I'm Only Me When I'm With You
Chapter 4
It had been a week since Troy had caught Gabriella smoking. He hadn't said a word to her brothers, to anyone and neither had she. He didn't know if she still smoked on her break, or at all. He didn't know why she'd picked up the habit, or how long ago. But he knew this it would eventually kill her - like his Granddad and he didn't want to see her go down that road.
It was Thursday and it was a slow day. Gabriella was in the kitchen learning some cooking skills.
"It's how I cope," whispered Gabriella.
"Hmm?" asked Troy.
"The smoking it's how I cope," answered Gabriella.
Troy looked at her.
"With my dad being away and in the army. With my parents divorce. With my mother not being a mother anymore, with her being away all the time. With being alone. Smoking helps me cope. I know you don't like it because of your Granddad and my brothers will kill me but it helps me cope," explained Gabriella.
"Then why don't you talk to someone?" asked Troy.
"My brothers think I'm doing fine and I want to be independent. They have there own lives, girlfriends and restaurants they don't need my crap too," said Gabriella.
"Then why don't you talk to someone else?" asked Troy.
"Like who?" asked Gabriella. "My friends all have there own problems and my close friends have all moved out of town."
"What about me?" asked Troy.
Gabriella looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I'll think about it," whispered Gabriella.
"I'm not your brothers or your friends. But I'll listen and like them I know you. I mean I've been hanging around you with your brothers I should know you pretty well," said Troy.
"I'd like that," smiled Gabriella.
"So when did you start?" asked Troy.
"Few months ago," lied Gabriella.
"Gabriella I know you as well as you know you and I know when you're lying. When did you start?" asked Troy.
"About a year and a half ago after the divorce. I smoke about five to ten a day," whispered Gabriella.
"When you were sixteen? How the hell did you get cigs when you were sixteen?" asked Troy.
"See you're as bad as my brothers," said Gabriella, as she slammed the spatula down. "So damn protective."
"Ok sorry but how the hell did you get cigs when you were sixteen?" asked Troy.
"I knew someone who sold them, who had them. I'd borrow them or give them money to go buy me some. First thing I did on my eighteen was go buy a packet," said Gabriella. "And now…"
"You're addicted," said Troy.
Gabriella nodded.
"God I've hung around you the past couple of years closely so have you brothers. How did we not smell it on you?" asked Troy.
"Spray and breath mints I got good at hiding it," shrugged Gabriella.
"Gabriella I won't tell your brothers but you don't know what it's like to watch a family member die of cancer because they won't quit smoking. You are like family to me and I don't want to watch that again," said Troy. "It is the most horrendous thing."
Gabriella nodded.
"I wouldn't want to see your brothers go thought that," said Troy. "Think of your dad he comes back from war and his daughter has started this habit and is killing herself. What would he say?"
Gabriella nodded and tear made its way down her cheek at the mention of her father.
"I'm sorry," muttered Troy, pulling her close and dropping a kiss on her head.
"He'd be really disappointed," whispered Gabriella, pulling away from Troy and heading to her bag.
"What are you doing?" asked Troy.
Gabriella said nothing so Troy watched as she pulled two lighters and two packets of cigarettes and threw them all in the bin.
"There's another in my car and a couple for packets at home," said Gabriella.
"You want some help getting rid of them?" asked Troy.
"Maybe," said Gabriella.
"It takes some balls to just go cold turkey," said Troy.
"I know but I have you to talk," smiled Gabriella.
"You're damn right about that," said Troy. "Now come on back to work."
"Yes sir," laughed Gabriella, picking up the spatula.
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Gabriella Somerfield
