Hello! I bring to you the last chapter of Trials and Tribulations. I've been writing this all night, I had it almost done and meant to post earlier this week, but my computer broke. Sadly it was one of the few times I was writing on word and not google docs. So I have powered through to get it all done tonight, I apologize for any unedited shiftiness. I'm about to move so things have been chaotic but I wanted to post this before I hit the road.
This is the first thing I ever posted on here and I intended it to be a one-shot but I got carried away. Anyways I've enjoyed writing it (also I'm sorry for the 6 month break I took) and I hope you have enjoyed reading it. Sorry if the ending is super sappy. Thank you for sticking with it, and let me know what you think :)
I woke up to the sound of someone bustling around in the kitchen and was immediately confused considering Shay had left last night. Worried that there was some intruder I got up and changed, slowly making my way down the stairs, and carefully peeking into the kitchen. When I saw my mother walking around and putting away groceries, for a moment I wished it was a robber. I took a second to mentally prepare myself and walked in, giving her a nod when she turned to smile at me, and sat at the table.
"What are you doing?"
"Putting away food, I grabbed some groceries on my way back from the airport." I raised my eyebrows but didn't say anything. Her good mood was confusing and somewhat upsetting. "You want me to make you some eggs and toast?"
I became extremely confused then, but only responded with a quiet "sure".
She went about making me breakfast as I watched her, and observed the differences between the week and a half ago that she left (other than the fact that now she was happy. She looked bigger, as though she was eating the proper amount of food. The bags under her eyes weren't as prominent, and she almost skipped around the kitchen.
This was the mother I hadn't seen since before my dad died, and I was uncomfortable with it even though I shouldn't be.
She set a plate and fork down in front of me and took a seat the table across from me, and I started eating while keeping an eye on her. "So, what exactly brought this on?"
"What?"
"You're acting like a real mother." She sighed and opened her mouth to speak but I interrupted. "Don't even try to deny that. It's unfair to me."
"I won't deny it Gabby. I'm sorry."
I shook my head, pissed. "You know, I've thought about it a lot lately. If I was still in elementary school or something, someone probably would have figured out that I was being neglected. I would've been taken away, and put in foster care because god knows no one would take me in. But I've been self-sufficient, and taken care of myself, and no one knows. Because of that I completely ignored the fact that you've been neglecting me." My voice wasn't wavering because I was angry, not sad. I didn't want her apologizing without knowing what she was doing it for. "I've been all alone since dad died. You stuck me in this giant house that we don't need, and are always gone so you can pay the bills. But there have been tons of other solutions that you didn't want to take for god knows what reason. We could've been in a smaller house, and I could have been seeing you more than once a week. You could've spent your money on therapy, or something to cope with what happened so you could have been there for me. But you didn't. You're gone constantly so I can sit around, feeling alone and unloved, and when you are home it's like you're not here. I don't have anyone asking me how my days gone, or offering to help me study. That was the kind of things you and dad used to do. I'm sorry if I sound mean, but you've been a shit mother, and I've been left feeling like I have no family."
I bit my lip to keep from cracking, from showing any sort of emotion, but I could tell it wouldn't last for long. She had tears freely flowing down her face, The elated smile from earlier gone. I felt bad, but I was sick of no one knowing how I felt.
"I know, Gabriela. I have been terrible to you. I just, being in this house since your father died has been hard. But I didn't feel like I could let go of it. And it's led you to a lot of pain, and I'm so sorry for that." I looked at the ceiling, willing myself not to cry but failing. "I just miss him so much, and I didn't know how to cope with that. I'm so sorry for dragging you through the dirt though mija, you have to believe me."
I looked her in the eye, and broke down sobbing. As angry as I was at her for everything, I hadn't seen her look this upset since the night my father died, and even though I didn't want to believe it I knew she regretted everything. I brought my hands up, showing the heels of my hands in my eyes to will myself to stop crying, but it still took me a few minutes to completely calm down. When I did though I looked up, my head aching and my vision still blurred from the tears and nodded. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"Okay I believe you."
She got up and I stood and I wrapped my arms around her, a little uncomfortable with how tight she was squeezing me but not able to bring myself to complain.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?"
Matt shook his head. "No, I need to do this by myself."
I nodded, pulling him in for a quick kiss before smiling when he got out of the car. We were at the women's prison for Matt to visit his mother for the first time. His aunt had wanted him to go since she'd been sentenced, but he'd kept resisting. I was pretty sure him finding out what had happened between my mom and I was the final push, but I knew he had wanted to visit her. He likely just felt like he couldn't.
I brought my feet up to the dash and pulled a book out of my bag, letting myself get wrapped up in the plot again. It was only 5 minutes later when I heard the door open at looked over to see Matt back at the driver's seat.
"I can't do it Gabs." He looked absolutely panicked, and I wondered how much persuasion it would take to get him to go back in.
"Yeah, you can. What is it that you're afraid of?" He looked down and sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She's still your mom. Still the same woman she was before. I'm sure she just as nervous to see you as you are to see her." He shook his head and I gave him a small smile, using my hand to bring his head up so he could see me. "Everything's going to be okay. Once you do it once it won't be as big of a deal. You've just got to rip the band aid off."
He shook his head at me, but he looked more assured than he was before. "That's a terrible way to describe it."
I shrugged and brought my face closer to his, putting my hands on both of his cheeks. "If you go back and really feel like you can't do it, we can come back tomorrow. Or we can come back next week, or next month, as long as it takes you to be comfortable. Just try." He nodded and I gave him a quick kiss before playfully shoving him out the car.
He didn't get back in until about an hour later, and he was in a much better mood, talking my head off before we even pulled out of the parking lot.
"She said she's doing as well as she could be. She said she missed you by the way." Looking over at him grinning I could feel myself becoming happier just seeing Matts happiness. "I don't know, it was just nice, like what it was like when it was just me and her having dinner together. I missed her."
"Well I'm glad you got a chance to see her. She looks good?"
"Yeah, she doesn't look sleep deprived or anything which is good."
"Good." I looked over at Matt who was paying attention to the road, a small smile on his face. "I'm really proud of you, ya know?"
He glanced over at me. "I'm proud of you too. More than you could ever know."
"Is it weird? Having your mom at home?"
Shay and I were sitting around in my room, getting rid of old possessions and clothes that no longer fit to give to charity. My mom had kept to her promise of trying harder, and we were moving to an apartment so she didn't have to work so much to pay for the house. She'd kept to her promises so far, but I couldn't help but worry that things would go back to the way they were before.
"I guess," I responded, throwing an old shirt into a pile of clothes that was rapidly rising. "It hasn't been all that long, but things have been good."
"And you're okay with moving?"
I shrugged. "Yeah I guess. I mean I don't have to switch schools or anything so." She let out a small hum and I sighed, rolling my eyes and turning to her, knowing she had something she wanted to say. "What is it?"
"What do you mean what is it?"
"Ugh, c'mon, don't try to act like you don't have something to say."
She inched closer to me. "I don't know I'm just worried that she'll go back to how she was before. Because you know, I had to deal with that. You being miserable makes me sad, and I don't ever want you to be miserable again."
"I've been thinking about it myself. But I think she's genuine."
"How do you know?"
"I can just tell."
We heard a knock on the door and my mom opened it slightly and peeked her head in. "Gabriela, Matt's here."
"Okay, you can tell him to come up."
"Uh, mija I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with him being up here." Not used to anyone telling me what to do I held my tongue for a moment, and thankfully Shay spoke up.
"Don't worry Ms. Dawson, I'm like the biggest cockblock ever."
My mom raised her eyebrows but smiled, and obviously trusted Shay enough that she left and a minute later Matt was walking in. "I guess there is one downside to having a parent who actually pays attention to you."
They both grinned and Matt sat down, joining us in clothes sorting, interjecting every once in a while when we got rid of something he really liked on me.
"Guys school starts way too soon for my liking."
"Don't remind me," Matt said, leaning back against my bed. "Just thinking about conditioning for hockey is enough to make me want to not try out."
"So don't try out." Shay said, looking at him like he was ridiculous.
"I can't just quit hockey, that's not how something works."
"Yes it is," Shay continued to argue. "If you don't like it and you're not forced to do it, then quit."
They started arguing and although I'd normally find it annoying, it was sort of comforting. To have my best friend and my boyfriend with me, knowing they'd stick with me for a while. I'd let go of the idea of permanency, knowing everything would change eventually and I couldn't let myself get too comfortable. But I knew that they'd remain constant throughout my life, no matter what the circumstances.
"What the hell are you staring into space for?" Shay asked and I snapped out of it, turning to glare at her.
"Just daydreaming while you two were busy not helping."
School was starting in a week, and it was a Wednesday morning. I was lying around Matt's aunt's house, and we were lying around doing nothing, waiting to go get pictures for our IDs and register for a parking spot in Matt's case. We were on his bed him flat on his back with my head on his chest.
I thought about the first time I met him and let out a quiet laugh.
"What is it?"
"I really didn't want to work with you when we first became friends."
"Hey," he whined and I rolled my eyes at him. "I was a great partner."
"You basically just copied all of my answers."
"Yes but I kept you entertained."
"I guess." He poked me in the side and I squirmed. "Fine, you were incredibly entertaining."
"You know it's true."
We went quiet for another few moments again, and I thought maybe he had dozed off but spoke up again. "Why do you like me so much?"
"What do you mean?" He looked at me concerned and I smiled, hoping my face didn't show I was being serious with my question.
"I don't know, it's just you were always surrounded by all these girls like Hallie and Ashley and their friends. I couldn't have been that charming while dissecting a cat."
"What do you think you're not good enough for me or something?"
"No, not really, just wondering why-"
"Why I like you? I'm actually somewhat offended Gabs." I didn't respond, just closed my eyes wishing I hadn't even mentioned it. "I like you because you're honest, almost brutally sometimes, and you tell me things like they are. I knew I could trust you when you actually were mad about the way my dad treated me. Most people never questioned it. I think you're funny, even if it's in a sarcastic way that I normally don't enjoy. You're the most intelligent person I know, I'll protest if you don't end up valedictorian." I smiled slightly; opening my eyes and propping myself up a bit so I could look at him. "You're so beautiful it leaves me breathless sometimes."
I shook my head. "You are far too kind Matt Casey." I kissed him, deepening it quickly and running my tongue across his lip. He pulled back though. "What?"
"You're not going to tell me a ton of things you like about me?"
I shook my head, burying my face in the crook of his neck. "You are far too kind to me. You always listen, and care about what I'm saying. You're funny, and adorable, and if you don't get name best overall for superlatives, I will riot." He snorted but I shushed him and continued. "You worry about other people before yourself, and are compassionate to everyone you meet. Being around you makes my heart feel like it's swelling." I closed my eyes. "I love you. So much."
"I love you too."
We lay there until his aunt came home, and we got up going to have some conversation with her. Matt enjoyed it there. She obviously cared about him and I was glad he didn't end up somewhere terrible. Eventually it came time to head to school, and we pulled up into the parking lot.
"This is just about the last place I want to be right now."
"I know." Matt glanced over at me. "Had to happen sometime though."
"Sadly. I think things may be less complicated now though."
"How exactly?" He asked, after we both got out of the car.
"I've got you don't I?" He looked at me, almost shocked, and it wasn't long before I burst out laughing. "Wow, that was terrible. Oh my god I almost vomited."
"I was wondering if you were joking or not."
"Don't worry I was."
"Thank god," he squeezed my hand, "I was seriously concerned."
"Don't worry, it's still me. Just making cliché statements." We kept walking and once we got in the building and were surrounded by the noise of our peers. Familiar faces weren't necessarily comforting, but I was excited to get back into a routine. "By the way, hope you understand that as my boyfriend you're obligated to drive me to school in the winter."
"Huh, really? I was planning on letting you walk."
Also, on a completely different note, if you read some of my other things I would love your opinion. Do you enjoy reading one-shots or multi-chapter fics more? I love both and am willing to write both, but if people prefer one over the other I'll probably focus more on those. Anyways if you want you could let me know in the reviews or PM me or whatever, I just wanted other peoples input :)
