Disclaimer: I own NOTHING!!!!
January 2nd, 2028 8:00 am Albuquerque
I got dressed slowly before heading downstairs to where the car sat. I slid in and took a deep breath before turning the engine on and headed over to East High. I saw a couple of cars in the parking lot as I pulled into a spot. I walked slowly toward the doors, trying to convince myself I was doing the right thing. I pulled open the door before walking through it on route to the gym.
Surprisingly, the gym was quiet as I walked in. I saw a stray ball lying in the middle of the gym and went to pick it up. I dribbled it a couple of times before making a lay up. I walked over to the free throw line and shot a couple of them.
I continued dribbling the ball, thinking that I was standing in the same gym my father had once played it. A surreal feeling came over me as I continued to bounce the ball harder and harder on the smooth surface. I heard the door open as voices reached my ears. I turned around and saw who I expected to see standing there.
"Before you say anything, I just want to say sorry. I shouldn't have come all the way out here and interrupted what life you guys had made for yourselves. I was eager to find out who my parents were that I didn't even think about how I would be messing up your lives. I'm leaving on the 5th so you won't have to put up with me much longer." I said looking at the four guys standing around me.
"We're sorry too, Tess. You took us all by surprised when you showed up and started asking us questions about our friend who we haven't seen in 17 years. You have ever right to know about your parents and we haven't been very open and honest the way we should have been." Zeke admitted to me.
"If you're still interested, whatever questions you have, we'll answer them." Jason suggested as I smiled at them.
"I think I've gotten most of them answered but I want to know who Troy was as a friend. I know how he was as a son, basketball player, and an actor." I told the four friends.
"He was essential my brother. We had been friends since we were both in diapers. Our moms were college roommates. He would never admit it in public, but he always wanted a houseful of kids and marry his soul mate. One out of two isn't too bad. The entire time Gabi was pregnant with you, the smile never left either one of their faces. I remember the day he found out that you were a girl. He was so excited and happy." Chad said shaking his head at the memory.
"He came into our apartment that we all shared and yelled the news to us. He wasn't nervous at all to become a dad. He had all kinds of things he wanted to teach you. He wanted to teach you basketball, how to cook, how to suck up to your mom, and most importantly he wanted to teach you how to love." Ryan continued as I smiled.
"It killed him the day they had to give you up. What was even worse is that they knew it was the right decision. Your adopted parents sent them photos every now and then of you. I think Gabi still has all of those photos they sent over the years." Jason told me.
"Why didn't my mother keep me instead of giving me up?" I asked the four quietly.
"Gabi was a wreck after Troy died. She would cry herself to sleep many nights. She would bit people's heads off for no apparently reason. More than once, she tried committing suicide. She wasn't good. Her soul mate had died leaving her such an empty hole. By that time, you were a couple of weeks old. We tried to get you to come back but your adoptive parents wouldn't hear of it. They came out a few times to see Gabi but they didn't want you to be in that environment. They were worried that Gabi would take you down with her." Zeke told me.
"I never knew that. Would it be possible for me to see my birth mom?" I asked looking at the tight group of friends.
"It took your mom many years to move on from the loss of Troy. I think it would be good for her to see you. I'll get you her phone number and address and you two can arrange a time to see each other." Chad told me as I smiled.
"Thank you. You have no idea how much this helps." I said looking at them.
"It's been really good to see you, Tess. You were a bit of a shock. I forgot how much I missed Troy until I saw you standing in the restaurant. Are you a decent basketball player?" Jason asked me as I grinned at him.
"I've been told I've got a pretty good hand. Wanna see?" I asked looking at the four.
"We'll play two on two. I've got Tess." Chad said claiming me for his teammate.
We broke off into teams and started shooting around. It was fun interacting with the four that were my father's best friends. The game was tied 10-10 when I was given the ball.
"Show me your best, Tess." Chad encouraged as I jumped and released the ball from the free throw line.
They watched it sail through the air before landing perfectly into the net. I grinned as they all looked at me.
"Just like your father. That was amazing." Zeke said shaking his head.
"Thanks. My parents would always tell me I've got raw talent but neither one of them played basketball. I just now realized where I got the talent." I told them.
"Oh Troy was one hell of a basketball player. It was always amazing to see him take the court and play his heart out." Jason said shaking his head.
We sat and talked for a little while until they all said they had to get to the restaurant. Chad held back and looked at me.
"Do you have anything else to do today?" He asked me as I shook my head.
"Nope; my entire day is free. What's up?" I asked him as he motioned me to follow him.
"I wanted to be the one to show you this. How about you come with me?" Chad suggested as he led the way to his truck.
We both got in before he started the engine and took off on a road I was unfamiliar with. The ride was a quiet one; I too engulfed with my thoughts and Chad too busy driving to notice anything. I saw the sign as he turned off the main road onto a side road.
"We're going to the cemetery?" I asked Chad as he nodded his head a little.
"I thought you might like to see where he's buried. If it's a bad idea, let me know and we'll go back to the high school." Chad said quickly.
"It's a perfect idea. Thank you for bringing me here." I told him quietly as he came to a stop.
"He's buried right over that hill. Do you want me to come with you?" Chad asked me as I quickly shook my head.
"I think I need to do this on my own. I won't be long." I promised as I opened the door and got out.
I walked over the little hill and a little more until I found the plot I was looking for. I knelt on the ground while looking at the tombstone.
Troy Alexander Bolton
Beloved son, brother, husband, father, friend
May you dance among the angels and play among the best
December 27th, 1989 – January 7th, 2010
I smiled faintly as I touched the tombstone. I felt the warm tears fall down my face as I continued reading it.
"Well I did it. I came here to find out who you were as a person. I'm just sorry that you died too young. You would have had been one hell of a father and I'm just sorry that a stupid tumor took you away from me. You're my father; no matter what anyone says. I love you." I said pressing my finger tips to my mouth before pressing them to the tombstone.
I stood there a few more minutes before standing up, taking one more look, and headed back to the truck. I got in before Chad started driving away.
"Hey Tess?" Chad asked breaking the silence.
"Yeah Chad?" I asked gently wiping the tears away.
"Will you keep in touch once you go back to Illinois?" Chad asked me as I smiled.
"If you want me to keep in touch, then I will. I would like to keep in touch with you guys." I told him.
"You've got our addresses. I'll get you our email addresses as well. You're now admitted into our family of ours." Chad told me as I smiled.
"You have no idea how good that sounds." I told him smiling.
"When are you leaving?" Chad asked me as I looked at him.
"The 5th. I moved up my ticket." I told him as he nodded.
"You don't have to feel guilty anymore Tess. We've all come to terms that Troy is gone but he sent us you. You are here to help us remember that he's always alive in you." Chad told me.
"Thanks. I just don't know how I'm going to incorporate my new life with the one I established in Illinois." I admitted to Chad.
"You will figure it out. Your father did it when he had to incorporate acting into his old life as a basketball player. I have complete faith you will too." Chad told me pulling into the high school parking lot.
"Thanks; I appreciate everything you and everyone else has done." I told him.
"It's not a problem, Tess. Could we see you before you leave to go back?" Chad asked me.
"Oh I think I can arrange a couple more visits to the bar." I told him smiling.
"Good. I'll see you later, Tess." Chad told me as I got out of the truck and started walking to my car.
I got into my car before heading back to the hotel. I walked into the room and grabbed the scrapbook Gabriella had made me, the photo albums of my life in Illinois and stuffed both into my book bag. I threw that over my shoulder before going back downstairs and out the door.
I heard my cell phone go off as I picked it up. I placed it to my ear without even looking at the caller ID.
"The next time you want to go on a road trip, at least invite me along!" My best friend, Chelsea, yelled as I picked up the phone.
"I'm sorry Chels. It was so last minute that I just threw some stuff together and headed out the door." I admitted to her.
"I had to find out from Meghan why you haven't answered any of my emails. And I come to find out that you're in NM of all places." Chelsea told me.
"I had to come solve a long lost mystery. I found my birth parents' friends and family and I've been spending time with them." I told her.
"When are you coming back?" Chelsea asked me as I thought it over.
"I'll be home on the 5th. I'm coming home early." I told her.
"Are you all right, Tess?" Chelsea asked me as I started to pace back and forth.
"I think I am. I'm in a good place. I've got a whole new family here in New Mexico and I've got a solid base back in Illinois. I've just got to figure out how to put the two together so I can manage it." I told her.
"You'll figure it out. Now moving on, what college have you chosen?" Chelsea asked me.
"You won't find out until I sign, Chelsea." I reminded her laughing loudly.
"Come on. Your most loyal best friend deserves to know." Chelsea said as I continued to laugh.
"I've got it narrowed down to two. I'm signing in February so you'll find out then." I told her smiling.
"You're not funny, Tess Alexis. I'll find out my pretty long before February." Chelsea told me.
"You better get the ball moving; you've only got about 4 weeks left until February comes around." I told her.
"Heed my warning now, when I find out, there's going to be heads rolling." Chelsea told me.
"Yeah yeah. I hear you. But I've got to go. I'll talk to you later." I told her waiting for her reply. We said our final goodbyes before hanging up.
I walked in the restaurant before staking a table to myself. I put my book bag in a chair before grabbing the scrapbook out of it. I flipped it open and started looking at it.
"I remember sitting on the floor in their apartment working on this at all hours of the night." A voice behind me said as she came to sit beside me at the table.
"I bet it had to be an experience." I said looking at the woman I recognized from the other night.
"It really way. Taylor Danforth; I was Gabi's best friend." She said holding out her hand.
"It's very nice to meet you, again." I said turning the page of the scrapbook.
"I forgot we even made this." Taylor told me shaking her head.
"My parents held on to this but I never knew what it meant until they told me I was adopted." I told her.
"Troy and Gabi wanted you to have this so you could see how they spent the majority of their time. They were so happy when they found out they were pregnant with you. It didn't bother them that they were only 19 and 20 years old. But Troy and Gabi never did worry about time much. They married right out of high school; they always knew they would spend the rest of their lives together so why waste 4 years of not being married. It turned out to be the smartest thing they ever did." Taylor told me.
"Was their wedding magical?" I asked looking at the older woman beside me.
"It really was. It was a fairy tale wedding. They had their close friends and family at the ceremony. Chad and I were their best man and maid of honor. Jack, Troy's dad, walked Gabi down the aisle because her dad had died a few years prior. By the time they were done, there wasn't a dried eye at the ceremony." Taylor told me.
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for coming in and barging into your life. I was just so eager to find out who my parents were that I didn't take into account of your own lives." I told her.
"There is no way any of us can deny that you're your parents child. From Gabi's skin and hair color to Troy's eyes and smile, you're them, Tess. You've even got Gabi's curiosity and Troy's determination. You stopped at nothing to make sure you knew who your birth parents were." Taylor told me.
"Thank you. I was scared to find out who they were." I told her as she shook her head.
"They were good people. Troy died too young. He was going to medical school to become a Pediatrician. He wanted to help young children. And Gabi was going to college to become a Chemistry teacher. And without a hint, I bet you were really good in sciences, weren't you?" Taylor asked me.
"How did you guess?" I asked looking at her.
"Gabi was always really good in science. It was her favorite subject. She would help Troy everyday after school. She would always have to explain it over and over again until it just hit him like a ton of bricks." Taylor said laughing a little.
"I'm sorry you lost a friend at such a young age." I told her.
"I'm sorry that you lost a father and a mother. They were great parents and we all voted them to be the most successful when it came to parenting skills." Taylor told me.
"In the letter that they gave to my adoptive parents, they wrote down all their hopes for me. How did they know what I would achieve?" I asked Taylor.
"They looked at what they had achieved for their own life and put that towards yours. They just wanted you to grow up and experience life on your own. They wanted you to experience love and relationships just like they did." Taylor told me.
"Thank you for talking to me. I really appreciate it." I told her smiling.
"I would like to keep in touch with you. I've gone almost 18 years without talking to Troy; and I don't want to do the same to you." She told me.
"I would like that. Chad told me he would get me everyone's email addresses as well as Gabi's address." I told her.
"Are you going to talk to her?" Taylor asked me in surprised.
"One of my parents is still alive; I might as well make the effort to get to know her as much as possible." I said looking at Taylor.
"Give Gabi a little bit of time. Call her first. Get to know her over the phone and then ask if you can meet in person. I think it would work better that way." Taylor suggested as I smiled.
"Thanks for the tip." I said as she nodded her head.
"Not a problem. When you've been friends with her for over 20 years, you know what works and what doesn't." Taylor said standing up.
"Thank you for everything. I really appreciate it." I said before we said our goodbyes.
I sat in that restaurant and finished looking at the scrapbook before going to look around the restaurant. I felt like I knew a lot about my parents but here was still a long ways to go.
There you guys go!!! I'm glad so many of you like this story!!!! This story is far from over. Where do you think Tess is going to pick for college? I'll give you a hint: you'll never guess which one she picks. Feedback would be amazing!!!