What Happened to Daddy's Little Girl?
No one's Pov:
Vanessa's feet padded against the cold ground making chills run up her tiny body. It was almost pitch black out, probably about 9 o'clock or so. There was only one street lamp illuminating the way for her. If anyone were to walk by, they would immediately see the sacredness in hr eyes. Now and then she would let out small whimpers when she heard animals scurrying around her.
No doubt she would need a bath later due to the muddy ground. Her feet were probably black by now, frozen too.
Just as she came to the right house, she tripped on a protruding branch, making her land on the grass. She whimpered as her arms broke her fall. Not letting that stop her from reaching her goal, she carefully stood up. Her legs shook as a gust of wind blew.
"Boo boo." She said quietly to herself. She walked up the lawn, but as soon as her eyes focused on the tall house's front steps she got scared. She wouldn't be able to make it up by herself. They were twice as tall as the ones she has at home
Seeing a light on, she walked towards the backyard. As she got closer she heard people talking and lucky for her there was no gate. She walked quietly hoping to find who she was looking for.
Taylor's Pov:
Sharpay and I were sitting on the deck talking. We both had warm blankets to keep us from the night's breeze. She was telling me about how one store didn't have anything in pink and I was pretending to listen. I nodded my head occasionally and said my 'oohs and ahh's' as needed. She seemed satisfied.
Out of no where Sharpay stops talking. Now that caught my attention. Maybe she got distracted by something shiny.
After about a few seconds, I started to become troubled.
"What? You stopped mid-sentence." Her face looked confused. Her eyebrows knitted together. Her index finger flew to her mouth, signaling me to be quiet.
"Listen. I hear something." She whispered. Her eyes went from side to side, looking around. I rolled my eyes and tried to listen, though I don't know what I am listening for.
Now I heard it too. I heard someone babbling and footsteps. Both Sharpay and I got up from our chairs and stood at the edge of the porch. Everyone else was inside so they couldn't be of much help. As the sound got closer we started to see a shadow. Slowly, it started to get bigger and bigger. Starting to get nervous, I backed up a step and waited, debating whether to run inside or not.
I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. In front of us was the tiny toddler babbling away. Though I'm pretty sure it wasn't words, it was still cute. Looking around, I didn't see anyone with her. She couldn't have come by herself, could she? Glancing over at Sharpay she had the same worried look as I did.
Not knowing what to do, we both watched her. Her pants were muddy along with her feet. She stopped right as she got to the porch steps and looked up at us. She gave us a toothy smile and lifted her arms up.
"Vanessa sweetheart, where's your daddy?" I asked her while picking her up. She looked up at me.
"Dada Mama!" She whimpered and rubbed her eye. Sharpay was still wide-eyed not knowing what to say. I rubbed Vanessa's back while she put her head on my shoulder.
"Shar where's Troy?" He would probably want to take care of this. How does a two year old even think to run away?
"He's inside with Gabi. That last time I saw them they were in the kitchen." She told me.
"Let's go." We both walked into the house. I felt Vanessa start to relax as the warm air hit her.
Going into the kitchen, I found both Troy and Gabriella. Gabi was sitting on the counter while Troy stood in between her legs. His arms wrapped around her while Gabi's legs wrapped around him. They were both talking quietly to each other.
"Guys, I think we have a runaway." Sharpay said walking in front of me.
"Why?" Troy questioned. His arms remained around Gabriella.
I walked further into the kitchen so Troy and Gabriella could see who Sharpay was talking about.
Almost instantly, Troy helped Gabi off the counter and they both ran to me.
Troy's Pov:
As I looked at Vanessa, a bunch of feelings were running through me. I didn't know whether to be angry that she ran away, relieved that she is safe, worried because I see I scratch on her, or concerned about Carlos. I don't even know the best way to handle this.
"Dada." She whimpered and reached her arms out to me. Does she not know what she has just done? I needed a minute or two to collect my thoughts; I had to talk to Carlos. I walked past them, pulling out my cell phone in the processMy fingers fumbled over Carlos number as I walked up the stairs.
Closing the door of my room shut, I waited anxiously for him to answer.
"Hello?" I heard Carlos pick up, but it didn't sound like him. His voice sounded worn out almost as if he were crying. Maybe he was just scared about Vanessa.
"Don't worry she's with me." I sighed and sat down on the bed. For a minute I thought we had gotten disconnected because he didn't talk for a while.
"What are you talking about?" He asked me as if I were crazy. Maybe that wasn't why he sounded the way he did.
"You don't know.." He cut me off.
"Know what?"
"Vanessa ran away. Well, she ran to my house. Taylor found her outback." He was quiet for a moment.
"God damn it I left the door opened when I took out the garbage." He whispered in fury.
"It's a common mistake. You didn't know she was going to run out." I assured him.
"No, you don't understand. I'm outside by the trashcans still. I was thinking about a few things and I guess I got side tracked. How could I let this happen? What if my baby girl had gotten hurt, or kidnapped?" He was blaming himself. I felt even worse about this whole thing.
"How do I handle this?" I was new to this whole being a parent thing.
"First of all keep her with you for tonight. You have to be stern with her Troy. I know you don't want to, but you have to teach her not to run away. Don't be afraid to yell at her or be stern. If she sees that you are mad at her, then she most likely won't do it again." The last thing I wanted to do was yell at her. I don't believe that solves anything.
"Alright, I'll call you tomorrow. Don't worry." I assured him and hung up the phone.
After slipping it back into my pocket, I walked out of my room. I heard video games going on in another room, most likely Chad and Ryan playing. Walking down the stairs, I was only met with Gabi and Vanessa. Vanessa was gripping onto Gabi's shirt. Her feet were filthy.
"Try and be mad at her. What she did was wrong." I whispered into Gabi's ear.
Taking Vanessa from Gabi I settled her into my arms without so much as a smile. She placed a wet kiss on my cheek while I tried my hardest to not acknowledge it. She tugged on my shirt trying to get my attention, but I responded with taking Gabi's hand in mine and walking upstairs.
"Dada." She poked my cheek, causing me to unlink my hands with Gabi and take Vanessa's so she wouldn't do that. She sat there pouting in my arms and it took every bit of me to keep a stern face and ignore her.
Walking into the bathroom, I set Vanessa on the floor and turned started Vanessa's bath. She needed one. She was full of dirt.
As I undressed her, she squirmed and raised her arms up to Gabi. Though I was being gentle with her, I don't think she liked not getting a reaction out of me. Even something as simple as rubbing her back she loved.
Gabriella shook her head 'no' and sat on the bathroom counter. I was impressed. She didn't so much as break a smile.
I checked the temperature, making sure that it wasn't too hot, before I put Vanessa in. Now the hard part comes. I need to find a way to tell her not to run away, but I need to put it in words she can understand.
Grabbing the soap off the ledge, I took one of her feet and tried to get all the mud off. I looked at her for the first time as I did this.
"Vanessa, running away is very bad. You can't run away again. It made everyone very sad and scared." I spoke to her using little force in my voice. The last thing I wanted to do was make her scared of me by yelling.
"I sowwy." Vanessa looked down at the scratch on her arm.
Gabriella came over to me and sat down. Using her finger, she lifted Vanessa's chin so she would look at her.
"Why did you run away, hun?" Gabriella softly asked.
"Mama Dada no love me." I heard the little girl whimper. I stopped washing her feet and turned to her. What on earth would make her think that?
"That's not true, Vanney."
"You leaved me." She sure knew how to melt anyone's heart. I quickly finished washing her, making sure that there was no more dirt on her. I waited before answering her.
Grabbing a towel off the hanger, I rested it on the floor. Lifting Vanessa out of the tub, I stood her on the bath mat while I wrapped the oversize towel around her small frame. I then cuddled her into my chest. She snuggled into me while sucking her thumb.
"Van, just because we moved two houses down doesn't mean we don't love you. Mommy and I love you very much." Vanessa nodded her head.
"We will always love you, no matter what." Gabi assured her.
"Pwomise?"
"We promise, but no more running away!" Gabi and I both tickled her and music filled our ears.
"Otay."
"Alright, now let's get you to bed because it is way way way past your bedtime." I heard Gabi say. I hadn't even thought to check the clock. Standing up with Gabi and Vanessa in my arms, we both walked out of the bathroom.
While walking back to out room, we were met with Sharpay and Taylor.
"We thought you might need this," Taylor handed Gabi a bag. Looking inside it I saw Vanessa's clothes.
"Thanks guys. How was Carlos?" I asked them. I watched them both exchange glances.
"He was just a little shook up. We calmed him down, but he will be fine." They assured me.
I nodded and they walked back to their room.
Laying Vanessa on the floor, Gabi emptied the contents in the bag.
"We will have to thank Sharpay," Gabi said while looking at all the pink clothes. I smiled and nodded.
After making sure she was dry, I slipped pull-ups on her.
"Boo boo," Vanessa said and pointed to the scratch on her arm. She rolled over on her stomach and crawled over to me.
"Well, let me see that." I stood her up and looked at her arm. It didn't look bad, only red. Placing a kiss on her arm, she giggled.
"All better?" I asked her.
"No." She shook her head and toddled over to Gabi. Gabi did the same thing, making Vanessa smile.
"Otay me ok." She exclaimed and walked back over to me. I slipped her pajamas on, which consisted of a pink long sleeve shirt and matching sweatpants.
I lifted her into my arms, and sat on the bed next to Gabriella.
"Goodnight," Gabi and I both whispered.
"Night night mama dada."
She snuggled into my chest. I rubbed her back in soothing circles. Her eyes started to droop close.
It wasn't long until I heard her even breaths.
"T, we don't have a bed for her." Gabi whispered. It was hard to see her through the dark room.
"We're going to have to put her in our bed." I whispered back. We both stood up. Gabriella pulled the thick covers down, and I carefully laid Vanessa down in the middle of the bed.
Both of us changed into our pajamas. It wasn't until I laid down until I saw what time it was. How did it get to be 11 already?
Vanessa snuggled into me left side while I waited for Gabi to return. I lined the other side of her with pillows just incase she moved in her sleep.
Feeling a dip in the bed, I felt Gabi craw on top of me. Her arms wrapped around my neck while I covered us with the blanket. She wore only one of my Sweatshirt and a pair of black underwear. One of my hands rested just below her butt, while the other slipped under her sweatshirt. I loved caressing the soft skin on the small of her back.
I felt her warm lips kiss my neck. She looked up at me and I leaned down to kiss her. My tongue gently ran along her bottom lip. She opened them giving me the opportunity to caress her tongue with mine. Her hands slipped under my shirt as she straddled me.
As much as I didn't want to, I broke the kiss. She pouted and sat back down on my lap, one of her legs on both side of me.
"Baby girl, we can't. Vanessa's in here." I whispered still trying to catch my breath from before.
I ran my fingers through her tangled hair and looked into the eyes of the beautiful girl in front of me.
Tell me what you think? Anything you want to see with Gabi and Troy in the next chapter? Suggestions are welcome!