A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING!
Saturday came quickly. Gabriella and Gabe were standing outside the café looking inside. They saw their mother sitting in a booth waiting for them.
"At least we know she isn't going to stand us up." Gabriella answered.
"Are you ready to go inside?" Gabe asked her.
"No…are you?
"No…but let's go. Just remember no matter what happens we're in this together."
Gabriella nodded together they walked inside. They went over to Maria.
"Hello Maria." Gabe said.
"Gabe, Gabriella, thank you for coming." Maria said."Please have a seat."
They both sat down.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. Before I say anything else I'd like you two to see this. "
Maria handed them a sheet of paper. Gabriella and Gabe read over it. "What does this mean?" Gabriella whispered to Gabe.
Gabe chuckled at her. "It means for the past two-three years our mother has been getting professional help."
"Really?"
"Yep, according to this paper she has made amazing progress in mental healing and working on her issues towards loving her children again."
Gabriella smiled. "You really want to love me again."
"Gabriella I always loved you, I was just scared of you because every time I looked at you I was reminded of the rape and what your father did to me but I always loved you deep down. I know I didn't show it and I'm so sorry. I know that can never be enough but from the bottom of my heart I am truly sorry."
"You're getting help, you're trying that's enough for me." Gabriella answered.
"I am proud Maria, but actions speak louder than words. Just because I see a piece of paper doesn't mean I'm going to trust you right away."
"I understand that. I also understand that Gabriella doesn't trust me either. All I'm asking for is a change to prove myself to you. Let me show you that I have been getting help and that I have changed. Let me prove that you can trust me."
"I think we can give you a chance." Gabriella answered.
"Yeah me too." Gabe said.
"Good, also I'd like you both to know that I haven't seen or even spoke to Greg since his trial. Even in ten years when he gets out I still won't have any contact with him."
Gabriella couldn't help but tense at the mention of Greg. It was a forced habit.
"Thank you for telling us. That does help us both feel safer with you." Gabe said rubbing his sisters back.
"Gabriella those two years I've spent working on getting passed what Greg did to me and I'm able to move on from it. I want you to know that if you ever want to talk about what Greg did to you I'll be here to help you through it."
Gabriella shook her head as tears filled her eyes. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Ok, you don't have too. I'm sorry to upset. I just wanted you to know. I'm sorry please don't cry."
"It's not your fault Maria. If anyone brings up Greg or what he did she gets upset."
"That's understandable. Also if either of you at any time would like to join in the session with me, my Doctor said she'd help us all."
"We will think about it." Gabe said.
"So uh…can I ask what's going on in your lives…or is that too fast?"
"It's nothing important yet. We're both just focusing on school. We're both at Stanford."
"I'm so proud of you both. Gabriella how are you and Troy?"
A smile instantly appeared on Gabriella's face. "We're good, he's still my boyfriend."
"I'm glad to hear that. What about you Gabe any girlfriends?"
"Uh…well there is this one girl we're dating…not really sure if I can call her my girlfriend but I like her a lot."
"Good, good, I'm glad to see the two of you moving on with your lives. I feel better knowing I haven't stopped you."
"So…when can we see you again?" Gabriella asked.
"Well…that's up to you."
"Tomorrow?"
"I'm free."
"I've got plans with Amber in the morning but maybe lunch in the park say around noon."
"Sure, you want a ride?" Maria asked.
"Nah I can get us here."
"All right well thank you for meeting me. I'm really glad you both are giving me a chance and I promise I won't let you down."
"Thank you for getting help and trying again." Gabriella said.
They got up and shared a hug. Gabe and Gabriella went back to the school. Things couldn't have been better. They were getting along with their mother, Gabe had a girlfriend who seemed like she was a nice a girl and Gabe and Gabriella were still as close as ever. What could possibly go wrong?
When they got back to the school Troy was waiting for them.
"Hey how'd it go?" he asked.
"Wonderful. We're going to see her again tomorrow." Gabriella said.
"Maria is getting professional help to deal with everything that's been going on in her life. She even showed us a piece of paper to prove it. She understands that we aren't trusting her right away and that we're just giving her a chance. That's all she asking for." Gabe explained further.
"That good, it sounds like you guys had a good time." Troy smiled.
"We did. I can't wait to see her again tomorrow." Gabriella giggled.
"Don't you have a date tomorrow?" Troy asked Gabe.
"Yeah but that's in the morning, we're meeting Maria in the afternoon so I should be done with Amber by then." Gabe answered.
"We can't stand her up Gabe, if we want this to work out we need to work at it too."
"I know that. Don't worry I promise I'll be there tomorrow. If not for mom than for you."
"Thank you Gabe. I love you."
"I love you too."
"I should get back to my dorm room."
"Why the rush?"
"I've got some homework to finish."
"So do I, do it here." Troy said.
"You'll just distract me." She giggled.
"I'll make sure he behaves Brie." Gabe laughed.
"All right I'll stay. But you Mr. Bolton hands to yourself." She teased.
"Yes mommy." He teased back.
They all just laughed. Gabriella couldn't have been happier. Things suddenly didn't seem all that bad anymore.
The next day Gabriella was in the boys room pacing back and forth. It was 11:45 and they were going to be late if they didn't leave soon. Gabe was late.
"Where is he?" Gabriella asked.
"I'm sure he'll be here any minute." Troy answered.
"You've been saying that for the past ten minutes Troy."
Troy chuckled. "I'm just trying to help. Don't worry I'm sure he'll be here soon. It's his second date let him enjoy it."
"I don't want my mom to think we're standing her up. I want to make this work."
Troy gave small smile. "I'll drive you, send Gabe a text message and let him know you will meet him there."
Gabriella took out her phone and quickly sent a text You were running late so Troy took me to the park to meet Maria. Please hurry and don't be late. I love you Gabi. She hit send and followed Troy out the door into his car.
Once they arrived at the park, Troy parked and got out with her. "I'll just stay to make sure your mom is here then I'll leave."
"Ok."
They walked the park for a bit before they saw Maria sitting on the bench. They went over.
"Hey Maria." Gabriella greeted.
"Hey Gabriella, good to see you again."
They shared a hug.
"Hello Troy." Maria said.
"Hello Mrs. Montez. I just didn't want to leave Gabriella until I knew she found you ok. I'll leave now." Troy said turning to walk away.
"Wait!"
Troy stopped.
"Troy I wanted to say sorry to you as well. I know I said some very mean thing to you and I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I know you're good for Gabriella and I know you love her for all the right reasons. I'm glad my daughter has you in her life. I know you'll take care of her."
"You are forgiven, but you can only make it up to me by taking care of Gabriella Don't hurt her."
"I won't. I made that mistake once I'll never make it again."
Troy nodded. "Have fun Brie, call me later if you need a ride home." Troy kissed her head and walked away.
"Where is Gabe?" Maria asked.
"Running late."
"Oh, that's all right, we can have some girl talk, while we wait."
Gabriella nodded. She sat down next to her mother.
"So how is collage?"
"It's ok." Gabriella shrugged.
"Just ok?"
"I've been having some problems with the girls in my class."
"Are they picking on you?"
"Sort of, they make fun of me because Troy and I haven't made out yet. They always tell me that he'll leave me if I don't make out with him and that I have to keep him wanting me by making out with him…and making out well."
"None of what they say is true. If any man is not willing to wait he wasn't worth it in the first place. You don't have to do anything you aren't ready for."
Gabriella nodded. "I know and that's what Troy said. He said he's willing to wait."
"Good, I struggled with that peer pressure too. Only it was for more than just making out."
"They wanted you to sleep with him?"
"Yep, sleep around, drink, smoke, take pills, all the kind of stuff I always warned you and Gabe to stay away from."
"How'd you get through it?"
"Honestly, you're aunt Lucille was my best friend. She helped me through a lot of it."
"That's good. Troy is really helping me. He's so wonderful. When we finally did make out for the first time it was magical."
"Someone is blushing." Maria teased tickling her sides.
Gabriella giggled squirming on the bench. "Stop it."
Maria laughed and stopped. "I'm glad Troy makes you happy baby girl. You deserve someone like that in your life."
"I wonder when Gabe is going to get here." Gabriella asked.
"Maybe he isn't coming."
"He said he would."
"He also said he had plans with his girlfriend. My guess is he forgot."
Gabriella looked down. "He was supposed to be here."
"My feelings aren't hurt. You're here that's enough for me."
Gabriella smiled look back up at Maria.
"Come on let's go have some fun."
Gabriella nodded. She wanted to enjoy this time with her mother but still a part of her was wondering what happen to her brother.
"Gabe stop it!
"No Amber you lied to me and now you're going to be so punished! I can't believe I believed a liar like you!"
"Gabe please stop tickling me. I'm sorry I lied I am please stop it!"
Amber was pinned down on her bed giggling and squirming as Gabe tickled her.
"You said you were only ticklish in one spot you're ticklish everywhere!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please Gabe I can't breathe!"
Gabe stopped. She panted. "I hate you."
"You better be careful what you say. I know all your ticklish spots. I will not hesitate to use them."
She squealed. "I'm sorry. I don't hate you."
"That's better."
She giggled and sat up. "I guess Gabriella was right. She warned me you find my ticklish spots and you did."
"I always do and in time I'll be sure to find your very worst most ticklish spots."
Amber let out a small whine. He chuckled. "I should get going. I've spend almost all day here and very little time with Gabriella...Bust first I need to use the restroom."
As Gabe ran into the bathroom, Amber heard his phone vibrating in his bag. She grabbed it and saw the text message from Gabrella. She smiled and erased it. "What Gabe doesn't know won't hurt him."She put the phone back into his bag.
Just then he came out of the bathroom. "I've got go. See you later."
"Ok, bye."
"Bye."
Gabe walked out of the room and to his room.
"Gabe, that was fast. Where's Gabriella? How'd it go?"
"Uh….I thought Gabriella was here and the date went well…"
"No, Gabriella is at the park with your mom…didn't you meet them there?"
Gabe's eyes went wide. "I completely forgot."
Gabe didn't wait a second before running out the door.
He ran to the park and looked all over. He sighed. Maria and Gabriella were gone. He didn't blame them it was almost 5:00 he didn't expect them to wait for him. The only question now was, could Gabriella ever forgive him.
He slowly made his way back to the school. When he finally got there he went to his room. He opened the door and sighed.
"I messed up. Gabriella is never going to forgive me."
"She might if you explain." Troy said.
"I blew her and Maria off to spend time with my girlfriend I always promised her I'd never do that. I broke that promise."
"Look, Gabriella is in the bathroom right now."
"Is she crying?"
"No, your mother told her you didn't show up on purpose, she said you wanted to give her some alone time. It's not the truth is it?"
"No, I was with Amber and I lost track of time."
"Tell her truth Bro, she'll forgive you."
Gabriella walked out of the bathroom. She saw Gabe and just looked down.
"Hey Brie, I'm sorry. I messed up. I promise to make it up to you. Can you ever forgive me?"
Gabriella looked up at him. "Why didn't you show up? I want the truth."
Gabe sighed. "I…I could lie to you and say I did it to give you and mom some alone time but I always promised to never lie and I already broke one promise I won't break another. The truth is I was hanging out with Amber and I lost track of time. I'm so terribly sorry and if you never forgive me I'll understand."
Gabriella smiled. She had heard him in the bathroom. She knew the truth and was going to base her reaction on his answer. "That was a test." She said.
"What?"
"I heard you when I was in the bathroom. I knew what the truth was I just wanted to see if you'd tell me or not. You did and I know I can forgive you. I understand. I've lost track of time with Troy tons of time. I forgive you and to be honest I'm glad you didn't come. Mom and I had the best time. It was like I was a little girl again, we got ice cream, she pushed me on the swings, she chased me around and tickled me. I really had a good time."
"You're calling her mom again? You trust her that much?"
"I don't trust her yet Gabe. I am feeling more comfortable around her though."
"Good, I'm glad. Was she mad at me?"
"No, she thought you did it on purpose."
"Did you make any further plans with her?"
"I said I'd talk to you about it and get back to her."
"You don't have to see her with me. You can do it on your own."
"I know but I want you to be there too unless…you don't want to."
"No, no, I want to, I do. I just forgot tonight. I was so wrapped up in Amber."
"What were you guys doing?"
"Honestly I found out she was lying to me."
"About what?" Troy asked.
"Her ticklish spots."
"That's it?"
"Yep, she said she was only ticklish in one spot. Turns out she is ticklish everywhere."
"Lying about your ticklish spots only gets you tickled more." Gabriella giggled.
"Yep, I really am sorry Brie. I promise I'll never hurt you again."
"I believe you. I love you."
"I love you too."
Gabriella and her brother shared a hug. Little did they know that was one promise Gabe wasn't going to be able to keep.
The next few days things were pretty normal. Nothing out of the ordinary happen.
One afternoon Gabriella was walking to her room from one of her classes when her cell phone rang. It was her mother so she answered it.
"Hey Mom."
"Gabriella where are you?"
"At school why?"
"Where at school, are you with Gabe or Troy?"
"No, why, Mom what's going on?"
"Gabriella I've got some really bad news."
"What's wrong?"
"Your father escaped from jail…"
Gabriella gasped...
A/N so Greg is out of jail any ideas what's going to happen next? Will Gabe keep his promise to Gabriella or will he hurt her when she needs him the most? What about Troy, can he help her through this? Find out in the next chapter!
