Okay, so I will admit, I got WAY less reviews than I thought I would :( And I thought that was a good chapter! I hardly think that!
I should have updated All That I Am Living For/WWB before this, but this just poured out. However, WWB is well on it's way and ATIALF is coming along...just slowly. I'm trying to get something right that I cannot just yet. It should be out shortly.
Please keep reviewing! I need those reviews!
I hope your holidays were good. Please review.
Named I'm So Sick after Flyleaf. The words actually kinda match this one!
3 Weeks Later
"Troy," I shifted over on the couch away from him, trying not to laugh.
He didn't respond and kept his feet up no the coffee table and his laid back pose as he continued to play the game. We were quiet for a minute until his fingers made their way over to my side.
"Troy!" I squeaked, pausing the game so I could turn to him. "Stop that just because I'm winning!" I ordered, again, trying not to laugh.
He snorted. "Please, I'm letting you win," he insisted, making me instantly glare. "I mean, babe, you're the shit," he corrected himself.
"You're not allowed to let me win!" I whined.
"Brie, you have a cast, did you seriously think you were winning?" he questioned me. I huffed and tossed my controller to the recliner across from me. "Fine, be a bad sport," he copied my actions, then got up to turn off the Xbox and change the channel. He sat back down closer than he was before (which was pretty close) and his arms wound around me. "I still love you," he said into my ear.
I smiled a little. "I didn't think you suddenly stopped," I mumbled, holding back my laughter. I relaxed into his arms. "I get my cast off in two weeks, Booboo," I replied, nuzzling our faces together.
He smiled back at me. "I know," he responded, lifting my t-shirt up to see my still apparent scar, but my stitches were gone. His hand rested over it while my arms laced loosely around his shoulders, my cast free hand resting on the back of his neck.
"Hm, your hand is warm," I whispered.
His smile turned into a smirk. "My mouth is warm too," he informed me.
I shook my head. "No," I denied him.
"Brie, it's been three weeks!" he seemed to need to remind me.
"It's been one week, we've only been allowed to have sex for one," I corrected him.
"So?" he questioned. "Gabriella, come on, I don't care about your cast!" he exclaimed, annoyed.
I sighed. "I am, and I can't get turned on or in the mood, so deal," I stated. "It's two more weeks, I'm sure you can handle it," I insisted.
He whined and buried his head into my midsection, probably because he wanted to be close to my boobs. I'm wearing a light jean skirt that has strings hanging from the seam and a dark blue sleeveless top with a slightly revealing lacy neckline and Troy's varsity ring, along with a few dark beaded bracelets. "You're killing me," he mumbled.
I combed his hair with my fingers. "You'll be fine, only two weeks," I said.
"I haven't gone two weeks since before I took your virginity," he told me. He smiled a moment later. "I like that I took your virginity," he stated. He smiled wider. "I really like it."
I laughed as his oddness. "Ok?" I replied. "Why is that coming up now?" I wondered.
He turned over so he was lying down with his head in my lap. I put a pillow underneath his head. "There is this thing that guys think, like; once you take a girl's virginity you can basically fuck them for life. So, I'm glad I took yours," he explained.
"Oh, is that what we do, huh? Fuck?" I pretended to get angry.
"When you are thinking about it verb wise, to fuck to have intercourse, yes. But, when you think about it emotionally and what fucking is noted as these days, no, that is not what we do," he replied.
Aw. "Aw, Troy," I said before bending to kiss him.
He sat up towards me a little to meet me half way. "I know, I'm adorable, so have sex with me," he murmured as we parted.
I smiled down at him. "No, sorry," I apologized. He groaned and fell back to my lap. It's kinda funny for me to see him like this. I don't know why, it just is. "Two more weeks, Troy Booboo," I reminded him in an annoying girlie voice.
"That will be five weeks!" he exclaimed, sitting up.
I slipped my non-casted hand up his shirt. "I can still do stuff to you with my mouth and one hand," I told him in a low voice.
"Will you let me do stuff back to you even though you have a new black cast?" he questioned. I had to get a new cast last week due to an accident at the pool. And, thinking logically as a girl, I got a black one that would work with outfits and not to mention would be signed by an awesome silver Sharpie marker.
"Hmm, I think it would be unfair for you to not reciprocate," I replied.
Troy instantly stood and began to pull me through the house to his room. I was laughing on the way. "Mom!" Troy said in shock and pulled me right into his back once he stopped. "I, uh, thought you went to do something with Britta."
UGH. Britta, AKA Brittany. He calls her that, it's like his own little nickname for her therefore I want to slit her throat. I'M his girlfriend, I get the cute nickname, and he should STOP calling her by his cutesy nickname for her. "Hi, Mrs. Bolton," I greeted, peaking out from behind my boyfriend.
"Gabi!" she seemed to notice me. Brittany was obviously with her, wearing jeans and a slutty Sharpay-esque top with matching high heels. I literally hate this girl. She brings out all my insecurities, gets me and Troy into more fights than we have had throughout out entire relationship, and somehow convinces everyone we get along, but when we are alone (this is minimal, trust me) she is a complete bitch. I told Troy, and he said he knew she would, but to ignore her. It's hard to ignore a girl who gets so completely under your skin you wan to jump into a fire pit just hoping she'll feel the pain too. Yes, my hatred as gone this far.
She came forward to hug me quickly. "Troy told me you needed a new cast," she commented, looking at my wrist.
I nodded. "Yeah, and they said I can get it off a week earlier than expected, so only two more weeks," I informed her.
"That's good," she responded.
"I know, I can't wait," I said with a smile. I love Troy's mom. She is so kind, and understanding and accepting of us it's hard not to like her. My mom was so hesitant with us while she is all for it. She said she knows her son better than anyone and she would know if he was in love or not. He's in love. He never was with Brittany. Me and her sat down and had a long talk one night. I was waiting for Troy to return from a late night basketball game with his friends so we could go out for a walk and talk due to our previous fight over Brittany, shocker, right?
"So, what were you two up to?" Brittany wondered while popping a grape into her mouth and smiled happily at Troy.
Troy scratched the back of his head. "Uh, I was going to go get my shoes so we could go out," he lied.
"Hunny, you're wearing shoes," his mom reminded him.
He looked down. "I already got my shoes, now I am going back for my keys, duh," he lied once more.
"I thought you promised your mom to eat at home tonight," Brittany spoke up. "Remember? You've been working or out with her all week," she said, her eyes flicking towards me at the 'her.' My eyes narrowed at her in response. Doesn't she have any friends? Like, stop hanging out with your ex boyfriend's mom so much, it's getting sad already (even if Lucy is awesome).
Lucy looked to her son. "That's true, Troy," she agreed.
Troy ran a hand through his hair, thinking about what to do. He wants to ask me to dinner, but knows Brittany is staying as well, so I will not have fun staying. He knows that me not staying is about as bad for me as staying because I'll hate he's with her for dinner.
"I have to go anyways," I solved his problem.
He turned on me. "Brie, no, we said we were going hang out because we've been... working all week," he reminded me. What he really wanted to say was fighting all week, so we wanted to make today a fun day without any of this. Of course, Brittany ruins everything.
I shrugged. "Its okay, my mom will want me home anyways," I lied, but he knew it was a lie for his mom and not him, so it wasn't like I was lying to him. I was lying for myself.
"Can I at least walk her home, Mom?" Troy asked of his mother, probably giving her his pout face.
"Be home in ten, Troy, I mean it. It was nice seeing you, Gabriella, maybe you and Troy can stay for lunch tomorrow if you don't work," she invited me.
"I don't, so I'll definitely come by," I promised, leading Troy out of the back door. "Have a nice night," I said, before opening the door to leave.
I quickened my steps on the porch and throughout the yard. "Come on, Brie," Troy stopped me by the arm underneath the canopy of Chad's backyard's trees. "I forgot I promised my mom dinner tonight. Me and you have been... talking at night every day this week, or I was with the guys, or working," he said.
"We've been 'talking' at night because of her," I corrected him. "Troy, she ruins everything, don't you see that?" I questioned.
"Of course I see that," he replied.
"Then, why do you let her?" I asked, throwing my hands up in annoyance.
"Why do you?" he responded. "You know how she is, I know how she is, stop letting her come between us," he said like he always does.
I shook my head. "I'm going home," I mumbled, turning around.
"No," Troy denied, grabbing my arm again. "I am sick of fighting with you, Gabriella. Why are you still jealous? Almost everyday we have the same damn fight and I am sick of it. Brittany means nothing, you mean everything, you're mine and I am yours, get it through your thick head, please," he told me.
I ignored his 'thick head' comment. "Have you told her that?" I demanded to know. He was quiet. "Have you said 'Brittany, you know that Latina you hate, my girlfriend? I love her, I want to marry her some day, a while from now, but I know I want to. She's everything and you're nothing'?" I asked. He couldn't look into my eyes. "Exactly."
"I'm not that much of a douche; I can't walk up to her and say that. It's too mean," he replied.
"Why do you care about her?" I wondered, running a hand through my hair. "I don't get it," I stated.
"Yeah, I don't get it either," he agreed. I widened my eyes. He cares about her? He was supposed to say he doesn't and fight me on it! "Gabriella, it's not like that," he instantly told me.
I was already walking away. "This time, don't come after me, don't call me, don't anything. Have a good dinner," I ordered and was already out of sight before I knew how to wrap my mind around this.
He cares about her. He cares about her? I can't believe he fuckin' cares about her. What the fuck? What just happened? My house was unusually loud when I walked in. My house is usually loud, but not this way. This wasn't my brother's fighting, or my sister's, or something of the sort. This was my parents screaming at each other in Spanish. They never fight in Spanish unless it's something they absolutely do not want us to know about. And, when they fight, they have never screamed before. They just acted weird around each other until we went to bed and then fought after so we didn't know went on.
I found my siblings in the living room, my sister's were teary eyed, my older brother's looked upset, Alex was crying on Belle's shoulder, and Vince looked like he was about to. "What's going on?" I asked, terrified deep into my core. What happened?
Serena spoke up; of course we know what they are saying in Spanish when Serena is around. Spanish is her minor in college. "Mami found out that Papi..." she shook her head. She wiped her face. Part of me wished Kris was here to help her. He's with his family right now, and has been for about a month. He's due back late this week, actually.
"He cheated on her," Lucas spit out.
"No, he didn't, shut up!" Vince exploded, standing up from his chair.
"Yes, he did! He cheated on her, you heard what Serena said!" Lucas insisted, just as angry.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out? Papi... no, he couldn't have. He... he's Papi. He would never... what?
"She's wrong!" Vince practically yelled.
My older sister sense kicked in and I walked up to him and wrapped him up in a hug. He began to cry against my shoulder while holding me tight and I tried to hold my own tears in. This can't be true. "It's going to be okay, Vinny," I assured him. I bit my lip afterwards wondering if I had just lied to my little brother.
The next morning I woke up to my phone beeping. I groaned before rolling over, only to come in contact with another body. My little brother groaned just like me and I remembered Vince was in my bed. "We should just move in together," he mumbled.
I almost laughed, but my mind went back to yesterday, and I couldn't muster it. I don't know how long the yelling went on, but right when it ended, our parents came out to talk to us about what was going on. The conversation didn't last very long before we all got upset.
My mom and dad stood a foot apart at the end of the table and they both looked... raw somehow. My mom who was always so strong looked weak. My dad who always was the joker with a smile on his face looked as though he would never smile again. This all seemed so surreal. My father couldn't have done what Serena translated, it's impossible.
My eyes squeezed shut so I wouldn't cry before they even told us what was going on. Vince's grip on my hand tightened, and it wasn't like with Troy squeezed mine for comfort, it was like he needed the comfort, but I didn't know how to give it, not then.
"Your father and I," my mother finally began with her head held high. She stopped for a moment before speaking again. She coughed. "We know you know what we were talking about," she went on. Serena looked a little guilty for translating when she knew our parents probably did not want us to know what they were discussing. "And, we want you to know that no matter what your father and I are going through, we are still your parents," she said.
What? What does that matter? Is it true? I think we were all confused.
"What your mother is trying to say is," my dad spoke up. I saw Felix tense. He had never seemed so angry. He had been so quiet before; I didn't know how he was feeling. It was like if he had respected our father less, he would have hit him or something. "That what we are going through as a couple should stay between us," he told us.
"That's bullshit," Felix stated, looking up into our father's eyes. Papi looked surprised. We never swear around our parents, let alone to them. Even my mom was shocked. "Did you do it or not?" he questioned, standing up to face him. My dad and Felix are exactly the same height, and for the first time I noticed how similar they looked, only Felix looked more muscular, and my dad wasn't a scrawny guy.
"Felix, sweetie-" Mami began, obviously trying to protect my dad, but Felix interrupted her.
"Papi," he said. "Did you do it?" he demanded to know, never looking more like a man to me than at that moment.
Tears formed in my eyes. This is already changing so much. I grabbed Vince's hand with both of mine, holding it reassuringly, trying to get comfort for myself, I think.
My dad was quiet for a moment, and that moment was all we needed to know the truth. He had done it; he had cheated on my mom. How...? Why? When? WHY? Before my dad could officially answer the question, Vince out was out of his chair, kicking it against the wall in the process, and was running upstairs. Alex began to cry again into Belle's shoulder. Serena put her hands over her face. The twins looked so grim it was unnatural for them and Felix put his hands into fists. I couldn't sit there anymore, the air was suffocating me.
Without a word, I followed Vince as quickly as possible. "Vince!" I called when I got upstairs, going right to his room. He wasn't there. I immediately went to my room and that was where I found him, crying silently on my bed. "Vince," I said in a soft voice, my own silent tears running down my cheeks.
He tried to form a word, but it came out a sob, and I went to his side and hugged him. "H-How?" he wanted me to make sense of it, but I couldn't either.
"I don't know," I answered honestly, and began sobbing too.
My brother and I lay in my bed quietly for I don't know how long. Neither of us knew what to say. Belle had come in to check on us numerous times last night as I am sure she did with everyone else, but could never offer too much comfort. We were all so confused, and hurt, and angry. My older brother's didn't want to be around anyone, they were to angry to speak civilly towards us, and somehow we understood. Alex was always with either Belle or Serena; being the baby I think he needed the most support. I never left Vince, but we all heard my father come up the steps and go into his room. We all peaked as he came out with a bag and came to the girls and younger boys to say goodbye, but we had nothing to say to him. He had knocked on the twins' door, but they didn't answer, and he didn't even troy Felix's.
I wanted to hug him, to ask why; to tell him that I loved him, to try and understand it all, but when he left, I just cracked a gibberish response and waved as Vince avoided him with his eyes.
We all heard as he left the house. The door clicking shut was like a gunshot, it was heard to all of us. We hugged our mom when she came to us to say she loved us and everything would be okay. We all told her we were okay even if it wasn't true. We all watched as she went into her room and never came out.
I sat in bed with my brother and thought about Troy. How did he handle this? He put his hand through a window, I know that. But how did he watch his mother practically crumble in front of him? How did he make sense of it? I suppose it was easier for him. He knew his father was not a good man. He knew his mother would be better off, that he would be better off, I don't have that. Is my father a bad man? Is my mother better off? Are we better off? I wanted to call him, I wanted him to climb up my tree and hold me in his arms and tell me everything would be fine, but I didn't call him. My little brother needed me, my family needed me, maybe more than I needed him, I don't know. Holy damn, I do need him so much though, it's unnatural. Does it matter right now that he cares for his bitch of an ex? Does anything matter other than my family right now?
"Are you ever going to check your phone?" Vince's voice rang through my room again right after my phone beeped.
"Oh, yeah," my own voice cracked. I reached for my phone and slid it open. I had one missed call and three unread messages, all from Troy. His messages asked me to call him, to let him explain, and wanted to know if I was free tonight to go out because he got called into work this morning/afternoon. I called voicemail just to hear his voice.
"Brie," he began, and I teared up for some reason. "I don't know if you aren't answering because you're pissed or sleeping, I hope it's that you are sleeping. Sorry I couldn't call last night, trust me, I wanted to, but my mom and I stayed up late talking and watching movies, it's gay, I know. Anyways, I got called into work and get off around five, so I was wondering if we could go out tonight to talk. I know that is all we seem to do, but we need it. I need to explain to you what I said; I didn't mean it in the way you think. I'm pretty sure I'm about to get cut off, so I love you, and call me back. Bye."
I sighed as I deleted the message.
"Are you going to go out with him?" Vince wondered aloud, looking over at me. He heard the message due to the silence of the room, but didn't question the contents of it.
I turned towards him. "I don't know, I don't think so," I answered. "You need me more," I said.
"But you need him," he replied.
"You're more important," I insisted, flipping over so I was facing him. "You, and Alex, and the boys, and Serena, and Belle, you need me more right now, we need each other," I told him.
Vince sniffled. "I'm so glad we don't work today," he mentioned.
"Same here," I agreed, messing with his hair.
"I want to see Mami," he admitted a moment later.
I smiled a little at him. "Me too," I responded, already getting up.
We wondered over to our mother's room together and knocked before opening the door. All of our siblings were there, on her big bed, with a soap opera on. "Ah, and the last two show up," Mami stated with Alex clutched to her side. Vince and I climbed into her bed and instantly crawled up to the top to hug her and our brother's and sister's made the room. "Everything is going to be just fine, babies," she assured us with kisses to our heads.
I didn't know how she was being so strong, probably for us. "Why?" Vince choked out.
Mami held his face in her hands once we pulled away. "I have no idea, bebè," she answered honestly as I looked her over. Her own eyes were red with bags underneath, her hair looked ratty in its long pony tail, and she was in an old t-shirt and sweatpants. "But, we're Montez's, and we're strong, and we're united, and we'll get through everything in one piece, I promise you."
Vince and I both nodded before nodding hellos to our siblings. Belle and Serena held me in a hug for a long moment while the boys patted Vince on the back or something of the sort. I wanted so much to be strong for Mami, but I also wanted to cry my eyes out into her shoulder while she rocked me like she used to when I was little. I wanted her to sing a Spanish lullaby into my ear while telling me that everything would get better, that one day what I was so upset about wouldn't matter, and bad things happen to everyone, it only makes them stronger.
I couldn't hold it in for very long, and so a sob got caught in my throat as the knot that was already there was pushing me to let go. My mom instantly noticed. "Oh, mija, come here," she held her arms open to me again. I held onto her and cried into her shoulder like I did when Marc or Luke were mean to me when I was little and was too affected by their words.
"I'm sorry, I just don't understand, you're perfect," I cried, breathing in my mom's smell and wanted to stay there with her forever. I felt my sibling's hands on my back or legs, trying to comfort me too.
She held me tighter. "Don't be sorry, baby, you're not the first one to cry into my shoulder today," she insisted. "And now you listen to me, all of you. I am not perfect. I am your mother and I do my best at being that to all of you," she started to tell us.
"You're the best mom," Alex told her. I pulled away to look at her and wiped my eyes.
My mom held Alex's chin and kissed his forehead. "Thank you, sweetie. But, I am not perfect, I am human, like everyone else, and sometimes things happen we don't understand. Hell, I don't understand global warming that well," she joked to lighten the mood. "I know we are all confused, and sad, and heartbroken right now, but everything will get better," she went on. She seemed to get more emotional as she spoke. "We have each other and our significant others," she looked to Serena, Felix, and me with a small smile. "To help us, not to mention our friends and extended family, okay? I told you, we're Montez's and we fight, we're as strong as they come. I don't know if this will ever make sense, but we'll be okay. And, I do not want any of you hating your father," she told us. Felix scoffed. "I mean it, he is your one and only father and do not blame him for why this is happening. Things have not been like they once were for a long time, so do not put all the blame on him. And, do not blame yourselves. You eight are the reason we have gone on this long. Your father and I do love each other very much," she stopped as a tear slid down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away. "We love each other very much and because we do, we created you, and you guys everything to us," she stated. "But, just because there are so many of you and so little time in the day is not the reason this happened, so do not even think anything of the sort, I would not change anything I have done regarding any of you," she said. "Okay, maybe you two," she looked to Marc and Luke, which made us all chuckle. They are troublemakers. "I don't know what is going to happen, but we'll be okay," she repeated. "I love you all."
We all told her we love her at the same time and tried to hug her at once. My siblings and I hung out in my mom's room all day. We ordered take out, which is a rarity in my house, and watched bad soap operas, and even attempted to joke around. Finally, very late in the afternoon, almost the evening, she told us to get out so she could shower and such. My sister's entertained the rest of us downstairs for a little while, knowing our mom needed some time alone.
However, it wasn't long before I broke off of the pack to shower myself and wanted to be alone with my thoughts that had run rapid all day. I wanted answers. I wanted Troy. I wanted my mom to be okay. I wanted my brother's and sister's to be okay. Who had my father cheated with? How far did his affair go? When did he actually see her? Was it meetings? Late work days? Work trips? Did we know her somehow? WHY?
I know it's selfish, but I wanted Troy so much. I wanted my boyfriend to hold me and tell me he would never cheat on me and that he loved me, I wanted him to help me make sense of it. He had texted me twice since he got off of work and called once, but I silenced it. I can't talk to him on the phone, I just can't.
After my shower, I changed into a matching black sweat suit and when my hair was practically dry, I got the nerve to climb down my tree (in flip flops, no less, I wasn't exactly thinking that one through), and go see Troy. I didn't tell anyone where I went. Vince would know, my sister's would probably figure it out, and I knew above all, my mom would understand and be okay with it.
It was almost seven when I saw him through his window, pacing in his room, wearing old ratty jeans and his favorite shirt that was white in the torso and red in the arms. His pacing means he's getting frustrated. His phone was also in his hands. I didn't hesitate before going up and knocking on his window. He instantly crawled over his bed to open it. "Finally, I've been- Brie?" he questioned at my pale face and red eyes.
Tears were already forming, as well as the knot in my throat. "I think my parents are getting divorced," I told him, holding in my sobs.
"What?" He helped me through the window and closed it behind me. "What's going on? Why didn't you call me?"
I held onto his hands. "I couldn't talk on the phone; I would have had a break down. My dad, he cheated," I began to tell him, already getting emotional. "I don't know what happened. I went home and they were screaming and... what are we going to do, Troy? What is going to happen to my family?" I asked.
"Oh, Brie," he rested his forehead on mine. "I wished this would never happen to you," he said, and I let my tears flow as I had too many times already today.
Troy gathered me into his arms and let me cry. My crying didn't last very long, but even when I finished, I just stayed in his arms silently, getting strength from him. "You can never do this to me," I broke the quiet. I burrowed into him further.
"Never," Troy agreed, rubbing my back. "I don't have it in me, and I could never want another girl after having you," he told me.
"I don't even know why," I mumbled. "Or who, or when, or what happened. I don't know anything because when they tried to shield it from us, Felix asked if it was true, and the silence was answer enough. Vince ran out of the room, and I followed," I explained.
"You just went home yesterday and this happened?" he questioned.
I nodded against his chest. "Yeah, they were screaming in Spanish. Serena translated for us. I wanted to talk to you, but-"
"Brie, your family needed you, I understand," he Troy cut me off.
I let out a shaky breath. "How did you watch your mom fall apart, Troy?" I asked him. "How did you watch her heart break?"
"Well, it makes your own heart break a little," he told me honestly. "It's so hard, baby, I know it is. You can do nothing but watch and be there for her," he told me. "It's harder for you, with my parents it was a long time coming, with yours... it's unexpected," he said.
I pulled away to wipe my face. "They haven't been gushy or touchy or anything since we were kids, but I didn't think this would happen, not now," I muttered. "I thought they would grow closer again now that we're older and they can be more of a couple again. I thought my dad would want my mom again... not some whore," I went on.
Troy pushed hair behind my ear and kissed my forehead. "I don't understand it either, I bet your dad doesn't either," he mentioned.
"Ugh, I don't even want to talk about him," I stated, folding my legs Indian style. "I hate him," I whispered.
Troy cupped my face in his hands. "I hate my father, you don't hate yours," he told me. I opened my mouth to fight him, but instead the door opened.
Of course, it was Brittany. "Oh, Troy, you have company. I didn't see her come in," she said stiffly, looking at my crappy state and seemed triumphant for some reason, like Troy and I were breaking up instead of us talking about my parents.
"Cut it out, Brittany," Troy responded a little harshly, lacing my hand with his. "I'm sick of you being a bitch to her and her trying to be civil with you when you don't deserve it. I'm with Gabriella now, and that isn't going to change just because you're here and you're intentionally causing problems. Gabriella is my girlfriend and I love her more than anything, really love her, not like what we had. So, can you just get out while we talk? If my mom needs me, my mom can come get me," he told her.
My mood elevated just a smidgen. Brittany wordlessly closed the door and right as she did I threw myself at him in a hug. "Thank you for doing that," I murmured.
"I'm sorry it took a month," he responded, letting me go. "Brie, yesterday, when I said I cared about her, it wasn't like I care about you or even Sharpay and Taylor," he began to explain.
"Troy, it's okay," I assured him.
"No, it's not," he replied. "She was just my first for a lot of shit, including my virginity which is a big thing, even for guys. I don't know if the feeling I have for her is like, I think that's too much, but it's just something. And, the more I think about you and us and our first time, how that was my real first time because I was in love, the feeling goes down a little," he told me.
I messed up his hair. "I don't know if that makes a lot of sense, but I'll go with it," I sniffled. "I'm so sick of crying, Troy, so sick," I said. "Because I do hate him," I continued our conversation from before. "Don't say I don't, he hurt my mom, Troy, that's enough. He broke her, he-" I couldn't go on.
"He's always done right by you. He takes care of you and your brother's and sister's and would always do anything for you. He fucked up, he knows he did, everyone knows he did, but you don't hate him, trust me," Troy tried to correct me. "He's not like my dad, Brie, he deserves more credit than you're giving him," he insisted.
"Stop being rational, I'm not ready for that," I pleaded softly.
Troy rubbed my forearms. "I'm sorry," he apologized.
"Ugh, my head is pounding from the crying," I groaned.
"I'm going to go tell my mom you're here and get you some Advil and something to drink, okay?" he volunteered. He kissed me softly before leaving.
I collapsed back in his bed. My phone went off after a moment, signaling a text. I opened it to see it was my mom.
You better be in your room when I go in to wake you two hours before you work, that is all I have to say. I love you, mija.
I work at noon tomorrow. I can sleep over; I just have to be home by ten. I smiled a little to myself before responding ok and that I love her too. Troy returned with Advil for me to take with a bottle of water. "Are you hungry, babe?" he asked, running his hands through my mildly long bangs as I lay down next to him. I shook my head. "Have you eaten at all today?" he wondered. I nodded. "Well, Brittany's gone and my mom said you can stay over. I told her what was going on, well the gist of it, and she understands. She also said she wants to meet your mom, in person, and get to know her, she thinks she may be able to help her," he informed me.
"That may be a good idea," I breathed. "Lay with me?" I asked.
Troy laid down next me as I requested. "Do you want to talk more? I know you're going through a lot of shit and you need to talk, but I also know you're probably not in the mood," he commented.
"No, I'm not in the mood," I sighed, so happy he understands, but wished he didn't have to because it means his parents are divorced too, even if it was for the better. No kid should ever have to go through this, it's doesn't make sense, it's not fair, and it hurts like hell. "Besides, you're not exactly the one with the answers I need," I reminded him. "All you can do is help me react to it, but I kinda already went through the reacting with my family," I went on.
He nodded. "I'm here, I'll always be here," he replied. "You know it," he said.
I nodded and curled into his body and heat. "Can you do something really simple for me?" I wondered. He nodded. "Tell me you love me and keep doing it because for some reason, I need to hear it more than usual," I told him.
"I love you, Gabriella, and I'll say it as much as you need me to."
-xoxo-
It was three days later that I convinced Serena and Belle to go to Papi's hotel. Felix and Marc opted to come along. Lucas refused and we didn't even tell Vince and Alex. For four days we've all been wondering about Papi's affair, and we all questions. I didn't know where he was staying; only Belle, Serena, and Felix did, being the oldest. I think my mom was afraid to tell the twins for fear they would do something stupid with the information because they're so angry at him.
I haven't talked to Papi since he left, no one had besides Belle for Mami. Mami sent him more clothes and work things he would need and Belle delivered them for her. I don't think Mami can face Papi yet. Today, Mami is meeting up with Troy's mom; it'll be the first time she leaves the house in days. I know she told her older sister about Papi, that's it, not any of her other siblings, or my grandparents. My mom has always been close to my Aunt Sophia, her barely older than her sister. I'm glad she has someone to talk to, I know she needs it, hopefully she tells a friend soon.
I told my closest friends what is going on. My closest friends being Chad, Taylor, Sharpay, and Ryan. I told them they could tell Kelsi and Zeke. I'll need their help throughout this just like I need Troy. Brittany has backed off for now, and I am grateful. Hopefully she won't cause more problems, I'm sick of the drama, especially with him. Vince is causing enough by himself. Two days ago, he got into a fight with one of his friends and literally fist fought him out front. Felix had to pull him off. He's been late for work, been a douche to people who work there, and already got a strike from Fulton. Belle says it's because of Mami and Papi, Serena responded with 'no shit.'
"You knock," Marc pushed on my back.
I turned and pushed him back. "You do it, tough guy!" I retorted.
"Oh, I called and told him we're coming," Belle spoke up; using a key I didn't knew she had and opened the door.
Our father was on the couch in his probably permanent room for a while. It had a mini living room, mini kitchen, and one door which probably let to a mini bedroom. Papi looked worn down, like he had gotten drunk every night he's been here, and thoroughly guilty. Belle and Serena hugged him briefly, so I followed suit. Felix and Marc stood back with their hands in their pockets. He still smelled the same, for reason I didn't know if he would.
"It's so good to see you guys," Papi said somewhat awkwardly. "I haven't gone this long without seeing my kids unless it was a business trip," he commented.
"Were they business trips?" Marc questioned, looking into my dad's grave eyes.
"Marcus," Isabelle scolded softly.
"No, hija, I know why you all came today," Papi told her. "You're all grown up now, you deserve to know the truth," he stated. "Yes, Marcus, all my business trips were indeed business trips," he answered my brother's question. "I never became physical with the woman I was..." he coughed." Associating myself with," he admitted. I've never heard him speak like such a grown up to us before.
"Then what the hell happened?" Felix asked with his hands still in his pockets.
My dad ushered us to sit down. "The woman who I..." he trailed off. "Her name is Lana and she's my, uh, my secretary," he began to tell us. I couldn't look at him. His secretary? Really? We know her. She goes to the company parties we're forced to twice a year. She's the woman who lets our father know we are there to see him, and when we do this we usually did something wrong and want to tell him before Mami, or it's his birthday or Father's Day. She's the petite blond woman who smiles too wide when a man passed by her desk.
"What happened, then? If you didn't have sex with her?" Serena asked bluntly.
Papi rubbed his head. "We... once in a while, we went out for drinks, and recently, we began to take a lunch break together. It was only talking and I hadn't realized I felt something for her until about a week ago when she questioned me on it," he went on. "When I discovered I did, I told your mother," he finished.
"You d-dated her?" I spoke up. It's what it is. They went out, they talked, they got to know each other, and he feels something for her, he- it makes me sick. And, I bet she knew exactly what she was doing, taking the nice looking, rich guy from his hard working wife. We would be rich if there weren't eight of us... she knew that too.
"Gabi, hun-"
"No, it's what you did," I cut him off. "Wasn't Mami good enough for you?" I questioned, getting emotional already.
Papi began to look distressed too. "Your mother is the most amazing woman I know, she's-"
"Obviously not," I scoffed. "If you though that you wouldn't have needed to go out with Lana after work instead of coming home to us," I told him.
"Gabriella," Belle tried to stop me.
"No, Isabelle, your sister is allowed to be angry with me, you all are," my dad insisted.
I stood up. "I'm more than angry with you, Papi. You broke her heart, you know that, right? This isn't just some separation where you guys will get back together after a while, this is a divorce," I stated, already walking for the door. "Honestly, I never wanna see with you, even if you get partial custody, which you will because Mami could never take you away from us, but I'm seventeen, I have a choice. I'm living with mom," I told him harshly. "I'll call Troy for a ride home, I'll see you guys later," I finished, and then left.
I closed the door loudly behind me and leaned against the wall next to his room. I should have listened to Mami when she told me to stay home, when she said I would get too emotional and say things I don't mean because she knew I would since I'm like her. I didn't care at the moment though; he deserved it for what he did.
I like this chapter...again... so I better get review this time!
I didn't make the divorce effect Gabriella the same way I did in the original (If you are one of those who read the first one) because I feel liker her and Troy's love is too strong for her to doubt it that much.
But, do not fret, the divorce will be effecting her, as you can already see, and cause some more stuff to go one, just not with love...with something else ;)
REVIEW PLEASE. I MEAN IT.
I barely got any for the last chapter :(
- Kayleigh