Eli: Hi! No home work! (Applaud) Enjoy the chapter.
Gabriel wandered around the school lost till he reached room 11#. It was about four o'clock and the kids had gone on a field trip. Ian had asked Gabriel to pick up Jamie for him. He stumbled into the class room and called out to the teacher.
"Hey, I'm..." The woman had turned around and Gabriel was speechless. She had medium black hair and gray eyes. Gabriel just couldn't get any words out of his mouth. The woman laughed at him slightly.
"You're what?" Gabriel closed his mouth, which was just hanging open and started again.
"I'm looking for James Nottingham. This is his class, right?"
"Right. Sorry, but who are you?"
"What?"
"You're not his father. I can't just hand him over to anyone. Are you family?"
"Sorta. I'm Gabriel Bowman." He reached out to her and she shook his hand.
"Samantha Catalina. If you." She was cut off by Jamie's screaming.
"Uncle Gabriel!" Jamie shouted as he ran to give him a hug.
"Hey, little guy."
"Where's my daddy and Beth?"
"It's training day, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
"Are you ready to go?"
"Let me get my back pack." Jamie ran to the other side of the room. Gabriel turned back to Samantha.
"Well, I guess that clears up if you're a stranger or not." She stated. Gabriel nodded and smiled. Jamie came back.
"Ready!"
"Alright, let's go." They headed for the door.
"Bye Ms. Catalina!" Jamie called out.
"Bye Jamie, bye Gabriel. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too. See you." Gabriel and Jamie walked down the hall.
"So, Jamie, where did you go?"
"We went to the Midtown Museum."
"Cool. Did you notice bullet holes in one room?"
"Uh huh. What about them?"
"Those are from when your mommy got the witchblade. Did you know that?"
"No. Cool!"
"Yeah, it's cool alright." They were about to get into the car when they heard a huge groan from across the parking lot. Samantha kicked the side of her car. It had finally broken down. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number. Gabriel stood there watching her as Jamie waited for him to open the door.
"Uncle Gabriel?" Jamie pulled on Gabriel's shirt to get his attention. "Uncle Gabriel?"
"What? Oh, wait a second." Gabriel walked over to Samantha, who was complaining on how her car couldn't be fixed till tomorrow.
"Hey." She turned around as she hung up the phone.
"Oh, hi." She sighed. She pointed at her car. "Piece of junk won't go."
"Well, do you need a ride? I have room in my car and I don't have anything else to do today."
"Um," She glanced back at her own car. "Sure, thanks." She followed him back to his car.
"Jamie, I'm going to give Ms. Catalina a ride home with us."
"Cool." He said as he crawled into the back seat. Gabriel started the car and they left.
"Um, Samantha, right?"
"Yeah?"
"I hope you don't mind, but we have to make a stop so I can pick up my daughter."
"You have a daughter?"
"Yeah, Teresa. She's in second grade." Samantha smiled just smiled pleasantly. She calmed her disappointment censors and sweetly asked made a reply.
"I bet you and your wife are very proud." Gabriel winced at what he'd have to explain.
"Um, we were never married." He managed out.
"Oh, then your girlfriend?" She inquired. Jamie leaned forward from the back seat.
"That was Auntie Angelique. I didn't know her, though. She died before I was born, but I saw pictures. She...Oops!" Jamie said out loud. "I forgot. Daddy said not to say anything in front of Uncle Gabriel. Sorry Uncle Gabriel."
Gabriel, red faced and slightly fuming, just nodded his head. "It's all right, Jamie."
The car remained silent till they reached the empty building Ian had set up as a training ground. Gabriel had Jamie run inside to get Teresa.
"Okay, Bye Uncle Gabriel. Bye Ms. Catalina." He waved and then ran off. Gabriel and Samantha looked at each other nervously. Samantha cleared her throat and then spoke.
"I'm sorry I brought up your girlfriend. I know that must be painful."
"Yeah, but you didn't know. It's alright. It's been a long time now."
"Still, I feel awful for mentioning.." She was cut off by a shriek.
"What is SHE doing here?!" Teresa yelled. Gabriel and Samantha were startled by her explosion. Gabriel shook his head a second.
"Teresa! What the hell has gotten into you?!"
"What is gotten into you, Dad? That's the lady that almost got Bethany expelled!"
"What?" He looked over at Samantha. She started to explain herself.
"Your child is right; I tried to get Bethany Nottingham expelled. She was out of control and she broke the rules. The higher ups gave up on it after her devil of a father had a meeting with them."
"Bethany told me what happened." Said Teresa, whose now sole purpose was to defend her best friend. "She didn't do anything. You just didn't like her! And don't call my Uncle a devil. He'll kick your ass!"
"Teresa!" Gabriel exploded. "Watch your mouth! And you do not speak to adults that way. I don't care who it is! Get in this car right now, young lady! And when we get home, we are going to have a long talk!"
"No!" Teresa crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. "I'm not going anywhere near her. I'm going to sleep over at Bethany's tonight." She declared as she turned around and walked back into the building. Gabriel quickly glanced at Samantha and then got out of the car.
"Teresa Deborah Bowman, turn around this instant!" Teresa refused and ran inside. He followed inside.
Teresa was sitting next to Bethany on a bench, crying her eyes out. Ian came up to him.
"Calm down, Gabriel. She's pretty shaken up. What happened?" Gabriel sighed.
"Jamie's teacher's care broke down and I offered to give her a ride home. When Teresa saw her, she went ballistic! She kept talking about Bethany's kindergarten mishap. I yelled at her to stop, but she just came back in here." Gabe shook his head. "I have never yelled at her before. Never, but she's uncontrollable."
"I understand, Gabe. Just try talking to her. You might get her to settle down."
Gabriel walked up to Teresa. "Teresa?"
"Go away! I don't wanna talk to you!" She growled up at him. Bethany looked up and shrugged her shoulders. Gabriel turned back to Ian.
"Can she sleep over? I can't deal with this right now."
"Yeah, of course." He nodded. Gabriel sighed and tuned back at Teresa. "I'll see you later, kiddo." He walked out.
Samantha sat silently in the front seat. She looked out the window when Gabriel got back in.
"I'm sorry that happened."
"It's alright. I wash my hands of the whole Bethany incident. That's Ian's business. It's just Teresa and Bethany have been best friends since birth. She just needs to cool off."
"Alright." Gabriel started up the car. Samantha mumbled out her address and the rest of the trip was in silence.
He stopped in front of her building and she got out. "I'm sorry again that that whole thing happened. It hurts to see you and your daughter angry over this." She smiled nervously. "You must hate me."
"No, not at all. It's not your fault. You both just have different agendas."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Speaking of agendas, I was wondering, you doing anything Saturday?"
"Um, no. Why?"
"Maybe, if I send Teresa to Bethany's, we could have dinner or something?"
"Uh, okay. I guess." Samantha scribbled out her phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to him. She was blushing violently and walked off.
Gabriel smiled, just a little, before driving off to think about how to explain it to Teresa that he had a crush on Ms. Catalina. And that he just got her number.
Coming Attractions:
Girls Night In
Gabriel wandered around the school lost till he reached room 11#. It was about four o'clock and the kids had gone on a field trip. Ian had asked Gabriel to pick up Jamie for him. He stumbled into the class room and called out to the teacher.
"Hey, I'm..." The woman had turned around and Gabriel was speechless. She had medium black hair and gray eyes. Gabriel just couldn't get any words out of his mouth. The woman laughed at him slightly.
"You're what?" Gabriel closed his mouth, which was just hanging open and started again.
"I'm looking for James Nottingham. This is his class, right?"
"Right. Sorry, but who are you?"
"What?"
"You're not his father. I can't just hand him over to anyone. Are you family?"
"Sorta. I'm Gabriel Bowman." He reached out to her and she shook his hand.
"Samantha Catalina. If you." She was cut off by Jamie's screaming.
"Uncle Gabriel!" Jamie shouted as he ran to give him a hug.
"Hey, little guy."
"Where's my daddy and Beth?"
"It's training day, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
"Are you ready to go?"
"Let me get my back pack." Jamie ran to the other side of the room. Gabriel turned back to Samantha.
"Well, I guess that clears up if you're a stranger or not." She stated. Gabriel nodded and smiled. Jamie came back.
"Ready!"
"Alright, let's go." They headed for the door.
"Bye Ms. Catalina!" Jamie called out.
"Bye Jamie, bye Gabriel. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too. See you." Gabriel and Jamie walked down the hall.
"So, Jamie, where did you go?"
"We went to the Midtown Museum."
"Cool. Did you notice bullet holes in one room?"
"Uh huh. What about them?"
"Those are from when your mommy got the witchblade. Did you know that?"
"No. Cool!"
"Yeah, it's cool alright." They were about to get into the car when they heard a huge groan from across the parking lot. Samantha kicked the side of her car. It had finally broken down. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number. Gabriel stood there watching her as Jamie waited for him to open the door.
"Uncle Gabriel?" Jamie pulled on Gabriel's shirt to get his attention. "Uncle Gabriel?"
"What? Oh, wait a second." Gabriel walked over to Samantha, who was complaining on how her car couldn't be fixed till tomorrow.
"Hey." She turned around as she hung up the phone.
"Oh, hi." She sighed. She pointed at her car. "Piece of junk won't go."
"Well, do you need a ride? I have room in my car and I don't have anything else to do today."
"Um," She glanced back at her own car. "Sure, thanks." She followed him back to his car.
"Jamie, I'm going to give Ms. Catalina a ride home with us."
"Cool." He said as he crawled into the back seat. Gabriel started the car and they left.
"Um, Samantha, right?"
"Yeah?"
"I hope you don't mind, but we have to make a stop so I can pick up my daughter."
"You have a daughter?"
"Yeah, Teresa. She's in second grade." Samantha smiled just smiled pleasantly. She calmed her disappointment censors and sweetly asked made a reply.
"I bet you and your wife are very proud." Gabriel winced at what he'd have to explain.
"Um, we were never married." He managed out.
"Oh, then your girlfriend?" She inquired. Jamie leaned forward from the back seat.
"That was Auntie Angelique. I didn't know her, though. She died before I was born, but I saw pictures. She...Oops!" Jamie said out loud. "I forgot. Daddy said not to say anything in front of Uncle Gabriel. Sorry Uncle Gabriel."
Gabriel, red faced and slightly fuming, just nodded his head. "It's all right, Jamie."
The car remained silent till they reached the empty building Ian had set up as a training ground. Gabriel had Jamie run inside to get Teresa.
"Okay, Bye Uncle Gabriel. Bye Ms. Catalina." He waved and then ran off. Gabriel and Samantha looked at each other nervously. Samantha cleared her throat and then spoke.
"I'm sorry I brought up your girlfriend. I know that must be painful."
"Yeah, but you didn't know. It's alright. It's been a long time now."
"Still, I feel awful for mentioning.." She was cut off by a shriek.
"What is SHE doing here?!" Teresa yelled. Gabriel and Samantha were startled by her explosion. Gabriel shook his head a second.
"Teresa! What the hell has gotten into you?!"
"What is gotten into you, Dad? That's the lady that almost got Bethany expelled!"
"What?" He looked over at Samantha. She started to explain herself.
"Your child is right; I tried to get Bethany Nottingham expelled. She was out of control and she broke the rules. The higher ups gave up on it after her devil of a father had a meeting with them."
"Bethany told me what happened." Said Teresa, whose now sole purpose was to defend her best friend. "She didn't do anything. You just didn't like her! And don't call my Uncle a devil. He'll kick your ass!"
"Teresa!" Gabriel exploded. "Watch your mouth! And you do not speak to adults that way. I don't care who it is! Get in this car right now, young lady! And when we get home, we are going to have a long talk!"
"No!" Teresa crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. "I'm not going anywhere near her. I'm going to sleep over at Bethany's tonight." She declared as she turned around and walked back into the building. Gabriel quickly glanced at Samantha and then got out of the car.
"Teresa Deborah Bowman, turn around this instant!" Teresa refused and ran inside. He followed inside.
Teresa was sitting next to Bethany on a bench, crying her eyes out. Ian came up to him.
"Calm down, Gabriel. She's pretty shaken up. What happened?" Gabriel sighed.
"Jamie's teacher's care broke down and I offered to give her a ride home. When Teresa saw her, she went ballistic! She kept talking about Bethany's kindergarten mishap. I yelled at her to stop, but she just came back in here." Gabe shook his head. "I have never yelled at her before. Never, but she's uncontrollable."
"I understand, Gabe. Just try talking to her. You might get her to settle down."
Gabriel walked up to Teresa. "Teresa?"
"Go away! I don't wanna talk to you!" She growled up at him. Bethany looked up and shrugged her shoulders. Gabriel turned back to Ian.
"Can she sleep over? I can't deal with this right now."
"Yeah, of course." He nodded. Gabriel sighed and tuned back at Teresa. "I'll see you later, kiddo." He walked out.
Samantha sat silently in the front seat. She looked out the window when Gabriel got back in.
"I'm sorry that happened."
"It's alright. I wash my hands of the whole Bethany incident. That's Ian's business. It's just Teresa and Bethany have been best friends since birth. She just needs to cool off."
"Alright." Gabriel started up the car. Samantha mumbled out her address and the rest of the trip was in silence.
He stopped in front of her building and she got out. "I'm sorry again that that whole thing happened. It hurts to see you and your daughter angry over this." She smiled nervously. "You must hate me."
"No, not at all. It's not your fault. You both just have different agendas."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Speaking of agendas, I was wondering, you doing anything Saturday?"
"Um, no. Why?"
"Maybe, if I send Teresa to Bethany's, we could have dinner or something?"
"Uh, okay. I guess." Samantha scribbled out her phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to him. She was blushing violently and walked off.
Gabriel smiled, just a little, before driving off to think about how to explain it to Teresa that he had a crush on Ms. Catalina. And that he just got her number.
Coming Attractions:
Girls Night In