Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Chapter 1

Gabriella was wracking her brain. She and Troy hadn't talked in nearly five weeks. The last time they'd had a decent conversation hadn't went well. He was mad. She'd said some things she wished she hadn't, but it was in the past and she couldn't take them back. But some people had also been telling him things about her past that she hadn't been comfortable yet talking to him about and he began looking at her in a different way, which had led to their argument.

Gabriella had a past which she wasn't proud of. When she turned 21, she had taken full advantage of the freedom to consume alcohol, and usually ended up consuming too much, resulting in many nights stumbling back to her apartment drunk. The pressure from her friends didn't exactly help matters, though. Spending a lot of her time in bars also allowed her the time to meet new people, which also led to her sleeping around a lot. Growing up she'd never imagined herself to be that type of person, but her college days and her poor choice of friends had led her to a time in her life that she now regretted.

Gabriella had begun dating Troy ten months ago. She trusted him with everything she had. However, being ashamed of her past, there was a large portion she hadn't told Troy about. She didn't ever think it would cause a barrier to come between them because it was in the past, but she was always afraid Troy might think less of her. When she met Troy, he brought out a completely different side of her, a side she loved much more than what others saw of her. She acted more mature when she was with him and got rid of her childish ways, which was something that surprised her considering the age difference between the two of them.

Gabriella was 25 years old. Troy was 19. She'd known him for four years. She saw him grow up through his high school years from an awkward young teen to a young adult. She'd been friends with his older sister, who was two years younger than Gabriella. When their relationship started, Gabriella was a little apprehensive about it considering the age difference, but the more she got to know him in that aspect, the less she noticed the age difference. She was in love with him.

Gabriella had gone to college to be a teacher. She had taught for a year before she took a year off to help her family out. Her dad had been having health problems for a few years, and they were progressively getting worse. He was to a point where he needed someone to take him to doctor's appointments and help him out at home while her mom was at work. So after the school year was over, she moved back into her parent's house and helped take care of her dad. But she was in need of some sort of income. Her brother's wife had just had their third child and they were in need of childcare. So she took on the task of taking care of their three kids. It provided her with an income as well as a flexible schedule so she could still take care of her dad.

Troy had been 18 when they'd started dating. He was in his first year of college, attending college locally and living with his parents. He had a job at a local store and worked part time to earn a little money to take care of personal expenses. His dad had a great job as a manager of a company and earned enough money that he told Troy he didn't even need a job if he didn't want one. However, Troy wanted enough freedom to be able to go do things when he wanted to, so he kept his job and worked around his class schedule.

Now Gabriella found herself sitting in her car, alone, wondering what she was going to do. She'd been sick for nearly two weeks now. When she first got sick, all she wanted was Troy to be there for her and make her feel better. But in the few times she'd tried to contact him, he'd ignored her and refused to hear her out. So after a few days of being sick, she finally decided to go see the doctor. What she didn't expect was the doctor to tell her she was pregnant. She hadn't planned on telling her family yet, knowing they'd all be disappointed in her. But her sister-in-law, April, had figured it out pretty quickly, seeing all the signs she'd experienced when she was pregnant. Gabriella thought she could trust her, but April hadn't been pleased when she found out. She told Gabriella's brother, Matthew, who told her parents.

So now, after being disowned by her family, she found herself with only her possessions. Her brother had told her he didn't want her around his kids anymore, so she lost her job. And her parents had been so disappointed in her, they'd kicked her out of the house. She knew she needed to talk to Troy. He deserved to know that he would be a father in about seven months. As she left her parent's house for the last time, she decided the first place she'd go would be Troy's. She would tell him the news before moving on and figuring out what to do from there.

It was mid-morning on a Saturday. Gabriella knew Saturdays were Troy's day off, so he should still be home, and if she knew him well enough, he'd still be in bed. When she got there, his mom answered the door.

"Hi, Lucille. Is Troy home?"

"Yes. He's still in bed, though. Do you want me to let him know you came by?"

Gabriella let out a sigh. "Could I come in, actually? He's not answering my phone calls and I have to talk to him, preferably today. I know he hates people waking him up, but I really need to talk to him right now."

Lucille looked at her for a moment, trying to decide what would be best to do, but then decided it wasn't her place to get in the middle of whatever was going on with Troy and Gabriella. "Sure, sweetie, go on up."

Gabriella thanked her and went up to Troy's room, finding the door unlocked. She let herself in and sat on the edge of Troy's bed, admiring him. She'd missed him so much in the time they'd been apart and had missed just looking at him. He was so handsome. She'd missed his bright blue eyes looking at her as well. She reached over and rubbed his arm, trying to coax him out of the deep sleep he was in. He began to stir and as his eyes fluttered open, he looked over at her.

She saw confusion at first, and then she saw anger flash through his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. His voice was deep and husky from just waking up and edged with bitterness.

Gabriella looked down at her lap as she fought back the tears that threatened. "I know I don't have any right to be here because I know you don't want to see me. But we need to talk, Troy. Please just listen for a moment. I have to tell you something and then I promise I'll be out of here. But you deserve to know what I'm about to tell you."

"Gabriella, you need to leave. I've heard it all before. Why do you think I haven't been answering your phone calls? There's nothing you can tell me that is going to change my mind. You lied to me! You didn't trust me or our relationship together enough to confide in me about who you truly are."

Gabriella shook her head. "But that's not who I am anymore, Troy. I told you that. That's all in the past. I don't want to be that person anymore."

"I can't trust you anymore, Gabriella. How am I supposed to know who you truly are when you couldn't even tell me about your past? Gabriella, do you realize that your past forms you into the person you are today?"

Gabriella had tears coursing down her face now. "Troy, I don't know what to tell you to make you believe me, but not once did I ever pretend to be someone I'm not."

"I think you should leave. You're ruining my day off, the one day that I'm supposed to get to enjoy. I don't w-"

"Troy, I'm pregnant."

Gabriella sat there watching different emotions run across his face as multiple thoughts went through her head. Was he angry with her for getting pregnant? What if he wasn't ready to be a father and didn't want anything to do with the baby? Her own father hadn't been there for her when she was a little girl because he was always working, and she definitely didn't want that for her own children. She wanted the father of her children to always be there for them; then again she had always imagined being married before she ever got pregnant.

Troy's eyes had grown large. "What?" he whispered harshly.

"I'm pregnant, Troy."

Troy shook his head. "No…you're lying."

Gabriella frowned and shook her head. "No, Troy. I'm telling the truth."

"No, this is your way of trying to get me back. Well guess what…it's not going to work. I'm not going to allow you to ruin my life."

"I'm not trying to ruin your life," Gabriella said, fighting back sobs. "I'd never want to do anything to you to intentionally hurt you. I love you, Troy, whether you want to believe that or not. But you deserve to know that you're going to be a father."

"You need to leave."

"What?" Gabriella whispered.

Troy looked at her, anger flashing in his eyes. "You need to leave…now. I want you out, out of my house and out of my life."

Gabriella finally allowed the sobs she'd been holding back to consume her as she stood up from the bed and walked toward the door. Her fears were actually coming true. She turned around one last time and took a deep breath, controlling her emotions temporarily. "I love you, Troy. Please remember that. And please know that no matter what happens from here on out, you will always be welcomed into this child's life." Gabriella placed her hand on her stomach. "I'd never want my child to grow up not knowing who his or her father is."

Gabriella turned and walked out the door, ignoring the surprised look on Troy's face. As she got to the bottom of the stairs and started toward the door, she heard Lucille.

"Gabriella?" Gabriella turned to face Lucille who was coming from the kitchen. Lucille saw the tear streaks on her face. "Oh, sweetie! I guess it didn't go well?"

Gabriella shook her head and pointed toward the door. "I'm going to go."

Lucille nodded and pulled Gabriella to her in an embrace. "Know that you're always welcome in our home no matter what has happened."

Gabriella pulled back and nodded, trying to give Lucille a small smile, but struggling. "Thanks. I'll see you later, Lucille."

Gabriella left and drove away, trying to figure out where to go from here. She had no one to turn to now and nowhere to go.

What kind of life was that for the little one growing inside her?

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