Author's Note- I do not own anything related to High School Musical. This is my plot.
Chapter Nine-
People were always expected to be a someone or to do something great. So many expectations were thrown on people. Parents demanded the best behaviour and marks from their children. Employees were expected to be perfect and refined in the workplace. Husbands and wives were expected not to have wondering eyes and not to cheat. But most expectations were thrown away by the people who were being forced to make them. The people demanding and ordering others to fulfil them weren't the ones that had to go through all the hard work. Weren't the ones who would have to push themselves to their limits. They were just the people who stood by and expected so much from others.
Troy was one of the people who were given expectations from everyone. He was expected to continue a life and career in basketball. He was expected to live a life in front of everyone's judging and curious eyes. He was meant to break away from his childhood chums and gain new and famous friends. He was expected to marry some Hollywood floozy and have the perfect 2.5 children with her. But he didn't commit to these expectations and instead followed his own mind and heart. He married the girl of his dreams. He spent days laughing with his true and real friends. He led a prestigious career as a lawyer. But all that was taken away with his biggest mistake and regret.
Troy looked around his now bare bedroom and let out a heavy sigh. The once colourful and vibrant room was now dull and dark. The atmosphere and feel of the room no longer felt homey and safe. It felt depressed and alone. It fit Troy's persona well.
The past few days had been a whirlwind to him. He had seen Chad and Sharpay and a few muscled men come and go taking Gabriella's belongings and possessions with them. At first he had wanted to argue and fight to keep her stuff there, but reminded himself that they had every right. They were only taking what he and Gabriella had agreed on in their divorce settlement.
It pained him as Sharpay threw all of Gabriella's clothes and jewels into bags and boxes. Each time Sharpay grabbed a certain piece of jewellery or piece of clothing, a memory would play before him of when Gabriella had worn them. He smiled each time as he remembered all the times they had been happy and in love with each other. The times they had laughed and cried together. Everything that belonged to her was a memory to him. Memories of the best times of his life.
Within three days all of Gabriella's stuff was gone. The house felt cold and bare now. It no longer held love or warmth. Just the bitter harsh reality of his cold and empty shell. Every time he looked into a room it was half empty. He couldn't make himself feel a little better by being optimistic and saying it was half full. He couldn't feel happy or joy. He couldn't tell himself that everything was going to be ok. To Troy, he knew that this was reality. That this was what he deserved and he wasn't going to be able to change a thing. He would give one hell of fight to change that, but the little annoying voice in head was taking over more and more everyday. Reminding him that his life was over. It wasn't going to end with a fairytale finale. That he had messed up big time and he deserved every harsh and cruel thing that came his way.
Troy was knocked out his emo angst moment when he heard the harsh knocks on his front door. He wasn't expecting anyone. He wasn't anticipating someone's arrival. So to have someone at his door banging wildly and loudly, was a sure surprise to him.
As he ran down the flight of stairs and hastily walked to his front door he could hear the distant voices coming from the outside. He could distinctly hear a woman and man squabbling with each other. As soon as Troy hesitantly opened the door, he had wished he never did.
"Troy Alexander Bolton! How dare you do what you did."
Troy bit his bottom lip and prayed to God that the shrieking woman in front of him would disappear forever…or for a certain amount of time. He knew very well that he would never be able to function quite well without Lucille Bolton's love and compassion. But he had an eerie feeling that he wasn't going to be feeling any of that today.
Lucille made her way past her stupid and foolish son and barged straight into his home. She noticed straight away that it was now half empty and only few things remained in his care. She noticed that the walls no longer held the old and wooden photo frames of happy memories or loving times that Troy and Gabriella had captured over the years. She could definitely feel that her son's home was just a cold and empty four-walled building.
"Please…come in Mom." The obvious sarcasm was pouring out. Troy gestured for his Father to come in also and turned around and prepared himself for the wrath of an angry Lucille Bolton.
"Don't use that tone with me young man. I should bend you over my knee and spank the crap out of you. Or grab a baseball bat and knock some sense into you. Either way I want to hurt you." Bellowed Lucille. She would never really hurt her son or anyone for that matter, but what he had done to her loving daughter-in-law, she felt like she should.
"Lucille…calm down honey." Both Troy and Lucille turned to Jack Bolton. Head of the Bolton clan. Voice of reason and the calming voice for Lucille. "I thought we agreed no hitting or harming our son."
"No. You told me no harming our son. I never agreed to anything. At the moment it's fair game." Snapped Lucille.
"You know…I am standing right here you know." Troy threw his arms in the air to show his presence and hoped his parents would stop talking about him as if he wasn't there. Who invited them anyway?
"Oh yes. There you are." Replied a sarcastic Lucille. She was shooting daggers at her own son. Her only son and felt guilty. But she had been informed of his 'situation' and had never felt more disappointed in him before. "I can't believe you Troy. I thought you loved her."
Troy winced at his Mother's saddened and heartbreaking tone. Ever since Lucille had met Gabriella all those years ago, the two were as thick as thieves. They went shopping together. They talked all the time. They were like Mother and daughter. She was practically Gabriella's second Mother. And now…now Troy wasn't sure of what they were. Or what they could and would be.
"I do love her Mom."
"You have a piss poor way of showing it Troy." Lucille threw her hands in the air and paced in front of the two slightly afraid men and shook her head. "I go to sleep one night and everything is swell and dandy. My son and his wife are happy and healthy and safe. And then I wake up in the morning to get a call from a devastated Maria Montez who tells me my son is having an affair with his intern. His intern for Christ sake."
Troy felt the guilt of his actions weigh him down more when he remembered he hadn't only hurt Gabriella, his friends or even Delysia. But he had hurt his parents and in-laws. He had disappointed everyone in his life.
"Mom-" Troy tried to explain himself but Lucille wouldn't hear any of it.
"Don't Mom me young man. I am so disappointed in you Troy. I thought I raised you better than this."
"Lucille. Don't say anything you might regret." Jack had been very disappointed in his sons many times. Jack had felt let down when Troy had been caught drinking underage on School property when he was sixteen. Jack had felt let down when he caught Troy taking a drag from a marijuana joint in his own backyard. Jack felt let down when Troy had dropped basketball as his life and thrived his passion for law instead. But over time he realized that Troy's disappointments or mistakes lead to better and greater things.
After being caught being pissed drunk on School property, he was grounded and sent to work at the School. If he hadn't have been forced to clean out and sort the office supply room, Troy may not have heard the old Principle at the time call out for help in pain from an oncoming heart attack and saved the man's life. If Troy hadn't been caught by Jack taking drugs, for the first and only time, then Jack never would have grounded him and forced him to him work on the old Chevy and become closer as Father and son. And if Troy hadn't had dropped basketball, he wouldn't have been known as one of the best lawyers around. But no matter how many times Jack went over Troy's current dilemma, he could see no positive outcome for his son. Starting an affair with someone wasn't going to lead Troy to better things. He was setting himself and others up for heartache.
"Mom, Dad, please. Let me explain. I know your disappointed in me and mad but…I never meant for any of this to happen."
"I suggest you better explain yourself son. And the whole truth. We're not leaving here until you do." Jack pulled his irritated wife to his side and sat themselves on the lounge that was fortunate to have been kept behind and in his possession.
After two long hours of explaining his poor actions, Lucille's yelling and screaming and Jack's calming words to keep the peace, everything was out in the open and clarified.
"You love this Del girl?" Lucille didn't mean to sound so harsh when she muttered her son's mistress's name, but she couldn't help it. She had felt very protected of Gabriella over the years and saw her as her own daughter. And now…they no longer held any type of link between them.
"Yes Mom. I did…I do. And I'm trying my hardest to get over her and forget her."
"You can't just forget someone Troy. You can't just tell yourself to fall out of love and expect it to happen overnight. It doesn't work like that." Lucille felt like she was talking to five year old. A very stupid and foolish five year old.
"I know that Mom. But…I don't want to be in love with her anymore. I never really did, but I am. And now I'm trying to move on from that. I'm trying to do the right thing." Troy knew whatever he said couldn't never make up for his mistakes, but he had to have some faith that something good was going to happen. It was a low chance, but he had to have faith.
"If you had done the right thing in the first place then none of this would have happened." Retorted Lucille.
Jack rolled his eyes and placed a calming hand on his wife's. "Lucille, please. I'm sure Troy has enough guilt weighing him down and we're his parents, we're suppose to be there for him and support him."
"Support him? Support him? I'm not going to support my son for hurting my daughter. Gabriella means the world to me and he hurt her. I cannot and will not support that." Lucille pulled her hand away from Jack's and mumbled to herself that he was being crazy.
"I didn't mean it like that Luce. I just meant that…who's here for Troy? Huh? Who's here to listen to him? To make sure he doesn't do anything stupid…again? To make sure he knows and takes responsibility for his mistakes and tries his damn hardest to make up for it? Yes, what he's done is stupid and cruel…" Jack saw Troy lower his head further to the ground in shame. "…but he's our son Luce. And we love him. We have to see past his flaws and errors and be there for him."
Lucille let out a heavy sigh and looked towards her son. She could tell he was feeling guilt and shame in himself. She felt bad that she was rubbing it in his face. But he deserved it. She just couldn't believe her little boy. Her little baby boy had hurt someone they all loved and cared for. "You're right Jack. He's our son and we love him." Lucille sat beside Troy and pulled his chin up so she could face him directly. "Now listen to me Troy. In no way do I condone what you did. I feel so angry and hurt towards you Troy. I never want to feel like this Your Father's right, you're our son and I love you with all my heart. But this is hard. I don't know what to say or do to make this…different. I feel like I'm betraying Gabriella for sitting here and loving you still. And then I feel guilty because you're my son. And then I feel guilty because Gabriella is like a daughter to me. I'm going around in circles with these mixed emotions. There's so many wrongs and rights that I'm feeling. But I do love you. I just feel…lost."
"Mom, I get it. I'm disappointed in myself. I know everyone else is. I can't expect you and Dad to sit here and feel for me. To feel compassion. I don't deserve that."
"But you do deserve your parents shoulders to cry and lean on. I feel like the worst Mother." Lucille let a small tear escape and tried her best to keep the rest in.
"You're not Mom. You're the best. I feel like the worst son and husband. And no words can change otherwise." Troy tried his hardest to keep himself composed, but it was hard when you could see the disappointed looks upon your parents faces.
"Ok. We can spend the rest of the day, heck, the rest of the year feeling bad about ourselves. But as long as Troy knows we're here for him, that's enough. Like your Mother said son, we don't condone what you did. But we're here for you. To lean on and to talk to."
Troy nodded his head slowly and felt a small smile curve the ends of his mouth. "I don't deserve it, but thanks. Means a lot."
Lucille wrapped her arms around her son and held him tight to her chest. The moment she found out that Troy had betrayed Gabriella, she felt like it was somehow her fault. That she felt a part of her was to blame. That if she was a better role model or Mother, then maybe he wouldn't have done what he did. She just didn't want to think that her son, her Troy, could do something like that. She wasn't the only one.
"Come on. Let's get some dinner and then we can come back here and talk things over more." Ventured Jack.
Troy and Lucille pulled apart and nodded at Jack's idea. As Troy went to stand he was wrapped into another hug by his Father and hugged back just as tight. He was lucky to have parents like his. He knew they were still disappointed in him, but they still loved him. He couldn't ask for anything more than that.
When Jack pulled away from Troy he gave a stern look towards him and then a playful shove. Troy smiled and patted his old man on the back and gestured his parents to walk towards the kitchen to see what they could round up for dinner. As Troy was walking, a thought hit him and quickly turned around to be bumped into by his Mother and Father.
"Troy? What is it? Everything ok son?" Asked a concerned Jack.
"How much did Maria tell you about what's going on?" Troy asked curiously.
"Just that you had cheated and now you and Gabriella are going through the divorce." Answered a confused Lucille. "Why? Is there something else?"
Troy wasn't sure if Maria knew and didn't tell them or Gabriella hadn't told Maria yet. But he knew that now he was going to have to deal with another angry fit from his Mother. Something he never really enjoyed. Dinner was going to have to wait.
"Uh I guess you can say that." He could feel the curious glances made by Jack and Lucille and took a deep breath and prepared for the on slaughter. "Gabriella's pregnant."
The room was dead silent until a loud gasp was heard through the room and then a loud thump when Lucille's fainted body had hit the ground.
"So I'm thinking plum purple for your room and lavender for the nursery."
Gabriella rolled her eyes and shook her head. Of course Sharpay would be thinking of colours of her choice and not what Gabriella wanted. Gabriella silently laughed to herself and nodded her head when she heard Sharpay question her of her choice.
"Fantastic Shar, but I was thinking maybe a neutral colour like…yellow for the nursery." Gabriella took a look around the room that she was currently in and felt a wave of excitement and happiness rush over her.
For the first time in her life she was truly on her own. No Mother to guide or steer her. No roommate to talk to early in the morning or to annoy. And certainly no husband to have around to hold and love anymore. She was alone. But instead of feeling saddened or depressed about her new found loneliness, she was intrigued and fascinated. Never before had she lived on her own. From living with her Mother, she went straight to living with Taylor in College. From Taylor it went straight to Troy in their old one room apartment to their large and dream-like house.
Gabriella had been looking over a few apartments for days until she had found the perfect one for her and her baby. When she and Troy had first looked upon the place she once called home, it only took twelve minutes for the both of them to happily agree to buying the house. It was perfect for them. And now she felt like that with her new apartment.
It had everything she had ever wanted. It was in a safe and clean neighbourhood. It was on a main street of the City, but it wasn't flawed with the sounds of loud horns or wailing sirens. It was close by to where Sharpay and Chad were keeping residence. It was also on the same street as two twenty-four hour grocery stores, so going out and buying food she would be soon graving, was easy and accessible.
"Come on Gabi, let me have some input. You love my fashion sense. How is this different?" Asked Sharpay who was trying to give her best friend her best puppy dog eyes.
"You seriously did not just ask that Shar. Fashion and interior designs are very different." Replied a smirking Gabriella.
"Fine. But you'll be sorry when you have lame lime green drapes everywhere and leopard print rugs in every room." Grinned Sharpay.
"You honestly think I found that appealing?" Gabriella stuck up her nose and fought the need to gag. Seriously? Gabriella was so not a leopard print person.
"Oh shut it preggers. Now…" Sharpay took a quick glance around the room and turned back to a curious Gabriella. "…where are you thinking of putting the crib?"
Gabriella broke out in a wide smile and looked around the room herself. The room wasn't that big but it held enough room for the essentials. She could see the crib being placed beside the window and having a cute and musical mobile hanging from above. She could see the room being a nice light yellow with the ceiling being painted baby blue for the sky with cloud prints as well. She could see everything she wanted in her mind and couldn't wait to see it being played out for real.
"Maybe beside the window. So the natural light will shine upon the baby. Or is that too unsafe?" Gabriella's mind then wiped away with all the happy and positive thoughts about decorating the room and was filled with all the negative ones. "What if this room is too dangerous for the baby? Will enough air flow be getting through? What if it's cold in here at night? What if-"
"Gabi. Calm down." Sharpay went to stand in front of her friend and rub her warm hands up and down Gabriella's cold arms. "It's going to be ok. We went over all this with the realtor and landlord. This place is perfect for raising a baby. Remember? Everything's ok. It's fine and safe. Nothing bad is going to happen."
Gabriella took some calming breaths of air and tried her best to relax. Her emotions and hormones were running rampant. Gabriella was edging towards the middle of her third month of her pregnancy and could feel butterflies fly around her stomach every time she thought about the child that was growing in her stomach could be. She knew she wouldn't care what sex it would be, but she wasn't the type of person who could wait for nine months and not know what the new addition to her life would be. She had another ultrasound scan in a few weeks and hopefully she would be able to find out something about the baby growing in her.
"Ok. I'm calm. I'm relaxed. You're right. The apartment is safe. This room is secure and reliable. Nothing will hurt my baby. I hope." Gabriella tried her best to whisper the last part, but she knew Sharpay heard her when she received a stern look from the intimidating brunette.
"Nothing will. This baby is going to be the most protected and safest baby ever. I mean, come on, it has me as an Aunt. Nobody in their right mind would ever seek out to harm you or your precious little one." With that Sharpay lowered her head in front of Gabriella's stomach, much to Gabriella's amusement, and started talking to it. "Hey there little one. I'm your Aunty Sharpay. But you can call me Aunt Pay when, you know, start talking and stuff." Sharpay ignored the laughter coming from Gabriella and continued on. "Now when you get out here, and we all can't wait for that. I want you to know that you are going to have the best Mother ever. You're one hell of a lucky kid…kid. And everyone is going to be really jealous that you have a young, hot and awesomely chef of a Mother. Which by the way if she continues to make the best cookies and brownies and feed them to you…well…you might be competing with your Uncle Chad for 'Biggest Loser'."
Gabriella couldn't stop laughing at her friend's attempt to cheer her up and calm her. It had worked and she silently thanked Sharpay for her efforts. Both knowing that words didn't have to be spoken, their friendship was strong enough to just know what the other was saying.
"Come on. We need a break. I think we're going slightly crazy. I'm talking to your stomach for crying out loud." Sharpay straightened out her slim form and placed her hands on her waist. "I say…let's eat." She gave Gabriella a giant grin and pulled her out of the room.
After a full afternoon of laughter, bitching venting moments and mouths being stuffed by cookies and cream ice-cream, it was finally time for the girls to part ways and say goodnight. It was going to be the first night away from each other ever since Gabriella moved in with Sharpay and Chad. It was going to be the first night she would be going to sleep in a place by herself.
"Ok…so you have all our numbers. You're going to set the house alarm as soon as I close this door and you're going to go straight to bed, right?" Asked a worried and anxious Sharpay. It worried her that Gabriella was going to be by herself. Her life she had had at least one person around her. This was a whole new game. New territory. She knew Gabriella would be able to handle it. But she was still allowed to worry about her.
"I promise Shar. Everything is going to be ok. Remember? You said so yourself. And this is one of the safest streets and buildings around this area. Me and the baby are going to be fine. I promise." Gabriella put on her bravest and most confident face and hoped Sharpay couldn't see through it.
"Ok…just…be careful. I know you can do this. And I know you're going to be fine…I just worry is all. I love you and I just don't want anything bad happening to you. You don't deserve it." Sharpay pulled a smiling Gabriella into her and gave her the biggest hug she could muster. "Love you Gabi."
Gabriella embraced the hug and held Sharpay just as close and tight. "Love you to Shar." Both didn't pull away for a few more seconds, but then finally pulled away when they had felt it was safe to move on. "Now go. Before Chad sends out a search party."
"Oh please. Chad has his ESPN re-runs and hamburgers tonight. He won't miss me until another few hours. When he starts to feel frisky." Sharpay smirked and laughed at the look of disgust that crossed Gabriella's face.
"Ew. I really didn't need to know what turns Chad on." Laughed Gabriella.
The girls shared another loving embrace and then quickly said their goodbyes before Sharpay could feel the need to insist on staying the night. Gabriella waved goodbye and closed her front door and locked up the three locks Sharpay demanded to have been placed on the door.
Gabriella turned around and felt a rush of nerves go through her. She was finally alone. Really alone. She pushed herself off the door and walked the short distance into the kitchen. The apartment wasn't small, it was just the right size for Gabriella. She felt at ease and comfortable in the enclosed area. The main entryway lead straight into the small lounge area that lead to the kitchen and dining area. To the left of the open-spaced living room was a doorframe that lead to a hallway that had only three doors. The two ending ones opening to separate bedrooms and the door in the middle lead to a suitable sized bathroom. Gabriella's own bedroom held a small bathroom of its own.
Gabriella went around her new small flat and made sure the windows were securely locked and remembered to put the door alarm on. Never knowing what could happen. She quickly made got herself ready for bed and placed herself between the warmth of her sheets and blankets.
It was nearing midnight and Gabriella had been reading 'What to expect when expecting' for a good hour and a half, until she heard some strange sounds coming from outside. The window in her room lead outside to the main street and she could hear a couple of drunken idiots calling out and starting to get angry with one another. She silently made her way out of bed and walked towards the window. It was a big bay window so she could clearly see what was going on.
Just outside in the middle of the street, where it was dead quiet apart from the boisterous callings out, were four or so men standing around another pair of drunken idiots who were preparing to fight each other. Gabriella wasn't sure of what to do. She wasn't sure if she was suppose to call the police or open her window and tell them all to bugger off. Her apartment was only on the third floor, so it was easy for them to see her and clear for her to view the outside world.
Gabriella started to have thoughts about whether or not the street was a safe one to be occupied in. Her thoughts were interrupted though when she heard a loud wolf whistle coming from one of the men outside. She focused her attention back onto the noisy drunks and saw that all six men were staring up at her with dazed and disturbing looks upon their faces. She quickly tried to hide herself behind the long and shielding drapes, but knew there wasn't much point as they had already seen her. Gabriella got a rush of fear and anxiety in when she saw the men start walking towards her building. She knew they weren't able to get in without the permission from another tenant, but that thought alone still didn't calm her nerves.
Gabriella realized this wasn't something that had ever happened to her. Her once perfect life was never filled with fear or terror, like it was right now. The night where her life was suppose to be the start of a new beginning, became a night of panic and dread. Gabriella jumped ten feet in the air when she heard beer bottles being smashed into the ground and the voices were closer then before and right outside the building, ordering her to come and let them in. Gabriella quickly rushed to her cell phone that was sat on her bedside table and held down the button for number '1', calling her first speed dial number. She pressed the phone to her ear and continued to hear the ring tone until finally the gruff and tired voice entered her ears.
"Hello?"
"It's me…Gabriella. I need you to come building 54, apartment '5', on Hunter Street. The code is ten, fourteen. Please hurry." The fright and fear laced within her voice was clear and obvious.
Gabriella heard a rushed 'yes' and then the end dial tone. She quickly rushed back to the window and saw that the men were tiring of their failed efforts and were getting distracted by something else in the street.
Gabriella knew that she might have been overreacting and maybe someone else would have just shrugged it off, but she had never felt this kind of reaction before. She had never felt so terribly alone and afraid before. It was new to her. All her life she had been in some type of protective bubble. A dream like fairytale bubble. But now that that bubble had burst, all these new feelings and emotions were running through her. Who would have thought with one open cut wound, would open a whole bunch of dramatic issues.
The loud knock on her door pulled her out of her fearful thoughts and she quickly rushed to open it, knowing perfectly well who it was. The sight of him was a relief and made her feel a little more at ease. The way he looked concerned and worried about her made her feel safe and secure. The way his eyes looked her over to make sure she wasn't hurt made her feel grateful and calmer. Gabriella quickly pulled the muscled man into her home and locked the door back up.
"Gabs? Gabriella are you ok? What's wrong?" Gabriella felt a little bad once she heard the worry and concern in his voice.
"I'm sorry. You were the first person I thought of to call. I know I shouldn't have and it's late but-"
"Gabriella. It's ok. You know I would do anything for you. You mean a lot to me kid."
Zeke Baylor had been a constant in her life. The two grew up together. They were friends. They were family. Zeke's Mother and Gabriella's Father were siblings. Gabriella and Zeke were the closest that they could be. Even though Zeke was five years older than Gabriella, they acted as if they were two parts of one whole. Like brother and sisters, twins. Always being able to tell when the other was hurt or upset. Could tell what the other was thinking. They had their own type of special bond. A family bond. Both were only children and so they depended on each other to play with and talk to during family events and holidays visits. The two families lived close by each other throughout their whole childhood, so both of them were always close and nearby whenever the one needed the other.
"I have to mean a lot to you. I'm your cousin. Family always looks out for each other." Smiled Gabriella.
"True. But even if we weren't cousins, I bet the universe would have pushed us in each other's life somehow. My life would be pretty boring without you Gabs." Gabriella couldn't help but return the giant smile that she was receiving from Zeke. "Now are you going to tell me what's going on? Or do I have to tickle it out of you?"
Gabriella took a few small steps away from his teasing fingers and that were motioning towards her to tickle and torture her and put her hand up to stop him in his tracks. "Ok…just…don't come any closer with those evil hands."
Zeke laughed and placed his hands on his sides. He gave an apologetic look towards his younger cousin and gestured for her to go sit down with him on the small navy blue couch. "So? What happened? You sounded really scared before? Not Troy trouble is it?"
Of course Zeke was aware of the current problems that had emerged between his cousin's once perfect marriage. To say he was pissed at Troy was an understatement. Once he heard wind of the news from his friend Chad, that their best friend Troy had cheated, Zeke was livid. He was one second away from punching his life long friend until Chad had to hold him back and convince him not to hurt Troy, surprising everyone in the room, even Chad himself. Chad just told everyone that what he did to Troy was enough…for now.
"No, it wasn't Troy. Before…there was…outside were some drunken idiots and they caught me staring at them. I didn't mean to, I was just wondering what all the ruckus was about. Then they came towards the building and started calling out to me. Guess I just got overreacted too much. I know they can't get in here without my codes or anyone else's…but…I just felt…unsafe."
Zeke nodded his head as he listened to her trembling voice shake in fear. It annoyed Zeke that Gabriella was feeling like this. He hated how she was now living by herself, pregnant and alone, because her husband couldn't keep it in his pants. Only one word came to mind now, whenever Zeke thought of Troy: Bastard.
"It's ok Gabs. I'm glad you called me. It's fine to feel like this. And it's not just because this is the first time on your own or because your alone, but I'm sure there are thousands, if not millions of people who feel unsafe in their own home sometimes. It's just a common thing. Especially when drunken dickheads think big of themselves."
Gabriella nodded her head in agreement and started to feel a little more calmer and relaxed then she did before. "You're right. I guess I just have to get use to this is all." She put on her 'trying-to-be-brave' look and smiled up at her know-it-all cousin. "Why is you know everything and know exactly what to say?"
"I don't know…it's a gift." Zeke smirked. He pulled Gabriella closer to him and allowed her to rest her tired head on his shoulder. "How's mummy and baby going?"
"We're doing well. I'm a little worried about tomorrow though." Gabriella reminded herself about the family lunch tomorrow. She was going to be meeting up with her parents and explain to them what was going to happen and how the divorce was going.
"Your Dad not gone over to Bolton's yet and bashed the shit out of him?" Zeke yelped out a small cry of pain when he felt Gabriella's small fist punch him in the side of his stomach. "What the-"
"No swearing in front of the baby Zeke." Gabriella scolded.
"Oh come on. It's not even born yet. Give a guy a break." Zeke let out a chuckle as he could predict that Gabriella was most probably rolling her eyes and could feel her shake her head.
"Well whatever. I don't want any cussing to be around me or my baby anymore. Got it Z?"
"Ok, ok. I get it. Now answer my question." He pushed.
"No. Guess he has some self control." Gabriella pondered.
"Or Aunt Maria has him chained to a wall and making sure he doesn't do anything stupid." Joked Zeke, but wondering if it held some truth of it. Gregorio Montez would do anything his wife or daughter asked of him. He was a sucker for the Montez women.
"I really can't wait to see them. It's been too long." Gabriella's voice had become softer and Zeke could tell she was getting tired.
"When was the last time you saw them?" Enquired Zeke.
"A little over four months ago. With their schedules and mine clashing too much, it's been a bit too hard to get together." Gabriella snuggled herself closer into the warmth of her cousin's chest and slowly closed her eyes. Hoping that she wasn't about to fall asleep on him.
Zeke looked down and saw Gabriella's face nestled into his chest and smiled to himself. He allowed her to gradually fall asleep on him and then softly and delicately picked her up bridal style and carried her to her bed. Zeke covered her tired form with her blankets and made his way out of her bedroom with closing the door. He walked around the reasonable sized flat and ensured everything was locked. Zeke then made himself comfortable of the softness of her couch again and soon found himself over taken by the darkness of the night and his imaginative dreams. His last thought was that in time, hopefully Gabriella would feel safe and happy again.
Hey guys. So sorry for not updating sooner. Laptop died on me and nearly killed myself because I couldn't get it back on for a while. But then I used my super powers to fix it...well my friend did at least. And then it would have been up a few days ago, but document loader thing wasn't working for me. But here it is. Hope you enjoy and hopefully next one will be up in a few days. Hopefully. Trying really hard to balance it all. But thanks for your support. Opinions? Reviews? Cheers guys.