(A.N. Here's the next chapter of Tomorrow's Another Day, I hope you enjoy. Please feel to let me know what you think of the story and thank you to everyone who has given feedback, I appreciate it!)
That night, Gabriella tried not to wake her sister as she tossed and turned. The minutes on the clock seemed to be taunting her as they slowly rose, heading into the morning. She turned to look at the little girl sleeping peacefully next to her, the girl's light brown hair in disarray as her arms loosely held her Care Bear whilst her hand brushed against Gabriella's to make sure the older girl was still beside her. The teenager gently brushed the fallen hair out of her sister's face and her heart warmed at the small smile that appeared on the child's face. Sighing to herself, – knowing sleep wouldn't come with the rushing thoughts flooding through her head – she gently untangled herself from Lilliana and walked downstairs to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water.
Quietly lifting herself onto the countertop with her drink, she looked around the bottom floor of the Bolton house. The light from the open curtains made the photos visible to the girl and she smiled seeing photos of her boyfriend and the twins, and even some new additions of herself. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't hear the soft creaking of the stairs as another presence joined her until he spoke. "Brie?"
Jumping slightly, she smiled at the voice. "Sorry I didn't see you there. What are you doing up this late?"
"I could ask you the same question."
She smiled slightly as he moved between her legs as she sat on the counter, resting his hands on her thighs. She slid her hands down his bare chest before looping them around his neck and responding. "I just can't sleep, I've got a lot on my mind."
The boy looked thoughtfully. "Do you want to talk? We could go up to my room or we could watch a movie or something?" The girl nodded, finishing off her glass before she jumped down from the counter and followed the boy up to his room. Troy lounged back on his bed and pulled Gabriella to rest against him. "What's been keeping you up?"
"I guess it was the interview today and having to relive everything. I know everything hasn't healed yet and I'm still not confident about people seeing me like this and I just don't really like the idea of everyone knowing what happened in Denver."
"I get that." His hand began to trace over the bare skin of her back. "Is this the only thing bothering you?" Gabriella thought for a second before nodding - not wanting to bring up the other thing plaguing her mind. "But you did good today Baby and you did a good thing, I'm sure your story will help a lot of people and it'll raise awareness 'cause this happens to a lot of people especially kids. I mean my family would be the first to relate." She looked up at him sadly at the last statement. "As for the other part of what you said, I know you're still insecure about your injuries 'cause they're not fully healed but the way you're viewing yourself, you are the only one seeing yourself that way Brie because I'm looking at you and you're beautiful."
Gabriella shook her head. "No I'm not, I'm still all puffy and I have scars that aren't going away - at least not anytime soon."
He took her face between his hands, looking her dead in the eyes. "Your scars are nothing to be ashamed of, they show what you've been through and they take nothing away from you."
With his statement, he placed a kiss on her lips. Then one kiss became two and two became three until they didn't know when one ended and another began. The boy manoeuvred them so Gabriella was beneath him and his hand moved to rub up and down her side under her shirt. When she turned her head from lack of air, he trailed his lips down to her neck as she tangled her fingers in his hair. When he reached the neck of her shirt, he paused hesitantly before looking up at the girl for permission. Gabriella smiled nervously with a nod and helped Troy remove her shirt. As the boy continued to kiss down her chest to her stomach, she ran her hands over his bare shoulders. Reaching her stomach, he kissed the scars that he knew she was insecure about before leaving a mark on her tanned skin. Seemingly realising how much further they had gone, the boy moved back up to place a gentle kiss on her lips before pulling away. "We should probably stop now."
Gabriella nodded in agreement before she put her shirt back on in case they were caught and she snuggled back into his chest where he threaded his fingers through her hair. After a few minutes of silence, he looked down to find the sleeping girl on his chest, making him smile. Troy held her there for a couple more seconds before he gently lifted her into his arms – hoping not to stir her – and took her back to her room. He tucked her under the covers and sat down on the side of the bed next to her, moving an ebony strand from her face and tucking it behind her ear. He looked down at his sleeping girlfriend before whispering. "I love you Baby, thank you for trusting me. Good night." He placed a soft kiss on her forehead before quietly leaving the room and heading to his own.