taylor envies my situation and she admits it, she thinks it so romantic, but she just doesn't understand what it feels like. She's never been in true love before. And, it's not like I spill my guts to Julian my girlie feelings about it all.
I wish I had someone to relate to. The fact that I do, but can't find him, makes it hurt all the more.
I popped up from my bed and grabbed my school bag. I need to do something to get my mind off of this. I took out my Italian homework. My school offers more than just French, Latin, German, and Spanish. We can be taught Chinese, Japanese, Italian and a few others, but Italian peaked my interest more. My father was proud; my mom was a bit miffed. But, I remember Rome from when Annabelle went. She and Ethan went there on their honeymoon. After that fainting spell I needed a cold shower, I'll leave it at that.
I am quickly getting better at Italian. This is my second year taking it and on the first day when the teacher tried to impress us by speaking to us in only Italian, I swear I knew half of what she was saying. Plus, I do well without trying very hard, which is good. As I began to translate our vocabulary words into English, my mind drifted.
I smiled as I thought of when Ethan took me, er, Annabelle to the Piazza Navona and kissed me by the fountain. It was our first night there. It was the last place he brought me on the tour and told me of the history I had forgotten. Yeah, he's a romantic.
I got off bed and grabbed my special sketchbook from my closet. I have a full sketchbook devoted to past memories I have drawn. I can't exactly let my brothers or parents find it when I also have notes in the margins of the drawings and stuff. I have two of them, and soon, I'll need a third.
I flipped through the pages until I found a sketch I drew over a year ago (this is the first sketchbook). It was the exact memory I was thinking off. It was Annabelle and Ethan kissing right in front of the fountain, the moon practically their only light, and their arms around each other. I was going to enlarge it as a painting to submit to the art show last year, but couldn't bring myself to do it. Rome is a sacred time to me. We have to go back once we find each other again. If we find- no. I shook my head. I am so not going to go there.
"Gabi," Julian came in my room. "We gotta get going," he informed me. "Dad called, Sasha is sick, they need you now," he said. I looked up and him and nodded. "You okay?" he wondered.
I closed the book. "Of course," I stated as I stood. "I'll change and be out in a few minutes," I assured him. He looked unsure, but trusts me and left. I put the sketchbook back in its hiding spot in my closet before changing into my waitress uniform which consists of a black skirt that ends a few inches above my knee and a white button up blouse. I took a minute to put my hair up in an intricate knot so I wouldn't sweat all night. "Let's go," I told my brother as I walked out of my room and slapped the light off.
You know, being around so much Mexican and Italian food all the time, you would think I hate it. On the other hand, I still love it. I could eat pasta and spicy food every night, and I kind of do. Eating is one of my favorite things, but I do run every other morning. It helps burn off calories and my inner frustration.
"Gabi, I gave table seven to your friends because it's in your area," the hostess at the moment, Dina, informed me.
I smiled as I walked by with a tray of food. "Thanks, D," I replied and delivered my food quickly. Since I only have two tables including my friends, I decided to sit with them for a few. "Finally, my feet would scream if they could," I whined, plopping down into the booth with them.
"It doesn't look too busy right now," Kelsi commented happily. Ugh, she must have made up with her boyfriend, he's a dick, but she likes him. He goes to our school and majors in vocal music; he has a huge ego and doesn't deserve her. Kelsi majors in instrumental music. Martha is in dance.
I nodded. "We were about an hour ago and we will be again in a about an hour," I sighed. "Friday's rushes come in waves," I reminded them. "You're lucky you came now, at dinner time we're slammed. We have so many reservations we might not be able to take too many walk-ins," I added.
"Oh, you love it. Your family's restaurant is one of the best places around," Taylor insisted.
I smiled. "Okay, so I don't exactly mind, that doesn't mean my feet don't hurt, I still have Italian to finish, and I still hate the hair in my drawing," I said.
"Bitch, bitch, bitch, is that all you do?" Julian asked as he came up behind me. We're supposed to be serving the tables we have now and cleaning up before the next rush, but we're slacking.
My friends laughed/giggled. "Don't you have things to do?" I responded angrily. I may have a bad temper, I get offended easily.
He ignored me. "Hey, ladies," he greeted my friends. They all stammered a hello back. I rolled my eyes. "Do you want anything special today? I can ask Gino to add more than just the free platter," he told them. Okay, so, with my parents owning the restaurant, my friends may get some free food. It's only when we're slow and not every day as my mom says.
"Oh, please, don't you have girls your own age to flirt with?" I asked him.
My brother grinned. "In case you forgot, little sister, you and your friends are only about a year younger than me. Therefore, I can flirt with them if I want and they don't mind," he insisted, looking back to them and they giggled. Ugh, why do my friends have to be giggly and stupid around him? It really does too much for his ego.
"We've been over this, the day you ask one of my friends out is the day you stop being able to have normal children because I will kick you in the balls so hard your children will have problems," I reminded him.
"Gah-bee!" Taylor whined. "Why would stop him from asking us out? Julian is a nice guy," she said with a smile.
Julian smirked this time. "Thank you, Taylor," he replied with his stupid flirty eyes. "Your friends like me and I like them," he told me.
I stood up to face my brother. "I don't care who you like, get a college girl, one who will put out because my friends have values," I informed him.
"And, I don't?" he asked in a laugh.
I snorted. "I believe you were the one who invented the 'I'm studying' rule of our house," I said. 'I'm studying' is code for I'm in my room with a member of the opposite sex, so in other words, don't bother me.
"That just means I like my privacy," he replied.
I nodded. "Uh-huh," I mumbled.
I've never needed to use the rule. I've only been out on one date. I was fourteen and it was still when I wasn't sure if I was crazy or not, AKA before the trip to the historical society. I wanted to know what it was like to be with a guy other than Ethan. My mom had a ball gussying me up before the date. My dad threatened him in his fatherly way, and my brother's warned him in their own way. It was a big ordeal. I didn't care; I just wanted to know the difference. The date was fine, but he wasn't very interesting, he didn't have the sense of you humor I was used to, he wasn't sweet or fun or... Ethan. He was an awkward fourteen year old guy when I've been mentally twenty, at least in the dating game, since I was born. Plus, in the middle of the date I fainted and had a vision of Ethan. He never called me, but I didn't care. I realized then I could only ever be with one man, and I would have to wait until he found me. Until then, I just gotta deal with fainting spells, and the visions, and the images I need to get out of my head, and the longing, and the ache in my heart.
"Hello!" Julian snapped me out of my trance. I zone out a lot.
"Huh?" I questioned.
He laughed, as did my friends. "You need to stop with those paint fumes," he told me.
I nodded as I usually do when my mom says the same thing. "Yeah, yeah, bottom line you aren't dating any of my friends," I stated.
"That is just plain mean," Kelsi insisted.
"Um, don't you have a boyfriend?" Martha reminded her. "His name is Jimmie... like he would let anyone forget it," she mumbled the end.
I laughed, it's true. He flirts with every girl and right in front of her too. I hate that she is with him but I won't get in the way. I've told her how I feel and she said thanks for being honest, but it was her choice. "You're all having too much fun to be at work," my dad commented, walking over.
"Hi, Daddy," I greeted with a hug. He wasn't in when I got here, neither was Mom.
He hugged me and kissed my head. "Hey, baby, sorry you had to come in earlier today," he apologized.
I shrugged. "I could use the money," I said.
"Hello, girls," he told my friends. They all squeaked back. My dad may be pushing forty, but he looks early thirties, tops. It's the same with my mom. They've always just been so happy and in love I think it sunk into their skin and keeps them young. And, since my friends are all boy crazy, they think he is a total dilf (dad I'd like to fuck - disgusting!).
"Where's Mom?" I asked him, still half hugging him. I'm a total Daddy's girl, I know.
He smiled down at me. "We just got back from a meeting," he informed me.
"Mm-hm, a meeting together?" I questioned. He nodded. "Dad, your shirt isn't buttoned right," I added.
He pulled out of out hug and looked down. It was buttoned crookedly. My friends giggled and he coughed. "Get back to work," he barked and I went to put my friends free platter order in and went to my table to make sure they were doing fine.
"Gabi, there you are!" my mom said when she saw me. My mom used to cook fulltime at the restaurant when it opened, but now that it's doing so well she just oversees the kitchen. She's also training Gino. She's, like, the kitchen manager and it's the reason she is wearing a pair of black dress pants and a white top, kind of matching my waitress outfit, but she looks sexy somehow. No wonder my parents can't keep their hands off each other.
I smiled at my mom. "Hey," I greeted, stepping into her hug. We're a very hug-y family. Hello, I'm Italian AND Mexican, we're right up there with Danny Tanner in the hugging department. "How was your meeting with Dad?" I questioned with my eyebrows up.
"It went wonderful, why?" she replied, obviously not knowing I knew.
I shook my head. "Never mind," I said.
"Okay, bebè I have someone coming to dinner tonight and I told Dina to put him in your area," she informed me.
"Mah-om!" I whined. "Why do you always do this to me, I don't have a boyfriend, get over it!" I told her.
My mom smiled at me and cupped my cheek. "You are a beautiful young woman, baby, you should be dating," she insisted.
"Mom, when I find a boy, the right boy, I'll date him. Can you please stop inviting Italian boys to dinner and making me serve their table," I pleaded.
"You have to admit, all the boys I get you are cute," she said, proud of herself.
I nodded. "Yes, Mom, they are, but Dad's getting angry none of them are Mexican, or even Spanish," I reminded her. "Do I have to marry and Italian or Mexican? Because, if I do, I object," I added. I don't know what Ethan is, and I won't care, but he could be in China for all I know.
My mom laughed. "No, bebè you do not have to date a Mexican," she told me. I gave her a look. "Alright, or an Italian," she said.
"Good, because if I bring home a Chinese dude, you all better accept him," I stated.
She laughed again. "Anyone who loves my baby girl is good enough for me," she assured me.
I nodded. "Okay, so call that Italian boy and tell him to stay home or seat him somewhere else," I told her. She frowned. "Mom, I'm serious. It's embarrassing. Parents shouldn't try to set up their kids until their in their mid-thirties and you're not sure if you'll get grandchildren. Trust me, Ma, you'll get grandkids, and probably soon. You made some good lookin' sons," I reminded her.
"I made a beautiful daughter as well," she finished. I smiled at her. "I love you, baby, but that boy is still coming," she said before a kiss to my cheek and went on her way.
I sighed. She'll be setting me up with Italian boys until I find Ethan, I really should just get over it. "My table is gone and I got a seven dollar tip!" I squealed to my friends while carrying their food twenty minutes later. They all dove in. "Sorry I took so long, my mom wanted to talk for a few," I said as I made my own plate.
Taylor swallowed. "It's cool, they were badgering me about your middle name, then Julian came by and said he would tell them if they payed him," she informed me.
"I am going to kill my brother," I grumbled. I hate my middle name. It's literally Bonita. It means 'pretty' or as my dad says 'pretty little one.' My middle name is an adjective kids learn in Spanish class. It's what I get with parents who are proud of their culture. "I am not telling you," I told them before they could ask. "So, my mom told me she's got another Italian boy coming to dinner tonight."
"How many Italian boys can she find?" Martha laughed.
Kelsi did too. "Isn't that the third this month alone?" she wondered.
"I don't know, probably," I muttered. "She needs to get over the fact that I don't have a boyfriend," I said. "I'll get one eventually," I stated.
"Uh-huh, Gabi, you've only been on one date!" Kelsi reminded me. "I mean, look over at your mom," she told me, so I did. She was laughing with an assistant manager. Then, my dad came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She instantly lit up and turned around. They spoke for a moment, and then kissed. "If I had those genes, I would be thanking God and dating any guy I wanted because you literally can get any guy," she said.
"It's not about dating around; I don't see the sense in that. It's about waiting for the guy, I mean, the guy," I replied. "He's going to find me and I'll live happily ever after, just like them," I added, looking back at my parents, who were still making out.
Kelsi shook her head. "Girl, you are not going to find the guy by sitting around," she insisted.
"Leave her alone," Taylor spoke up. "Gabi believes what she believes, let her be," she said. I smiled at my best friend, who smiled back.
"Gabi, I have seen your future and it looks good," Martha told me, looking at my mom. I looked again. My dad was still there, but they weren't kissing anymore. His arm was around her and she was saying something with a big smile. "I mean, you look just like her, I wish I had those genes," she sighed.
I laughed. "I hope I look that good when I am pushing forty," I agreed.
"Let's look on the bright side of this," Kelsi went on. "Maybe this Italian boy is the guy for you, and you will live happily ever after and be exactly like your parents," she told me.
I shook my head. "I don't think so," I responded. "But, you never know, maybe you're right," I went along with it.
The boy who showed up that night, he wasn't Ethan.
Please review. I want your feedback.
I am not sure how often this will get updated, but I do have the first three chapters written. However, remember I am writing my other three stories in progress right now. Or, at least, attemping to. I'm working on them, promise!
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- Kayleigh