Chapter 11 – Step Forward
An: Well, I'm not going to make any excuses but I will say thank you for reading this story and sticking with it. So many of you love this story and so I always try every day, for at least 10 minutes, to add something so that eventually I can update it for you guys. After this I will be updating City of Angels, which I know a lot of you are looking forward to.
As well, some of you were asking about Gabriella's grandparents. Do not worry, all things will be answered in due time, just be patient.
By the way, next chapter some slight drama begins. So keep your eyes open!
Anyway, without further ado, the next chapter of Bring Me To Life.
Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was choice, falling in love with you was beyond my control – Unknown
The party continued to go at full swing inside The Scene. Chad was still vying for Taylor's attention, buying her drinks and talking to her as much as he could, trying to let her know that she was the only person in his eyes. Multiple drinks had been bought, multiple dances had been dances, and Taylor still looked as annoyed as she had when they first entered the club.
But still, that was their problem. My eyes were currently focused on the beautiful girl who was currently standing beside me.
After we had danced sufficiently long enough so that Patrick McNeil gave up and found another girl to prey upon, I led Gabriella up the stairs at the back of the club to the second floor, and proceeded to take her to the small balcony at the back of the building. The balcony overlooked the downtown skyline of Albuquerque, with the glowing lights of the skyscrapers looking almost like starts in contrast to the dark sky above. Gabriella of course was amazed at the simple beauty that was Albuquerque, and I couldn't help but be amazed at her adoration of the simple things of life.
So we spent an hour standing on the balcony, talking. Nothing extravagant, just simple talking, and yet there was nowhere else I wanted to be.
Ten minutes after we ventured outside, Gabriella shivered from the cool evening air, and so I insisted she put on my blazer. Of course, Gabriella argued that I would get cold as a result, the selfless person that she was, but I countered by saying that I didn't get cold easily, as well as the fact that I couldn't live with myself if Gabriella got sick on my account. So she accepted the blazer, and leaned over the railing, continuing our conversation.
"Look Troy!" Gabriella exclaimed, pointing to the other side of the balcony. Standing there was a large raccoon, followed by a smaller raccoon behind it, probably a baby.
"If you want I'll go scare it away. Those things are nasty buggers." I said heading towards the raccoon, before Gabriella grabbed my hand in an attempt to hold me back.
"Why?" She asked, and I turned to face her. "She's just exploring and taking her baby out on a stroll."
"She?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
"Well…" Gabriella said giggling, "I think that it's a she. I mean she's out with a baby, but I don't particularly feel like going towards her and checking myself."
"Let me get this straight Ella. You don't want me to scare her away; however you don't want to go near her because you are afraid?" I chuckled at the blush that crept onto Gabriella's face.
"She didn't do anything to you." Gabriella replied softly. "Why the unnecessary anger towards an innocent creature? I mean, she's just trying to find some food for her family, or take her baby on a little journey. She's looking after herself and her family, and she's not bothering us by standing in the corner of the balcony, so why should we do anything to harm or frighten her?"
"You're such a beautiful person." I said, not realizing what words had come out of my mouth until they were already out in the open. "You even have enough love in your heart to care for a small, irrelevant creature. Most girls would have squealed and run off of the balcony."
"It's just me, I guess." Gabriella said, shrugging.
"That's what makes you such an enchanting person." I said. Butterflies fluttered through my stomach as I felt myself losing control of my actions, absorbed only in Gabriella. Gently, I lifted Gabriella's hand and laced it through my own, turning back towards the night sky. "You care about the simple things in life. That's what makes you special."
"I'm nothing special." Gabriella mumbled. "I'm used, I'm a whore. Nobody decent would ever want to spend time with somebody like me if they knew who I really was and what I had really done."
"What does that make me?" I asked raising my eyebrow.
"Oh, I didn't mean… I mean it's not… you are decent I didn't mean you weren't… but you knew… and it's just…" Gabriella blushed a deeper red, turning her face away from me. "I didn't mean anything bad."
I chuckled again, squeezing our laced fingers. "I know what you meant. I'm just trying to say that I'm somebody, at least everyone in this club thinks so I don't necessarily agree, and yet I want to spend time with you. I think that you are an amazing person. Every word that comes out of your mouth just proves more and more how special you are. If there is anybody is the world that can't see that, then they aren't worth your time."
"Being special is just another word for being unique and different. And that doesn't mean anything. Being special doesn't mean that people will like you no matter what. It doesn't mean that people will love you." Gabriella sighed, unlacing our fingers and resting both elbows on the railing of the balcony.
It doesn't mean that people will love you. By mind was screaming at this last sentence. But I love you Gabriella! I think that you're amazing and just an alright perfect person! Anybody would be lucky to have your as their girlfriend, to have your love and be a part of your life. My heart was racing as these thoughts flooding my mind. I couldn't believe that Gabriella was thinking like that. How could she think that nobody would love her!
"I love you." I whispered.
Shit.
I don't know what had overcome my mind. My heart had completely taken over my actions, my adoration for Gabriella finally coming out. Oh well, if it's already out, why not try and make the best of the situation.
"W…what?" She asked, her eyes filled with shock.
"I love you." I said clearer, looking Gabriella straight in the eyes.
"But… how? I mean… it's just… you can't love me… I'm used…"
"You are perfect Gabriella. Inside and out."
I stared at Gabriella, evaluating her reaction. Her eyes were wide, her face had turned pale, and her arms were trembling, wrapped around her petite body. She was looking from left to right, avoiding my eyes. I reached forward, placing a hand on her shoulder, before using my other hand to lift her chin, aligning our eyes. Tears were visible in her watering eyes.
"I don't understand." She whispered, a single tear slipping from her eye and gliding down her smooth cheek. "My dad always told me that nobody could ever love me. That I was disgusting and that all that was proper of me was to sell my body. Then your family took me in, and your parents kept praising me for being such a nice person. In fact, your mom has even started saying that she loves me like her own daughter. Loves me, of all people! I mean, not even my dad ever said that to me, I was just useful to him for the sake of bringing in money. And now you, the most popular and nicest guy I've ever met, say that he loves me. Actually loves me."
"I understand this is a shock Ella. I mean, I've been told that I can't control my mouth sometimes but I never thought that it would actually lead to me revealing something you can't handle. It was ridiculously stupid of me but the past is the past and what is important is you. I know that this is a huge revelation."
"I just don't know Troy." Gabriella said. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to my chest.
"Tell me everything that's bothering you."
"It's just I don't know what love is. I don't know how to act and what's appropriate. Love is something I'm new to and… well… what if I'm bad at it?"
"That's impossible." I said gently, placing a kiss on her forehead. "However, when my mouth decided to just blurt out my feelings I didn't indent to imply anything. You know my feelings, but that's all. Nothing more is going to happen between us Gabriella – at least for the time being – until you become more comfortable and adjusted to a life where love and kindness is at the forefront."
"But… you deserve… I mean…" Gabriella stuttered.
"I deserve you Ella. However, that'll wait. For now, just be happy to know that it's possible for you to be loved. That there are people in the world who love you – my mother, my father, and most importantly me – and that is all you need. I'm going to keep taking you out like I do, spending as much time as I can with you. And at some point in the future, if – and I mean it Ella, if, not when – you feel like there is something between us greater than just friendship, you let me know and we'll deal with things."
"What did I do to be lucky enough to have you in my life?" Gabriella murmured, nuzzling her face into my chest.
"I ask myself the same question every single day."
A comfortable silence fell between us, and the raccoon headed off of the balcony accompanied with her baby, somehow sensing that Gabriella and I just wanted to be alone.
Together.
I woke up the next morning feeling exhilarated. Like a giant weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. My feelings were out in the open with Gabriella, and now the ball was in her court to determine how things progressed, if they progressed at all.
Was I stupid to have revealed my love last night? Of course.
Did I regret saying to her? No.
I didn't regret anything because I knew that Gabriella needed to know that love was possible. Gabriella and I spent the rest of the evening talking on the balcony, with my arm wrapped around her. An hour later, a defeated-looking Chad emerged on the balcony informing us that he was headed home – apparently Taylor had left ten minutes previous claiming she was bored and was more interested in reading a book. Gabriella at that point expressed that she was tired and wanted to head to bed, and so the three of us departed.
I still had an amazing night.
Walking into the kitchen, I headed towards the fridge and pulled out the milk carton, pouring myself a glass and subconsciously humming to myself as I proceeded to make myself and Gabriella some waffles. Unbeknownst to me, my parents were sitting at the kitchen island drinking coffee.
"Ummm Troy, what are you doing?" My mom asked gently.
"Making breakfast?" I responded, unsure why they were asking.
"But son," my dad continued, looking down at his watch, "It's not even nine in the morning on a Sunday. You never wake up this early unless you have to, and even then you are cranky."
"I guess I just slept so well that when I woke up this morning I felt in a good mood." I shrugged, placing the waffles in the toaster. "Do you want any?" I asked.
"Up early and offering to make breakfast?" Lucille asked shocked.
"What happened to our son?" Jack continued with the teasing.
"Oh shut up." I replied back. The toaster beeped as the waffles popped out, crisp and golden-yellow. I grabbed then and placed them on two plates, two on each plate, before placing them on a tray. I added some maple syrup, as well as two bowls of fruit, and quickly descended towards the back porch.
"Where are you going?" My dad asked.
"To put out the breakfast. Gabriella's already up, I heard her rummaging around in her room, so I figured we could have breakfast together before we had to get started on our homework for tomorrow." I replied simply. "Gabriella promised she'd help me with English today, we're studying Shakespeare and I have no clue how to decipher his words, so I figured I'd so something nice to her before we got started."
"Troy we have to talk to you." My mother said a serious look on her face.
"Can it wait a bit mom? I mean please, Gabriella is just about to come downstairs and I have a lot of stuff to do today. We can talk tomorrow right? Nothing is that important that it can't wait until tomorrow." I raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I think it would be – "
"Would be best if we talked about it tomorrow, you're right Troy." My dad interrupted, grabbing my mom's hand and leading her away from the table. "Let the kids have a fun Sunday, it's the last day before they have to start school again, and we'll talk tomorrow when they get back from school." He looked at my mother sternly, as if to keep quiet. My mother nodded, before turning back towards me. She opened her mouth to say something, but Gabriella wandered into the kitchen, dressed in a pale blue dress with a white sweater on top.
"Good morning!" She said cheerfully, and I couldn't help but stare at her beauty.
"Good morning sweetheart." My mother said gently, giving Gabriella a small hug before turning towards my dad. "Well, we're going to go upstairs for a little while, but Troy we'll talk tomorrow. Enjoy your breakfast." She said, before turning and heading out of the room with my father.
"What do they want to talk to you about?" Gabriella asked curiously, walking towards me with a confused look on her face.
"They probably just want me to volunteer at their next charity event or something." I said shrugging. "It's not that big of a deal because they realized they can wait to talk to me about it." I smiled at Gabriella, grabbing her hand and leading her out to the back porch. "But right now, m'lady, we have breakfast to attend to. I made you my world-famous waffles with maple syrup, with a side of strawberries."
"Chocolate-covered?" she asked, then giggled.
"Unfortunately not, however I'll keep that in mind for tomorrow." I said winking. "Besides that, is everything to your satisfaction?" I asked.
"It's perfect." She replied, smiling.
We continued to have a peaceful breakfast, with many laughs shared between the two of us. However, I would live to regret not speaking to my parents that morning and postponing that conversation for the next day. I would live to regret spending the rest of that Sunday doing homework with Gabriella instead of just having a good time with her.
It's not like what was going to happen was going to be terrible and my world was going to end. However, news would come that I would regret not knowing sooner.
Because tomorrow my life would change.
Because tomorrow my happiness would diminish.
Because tomorrow, the word perfect would no longer be able to apply, at least for the time being.
*Bites nails* Please tell me what you guys think! Review and Comment!
Xoxo,
Lar
