"The doctor said you should be eating a lot more protein if you want to have an easy and healthy pregnancy, babe." Troy shouted as Alison clambered down the stairs.
"I know, Troy, you don't have to keep telling me, I CAN look after myself, you know?" Alison replied.
"I know, but I just want you healthy is all."
"I know, honey, I know."
It had been almost 9 months since Gabriella left Troy in that gym and not a moment went past that he didn't think about it. The way she left as quickly as she had come back, the way her eyes filled with despair and hopelessness. Although he couldn't shrug off the feeling that he had let her down so badly, but there were more important matters to think about now. His son. It could be any day that Troy would meet him and with a mixture of nerves and excitement, Troy was nearly about ready to burst but Gabriella was never far from his trail of thoughts. Troy rubbed Alison's baby bump with anticipation, kissed Alison on the cheek and made his way to work.
"I trust you'll be back before it gets dark." Alison aired.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" he answered confusedly.
"Oh I don't know, maybe out fucking your 'High School Sweetheart'." She smirked.
"No, that's only on weekends. Bye honey!" He sauntered off, leaving Alison dumbfounded.
Their relationship never had been quite the same, since the day he left her 9 months ago, there wasn't a day that went by, where Alison didn't make a snide comment about Gabriella, and Troy learnt to just roll with the punches. At least he was trying, yeah he may be having some fun with it but at least the effort was being made. He fixed his tie and opened the door to his beat up Chevrolet and drove into the distance just as the sun began to rise.
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"You made a rebel of careless man's careful daughter; you were the best thing, that's ever been mine."
"Gabriella, that was beautiful sweetie...now get back to work!" Her boss screamed.
Gabriella had been working at forever 21 for a couple of months now, ever since Ryan and her broke up, she couldn't afford to live by herself and had to pick up an extra job just to break even. The music industry took a hit in the summer, so her record wasn't one for her to rely on paying the bills. Yet she still loved to entertain the customers that came in to the fitting rooms every once and a while!
"Sorry, Sheila won't happen again." She giggled. She went back to sorting out the clothes, when she heard a sound of a male's voice echo through the changing room.
"Umm excuse me, this fitting room is for women only, if you want to try something on I'd be happy to show you..." She trailed off as she noticed who it was. "The front door!" She shoved the curtain closed and walked to tell security to escort the gentleman out.
"Gabriella, please, I don't mean no harm I was just looking round for something to buy...the new baby." He pleaded.
"You're having a boy." She bluntly said, without even turning to look at him.
"Hey this is the 21st Century; loads of guys wear women's clothes and accessories."
"Cut the crap, Troy, what do you want?" she rolled her eyes.
"To make sure that you were ok, that's all."
"I'm fine, never been better." She brushed off and she retreated back to sorting out the clothes. "How do you know I work here, anyway? Let me guess, you saw me one day and been following me ever since?!" She mocked.
"Hey don't be rude, that was the best thing I ever did, if it wasn't for that we wouldn't have got back together."
"Or broken up `cos of your pregnant wife." She remained cool and collected and only was it when Troy slipped his arm around her waist did she sucks in her breath.
"I still love you, Gabs." He breathed in the scent of her shampoo, the fragrance of her perfume, and he felt at ease, calm and safe.
It took a moment, but she finally answered. "You should go, go home to your pregnant wife, it was a mistake to ever betray her in the first place, but I won't when there is a baby on the way." She violently ripped herself away from his grasp. "You know where the exit is." And with that, she walked off.
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Troy felt like an idiot as he drove home, how could he have ever thought Gabriella would be happy to see him? He thought to himself. He regretted even going back down that road, but he couldn't help it, he was besotted with her, he couldn't get her out of his head and when he made love to Alison it was Gabriella that was on his mind.
As he pulled up to the driveway he was blocked by two ambulance vehicles.
"Oh fuck, Alison!" he screamed as he bolted from his car through the crowds of neighbours and into his front door. "ALISON!" he looked around and noticed her lying on the floor, blood on the carpet and a newborn in her arms.
"Congratulations, you're a dad." The paramedic cheered. But nothing was to prepare him for what was to follow.