Thank you soo much for the reviews!! You deserve two chapters, just for being such faithful readers!!!
Disclaimer: Don't you think that if I owned HSM, I would let you know... Summer lovin' had me a blast
Summer lovin' happened so fast
I met a girl crazy for me
Met a boy cute as can be
The Fourth of July, 2 years before.
"Did you know that before I met you, I never went to a fireworks show?" Inching closer to his warm body, Gabriella wrested her head on her husband's chest and inhaled the scent of the day that lingered on his clothes. Together they were sprawled out on a blanket, surrounded by people anxiously waiting the main attraction of the night.
"I know." Kissing the top of her forehead, he sat up and grabbed a spare blanket nearby. "It's like a tradition. You have to go to the fireworks on the fourth of July." He threw the blanket on top of them and pulled her body close to his side.
Even though there was a band playing only a few feet away, venders were selling snacks and souvenirs, and children were screaming a the nearby playground, the couple was in their own little world. Quietly, she spoke "I love you and your traditions."
"Well, I can't wait until we have our own traditions," he nestled closer and whispered in her ear. In front of them, the sun was setting over the lake and children were still running around the playground.
"Mmm… me too." Gabriella closed her eyes and let the wind massage her face.
Following suit, he too closed his eyes and settled in the moment. For all of the hot, sticky days this summer had brought, the first chilly evening was perfect. The band and noises around them were slowly coming to an end, and Troy could feel the mood of the evening turn from excitement to anticipation. When he opened his eyes, the sun had almost completely set. "Do you know how much I love you?"
"A lot." She opened her eyes and leaned forward to kiss him on the lips. "Look, it's about to start!" They watched the sun finally set behind the trees.
"You know how we agreed to wait two years until we started to have kids," As other families were getting ready for the show to start, collecting their children and finding their lawn chairs and blankets, Gabriella bolted up and looked at her husbands face. His gleeful smile sent chills down her spine.
"Yeah." They had only had this conversation once, which in turn ended in the first fight of their marriage. "I thought we agreed…"
"We did." Sitting up as well, he looked into her beautiful brown eyes. " I know it's only been a year, but…"
"So what are you saying?" People around them started to chant and applaud, signaling the beginning of the show. She didn't pay any attention though, her heart was fluttering and her stomach was swarming with excitement.
"I'm saying I want to have a baby with you." A smile broke across his face and tears of happiness burst from her eyes. "What do you say?"
After swiping a hand underneath her eyes to clear the tears, she wrapped both arms around his neck and kissed him long and passionately on the lips. He laughed as she squealed "absolutely," causing the family sitting a few feet away gave them a curious look. As the first firework-exploded overhead, they fell down onto the blanket, enjoying each other instead of the show.
Summer days driftin' away, to uh-oh those summer nights
Present Day Fourth of July
Taylor was sitting on the sofa in the living room, a glass of wine in one hand and the bottle in the other. Except for one dim table lamp and the glare from the television, the house was completely dark. There was evidence of tearstains on her face and the volume was up on the TV to hide her sobs.
"Shit!" With several loud thumps and a sequence of swears, Chad stumbled into the living room. "What's with all of the luggage? Are you going somewhere?"
"Yep." Was her only reply as she got up and walked into the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" He walked into the kitchen and began rummaging around for something to eat.
"Home." She watched as he fiddled with cutting a piece of cake for himself. Out of habit, she smiled at her husband's goofy persona.
"You are home." She was standing at the sink when he came over and tried to kiss her on the lips. She pulled away.
"Yeah right," she scoffed. "I'm going to Albuquerque." She could already feel more tears well up.
"For like a visit?" It may have been the way he sloppily ate the piece of cake, his naivety to the situation, or the intense love she had for him, but something caused Taylor to explode with rage.
"No, Chad. I'm not going home for vacation." Turning around to face him, she gripped onto the edge of the counter for support. "I'm taking Matthew and Maddie and we're moving home with my parents."
"Why?" His face showed more confusion than hurt.
"Because you're never here. Because you lied about the basketball game. Because you missed your daughter's birthday!" She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, hoping he then might understand. Instead, she kept her voice at a whisper trying to not wake the children. "Now you missed the Fourth of July!"
"What are you talking about? Why are you so upset?" He sat in the chair, astonished.
"Chad, you missed your daughter's first birthday party! That only happens once!" Tears began falling freely now down her face. "On top of all of that, Troy told me there wasn't even a game that day!"
"I was out. Just out." He got up from the table and walked to the refrigerator to grab a drink. "Can't I get a day off?" His defenseless nature sent Taylor over the edge.
"From your kids? From your wife?" In fury, she pushed the water bottle out of his hand, spilling water all over the floor. "Chad you never tuck the kids into bed anymore. You never play with Matthew. Troy's here more than you are, and he lives seven hundred miles away!" She watched as Chad boiled with anger. His previous innocent demeanor disappeared and now you could see the rage in his face. "He's more of a dad to your kids than you are!"
"How dare you!" With force, he pushed her up against the wall of the kitchen, trapping one arm behind her back and the other above her head. The walls of the house shook.
"Chad you're always gone! You choose to go play basketball every day instead of staying home with your family!" Trying to break loose from his grip only caused him to push her harder. She gritted her teeth in pain. " I thought you would want to stay home and play basketball with Matthew or watch how fast Maddie is growing up!"
"That's my career Taylor. You can't ask me to choose between my career and my family." His voice was loud and firm. They have gotten into fights before, but she had never heard his voice shake like this.
"I shouldn't have to! You made the choice, Chad, and you choose basketball." Taylor turned away from her husband and let the tears fall freely to the ground. This was not the man she fell in love with. "Chad I want you to stay at home; to be a father and a husband, like you promised!"
"So what you're running off to Albuquerque to get your friends to solve your problems?" She stopped rubbing the limp arm that he had twisted behind her back and froze.
"How dare you! You arrogant son of a bitch!" Her eyes were dry and the sadness in her heart turned into anger. "Do you expect me to sit around here why you go off and screw other girls and abandon your family?"
The sound of Chad's hand meeting Taylor's face rang throughout the room seconds after it had happened. Staggering from the force, she fell to the floor of the kitchen and broke into sobs. "Are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Seeing her wince in pain as she tried pulling herself up from the cold kitchen floor made Chad like the smallest man.
"No." When she finally came to her feet she stopped at the doorway, hoping, praying for an apology. Thinking he would come and sweep her off her feet like he had done so many times before, kiss her and tell her everything would be all right. But instead, he sat there, with his face buried in his hands. For minutes they stood, her back turned towards him, neither one saying a word until an alarm of cries coming from upstairs broke the silence.
"What do you want Taylor?" He coughed out. "A divorce?"
"No Chad. I want my husband back." A sob escaped her lips as she left him sitting in the dark kitchen. As she made her way up the stairs, she heard a shatter of glass onto the floor. In anger, he threw the plate that held the piece of cake onto the floor, which like his heart, shattered into a million pieces.
Summer dreams ripped at the seams,
Bu-ut oh, those su-ummer nights…