A/N: Hey, I hope you all like this chapter, I actually really love it. So hopefully you feel the same and it would be great if you could tell me so through a review! Enjoy!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Only ideas are mine!!!!
Title: A Chosen Future
Summary: Nineteen year old Weston Montez never knew the truth behind his true existence. That was until his professor gave him a strange assignment- Trace back your heritage and report back. With a little snooping and a click of a mouse, Wes found more than he bargained for. When he does finally figure out his mother's biggest secret, will he be the one to make all his mother's forgotten dreams a reality? Troy and Gabriella!
Chapter Title: Reminiscing
Rating: T
Author: MCmsSHORTY
A whole two weeks at home for a college student is like winning the lottery. Actually no, it's like heaven- good food, personal space, laundry duty free, zip homework, and best of all, no early wake ups by your exercise obsessed roommate… wait… scratch that last one.
"MOM!" Wes rolled over as the pillow came into contact with his face. This was not his ideal way to wake up.
"Come on Wes," Gabriella nudged her son; she was geared up in all her running outfit. "It's such a beautiful morning, come running with me." The mound on the bed let out a moan, inching further down under the covers. He should have realized after thanksgiving, Christmas, and semester break that this was what he should expect during his Spring Break.
Wes kept on slithering under the sheets, "Sleep…" the fan in the room made the whole room flood with coolness; all he wanted was those covers. "We've been over this every time I'm home and I am going to tell you exactly what I tell my roommate Chase every day… NO." His words were strained, barely audible to his early bird mother.
Gabriella sighed as she pulled his sheets off of him. "Hey, you don't want to become one of those college students that go to school and gain fifteen pounds, do you?" A smile played across her face as she watched her college freshman blindly search around for his missing sheets.
Wes finally found the sheets after a moment and sprawled himself across his bed, allowing his shirt to ride up on his stomach, showing off his slightly visible six pack. Any girl his age would admit that Weston Montez wasn't too bad looking, actually, it was shocking that he was still single- it may have something to do with him inept ability to talk to girls. That's a different story though. "Sure, if that means I get to sleep." He resumed his position under the covers of his comfortable bed. After a few more pokes and failed attempts at guilt tripping him into going, she left the room, finally allowing her sleep deprived son to get some sleep.
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"Need company?" Gabriella stopped midway through stretching and turned around, sending a smile his way. She predicted this.
"What happened to sleep, college boy?" Wes shrugged his shoulders.
"I couldn't fall back to sleep." He was in his red basketball shorts, white sneakers, and white Stanford College shirt. Even when he was at home in New Mexico he had to represent his people. He slowly took off down the street, following the usual route he took every morning from the age of twelve to eighteen. Out of all the things he continued when he got to college, track wasn't one of them.
As Gabriella watched him take off, she remembered that she never truly found out why or where he got the urge to run and exercise from, she was never one to do it, but when he started young, she didn't want him to run around alone, so she picked up the habit too. And now, with an empty house and quiet mornings, she uses it as a way to fill the empty void she feels. "You coming," Wes's voice pulled her out of her head, she looked ahead to see him running back wards cocking his head to the side, his short dark brown hair rustling in the wind. His personality changed quickly in the morning, like always. She quickly took off catching up to her son before he got far. The pair ran silent for a few moments, taking in the spring smells of their surroundings and taking deep breaths when necessary.
"So… not running… anymore." Gabriella kept up with her son as she spoke, taking breaths in between words.
Wes shook his head. "Too many… other things. I think… I'm going to … cave into… Chase… soon though." Gabriella relieved a slight laugh.
"Why… would… that be?" They quickly rounded the first neighborhood corner, noticing that everyone was just starting their day.
"It's… every… morning." Wes stopped for a moment in front of one of the houses placing his hands on his knees.
Gabriella stopped and put her hands on her hips, taking deep breaths. "You can't be tired… already?" She loved poking fun at her son.
Wes shook his head. "No" He looked around for a moment as his hands receded to his hips, also catching his breath. "But like I said, he's driving me up the wall with it all."
"Hey… you used to be the same way." Her hands were on her head, trying to get her breathing back to normal.
Wes simply shrugged his shoulders. "I may just pick it up for the next few months… just to get him off my back."
"That is true, only two more months. You must be excited." Wes shrugged his shoulders again at the comment. He really hadn't thought about it recently though, he had been through quite a few hard classes in the past months. The issue of his father hadn't come up again since the paper at the beginning of the year and despite his initial conversation with Ashworth, the man turned out to be one hell of a teacher. Even though he wasn't able to come back to Mr. Ashworth with a back story, the man still asked Wes to come back and visit when he did actually find out. He even joked that if he died before Wes found out; he expected a visit to his grave.
Wes quickly got back into runner mode and took off, with his mother in tow. The two continued to run around the neighborhood, rounding corner after corner. The usual route was two miles each way, a simple run for the two, unlike some others. The only noises between the two were some quiet shallow breaths and the local children playing in their driveways. Gabriella couldn't help but let her mind wander. They all ended in the same place, Wes's childhood, a time full of happy and fun memories. Just the two of them spending time together- no questions, mysteries, unknown secrets, or hidden information. True, she always did hold some secrets from her son, but now, those secrets were slowly leaking out to the one person that she tried to hold them from the hardest- Wes.
"Well, what do we know, it's the Montez's" Gabriella snapped out of her thoughts as she pulled her attention to the speaker.
She smiled. "Hello Joe." She slowed down as the elderly man, Joe Sanders, made his way closer to the end of his driveway. This was one of the reasons why she usually did her running earlier, less stops by neighbors along the way, but in a way, Mr. Sanders wasn't exactly a neighbor right next door, he was the man that was literally a father to Weston when he was growing up. When Wes was five, he ran out of the yard one day after a ball and found himself down the road. Mr. Sanders, who was driving home from a meeting that day, stopped and helped Wes find his way home; he had an idea where the youngster lived since he had seen him playing outside before. After showing up on the boy's doorstep, a frantic Gabriella thanked the man for everything. It turned out that Mr. Sanders actually had a young teenage girl at the time that was more than happy to baby sit. The relationships between the two families quickly blossomed and they spent quite a few weekends together when he was younger. Now, since Mr. Sander's children were all grown up and Wes was off to college, they saw each other less and less, but they were still considered close.
"Every time I see this young man," he clamped a hand onto Wes's shoulder, it was now a little more difficult since the young boy now towered over him a little, "he just keeps on getting bigger." Wes relieved a chuckle. The two regained their breath at yet another stop.
"He's no longer my little boy." Gabriella reached over and hugged her son.
"Mom." He didn't seemed amused by his mothers use of the phrase 'little boy'. It was Mr. Sander's to chuckle.
"It seems like I never see you in the mornings anymore Gabriella." The woman nodded her head at the comment.
"I tend to go earlier now before work." Joe nodded his head.
Joe nodded his head. "I see, even though I would love to talk, I have company inside." The man gave Wes's shoulder a slight squeeze before letting go and giving Gabriella a slight hug.
Gabriella waved to the man as he retreated back to the house. "Say hello to Helen for me."
Mr. Sanders continued on his way up to his house. "Sure will ." The last words heard as he opened his front door and disappeared inside.
Just when the pair were about to continue on their way, a voice stopped them in their tracks. "Hey Montez, I don't get a hello?" A smile peered across Wes's face as he turned in the direction of the feminine voice. Out of the side door of the Sander's garage appeared a twenty eight year old woman, decked out in skinny jeans and a cute baby doll blouse. She could be classifies as gorgeous- fairly tall, skinny, light blonde hair, and dark chocolate eyes.
"Talia!" Wes made his way over the woman and gave her a tight squeeze, his six foot frame holding on closely to her own five foot three.
Disgust played across her face. "Eww Montez, you got me all sweaty." She wiped her hands on his shirt, trying to get the sweat off of her.
Wes blushed slightly, "Sorry about that." She gave a slight shrug as she gave his shoulder a gentle push.
Talia turned her attention towards Gabriella, "Hello Gabi, how are you this morning." The forty nine year old shrugged her shoulders.
"Good, how about you. What are you doing home today?" Gabriella embraced the twenty eight year old in a hug, trying not to get her sweaty with her own perspirations.
She pulled away from the embrace. "Oh, I brought the boyfriend home to meet the parents." Her face showed a slight worried expression.
Gabriella gave out a laugh while Wes stood in the background, slightly jealous. Even though Talia was ten years older and once saw him in his superman underwear as a young child when she babysat him, he still had a slight 'crush' on the older woman. They were as close as a brother and sister though, he blamed it on hormones. "Oh honey, don't worry, I wish that when I was your age I had parents as cool as yours to bring a boyfriend home to." Talia nodded her head to show that she agreed.
Wes chuckled in the background. The girls then turned their heads his way, ending his chuckling in an instant. "Sorry, it's just… I feel bad for the guy." Talia rolled her eyes, typical Wes.
She walked over and punched him lightly in the arm. "You laugh now, but wait until you're that guy." Wes rubbed his hurting shoulder, feigning hurt. "Anyway," turning her attention away from Wes and onto Gabi, "I hate to say bye but I should get back before Fisher is torched." Gabriella placed the young woman in one more hug before saying farewell to the woman. It was rare that Talia was home anymore, they have seen less and less of her since she started up her own therapy clinic.
Gabriella turned her attention to her son, "Should we head home?" Weston pulled his phone out of his athletic shorts pocket and realized the time, ten thirty in the morning. He nodded his head, taking a jump start. "Hey, no fair!" He laughed as his mother tried to catch up. The pair continued on their way, cutting their route short as a result of interruptions.
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Weston closed the car door quietly before making his way up the driveway. As he reached the door, he couldn't succumb himself to knock, he didn't have to though. "Hey, I thought I heard someone out here." Wes smiled as the woman made her way onto the porch, closing the door after her. "So, what's up?"
Wes shrugged his shoulders. "Not much." He looked the other way, avoiding the woman's gaze.
Talia laughed, "Come on Montez, I know that you don't have a knack for just talking, remember, I can spread some embarrassing stories about you." Wes went slightly red.
Silence spread between the two for a moment as they both stared around the neighborhood, observing the young children playing around them. "You know, that kind of thing used to be fun." Wes kept his gaze in the distance, watching a young four year old boy fail at getting a rubber ball into a playskool basketball hoop.
Talia quietly nodded. "I know, I mean, that was a while ago for me, but for you, college opens your eyes, doesn't it?" It was Wes's turn to nod his head. "So, how's college life treating you?" She slapped his shoulder in a friendly way.
"It's good… busy but good." He looked over at her with his blue eyes as she pulled him close into a side hug.
Talia let out a sigh "You know… it's hard to believe that at one time, I babysat you."
Wes laughed. "Yeah, let's keep that between us… okay?" He rubbed her back as he changed the subject. "What happened to your boyfriend… what was his name… fishy?"
Talia gave out a sigh and shook her head. "Wes, Wes, Wes… first of all, it was Fisher. And second, don't say boyfriend like some bitter word. Anyway, he left not too long ago; he had to get to a meeting." Wes rolled his eyes at her second comment and kept silent about the rest. "And sometimes I wonder why you're not taken?" She said it more jokingly but that didn't matter to Wes, he pulled away and went to sit down on the porch seat. "What's the matter?" She took the seat next to the young boy.
It isn't the first time that she has tried to help him with the girls. Actually, it was because of her that he got his first girlfriend, at the age of thirteen, he was pretty shy, but when Talia came home for a break after her last year in college and dropped by to visit her favorite 'little brother', she helped him to get the neighborhood girl that moved nearby the when he was ten. It lasted for about a week and was one of those little middle school relationships, but nonetheless, Talia seemed to always be there when he needed help with girls. Even after she moved away, she frequently visited him and as he became older, he couldn't help but have a pointless crush on the older girl, why wouldn't he? He was just a teenage boy after all. For some reason though, the feeling diminished for several years during high school, but now, as a college student, and a 'mature' human being, it was harder for him to forget. He knew nothing could happen though, ten years was an age gap.
He didn't want to show hurt though. "Nothing just tired that's all. My mom woke me this morning to go running."
"Sure, and I just invented the space shuttle and microwave popcorn."
Wes laughed. "You have spent way too much time with my mother in the past."
Talia pointed a finger his way as they swung in the porch seat, "Hey, despite your thoughts, your mother is very cool."
Wes snickered "Yeah and so is Mr. Rogers."
"Mr. Rogers?... Wes that has got to be way past your time, I don't think I hardly remember Mr. Rogers."
Wes wrapped an arm around the woman, pulling her closely. "Chillax Tal, it's just an expression." He gently shook her back and forth, rubbing her back.
"Chillax too. You know what Montez; I don't think Ivy League college is doing anything for you."
Wes pushed her away slightly and shook his head. "Oh no you didn't Sanders."
She laughed as she crossed her arms and looked into the distance, quickly getting serious. "I miss this."
Wes swung his head her way, "What do you mean?"
She raised her eyebrows and sighed. "I don't know just this, talking and laughing kind of thing."
Wes looked quite confused. "But we never had this chance though, I mean, you were off to college and then you visited rarely."
Talia stayed silence for a moment before responding. "True, but we had chances to hang out, I still remember when you were seven and you wouldn't come to the house because Rocky chased you around the house once during one of the game nights."
They both laughed at the memory. "True, but I was seven, could you really blame me and there was also that time when I was eight and I was up all night because you let me have a chocolate sundae."
"Hey, you were a cute little kid that unfortunately was able to get me to cave in with your puppy dog face." She stopped for a moment. "Just never teach that face to your kids, because if you do you're your wife and you are going to be ousted out of your own home." Wes peered over at the young woman and smiled, the idea of a wife seemed weird to think about, and kids… that scared him even more. But yet again, looking into the smile of the woman next to him, he knew that those aspects were his future and in no time, Talia wouldn't be the only woman that he could talk to without falling apart.
He looked forward once again, watched the four year old boy across the street finally make a basket, he saw a happy father embrace the young boy in a hug. A hug that to this day, Wes still hasn't experience. Despite the beautiful girl's presence next to him, the warmth of her smile and touch, his mind was never far away from his past. It was something he couldn't escape, an idea that burned his mind like fire; no matter what… he wanted that hug.
Wow, a little longer than I expected, but I have a very important thing for you guys to do. In this chapter, I decided to write in Talia, an older woman that he knew as a child, now I wasn't at first going to write in her character at first, but as I wrote, she kind of just appeared. So, our assignment is to tell me whether or not you want her as a love interest, maybe a short relationship or something to make Wes seem more concentrated on other things than his past or school. Maybe they could actually be a secret summer fling and neither pair of parents knows and they approach their children about their secret keeping only to find out its related kind of thing. Just let me know because I don't want to write in a relationship that no one wants. Don't worry though, it won't hurt his finding out the truth behind his family, it'll just add some drama and romance. Please tell me what you think!!!
REVIEW PLEASE, I love to hear your thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!