AN: Thank you everyone who has reviewed! It means so much! I hope you guys are liking the story so far!
Gabriella slowly made her way downstairs, she had her book bag in her hand. She needed to finish her homework from earlier that day but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She looked around the room, it was empty. Everyone was out of the house. She sighed as she moved into the kitchen setting her stuff on top of the table. The week was slowly coming to an end and she was beginning to regret telling Johnny she would hang out with him Friday night, but she knew she couldn't stay in this house any longer. She sat down at the table pulling out her books and setting them all aside. She opened her algebra book and just stared at it.
"You going to teach me this stuff right?" Tony sat down with a laugh.
"You are the one who is supposed to be teaching me." Gabriella smiled.
"You only learn by teaching it yourself Gab, just walk me through it. I'm sure I can follow."
Gabriella smiled to herself as she wiped her face from the tears that fell down. She wrote her name on the paper and stopped. She didn't want to do this anymore. She heard the door open as she lifted her head to see Dom walking in with a paper in his hands.
"Ella…you want to explain this to me?" He showed her the paper. "You begged and begged to let you go to school and you skip it anyways…"
"It was just first period Dom, I didn't skip the whole day." She sighed putting the pen down.
"Who did you skip with? Brianna?"
"Johnny Tran."
Dom let the paper fall beside him. "What?"
"I got overwhelmed by everyone looking at me, he offered and I said yes. We just sat out at the soccer field until the bell rang."
"Since when do you and Johnny Tran hang out?"
"We've been friends for a long time now Dom." She was exhausted. She didn't want to talk anymore.
"I don't want you seeing him."
"Okay." She whispered.
"How about you don't go to school tomorrow? It's too soon."
"Every day is going to be too soon Dom." She closed her book closed. She could feel her heart become heavy as she rubbed her hands over her face.
"You are throwing yourself back in to your life Ella…"
"No I am not."
"Then why are you so adamant about going back to school?"
"BECAUSE I CAN'T BE HERE ANYMORE!" She screamed shooting up from the chair. "Do you not understand? I can't be in this house any longer, I can't go into any room without having this overwhelming feeling. I want it to go away. I was it to disappear. Pretend like it never happened, but it did happen. It did, I saw it. You saw it. Every time I close my eyes Dom, I see that car on fire and my father inside it. School is the only place that it goes away. Please don't take that away from me, please don't make me stay here. It hurts too bad Dom, it hurts…" She sobbed sitting back down in the chair. She covered her face with her hands as she slowly walked over to her. He picked her up his arms sitting back down in the chair kissing her softly on the side of the head.
"Shhh, it's okay. It's okay." He rubbed the back of her head rocking back and forth. They sat there for a moment before he spoke again. "Gab?...Do you need to see someone? Do I need to take you to talk to someone?"
Gabriella lifted herself off of him. "Our father just died Dom…"
"I know that, you just have been really distant and I just think that if you talk to someone about it…you…Gob I feel like I am slowly losing you and I can't have that happen. I can't lose you too."
"You aren't losing me Dom, I am right here."
He bowed his head. "Listen to me…" She lifted his head. "Give me some time Dom, just give me some time, and I will be okay. I was only five when you guys lost mom, this is hard okay. Real hard, but I am right here. I'm not going anywhere."
"Dom…" Letty walked into the kitchen. "There is a phone call for you."
"Who is it?" Dom didn't take his eyes off of Gabriella.
"The insurance company."
"Dom," Mia came walking into the living room. She dropped her purse on the ground before going over to the couch. Gabriella was already sitting down when she walked over. "What's going on?"
"The insurance company called a few minutes ago." Dom explained. "They called about dad's will."
"He had a will?" Mia asked sitting down.
"Yeah, there is roughly five hundred thousand dollars in it."
Mia began to cough. "When did he do this?"
"I guess after mom died, but it's ours. We can do what we want with it."
"What do you want to do?" Mia asked.
"Split it, right down the middle three ways…"
"I don't want any." Gabriella jumped in. "You guys do what you want, but I don't want it."
"Gab…" Mia started.
"Leave it alone Mia," She stood up. "I have homework to do. I will be upstairs doing it."
"You know your homework is be done down here." Mia exclaimed.
"Well things are different now Mia, I am doing it upstairs." Gabriella raised her voice. Mia went to say something but Dom put his hand on her leg.
"Go ahead Gab, let us know if you need any help."
"Dom…" Mia whispered.
"Let her go."
Gabriella sighed as she moved to the stairs. "I was invited out tomorrow night, I would like to go. It's just some friends hanging out."
"We will talk about it." Dom replied softly. "Just finish your homework."
Gabriella didn't respond instead she turned away and walked up the stairs. She knew they were talking about her, so she stopped and sat down.
"Will you get Jesse for me?" Dom asked. She could hear the pain in his voice.
"Dom, what are we going to do…"
"Just go get Jesse, tell him I need to ask him something."
It was silent so she knew Mia had disappeared. "What's up?" Jesse asked.
"I need your help." Dom replied. "It's Ella…"
"Is she okay?"
There was silence. "Will you keep an eye on her for me? She says she is okay, I don't believe it. I just need you there for her okay."
"Sure Dom, anything you need."
"Mia let's get dinner ready. I am going to go out back for a little bit."
Gabriella sighed as she stood up on the stairs and walked over to her room. She looked down the hall at her father's door, it had been shut since the day he died. She didn't think anyone had been in there. She slammed her hand on the door opening it. "Oh God please help me." She begged throwing herself on the bed.
"Ella." Gabriella could feel her leg moving. "Ella, wake up."
"What?" She groaned throwing the blanket back over her head.
"You are going to be late for school."
"Go away!" She yelled.
"You have five minutes, and then I am coming in here with a bucket of water."
"Dom!" She yelled at him.
"You are the one who wanted to go back to school, so get your butt up and let's go!"
Gabriella groaned throwing the blanket off of her head. She threw her legs over the side before rubbing her face with her hands. She was tired. She had been tired for a week now. She moved over to her closet grabbing clothes before going out into the hall.
"Hey!" Dom stopped her. "I thought about it last night, you can hang out with your friends tonight. Just don't do anything stupid and keep your phone on you the whole time."
Gabriella gave a soft smile. "Thank you." She whispered. He nodded his head at her.
"Five minutes!" He turned and walked away.
"Thanks for the talk Dom, it was awesome!" She yelled after him shaking her head. She took a deep breath, he was going to be pissed when he found out the person she was hanging out with was the very person he told her to stay away from. She shook her head of the thought as she closed the door behind her and cutting on the shower.
Gabriella being eight years old decided she wanted to learn how to ride a bicycle and she wanted her father to be the one to teach her. She skipped outside in her new sunflower dress with her sandals on waiting for her father to come behind her with the bike.
"Okay, so we are really going to do this?" Tony asked bringing the bike to a stop.
"Yes." Gabriella smiled.
"In a dress?"
She laughed. "Yes."
"Alrighty then. Come over here and climb on. The first thing to learn is balance."
"Don't let go."
"I'm not, I am right here. Just throw your legs over the side and sit on the seat." She did as she was told. "Okay, so the key to balancing is to look straight ahead. Don't look down, look ahead of you and try to keep the bike balanced."
"Don't let go!" She yelled. He quickly put his hands back on the bike.
"I got you, I got you." He laughed. "Now, I am going to let go just a little bit. You can do this I know you can."
"No!" She screamed.
"Ella, I need you to trust me."
She took a deep breath. "Okay, I trust you." He slowly let go of the bike. She wobbled a little bit but kept the bike upright. "I did it!" She squealed! He quickly caught her as the bike fell to the side. She laughed as he put her down on the ground.
"I knew you could do it!" He replied kissing her on the head. "Are you ready to learn to ride it now?"
She nodded her head at him. "I'm ready daddy."
"ELLA!" Someone screamed causing her to knock the shampoo bottle into the tub. She put her hand to her chest. She didn't know she had gone into a daze. She put her hand up to her face, she was hot and it was wet from tears. She quickly put her face under the water washing it away. She took a deep breath as she continued to wash herself. She put herself together before she walked outside to confront everyone. She knew they were all up, it was the day the garage was opening back up. She felt like she was going to throw up just thinking about it.
"It's about time." Mia moved past her.
"Bite me!" Gabriella snapped moving down the stairs. She grabbed her bag of the wall and walked out the door. She didn't feel like talking to anyone. She didn't care, she just wanted to get to school and get the day over with. She moved along the side of the road just as Jesse's white Jetta pulled up next to her.
"So you walk now?" He asked with the window rolled down.
"I didn't want to be late." She lied. He laughed knowing that was a poor excuse.
"Climb in, I will take you."
"Don't you need to be at the garage?"
"They will survive without me for a few minutes."
She nodded her head at him as she walked over to the car and climbing in. He waited for her to put on her seatbelt before driving away.
"So Johnny Tran huh?" He asked breaking the silence.
"Dom doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut."
Jesse began to laugh. "He is just worried about you El, he didn't do it on purpose."
"We are just friends."
"Where are you going tonight?"
"I don't know, I was just invited out." She stared straight ahead.
"Who with?"
"Am I being interrogated everywhere I go now?" She looked over at him. He didn't respond. "I heard Dom tell you to keep an eye on me, you can do that but I will not have someone ask me what I am doing and where I am going twenty four seven," They pulled up the school. "I am fine Jesse. Yall need to stop worrying about me."
"I can't do that when you are lashing out at me like this."
"I'll see you later Jess, I will get a ride home." She opened the door climbing out then slamming it behind her. She adjusted her book bag on her shoulder as she stormed into the school.
"Hey you," Johnny appeared beside her. "How are you today?"
"Annoyed. I got in trouble for skipping yesterday."
"My bad." He smiled. "How much trouble?"
"Just a lecture."
"We are still on for tonight right?"
She nodded her head at him. "Good." He smiled. Before she knew it he leaned in and was kissing her. She just stood there letting it register in her head what was happening. She cleared her throat as he pulled away from her. "I'll see you later then?"
"Yep." She smiled. She adjusted her book bag again as it fell off of her shoulder. She was in shock. Did that just happen? Did he really just kiss her? She felt like everyone was staring at her again. She wanted to run. She wanted to hide. She moved aside as the bell rang, everyone scattered to make it to class on time. She leaned her head against the lockers taking in a breath.
"Ella, are you okay?" Brianna walked up beside her. "You look like you are going to pass out."
"Johnny Tran just kissed me." She blurted out.
Brianna began to laugh. "When?"
"Just a few minutes ago." Gabriella closed her eyes as laughter came out of the mouth. She didn't know she could do that anymore. She didn't know that it was still in her. Happiness. Where did that come from?
The day slowly turned into night. Gabriella was ready to be out of the house for the night and spending time with Johnny. She smiled to herself as she fixed her hair one last time in the mirror. There was a soft knock on the door.
"Hey." Mia replied softly walking in. Gabriella looked at her in the mirror but didn't respond. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you."
"Where are you guys going tonight?"
"I don't know, I think we are just hanging out somewhere. I didn't ask. Where is Dom? I'm surprised he isn't here interrogating my every move."
"He's worried Ella, he's really worried about you."
"Where is he?"
"He and Vince went to the hardware store to get a few tools."
"How was the reopening today?"
"Packed, there were people lined up."
Gabriella gave a soft smile. "People did love him didn't they?"
Mia nodded her head. "I know you are going off with Johnny Tran, just be careful please."
"You going to tell?"
"No." Mia shook her head. "You have good judgment El, just use it."
"Thank you." She whispered rushing over to her wrapping her arms around her sisters neck. Her cell phone began to go off on the bed. "It's probably him, I will see you later on tonight."
"Be careful please."
"I will Mia. Tell Dom, I love him…hello." She answered the phone. "Yeah, I am ready…ok I will be downstairs….bye." She smiled to herself as she took one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs. She could hear his engine pull up before she ever saw his car. That was something she loved, the sound of engines. She smiled and waved as he rolled his window down.
"Wow, you look amazing." He replied with a smile.
"Thank you." She climbed into the passenger seat. He leaned over rubbing his hand gently down her face before bringing her towards him and kissing her lightly on the lips. Her lips formed a smile as he pulled away from her. "Hi." He whispered. She felt butterflies in her stomach as she turned away from him blushing. He put the car in reverse before putting his hand back in her lap.
"So what are we doing?"
"Racing."
So this was what the race scene looked like. There were people everywhere, there were cars everywhere too. Nice cars. Supped up cars. "Wow!" She exclaimed as the Honda came to a stop.
"Nice isn't it?"
"You racing tonight?"
"I was going to, but I know that you probably wouldn't want to…"
"It's fine Johnny…"
"Are you sure?"
"I am going to be fine. Just be careful."
"I just don't want you think that I brought you here then I am leaving you."
"I don't think that at all."
"How about you ride with me?" He smiled at her.
She was silent. "Johnny…" She whispered.
"I will not let anything happen to you. You can just feel how it rides."
She nodded her head at him. "Really?"
"Just…" She let out a breath. "I am really scared."
"Don't be, I am right here." He kissed her hand. She smiled at him as he released her and climbed out rushing over to her side of the car and opening the door for her. He helped her up before putting his arm around. The music was blaring loud causing her to block out her thoughts, girls were everywhere. She felt very dressed down as she looked around her. People were staring at her as she walked past them. "Forget them, you are the most beautiful girl here tonight."
"My man!" A guy came over slapping Johnny on the shoulder. "And who do we have here?" He looked over at Gabriella, pushing Johnny aside. He reached for her hand bringing to his lips. "And you are?"
"Gabriella." She replied with a smile.
"Jake. Its really nice to meet you Gabriella."
"Nice to meet you too."
"Okay, that's enough. You can walk away now." Johnny laughed moving Jake to the side. "This is my best friend Jake Hou. He thinks he is a ladies man."
"Oh I know I am. You racing tonight?"
Johnny looked over at Gabriella. "Of course he is." She chimed in.
"That's what I like to hear."
"Charming." Gabriella smiled through her teeth as Johnny gave her an apologetic look.
"He's…different." He grabbed her hand in his. "Are you having a good time?"
"Of course." She smiled at him. Her phone began to ring in her pocket but she chose to ignore it. She shook her head of the thought and moved along with Johnny and his friends. The races were starting and she got a front row seat.
Her hands were shaking, she was beginning to sweat as she held onto the door handle not wanting to let it go. She had an argument with herself the whole time she sat in the passenger seat waiting for the race to start but now that it was over she couldn't breathe. Johnny had won, she could hear him talking to her in the driver's side but she was trying to learn to breathe again. She was trying to wrap her head around what just happened. Her cell phone began to go off in her lap but she couldn't bring herself to answer it. She Johnny's hand on hers. "Gabriella…" His voice was coming in. "Answer me." The car swarmed with people but he didn't notice. She didn't move. "Gabby!" Her head turned towards him as he grabbed her face in his hands. "Talk to me please."
"Did you win?" She whispered. He began to laugh bringing her face to his.
"Yes, yes I did."
"Good job." She breathed in.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. My phone has been ringing."
"I will take you home."
"You need to celebrate, I'll get Jesse to pick me up." Her phone began to go off again. "Go, I will be fine." She opened the phone. "Mia…what?" Johnny stopped from getting out of the car. "WHAT?" she screamed into the phone. "Take me home, take me home!" She begged as the tears fell down her face.
AN: AHHHH! So first off, I love Johnny even though he is douche and I always felt like he was a good guy before all that crap he got caught up in. Second, the next chapter is going to explain the race a little more and then what happened at home as well. I think most of you might already know what happens, but it is going to go into more detail. Hope you guys enjoyed it! REVIEW!