A/N: I just decided to try something completely different. This story is LOOSELY based off the book "Someone Dies, Someone Lives" by Lurlene McDaniel.
Many thanks to MandySueeeee for her idea that appears in this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own and/or am affiliated with any of the characters, the movie, music, etc.
February 1st, 2006 9:00 pm
Padding up the carpet covered staircase, Elena Montez's heart was heavy with the news that she had just received. A death had occurred that very night and she was delaying the telling as long as she could. The deceased was a close relative to her daughter and telling her, Elena knew would cause instant tears and disbelief.
Pausing at her door, Elena heard Gabi talk excitedly on the phone. She watched as her daughter's bright smile instantly lit up the entire room. Elena hated to do it but Gabi had to know what happened.
"Gabi?" Her daughter's bright smile caused Elena to smile a slight one back.
"Oh hi mom. Troy I got to go . . . my mom's here. Uh huh I love you too. Bye."
Throwing the phone on the bed beside her, Gabi looked up at her mom with a worried glance. "What's up?"
Her carefree love of life caused tears to form in Elena's eyes once again. "Something happened tonight Gabi."
Taking in a shaky break, Gabi looked up at her mom with worried eyes. "What exactly happened mom?"
"There was a car accident and . . ." All was let lose when those words actually floated out of her mouth. "And someone was killed Gabi."
That point, the tears start building up in Gabi's eyes. "What? Mom you're not making any sense."
"An accident happened tonight Gabi . . . and someone you know died."
A lump was caught in Gabi's throat when she heard those dreaded words. "Who?"
The silence that hung between them was deafening as racing heartbeats thumped with every breath taken.
"Courtney was killed tonight, Gabi."
As soon as the name was said tears immediately fell from Gabi's eyes. Courtney was her closest cousin; their mom's being sisters. Courtney was older than Gabi and was an older sister figure for Gabi. The two were best friends and knew they could go to the other for whatever may have come up.
"No." Shaking her head, Gabi denied the statement while Elena stood there and watched.
"Lola just called me and told me the news. I'm so sorry Gabi." Closing the distance between the two, Elena wrapped her arms around her daughter while listening to her heart wrecking sobs.
"This can't be true; I just talked to her earlier today and we made plans for this weekend. Joe, Courtney, Troy, and I were going to the movies together."
Elena's heart broke hearing Gabi say those words. Courtney and Joe had been a couple since high school. Courtney was set to graduate college in the spring and all ready had a teaching job lined up.
"I'm so sorry, Gabi. Do you want me to leave you alone for a little bit?"
The tears were still present as Gabi looked at her mom. "Can I call Troy and have him come over?"
With a nod of her head, Elena placed a kiss on her forehead before walking towards the door. "I love you Gabi."
"I love you too mama."
Collapsing on the bed, Gabi tried to calm down to call Troy but the tears continued to fall. Her heart broke in two when her mother had told her the news. Her best friend and closest "sister" was gone.
Sighing, she picked up the phone before dialing the seven digit number that had become permanent within the phone. Listening to the phone ring once, twice before it was picked up and the smooth voice came over the line.
"Well hello pretty girl . . . long time no talk."
"Can you come over?" Hearing the sobs over the line immediately caught Troy's attention and his heart broke at the sound.
"Sure . . . are you all right Gabi?"
"No but I'll explain once you get here."
After a promise to hurry over, Troy hung up; after explaining to his parents that something was wrong with Gabi, he was gone.
Carefully he maneuvered his truck through the quiet streets of Albuquerque until he pulled into her driveway. Careful of his knee, Troy got out before walking up the sidewalk before standing in front of the house. Ringing the doorbell, he shoved his hands into his pockets while waiting for the Elena to answer.
"Troy!" Elena Montez smiled at him politely while opening the door wider.
"Gabi's up in her room; she's had a rough night so far . . ."
Nodding, Troy took Elena's words to heart before walking ever so carefully up the stairs. Once at the top, he heard the heart wrecking sobs before pushing open the door quietly.
The sight in the room was an unpleasant one; Gabi lay strewn across her bed with her head buried amongst her pillow and her stuff animal bundled up into her arms. In the months since he'd met Gabi, Troy had never seen her crying this hard before.
Quietly walking over to the bed, Troy sat down before placing his hand on Gabi's back. "Hey pretty girl. What's got you crying so hard?"
Immediately Gabi was in Troy's arms burying her head in his chest while tears immediately soaked his shirt. "Shh . . . I'm right here babe."
Giving her a chance to calm down, Troy just continued to hold Gabi within his arms while rubbing his hand up and down her back in a comforting motion.
Looking up, Troy fell more in love with her as the mascara ran down her face with the tears. "My cousin, Courtney, died tonight in a car accident."
And with those heart wrenching words tears rushed down her face as sobs overtook her body. And all Troy could do was hold her as his own heart broke from the sobs coming from his girlfriend.
11:00 pm
Feeling her shift in his arms, Troy picked his head up and looked over her shoulder at her small smile. Leaning forward he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before smiling.
"Feeling better?"
Nodding her head slightly, Gabi wrapped her arms around his shoulder before laying her head in the crook of his neck. "A little. Thanks for staying and comforting me."
"It's my officially duty as a boyfriend. Besides it gave me a chance to hold you and protect you."
"I love you even more for it."
Giving her a quick squeeze, Troy scooted down so his eyes were leveled with hers. "Can I tell you something?"
Biting her lip a little, Gabi looked into his eyes before nodding her head. "Since you just sat here for two hours and listened to me cry, I think you deserve the fact to say anything you want."
"You're beautiful, you know that?" Gabi opened her mouth to protest but Troy leaned over and captured her in a kiss successfully shutting her up.
"No; just listen, Gabs." Pausing he took a deep breath before smiling and taking her hands in his. "You're beautiful when you're crying and you have mascara running down your face. You're beautiful when you bite your lip because you're concentrating so hard. You're beautiful when you twirl your hair in your finger while you're on the phone. You're beautiful when you sleep because you always have a smile on you're face. And you're the most beautiful person in the world when you're in my hoodie, sweatpants and no makeup."
She smiled before kissing him. "And no matter what, you'll always be the most beautiful person in the world to me. And I'm going to love you no matter what happens."
She kissed him again before getting lost in his eyes. Tears fell down her face again yet this time they weren't from the sadness but the amazing man lying across from her.
"Look at me; I'm a mess Troy. You made me cry again!" Laughing through her tears, Troy just chuckled at her.
"Gabi, do you think I care how you look right now? You're gorgeous no matter what you're wearing, whether you're in a ball gown or sweats. You're my girlfriend and I'm always going to be here."
"I'm going to be here when the monsters under the bed come out and scare you; I'm going to be here through the good times and bad. I'm going to be here to protect you from harm and cry with you during good times. I'm here to share in your joy and hurt during your pain. And most of all, I'm here for good. I'm not going anywhere."
Tears fell down her face as she shook her head. "I'm such a girl."
Chuckling, Troy shook his head. "I kinda like it that way."
Taking her hand, he pulled her off the bed before wrapping his arms around her waist. "Dance with me."
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she looked up at him smiling. "I'd love to but one problem."
"What's that?"
"No music . . ."
Reaching over, Troy pushed play on the stereo instantly releasing the music. "Good choice maestro."
This time, This place That I love you
Misused, Mistakes
Too long, Too late
Who was I to make you wait
Just one chance
Just one breath
Just in case there's just one left
'Cause you know,
you know, you know
I have loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore
The two swayed back and forth slowly as the song continued. Gabi picked her head up off Troy's shoulder and looked at him. "I love you. And thank you for everything you've done these past few weeks."
"I love you too. And you're most welcome for everything."
The two dance before kissing each other softly. Tired of dancing, Troy and Gabi retreated to the bed before Gabi cuddled up in Troy's arms and sighed in contentment.
"I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you."
"Gabi, you're never going to have to experience that. I'm always going to be by your side; always and forever."
And with that she laid her head his the crook of his neck before drifting off into a peaceful sleep of sweet dreams of her future along a certain shaggy hair brunette man.
The song is "Far Away" by Nickelback. Thank you to everyone who has submitted feedback and/or suggestions. It means the world to me and I really appreciate it. Thank you again!!