Thanks for all the reviews. I love them.
Here it is!
Review more please, it makes me happy!
Still 26 Weeks Along
Named You Could Be Happy by Snow Patrol because I just feel like it relates.
We went to Troy's childhood house after, but we couldn't do much but look it because people live there. We walked around the neighborhood once. I could see him living there. It was white, with black shudders, and a white front porch. There was a big pool outback, with a swing set, and jungle gym (the last one was new, Troy said, and the pool was bigger than he remembered). It was smaller than our house, but he was an only child, we're having five, we need more room. Seeing the house made Troy say he wants a pool, but I told him we'll think about it after the babies are born, like way after. Taking care of two newborns will be enough craziness for a while, we can get into construction after everything winds down.
We didn't talk about Jack. I'm sure we will later, maybe before we go to bed tonight, in bed, or tomorrow in the long car ride. I don't want to ruin this trip by bugging him about talking. I had my worries, though. What he was thinking about? If Jack saw us. If he cared, how much Troy cares. I left it to myself, we'll talk about it later.
When we got home (to our parent's house) after, we got sent grocery shopping so my dad could make the Mexican dinner he promised. Well, Troy's the one who got sent to the store, but I came along against the protests that he could do it himself, and I should stay off my feet. I'm pregnant, not terminal, and I may be getting back into that stage of my pregnancy that I'm more tired, but I can do things. I don't want to be a homebody, it's the reason we came here in the first place. With that, I marched out of the house, pulling my husband behind me.
"But, Troy," I whined, walking along side him with my signature pout on that gets me things I want. "I need this," I assured him.
He grinned with a shake of his head as we made our way towards the spices so we can get the ones my dad needs. "You don't need Swedish Fish, you just want it," he corrected. I frowned more. "I said you could have it, Brie, I wouldn't refuse you food, especially while you're pregnant," he reminded me.
I crossed my arms when we stopped so he could search for the spices on the list. "I know you said I could, but you gave me that Troy Bolton disapproving look," I stated.
He pocketed the list, wrapping his arms around me to pull me to him. "I didn't know I have a disapproving look, so I don't know if I gave it to you. You can have them, Brie, I don't care," he insisted lowly before kissing me.
The third trimester is fun in this way, I'm a little... more willing than I was in the first two trimesters. The first trimester we hadn't had sex because all I was doing was throwing up, eating, throwing up, sleeping, working, eating, some what in that order. The second trimester we did, but not as much as usual because I just wasn't in the mood, and half of that trimester, I thought I was disgusting. Now, in my third trimester, although it practically just started, we've had sex more than usual lately. I'm sure as I get bigger, and closer to my due date, it will go one way or the other. I'll either want more, or want none at all because I'll be getting bigger and bigger by the week.
Troy pulled away almost five minutes later. "Brie, we can't do this in a grocery store," he muttered, making me remember where we are.
I whined again. "Then, let's leave the grocery store," I replied, kissing him.
He ripped his lips away only a few moments after. So unfair. "We're almost done, we only need two more things, both things are in this aisle," he informed me. I let him go to grab the things while I waited by the cart. "Now, I'm sure you'll be getting hungry before dinner is done, what do you want as a snack?" he asked.
I smiled widely, tugging on his shirt. He rolled his eyes, but smiled, and shook his head. "Come on! It's true!" I said.
"Something edible. Wait," he stopped after I smiled wider. "You're in school too much, you're acting a like a teenage boy. Now, will you please just pick something because I'm not going to want to go get something in an hour," he pleaded.
I sighed. "Fine, fine," I grumbled, thinking about what I wanted, and it immediately came to me. "Do you remember that really good dip that Zeke made when we were at their apartment a few weeks ago?" I questioned.
"Ah," Troy started. "I remember that you ate it all," he offered.
"I want that," I told him. "I remember what was in it, though, so all we have to do is get the ingredients," I added proudly. I sent Troy out for the tostitos, and kind of canned chili was needed, while I went for the Velveeta cheese that was to be melted it it. We were going to meet up by the registers.
I got a little lost before finally finding the cheeses, sour creams, and butters area where the cheese would be located. I was debating between sizes when I felt a tap on my shoulder, making me turn. My eyes went a little wide, and I dropped my cheese.
"I'm sorry," Tiffany apologized, picking it up for me, probably because I'm pregnant.
I took of back from her when she offered it. "No problem," I breathed, in shock that this is my step mother-in-law or something like that. Does she know who I am? What if she does? Do I tell her Troy is here?
She smiled warmly at me, Jackie in her cart. He was playing with a toy basketball, what a surprise. She was tall-ish, blond, slim, and I could tell why Jack got her pregnant. She even looked nice. What tall, blond, slim girls look nice? Well, there is Shar, but she isn't that nice. "This probably seems... odd, but have I met you before?" she questioned me. "You look.. familiar," she told me. That God she doesn't know me. Whew. Why would I look familiar, though? It's not like I am Jack's favorite person. He didn't like me at all.
I cleared my throat. "I, uh, don't think so," I answered oh-so-eloquently. "You look familiar, too," I partly lied. I was a little stunned by how much Jackie looked like Troy. I always thought Troy looked more like his mom, but he is definitely fifty, fifty. Jackie, who is about nine or ten months old now, has blue eyes, and Troy's cheekbones, along with the same jaw. Troy got his nose, lips, and hair from his mom.
"Did you go to college around here?" she wondered, not noticing that I was stuck on Jackie's face. "I probably saw you around campus if you did."
I shook my head. "No, sorry. I went to Stanford in California," I corrected. "I'm actually only visiting for the weekend," I admitted to her.
Tiffany nodded. "I'm Tiffany," she introduced herself. "And, this is my son, Jackie," she added.
Jackie looked up, hearing his name, and smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back. Troy's smile. "I'm Gabriella," I responded, happy she didn't say her last name so I didn't have to.
"How far along are you?" she wondered, gesturing to my stomach.
I rubbed it gently for a second. "A little over six and a half months," I answered. "With twins," I finished quickly.
"With twins? Wow, you still have a while to go," she commented. "You look phenomenal, though, you're really glowing," she complimented.
I smiled at her. "Thank you," I replied. "I'm sorry for cutting this short, but my husband is waiting for me, and this cheese," I said, holding it up.
"Oh, it's fine. I just wish I could place you, you look so familiar," she repeated.
"Maybe I just remind you of someone," I offered, backing away. "Good luck with your own little one, he looks like a heart breaker," I mentioned with a smile towards him. He smiled back like his older brother. Whether he is like Troy or not, he'll be a heart breaker because you can tell how good looking he'll be, also like Troy. A lot of girls liked Troy that he never knew about because he never saw another girl like that after me. (I know, I'm awesome, right?) Jackie is just adorable now.
She ran a soft hand over his head. "Just like this father," she agreed. You can say that again, I just don't think that is a good thing. Jack isn't the nicest of guys, but I feel wrong judging him when I only met him twice, neither times were good meetings. He called me Gisele the second time I met him.
I made my way up to the registers where Troy already was, looking bored. "I told you you'd get lost, are you okay?" he asked, tossing the cheese into the cart.
I nodded. "I'm fine, and I didn't get lost," I said. "Kinda. I ran into Tiffany," I confessed as we got into line.
"Wait," he cut me off before I could go on."My step mom, Tiffany?" he questioned.
"Yeah," I confirmed. "She said I looked familiar, but couldn't place me. Why would I be familiar, Troy?" I wondered, looping an arm through his that was tucked into his pocket.
He shrugged. "I don't know, but I don't want to stay to find out," he answered.
We went through line and left the store without seeing her, something we were both happy about. As soon as we got into the car, Troy's hand slid onto my thigh. "Brie," he said to get my attention.
"Yeah, babe?" I asked, my hand moving on top of his.
He just leaned over and kissed me. "Thanks," he mumbled against my lips, then kissed me again.
"For what?" I questioned as he settled back into his seat.
He took in a deep breath. "I don't know, for bringing me up here to see my mom, and your dad, and making me take you around town so I can remember things I've forgotten. For letting me hang out with old friends, and for not pushing my dad on me," he said.
"Baby, I wanted to see where you grew up, and we will be talking about your dad," I assured him. "Just, not yet," I added. "More when you a ready," I explained.
"Still," he breathed, starting the car. "Thanks."
When we got back to the house, a couple of our parent's friends were over, so we had to deal with that. Not as much deal with it, but more get through it. It was almost three hours of 'look how big you are' and 'you're small for a woman carrying twins' and 'can we please know their names' and my personal favorite (not) 'can I touch your stomach?' I was gracious, though, and let them. Just because I am pregnant does not make me some magic 8 ball that everyone gets to rub for good luck or something. The only person I do not mind touching my stomach is Troy, and even that has it's limits when I am in a bad mood. Well, I've let Lucy and my dad because we haven't seen them, and that is understandable, it's their grandchildren. The only good thing about it is that I got to eat my dip through it.
After they left, I was full, annoyed, and a little sleepy. Troy was pretty much asking for me to sleep on him when he sat down with me in the arm chair, so I did. I had a weird dream about babies, but they were 'little people' size, you know, like midgets, but that is not a nice name for them. Anyways, they were that size, and chasing me down a yellow brick road, while I ran after Mickey who kept running away from the mean witch, who was one of Lucy's friends. When I woke up, a little baby had tackled me to the ground.
Lucy, my dad, and Troy were all in the room, staring at me with funny faces, but I ignored them. I was on my side, laying on Troy still. "Hi," I mumbled, snuggling into Troy some more.
"Hey," he greeted back, running a hand through my hair. "I probably shouldn't have put on the Wizard of Oz, huh?" he questioned.
I was confused until I remembered my dream, then saw that the Wizard of Oz was indeed on the t.v. "Oh, no wonder why midgets were attacking," I muttered. When I said that alone, our parent's erupted in laughter. Oh. I talk in my sleep now, I forgot. "What did I say?" I asked him, tilting my head up at Troy, who wasn't laughing.
"Just a bunch of words, and Mickey's," he told me, pulling me closer. "You were only asleep for forty five minutes," he informed me. "Dad was going to start dinner, but we all started listening to you dream," he added. "I have to pee, though, so can you," he left it open, obvious what he wanted.
I moved off of him, letting him get up to run to the bathroom. Lucy left the room, unable to stop her laughter, but my dad stayed, and came over to sit down next to me, he sat on the arm of the chair. "Was I really that entertaining?" I asked him, pulling on the blanket someone had placed over me.
"Yep," he assured me, looking down at me. "We haven't really had any alone time yet to talk, hija," he sated the obvious.
"I know," I replied. "You have anything important you want to tell me?" I questioned.
He thought about it for a second. "No, I don't think so," he answered. "Anything you want to tell me?" he wondered.
I tilted as my head as I thought about it myself. "Baby kicks hurt," I informed him.
He chuckled. "I've heard that," he commented.
I nodded. "They mostly happen around Troy," I explained. "I dunno, coincidence, or do they know their dad is near?" I asked as if he would know the answer.
"They know his voice," my dad reminded me. "So, it's possible," he mentioned. "I want to feel one of those before you leave," he added.
I saluted. "I'll try to get a good one for ya," I joked.
"Is it bad when you pee for, like, five minutes straight?" Troy questioned, coming back into the room.
My dad and I laughed. "I hope you washed your hands," he dad said.
"Ha ha," Troy mumbled, sitting down on the ottoman that my feet were on. "Yes, I did," he answered anyways.
"I pee a lot," I spoke up as Troy's hand came to rest on my leg. "But, I'm allowed, you're just weird," I teased, sticking my tongue out at him.
"The cause could be you falling asleep on me for almost an hour when I had to pee before you even fell asleep," he replied.
My dad stood. "I'm going to go start dinner," he stated.
"Yummy," I muttered as he walked away. When he left, Troy settled back into his spot. I turned to cuddle back into him. I still am in love with his smell. I've always liked it, but I seem to crave it during this pregnancy.
"You still tired?" he wondered, his arms wrapping around me.
I shook my head. "No, I just want to cuddle," I said against his chest.
He pulled the blanket over him, too, and kissed my temple. "I love you," he mumbled against my temple before kissing it again.
"I love you, too," I repeated to him, tilting my head up to kiss him. "Are you happy?" I asked him after we kissed.
He pulled me closer. "What kind of question is that?" he responded, looking at me funny.
"I don't know, it's a question I felt like asking you at the moment out of no where," I told him honestly.
"Well, the answer is yes, which you should know," he assured me. "I'm married to the woman of my dreams, I'm expecting two babies in two and a half months, two babies that are perfectly healthy, and I have a great life," he explained. "Why wouldn't I be happy?" he questioned me.
I shrugged a little, getting up on my elbow a little so I could look into his eyes better. "I don't know," I mumbled, running a finger down his cheek. "Your dad, seeing him for the first time in what? Almost four years?" I guessed. "With your new little brother who looks a lot like you," I added.
Troy let out a breath. "Just because I saw my dad doesn't mean I'm not happy," he insisted. "I'm always going to have issues with him, I know that, I accept that. If he walked up to the door right now with some weird apology for being an ass for the last decade of my life, I don't know what I would say," he told me. "I'll always have mixed feelings there, but just because I saw him doesn't mean I'm not happy," he reiterated. "Are you happy?" he wondered.
"Uh-huh," I answered. "But would you mind taking over for these last months with the pregnancy and all?" I joked. Troy chuckled. "I'm serious, childbirth is really starting to make me nervous," I confessed.
Troy kissed me again. "Women have been doing it since the beginning of time, you'll be fine," he told me.
I buried my nose into his shoulder so I could smell him easier. "That's easy for you to say, two babies won't be coming out of you. I get the whole I'm going to be dilating to ten centimeters thing, I just still can't comprehend that two babies will be coming out of there. Do you realize how much that will hurt?" I questioned. "It's scary."
"Baby, I'll be right there next to you," he reminded me, a hand moving through my hair soothingly. "You can yell and scream at me, and pull hair, whatever you need to get through it," he insisted. We talked about doing a c-section, but I decided against it because it takes so much more time to recover from it rather than just vaginal birth. We'll be having two babies right after, I won't have time to recover.
"I know," I mumbled, taking in one last whiff before pulling away. "But, I just-" I stopped. "I'm scared, and nervous, and excited all at once for it to happen," I admitted.
His lips brushed against my forehead. "I know no matter what I say, you'll still be all those things, but just know, I'm here, I'll be there, nothing is keeping me from you," he assured me with a slight smile.
"I know," I said with a nod. "Jackie has your smile, you know," I informed him.
Troy's had slid up my back, then tugged me down to his chest so I wasn't up on my elbow anymore. "Yeah?" he asked. I let out a 'mm-hm' to answer. "How else is he like me?" he questioned.
"You really want to know?" I asked.
"Jackie isn't Jack, I don't have problems with him," he reminded me. "I'd actually like to get to know him if I ever had the chance," he commented.
"Well," I started, then went on for about five minutes on how him and Jackie are alike. "I hope the babies get your eyes," I finished with, resting my head on his shoulder, in the crook of his neck.
I felt him shake his head. "I want at least one of the twins to have yours," he stated.
"Well, they are in me, so I get the chance to will them to have your eyes. So, ha!" I replied.
He shook his head again. "So stubborn," he mentioned.
"My stubbornness is going to win this time. Wanna make a bet?" I wondered.
Troy shrugged a little. "Sure, what about?" he asked.
"I bet you that both of the babies will have your eyes, and if I am right, I get," I stopped to think about it. "You have to change more diapers than I do, at least for a while," I said. "You in?"
"I'm confident that your genes are dominant since you're the one carrying them," he replied. I don't think it works that way, but I'm not about to say anything. Besides, I have mother's intuition. "Deal," he settled.
"Troy, what are we going to do when the babies are born?" I asked him, sitting up all together because laying down wasn't comfortable anymore.
Troy left the seat reclined. "Be parents," he answered, a hand on the underside of my belly.
I shook my head, running a hand through my hair. "I mean about your dad," I explained. "Should he know? Do we tell him? Does Lucy? What about-"
"What is with all the dad questions?" he wondered, sitting up, making the chair straighten.
I shrugged. "I don't know, they'll be here in two and a half months, Troy, probably a little sooner," I reminded him. "I just-" I stopped. "I think we need to figure it out," I stated. I guess we won't be holding this off much longer. Oops.
"Two and a half months is a long time," he replied.
"No, it's not," I disagreed. "Do you realize what we have to do?" I asked him. "We need to finish painting the nursery, we have to finish the nursery in general, my family is planning the baby shower, which is soon, we have to make sure we have everything ready, I'm getting bigger by the day, literally," I listed off. "We don't have that much time anymore. Next thing you know school will be ending, my water will be breaking, and these babies will be here," I went on. "We can't hold anything off anymore. We just named them, it makes it seem that much sooner that they'll be here."
Troy situated my legs in his lap, then pulled me a little closer. He kissed my cheek. "I know," he mumbled.
"And, I know how bad it is with you and your dad, and telling him or not is your decision, I just think you need to make one soon," I finished.
"I will," he assured me. "I just don't know the answer yet, but I will," he repeated. "I don't know if I want him in my children's life after what he went through with me," he told me.
I kissed him softly on the lips. "It's your choice," I whispered, running a soothing hand through his hair. "He's your dad, you know what you went through, but you should know that whatever you went through with him, you won't let him do it to our kids," I said softly.
Troy's eyes weren't on mine, they were on my stomach as my hand repeatedly tangled into his hair. "I don't even know if he'll care," he mentioned. "We haven't wanted to see each other in years, I invited him to my wedding, and he was an ass, how do we know he'll care if his grandchildren are born?" he asked me. "Anyways, he has Jackie now-"
"That doesn't make him a replacement for you," I interrupted. "You two are different, you have two different mothers, two different-"
"You just told me how alike we are," Troy reminded me.
"In the way you look," I carried on. "He's not even a year old, you two are different," I said again.
"Exactly," he cut in. "We're different, I'm the way I am, I am more like my mom than him, if Jackie is more like him, then it'll be everything he's always wanted," he told me.
I leaned my forehead against his. "I think the fact that you aren't everything he's always wanted it a good thing," I whispered, looking directly into his eyes.
"Gabi!" my dad called from the kitchen. "I need you to taste something!" he told me.
Troy was already helping me up before I could answer my father. "Go ahead, you gotta pregnant-approve whatever the hell he is making," he said. "We'll finish this later," he added.
"Are you sure?" I asked, cupping his face in my hands.
His hands slid up the back of my thighs, and kissed me. "Yeah, we have plenty of time. Isn't this weekend supposed to be about fun, not all this serious talk anyways?" he wondered.
I kissed him again. "I'll be back," I mumbled before going into the kitchen. "What are you looking at?" I asked Troy hours later as we got ready for bed. The rest of the night was filled with food, and family videos of Troy when he was little that Lucy just found. They were adorable, he was adorable. We played a family game, too. It was nice spending time with my dad and Lucy. After that, Troy took me on a walk about the block for a moonlight stroll, it was sweet. When we came back, we ate some dessert, watch a little t.v., and now we're getting ready for bed.
I was standing in front of the mirror wearing booty shorts and one of Troy's t-shirts. He was standing in the door jam of the bathroom wearing boxers and a wife beater. "You," he answered, his arms crossed over his chest.
My shirt had been raised so I could inspect my belly, plus rub my special anti-stretch mark cream on it. "You have the next two and a half months to watch me do this," I reminded him, wiping off my hands once I was done, then just went on to see how big I was. I'm pretty big, like usual. I like it, though, it's interesting to know that in less than three months this big belly will be gone, and two babies will be here.
"That's not exactly what I am staring at," he informed me, pushing off the door jam to come stand behind me in the mirror. "First of all, you're carrying my kids, that's a turn on in itself. Second of all, you're glowing, which is sexy. Third of all, you're wearing my shirt. You know I like that," he said against my hair. He put all my hair together in a bundle, then sent it over the shoulder that he wasn't occupying.
When his lips touched my neck, I giggled, and my hand tangled into his hair. "Troy, we're supposed to be ta-alking," I stuttered with a smile.
"You are talking," he murmured against my skin, sending a shiver through me. "You can continue if you want," he mumbled, then went back to kissing my neck.
I turned around, surprising him, then went on to push on his chest until he fell back on the bed so I could straddle him. "Heh, we haven't done this in a while," I commented, making Troy grin. "Troy, I really think we should talk," I stated.
He sat up, his arms wrapping around me. One hand of his swept up my back, under my hair, and his fingers were at the base of my neck, holding me still. "Brie, we have an eight hour car ride tomorrow, we'll have plenty of time to talk then," he insisted. "So now, we should do this," he suggested, his head dipping to my neck where his lips immediately latched on.
I held back a moan. "You always win," I whined, falling into him.
The next day, we woke up, and went out to breakfast with our parents. It took an hour, but the babies finally kicked for them to feel, too. We packed everything up into the car around one so we could get on the road. We said goodbye to our parents, which made me cry (I blame the hormones). Mom reminded me that we would be seeing each other soon, for the baby shower she is coming down for that my dad can't because of a business trip. Then my dad told me he'd be seeing us soon enough, the babies are coming soon.
"What do you want?" Troy asked as we pulled into a gas station before getting on the highway.
I shrugged. "Just grab those sour cream and cheese chips, plus some pink lemonade, oh, and that Hershey's cookie and cream bar," I started. "Plus, some combos, the pretzel ones with the cheese," I added. "Should I come in with you? You need to get all that for me, get gas, along with stuff for you-"
Troy shook his head. "I'll be fine, don't worry," he placated me. "Just call Sharpay and tell her we're on our way back, or about to be anyways," he instructed before getting out of the car. He put gas in the car as I called Sharpay, who stated that Minnie was a menace (something Troy said a long time ago), and Mickey chewed up a pair of shoes. Holding back laughs I insisted I would pay for them. She said I didn't have to, she was just going to steal a pair of mine. She also mentioned that Junior was now begging for an animal, preferably a bunny. He keeps repeating bunny over and over in his baby speak.
"You are so lucky you are carrying my future daughter-in-law,"Sharpay warned me.
I rolled my eyes. She is still hung up on Carmin and Junior getting married. If it happens, nice, if it doesn't, I don't care as long as they are happy. "Whatever you say, Shar," I replied. "I'll call you when we are almost home so you can know when to bring Minnie and Mickey back," I informed her.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm happy to give them back," she responded. "Zeke Andre Baylor!" she shouted right before we hung up. "Is that a bunny in your hands?" There was a pause. "What do you mean he's ours? I don't want that thing!" I started laughing. "You named him Bugs?! What kind of name is that? Yes, I know who Bugs Bunny is, but I can't believe you named a rabbit after a cartoon!" she went on. "Oh, if Troy jumped of a bridge, would you, too?"Troy did name the dog Mickey. Minnie's real name is Minerva, after McGonagall from Harry Potter, I didn't name my animal after a cartoon. "I gotta go G, I have to kick my fiance's ass."
I let out a laugh. "He isn't your fiance," I reminded her. "Yet," I muttered because she already hung up.
I tossed my phone into the console as a black truck pulled up in front of outs. My eyes went wide as I saw Jack get out of it. Is he everywhere, or is it just me? I wanted to do something to warn Troy some how, but before I could do anything, Jack was already on his way up to the gas station. He went in, but I couldn't see after that because there was a glare on the glass. Damn the sun! I reached for my phone to text him when he came out of the store, a bag in his hands.
He looked... normal. Did he not just see his father? Was that guy just a look alike? Troy got into the car, putting the bag down between us, and started the car. "Am I crazy?" I questioned him.
He glanced over at me, slipping his Aviators on. "No," he answered, the began backing away from the pumps.
"That was your dad then?" I asked.
He nodded, turning the steering wheel. "Yep," he assured me.
"What happened?" I wondered, thoroughly confused. Something should have went down, right?
Troy shrugged, pressing on the gas to bring us out of the gas station all together. "We walked by each other," he told me. That's it? No hello, no how are you? No you are my son? What a jackass! "I was wrong," he stated after a moment as he drove.
"About what?" I asked.
"If he had come up to our parent's house yesterday with some long ass apology about him being a dick since I was thirteen, I know what I would have said," he responded. "I would have told him to fuck off," he informed me, then went into silence.
I reached for his hand that was laying limply in his lap. I intertwined it with mine, and pulled it into my lap. It made him peer over at me for a second. "If that is the way you feel, okay," I replied. "You don't have to be ashamed that you do," I added.
Troy nodded, squeezing my hand. "I know, I'm not," he agreed, letting out a breath. "I'm not going to tell him when the twins are born," he carried on. I nodded a little, massaging his hand. "I'll tell my mom she can tell him if she runs into him if she wants to, or Tiffany, but I'm not going to. I can never completely forgive him for trying to make me exactly like him, for trying to make me believe that I'm better than everyone else because I can play basketball well. I can't forgive for not coming to my wedding when I called and asked him," he continued. "Even if he does know about my kids, I'm not sure if I want him in their lives if he wanted to be."
I bit my lip with a nod. "It's your choice," I reminded him.
"I did learn something from my dad," he mentioned. "What not to do," he stated.
I lifted his hand up to my lips, then kissed it. "Are you okay?" I asked as our hands dropped back down into my lap.
He nodded slowly at first, then more firmly. "I think so," he said honestly. "I'm not going to let him get to me about this," he told me. "This is my decision about my children, I want it this way," he commented. "I have reasoning behind it, he may get to me in other aspects in my life, but not with my family," he told me. "He doesn't have that honor."
"As long as you're okay, I'm okay," I replied, rubbing his hand still.
"I am," he reassured me.
The radio played alone for the next few minutes. "Zeke got Junior a bunny," I spoke up, opening the bag of chips.
Troy laughed a little. "Yeah?" he asked.
I nodded. "Mm-hm, apparently it's all he kept saying with Mickey and Minnie there this weekend. Zeke got him one and named it Bugs," I informed him.
He laughed again. "Nice choice," he commented. I like his laugh.
"I thought you'd think so."
When we got home, Mickey and Minnie were both there. Sharpay and Zeke were fighting about that bunny, so they just dropped them off, but made sure there was food in their bowls, and they wouldn't have to go potty for a while. Mickey was so excited to see us. "Hey, I'm going to go bring these bags down to the basement for when we put the clothes in the washer tomorrow," Troy said as I was greeting Mickey.
I nodded. "Okay," I replied, laughing when Mickey licked my face. "You missed me, didn't you, buddy?" I asked him, dodging his licks. "I know you chewed a pair of Sharpay's shoes, but if you chew mine, we'll have issues," I informed him. "Hey, did she steal a pair of my shoes when she was here?" I asked him another questioned, but all he did was wag his tail. "Dogs," I mumbled with a roll of my eyes.
I stood up with the help of Mickey, then straightened my shirt out. It was then that Troy was coming back up. "I'm tired, are you tired?" he questioned, petting Mickey when he ran to him.
I nodded again, my eyes droopy. I didn't sleep in the car all day because I wanted to keep Troy company. We spent the time talking about the nursery, my baby shower, school, the firehouse, a little of everything. "I didn't have a nap today," I reminded him.
Troy kissing the corner of my mouth, then layed his hands on my sides, holding me against him. "Alright, I'll let Mickey out, make sure everything is off and locked, you go upstairs, and get ready for bed," he suggested.
"I want a shower first," I muttered, gripping onto his shirt. "So, how about you do all that husband-y stuff, then meet me in the shower?" I said.
He smiled softly. "Are you sre you're up for that?" he asked.
"Just because we're showering together doesn't mean we have to make love," I reminded him. "We didn't do it every time we showered together before I got pregnant, you know," I muttered in an annoyed tone, but I wasn't really annoyed. Pregnancy, man, it can be a bitch with moods.
Troy's hands slid to my back. "I know," he responded. "I also know your mood lately, so I was just wondering," he informed me with a smile.
I smilled back, then kissed him gently. "I know. I just want to shower," I said the obvious.
"Sounds good," he agreed, kissing me again. "Do you think we'll shower together when we get older, even when we have a house full of kids?" he asked out of the blue.
I nodded. "Hell yeah," I assured him. "It's one of our things," I stated.
He chuckled with a kiss to my nose. "Good."
- (Little less than a week later.. 27 Weeks Along)
My mom didn't take too well to Troy and I not telling anyone the names of the babies. In fact, she sat us down to scold us. She said it was an insult we thought no one should know, and that if I didn't tell her the names right then, we would be in big trouble. We didn't say anything in return. I know my mother, I know her, in many ways I am her. When we tell her the names one of two things will go down. She'll absolutely love them, then gush to all our relatives and her friends the babies names. If she doesn't, she'll spend the remainder of my pregnancy trying to convince me to change the names with her suggestions. She'll like Carmin, probably not the spelling, but she'd deal. I'm not sure about Tristin, a name which I really love now that we have chosen it.
In my family living class, I was thinking about this. I gave my class a project due Monday, today being Thursday, and I gave it to them yesterday. I am giving them two days to work on it, so they better all finish it. Dylan already bombarded me in an attack with a string to measure my stomach as he has done every two weeks since they found out I am pregnant. I did not get that big in two weeks, I refuse to believe it.
I was thinking of these things while looking worriedly at my little brother every few minutes only to see him doing the exact same thing he was doing the last time I glanced. He's sitting in the front row, practically sleeping, while Kailee, his partner for the project, was doing most the work. It was beginning to get annoying, but AJ does not look like AJ. He looks worn down, sad, on edge, and Dylan and him aren't talking. Once in a while he'll reply to whatever Kailee is saying, other than that, his head is on his desk with his eyes closed. Or, his phone is open and he is texting.
Once the bell rang, he groggily stood, throwing his book bag over his shoulder. "AJ, hang back," I ordered before he could go anywhere. He sighed, sitting on top of his desk so kids could get around him. I noticed how Dylan passed him without a word, that was unlike Dylan. I walked around my own desk, then leaned back on it in front of him. "Hey," I greeted, crossing my arms.
He gave me a nod. "Are you going to get much bigger than that?" he wondered, looking from my stomach to me.
"Yep," I answered. "A lot bigger. What's up with you?" I asked him.
He rubbed his eyes. "Nothing, Gabi, I'm just tired," he assured me. "I know I shouldn't have slept in class, but I already finished my half at home, Mom made me," he informed me. "She won't get off my back about keeping my grades up even though I have the scholarship to U of A," he stated.
"You do have to keep your grades up, Age. If you don't, they'll retract it," I replied. "That's all? You're tired?" I questioned.
"Yes, Gabi," he responded.
I nodded slowly for a moment. "Then, why didn't Dylan talk to you all period? You look more than tired, AJ. I've seen you in the hallway, today. You're snapping at your friends, you and Dylan aren't talking, you're tired, this is more than just Mom on your back about grades and a little lack of sleep," I went on.
"Gabriella, I'm fine," he said instantly. "I'm a senior, everything is just catching up to me. Me and Dylan aren't talking because he wants to date Mandy, and I don't know how I feel about it. She was my first, you know? He told her I said no about him dating her, so now she is starting rumors, and fighting with Tricia. I just don't need it," he told me.
Sounds like regular high school drama to me. "Okay," I breathed. "You know if you need me or Troy, we're here," I informed him.
"I know," he replied. "I'm gonna go to lunch, try to wake up a little," he mumbled.
I nodded as he made his way out of my room. "AJ," I stopped him. He turned to me. "Was Tricia even in school today?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "Nope, just more I have to deal with," he answered. I felt like there was something behind it, but didn't say anything. As I went behind my desk to start eating my own lunch, AJ popped his head back into my room. "Gab," he said to get my attention. "Thanks for caring."
Before I could say anything, he left, but it made me smile. The rest of the day was boring, my English classes had a test, so I just graded papers. After school, as I was getting ready to go home, excited to leave. As I was walking out my door, I noticed AJ walking down the hall towards me. It was odd because AJ takes the bus home, or rather, Tricia. But, she wasn't here, and the buses are gone.
I locked my door and met him in the middle of the hall. He immediately reached for what I was holding. So gentlemen-y. "Can you take me home?" he questioned, looking worse than he did in class. "To your house. Take me to your house," he requested.
We went on down the hall. "Sure, but shouldn't you be going home to your house?" I asked. "You just said earlier than Mami is all over your back-"
"Mom won't care, I'm with you. I'll tell her you're helping with homework or something," he assured me. "Please, Gabi, you said if I needed you, you would be there. Be there, okay?" he pleaded.
I bit my lip, worried. "Of course, Age, come on," I urged, unlocking my car. "Troy won't be home for half an hour or so," I informed my little brother as we walked into my home. "He had a twelve hour shift," I stated as AJ put my things down on the table.
"I wanted to talk to you first, actually," AJ told me, grabbing my hand, then pulled me to the living room. "I need to tell you something, but I think you should be sitting down. I wish I had been sitting down," he mumbled the last sentence as an afterthought.
I sat down on the couch, pulled off my black boots, and got comfortable. "AJ, tell me what is up with you," I ordered, sighing. I'm sick of this wondering thing. I knew something was up earlier, but he said he was fine, I figured he'd need help sooner or later, but I didn't exactly think it would be three hours later. I also thought it would be Troy he would go to being a guy, or another brother, not his pregnant, over-emotional, older sister.
AJ nodded. "Fine, but you can't cry, or put the babies in some kind of harms way, or anything like that," he stated. "You have to promise."
"My babies are fine, but you wouldn't be in about a minute if you don't spit something out," I replied. He gave me a look on his pained voice. "I promise," I breathed for his amusement or whatever.
He cleared his throat, unable to hold it in any longer. "Tricia is pregnant," he confessed.
Cliffy, kinda. You should know I left it like that with Jack for a reason, he'll be around again later. Someone asked if Gabi's miscarriage in high school was going to come out. What do you think?
I like most of this one.
Review please.
-- Kayleigh