My Baby
Chapter 3
Gabriella smiled softly as she leaned on the door jab of Sophia's bedroom door. Sophia was sleeping soundlessly in her little twin bed that was clad nicely in Disney Princess stuff. Sophia was clutching at her little tan elephant and a small smile was planted on her thin lips. Gabriella's smile widened and she was about to leave when a picture tapped to Sophia's wall stopped her.
With narrowed eyes, Gabriella walked further into the room and gasped as she took a good look at the colorful picture Sophia had drawn.
It was a cutely drawn picture of stick figures of Sophia, Gabriella and another one. It was a man that was labeled 'Daddy'. Gabriella's hand flew to her mouth and she shook her head. She threw her head over her shoulder to check on Sophia, making sure she was still asleep. When positive, Gabriella ripped the picture from the wall and walked out of the room. She dropped it in the trash can with a sigh. "I'm so sorry," she said to no-one.
Gabriella trudged to her room, a sudden wave of tiredness sweeping over her body. She plopped on her bed and as she did she noticed the little digits planted in her palm. A small smile crept on her face and she glanced at the alarm clock situated on her bedside table. It read 1:24 AM. Gabriella gazed back down at the number on her hand before getting up and walking over to her desk. There she ripped a piece of paper out of a note book and wrote down the number of Troy Bolton.
When she laid on her bed to go to sleep, Troy Bolton seemed to be the only thing on her mind.
Gabriella awoke to blinding sun and sniffing. An irritated groan rolled out of her mouth and her eyes squinted into slits, trying to make out the picture out in front of her.
Sophia was prompted on Gabriella's stomach holding out a paper. When memory crashed into her brain, Gabriella gasped and sat up. "Sophia— "
"Why don't you want me to have a daddy?" she questioned, her eyes filling with tears.
Gabriella's heart just broke into a million pieces as some tears spilled over from Sophia's blue eyes. "No, Sophia, no. It's not that. Of course I want you to have a daddy. It's just...not the one you used to have."
Sophia wiped at her eyes with her little fist. "Why not?"
"Well..." Gabriella bit back her own tears. She'd always dreaded this moment. Telling Sophia what went down with her and Eric. Sure, she wasn't going to tell her the whole story now, but it would still hurt talking about it. "Well, see, when your daddy and I were together, he did some pretty bad things to me. He yelled at me and hit me and did other really nasty things," Gabriella told her. "Then daddy went to jail as well for doing something really bad. I left so he wouldn't hurt me or you. Now do you understand why I don't want you to know your father?"
Sophia blinked once before nodding and wiping at her eyes. She looked down at her paper that was a little moist and had a crazy smell to it. "Well, can Mr. Bolton be my daddy, mama?" Her eyes met mine again and I sighed softly.
"Honey, I can't just ask for Mr. Bolton to be your daddy. We'd have to get to know each other and get into a relationship and he'd have to adopt you and what not. Plus, I don't like Mr. Bolton...like that."
Sophia smiled. "Sure you do. Nanny Sammy told me," she said.
"Yeah, well, Nanny Sammy doesn't always tell the truth. Now, enough about Mr. Bolton. Let's get ready."
Sophia nodded and hopped off the bed and towards the bathroom. Gabriella smiled as she trailed after her, but inside she was hurting. Some might say it's stupid that she's still on what Eric had done to her, but the things he's done—like kill their son—would always haunt her, no matter what. As if Eric would just pop out and kill her, she wrapped my arms around her torso and hunched her back making her a few inches shorter.
"Mami, are you okay?"
Gabriella looked up and saw Sophia leaning out of the bathroom door, her blue eyes laced with concern. Gabriella took a deep breath and straightened her posture. "Yes, mi hija. Siga adelante y entrar en la ducha. Estaré allí en un minuto. (Go ahead and get in the shower. I'll be in there in a minute). Sophia thought for a second, registering their Hispanic language. She then nodded and dashed off into the bathroom.
Gabriella quickly rushed to Sophia's room and pulled out her little uniform that hung neatly on a hanger. When she walked into the bathroom, Sophia was dumping a whole bottle of lavender bubble bath. The tap was running furiously and bubbles were quickly building up. Before a mess was able to be created, Gabriella rushed over to Sophia and took the bottle from her hands. "Uh-uh, Sophie Smiles. If you keep going on, the whole bathroom will be all bubbly and I probably wouldn't be able to find you."
Sophia giggled as she slipped herself into the body of water.
"Mommy, can you sing to me?"
Gabriella nodded and smiled. She reached over too the stereo and searched for a song. When she found it, a sweet melody swam calmly around the room. Gabriella sung softly to the lyrics whilst cleaning Sophia and Sophia was relaxed as Gabriella's voice made its way through her little ears.
In my daughter's eyes, I am a hero.
I am strong and wise,
And I know no fear.
But the truth is plain to see:
She was sent to rescue me,
I see who I wanna be, in my daughter's eyes.
In my daughter's eyes, everyone is equal,
Darkness turns to light,
And the world is at peace.
This miracle God gave to me,
Gives me strength when I am weak.
I find reason to believe, in my daughter's eyes.
And when she wraps her hand around my finger,
Oh, it puts a smile in my heart.
Everything becomes a little clearer.
I realize what life is all about.
It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough;
It's givin' more when you feel like givin' up.
I've seen the light: it's in my daughter's eyes.
In my daughter's eyes, I can see the future.
A reflection of who I am,
An' what will be.
An' though she'll grow an', some day, leave:
Maybe raise a family,
When I'm gone, I hope you'll see,
How happy she made me,
For I'll be there, in my daughter's eyes.
Gabriella smiled as the song finished. She gently was caressed Sophia's dark hair and Sophia was smiling too. "I like it when you sing, mama," Sophia confessed.
Gabriella smiled faintly. "When you were in my belly I would sing to you all the time. A few times you would kick after I finish and I guessed it meant you wanted another song." She laughed faintly. "I would sing for you night and day and you would stay calm in my tummy. Then when you were born, I sung you the song I just sung. You would close your eyes and smile." Gabriella just noticed her eyes were closed and a huge smile was planted on her face. She opened her eyes and as Sophia was smiling at her, Gabriella silently thanked God for giving her a beautiful daughter.
"I love you, mi hija," Gabriella told Sophia, pulling her out of the tub and into a loving embrace. "Don't forget."
Sophia giggled and planted a sudsy bubble on Gabriella's nose. "Love you, too, mama! Now let's get to school!" Gabriella let Sophia down and watched adoringly as her little girl snatched for a towel and ran out of the bathroom with her clothes.
"Ready for your first Friday here at First Philly?" Gabriella asked her daughter as they walk quickly into the school building. Sophia nodded eagerly and when she spotted Lena, she let go of her mom's hand and bolted towards her. Lena and her shared a best friend hug and Gabriella smiled. Maura walked up to Gabriella and gave her a hug. "Hey, Gabi."
"Hey, Maura. What are you doing for the weekend? I was thinking Lena could come over and play with Soph for a while."
"Oh, that'd be lovely," Maura said, grinning. "Liam and I have this big wedding to go to out in Miami. I know this is a lot to ask, but could you keep her for the weekend? We leave in four hours and we'll be arriving Sunday night around midnight."
"Of course I'll watch her," Gabriella said.
"Thank you so much!" She glanced down at her watch and frowned. "I have to go meet Liam at home so we can continue packing. There's a spare key under the door mat for Lena's stuff. Bye, Gabi. I'll see you soon."
Gabriella gave Maura a quick hug. "Okay, bye. Talk to you later."Maura nodded before rushing over to Lena and saying her goodbyes. Gabriella watched and bit her lip as she did so. She would never leave her child to go somewhere. Either Sophia goes or she doesn't. It's not like parents who leave their children alone are bad parents it's just that she'd never leave Sophia. Anything could happen.
"C'mon, mama!" Sophia exclaimed, pulling at Gabriella's wrist towards the gym.
Everyone went through the same routine as normal and when it was time to leave, Gabriella went in search for Troy. He was leaned against the bleachers. He looked even more Godly. His hair was slicked back with what looked like moose and his dangerously stunning blue eyes seemed to stick out of the whole gym. A big change was that the sleeves to his dress shirt was pulled up to his forearm showing off his amazingly bulky arms and his veins that Gabriella wanted to graze lightly with the tip of her finger.
Gabriella bit her lip thinking how amazing it would be if she could touch Troy's skin; rub hers on his.
Gabriella glanced around her before walking up to Troy, a smile bright on her face. "Hey, Troy, how are you this morning?" He looked down and leaned down at the same time and Gabriella nearly gasped at his eyes. Every time they get her but they were so close this time. Even closer than they were at the park. His breath pushed on her skin making it tingle and making sensations soar through her body.
It was so intense Gabriella had lost her balance and she found herself falling backwards.
But Troy was there to catch her.
His hand was pulling her back up and she couldn't take her eyes away from his; she wouldn't.
"Gabriella, you okay?" he questioned lowly in a husky whisper. Gabriella's breath hitched in her throat and her heart was beating ten times faster.
"Yes," she answered just as lowly.
If there weren't other people—mostly little kids—standing there, Gabriella would have curled her hand behind his sleek chestnut hair and crushed hers and his lips together. After that intense gaze, Gabriella wished she could.
"Thank you," she muttered and stood up straight. She peered around her and some people were staring. A few kids from Mr. Bolton's class were giggling and pointing and some parents were watching with raised eyebrows. Gabriella's cheeks tinted the cutest shade of pink.
"It's really cute when you blush," Troy said and Gabriella looked up at him with a smile just as cute.
"Thanks...I think."
Troy chuckled. "So, um, are you free tonight? I wanna take you somewhere."
"Well, I am supposed to be watching the girls, but I can ask my cousin to do it for me," Gabriella told him quickly, forgetting all about what happened when Chloe was on Babysitting Duty.
"I don't want to intrude..." he said, crossing his arms and smirking.
"You aren't," Gabriella assured him. "Come on, Troy. Please?"
He smirked. "Aren't I supposed to be begging?"
"Troy," Gabriella whined. Troy grinned and nodded. "I was just playing with you. And if you said yes, I would've taken you out anyway. So, I'll see you tonight at around eight?"
"Yes," Gabriella said. Then she reached into her purse and pulled out an old shopping list and a pen. She quickly wrote down her address before giving it to Troy. "Here."
He looked down at the paper and his eyebrows raised slightly. "I live a few blocks from here." He looked at her again and flashed a perfect smile. "It's a small world."
"I know. I'll see you later, Troy. Bye." She glanced around her then bit her lip. With sudden confidence she grabbed Troy's bulky bicep and leaned on her toes to give him a soft peck on the lips. Their lips lingered together for a moment before Gabriella leaned away with a smile. She turned around feeling a sudden burst of giddiness run through her.
With two fingers she touched her lips that were still tingling with the same sensation she's only felt yesterday.
Troy was smiling, too. His smile was a goofy love-stricken smile that tingled with the same sensation that Gabriella's tingled with.
"Oooooh," a few girls from his class chimed and Troy chuckled though a pink blush crept over his face.
After saying bye to Sophia and Lena and then leaving, Gabriella arrived at work. The office was at its normal busy state. Everyone rushing around, people jolting down designs for Magnita and Magnita strolling through the office like the Goddess she was with Taylor trailing behind her, jolting down notes.
"Gabriella," Magnita chimed. Gabriella's eyebrows raised. Magnita was a few feet away from Gabriella with her back facing her. She turned and so did Taylor as they both made their way over."Hello, Magnita. I finished my design."
"That's what I want to talk to you about!" Magnita exclaimed cheerfully. "Your designs are wonderful! Oh, they just moved me. Oh, Magnita Moved! Just lovely. I hope to see more."
"Of course, Magnita," Gabriella said, smiling at the compliment. "I'll get right on it."
"Thank you, darling."
Magnita floated off after that and Gabriella turned around, only to be met with her crazy friend Samara. Gabriella let out a loud yelp and stumbled backwards. "Hi, chica!" Samara exclaimed joyfully.
"Hi, Sam, what's up with the cheery mood."
"In my future, I envision a beautiful baby that Enrique and I made," she said just as cheerfully. Gabriella suddenly squealed and threw her arms around Samara. "You're pregnant! That's wonderful, Sammy."
"I know. I can't wait! It's going to be weird being pregnant again. Ugh, swollen feet, back aches. Heaven, right?" Her and Gabriella shared a laugh before they started walking off towards their stations. "So, I heard Magnita's planning some big reward thingy for you," Samara shared to Gabriella.
"Really? Like what?"
"I don't know. Maybe a banquet."
"Wow, I didn't know my designs were that good."
"Honey, they were perfect."
Gabriella sat down and pulled out her folder from her desk. She took out her design and looked over it. It was of three girls wearing different outfits. One girl wore a hot pink halter top and short brown shorts. She had on honey-yellow knee high boots with many designs plastered over them and a bronze bracelet. The next girl had on a golden-honey dress with designs riding it and had a V-neck that dipped greatly and the fabric lapped over each other. The dress stopped about mid-thigh and the feet were clad in golden peep-toe high heels. She was clutching a brown clutch that had diamonds rounding it. And the last girl had on a brown off-the-shoulder sweater top and yellow capris. Her wrist were clad in two cuff bracelets and she wore simple yellow flats.
"Hm, they're alright, I guess."
"I like the dress," Samara said. "If I weren't married, I would use it as a screw magnet. But you on the other hand are not married..."
"Samara, shut up," Gabriella demanded and Samara quieted. "I have a date with Troy Bolton tonight," Gabriella admitted after a minute of just sitting. Samara's eyes brightened and she clapped her hand together happily. "Oh, yes! That is so amazing! I knew you two liked each other!"
"Shh, Samara," Gabriella demanded, slapping a hand over Samara's mouth. "Tell the world, why don't you?"
Samara's eyes twinkled that common mischievous twinkle. A frown over took Gabriella's face when her best friend started climbing on her desk. "What the hell, Samara? What are you doing?"
Samara grinned down at Gabriella before cuffing her hands around her mouth and announcing loudly, "Hey, everyone, Gabriella Montez is now taken— " Samara squealed as she was pulled off the desk and fell with a loud thump to the floor. She laughed wildly and pushed the tresses hanging in front of her face away.
"That wasn't funny, Samara," Gabriella told her, crossing her arms.
The room had fell into a pit of silence for a second before they both heard some groans from most of the male population of their co-workers. Gabriella couldn't help it, she burst out into a fit of giggles, Samara following after her. "Didn't I tell you that men liked you?"
"Okay, fist of all, all these men are way older than me. Second of all, Magnita has forbidden us from dating co-workers because we'll be distracted during work hours. And thirdly, all these men aren't my type."
"Well, it doesn't matter because you and Troy are a couple."
"No, we aren't a couple, Sammy. We— "
"What the eff was that?" Sharpay exclaimed as she appeared magically beside them. Startled, Gabriella and Samara screamed. Gabriella paced a hand over her fast beating heart. "Shit, Shar, don't give me a heart attack. I'm still young."
"Yeah, the youngest here," Samara told her, grinning. "You know, it's amazing that Magnita actually accepted you in this job. You were nineteen and she accepted you still. She hardly accepted me and I'm twenty-six."
Gabriella smirked then. "Man, I have to get younger friends."
"Excuse you, I am only twenty-five," Sharpay snapped.
"And I'm twenty," Gabriella chimed, turning in her seat and pressing the power button on the computer.
"Girls, get to work," Magnita snapped as she appeared behind Sharpay. Taylor was still following her. "Gabriella, can I see your designs?"
"Yes, Magnita." Gabriella quickly pushed the papers together and handed them over to Magnita. Magnita smiled and nodded. "Good job. Thanks, darling."Gabriella nodded and Magnita walked off, Taylor trialing right behind.
Troy sighed as he sunk into his desk chair. "Okay, how about we all go to the Reading Rug and we'll started reading Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy." The kids scrambled up from their seats and raced to the carpets, seeing who would get there first or to get the best seat. Sophia and Lena and Liana all sat next to each other.
"I saw your mom kissing Mr. Bolton," Liana told Sophia. "Wouldn't it be weird if your daddy was Mr. Bolton?"
"I wouldn't really care," Sophia admitted. "My daddy left me and my mama when I was still in her stomach. He still loved her, but he had to go to jail. Now he's back where my grandma and grandpa are. In New Mexico somewhere."
"I'm glad my parents are still together," Lena says. "I don't know what I would do if they weren't."
"Me too," Liana says. "My daddy always picks me up and spins me around and my mommy makes the most delicious cookies ever."
"Yeah, my mom has good cookies, but I wish I had a daddy who could spin me around." Sophia sighed and dropped her head onto her palm. Troy started reading the the Junie B. but Sophia couldn't listen. Her mind wander off into a world where all kids had daddies who loved them and would spin them around in the air.
"Daddy, don't drop me," Sophia said, giggling as her daddy picked her up and spun her around in the warm air. Daddy grinned and let her down, but not before placing a kiss on her temple. "I would never dream. You're too precious to get hurt." He ruffled her hair before standing straight and walking over to Mommy (Gabriella) . He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his head on her shoulder. Mommy giggled and stopped baking her yummy cookies.
She turned around and kissed him on the lips. Sophia drew back her lips; disgusted. "Ew, don't kiss!" she shrieked. Her parents laughed as they pulled apart and walked over to her.
"That's what people do when they love each other," Mommy told Sophia, picking her up.
"Yes, and your mother and I love each other."
"So, when you two kiss, that means you love each other?" Sophia looked over to Daddy and he wasn't just some random face, it was Mr. Bolton. He had his arm around Mommy's waist and he was leaning in for a second kiss.
Sophia blinked once.
"Sophia," a voice chimed sweetly. "Sophia...Sophia...Sophia!"
"Huh?" Sophia snapped out of her dreamland and looked up. Mr. Bolton was raising his eyebrows and staring at her expectantly. "Yes?"
"Would you like to read?"
"Oh...sure." Sophia stood and went to sit next to Mr. Bolton then started reading. Of course she was stumbling terribly and trying to space out the words. "Me...and...D-daddy...drove in t-he c-ar a..." She looked up at Mr. Bolton for help.
"Very good. That words is real," he told her, smiling.
"Thanks. Real long...time. It w-was not that en-joy-a..." Again she trailed off and looked up at Mr. Bolton. He grinned. "Good, keep going. En-joy-a-ble. Got it now?"
Sophia nodded and she smiled. Thoughts of Mr. Bolton reading her to bed every night ran through her head.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Gabriella called to her co-workers. She quickly left the building and jumped into her car. She was more than excited for tonight. First she would pick Sophia and Lena up from school then drop them off at where Chloe was staying. Then she would hurry home and get ready and finally Troy would come pick her up. She was squirming around in her seat already giddy for what's planned for tonight.
She quickly got out of her car after arriving to the school and started for the school. Starting Monday, Kindergartens will be dismissed at three. It was something the Board changed saying that the younger grades needed to have more time pushed into their learning.
Gabriella shook her head and pushed through the door of the school. When she stepped in, she smiled at the receptionist before signing in and walking off towards Sophia's classroom.
"Sophia, Lena," she called when she was in. Sophia and Lena looked up from their coloring and grinned. "I can't wait to spend the night with you," Lena exclaimed, jumping up and racing to her cubby. Sophia nodded. "I know, me too. I'll be right back."
Sophia turned and she couldn't help be smile when she saw her mom and Mr. Bolton gazing at each other and smiling like goofy teenagers.
"You know, I never really got your age," Gabriella reminded Troy, smiling. Troy smiled back at her. "Well, I'm not that old, if that's what your asking. "I'm twenty-three. Graduated from college last year. I went for five years and majored in teaching. How old are you?"
"Twenty. You're actually the youngest friend I've ever met since I've been in Philly. All my other friends are older than me. The highest is thirty-two."
"Thirty-two? Trying to hang with the older crowd, Montez?" he questioned as he bowed his head closer to her.
Gabriella's voice lowered as she said, "No, but it doesn't really matter, does it?"
His voice lowered too. "I guess not. Age doesn't matter."
Gabriella stared up into his eyes. They were so close yet again and yet again if theses kids weren't in here, she would kiss him right then and there.
"I guess I'll see you tonight," Troy told her, leaning back. Gabriella found her breath. "Yeah. Bye, Troy. Come on, Soph and Lena." She turned hesitantly and walked out of the room with Lena and Sophia behind. Lena gave Sophia a look as if to say, 'Wow!' and Sophia nodded as if to say 'I know!'
"So, how was your day girls?" Gabriella asked them, grabbing bother their hands once they were out the school.
"I read two whole pages of Junie B. Jones!" Sophia announced, proud of herself. Gabriella was surprised. "Really? Wow, I'm going to have to buy you some more books then. How about you, Lena?"
"Well, I spelled some word wall words right," she explained. "I spelled the words school, kitten, one, three, mother and said."
"Wow, all those words? That's really smart, Lena."
Lena looked proud.
After settling the girls into the back seat, Gabriella climbed in the front and drove off. Her eyes momentarily flickered to the clock. Only six more hours until her date.
Ah, hell.
Sorry for the long wait. I'm really sorry. But I think some of you know why it was late. I was in North Carolina and Georgia. Anyway, I hope you review. I love your reviews and they really keep me going! Keep 'em going and Ill keep 'em coming!
Thanks!-Brittany