What Happened to Daddy's Little Girl?
Gabriella's Pov:
Last night I had only gotten four hours of sleep at most. There had been countless times where Chad had woken me up from a bad dream. And if I finally got the pleasure of falling asleep, it wasn't long until I woke up again.
My emotions were on a roller coaster. I didn't know whether to be scared about how Troy was going to act today, mad at him for what he did yesterday, or worried that Vanessa wasn't going to forgive him. I blinked frivolously, trying to adjust my eyes to the light streaming through Chad's bedroom window. My eyes glanced at the clock on his nightstand. Six-thirty. Damn.
"He's not going to surprise you and make an entrance. The door is locked. Though if he is in the same state as he was last night, I wouldn't be surprised if he walked into it and it fell down." I gave Chad a weak smile and ran my fingers through my tangled hair that was matted to my face.
"I'm just worried about Vanessa. She's going to be asking for me as soon as she wakes up." I sat up and readjusted my dress. My hand rubbed the side of my face, while the other was linked to Chad's for support.
"Taylor has her. She also has a key to get into the room." He thought of everything. "Thanks for everything Chad. I'm sorry I kept you up so many hours last night. I guess I have to face the music sometime." I stated as I pealed the covers away from my tired body and got out of bed.
"You don't have to do it alone. You don't even have to do it right now. We can stay here as long as you want." Shaking my head in disagreement, I looked at him, only to find him getting out of bed. This is why I wanted him and not anyone else. Sure he had that crazy side of him, but what most people don't know, is that he has this whole other side to him. The side that reminds me of Troy. "I can't hide forever, you know. I'm not that type of person." I tell him as he unlocks and opens the door.
I walk out into a still dark hallway with him. "Everyone must still be sleeping." He says as I follow him to the guest room.
My mouth curled into a smile as I watched the sight before me. Our friends were sleeping every which way on the bed, Vanessa was sitting up, awake, in the middle of them sucking her thumb.
"Good morning baby girl." I whispered as I picked her up. Her hand moved from her mouth to my dress as she gripped onto it. Her head lay on my shoulder as I kissed her forehead.
"What would you like for breakfast?" I asked her as soon as I walked out of the room.
"No hungee." I heard her whisper. It broke my heart to see her like this. Not only was she not eating, but she was moping around.
"You are too small to be missing dinner and breakfast. How about some eggs?" I watched silently as she shrugged her shoulders. "I'll go and make breakfast, you check on Troy." After giving him a grateful smile, I walked to Troy's room.
"No go." Vanessa let out a whimper as I entered the room. Patting her back, I walked further into the room. I should have checked on him in the middle of the night. If you're in a drunken state, you shouldn't lay face down amongst the blanket and pillows. He could have suffocated for all I know.
His chest heaved up and down, signifying that he had not, but still, it was wrong of me to leave him unattended. Walking over to the window, I pulled the blinds up, letting the sun soak through the room. I heard him groan and watched as he pulled a pillow over his head in attempts to shield himself from the suns rays.
"Get up." I said emotionless. He made no effort to lift his hung-over body off the bed. Vanessa wiggled as I took a seat on the edge of his bed. "Now, Troy." I said as I pulled the covers back. Somehow he managed to get his shirt off during the night.
"Can you tell me why I feel like I've been hit by a truck, or why my daughter won't let me go near her?" I watched him hold his head as he turned on his back. Vanessa hid her face in my shirt as soon as they made eye contact.
"When did you see her?" I stood up and walked over to the bathroom. Setting Vanessa on the bathroom counter, I looked through the cabinet to retrieve some Advil. After taking out two small red pills and filling a cup up with water, I picked Vanessa back up and returned to the room.
"Here." I said as I handed him the pills and water, which he took without question. "I woke up about a half hour ago feeling horrible. I wanted to see where everyone was. I looked in the first open door to find everyone sleeping, but Vanessa up. I went to take her, but she put up a fit and started calling me mean dada. I didn't see you or Chad there, but I was so upset, I just went back to my room." I bit my lip as he explained.
He no longer needed to make that apology to me. I understood it now. It wasn't just upset about Carlos, he was upset that it was another parent to him. He couldn't have talked about it with me, because I wouldn't have understood. It didn't affect me in the same way it affected him. I still had a mother. I still had everything, except a person who I have met only months recently.
I looked up to see Troy stare at me, waiting for me to respond. "I was uh sleeping in a different room." It now seemed like a lame excuse. Last night it felt as if my world was coming crashing down, now it feels like I had no business acting the way I did.
"With Chad?" His voice was low, almost a whisper. Those simple two words stung me worse than I had ever imagined. It felt like a knife went through my heart. I looked up, expecting to meet his eyes, but instead it felt like I was met with someone else's. His once baby blue eyes now sported a grey look. I bit my bottom lip and nodded my head slowly.
"It's not what you think." I tried my best to explain, but once again, it looked like I was the guilty one. I watched him as he ran his finger through his hair stopping at his scalp to rub his pounding head.
"What happened?" I heard him whisper. I found myself wondering what he meant by that. I wasn't sure if he was talking about last night, with me and Chad, or if he was talking to himself.
Troy's Pov:
My head pounded as I tried my best to make conversation with Gabriella. "I could show you better than I could tell you." I gave her a questioning look as I watched both my girls stand up. I desperately wanted to hold my daughter in my arms. I wanted a lot of things right now. I wanted my girlfriend back. I wanted Carlos. I wanted all the unanswered questions answered.
It felt like all the blood in my body rushed to my head as I stood up. It hurt even more as I followed her out of my room and down the steps. Vanessa didn't look back at me once.
As we entered the kitchen, I found Chad. It was hard for me to look at him. What kind of best friend sleeps with his best friend's girlfriend? He made no attempt to look at me either, which if he did, I probably would have tackled him.
"Whenever you're ready Gab." My fists clenched my pant leg as I watched Gabriella walk over to Chad and give him a hug.
"Thanks Chad. Well be right back." When they broke apart, I followed Gabriella out back. There were bottles of beer scattered all over the floor. I gently kicked one and watched as I rolled a few feet in front of me.
"Mean Dada." My jaw clenched together as Vanessa said these words for a third time today.
"Why are there bottles everywhere?" I asked as I tried to count how many. "You were thirsty last night." My eyes widened. A lump formed in my throat making it hard to swallow. Tears glazed over my eyes and my world spun. I had no recollection of last night.
"What did I do to Vanessa to make her hate me?" I was dreading the answer. How could I act so irresponsible, especially when I am responsible for another human being? What was I thinking? "Yelling and cursing at her." Her back was to me as she peered over the porch railing.
Walking over to her, I stood next her, Vanessa trying to get down as I smiled at her. "Can I have some time alone with her?" I hesitantly asked her.
"No.." I nodded my head and began to walk inside. I wasn't mad at her for saying no, I was mad at myself for screwing up. "You didn't let me finish." I paused before opening the screen door. "She needs to eat first. She didn't eat dinner last night.
After, she's all yours." I turned around and smiled at her. "I am sorry, Brie." I couldn't help but feel some sort of relief when she walked towards me. I tried my best to ignore Vanessa whimpering as I held Gabriella in my arms.
"You have no reason to apologize. Yea, it was a mistake to drink, and as a result of that there were drunken actions, but you're going through something that I have no experience in. I couldn't even imagine how you are feeling." I leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead.
"So I take it, you're not planning on dumping me for Chad?" I hesitantly asked. She looked up at me with a questioning look and I couldn't help but feel worried. What if she didn't forgive me for my stupid actions? I don't think I can take her leaving me for one of my best friends.
"What makes you think I would dump you for Chad?" I chuckled nervously, and rubbed the back of my neck. I watched as Gabriella opened the screen door and set Vanessa down. "Go find Chad." I heard Gabriella say to Vanessa.
Gabriella closed the screen door despite the fact the Vanessa hadn't moved from her spot. I watched as Vanessa turned around and leaned against the screen door. Her tiny arm raised in Gabriella's direction, wanting to be back in her mother's arms.
"Troy, let's just say you weren't the only one the completely lost it last night." Her words stabbed me like a knife. She needed me and I wasn't there for her. We both needed each other, and because I was irresponsible and drunk, she had to turn to Chad.
I opened my arms, hoping my girl would return to them. Gabriella didn't hesitate to close the gap between us. "I promise, that will never happen again." I held her tightly to my body due to the fact that if I didn't, I thought she would slip away. Placing a kiss in her curls, she looked up at me and smiled.
Gabriella stood up on her tippy toes and places a kiss on my lips. That's when I knew, between me and her, everything would be fine. "Pppffffttttt." I looked up at Vanessa, surprised by the noise, only to see her blowing raspberries at me.
"Hey missy, put that tongue back in." I kneeled down right in front of her, causing her to screech and run away. Omitting a long sigh, I stood up. "She'll come around. After lunch, take her out by the hammock and talk to her. She's going to cry, but she'll forgive you. She loves you, Troy." I nodded my head sadly, and opened the screen door.
After letting Gabriella enter the house before I did, I placed my hands on her shoulder and walked into the kitchen. The smell of eggs and toast swarmed around my head. Vanessa sat happily on Chad's hip as he set the table. However, as soon as she saw me, she hid her face. I took a seat far away from her booster seat. From behind, Gabriella wove her arms around my neck and placed a kiss on my cheek.
"Don't let her think she's in charge, Troy. She's two. Everything scares her. She cried last week when the toast popped out of the toaster and still won't go near it." I stood up and laughed.
"Like mother like daughter." I heard her gasp and hit my lightly on my arm. "Hey I still go near it, don't I?" Smiling, I nodded my head and changed my seat. There was a seat on each side of Vanessa, which holding my breath, I sat down in one of them. I watched her try to get out of the booster seat.
"Mama!" Vanessa came over and kissed her cheek. "It's just Daddy. You're ok." I watched as Vanessa gripped onto Gabriella's shirt. "Hims will yell at me." Despite her head being burying in Gabriella's chest, I still heard. The hole in my heart was getting deeper and deeper. I looked down at my empty plate.
"Vanessa, a big scary monster took over Daddy's body last night and made him mean. But guess what?" I bit my tongue and waited patently for Gabriella to give Vanessa the answer. "Wut Mommy?" Her voice was so innocent. "Daddy fought the monster and scared him away. He's nice again." I couldn't help but smile to myself at Gabriella's explanation.
Lifting my head up, I was able to catch her winking at me before detaching Vanessa's tiny hands from her shirt. She gave her one last kiss on the cheek before walking over to help Chad put the bowls of food on the table. "Mama mow pwease." Vanessa held out her cup when Gabriella set the bowl of eggs on the table.
"I'll get it." I said while standing up. As soon as I had my cup in my hand, she retracted her hands quickly. At least I didn't get a screaming fit from her this time. Walking over to the refrigerator, I looked at Chad.
"What was she drinking?" I asked him quietly. After getting ignored for a few seconds, he turned to me. "Beer." I felt ashamed. My fists balled when I heard his words flow through my ears.
"Unnecessary, Chad. I forgave him. It's over and done with." Setting Vanessa's sippy cup on the counter, I took out a glass for myself and Gabi and filled them with water. We weren't coffee people.
"Oh that's bull Gabsy. He didn't see you last night the way I did. Did you tell him how you couldn't even form sentences? Or how you collapsed on the floor crying? Or that because of him, you had to hand your daughter off to Taylor?" My jaw clenched. I knew there was something she wasn't telling me.
"Enough. You don't understand what he's going through. He was lost more than you have even lost. You don't understand. Try loosing both your parents at the same time and a couple years later, when you finally found some family where you feel like you belong, you loose it in an instant." I could hear Gabi's voice break. The only thing I wanted to do was hold her in my arms.
For once, she had made Chad speechless. She had made Chad see things her way – my way. "Hot chocolate." He mumbled under his breath. He made no attempt to make eye contact with me.
Looking back at Vanessa, I saw her chew on her plastic fork. Finding the hot chocolate maker on the counter top, I re-filled her cup and returned back to the table. Before giving it to her, I made sure it wasn't too hot.
Taking the bowl of eggs, I put a good amount of Vanessa's plate and then some on mine. Without another word spoken between the two, they took a seat at the table with us. Passing the bowl to Vanessa, I gave her a weak smile. Breakfast went by in a silent blur. No words were spoken other than the whines Gabriella would receive when she tried to wipe Vanessa's mouth.
"I full." Vanessa said as she rubbed her eye with her fist. She probably didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Gabriella and I watched as Chad stood up, taking his plate with him, and washed it off before putting it in the dishwasher. After cleaning up his plates, he walked out of the room.
"Do you want me to change her or put shoes on her before you take her?" She asked me. I shook my head in disagreement.
"If she tries to kick me, it's just going to hurt that much more." She chuckled and nodded.
"I'll clean up. Leave your plate there." She said when I stood up, plate in hand. Picking Vanessa up, she let out a whimper for Gabriella. I held my breath and waited for her to start screaming.
"Remember what mommy said? The monster is gone. After I clean up, I'll meet you out there." That last part was directed to me. Before leaving, I placed a kiss on her lips. I would have to clean up the bottles on the porch some time today, I noticed as I walked passed them.
Setting Vanessa on the grass, I watched as she ran to the hammock. "Ughh I stuck!" I laughed quietly when I saw her having trouble climbing onto the hammock. "Ok Ness we need to talk." I said while lying down with her. Swinging us gently back and forth, I watched as she crawled on the big hammock. She was still in arms length just incase she lost her footing.
"I was sad about your daddy, so this big scary monster took over. Come here, Vanny." Picking her up, I placed her on my chest. She gave a tiny whimper, but soon calmed down when with I rubbed her back.
"I am so sorry, Vanny." Hugging her tightly to my chest, I kissed the top of her head. "Monster gone?" Her innocent eyes looked up at me for the first time today.
"Yes. And he's never coming back. I promise." Her small arms pushed against my chest. Holding herself up, she placed a wet kiss on my cheek and then dropped back down to my chest. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gabriella walking over to us. I gave her a smile, signifying that everything is alright.
"Well, at least some of the most important people in my life forgive me." I said quietly. I still had to find a way to win my friends back. "Troy, they're your friends. We all do stupid things sometimes, but they'll forgive you. You just have to give them some time." I nodded my head and wrapped an arm around Gabriella. It's just nice to have both my girls back in my arms.
"We also need to get outfits for the funeral, organize it, buy food so if people want to come back to the house afterwards, they can." I shook my head in disagreement. "There is no way I'm letting Vanessa go. She is too young to see that." I looked down, only to find Vanessa sleeping soundly.
"Troy, you can't keep her from going to her fathers funeral." A slight breeze swept across us, making us shiver. "I'll take her to the funeral, but I refuse to take her to the wake. I can't let her see her father like that. Carlos would agree too." I watched as Gabriella pulled out her phone from my pants pocket. I was always carrying her things when she was wearing a dress with no pockets, or was too lazy to bring a purse. I didn't mind, though.
"Who are you calling?" I asked her as I tried to see which number she was searching for.
"No one, I'm looking to see if I have the school in my contacts. If not I will have to look in the paper again. Maybe I can get Zac's parents number from her. I'm sure she would like a play date while we go to the wake together." Using my thumb and index finger, I placed a light kiss on her lips. Things were going to be ok from now on. I just knew it.
"Why don't we go home?" I carefully stood up, not wanting to wake Vanessa. Holding out my hand, I helped Gabriella up. "Home sounds good to me."
You know the drill. Tell me what you think. Review and leave suggestions. I hope you liked this chapter!