Chapter 24 Iris
Artist: The Goo Goo Dolls
I don't want the world to see me
Cuz, I don't that that'd understand
Gabriella pov
Troy was gone he was really gone and I couldn't face I couldn't face the world. For weeks I stayed in my room not going out for anything other class food and the bathroom, I hadn't talked to my mom and friends in a month. I was really depressed without him. I hadn't realized how attached I'd become to Troy he was such a part of my everyday life. I didn't know how to live without him. I hated feeling like this it wasn't fun feeling like half of you were missing. Me and Troy talked but it wasn't enough. If anything the phone calls made me miss him more. I didn't know how to talk to anyone because I just knew they wouldn't understand,
4 months that how long it took me to join the rest of the world .I missed him so much it was unreal. But like the saying goes life goes on.
Since troy left I'd been focusing on my school work I had a new job at a little French café and I was ducking and dodging out of record studios trying my singing thing,
It was another lonely Saturday, I'd decided to go over my parents house to help them get ready for winter.
"Mom" I yelled walking through the front door.
"In here sweetie" a muffled sound said came from the basement. I went downstairs to see my mom on the floor going through a old box.
"Mom" I said
She looked at me I could tell she'd been crying earlier
"mom what's wrong" I asked bending down
She sniffed "Nothing I just saw these pictures of you and Ana and I just remembered you were my babies and how the years have you guys" I looked down at the pictures that was causing my mother such distress.
They were all scattered on the floor I picked one up and smiled it was adorable.
I was 1 and Ana was 3 I had baby food smeared all over my face and Ana was leaned over kissing my cheek. I felt tears well in my eyes I'd forgotten what it was like to have a big sister. I remember the days when me and Ana couldn't bear to be apart. Now look at us Ana hated me so much she actually tried to kill me. I picked up the photos I really didn't want to think about Ana actually I'd made a point to not think about her at all because truth be told every time I thought of her I wanted to cry it just hurt so much to know your sister hates you and you don't even know the reason why.
My mom looked at me and smiled "Okay lets stop going down memory lane and get to cleaning out this basement.
Me and my mom worked on the basement for hours my dad came and joined us. I had a lot of fun with them, I'd been so wrapped up in my own life I'd forgotten how funny and crazy my parents were.
At around 9 I left my parents and went home.
I collapsed on my bed ready for sleep.
Troy pov
High Flyers was great. I was learning more about basketball then I ever thought to know. I had a lot of friends and offers to go pro was pouring left and right.
Life for me was actually going perfect. I missed Gabriella, but I was still so happy to be at High Flyers.
"Ah man um me and a couple of the guys were about to go to the bar up the street you want to go" my roommate Bryant asked
"Sure dude I'll be there in a second" I said I pulled out my cell phone I hadn't spoken to Gabriella in two days
Phone conversation:
Gabriella: Hello
Troy : hey babe how are you
Gabriella :I'm fine a little tired and little down
Troy: what's wrong?
Gabriella: well today I helped my parents clean out the basement and I saw a lot of old pictures of me and Ana and I started thinking about the times when we was closer then close and I realized how much I miss having a older sister
Troy (pauses): So why don't you go visit her
Gabriella: I don't know wouldn't it be weird it's been a year
Troy: Babe I think its time to go see your sister.
Gabriella" I guess you're right, what would I do without
Troy: you'd probably crawl under a rock and die
Gabriella(laughs) Okay Romeo I'm about to go bed I'll talk to you later
Troy: Alright bye.
End of Conversation
"Alright dude you coming"
I looked up "Yeah lets go" I said grabbing my jacket.
Gabriella pov
I hung up the phone with Troy feeling better about going to see Ana. I sighed and laid back in my bed I was exhausted it'd been a long day
Troy pov
I was having a ball I was little tipsy. But that was okay girls were grabbing me grinding on me, it was crazy if it was one thing to be said about California girls they were very aggressive they weren't afraid to grab you and kiss you. Things were going good I went to the bar to get me another beer.
"Ah man can I get a beer" I asked the bartender
I reached in my pocket, to pay for my drink
"I got Jack" a voice said behind me
I turned and saw a gorgeous blonde standing beside me.
"Thanks" I said
"No problem, I'm Alison" she said extending her hand
"Troy"
"So Troy would you like to dance"
I downed my beer
"Sure"
Alison guided me to the dance floor and I got a full view of her shape I had to admit she was banging she had curves in all the right places.
We began dancing and flirting.
"I have to admit Troy that I've been watching all night and your pretty hot"
I smiled even though I knew I was dancing with the devil I couldn't help it
"Your pretty hot yourself" I said into her ear.
She smiled at me. "Do you want to go back to my place"
I smiled I didn't known what it was about this girl, but she intrigued.
"Lets go" I said.
I left the club not caring about anyone or anything and completely forgetting that I had a girlfriend back in Albuquerque.
Gabriella pov
I woke up the next morning feeling rejuvenated, Talking to Troy made me feel better about everything, That phone call last night made me feel better about the whole situation. Knowing that he'd be there for me even though we were miles apart spoke volumes about the strength of our relationship.
I got up took a shower threw on some jogging pants and t shirt. I was on my way to visit Ana this would be the first I seen her in nearly a year.
I arrived at the hospital feeling nervous.
"Hey I'm here to see Anabella Montez" I said to the receptionist
"Hold on let me page Dr. Richards, you can sigh in" she said
I sighed in, and waited for the doctor.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Richards Anabella's doctor"
"Hey I'm Gabriella Montez Anabella's sister"
"Oh your Gabriella I've heard a lot about you"
I blushed I couldn't imagine what Ana been telling him
"Okay Ms. Montez I just want you to be warned Ana might not respond to you or she might respond to you it all depends on how she's feeling, but you're about to meet a girl completely different from the Ana you remember.
He said as we walked down the hall. Once outside Ana's door the doctor asked me to give the security guard my purse.
I handed it to him.
"Here we go" Dr. Richards said.
I gave a small smile.
We went inside the room.
Ana was laying on the bed she had some sleeping mask over her eyes
I looked at the doctor questioningly
"When she first got here she had trouble sleeping so we gave her that now she refuses to sleep without it, she also uses it to think"
"Dr. Richards is that you" Ana said
"Yes Ana um you have a guest"
"Is it my mom" she asked
"No"
"Why doesn't she take that mask off" I asked
Before the doctor could answer me,
"That doesn't sound like my mother" Ana said beginning to panic
"Because its not Ana its your sister she came to visit you"
Ana wiped the mask off her face her eyes wide with shock
"GET OUT" she screamed
I stood frozen there I couldn't move
"Get her out of here please, please" Ana cried
Dr Richards grabbed me "I'm sorry Gabriella I guess she's not ready I think you should leave
He escorted me down the hall.
"No wait Dr. Richards can you please talk to her please I need to speak with my sister please I feel as though its now or never please" I pleaded
"Okay go wait in the visiting room" he said reluctantly
"Thank you" I said heading to the visiting room
I waited in the visiting room for half an hour before I saw Dr. Richards come in dragging a reluctant Ana behind him.
I sighed Ana looked as though she'd lost weight but other then that she looked good.
She sat down the table sitting across from me.
"Okay I'll leave you two alone for a little bit" Dr. Richards said leaving me and Ana alone in the awkward silence.
We sat in silence me trying to make unsuccessful small talk Ana just looking at her hands.
After a hour of doing this. I finally decided to put all the cards on the table.
"Ana I came here to see to tell you I want to start over I want to be sisters again"
No response.
I continued anyway
"Yesterday I was helping mom clean out the basement., and I came across this old box of pictures and I found one" I took the picture from my pocket and slid it across the table.
"When I saw that picture for a brief moment I was taken back in time, to a time when I had a big sister who was willing to do anything for me, (sniffs) you see before I saw that picture I'd forgotten I had a sister who loved me, I'd forgotten what it was like to have a sister, I remember Ana, I remember how much I loved and how sure I was that you loved me I miss having a big sister I miss those and they were a lifetime ago but I'd be willing to do whatever it takes to get those days back. So that's all I wanted to say." I said wiping the tears away from my eyes I got up to leave
"I couldn't face you" Ana said softly
I turned around "What"
She looked at me tears streaming down her face
I was taken aback I hadn't seen Ana cry since she was 10 years old.
"I said I couldn't face you that's why I told you to get out, I'm so ashamed of myself I don't know how to face you, I've been thinking of this renuion for te past 7 months and I still can't think of what to say the only thing I want to tell you now is why, because I want the same thing you want I want to put this all behind me I want to be your big sister again but I cant do that until I tell you why"
I sat back down "Go ahead Ana tell me"
Ana looked down at her lap
"Well I guess it all started when you were born, you were born beautiful even as a baby everyone knew you were something special when you were born I barely saw mom and dad but I was okay with that because I had a baby sister and I remember when I use to beg mom for a baby sister and I finally had one and I was happy. Then as we began to grow I realized how much people preferred you to me. I was always to skinny my hair to straight always something but you were perfect. I guess I was always a little bit jealous of you I mean who wouldn't be you were the most gorgeous person and it didn't stop with your looks you were gorgeous on the inside as well. We I really started hate you was probably when I turned 12 I was beginning to grow I was going through that awkward teenage faze and when I came on my period I ran to mom to tell her and I remember her not paying attention to me because you'd just been rewarded with your poem being in the newspaper. Mom said not now Ana this is more important. I took it as Gabriella is more important., so I wasn't getting any attention from home because of the prodigal child that was Gabriella. So when my seventh grade teacher started paying me a lot of attention and told me I was beautiful I fell for it, I hadn't had the sex talk with mom, so I didn't know what to expect I fucked my teacher and thus began my sexual addiction, a year after that I traded drugs then became addicted to cocaine. I was screwed up so screwed up, you couldn't imagine I was so screwed up that I convinced myself that I was normal and all the rest of you had the problem. When I was 16 you were budding into a beauty and I'd just heard from mom that you'd be skipping a grade skipping my little sister was going to be going to high school with me. I asked myself why is she better you seemed to be better at everything, you were better looking, better in school you had a better heart you were just better. So after I heard that I was walking past your room and I heard you and Troy in there playing, and I thought it would be fun to lure Troy away from you, you two were inseparable and I thought what better way then mess with you then by taking what seemed most important to you, so I seduced him, I had no idea we were become a couple, I had no idea I would develop feelings for him, but I did. I think because of your relationship with Troy and my relationship with Troy that's what really drove me insane, because even though we were together it didn't matter all he talked about was Angel this and Angel I knew he was in love with you, and I knew you were in love with him long before either one of you realized it, but I didn't care I hated you so much, I had his body but you had his heart and I couldn't compete with that, I didn't feel bad about cheating on him, but when he found I felt as though the rest of my heart was broken. Silly I know, after me and Troy broke up and you and Troy started messing around, I really lost it. I planned everything I wanted you to die. People don't realize how powerful a emotion like jealousy is, it makes go insane you controls you, add jealous to a depressed sex and cocaine addict I surprised I didn't kill someone. All I can say now is I'm sorry and that I'm not the same person I was a year ago. My life isn't based on lies anymore mom and dad now know exactly who I am. I not pretending anymore and it feels good because for as long as I can remember I've been pretending"
I sat there looking into space trying to digest everything she just said to me.
"Wow, I never knew any of that, my god I couldn't imagine what that was like you kept everything bottled up inside for that long I wouldn't tried to kill me to if I were you"
"Ella don't joke about stuff like that, I'm just happy that Cal knew what we were planning I'm happy I didn't do it because now I can do everything in my power to redeem myself"
I reached out and touched her hand
"You're already on the right path, I'm glad you told me now I have a completely different outlook on what you did"
Ana smiled "I'm happy that you forgive I don't I would've forgiven you, that just goes to show what an amazing person you are"
I smiled.
I stayed at the hospital until visiting hours were over then I left.
I was tired and in need of some ice cream and a big chocolate chip cookie.
I opened the door to my dorm I was surprised to see Terrin there.
"Hey what are you doing here" I asked
"Well I do kind of stay here"
"You know what I mean" I said rolling my eyes
"I just wanted to stay in tonight, so why are you coming in so late"
I looked down "Now please don't judge me"
"Oh my god did you go out and have sex with a complete stranger" Terrin asked excitedly
"Uh no I did that yesterday" I said with a serious face
Terrin laughed "So if you weren't doing that then where were you"
I stopped laughed
"Okay I went to see Ana, now before you go crazy, she's changed"
"WHAT Gabby no, you are far to trusting god haven't you realized she can't be trusted"
"Terrin you don't get it, she's my sister and since you're my best friend you're suppose to support me and not argue with me" I said with a pout.
"Ugh okay Gabby I'll support you but that doesn't I have to like and she's going to have to do a lot for me to forgive her"
I ran over to Terrin and gave her a hug.
"Oh that's why I love you"
"EWW get off me" Terrin cried pushing me away.
I laughed "You know you love me"
"To bad I don't" she said
"Whatever, why don't you make yourself useful and order us a pizza while I go to the store and get some ice cream and maybe some movies and we can warm up those big chocolate chip cookies from Miss. Fields.
"Hmm you know what" Terrin said reaching for the phone..
I smiled and left out the room. I had accomplished something today and I felt better then I'd felt in months.
Author's Note: Okay so this is just a chapter to fill in some cracks, the next chapter will be awesome. As for my favfan Omg444888 if you read this chapter you will see that you are about to play a very important character. So until next time I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to check out my profile to listen to all the songs featured in each chapter
XOXO
Heaven