A few weeks later, they had dropped the girls off to kindergarten and went into school. Jasmine was thriving at kindergarten and Imogen was slowly becoming more comfortable. Lachlan had a group of friends and joined the JV team for basketball, like his brother. Chad was getting along well with the team, especially with Troy who was slowly becoming his best friend. Gabriella had made some friends during class but mostly liked to hang with her brother and Troy. Gabriella and Troy had gotten a lot closer, the boy basically becoming her best friend as well.
Gabriella had gotten a call from the kindergarten coming to the end of her last class saying that Imogen wasn't feeling too well and needed to be picked up. Since Chad and Lachlan both had basketball practice in the afternoon, they would have to stay until they were finished. Chad wasn't completely comfortable letting the girls go home alone, not knowing who else could be at the house, despite knowing Gabriella could handle herself.
Gabriella walked into the kindergarten and saw Imogen lying down on a blue mat with Jasmine sitting beside her. Jasmine saw her first and ran to her, Gabriella took her into her arms, hugging her sister. "Hey Jas, how was your day?"
"Good, I played with Katie, Brooke and Sarah."
"That's good Angel, I'm glad you had fun." Gabriella placed her back on the ground and took her hand, walking over to Imogen. She kneeled down next to the little girl and stroked her head. "Are you ok Baby Girl?"
Imogen shook her head. "I don't feel good."
"It's ok Im, will you be ok to wait until Chad and Locky finish practice or do you want to go straight home?"
"Wait for Chad and Locky."
"Ok Baby Girl. I'll go sign you two out and we'll go to the gym." Gabriella signed both her sisters out and returned to the girls' side. "Jas, will you be ok to walk while I carry Imi?" She nodded somewhat sadly. "What's wrong Angel?"
Jasmine shook her head. "Nothing."
Gabriella sighed. "Ok Jas, we'll talk later Angel." Gabriella lifted Imogen into her arms and they walked back to East High. As they were walking to the gym, they ran into Troy. "Oh hey Troy, shouldn't you be in practice?"
"Yeah running a little late Brie." He let the nickname slip a few days earlier and was thrilled that she didn't protest to the name. He turned to the two girls. "Hey girls, what are your names."
Jasmine looked up at the teen, responding. "Jasmine," and after some coaxing from Gabriella, the youngest sister responded. "Imogen."
"Well it's nice to meet you girls, I'm Troy, I'm friends with Chad and Gabriella." He turned his attention back to Gabriella. "Are you guys heading to the gym?"
"Yeah we are, Imi is feeling a bit sick, would you mind um -" She looked from him to Jasmine, not wanting to say the words out loud in front of the girl. He got the message.
"Sure." He leant down to Jasmine's level. "I'm going to the gym like you and your sisters, do you want to hold my hand?" He silently cringed, but the little girl was adorable, both twins very much resembling Gabriella.
Gabriella noticed that it was the one time Jasmine looked nervous as she asked. "Can you carry me like Ella is to Imi?"
He smiled at the girl and nodded, lifting her up into his arms. He locked eyes with Gabriella as the girl rested her head against his shoulder, Gabriella smiled at him which he returned.
They walked into the gym and he placed Jasmine onto the ground, kneeling in front of her. "Well it was nice to meet you Jasmine."
She hugged him. "thank you, I like you Troy you're nice."
"You're a nice girl too Jasmine." He noticed the sad expression on her face. "Are you ok?"
She shook her head and whispered. "Why does Ella love Imi more than me?"
He hugged the girl. "I'm sure Ella loves you both the same, Imi's just feeling a bit sick right now, so Ella has to look after her."
"No Ella loves Imi more than me, that's why she always has Imi not me."
"Maybe Imi just needs a little more help, but Ella, Imi, Chad and Locky love you very much."
"Ok Troy."
"Now can I see a smile?" He asked, tickling her and Jasmine giggled in response. "Good girl, no more sad faces. Are you ok now?"
She nodded. "Thank you Troy."
"Bye Jas." He hugged the girl one last time before standing up and walking to Gabriella, stopping beside her. "Bye Imi." He leaned in and whispered to Gabriella. "I think you should talk to Jas, she thinks you love Imi more than her."
Gabriella gasped. "Wh-what?" He squeezed her hand.
"It's ok Brie, I spoke to her a little but you may want to reassure her later. I'll see you later."
"Bye Troy."
He walked over to the team who immediately started shoving him, Hayden speaking. "Whispering something dirty to little miss Montez, huh Bolton?"
Both Chad and Troy narrowed their eyes, the latter responding. "That's not what happened, I just needed to tell her something about her sister."
Chad pulled Troy away from the group. "What's going on with my sisters?"
"Jas is just a bit upset. She thinks that Gabriella loves Imi more because she spends more time with her."
Chad sighed, "I'll have a talk to her later."
"I think you should leave it up to Gabriella, I think Jas will take it better coming from her. I've already told her what Jas said."
"Yeah you're right, thanks Hoops."
"No problem Chad. Actually I've been meaning to ask, do you wanna come 'round this weekend?"
"Wish I could, but I don't want to leave the girls alone."
"Well I could go to yours if that's easier."
"I would but the parents don't like us having people around."
"Well what if you all come 'round to mine?"
"You're really willing to go as far as to invite all five of us over?"
He shrugged. "Why not, I mean you're one of my best mates, so is Gabriella. Your sisters are adorable and I'm sure Locky's a great kid."
"Sounds good then Troy."
When they got home that afternoon, Gabriella laid Imogen down on their bed. "Try and get some sleep Baby Girl, it might make you feel better." She kissed her forehead before turning her attention to her sister. "Jas, can you come with me Angel?"
The little girl nodded and Gabriella picked her up and walked to the backdoor to go outside. Chad spoke up. "Gabs, I don't think that's a good idea. Mom'll be around any minute."
"I'll be careful Chad and if worse comes to worse, she'll hurt me not Jas." Chad was about to respond but Gabriella sent him a look and he shut his mouth.
Gabriella walked outside with her sister and sat down on one of the outdoor chairs they still had from when their dad was around. She kept Jasmine in her lap. "Do you want to tell me what's up Angel?" Jasmine shook her head and looked down. "Troy told me that something's making you upset."
Jasmine looked up with tears in her eyes, whimpering. "You love Imi more than me."
The sound of her sister's broken voice brought tears to her eyes. "No Baby of course not, I love both you and Imi the same." The girl shook her head. "No Jas listen to me Angel. I know that I tend to... do more things with Imi and I'm sorry if that made you feel like I love you less than your sister, but that's not true Baby, I love you so much Jassy, more than you know. I just have to help Imi a bit more because she's a lot shyer than you."
Jasmine only shrugged in response, making Gabriella bite her lip.
"What can I do Jas, what do you want me to do to make it better?"
"Share? So it's not only Imi."
"Sure Angel... come here." She hugged the girl tight and kissed her forehead. "I love you so much Jas, please don't forget that Baby."
She nodded. "I love you Ella." She hugged the girl tighter but they were interrupted.
"Now isn't that a pretty picture." Their mother - Casey - walked in drunk with a beer bottle in her hand.
Gabriella stood up and stood in front of Jasmine protectively, the little girl gripping her sister's shirt tightly.
Casey threw the bottle onto the ground and it smashed making Jasmine whimper. "Shut that little brat up or I will."
Gabriella held Jasmine closer to her. "You stay away from her."
Before Gabriella knew what happened, Casey's hand collided with her cheek and she stumbled slightly. "Don't talk back to me you little b**ch." She said as she walked away.
Gabriella held back her tears as she lifted Jasmine up. The little girl gently traced her cheek with tears in her eyes. "Are you ok Ella?"
She kissed her cheek. "I'm ok Angel, don't worry about me as long as she doesn't touch you." Jasmine buried her head into Gabriella's neck as they walked back into the room. "Chad lock the door, Mom's back."
He saw the hand mark on his sister's cheek and locked the door. He took Jasmine from her arms. "Jas, can you stay with Locky while I talk to Ella?" She nodded and Chad pulled Gabriella into the bathroom. "G what happened?" He saw the tears in her eyes and pulled her into a hug but she didn't cry. "Let it out G, you can't keep it in, you'll explode soon."
She let out her tears which subsided after a few minutes. Chad wiped the remaining tears and kissed her other cheek. "What happened little sis?"
"Mom came home drunk and she smashed a bottle, it scared Jas. She said if I didn't shut her up that she would and I opened my mouth. I told her to stay away from Jas and she slapped me."
Chad sighed, "I was worried this would happen... Are you and Jas ok?"
"Yeah she didn't touch Jas, I wouldn't let her."
"And you?"
"I'll be fine Chad, what's important is to protect Locky and the girls."
"I'm not letting you get hurt either Gabs."
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter now, let's just go back to Locky and the girls." She said as she turned towards the door but Chad stopped her, pulling her into a hug.
"I'm sorry you got hurt G, but I'm really proud of you, how you've handled all this. I love you little sis."
"I love you too Superstar." They ended their hug and went back into the room with their siblings.