A/N-- Cool, the response for last chapter was better than I expected. After the 15 PMs threatening my poor self, you guys seemed to enjoy the plot that I'm preparing, haha. Good, good. Always great to know that. I'm glad somehow you guys trust me for this, that feels amazing. Alright, so yeah, I'm still nervous about this chapter, cuz there's too much information on it. It's 2008 and that will be the present year in the story, hope you don't mind - I just don't feel very comfortable to write 2009 yet, maybe next year lol. So please, tell me your thoughts after you read the chapter, I don't mind if you'll be angry, happy or disappointed --- just spit it all. I really want to know what YOU think. It's very, very important. And yeah--- sorry if there isn't a lot of Troy Bolton this chapter - he'll be present a lot next one, promise.
Another thing, sorry for taking so long to update, I don't like to be an author that update once in a lifetime... I just been very busy and the chapters are very long, so I have to sit down and wait till the ideas starts to flow to write it, lol. Sometimes when it happens I'm almost sleeping or working, so it's hard. Hope you won't abandon me cuz of that. ;) Enough with my babbling. Thanks for the support and for giving the story a chance, even though I still don't know where I'm getting myself into for the first time, haha. Should I be worried I have nothing planned for this story? Uh, oh.
Hopefully you'll like it. Anyways, YOU GUYS ROCK! Take care.
- M!
Disclaimer: I don't own HSM or Kelly Clarkson lyrics.
"I told you everything,
Opened up and let you in,
You made me feel alright,
For once in my life,
Now all that's left of me,
Is that I pretend to be,
So together but so broken up inside."
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO.
AUGUST 16, 2008.
Gabriella placed both of her hands softly on the mattress, trying her best to be gentle as she rediscovered the beauty in front of her eyes. Her fingertips caressed the side of the face delicately and she smiled as she earned an involuntary smile from the person she loved so much. The beautiful features of the sleeping face contorted lightly for a second as the face moved slowly from one side to another, as if finding the best spot to keep in dreamland. Her thumb ran up the side of the body, her hand travelling the arm lovingly. She smiled automatically as the figure rolled over on the bed, turning on the front to sleep. For a second she thought she woke up the happiness of her life with her need to be so close, but as the softly snore continued, she breathed in relief.
Her daughter laid one arm across her tiny stomach and she watched amazed as it rose up and down as she breathed. Gabriella couldn't help but tangle her fingers in her baby's hair and, leaning down, placed a lingering kiss to her forehead. Her angel had her skin warm as usual, as if it was impossible for her to ever get cold. It still amazed Gabriella that every time she covered the tiny girl, she'd uncover herself promptly. It was like fire ran through her daughter's veins, on the contrary of what Gabriella always thought hers was, and her blood seemed to be warm enough to keep her comfortable even if it was freezing outside. Her maternal instincts though, made her worry tremendously about it and she'd get uneasy enough to sneak in and watch her preciousness sleep, just in case she'd need anything.
She sighed as she continued staring at her daughter, watching as she clumsy opened her eyes and, letting it wander around the dark room, collected her stuffed cat from the edge of the crib, just to embrace herself tightly to it and fall asleep again. The girl was so innocent and adorable that it would always make Gabriella's heart swell with joy every time she took a glance at her, it didn't matter she was asleep or awake. Not only her heart would tighten because she was extremely perfect, but because tonight she had her two years old birthday party and time seemed to be flying by faster than Gabriella really wanted. She was touched and afraid – afraid of blinking too much and lose it all. All the transformations her daughter would go through, the fact that she was really growing up and in a few years she'd be an independent child, teenager and later an adult.
The consequences of growing up would still bug Gabriella tremendously, even more when rituals were broken. She'd still take the girl to her work everyday just to be near her, they'd go to the park three times a week and she'd read for her before putting her to bed. Tonight, one ritual had been broken. Her boyfriend had put her in bed when she was cleaning the house up after the birthday party and he never read the girl to sleep. Sighing Gabriella ran a hand across her forehead, turning on her heels as she lost the battle against her head that demanded her to move on and let the girl sleep peacefully. Her heart though, craved to grab her in her arms and pretend she was a tiny newborn again. Following her heart one more time, she retrieved the baby's favorite book from the white shelf and made her way to the arm chair beside her white crib.
"Honey, she can't hear you" Gabriella didn't have to turn around to know her boyfriend was there, watching them. His voice was distant and caring, but she was not tempted to turn around and stare at him, afraid she'd lose another precious second of her baby's life. "Come to bed and let her be"
"I'll be there in a second" she whispered her promise and the guy chuckled lightly before disappearing from the dark room. Hearing the door close, she looked over her shoulder as the darkness filled her eyes again and smiled when she saw herself alone with her daughter one more time.
Her eyes didn't need the light to know how to walk around without bumping into anything. She had decorated the room herself and knew where everything was placed perfectly. The baby had tons of books because Gabriella always loved to read to her, even when she was still inside her body. The girl had a favorite one though and she couldn't remember how many times she had read the book for her daughter. It was called 'Kitten's First Full Moon' by Kevin Henkes and the reason the baby liked it so much was obviously the kitten. She was completely addicted to cats.
The book was quickly put on the bedside as she leaned over the crib to carefully grab the little girl in her arms, sitting down on the arm chair swiftly. Gabriella flicked the switch once and the pink lamp turned on, illuminating weakly the sleeping beauty in her arms. She ran her fingertips adoringly along her jaw and stroked her pale cheek. Her little foot twitched as she snuggled closer to her mother's body and moaned quietly. Gabriella's cold body warmed immediately and she felt her heart slowing down its pace.
Maturity could come later, she needed to be selfish one more time.
She kissed the tiny forehead one more time and her nose nuzzled the top of her chestnut hair. The adorable baby's smell still present on her filled her nostrils as the soft baby hair tickled her nose. At least something was the same, at least her daughter still smelled like a baby. Two years old was not the end of the world. She was still precious, tiny and dependable. The girl would still need Gabriella for a long time.
She breathed in relief through her mouth and her heartbeat eased.
As she opened the book she felt a tiny hand wrap around her shirt. She looked down, only to find the adorable half-open sleepy eyes of her daughter. Gabriella grinned, partly happy to see her daughter awake, partly guilty for waking her up. The baby didn't seem to mind though, yawning before blinking a couple of times and closing her eyes in earnest, letting go slightly of her mother's shirt to wrap her tiny hand around the finger that still lingered on her cheek. As she began the story, the baby was already fast asleep but she continued the ritual, till she finished the book.
Maybe her boyfriend was right, maybe the baby couldn't hear her at all, but she wouldn't be the one to break their routine, not one both of them liked so much. And that night, even as the baby snore softly, completely fast asleep, Gabriella could swear she saw a half-smile on her daughter's lips as she read about the kitten mistaking the moon for a bowl of milk.
It was her favorite part after all.
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO.
AUGUST 17, 2008.
The smile that lingered on her lips as she stepped outside the glass doors that led her to the backyard of her shared house with the boyfriend had to be one of the biggest she had ever wore. Not because of him shirtless inside of the swimming pool, but mostly because of the girl in his arms. Not any ordinary girl, but the most beautiful and sweet girl in the whole world: her two-year-old daughter.
Now completely awake the girl was dressed in a tiny light green swimsuit and giggled contently as Gabriella's boyfriend of a year and a half spun her playfully on the pool, making her feel really important swimming for the first time. The blond guy transferred his hypnotized eyes from the chestnut beauty in his arms to the dark haired goddess as soon as he spotted her near the pool edge, smiling tenderly at them. The sunlight illuminated his white teeth as he grinned and he held the girl securely to his chest.
"Come to the pool, mommy" Greg Reynolds, Gabriella's boyfriend, imitated the baby's voice, waving her little hand in the air. She smirked as she placed both of her hands on her hips, "I thought you guys were going to wait for me"
"We were" he defended himself, "but little Azzy was eager to get inside" he kissed the girl's forehead and she smacked her hand playfully on the water, wetting his face, "I told you she doesn't like when you call her Azzy…" Gabriella laughed lightly, "I don't like it too"
"It's her name, what's the big deal?"
"Her name is Emerson Azalia" she protested, "Not Azzy. That's probably a dog's name"
Greg rolled his eyes, "That's not. That's short and adorable" he said calmly, staring at the baby, "Just like her"
Emerson clapped her tiny hands and cupped his cheeks with her fingertips, gigging pleasurably as he spun her around again. Gabriella grinned – he was such a good father to her daughter. She knew it was wrong to let the baby think Greg was her dad, but could she say no to him when he stared at her daughter like a father would? Like she wished Troy would? She sighed and pulled her dress over her head, making her boyfriend grin at her. Gabriella was using his favorite black bikini that clung to her body perfectly. She dove in the pool and when she appeared again in front of her daughter, the girl squealed in happiness.
"Wow, easy baby girl" she kissed the top of Emerson's head as she threw herself in her mother's arms and pecked Greg on the lips. "Hi"
"Hey babe" Greg smiled, stroking her cheek sweetly with one of his hands. His gaze travelled down her body as he checked her out, the grin that played on his lips fading away and the green in his eyes turning darker as his eyes approached her tattoo. He sighed and touched a finger to it, contouring the flower with his fingertip, "It hurts so much seeing his name on your body" he admitted in a lower tone, as if he was afraid Emerson could hear him, "It's so frustrating"
"Honey, let go of it" Gabriella bit her bottom lip, cupping his cheek with her hand. Gregory shook his head though and all the pleasure of being with her vanished from his eyes. She hated how much a simple tattoo could make him so sad. "I'm gonna go work"
"I thought you said you had a free day" she protested, knowing the real reason he was going to lock himself up in his office again was her tattoo. He shrugged, "I don't have it anymore… sorry"
"Greg…"
"We will talk later, Gabriella" he replied simply, "Enjoy the nice weather with Azzy…uhm, Emmy"
Kissing Emerson Azalia's head he swum far from the girls and hopped out of the pool. The toddler frowned, raising her hand to reach for him and Gabriella sighed. "He's just upset Em. He'll be back to play with you later"
Gabriella spotted her reflex on the mirror as she stopped searching for clothes to go to bed and bit her bottom lip. She glanced over her shoulder and certified herself that she was alone, before turning around to let her reflex fill her eyes pleasurably. She couldn't help but feel proud of herself at how much she had grown in three years, and as arrogant as it could sound, she thought of herself as beautiful.
After the pregnancy her teen body changed drastically into a woman's and she developed curves that used to drive men crazy. Her legs were toned, mostly because she biked everyday before work. She unwrapped the light orange towel from around her body and let it fall swiftly to the floor. Her eyes wandered up and down her body, studying her firm breasts, flat stomach and tanned legs. Gabriella smiled to herself, she looked good and she knew that. Every day guys would check her out, ask her out. She could swear some guys tattooed themselves only because they thought she'd go out with them after the inking session.
Her hands ran up and down the sides of her body, stopping on the coldest part of her: the flower tattoo. It was so surreal that something that used to be tremendously warm when she was with Troy had transformed so darkly. Every time Gabriella's hand or fingers bumped into that piece of skin, it hurt, not only her heart, but physically. She knew it was only her mind, she had asked Greg to touch the skin and he never felt it cool, but she felt it. It was freezing every second of her day, except when Emerson was in her arms. The girl seemed to connect the missing piece that was the tattoo. Emmy was the only person that sent warmth to her body now. That was one of the reasons she loved holding her daughter so much. Gabriella always felt so cold.
Who would have thought that after so long, she would still feel so linked to Troy? Not only because of their daughter; he was always on her mind everyday as she changed clothes or checked herself on the mirror. For almost a year she didn't go to the pool or used clothes that showed her tattoo, afraid his name would haunt her, but she came to accept the fact Troy would always be present in her life somehow. Even though he hurt her, he was just unforgettable for many reasons.
"Why you do that?"
She turned around, her hand still on her tattoo and found a frustrated frown on her boyfriend's face. Her hand immediately fell numb to the side of her body and she swallowed before opening her mouth to let the shaky words to escape her lips, "Do... uhm, what?"
"I watch you when you change clothes, Gabriella" Greg said, walking further inside the walk-in closet, "I see how you caress his name every day. Why you still love him?"
"Where's Em?" she tried to change the subject and he closed his eyes, breathing deeply through his nostrils. "Asleep. I just checked on her"
Gabriella bent down and collected the towel from the floor, trying to cover most of her body with it, but because her hands trembled violently, she found the easy process very difficult. Greg raised his hand and helped her wrapping the towel around her body again before finally speaking, "You'll never love me like you loved him"
"Greg..."
"It's true, Gabriella" he paced up and down the closet, his hands taking turns to run through his blond hair in agony, "You have his name written on your body with permanent ink" his voice was softly, but she knew he was mad at her. Greg was just too responsible to yell knowing he could wake Emerson up, "It's forever..."
She bit the inside of her cheek to avoid groaning in annoyance. Why he had to freak out every time she was naked, or in a bikini or a dress that showed her tattoo she'd never know. The fact was that almost every day he'd get pissed about it and curse Troy, his previous and future generations because of a piece of inked skin. She scoffed. Troy. She haven't seen him for a long time now, since high school days when she moved to Santa Fe with her mother to open another tattoo shop, leaving everything behind. It was not only her memories with Troy, the good and the painful ones, but Ryan, her friends and the Skin Deep tattoo shop that she still owned in Albuquerque and loved so much.
Greg was her reality now, her present and future, yet he couldn't be more insecure every time he saw Troy's name on her body. He couldn't understand that bringing Troy to the conversation would only make her think about him again, not forget him. Not that she could. If she closed her eyes, she'd see Troy's piercing blue orbs and the beautiful smile she loved so much once, smirking at the failure that was her love life. Sometimes she'd still dream with him, and he'd tell he would always belong to him, and somehow she felt good. Internally she would feel in heaven, physically she'd wake up screaming as her tattoo itched immensely and felt like ice cubs burning her body.
Gosh, so much for ink. Who would have thought it would define her life that much?
"I want you to do it for me" Greg's voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she shook her head lightly to try and focus on what he was saying, "Can you do it, Gabriella?"
"Uhm…" she cleared her throat, not really knowing what he was talking about. "Do what, Greg?"
"A tattoo" he said simply, "I want you to ink my name on your body, too"
A tattoo? No! Gabriella's insides protested loudly and she clenched her jaw before she could pronounce the words her mind wanted so much. A tattoo? Was he crazy? She couldn't! Her body started shaking with nervousness as he gazed at her impatiently, waiting for her answer. It was just impossible. She wouldn't be like Troy. Even if he didn't keep his promise, she'd keep hers. She'd never tattoo any other names on her body. That was final.
"I can't"
She saw as he fought to keep the control of his voice and emotions, "Why not?"
"I—I was 17, Greg!" Gabriella sighed, trying to be reasonable, hoping if she proved him that tattooing a name was stupid, he'd let go of it. "I won't do that again. I was silly enough once... I don't wanna be again"
She found a shirt quickly and dressed in it, just to stop his creepy gaze on her body. She could almost feel his eyes slicing her skin painfully. Gabriella made her way back to their room and for a second breathed in relief when he didn't follow her.
"Why are you still loyal to him?" he leaned against the doorway, his expression were as hard as a rock, "I am your boyfriend, you live with me, we have a life together"
"Don't start with that" she warned between clenched teeth as she sat on the edge of the bed, "I am committed to you, isn't it enough?"
"You still love him, don't you Gabriella?"
"What? No!" she half-lied, a part of her would always love Troy, no matter what. The other half of her still fought everyday with the hate that filled her heart every time she thought about Troy making out with Sharpay. Yes, very high school, but yet, it still ruled her life. She couldn't help but wonder if things would be different for her and her daughter if Troy never cheated. If they never fought – if she never pretended the baby wasn't his. Where would she be now if she had forgiven him?
"If you don't love him, what's the big deal?"
"I made a promise Greg" she admitted in a whisper, looking away from his intently eyes. As she looked up again, her boyfriend's face was red with anger and she knew she had pushed him to his limit. She had said too much – something she never told anyone, not even her best friends.
Gabriella gasped, covering her mouth with her hand before thinking of how to ease the situation. Innumerous programmed lines popped on her mind, but she didn't find the strength to swim against the flow anymore. She was officially exhausted of everything, of how her life had turned out, of Greg's insecurities, tired of running from her past… and it was all because of Troy. She was angry because even after three years, he'd still fuck everything up.
You'll be mine forever, Gabriella her mind mocked her and she bit her lip harder. Troy Bolton would always rule her life, but she could try to get rid of him, she could be strong and prove her heart, mind and body wrong. She'd do it.
"Honey" she sighed softly, "let's forget about it, please. He's not important to me anymore…You are"
"Prove it to me" he challenged, "I want the tattoo. Go to your mom's shop and do it tomorrow. Do it yourself, you choose the part of your body, I don't mind. I just want the tattoo"
Mine, always mine, he haunted her again and she shuddered. It was impossible; it was like fighting against a huge wave that collapsed on her every second of her day. Damn him.
"I can't" she admitted.
"I've been trying to be comprehensible for almost two years, Gabriella. I can't do this anymore"
She looked at him shocked, but he just shook his head, "Please grab your things and get out of my house"
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.
AUGUST 18, 2008.
"Gregory is a bastard" Ryan concluded after hearing his best friend for an hour. Gabriella was still sitting on his couch, after driving all the way from Santa Fe to Albuquerque in the middle of the night. She was tired of worrying her mother with her arguments with Greg and she was exhausted of listening to the same thing everyday, so she just really grabbed her and Emmy's things and ran off.
"He is a jerk" she agreed, rubbing one hand on her face before breathing through her mouth, "but I used to live with the jerk, Ry. I can't go back to my mom's house with a baby. I am 20 now. I can't act like a teenager anymore and ask her to resolve my problems. I got responsibilities"
Emerson laid her head on her mother's chest, sucking on her light pink pacifier calmly as she watched the two grown up talk. Gabriella sighed, kissing the top of the baby's head, she observed as she wrapped around her little thumb a curl of her mother's hair to feel safe. All the love she felt for her boyfriend seemed to be disappearing as the minutes passed. Looking down at her innocent daughter, Gabriella couldn't help but think Gregory was such an immature person for kicking them out of the house as if they were dogs, not human beings.
What kind of man would do that to a 2 year old baby? A baby he used to say he considered his own daughter. Greg lived with Emmy enough to know that she needed to sleep well or she got stressed, but once again his jealousy blinded him. Every time he saw the tattoo, it was a new argument and it always ended up with Gabriella going to her mother's house for the night with a baby in her arms and him apologizing the next day. The worst thing was that she was weak, so she always forgave him. This time she was tired of it though, tired of putting her daughter in that situation. Enough was enough.
"Maybe he was tired of me and Em and used the tattoo as an excuse" Gabriella held Emmy against her body and rubbed the baby's tummy gently to sooth her, "Or he's just very insensible to do that to her"
"He'd be a dumb-ass if he was tired of you two" Ryan smiled warmly, bending down in front of her to kiss her knee, "You two are ridiculously precious" he whispered adoringly and Gabriella smiled for the first time that night. She put Emmy on the couch and gave the toddler her favorite stuffed cat, the one Ryan had given her when she was born.
"I'm sorry for showing up like this" she whispered as he stroked her leg tenderly, rolling his eyes as if he thought it was bullshit. "You two can come over anytime you want" he assured, gazing at the toddler, "She's looking so beautiful"
Gabriella followed his stare and she was unable to stop the smile that formed on her lips as she saw the tiny face of her daughter watching her. She looked so much like Troy that it would be impossible to take a look at her and deny that she was his daughter too. Her chestnut hair was exactly like his, soft and floppy and often fell on her eyes, just like her dad's. Her big green-hazel eyes had the same shape of his and every time the toddler smiled, her thin lips curled up in a Troy smile. Emerson had her mother's tiny nose, but that was all she had inherited from Gabriella. It was all Troy.
A month and a half of a perfect relationship was all it took for her to end up pregnant with Troy's baby and since then, it was like her world had flipped upside down and inside out. Ryan stood by her, more loyal than ever, even pretending to the entire population of East High School that he was the baby's father. He wanted revenge, he had told her after announcing he was the baby's father. Ryan was only trying to protect her from another broken heart and she would always be grateful at him for being there. Her mother Norah, Kelsi and Taylor, along with Ryan were the only ones that knew the truth and she planned to keep it that way.
Her last days at East High were hard though, the student body seemed to be confused about who they should support, Troy – the golden boy that cheated on the sweet Gabriella Montez – or Gabriella, who cheated as a payback the superhot basketballer Troy Bolton. Deep inside Gabriella knew Troy had the right to know about the baby, but she didn't want him participating on her life or the baby's anymore. She had succeeded very well staying away from him at school, mostly because he stopped talking to her and before the baby was born she moved out and never saw him again. Ryan, Taylor and Kelsi would always keep in touch and visit her whenever they could, but she never had the strength to come back to Albuquerque. She was afraid to take the baby there and screw everything up. Just one look at her and he'd know it. She knew it.
And the lie kept going, flying like it was a light feather. Ryan Evans would always be Emerson's father if everyone back home asked. Ironically, even though she sometimes hated Troy with all her heart for everything he put her through, she never considered abortion. Gabriella loved the baby since she started suspecting something was wrong with her body... different inside of her. Although he had cheated on her, she fell in love with him and only the thought of killing the only thing that made her still connected to him - the only physical memory of the great and short relationship they had - disgusted her. Troy never lied about marking her forever. He really did and the consequence of their acts was looking at her right now, rubbing her sleepy eyes. The best thing she could have in life. The reason she couldn't go back to Albuquerque while he was still there. Gabriella was constantly afraid he'd find out about Emerson, fall in love with the baby and steal her away from him. She couldn't bare being without her.
This time her heart was not tightened as she put her feet on Albuquerque's ground. Troy was playing for the Knicks and moved to NY. So much for someone who didn't want to play basketball professionally. Gabriella sighed, she didn't mind it anymore, her worries about Troy were long gone. She was free to walk around the city without bumping into him and that was enough. Her daughter was free of him.
"You can stay as long as you want, Gabs" Ryan smiled, scooping the baby from the couch and tickling her sides a little, "You know I love having my baby around. I was getting tired of having to split her with another dad"
Gabriella laughed, "Thanks Ry. I just need you to stay with her for a day" she stood up from the couch and collected the baby from her friend's arm. Emmy wrapped her little arms around her mom's neck and hid her face into the crook of her neck, breathing softly, "I have to talk to Kelsi. It's time to run my tattoo shop myself"
"Do you think you are ready?" Ryan asked, "What about Em?"
"She'll be with me. She always behaved very well in Santa Fe when I was inking people"
"Well, I'm glad you'll be close again" he smiled, stroking the baby's cheek, "And you baby girl, is going to a family dinner with me tomorrow"
"Sharpay won't be there right?" she grimaced and Emerson giggled quietly at her mother's expression, "I don't want my daughter near her"
"The bitch is in NY… Thank God"
"Language, Mr. Evans" Gabriella teased, "You have a baby in your house now"
"Sorry baby" he growled playfully and kissed Em's forehead.
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Ry" she bit her lip and a half-smile played on her lips, "You are the best"
"I don't know what I'd do without you two" he hugged Gabriella, brushing a tender kiss to her cheek, "I'm so fuck—ops, freaking happy you guys are here"
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.
AUGUST 19, 2008.
"Gabs!"
Gabriella grinned as her friend run to her, a huge smile playing on her lips, her stylish glasses slipped down to the edge of her nose as she moved frenetically to close the gap between her and the dark haired woman. They shared a tight hug and Kelsi's mice-like-laugh filled her ears pleasurably, "It's so good to see you here"
"It's good to be home" she admitted, kissing both cheeks of Kelsi, "You look great"
"Thank you" she winked playfully, smiling as she studied Gabriella too, "You look fabulous, Gabs. Gorgeous than ever"
She felt nostalgia filling her heart as she walked inside of her tattoo shop. The endless afternoons she spent there, working part time, observing intently her mother ink people, learning the stories behind every tattoo and the reasons that took someone to mark their bodies invaded her mind. It was like she was 17 again. She loved being there and it was, not surprisingly, the only place she felt home. Albuquerque was where she belonged and where she wanted to raise her daughter. Gabriella knew she was more than ready to run her own business, Norah had taught everything she knew to her and she was looking forward to be her own boss for the first time. The adventure was a very well known feeling for Gabriella and she loved it.
Everything seemed exactly like three years ago. The shop wasn't enormous, but large enough to accommodate two beds, a little waiting area and a small office in the back of the store. There was a single door that led to a bathroom and a stair, that would take to an apartment that Norah used to live when she had spend all her economies buying the store and Gabriella wasn't even born. The walls were still white, something her mother had chosen a while ago to make the shop look spacious.
The little waiting area had two arm chairs separated by a wooden box full of gossip magazines that were used to entertain the ones that showed their support to the people that were brave enough to deal with the blood and needles. The front counter was still the same, dark wooden with the name Skin Deep marked in gold letters. A catalogue with samples of tattoos was on the marble top, in case there were still undecided clients. A few sketches, the ones her mother did a long time ago, still decorated the reception like beautiful paintings.
God, it was awesome to be home.
"How's everything going here?" Gabriella asked, turning around to look at her tiny friend. "Very good… people are always coming and going. It's nice"
She smiled, "Yep. The shop in Santa Fe is huge, you'd faint seeing it" her eyes wandered around the small store, as if she was scanning her baby, "But I like here better… it's cozy"
Kelsi grinned, "Tay will never believe when I tell her you're back"
"She'll freak out" Gabriella laughed, running a hand through her thick hair, "God, I'm so glad I'm back"
"What about Azzy? Where's she?"
She rolled her eyes, "You are going to call her Azzy too?"
"It's cute, come on!"
"Em's with Ryan, he took her to the mall" Gabriella sat down on one of the arm chairs and looked up, "He'll stop by before going to his mom's house too. He wants Emmy to say hi"
Kelsi nodded and smiled softly, "Does she still look like him?"
"More than ever" she grimaced, "I think that's one of the reasons Greg was so pissed too"
"Men are shitbags sometimes, Gabs"
"I know. All because of a tattoo, the same old story. Can you believe it?"
The tiny brown haired girl leaned against the counter, resting her elbows on the marble top, "So, do you have any new ones?"
"Yup" Gabriella grinned and pointed to her foot to show three little butterflies floating up the side of her foot and ankle, "You like it?"
"Yeah" she narrowed her eyes, examining the tattoo. "It's beautiful, very girly. Meaning?"
"Just me, mom and Em. I tattooed it myself"
"I can't tattoo my own body. My hands shakes brusquely" Kelsi laughed, grabbing a pencil from the counter to pretend she was inking herself, but the shop's front door opened, making both of the girls to turn around. Gabriella grinned as Ryan walked inside with Emerson firmly attached to his hip. Kelsi gasped loud and the pencil fell on the floor with a soft plaft. Her small hand quickly covered her dropped open mouth as she sunk in the baby's beauty: chestnut hair, big eyes like her daddy's and a small dimple forming on her face as she smiled Troy's smile to her mother.
"Oh... My… God"
"Believe me, I know" she sighed, knowing exactly that what shocked her friend was the fact Emerson was the spitting image of Troy Bolton. Reaching for her daughter, the girl threw herself in her arms, placing a sloppy kiss to her mom's cheek, "Hey there little girl. Did you have fun?" the toddler nodded shyly and Gabriella smiled, "Did she behave, Ry?"
"Yep, like a little princess" he tickled the baby's stomach and Emerson giggled sweetly, "We had to buy her a new shirt though. The princess had a small accident with ice cream" he grimaced, pointing to her new shirt that read I LOVE MY CAT. "She chose it herself"
Gabriella laughed, "She loves cats and it's your fault. You gave her the stuffed cat, remember?" she elbowed him playfully and he grinned, finally moving his gaze from his two favorite girls in the world to Kelsi, "Hey Kelsi"
"Hi" she waved slyly, but her gaze never left Emerson, "She's gorgeous, Gabs"
"Thanks"
"Well, ladies" Ryan retrieved the toddler from Gabriella's arms again, placing her on his shoulders. Emerson giggled and tangled one hand in his blond hair that differently from every other day was not covered with a hat, the other still holding her stuffed cat to her body, "Say bye to mommy, Em"
Kelsi waved and Gabriella blew them a kiss, only to be rewarded with a wink from Ryan Evans. He was truly the best of friends and would never disappoint her.
"MOM?" Ryan pushed the door closed and put Emerson back on the floor. The girl whimpered and she quickly grabbed his hand, looking with curious eyes around the huge hall from the Evans mansion. He crouched down and stroked her cheek, "It's okay, you'll like it here sweetheart" he assured her, "My mom has a cat, don't you like cats?"
The toddler smiled shyly and nodded her little head. He grinned and stood up, but Emerson didn't show any wish to keep going further the spacious house. She raised her tiny arms and looked at him with puppy eyes and Ryan found it impossible to resist her precious face. He grabbed her in his arms, laughing, "You're just like Gabs when you do this" he kissed the side of her head and she hid herself into the crook of his neck, wrapping her hands around his neck tightly, "Don't be scared, little one. I'll protect you if necessary"
Ryan sighed tiredly as he imagined what the conversation during dinner would be like. His father only talked about work and his mother about shopping, as if there was nothing else important in the world. At least they were nice people, not like his twin sister. He still couldn't believe how she could be such a queen bitch. Sharpay was the most spoiled and selfish girl he knew and he was truly happy she was in New York City, far away from him.
He walked along the empty furnitured hall and turned left in the end of the corridor, letting his knowing mind take him to the living room where he could swear he already heard his mother's high pitched voice. Emmy's heart was beating fast against his body and he rubbed his hand up and down her back to sooth her. She was never comfortable with strange places and people. For a second he wished he'd declined his mother's invitation to dinner, but she seemed so uneasy on the phone he was obliged to be there.
Ryan stopped outside the room and breathed deeply through his mouth, preparing his fakest smile to wear for the night. "Ready?" he asked the toddler and she didn't reply, just hid her face so close to his neck he could feel the air that came out of her nose and mouth as she became anxious. "Yeah, I know how you feel. We will make it fast, alright?" he promised and passed through the door, the smile already glued to his face like having the opportunity to be there was the best thing in the world. Try the most boring thing in the world, he thought to himself, rolling his eyes. "Hey mom"
He froze as his eyes spotted the pink sparkling person sitting on the couch. Her blond hair was falling around her shoulders and midway down her breasts. The bitch was back and he already felt like sending her back to NYC. Why, oh why would his mother torture him like this? Being in the same place Sharpay was? For a second the Evans mansion seemed to be too tiny to have both of them there.
Ryan gulped as he noticed a leg beside hers, obliging him to move his gaze slightly to the side and meet the blue eyes that had haunted him so much in high school. His jaw clenched as Troy Bolton locked gaze with him and his heart accelerated. The angry gaze they shared was quickly interrupted by the queen bitch, that had a strange kind of smirk placed on her lips, "Hello brother"
He lost his words and held Emmy tighter to his body, trying to think of the best way to go back to his car and get the hell out of there before people began to suspect that the baby was not his. Before Troy could have a look at her. He knew that if Troy Bolton looked at Emmy, everything would be lost. Gabriella would kill him. She'd fucking kill him.
"Ryan!" Heather Evans exclaimed happily as she stood up from the couch, "Your sister decided to surprise us. She came all the way from NYC for the weekend. She bumped into Troy at the airport, can you believe it?" she was still looking at Troy adoringly as she continued her babble, "Of course she invited him for dinner, being as polite as she is…"
The talk seemed to go on forever and he still couldn't pronounce a word not move his body to run out of the room. Thank God Gabriella's daughter was shy and kept her face securely hidden into his neck all the time. Heather turned around and her short blond hair swung as she tilted her head to the side, a large smile adorning her botox looking face, "And you brought Emerson! That's great!"
At the sound of her name, Emerson turned around and stared at the woman that called for her with curious eyes. Ryan cussed under his breath at the same time his mother grinned, "Oh my God… she is so beautiful"
Ryan saw it. He saw the look on Troy's face – the way his lips paled and his eyes widened. He saw as he stood up from the couch, as if in slow motion, attracting the eyes of Robert and Sharpay Evans to him. Ryan saw as Troy swallowed and his hands balled into fists as he stared at the girl intently.
He shut his eyes, shaking his head slightly as the baby turned around to hide again and wrapped her arms around his neck, whimpering. Automatically his hand began to rub her back up and down, as he fought with the urge to storm out of the room and never come back. Sharpay seemed to be unaffected; the spoiled woman only paid attention to her own world. His mother and dad were oblivious as well; both of them didn't seem to feel the tension that filled the air, nor the way Ryan and Troy shared a killing gaze. They didn't seem to feel that the world war III was one step to start.
Shit. Ryan Evans was oficially in trouble. Gabriella was fucking going to kill him. Why, just why couldn't he be lucky for one night? Damn it!
"Because I can't breathe,
No I can't sleep,
I'm barely hanging on."