What Happened to Daddy's Little Girl?
Gabriella's Pov:
I couldn't help the tears that were falling freely as I watched Vanessa sleeping quietly in my arms. The girls and I were using our legs to gently swing the hammock back and forth.
Troy and I were now the parents of Vanessa. That scared me. Just out of college and ready to start our careers and new parents to a two year old. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this. People always say give a child love and that's all they will ever need. For me though, there's more to it. It's not just about loving them. I love Vanessa unconditionally, as if she was my own, but I also think it is about the choices you make. It's Troy's and my job to make sure we make the right decision. No longer did we have Carlos make those decisions – and that scared me.
"It's getting cold. I think I'm going inside." I looked up at Taylor before smiling and nodding my head. The sudden movement of Taylor getting up caused Vanessa to shift on my chest. I silently prayed that she didn't wake up. I softly rubbed her back until I heard those soft even breaths again. I just couldn't take her asking where daddy is. It broke my heart to try to explain to her that he is not coming back.
Looking over at Sharpay, I found her trying not to fall asleep. "Why don't we head inside? I think I've had more than I can take today." As carefully as I could, I stood up with Vanessa in my arms. Her eyes fluttered open and I could feel my heart stop for a moment.
She looked up at me with big innocent eyes. Her lip quivered and her eyes glassed over. "Daddy?" She asked me. My hand flew to her head as I held her against my shoulder.
"I'm sorry baby. He's not here. Remember what we talked about? How he was going someplace?" I didn't know the best place to tell her exactly where he went.
"When coming back?" Tears leaked from my eyes as I looked to Sharpay for support.
"Sweetie, he is someplace in the sky. He is always looking down on you though. He loved you so much." Sharpay spoke softly to her as we walked towards the house. I don't know whether it was the fact that she didn't understand Sharpay's answer or the fact that she had gotten a similar answer to her question every time she asked because it looked to me like she gave up. Vanessa lay limply on my shoulder as we continued up the steps of the porch.
I froze in my tracks, as I had to step over an empty bottle of beer once I was on the porch. Following the trail to the table, I found Troy leaning back on his chair with what I assumed to be his sixth bottle of beer. How could he do this?
"Troy Alexander Bolton what do you think you're doing?" I didn't yell because of Vanessa, but the tone of my voice wasn't very nice either. I was furious with him that he would do this. I took the bottle out of his hands, letting it drop to the floor. The liquid spilled out, seeping through the cracks of the porch.
"Heeeeeeyy." Troy slurred in an angry tone. I watched him have trouble scrambling to his feet. He held onto the table for support.
"Dada no yell." Vanessa held her arms out to him, but I handed her off to Sharpay. There was no way I was going to let Troy hold her.
"I can yell all the hell I want." I had no respect for him at this moment. It's one thing to drink when Vanessa was sleeping, but I never thought he would stoop this low and yell at her. Drunk or not, it was a mistake. After everything that happened today this is probably the worst thing he could do.
"Take her inside and keep her in the guest room. She doesn't need to see him like this." I looked at the floor as I talked to Sharpay. I could only imagine how Vanessa was taking this. The one she looks up to has let her down. I waited until they left before I looked up at Troy. He was holding his head with one hand and using the table for support with the other.
"What did you do to yourself?" I whispered to myself. "Ughn I don't feeeeel so good." He moaned causing me to feel the tiniest bit of empathy for him. "I bet you don't." I said as I put my hand on his shoulders, leading him inside. He stumbled countless times just getting to the stairs. Getting him up the stairs was another story. My hands flew to his lower back as I pushed him up the stairs.
As I got closer and closer to the top, I could hear Vanessa crying for us. It broke my heart to hear her yelling for us. It broke my heart even more that Troy would pull something like this, though. I'm sure Sharpay was handling the situation as best she could.
Trying to ignore her screams, I brought Troy into what used to be our room and closed the door. I watched silently as Troy immediately crashed on the bed face down.
"Can I just ask you what the hell were you thinking? You getting drunk is apparently not good enough so you have to yell at your daughter too, who has done nothing by the way." I kept my voice loud so he would hear me even though I walked into the bathroom.
Going into the cabinet under the sink, I found a washcloth. I could hear him moan into the sheets as I ran the washcloth under the cold water before ringing it out. After taking a deep breath, I walked back into the bedroom.
"Sit up." I told him as I pulled his arm to help him up. His head rest in his hands as he omitted small groans. "Caaan I have some tylonal." He slurred. I put the cool rag on the back of his neck before answering.
"No." I sighed as I sat on the bed far away from him, by the pillow. After what he did, I'm having a hard time being next to him, let alone in the same room as him.
"Do you understaaand hoow bad my head it hurting? Whaat's wrong with youuu?" My lip became white from biting it. There was more to come, I was sure of it.
"You're just going to throw it up in few minutes anyway." My sympathy disappeared. I no longer felt sorry for my wasted boyfriend in front of me. No longer did I feel sorry for him that he felt horrible. He had it coming to him. He chose to drink his problems away. He chose this path all on his own. And now he should face the consequences.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the bedroom door open slowly. A few seconds later, I saw a foot, then an arm, and finally a head. I smirked when I saw Vanessa. She looked out of breath as she hurried inside and closed the door, leaning against it. It was obvious that she had just finished her crying fit. There were tears still visible in her eyes. Her cheeks sported a flushed look, causing me to become worried.
"She coming. No want to go big bed." She made all problems disappear. All thoughts were forgotten. That was until she ran to Troy.
"Dada stay wif you?" I leaped off the bed, but I wasn't quick enough.
"Leave meee alllone. God! Does everyone haaaave to fucking yell in this house?" Vanessa had stopped pulling on his sleeve to get his attention. She looked up at me, her lip quivering. I watched in disgust as Troy got off the bed and headed towards the bathroom. It closed behind him not too long after.
Bending down, I picked my shaken daughter up. "It's ok baby girl. You did nothing wrong, ok?" Rubbing her back, I attempted to calm her down, before she started crying. I tear rolled down my face as she clung to me, like I was the only one she could depend on now. Everyone else left.
"Oh thank goodness. There you are." Sharpay walked in the room with Vanessa's pajamas in hand.
"What happened?" Sharpay asked once she saw me.
"He went ahead and yelled at her again." Holding Vanessa closer to me, I sat on the bed. Hearing Troy throw up in the background caused me to wince. I only hoped that even in his drunken state, he still had good aim. The last thing I want to do tonight is clean up his mess.
"Do you want me to take her so you can deal with stupid?" Sharpay nodded her head in the direction of the bathroom. Vanessa chose this moment to grip onto me tighter.
"Mama no go." She dug her face into my neck.
"It's ok, I got her. When he comes out, I'll change her and sleep in the bedroom across the hall with her. There is no way I am sleeping with him tonight." I took the pajamas Sharpay was handing me and shifted Vanessa to my hip. With one last smile, I watched as Sharpay walked out of the room.
"Dada's not feeling too well, Vanny. He didn't mean to yell at you." I kissed her temple as she twirled a strand of my hair around her tiny finger. I turned around when I heard the toilet flush, bracing myself for what was about to come. Vanessa dug her head into my neck as the doorknob of the bathroom jiggled. Her hands gripped onto my t-shirt as the door swung open.
Out stumbled this man whom I had no desire of knowing. I didn't know this drunken man. I didn't know this man who yells at his daughter. I only know Troy, the one who always has it together and never yells. I wanted him back.
"Myyy head is killing meee. Isn't thereee any advil ooor something?" I watched tearfully as he collapsed on the bed, falling asleep in a matter of minutes. Detaching Vanessa from my shirt, I set her down on the floor. She whimpered as she reached up to me. Instead, I walked over to Troy and removed his shoes. After placing his shoes on the floor, I pulled the covers down, rolling him over on his side before pulling the blanket back up.
"Thalanks." I barely heard his drunken slur. "Yea, ok. We'll see what you remember tomorrow and who you hurt. Yell if you need something." I couldn't help but run my hands through his hair before leaving. I may not love the choices he makes, but deep down, I know he's hurting too. We all are. He was too past out to acknowledge what I had said.
"Come on, baby girl." I said to Vanessa as I bent down and picked her up. I took one last look at him before exiting the room. Taylor and Sharpay were the first ones to meet us as we walked into the hallway.
"Sorry. We weren't planning on sleeping here tonight." The plan was to have a nice barbeque, hang out, and go back to Carlos' house. Troy chose to alter our plans though.
"Don't worry about it. We love having you guys stay over. Are you ok though?" I nodded my head at Taylor. She always was the one who knew what was wrong. "It's just weird seeing him this, you know?" I was engulfed in a hug before returning the spare bedroom.
Laying Vanessa on the bed, I began changing her into her princess footie pajamas. "Can mommy give you some dinner?" It broke my heart to see her go without dinner. I felt like I was starving her. "No hungee. Tummy sad." I gave her a sad smile and nodded before giving her Mr. Snuggles.
Placing hr under the covers, I laid right next to her on top of the covers. My body didn't have the energy to change out of my cotton dress. I cuddled her body close to mine before kissing her goodnight. She was asleep in about five minutes. Sighing, I closed my eyes and drifted into a light sleep.
I soon became restless. My body sweating, as if I were 100 degrees. My breaths no longer were calm and even, but now ridged and heavy. My body jolted awake as I sat up. Was it all a nightmare? I dreamt that Troy had gotten drunk and worst of all, Carlos had died. Troy wouldn't do that though. It must have all been a dream. Vanessa was still sleeping peacefully next to me. Nothing seemed wrong with her.
As quietly as I could, I got out of the bed. The movement, stirred Vanessa awake, which now I regretted getting up. "Mama no weave." I tried to calm my shaking hands as I picked her up and rested her tiny form on my hip. While doing so, my eyes fell to the clock on the night table. How long was I out for? The worst part, was that I didn't remember going to sleep. I tiptoed out of my room. Where would Troy be? I started checking all of the rooms, but each one was empty. My heart raced as I became more nervous by the minute. What was happening to me?
"Daddy go in sky." Vanessa exclaimed sadly. My breath hitched in my throat.
"What did you say?" I looked down at her, my eyes becoming wide.
"Daddy go in sky. Him loves me." Tears began poring down my face. I had a hard time catching my breath.
Walking turned into running as I came to the only door that was shut closed. It was the only bedroom that I had yet to open. The wooden door creaked as I turned the brass knob and opened it.
"Mean Dada." Vanessa yelled as we walked into the room. There he was. His limp body lay snoring on the bed. The memories of last night came flooding back to me. The bottles of beer, drunken words, yelling, Carlos. Everything. I couldn't control myself anymore.
Letting out a big sob, I shrunk to the floor with Vanessa. "Mama ok? No be sad. Daddy yovs yous." I had to get out of this suffocating room. My body started shaking as I walked down the hallway.
My friends were all in the living room watching TV. I stood by the hallway balcony, waiting for the person I wanted to look up. I didn't want to be the center of attention. I didn't want people to fawn over me and ask what was wrong. I wanted the one friend who didn't ask questions.
I paced back and forth, hoping a moving object would get the attention I wanted- it always did. I motioned with my head for my friend to come upstairs, which thankfully they understood. I waited patiently by my bedroom door so no one else would see me, waiting for him to come up.
My back rested against the wall, my feet un-sturdy. The last thing I wanted to do was drop, my daughter. "Meet me in my room." He said as he took Vanessa from me. I was glad when she made no attempt to protest. I didn't know where he was taking her, but I wasn't worried. I knew she would be safe.
Somehow my legs managed to carry me to his bedroom. My tears blinded me as I entered the room. Taking some tissues, I tried to stop the overflowing tears. My body collapsed onto the floor, my legs no longer able to hold my weight. I faintly heard the bedroom door close and lock through all my sobs.
"You couldn't make it two more feet so you feel on the bed?" I tried to smile at him as he carried me to the bed. He always knew how to put a smile on my face. No other words were spoken as he lay with me on his bed. That was one of the things I appreciated about him.
The events of today hit me like a rock. It finally hit me that I would never see Carlos again. Vanessa became an orphan. And Troy, the one who usually has everything together fell apart when I needed him the most. I just couldn't take it anymore.
For now though, I am able to get my anger out. I am able to cry the tears I have been waiting to cry since I found Troy with those empty bottles. I finally found some comfort and if by some miracle, Troy was up to apologizing then I would be here. In the arms of Chad.
Sorry it took so long. You know the drill Read and Review. If you have something you want me to put in the next chapter, leave a suggestion. Hope you enjoyed it!