Telling the Montezs

Troy waited outside while Gabriella went to break it to her parents- Gabi deciding it best.

Gabriella was so nervous she just stood there as her mom stared at her, worried.

"Gabi, are you okay?" Mrs. Montez asked, looking concerned from her daughter's strange behavior.

"Mom…." Gabi started, but Mr. Montez stopped her.

"You know?" Mr. Montez asked.

Gabi's eyes filled with curiosity. "Know what?"

"Oh….Oh nothing," Mrs. Montez smiled, shooting a glare at her husband. "Go on sweetie…what do you want to tell us?"

"Mom….I'm pregnant."

The room was so silent you could hear a hair drop. No one moved. No one breathed.

Silence.

For a minute, anyway.

"Is it with….that boy!" Mrs. Montez exclaimed, disgustedly, stringing off Spanish swear words by the dozen, "I knew he was trouble from the start…..he probably drinks and smokes and…."

"MAMI!" Gabi yelled, "Please!"

Gabi gulped, then turned to her Papa.

"Papa…."

"Gabi darling….there is something we should've told you….."

"No Peter---- she's not ready…..don't tell her yet…."

"Tell me!"

"Gabi……your mami and I have arranged for your marriage to someone already."

"WHAT!"

"Gabi….it's for the best, they're a nice Spanish family. Pepito has a good job, and easy on the eyes…. and I'm sure if we abort the baby and Pepito doesn't know anything, we'll be fine." Mrs. Montez said.

Gabi looked at her parents with hurt eyes. "WHAT?"

"I'm not marrying some stranger I don't know….I'm perfectly fine with Troy….."

Gabi's mother grabbed Gabi's shoulders. "Gabi…..you're what? Eighteen? How will you raise the baby? Eh? You don't have a job, and neither does Troy….how will you SURVIVE! You will loose face darling, trust me. I had a friend…Maria DeGargo, I think that was her name. She was pregnant when she was only nineteen….she dropped out of college with her boyfriend…but they had nowhere to go. They lost face, I was Maria's only remaining friend during the pregnancy. I don't know what happened to her, after her 8th month she and her boyfriend disappeared. But is THAT the life you want, Gabi? IS IT?"

Gabi listened. And she wondered if her mother was right….she could do so much…but with the pregnancy it would stop her…from going to college to ending her aspiring singing career. God, she's right. I can't do this. I have to abort the baby. It's the only option.

"But what about the cost of the abortion? I don't know much about them, but I don't think they're cheap." Gabi murmered.

"Don't worry darling," Gabi's mother smiled, "I'll take care of it…if you agree to date Pepito. Just ONE date. You can say no, or yes after."

Gabi sighed, then whispered, "One date." and she quietly walked out the door.

Gabi went back outside. Troy jumped up, demanding the news.

Gabi looked at him, the same look she had given him so many years ago, when they were in high school and Gabi was about the break up with him. The sad, but I know what I'm doing look.

"Troy," Gabi said, pausing, "I need to abort the baby. It's the only option."

Troy looked confused. "What do you mean? I thought we agreed that we would keep the baby."

Gabi sighed. "Troy…there's so many things I can do without the baby."

Troy nodded. "I understand. But this won't hurt our relationship…will it?"

Gabi looked at her shoes. "I'm going to date a guy…"

Troy looked shocked. Positively shocked. "WHAT?"

"Troy….."

"No, I understand."

"You do?"

"You want to break- up, huh?"

"NO- I mean, yes, I – no! I mean, well, in a way……"

"Look Gabi…you don't HAVE to continue this relationship if you don't want to."

Gabi squinted her eyes. "Who are you to jump to conclusions?"

Troy ruffled his hair. "Well, why are you going to date a guy?"

"I don't love him…"

"Do you love me!"

"Not when you're acting like that!" she spat.

"I'm sorry, but just tell me why you're dating him!"

Gabi wasn't sure what to say. She didn't want Troy to find out about her mami's arranged marriage, I mean, Gabi's plan was to date Pepito, give him the thumbs down, go back to Troy, he doesn't know a thing, happily ever after. She tought up the quickest lie…and also the most lamest.

"I-I..I want to date other guys, you know? See other people. I mean, there maybe someone better than you that…."

"Excuse me?"

"GOD TROY!" she yelled.

Troy looked taken aback.

"I DON'T LOVE HIM OK! I just- I'm not sure how to say it! You're acting like I have to be commited to you! I can date guys if I WANT TOO! You ARE NOT the boss of me!" she yelled, hormone-crazed.

"FINE!" Troy yelled, angry.

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

Gabi stormed back into the house, and SLAMMMMMMMED the door shut.

Mrs. Montez watched from upstairs. "Perfect," she muttered, "He was never good enough for her, I'm glad she can finally see it."