Chapter 4: Fool of Me

Gabriella woke up and smiled when she saw Kadie sleeping. She got up out of bed, woke up Kadie and got her ready for the day. Gabriella finished getting herself and Kadie dressed and made their way to the kitchen. Kadie saw Corbin and CJ and immediately joined them in the kitchen.

"Good morning Gabi, pancakes?" Taylor offered

"No thanks Tay I'm not…" There was a knock at the door. Taylor looked at Gabriella

"Are you expecting someone?" Taylor teased

"Whatever Taylor." Gabriella playfully rolled her eyes as they both approached the door. Taylor opened the door and she saw a man wearing a suit.

"Can I help you?"

"Is there a Gabriella Santiago present?"

"Yes, is there a problem?" Gabriella asked stepping forward.

"You've been served." The man hands Gabriella an envelope and then walks away. Taylor closes the door as Gabriella opens the envelope. She gasps once she reads the paper.

"What is it Gabi?"

"Alex is suing me for full custody of Kadie I have to be in court in two days." Gabriella drops the paper and briskly walks to her room. She returns her with purse.

"I'm going out." Gabriella walked out of the house.

"Gabi! Where are you going?" Taylor yelled out to Gabriella

"Don't worry about it!" Gabriella yelled back

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

Gabriella made her way down the all too familiar hallway she walked right past the secretary desk.

"Miss, excuse me you can't go back there." Gabriella stopped and turned to look at Bianca.

"If I were you, I wouldn't be talking to me right now." Gabriella walks into despite the whore calling out to her once Gabriella enters the meeting room Alex sighs annoyingly and stands up.

"What do you…" Gabriella slaps Alex in the face, Alex looks back at Gabriella with disbelief.

"What Alex? You gonna hit me back? Come on hit me! You didn't have a problem hitting me when I was pregnant."

"Everyone can you please leave the room?" Alex asked

"Yeah that's right all of you get out! Get out!" Gabriella yelled as everyone else left the room.

"What the hell do you think you're doing here Gabriella?"

"No, who the hell do you think you are to try and get custody of Kadie?"

"Oh Gabriella please, you know that Kadie is better off with me."

"Yeah right like the judge would grant you full custody. You just remember that I'm D.A. and can have your ass in jail by tonight and don't think I'm playing."

"Gabriella, you're so pathetic. You've failed to realize that you have no place to stay, no car, you have no money because you signed a Pre-nup. You don't have the proper essentials to take care of a child. When you look at me I have a house, two cars, good credit and money. So who do you think that judge's gonna grant full custody to?"

"I hate you!" Gabriella yelled through tears

"I hate you! I gave the best eight years of my life and you run around treat me like fucking dirt! I was a devoted wife to you and then you go cheat with that fucking whore and make me leave my house, the house that I picked out and let that bitch come in there and sleep in my bed I fucking hate you! I wish you were dead, looking at you right now makes me wish that you were dead! Why Alex, just tell me why!"

"You really want to know why? I didn't care about you.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, I don't give a damn about you Gabriella, and I haven't for a long time. It was right after you had Kadie, that I realized that I didn't love you anymore. Almost a week after Kadie was born I met Bianca and the rest is history."

"I can't believe you Alex! After all the times we shared how could you do this to me?"

"She's pregnant Gabriella."

"Oh my God Alex…"

"Gabriella, can you please leave before I call security. I'm tired of discussing this."

"You're such a bastard Alex! Go straight to hell." Gabriella storms out of the office as she walks down the hall she breaks into tears. Gabriella didn't know where she was going she just walked. While Gabriella was walking it started to rain. She didn't care that she was getting wet at least no one could tell that she was crying since the rain was blending in with her tears.

Flashback

Gabriella got out of her car, and quickly rushed toward the front door of her house. She had some amazing news for her husband Alex. She went to the doctor's office earlier today and found out that she was pregnant. Gabriella opened the door, entered the house, and closed and locked the door.

"Alex? Baby I'm home!" Gabriella called out as she placed her briefcase on the table. Gabriella entered the living room and saw Alex's secretary, Bianca, on her sofa.

"Excuse me?" Gabriella said grabbing Bianca's attention.

"What exactly are doing in my house?"

"Gabriella." Alex said entering the living room

"Alex baby why is this woman in my house?"

"Gabriella, there's no easy way to say this." Alex said while approaching Bianca.

"I'm leaving you."

"What?" Gabriella said quietly

"I'm leaving you for Bianca, we're gonna get married in about a month."

"Alex are you serious?"

"Oh my gosh, just deal with it." Bianca said annoyingly.

"Baby, let me handle this, why don't you go on upstairs and get ready for tonight." Bianca stood up and went upstairs.

"Alex, tell me you aren't serious?"

"Look, I don't have time for this."

"I gave you the best eight years of my fucking life you better make the time for this!" Gabriella yelled getting closer to Alex

"Gabriella I'm serious get out the hell of my face!"

"Or what Alex? You know what I'm so tired of you Alex you're not going to disrespect me in my own house…" Alex slapped Gabriella in the face causing her to fall to the floor.

"You're bags are already packed, so are Kadie's. I want you to pack your bags and get out. I want nothing to do with you."

"Alex, I'm…"

"Gabriella, please your bags are already packed just get out." Alex then went upstairs and left a distraught Gabriella alone and heartbroken.

End of Flashback

Gabriella ended up at a bar, she didn't drink any alcohol just cranberry juice, she's not stupid, but she just needed to get away from everything. Then someone entered the bar and sat down next to Gabriella.

"Taylor called me, said that you wouldn't answer your phone."

"Look Troy I really need to be alone right now." Gabriella said avoiding eye contact

"Really, is that why you stormed out of Taylor's and Chad's without telling your daughter?"

"Don't you dare bring my daughter into this!" Gabriella said kind of loud grabbing the attention of a few people.

"I'm just trying to help."

"Nobody asked for your help, you don't know shit about me!"

"I would if you just tell me!"

"What if I don't want to tell you!"

"Damnit Gabriella, just stop being so fucking stubborn and tell me what the hell's going on!"

Gabriella sighed heavily

"My husband kicked me out of my house along with Kadie. He told me that he didn't love me anymore. He left me for another woman. Today he sued me for full custody of Kadie. Can you believe that? To tell you the truth I think he might win. I don't have a house, I don't have a car, he cut off all my credit cards so I don't have any money. He took everything from me."

"No he didn't Gabriella."

"Yes he did Troy you don't' know what he put me through! I never told anyone this but he used to hit me while we were married. Even when I was pregnant with Kadie he used to hit me. I remember he used to always belittle me make me feel like I was useless. But I always went crawling back even when he would push me away. Then all of a sudden he would turn back into the sweet guy I fell in love with. God, I was so dumb, to actually believe that he would change. I never thought I would ever be in this position. No one thinks that when they get that they'll ever get a divorce. When I married Alex he told me that he was gonna treat me like a princess. That he'd never hurt me, then he turns around and fucks this whore and then leaves me for her bitch ass. I feel like a fool." Gabriella then begin crying

"Gabriella listen to me, your husband didn't take anything from you. You're still here aren't you, you have your daughter, you have a place to stay, you have people here to support you, isn't that all you really need?"

"You must think I'm a mess." Gabriella said wiping her tears.

"No I don't, Gabriella remember what we said to each other after high school?"

"We said that, we'd always be there for each other."

"Exactly, so what do you think I'm doing here?" Gabriella flung herself at Troy and engulfed him in a hug. Troy was shocked at first but soon hugged Gabriella back.

"Thank you so much for listening." They pulled away from the hug. Troy wiped away a few stray from Gabriella's face.

"Anytime."

"Troy, can you pay for my drink? I don't have any cash."

"Yeah sure." Troy paid her bill and the two left the bar.

Troy walked Gabriella to the door of Taylor's and Chad's house.

"Thank you for talking to me Troy."

"You don't have to thank me Gabriella…"

"Can you not call me that, I kinda miss 'Gabs'." Gabriella said shyly not looking at Troy.

"Sure thing Gabs." It felt like they were in high school. No one knew what to say to each other, and neither of them wanted to make it awkward. Before Troy could say anything, Gabriella pressed her lips onto his. Troy didn't get a chance to respond to the kiss before Gabriella pulled away and she immediately regretted the kiss. Gabriella quickly went into the house leaving Troy outside and confused. Troy walked back to his car and left. Inside Gabriella was about to have a panic attack.

Great, just fucking great good job Gabriella. Look what you did! You just ruined any chance you had with Troy.

Gabriella sighed what was she thinking, Troy would never go out with her. He husband just left her, she has a three year old daughter, and she's one month pregnant. Not exactly number one on the date list. Gabriella only sighed and went back to her room to get some sleep.

I remember when you filled me heart with joy
Was I blind to the truth
Just there to fill the spaces?
And now you have no interest in anything that I have to say
I've allowed you to make me feel... I feel so dumb
What kind of fool am I that you so easily set me aside?

You made a fool of me
Tell me why?
You say that you don't care but we made love
Tell me why?
You made a fool of me
You made a fool of me

Fool of Me by: Me'Shell Ndegeocello