Shout out to my followers, favourite-ers(?) and reviewer! You're awesome!
Chapter 4
Helen and Gabriella fell into a new routine of waking up at 5:30am, leaving the house at 6:05am, arriving at the station at 6:20 and take the train for 30 minutes and arrive for the carpool at 7:00am.
It had been seven weeks since Gabriella first day, now that there was a routine between her and her aunt she felt more at ease and welcomed at VEA. Taylor had also made her transition from Eastmellow to VEA more manageable and accepted, but making more friends had been a bit more challenging for her. It seemed that right after class, students were rushing to their other classes and when they were early for class they were always closed tightly into their already established cliques. After school, Gabriella would have to rush to catch the carpool so that she could meet her Aunt Helen at the train station so that they could ride the train back home.
The transportation had been quite exhausting for Gabriella, but she found an easy way to make the back and forth trips seem faster, by reading. Just as she settled in the train seat, she would pull out her most current novel and read until the PA system announced their stop.
It had officially been two and a half months, since Gabriella's first day and the routine of waking up and leaving home super early and arriving home as late as 7pm was taking a toll on Helen. She was driving to the train station, then had to sit on a train for 30 minutes and no less than 2 minutes she was back on the train to Eastmellow. Then she would drive back into town and start her shift at the clinic. At 3:0o pm she would repeat the same routine to pick up Gabriella; drive to station, take train, meet Gabriella on Decker Street, take train and drive home but then drive back to work and finally drive home.
On a Friday night, Helen arrived home earlier than expected. She prepared dinner and was happy to sit around the table with Gabriella and enjoy the delicious dinner they prepared together.
"Aunt Helen, there's something I wanted to talk to you about" Gabriella shyly looked down at her plate and pushed the peas around.
"What is it sweetie?"
"I was thinking that maybe I can start taking the train by myself"
"Gabi," she dropped her fork and reached for Gabriella's small hands, "I don't know if I'll be comfortable with doing that"
"Aunt Helen, I'm 12 years old. It's five stops between Eastmellow and Albuquerque City. You can drop me off at the station, see me off and I'll meet Mrs. Evans on Decker Street. After school I'll meet Mrs. Evans, jump on the train and meet you at the station. No talking to strangers. Don't accept anything from anyone. Always speak with Police Officers and always be alert."
"Gabriella, I couldn't let you do that by yourself. I trust you, I really do but I can't put you at risk."
"Aunt Helen, I see how stressed and exhausted you've been since I started at VEA. I love you so much for making the sacrifice for me and I appreciate everything but you could be getting extra sleep instead of taking the train for no reason. You work longer hours than I need to be at school so I can take naps just as I reach home but you're running around the clinic all day. You know this makes sense Aunt Helen, it would benefit us both."
"Are you sure you're 12 years old? You need to stop growing up Sweetheart."
"So is that a yes? Can I take the train by myself?"
"I'll think about it"
/
"Troy! Aiden! Dinner!" Lucille rushed between the kitchen and the dinning table with plates of food occupying her hands.
Beatrice followed her every step with her teddy bear in tow. She climbed up unto the seat that has been declared hers. Her daddy dressed in her police officer uniform enters the huge Victorian style dining room. He leaned down to press a kiss on his only daughter's forehead before taking his seat on the opposite side of the table where the head of the family would expectantly sit.
"Troy! Aiden!" Lucille growled before pulling the apron over her head. Tracey was quick behind her step as she folded the apron that was handed to her.
"Thank you so much Tracey! You're welcomed to join for dinner."
"Thanks you Mrs. Bolton but I must get home now." Tracey smiled as she greeted her second boss seated at the head of the table
"Oh, I hope I wasn't keeping you" Lucille looked up at 45 year old woman who has helped her keep her sane when she had two boys under two.
"No Mrs. Bolton. The girls are visiting today and they insisted to take me out to dinner"
"Ohh," Lucille smiled and reached out to hug Tracey. She was a mother of two girls, who had left Albuquerque right after high school, which left Tracey and her husband alone in the big city. "Please tell everyone I said Hello, and tell them to stop by anytime"
Tracey nodded before bidding her bosses farewell and the youngest Bolton. She rushed out with her coat folder in her hand and her purse hanging on her shoulder.
Lucille took her seat at the mahogany table between Jack and Beatrice. She shared a quick and chaste kiss with her husband, thankful that everyday he returned home to her and their kids safe and sound. She looked across the table and quick her smile disappeared. She sighed before looking dead straight at her husband.
"Jack, where are your boys?"
"I don't know my Love. BOYS!"
The two Bolton boys rushed into the dining room pushing at one another. Troy tripped Aiden, who in return pulled him along. They both jumped up and quickly took their seat across from their mother and Beatrice. A stern look from their mother and a chuckle from their father and they knew they would be on kitchen duty after dinner. After a quick and meaningful prayer of thanks and appreciation, the Bolton clan dug into dinner.
"So Jack, how was work today?"
"Yea dad! Did you throw anyone in jail?" Aiden eagerly asked as he aggressively poked at his pork chop
"Not quite son, but be late for dinner again and you're mother might let me throw you in jail" Jack teased as his son slid into his chair grumpily "Actually, I got transferred from street patrol to train station patrol"
"Which station sweetie?" Lucille smiled at her husband
"North on Decker Street, so I'll be seeing Darby more often"
"That's great Darling"
"Dad! Coach Danforth said I could play for the NBA. He said I have a great jump shot" Troy jumped into the conversation eagerly.
"That's great son! I'm proud of you"
"We both are" Lucille smiled
"Yea right! You're too short to be in the NBA squirt" Aiden ruffled the short sandy blonde hair on his younger brother
"I'm 12 years old!" Troy glared at his older brother who he often sees as his role model.
"Speaking of sports, I have my first soccer match against West High on Friday. Will you guys be there?"
"Awesome! First game of the season …" Troy jumped up into his seat.
"Dude, No squirts allowed!"
"Can I come?" Beatrice bats her eyelashes and smiled at Aiden.
"Of course Bea, you're my good luck charm"
Beatrice smirked at her older brother Troy, while she ate her broccoli. The entire Bolton family was easily wrapped around the younger Bolton's finger. She often got her way and easily convinced the boys and her father that her way, was the only way.
"What! She's the squirt!"
"I am NOT!" she growled
"Stop it now. We'll ALL be there Aiden" Lucille sternly looking at her children warning them to stop the bickering.
/
When Aiden joined the soccer team in Junior high, he excelled exceptionally. His coach was impressed with his natural born skills and his teammates were often befriending the young and talented Bolton, so much so he was the youngest player to be named captain. Every game since his captaincy he wore the 'C' armband with integrity and leadership.
Troy was determined to follow in the footsteps of his brother. He would try out for the VEA elementary soccer team and practice everyday after school, while his best friends were at basketball practice working on their dribbling and free throws. Chad, Zeke and Jason would often try to convince Troy to join their side, where "it's normal to handle the ball with hands, not feet" but Troy would ignore them and keep pursuing the dream his brother had mapped out. When the elementary soccer team line up was released, Troy was devastated that his name was not apart of that list. He felt as though he was a failure and disappointment to his parents and most importantly his brother. He spent the rest of the day hidden in his room crying, afraid that his brother would disown him.
On that very day, Aiden's name was the very first name on the list for the junior high soccer team. He was ecstatic, overjoyed and proud of himself, he worked extremely hard to learn and practice all the tricks and tips, rules and routines of the game while on his elementary school team. He was the very first teammate to be present on the field for the first day of practice.
After practice, without changing back into his uniform, he grabbed his bag and rushed home to share the news with his family. He was looking forward to the future games, celebrations and trophies, that is until he saw his mother and father curled up on the couch with frowns and sad eyes.
"Mom! Dad! I made the team! I – what's wrong?" 12 years old Aiden dropped his school bag and soccer bag at the front door while his ran into the living room.
"Oh honey! That's great news! We're so proud of you!" Lucille forced a smile on his face while she hugged her son. Her husband congratulated her son as well, and shared a fist pump with him.
"Is something wrong?" Aiden ignored the forced excitement as he looked straight at his parents
"Son, Troy didn't make the peewee team" Jack's lips sealed tightly together. "He's hiding in his room. He was afraid you would be disappointed in him"
"Aww man! Did his friends make the team?"
"Chad and Zeke? They tried out for basketball, they made the team" Jack looked at the young teen confused
"Wait, I thought Troy was trying out for the basketball team"
"Oh honey, Troy tried out for the soccer team because he wanted to be just like his big brother"
"Why?" Aiden screwed his face in confusion. He had no idea that Troy would mimic his actions and decisions, he thought of Troy as his regular annoying little brother but he never thought that Troy had looked up to him as an idol.
"Well sweetheart, he just wants to be like his older brother" Lucille brushed his bangs out of his eyes as he pulled him into a hug.
"I gotta go talk to him!" Aiden jumped out of his mother's arms and ran up the stairs
"Aiden! Take off your shoes!"
Aiden stopped half way up the stairs and pulled his shoes off and threw them down at the base of the stairs before running towards his younger brother's room
"Aiden –"
"Love, let it go" Jack wrapped his arm around Lucille as he pulled her back unto the couch to relax. "You raised some pretty awesome, talented and strong boys, Love"
"WE, Jack we raised them together"
"TEA TIME!" their four-year-old daughter jumped up from the floor and crawled on top on her father before handing them both a plastic teacup.
The couple laughed out loud and Jack wrapped his arms tightly around his little girl while his wife tickled her sides and they trio rolled around on the couch laughing and screaming.
Meanwhile Aiden knocked on Troy's door before entering his room. The young 10 year old room was pitched black and Troy was laying on the floor in the center of the room. From the door, Aiden could hear his sniffling he stood above his younger brother and watched him hide his face from his idol. Aiden lay on the floor beside his brother and both the Bolton boys stared up at the ceiling.
"I made the soccer team Troy" Aiden whispered hoping to lighten the mood, only to hear sniffles in response. "Mom and dad told me the news, I'm not disappointed Troy, I'm glad that you look up to me but I want you to still be your own person"
"I'm sorry I didn't make the team Aiden" Troy turned to look at his older brother
"Don't apologize Troy, I'm glad you tried but soccer is my sport, not yours. You don't have to everything that I do"
Both the boys sat up and looked at each other. Aiden reached up unto the table and grabbed a few tissues from the box. He handed them to Troy who whipped the tears away.
"I thought you were going to try out for the basketball team" Aiden leaned forward against his knees.
"No, I wanted to make you proud"
"Troy, if you made the basketball team I would be the proudest big brother to ever stand on this planet. It's okay to like a different sport. And one day I'll be the captain of VEA soccer team and you'll be captain of VEA basketball team and we'll be the super athletic brothers and everyone will want to be our friends and we'll rule the school together!"
Troy began to smile as he began imagined the future his brother dictated. He crumbled the wet tissues and aimed for the small trashcan by his desk, he flicked his wrist and the balled up crumbled tissues landed into the trashcan.
Aiden imitated the sounds of a crowd and raised his arms into victorious fist pumps.
"He shoots, he scored! And the crowd goes wild! Aaaahhhhhh, aaaaahhhhhh, TROY! TROY! TROY! Ladies and gentlemen! VEA's basketball MVP, Troy Bolton!"
Troy jumped up unto his toes and felt proud and invincible from the mimics of the crowd Aiden echoed. Both Boltons up on their toes as they shared a hug and declaration of how proud they are of each other, Troy especially because Aiden had made the team.
"Now, enough of the tears how about we go shoot some hoops before dinner?"
Troy nodded eagerly and grabbed his basketball that was stationed at the corner of the room. He raced through the hallway, down the stairs and out towards the backyard with Aiden quick behind his tail. Lucille and Jack paused from their tickles with their younger daughter and raced after their sons, Beatrice secured on Jack's shoulders. The Bolton clan stood around the small area where the basketball hoop was positioned. Troy dribbled the ball and made an effortless free throw, Aiden caught the ball as it slipped through the hoop. He bounced the ball to his mother who attempted a basket but the ball rebounded and Jack caught the ball and handled it to Beatrice who was seated above his shoulders. He walked closer to the hoop to let Beatrice put the ball into the hoop easier. The loving family of five scrimmaged a quick game of horse before they retired inside to have an easy dinner of mac and cheese.
Fortunately for Troy, the following day the basketball team was having a second day of tryout to which his brother proudly supported. While Troy did his drills, Aiden stood in the stands with his friends who were also proud of their best friend's little brother, and cheered for Troy as if it had been an official basketball game.
At the end of the week, the Bolton family decided to celebrate Aiden and Troy's admission into the soccer and basketball team.
/
When Lucille had finally tucked her youngest child in and wished her eldest a good night, she softly knocked on the door of her middle child. He was packing his books into his bag, he looked up and smiled excitedly at the woman who loves and support him and his siblings unconditionally.
"Hey my basketball MVP" She leaned against his doorframe, as she watched his pull his comforter off the bed slightly. Ever since his 10th birthday, Troy insisted that he's a teenager now or and that he doesn't need to be tucked in or be given good night kisses, but Lucille was a mother and she would always check on her children before retiring to bed herself.
"Hey Momma!" He buried himself under his chilly blue comforter
"Finished all your homework?" she looked at him sternly as she slowly stride towards his bedside
"Yea Ma." He rolled his eyes and cheekily smiled at her. "Ma, I know Aiden, Beatrice and I don't say it a lot but we are really grateful for everything that you do for us. You're a great and busy lawyer but you always find the time to go to both Aiden and I games and you still have time to make dinner and have tea parties with Bea. You're supermom and that's really cool"
Lucille smiled from ear to ear, but of course her cheeks were flushed. She knew without a doubt, her children love her and her husband unconditionally and unlimited. Albeit kids are kids, and they forget to remind their parents how much they love them once in a while. On the outside, it may seem like the Bolton children take their parents for advantage but of course on the inside it doesn't need to be said. Actions speak louder than words and that was shown through Aiden's soccer goals dedicated to his dad and Troy's successful jump shots dedicated to his mom, and of course Beatrice's daily drawing for her mom and dad.
"Well this supermom has a birthday party to plan in three weeks. Do you have any ideas or inputs?"
"Nah I just wanna have some fun with my friends. School has a been a drag lately"
"Oh, anything I can help with?"
"Nah, I'll be okay."
"Okay, Night son.
"Night Ma."
She turned off the light on the lamp and headed towards the door, until her son called her out. She stopped in her tracks and turned around when the four foot eleven inch young man collided into her. He wrapped his arms tightly around his mom. She leaned down to embrace him in a proper hug; he placed a big sloppy kiss on his mom cheek and reminded her how much he loves her.
"I love you Momma"
"I love you too MVP. Now get to bed"
Troy chuckled, "Okay ma, good night"
"Good night Troy, Supermom out!" she imitated the Super Woman pose, legs shoulder width apart, shoulder strong and firm and hands resting on her hips with a strong poise.
Troy groaned in embarrassment and hid his face behind his hands. He smiled as his mom turned off his lights and closed the door behind her.
What did you like ... what did you not like? Review!
-Lea