Chapter 36 – First Assignment

"Gabriella,"

"Gabi," I corrected, Shane looked at me, and "Do we not like being called Gabriella?"

"No, not really." I told him with a long look, "Oh well, Gabi, I am supposed to give you your first assignment which may or may not include a coffee run," I smiled, "Hand it over,"

"Man, you are really good spirited about this,"

"Well last week it was the highlight of my week, I really enjoy it here." I told him as I folded the note that held everybody's coffee order and then a chuck of change to go with it. "You haven't even gotten your first assignment,"

"Well, in a couple of weeks I want to choose my assignment," I told him with a simple shrug, Shane laughed, "Like that will happen,"

"Why wouldn't it?" I asked him, "Mr. Chase never lets interns pick assignments?"

"Are any of those interns as good as me?" I asked with a confident smile, he smirked, "I'm not sure, how is the blog coming along?"

"Perfect, I have viewers even,"

"What two a day?" he teased, "

"Two hundred," I corrected, "And going up each day,"

"Right,"

"I'll show you later," I tested, he nodded as he turned to leave, I rolled my eyes, I grabbed my purse and keys as I walked out to my car. It has been exactly on week since I had started and I loved it. Troy teased me because of how much I loved it, I shrugged my shoulders to him because I did. I did not know why I loved it so much I just did.

The thrill of getting to work everyday, having to write something, anything even was just exciting. Today, I would be getting my first assignment along with the dirty work. I made lots of copies; I had even given the copier a name. Opening my door, I slid in as I drove to the little coffee shop just two streets away. I got out and I went into the small waiting area as two people were in front of me.

"Hi Gabi," I waved to the girl behind the counter, I came here so often that I was becoming famous. They told me that they knew all of the interns well by the end of the summer and then followed them after with the blogs that they wrote because they continued.

I wouldn't surprise me if I would continue because I enjoyed writing that blog. Now, I am mostly writing about my days but I wasn't sure what I would write about today. When I came to the counter, she smiled at me, "How many today?" I pulled out the note as I counted the cups of coffee.

"Six," I said with a sigh, I slipped the paper over to her as she nodded, "Very well,"

I tapped my newly manicured fingers against the counter, "Can you add a Vanilla Cappuccino to that?"

"With a shot of," I nodded, "Yup,"

I pulled out my cell phone and Troy had called me in the time span I didn't have my phone out. I pulled it up to my ear as I went to call him back. It rang once and then twice as he answered, yet the sounds were all muffled.

"Hello?" I asked, "Gabi?"

"Troy?"

"Er, no, Hunter,"

"Hunter?" I questioned, "The right fielder," he encouraged, "Oh Hunter! Hi, sorry, may I ask why you are calling me on my boyfriends cell phone?"

"Oh, no reason. I'm bored and he left his phone laying on my bed." I laughed, "Oh really?" they began to put the coffees in carriers for me to make it easier to carry. "Yea, he should be coming back any…"

"Hunter? Is that my phone?"

"Minute," Hunter finished with a laugh, "Surprise!" he shouted, and as I suddenly knew I was being hurled into the air, "Hello?"

"Hey," I responded, "Hunter? You called Gabi? Come on she is working?"

"She is the one who answered!"

I laughed quietly, "I'm out getting coffee," I responded, "How are you?" I asked gently, "I'm okay, better because it's been a couple of days since I have heard your voice."

"I'm sorry," I told him, "I have been pretty busy,"

"I understand, I just miss you,"

"I miss you too,"

"Thank you Jess," I said as she scooted the coffees over to me, I paid earlier and was heading back out of the door. The cold and the hot drinks mixed between the people that were getting drinks this early Tuesday morning.

"I have been keeping up on your blog though," Troy added, "Oh really?"

"It's good Gabs,"

"Thanks," I said softly, I settled the drinks in my passenger seat as I buckled them in. "I'm heading back to the office, I'll call you after your game tonight?"

"Brie, you haven't been able to make it through my games. How about after work?" he asked, I sighed, "I'm getting my first assignment tonight, I'll see okay?"

"Yea, just, text me okay?"

"I will. I love you,"

"I love you too baby girl,"

Hanging up the phone anymore was hard, I missed him and after the second day of work it was becoming hard to find time to talk to him. I got up before him and I go to bed before him. When I am done with work he was hitting the gym and in the clubhouse. It was hard to just get ten minutes with him.

The last time we talked was Saturday morning. I wasn't doing much and I fell asleep on the couch the night before. I woke up to my phone ringing and Skip dancing across me, Troy and I maybe talked for fifteen minutes.

Letting go of my steering wheel, I put my car into park and I grabbed the drinks along with my Coach bag. Sliding into the office door, I began to deliver drinks as they all thanked me with a big sigh as they went back to work.

"Gabi!" Abby came running at me as I smiled, "Hey,"

"I got your first assignment,"

"Fabulous, what is it?"

"Well with great measures you have been placed into the baseball category,"

"Wow, really?" I asked with a sarcastic smile, she smiled, "Really, anyways, the first thing you get to do is," she paused, "Drum roll please!" I laughed as she finished the drum roll, "The Legacy of Jackie Robinson," I looked at her with a blank look, "That's so easy,"

"I know but you can't have any of the fun ones until he knows you can write," I sighed, "Sounds fun," I took it from her the famous Jackie Robinson date was coming up, his movie had come out the previous year and it was good. Troy and I went to see it together.

My gut twisted as I shook my head, I needed to get rid of that thought. I went back to Abby's office as I settled with my coffee and I pulled my laptop out.

"Drink on me," Shane slipped an alcoholic beverage my way as a few of us went to the bar after work to grab some dinner, I was sitting alone at the bar as I was playing with my water. "No thanks," I told him with a sigh, "What? What twenty year old rejects a drink?"

"This one," I told him as I took a small sip from my water, "Okay, something wrong?"

"Tired," I commented, "First assignment day is normally hard,"

"Nothing like the sad story of Jackie Robinson,"

"How is that sad?"

I shrugged, "The poor guy was abused by so many others and nobody cared about him. Yet, he had his wife and the owner supporting him. It was sad to see that any black male had to go through that to get any rights in this world. Everybody should be able to play and not have the fear of the ball come flying at your head, I mean it was a tragedy,"

"If that was the only tragedy he has been through then hell," I sent him a long look, "It was traumatizing!" I argued, "He went up to that plate every at bat with the fear of his head being knocked off, getting strikes called that were seriously balls, and the opposing team's manager yelling things at you that you never should have to hear! It was so traumatizing,"

"It's baseball," he said flatly, "And? What do you cover basketball where it is dominated by blacks?"

"No," he said with a turn, "I do the golf thank you,"

"Golf,"

"How would you know a tragedy?" he asked me, I looked at him with blank eyes, "What is that supposed to be?"

"Is the most tragic thing in your life saying goodbye to your boyfriend?"

My lips went tight as I moved off the stool, taking the shot with me as I poured it down my throat, "No," I muttered as I slid the glass over to him, "It's not."

Troy's POV

I tossed the ball up and down as I lay on my bed, "You okay dude?" I rolled my head to the side as I nodded, "Completely,"

"Guys are going out," he said with look, "I'm going to stay,"

"You seem awful quiet for an off day, everything okay?"

"Just tired," I muttered, "Everything with you and Gabi okay?"

"She didn't even know we had an off day," I sat up as I ran my fingers through my hair, "Well she is kind of busy back in New Haven,"

"I know I just miss talking to her, hell when she was in school we talked more."

"Tell her that,"

"I don't want her to feel bad, I pushed her to take the internship,"

"Then you shouldn't be whining," he said with a laugh, I rolled my eyes as I played with the baseball in my hand, "I just miss her, that's all,"

"Well we are going out,"

"Have fun," I said with a wave, "Have fun,"

Gabi's POV

What kind of tragedy have you been through?

Those words are haunting really. You hear them and something comes to mind right? Everybody has that one thing that comes to mind right when you read it, a grandparent passing away, a traumatic moment in life, that break up you can't let go, a diagnose that changed your life forever but what kind of tragedy have you been through?

Mine? I have too many unfortunately. Too many things come to mind when you say this to me. Yes, there is a break up. Yes, there is a moment that I will never share online because only so many people know. Yes, somebody has died. Yes, I will always think of these things. When this so person asked me this, he thought that saying goodbye to my boyfriend was that tragedy.

I sure wish that was mine. I would love for that to be my only tragedy. I wish, I pray, I want that to be my only tragedy, instead I have a bunch of heartache, regrets, and tears only to be wiped up by myself.

I lost my best friend this year, my best friend that I have known since I lived in Missouri in my middle school days. We separated when I moved to New York and when I went back to NYU he was there. Somehow he was in the room next to mine in the dorms and our friendship fell right back into place. I loved him honestly.

T knows all of that, always will know. He knows that my heart will lie with him but tonight all I can think about is Will. I miss him. Everything about him, I can't even believe we are gaining in on a year since I have seen your smile, heard your laugh, held you close. That day in September will always be a hard one for me and I will never forget that day even though all I want to do is forget it.

It haunts me.

I stopped typing as tears began to blur my eyes; it was two in the morning. I couldn't sleep because of the thoughts running through my head so I decided to start on today's blog post. I covered my eyes as tears just poured from my eyes as my heart hurt.

Not thinking twice about it, I picked up my cell phone and I called Troy.

Skip was curled up on my bed as I got up knowing a gentle sob would awaken him.

I grabbed a blanket and curled up on the couch as it rang for many moments until it silenced and the other end was breathing. I tried not to let him hear me cry just yet, "Hello?"

It was Hunter's voice.

"Oh, Hunter, is Troy there?" I asked softly trying not to burst into sobs, "One moment," he muttered, I heard him moving, "Bolton, your girlfriend is on your phone, why the hell is she calling at fucking one in the morning,"

I felt my shoulders ache as I was about to hang up when Troy's voice came over the phone, "Brie, are you all right?" his voice was alert because I didn't call him at this hour for anything really.

"I can go if I need to, I'm fine," I said trying to pull my best okay voice together.

"No, you are upset, baby girl," I heard him moving as I rested my head in my lap, "I miss him Troy," my voice shook with pain as sobs overtook my body. "Oh Brie," he said softly, "I'm sorry Brie, I wish I could be there to hold you,"

"They asked me what tragedy I have been through and that was the first thing that came to mind," I laid on my side as I could hear Troy mentally thinking of his game plan he was about to set into action.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked softly, "Your wish is my command,"

I felt sick to my stomach as he said this to me because I instantly knew that I would be able to get him to do anything. "Just talk to me," I clinched my jaw shut to say no more, I couldn't say anymore because I would beg him to come see me even though it has only been a week and a half.

"Well, you are beautiful,"

I smiled, "And, you have no idea how much I love you and miss you yet I do know how proud I am of you for the work you are doing. How proud I am of you for being this strong girl, I love you Brie, I get how hard this may be for you."

My voice was quiet, nothing could be found as I looked up at the blank TV. "I hate thinking about him sometimes because it makes me so angry."

"Yea?" Troy asked, "How so?"

"Because I wish he was still here and he isn't, I know I have this beautiful angel watching over me but I don't have him here. He would have been the one person that could have stayed with me since you can't because trust me, I wish you were here. I wish it was you here but he would have been the one to make it work besides you."

"I know El, I know,"

"I just wish he could come back,"

He was quiet, "I know you do baby, I know,"

Troy talked me to sleep last night and when I woke up the next morning he was still connected but I could hear him softly snoring. I felt my gut twist as I knew he stayed on just incase I needed him again.

I hung up the phone and I sent him a long good morning text that he deserved. I then proceeded to get ready for the day but my face was so blotchy and red it almost seemed impossible.

After fifteen minutes of make-up, I dressed and walked out the door. Going into the office, Abby must have noticed that my makeup job wasn't done well at all, "You okay?" she asked me, "Just a rough night," I said with a small smile, "I'll be okay,"

"You left after Shane was talking to you, did he say something?"

"No," I hesitated, "Kind of," I told her, "It doesn't matter though. He didn't mean to be rude but it was too me, I mean, not rude I just," I felt flustered as Abby rested her hand on my shoulder, "Let me take a crack, missing Troy?"

"That's just one small part," I confessed as she led me back to the office, "My friend, best guy friend besides Troy, died back in September and I was there." Abby gave me that face that I wish nobody would ever give me anymore. "I was there when it happened and I," I paused as I bit on the inside of my cheek. "Shane just said something that made it come flying back, it hurt like hell,"

"I'm so sorry Gabi,"

"It was hard,"

"I can only imagine."

I shrugged as I pulled out my laptop and I finished my blog.

Troy's POV

"She is upset," I threw the ball harder as Cody leaned against the fence, "I can make a trip to see her," Cody offered, I caught the ball as I looked over at him, "I can't," I muttered, throwing the ball back Hunter looked at me, "Would you stop trying to break my hand?"

I sent him an apologetic look, Cody laughed, "Can I?" he wanted to hop the fence can come over, I looked behind me and I nodded, he jumped over and I could only think about Gabi back at Swings, swinging over the fence like nobody's business. A small smile reached my face as Troy asked for Hunters glove, "Be careful dude,"

"I caught him during his roughest years, I think I can handle it,"

"You have not caught my 99," I said with a glance, "I can still handle you,"

Cody and I laughed as I tossed him the ball, we played back and forth, and he had flown in yesterday and was staying for the week. "How is Gabs?"

"Like I said, upset," I finished, "She loves her work and what she is doing but she is simply exhausted from it all."

"That's not it,"

"Maybe Will is back in her head,"

"Oh, I'm trying to find out if that is jealousy or concern,"

"Both," I grunted as I tossed the ball, "There it is,"

"She loves you Troy,"

"I love her," I commented, "That's not in question,"

"What's in question?" Cody asked, "She forgot we had an off day, she rarely calls anymore," he laughed, "Dude, she is working,"

"When she was in school she called me like once a day,"

"Work is more demanding,"

"Or she is just out,"

"Dude, she is living. Just like you want her to do, you would turn all of this away to be with, I know you would but she would do the same exact thing. You both want each other to do what they want and she is. You have to deal with the separation."

"I just wish we had an hour,"

"Then make an hour,"

"I can't just add another hour to our day,"

"What time does she get up in the morning?"

"I don't know, around six,"

"That's what? Five here?"

"Yea,"

"Okay, call her on her lunch break or right after work."

"That's four here, we are normally doing stuff on the field."

"Then after,"

"She is asleep,"

"Do a bullpen call,"

Hunter laughed, "Troy got in trouble the last time, he wasn't paying attention."

"Troy, one of you has to work it out to just talk,"

"I guess Sunday we are off and she would be off,"

"I guess that you have to make things work,"

I sighed, "This is so much harder than I thought it would be,"

"Whatever you do, don't tell her that."

"I know, she would tell me those hated words," I joked, "What, I told you so?" Hunter asked, I laughed with a nod, "Exactly."

Gabi's POV

My eyes scanned over the letters again and I smiled satisfied. I then submitted it to our editor and I took a sip of the small glass of water I had sitting next to me. It was late and I was ready to crawl into my bed and sleep for hours.

When I got up, I felt my phone vibrate against my thigh as I picked it up. When I saw Troy's face, I held my breath for ten seconds and then I decided to answer the phone. "Hey," I said with a soft sigh, "You sound annoyed,"

"I'm just tired,"

"Can we have like a normal talk?"

"Troy,"

"I miss you," he blurted, "I miss talking to you, listening to your voice, hearing about your day, hearing how much you love New Haven, I want to hear everything," I felt my heart race as I felt blank for words, "Oh Troy,"

"I just feel like we haven't gotten to talk since you started and I just don't want to do that. I miss you Brie,"

I sat down as my legs were shaking, "I'm so sorry Troy,"

"Brie, don't be sorry."

"How can I not be sorry, I haven't been doing my girlfriend duties and,"

"I understand that you have been busy, I'm just calling right now and I'm saying that I want to talk to you."

"I think I can handle that," I whispered, "Good, now, what's new baby girl?"

I felt blank for words, as it had been so long since we had talked like this minus the other night when I called him panicking the other night. I didn't know the last time he called me baby girl and the last time he felt valuable. The way he spoke to me, the way his words fell out of his mouth. My stomach lurched with fear that we were growing apart and I felt like I could puke.

"Brie?"

"Troy," I blurted, "I'm sorry," I began to feel myself get choked up, the tears beginning to gather in my throat. "It's my fault again,"

"Brie, hey, nothing is your fault."

"I made you feel like I didn't love you anymore, I do, I do love you and,"

"Brie, slow down, take a deep breath and breathe,"

I did as he told me to do and when I was done Troy chuckled, "Cody told me this would happen,"

"I'm stressed," I told him, "I don't know how to keep up with everything anymore, I'm so busy,"

"That's fine but I think we need to set aside once a week to talk, for at least an hour. We just need that time to talk,"

"Sounds like a good idea," I finished with a smile, "I love you baby girl, honestly,"

"I love you too Troy, I feel like I don't tell you enough. I really appreciate everything you do for me Troy,"

"You are the best girlfriend Brie,"

I lay back down on the couch and curled up against the couch, "You are the best boyfriend T,"

"This is really good," Mr. Chase put down my paper as he looked at me, "I'm really impressed, I liked your stuff you submitted in and who knows how long you worked on that but this was done in four days time and I love it." He shook his head and then he glanced up at me, "Thank you, Mr. Chase." I blushed as he pushed back his chair.

"Next week, I want you to do a article on the minor league life." He said as he slipped the paper across from me, "Do it from an angle nobody would ever see it as, what they do in their spare time, what a night on the field looks like, how rough the life is compared with the major leagues. Everybody sees the minor leagues as this pool of fish that only a few get caught. They think it's about something else, do it from something else."

I felt a small smile come across my face, "I would have given this to you even if your boyfriend wasn't in the minor leagues. I'm going to tell you something that I don't tell many of my other interns, I give them all the same stories unless they earn there stripes, right now, you are looking better than some but I want to see how you do this story. I'm really intrigued."

I nodded, "Thank you Sir, I'm really excited."

"Due on my desk on Friday morning,"

"All right,"

"If you do this well, you get the all-star game," I felt my body freeze as I looked up at him, "So make it good Montez,"

"Like I would get the whole thing?"

"No, probably just the home run derby or the All-Star game,"

"Oh thank you Sir,"

"Get back to work,"

I felt my heart flutter as I walked out of his office and quickly back to Abby's. I reached for my phone as I tried not to squeal and sent Troy a text message.

Chase loved my story. Yay! Doing a big story, call you later tonight to celebrate over something! I love you! Xx – Brie

Hey guys! Sorry I didn't update last week, I was super busy and didn't have the update ready! Well I am here for you today and I hope you enjoy it!

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