Chapter Seven - Aftermath
Gabriella's Point of View
The storm was only getting worse and I still didn't hear from my mother. Troy kept telling me that everything was fine and she probably got stuck in the rain. Even with Troy's calm and smooth voice it was still hard not to worry. Troy had heard from his mom. Most of the roads were closed off because of flooding and she wasn't able to get through. My mom did work all over the city and there was no telling which office she was at right now. I tried calling her main office. They said that she had left over half an hour ago.
I continued to try her cell phone, but like before there was no answer. Troy sat across from me on the other sofa in the sitting room, watching me worry and call different numbers. When I got her voice mail again I closed my phone and threw it away from me. Troy got up and went to pick it up off the ground. He came and sat next to me. I put my head in my hands. Why was I so worried anyways? She was probably in some cheap restaurant waiting for the roads to be opened again.
"It's going to be alright, Brie." Troy said, putting an arm around my waist and pulling me into his chest.
Usually I would object to this, but Troy's arms were so large and warm that it was almost impossible to pull away from them. I wrapped my arms around his neck and hide my face in his neck. I probably looked terrible right now. I was tired and worn out and all I wanted to do was fall asleep. Then again, falling asleep in Troy's arms wouldn't be so bad, would it? I smiled to myself. Taking in Troy's scent.
What are you doing, Gabriella? I thought to myself. If I got too comfortable something more might happen. I wasn't ready for anything more to happen. Troy probably wasn't ready for anything more. I froze how I was. Troy, keeping his arms around me, pulled away to look at me.
"Is everything alright?" He asked. I stared up into his beautiful blue eyes and nodded slowly. I unwrapped my arms from his neck and struggled in his until he let go. I got to my feet and went to the window. I could hear Troy coming up behind me. I didn't turn around. I didn't breath. I didn't think about him. I didn't do anything. I couldn't. I wasn't ready and neither was Troy.
My phone started ringing. I couldn't move my feet to go get it. I wasn't worried about my mom anymore. I knew she was strong enough to handle a little storm like this, it was probably just my cell phone company anyways. I listened as Troy ran to get it. I let out a big breath and held my eyes closed. The only thing that I didn't want to think about was Troy. Yet everytime I close my eyes, it's his face that I see. It's his scent that I smell. It's his arms that I want wrapped around me.
"Brie?" Troy said from behind me. "Gabriella, it's your mom." I opened my eyes slowly and turned to take my phone from Troy.
"Mom?" I breathed.
"Gab's?" She said, almost confused. "Who answered your phone?" She asked. I looked up to Troy. He was walking into the kitchen.
"It was Troy, a boy that I volunteer with." I said.
"Oh," My mom said, almost surprised. "Are you still at the shelter?"
"No," I said, hearing the phone ring in the kitchen. "Troy's mom drove me to their home, she didn't want me to stay home alone."
"Oh, that was nice of her." I nodded to myself, hearing Troy speak on the home phone. "Well Gab's, listen. Is there anyway you could stay there for a little longer?" She asked.
"Uh, I'm not sure, why?"
"My car was parked on the road and the entire street is flooded." She said. "I'm looking for a ride, but I might not find one."
"It's alright mom, I can walk home if I need to. Troy only lives a couple blocks away." Okay, maybe Troy live a couple dozen blocks away, but a little lie never hurt anyone.
"Well, just wait for the storm to pass, honey. If I find a taxi I'll call you and come get you. Alright?" She asked.
"Yeah, it's fine mom." I said, still listening to Troy in the other room. It must have been his mother.
"Okay, I love you."
"Love you too."
"Bye, Sweetheart."
"Bye, mom." I closed my phone and put it in my pocket. I heard Troy hang up too. He came rushing into the sitting room.
"That was my mom." Troy said. "She's stuck downtown. Half of the streets are flooded and lots of people are stranded."
"Yeah, my mom is one of them." I said, sitting back down on the couch. Troy went to sit beside me.
"Oh, is she alright?" He asked. I nodded. "That's good. Anyways, my mom probably wont be back for a little while."
"That's fine, my mom wont be home for a little more then a little while." Troy smiled at my terrible joke.
"So," He said, getting to his feet. "What would you like to do for the time being?" I couldn't help but laugh as he pulled me to my feet with him.
Troy's Point of View
It was nearly midnight. Gabriella and I watched some television and we were now watching the Titanic. Gabriella had told me, as the opening credits ran across the screen, that this was one of her favorite movies and that she cried almost every time she saw it.
The movie was now at the screen where over half of the passengers were panicking in the water. Rose was floating on a door while Jack clung onto the side of it, holding Rose's hand. I continued to watch in horror. To think that this actually happened. I couldn't even imagine being on an amazing ship and having it sink. Leaving you, your friends, your family, and strangers screaming for help in the cold water. I think I would have taken one of the crew's guns and shot myself. I'd rather die fast then die slowly.
I heard a small noise from beside me. I looked over and saw Gabriella's eyes closed and her mouth opened a crack. I smiled as I heard another small snore escape her mouth. I took the cushion from the couch and walked to Gabriella's side. Her head was resting on her shoulder and her feet were tangled together. I put the pillow on the ground. I put my arms under her legs and behind her back.
Slowly I lifted her in my arms and laid her back down into a laying position. I stuck the pillow under her head and looked around for a blanket. I went into the guest bedroom, beside the stairs, and pulled one off the bed. I went back to Gabriella. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and her hands were under her cheek. I smiled and laid the blanket on top of her. I went to lay on the other couch, watching the rest of the movie.
...
"Troy." Something shook my arm. I slowly opened my eyes and saw my mom looking down at me. I was confused at first. I didn't even know where I was until I saw the black screen on the t.v. I proped myself on my elbows and yawned. "Troy, there's breakfast upstairs if you want any."
"What time .. is it?" I asked, moving into a sitting position. I looked to the other couch and saw the pillow I had put under Gabriella. I looked down and realized my legs were tangled into the blanket that I had put on Gabriella. "Where's Bri-?" I was cut off by a yawn.
"It's almost eleven." She said. "Gabriella's upstairs with Vi, we'll upstairs if you want any." I nodded and rubbed my eyes as my mom marched back up the stairs.
The last thing I remembered was watching Rose kiss Jack's hand as she let him trail behind the Titanic in the ocean. Everything was cloudy after that. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out of my jeans and saw that I had one new text message. Damn! I forgot to meet him! Ugh, great. I opened the message and read it quickly.
guess u were 2 chicken! sucks for u. James said. I clenched my phone in my hands. I threw it to the ground and started hitting the pillow.
When I finally calmed down I picked up my phone and slide the battery into the back of the phone. I put the cover on it and slipped it back into my pocket, walking up the stairs to breakfast.
Gabriella's Point of View
I poured the syrup on my pancakes. Lucille had made so much it wasn't even funny. There was eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, toast, fruit .. I was stuffed just looking at it all. I cut my pancake with my fork and took a bit. It was still a bit hot but it tasted amazing. It was the best panacake that I had ever tasted.
"This is delicious." I said to Lucille after I swallowed. She smiled.
"I'm glad you like it." She said, coming to the table with milk and orange juice. "I wasn't sure if Troy fed you last night, so Violet and I decided to make a big breakfast." Violet took another bite of her waffle, nodding to me. I smiled. The basement door creaked opened. Violet, sitting across from me, swallowed hard and a large smile spread across her face.
"Troy!" She squealed. I turned around and saw Troy leaning on the island. Troy smiled.
"Good morning." He saw me and his smile grew a little larger.
Troy was still wearing the jeans he had wore yesterday and the white t-shirt he had put on before we watched the movie. His hair was almost taller than Mount Everest. He joined me and his family at the small table in the kitchen. He sat next to me, putting his napkin on his lap. He reached in to grab one of everything.
"Did you get to talk to your mom today?" He asked. I nodded.
My mom had called me early this morning, eight o'clock early. She said that she had to stay at a hotel. The entire street was closed off and everyone who was stuck down there had to go to one of the two hotels. Her car was going to be towed today, after the water was dealt with, and then she would be able to leave.
"Yeah." I said, looking up to Troy. "She had to stay at a hotel last night and when they are finished cleaning the street then she can go home."
"Oh," Lucille said. "You two volunteer today, don't you?" Troy and I nodded and continued to eat our breakfast. "Well, once your finished eating Gabriella I will take you home and you can get ready. Troy Peter Bolton! Chew with your mouth closed, please." I looked over to Troy. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled slowly. I coughed to try and cover a laugh.
...
Once I finished my breakfast I helped Lucille to clean up a little. I put away the dishes that were already clean and I help Violet get ready while Troy finished his breakfast and Lucille got ready. When Violet had finished brushing her teeth and fixing her hair we made our way downstairs. I grabbed my bag that was still by the door and got my shoes on. Lucille ran down the stairs and went into the kitchen.
"Alright, Troy." She said. "Violet's coming with me, so you can get ready when you finished eating, also wash your dish and if you want any laundry done today put it in a basket and set it in the hallway, okay?" Troy nodded and Lucille kissed his head. "See you soon."
She ran back to me and Violet and got her shoes on. She searched in her purse until she found the keys then we walked to the driveway. It was a really sunny day, hard to believe after the storm last night. She buckled Violet in her car seat and drove out of the driveway. I told her what streets to go down and what house to turn at. Finally, I was home.
"That's for everything, Mrs. Bolton." I said, she smiled.
"Oh, Gabriella, you can call me Lucille." She said. "And anytime you need a place to stay just call us. I'll be back to pick you up in about an hour, okay?" I shook my head.
"It's alright .. I can walk .. "
"No, no, no. Don't be silly." She said. "I'll see you soon."
"Okay. Bye Violet." I said, she smiled. I smiled to Lucille and watched her pull away.
...
Alright, I'm SO sorry for the late update, short chapter, and boring chapter. I was planning on making this a lot longer but I'm leaving tomorrow for a small vacation and I needed to pack. So, I will be writing while gone, but im not sure if I will have internet to put the chapter up. I will try my best and I will get it up as soon as I can. I wont be back until sometime Monday, so if I'm not back too late then it will be up on Monday and if not then sometime Tuesday. I will make sure that it's more exciting and much, much, much more longer. Again, so for the gap update and I will talk to you guys in a couple of days!