Mature content warning at the end of the chapter. Read at your own discretion.
New York, New York
Gabriella shook her leg nervously as she waited to get called into her audition. Her father was here, phone off with her sisters as promised. They were having a really good time already. It was Saturday morning. She warmed up her voice on the cab ride over and was now playing the waiting game. After the audition, they were going to go to Central Park and Times Square and maybe even do a little bit of shopping.
She glanced at her watch nervously. She wished Troy was with her. She got spoiled singing with him in Cabaret. He was easy to sing with and sing to. Now that she had to sing in a room full of strangers a song that she wrote that was going to make or break her career. It was an emotional song for her parents masked with the assumption it was for an old lover.
She wasn't nervous about any other part except the song. Piano she had down. If they wanted her to do anything else, all she needed was a guitar and she could play that. It seemed like she was the last one of the auditions for today because everybody got called in except for her. Her father and sisters gradually scooted closer as the other potential students got called in.
"Gabriella Montez, please come in." Somebody said after escorting a person out.
Gabriella took a deep calming breath. She stood up and followed the person in to the theatre. Her father and sisters followed, sitting in the very back of the theatre quietly. She followed the person with the list to the stage. There was a piano set up on stage.
This was it. She took another deep breath as she walked to the front of the piano with a smile. "Hello! Gabriella Montez, correct?" One of the three people said with a smile.
"Yes! My name is Gabriella Montez. I am from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am here to audition for the Vocal Arts degree program as well as the Music Program as a double major. My instrument of choice is the piano. I have prepared November by Tchaikovsky for my piano audition as well as an original song and an Italian aria for my vocal audition."
"Thank you Gabriella. Please start with the piano." Gabriella took a seat at the bench. She took a deep breath. Her fingers moved along the keys playing the familiar piece. She shifted the foot petals as needed and completed the piece. "Thank you. Gabriella, please open the sheet music in front of you. Take a moment to familiarize yourself then play the piece."
Gabriella wasn't afraid of the new piece. She opened the book and looked at the music. She flipped to the second page and studied the notes. She heard it in her head before she looked down at the keys. She took another calming breath before she started playing the piece. She blocked out everything in her mind, closing her eyes. She saw the sheet music in her head as she played the piece through. When she was done, she was asked to sing the Italian song first.
Now it was her time to play her song. "Thank you Gabriella. Before we start with your original, can you please explain to us why you chose to perform an original song?"
Gabriella stood up to speak. "Thank you for your question. I was hoping you would ask. I chose to perform an original song so you can learn more about me. I want to highlight my personality and what I can add to the program. I do have some classical vocal training and I love singing in Italian and old Spanish songs. This song means a lot to me. I wrote it out of nothing but pure emotion. I didn't want to write a love song so this is my un-love song to my parents."
"Thank you Gabriella. Please proceed when you're ready."
"Thank you." Gabriella swallowed as she took her seat back at the piano bench. She tried to picture herself back in Troy's room, on his little keyboard, singing this song for him. She felt relaxed so she started the melody.
"I won't tell you I'm lonely
Cause it might be selfish
I won't ask you to hold me
Cause that won't mend what's helpless
There's not a thing I could say
Not a song I could sing
For your mind to change
Nothing can fill up the space
Won't ask you to stay
But let me ask you one thing
Oh, When did you fall out of love?
Out of love
oh, when did you fall out of love
With me?
I can't float in an ocean
That's already been drained
I won't cry at your feet now
I know my tears will fall in vain
There's not a thing I could say
Not a song I could sing
For your mind to change
Nothing can fill up the space
Won't ask you to stay
But let me ask you one thing
Oh, When did you fall out of love?
Out of love
oh, when did you fall out of love
With me?
No use wondering
Why your changing heart has wandered
So I ask you this question
Cause it might help me sleep longer
Oh, When did you fall out of love?
Out of love
Oh, When did you run out of love for me?
Out of love
Out of love
Out of love with me?"
Gabriella played the last key before reaching up to wipe the tear that fell from her eye. She stood up and waited for their response. She took a shaking breath before she wiped another falling tear before putting a smile on her face.
"Thank you Gabriella. We will be reaching out to every one of our candidates via mail in the next three to seven weeks. We allow that time just for the holidays and the rest of the auditions happening soon."
"Thank you so much for your time. Have a wonderful rest of your day." Gabriella said with a polite smile before we walked to the front stairs of the stage. She stepped down and held her head up high as she walked to the back of the theatre where her dad and sisters were waiting.
Mariella gave her a wide smile as she approached. She reached out for her little sisters hand, leading her out to the waiting area. "Gabi, that was so good. I didn't know you could sing in Italian." Mariella said with a smile. "Oh, here is your coat. And I didn't know that Mommy and Daddy aren't in love."
Camilla sighed. "I told you, it's not about mom or dad, it's about Gabriella."
"Are you and Troy not in love?" Mariella asked, confused.
Gabriella smiled at her younger sister as she put her coat on and buttoned it up. "Troy and I are just friends. You know how I haven't been staying at home? Sometimes I feel like mommy doesn't love me so I wrote that about me wondering what I did to make mommy not love me. But she loves me, Mari. She loves all of us so much. It's a teenager-y song."
"Yeah," Camilla added. "Haven't you heard of teen angst?"
"No, I'm nine."
Gabriella laughed, hugging her little sister. "Dad? You ready?"
Richard looked at his oldest daughter and nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
"Daddy, hold my hand!" Mari said as she raced over to their dad. Gabriella reached out for Camilla. She held her hand as they walked out into the chill of New York.
After a long day of wandering around the city, laughing, and shopping. They were at their hotel room after dinner. It was about 9PM Mariella and Camilla were both fast asleep in the kind sized bed the three of them were sharing. Gabriella looking at the TV, not really paying attention or watching it. Troy was out with Chad watching some action movie that they were into. Her dad was on his computer.
"So." Her dad's voice startled her. She turned her head to see if he was talking to her or if he was on the phone. "I've been thinking about contacting a lawyer."
"In regards to?" She wondered aloud.
"Divorce." He said nervously.
Gabriella wasn't surprised. It had dragged out long enough. "Do you have a pre-nup?"
"Yes. Honestly, your mother doesn't need me. Her parents were wealthy themselves. She has money she hasn't touched since before we were married."
"But what about now? She's going to be mad she has to spend her own money."
"Not really. I'll give her the house. It's paid off. We'll split custody so I won't have to pay her child support. I'll still pay for Rose and a couple thousand dollars for alimony each month until the Mariella's off to college to make sure she is taken care of."
"Do you think she's going to be upset?" Gabriella asked her father.
"I don't think so. We talked about it briefly after dinner the other day. She just doesn't want a big show of it to save face with her friends. When your mom isn't crazy, she's a wonderful woman. She'll find somebody quick who can give her everything she wants."
"And you will to- just please God don't let it be Derby." Gabriella begged. "I do not want Sharpay as a step sibling. I'm hoping to never see her again after I move to New York."
Her father chuckled, closing his laptop. He walked over to the couch and took a seat. "Bunny, I love you."
"I love you too dad."
"I'm sorry I haven't been here for you like I should have." Gabriella chewed on her bottom lip to stop her emotions. "I wanted you to go to Stanford so bad. I see so much of myself in you. My dream for you is to follow in my footsteps. I know you could make a lot of money and be very successful. I know now that you don't want that and I respect the decision you're making. You are so talented, Bunny and I have no doubt that you will become successful."
"If I don't get accepted into the program, I'll probably go to Stanford." She said honestly. "Do business like you want me to."
"I think if you don't get accepted into Julliard, Stanford had a great music program that you can learn from and try again. You can get your Masters at Julliard."
Gabriella shrugged, noncommittally. "Why does it feel like everything was riding on that audition?"
"Because that is your dream, Bunny. You're going to have that feeling many, many times throughout your life. If you're not scared shitless, you're not on the right path."
"I'm glad I'm like you and not like mom." She said quickly. "One narcissist is enough for the family."
"She's just doing to you what her parents did to her. They made her be little Miss prim and proper. Her mother probably rolled over in her grave when she got her boob job. She probably hears her mother's voice in her head telling her that fake boobs are trashy and she needs to put more lipstick on." Gabriella looked unconvinced. "She wanted to be an artist before she wanted to be a model. That's where Mari gets her talent from. She wanted to be a model when her parents told her that art wouldn't pay the bills. She met me. Her parents liked me because my parents had money. After that, they didn't care what happened because they knew I was going to take care of her. "
"Sounds familiar."
"When we had you, it was like all of the things that our parents said to us finally made sense. We had this tiny, amazing little ray of sunshine we have to take care of and protect."
"And what happened? Because up until three months ago I would go days without talking to either one of you."
"My parents told me that to take care of my family, I needed to make money. I worked too hard for too long. Your mom, she wants to keep up with everybody to look good and throw parties and keep a smiling face because that's what her parents did."
"So our family is fucked up due to generational trauma. Great. I'm never having children."
Her father sighed. "Bunny."
"When you get divorced, since I won't be here, can you please give them more of your time?"
"I'm in the process of buying a house in the Palisades community. Four bedrooms, five bathrooms. I'll sell my condo and we can each have our own rooms. When you come back from New York, you can have a home with me. The girls will have their own rooms as well. When they're at my house every other week, I will just have Rose do pick up and stay with them until I get home."
"What are the chances of you getting the Steinway in the divorce?" Gabriella asked, speaking of the piano in the living room of her mother's house.
"It's yours if you want it." Her father promised. "I'll put it in the den and you can play it whenever you want. When you buy your first penthouse, I will ship it up to New York."
"God, we are all so spoiled."
Richard laughed, pulling Gabriella in for a hug. She leaned against her father. They sat their together for a moment. "I want to do something for Mr. and Mrs. Bolton. They've been so generous to open up their home for you. I just don't know what to do."
"Me either. I don't know how to bring it up without blatantly asking."
"Let's do our research and go out for lunch next Sunday and we can talk about it."
Gabriella nodded. "That will work. I can tell them that I'm gathering information for a late Christmas present." He kissed the top of her head. "Thank you for doing this for me, Dad. Cami and Mari will never forget this trip with you."
"Thank you for keeping my secrets, Bunny. I shouldn't put the burden on you."
"Are you going to tell her?"
"Eventually." Her dad said. "The affair has stopped. I've stopped all forms of contact."
"Derby is going to spill the beans at the worst time. You have to tell mom to be prepared for that."
Richard sighed. "You're right. I will tell her, soon."
"Thank you." Gabriella got up. "I'm going to head to bed. I love you, Dad. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Bunny. Te quiero mucho y mucho." Gabriella grinned to herself at the little affectionate saying he used to tell her when she was little. She walked in the room where her sisters were sleeping. She crawled into bed next to Mariella and closed her eyes.
Gabriella climbed into her car after dropping her sisters off at home when she got back to Albuquerque Monday afternoon. She had a half a day of school left, school tomorrow before Winter break began. She rushed to school and got signed in with the office. She made it just in time to take her test for her English class. She went to her last class of the day which was yearbook. Justin was showing her pictures from Halloween at the beginning of class. She excused herself in the middle of class to get pictures of PE class.
She found Coach Bolton watching his class run around the track. She walked over to him. "Ms. Montez, why are you not in class?"
"I am here on official yearbook duty." Gabriella said, holding up her yearbook pass and camera. "I wanted to ask you and I never got the chance. Can I interview you for the yearbook?"
"Of course." Jack said, watching his students. "Why would you want to interview me?"
"Because you haven't been interviewed in the last four years. You're my favorite teacher here. Since I am the editor and your only son is graduating, I want to make it special for all of us. It won't be slander."
Jack laughed. "I hope not. Just let me know when, I'm usually free during free period but I'm in my office in the men's locker room."
"Maybe tomorrow, you can meet me in the gym during free period?"
"Sounds good."
Gabriella lifted her camera up to her eye. "Say cheese." Jack Bolton smiled for the picture. She turned the camera to his students running by. She took a couple of shots. "Do you know where Mrs. Freitas is?"
"She's in the aux gym. Duncan is doing swim." Coach said with a grin.
"Thank you!"
"Hey, Gabs?" Gabriella stopped. "See you for dinner?"
"I'll be there." Gabi smiled as she walked away from coach. She opened the door for the aux gym and the teacher gave her a big hug and a wide smile. She made her way around, taking picture for the yearbook before walking back to her classroom. She took a seat at her computer and wrote down a couple of questions she wanted to ask Coach Bolton as she uploaded the pictures to the computer.
She looked through a couple of pictures, taking notes on which ones she was thinking about using. She was pretty in the zone when the bell rang signaling the end of school. She backed tracked to the teachers of the classes that she missed and made sure there wasn't anything she needed to know about. She gathered the books she needed for homework from her locker before walking out to her car.
Gabriella's stomach exploded with butterflies when she saw her favorite person standing by her car. She missed him, too much for being away for only three days. His hair looked shorter but he was still painfully handsome when he smiled at her. She rushed over to him and he reached out for her. "There's my cupcake."
"You waited for me?" She asked, wrapping her arms around him.
"Of course I did, beautiful. I saw my dad and he said you were here and I saw your car so I waited for you." He pulled her in tighter.
"Did you miss me?" She asked with a small smile, pulling back to look at his face.
"I missed you so much." He said with a shy smile. "I had to hang out with my dad and Chad all weekend to keep from missing you."
"You got a haircut." She noticed. She ran her fingers through his hair. "It's soft."
"Do you like it?"
"You look very handsome." She said, moving her fingers from his hair to his cheek.
He grinned, pulling her closer, looking down at her lips. "So, my dad has a meeting with the school board and he's picking up pizza. My mom is working until five thirty at her office. So I think we should go to my house."
She smiled. "And do what?"
He hummed. "I do owe you something from last week. I need keep my word." She looked at him confused. "Let's go."
Gabriella climbed in the car. She drove the quick drive to Troy's house. She grabbed her backpack as she followed Troy into his house. She carried her backpack upstairs, setting it down in front of his dresser. He came up the stairs and locked his door behind him. He pulled his shirt off. "What are we doing?" She wondered, kicking off her shoes.
"Something fun… I hope." He said quietly. "Are you on your period?"
She made a face, "No, my IUD killed my period."
"Cool… cool… cool." He said, closing the blinds in his room. He turned to look at her and she just looked back at him, confused. "My seduction isn't going as planned."
She cracked a smile. "You're trying to seduce me?"
"Kind of… Can I take off your clothes?"
"Sure, why not?" She asked, sitting back, amused.
"Cool." She giggled. She tried not to as he walked over to her and pulled her shirt over her head. His hands shook as he unclasped her bra. She shimmied it off and onto the floor. "Can you lay back?" She smiled to herself as she laid back on his bed. He unbuttoned her jeans and pulled them down her legs. He took a deep breath and pulled her panties down as well.
She covered her hard nipples with her hands as he leaned down to kiss her lips. She smiled into his kiss as he boldly moved her hand from her breast and replaced it with his own. His tongue found hers and tasted with slow swirls. He pulled away from the soft sucking kiss. His lips trailed down her neck. He sucked gently on her collar bone as his lips worked their way down. Her hands messed up his hair as his lips covered her nipple.
She let out a soft squeak and his dick inflated. He played with her nipple with his tongue. He slid his hand down to her core, stroking her lips softly. She whimpered as her legs spread for him. He bit down gently on her nipple as his fingers dipped into her wetness. He curled his fingers up to feel the bumpy ridges of her inner walls.
Gabriella tugged on his hair to pull his mouth up to hers. He kissed her lips hard as he dragged his fingers up and out of her vagina and up to her clit. "Oooh." She hummed as he rubbed her clit in slow circles. "I like that." She whimpered against his lips.
He groaned in response, kissing her mouth again firmly before pulling away. He kissed down her sternum to her torso, dragging his tongue along her belly. He rubbed her clit slowly as he laid between her legs. He looked up at her as he slid his fingers back inside of her. She bit down on her bottom lip. He leaned forward to drag his tongue along her clit. Her moan seemed to echo from his walls. He had to use his free hand to unzip his pants and let his hard cock free.
Once he was comfortable, he placed his free hand under her thigh, holding her lips open with his thumb. He continued to stroke the inside of her with his fingers. He used his tongue to taste her fleshy lips, her opening and flick her clit. She tasted as good as she smelled. He gave his fingers a break and dove into her wet hole with his tongue. He felt her hips wiggle against his face and hoped he was doing this right. His mouth covered her clit, sucking lightly at the nub. "Troy." She moaned his name and holding his head down to stay where he was. "Don't stop." She breathed out.
He sucked harder, swirling the nub with the tip of his tongue. He rubbed his hips back and forth on his blanket. The movement felt good on his aching cock. He grunted in pleasure as his tongue dove back into her wetness. He used his fingers to rub her clit in slow circles as he licked her. He slid his fingers inside of her again slowly. His mouth came over her clit, sucking firmly. Her hips bucked up and his hips pressed down into the blanket. He felt her muscles contract around him. Her moan made him shoot off into the blanket. He pressed a soft kiss to her clit and her muscles tensed. He slid his wet fingers out of her, sucking them off as she closed her legs, laying back.
He sat up and groaned. He made a mess all over the blanket and his boxers and jeans. She giggled and he looked over at her. "I didn't even have to give you instruction…" She teased.
"I admittedly watched way too much porn when you were gone… and I googled it. Did you orgasm?"
"Yes." She bit back her giggle.
He smiled, "Good." He stripped off his clothes and his blanket. "I need to put this in the washer before my parents come home."
She rolled to her feet. "Do you mind if I take a shower?" She asked as he collected his dirty things.
"Not if you mind me hopping in with you when I put this all in."
She grinned. "I don't mind at all."
Good news, after five years, I finally finished this story. I will be posting most likely biweekly until it's completion. I also know nothing about audition processes for performing arts colleges so... yeah. lol. I hope you enjoyed this new chapter and I hope you are all doing well.
Please don't forget to review. :)
Out of Love-Alessia Cara