Hey. I'm back. Sorry it took so long. R&R

"Ma. What is it? What's wrong?" Gabby's voice was so high pitched that she almost sounded like a pig.

"Gabby. It's your Aunt Avena. She was rushed to the hospital just an hour ago."

"Aunt Veny. You're joking? Not Aunt Veny. How Mama? How did it happen? Tell me Ma."

"No. You shouldn't know."

"Ma. Tell me. Now, or god help me I'll never eat another crumb of food, I'll never spend another second in school, I'll…. I'll…I'll stop" she was cut off by her mother.

"All right, but sit down." Gabby sat down. "Oh. This is going to hurt. Gabby. Your Aunt Veny was…. She, uh…. She… Gabby. Your Aunt Veny….."

"Ma! Spit it out!"

"She was in a car crash and a wooden pole went through her skull and another through her legs. Gabby the other car pushed her into the fence."

Gabby couldn't believe her ears. Aunt Veny was her favorite Aunt. That's pretty good considering she had seven aunts. Aunt Veny was always the won who spoiled her rotten, who always gave her whatever she wanted, who would always get on the floor and join Gabby in a temper tantrum to stay up later. She was always the one. The one who-

Her mother interrupted her thoughts. "The doctors say she has a 6.7 of survival. Sweety. Sweety, Aunt Veny's gone."

Gabby sank off her chair and onto the floor. This was the excact spot where she and Aunt Veny had spilled ice cream and tried to mop it up, but always failed and got yelled at. Aunt Veny wasn't much older then Gabby was. Her mother had been 18 when Aunt Veny was born, and Gabby was born when her mother was 24. That made Aunt Veny only six years older than her.

Gabby's heart slowed down and almost stopped, then started racing, then slowed, then raced. Her throat got an unfamiliar, painful lump in it. Gabby didn't cry much. It was weird and gross and sticky, but she just sat there, not wanting the tears to come, but not trying to stop them.

She slowly stood up and hugged her mom. She slowly made her way upstairs and sank into her bed. She couldn't be bothered with her green froggy + plaid pajamas, which she adored. She fell asleep and dreamed all her memories of Aunt Veny that were stored in the back of her brain.

She was sobbing. She turned her face into her pillow and screamed, as loud as she could. She let it all out. Yelling at the pillow. From downstairs, her mother heard the muffled screams and didn't want to mess up Gabby's grieving time. She needs her space and I'll give it to her. Thought Ms. Montez.

In the morning, Gabby rolled over and looked at the alarm clock. It said 11:55, but she didn't care. Even if she was fully aware that it was Wednesday, she didn't feel like getting up. She changed into her pajamas and got back into bed, planning on spending the day there.

When Troy called at 3:30 to ask where she was, she didn't answer. So Troy decided to come over.

When he got there, Ms. Montez answered the door.

"Oh, hello, Troy." She said

"Hi. Is Gabby here?"Troy asked

"Uh, yeah. She's not feeling well, Troy. I don't know if you should see her."

"Why, not?"

"Something happened."

"What happened? Is it her dog. Wait. She doesn't have one. Is it her father?"

"No, Troy. She can tell you. I've decided that she needs company. But, Troy. Be…. Be… Troy. Be…. Nice."

That was weird. Thought Troy as he went up the stairs. What does "Be nice." Mean? Whatever. I guess I should be quiet. And why did Ms. Montez have tears in her eyes?

Troy knocked on Gabby's door and went in. She was laying, surrounded by soggy tissues. There were so many that they looked like a cloud.

"Gabby? Gabby, what's wrong?"

"Go away."

"Now, is that anyway to talk to your boyfriend?"

"Just leave me alone."

"Why? Tell me what's wrong."

Gabby turned over and Troy got a good look at her. Her eyes were all red and puffy and her hair was messed up. Her nose was wicked runny and her always existing smile had vanished as if it never existed.

"Gabby, you look terrible. What happened?"

"Oh, Troy. It hurts so bad."

"What does?" Troy was almost yelling when he remembered Ms. Montez's words. 'Be nice' she had said. "Gabby, what's wrong?" This time his voice was softer.

"My Aunt Veny is probably dead and the doctors haven't called because they're probably waiting for us to come in so they can break our hearts in person."

"Ok. I didn't catch any of that. What?"

"MY AUNT VENY WAS IN A CAR CRASH BECAUSE SOME DRUNKEN B$& RAN HER INTO A FENCE AND GOT A POLE STUCK IN HERLEGS AND HEAD!" Gabby screamed in between sobs.

Downstairs, Ms. Montez heard all of this and sighed. Poor, Gabby. She's taking this so hard.

Upstairs, Troy's face fell and he went and hugged her.

"Gabby. I'm so sorry."

"Whatever, just leave."

"Gabby. Don't be this way. Can I tell the others?"

"Why?"

"So that they won't be insensitive."

"Whatever. I don't care."

"Yes, you do."

"I SAID I DON'T CARE!" Gabby said in a strangled scream. "Now, get off me."

Gabby threw him off and flopped back down and started sobbing.

"Oh, Troy. I'm sorry."

"No. No. It's okay. You need to grieve. I'll just leave."

"Troy. Troy, I'm sorry."

Like it? Sorry it took so long to put up. R&R

Xoxo,

NZ Gurlie.