A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!
The next day at school Gabriella was outside with the kids as they ran around after lunch. Greg was standing a few feet away from the school talking on the phone.
"Are you sure this will make her trust me?"
"Yes I know Ashley. Just save her once and she will trust you forever."
"What about Troy how will I get him to trust me?"
"I'm working on that, Just focus on Ashley for right now."
"Ok you got everything ready?"
"Yeah the kid knows what to do. Just wait for the cue."
Back over with Ashley she was playing with a ball when a kid in the grade above Ashley walked over and took the ball from her hands.
"Do you want to play with me?" Ashley asked nicely. "If you do you can."
"No I don't want to play with a baby like you."
"Oh…well can I please have my ball back?"
"No. This is my ball you're not allowed to use it."
"Oh…I'm sorry. I didn't know it was your ball."
"Yeah well ask next time."
"I'm sorry."
With Carlos he was still on the phone.
"Now how do we get rid of Gabriella? If she sees me she will tell Troy and he won't let me anywhere near them."
"Leave Gabriella to me."
Gabriella was standing on the side watching the children along with Taylor and Kelsi. She had just finished telling them about her "Uncle"
"He saved your life Gabi that's good." Taylor told her.
"Yeah but I still feel funny around him." Gabriella sighed.
"You're just being you. You felt funny around us when we first met. It's who you are. New people scare you and you don't trust them because you are scared they'll hurt you."
"I've gotten better at trusting since then haven't I?"
Taylor and Kelsi just looked at each other then back to Gabriella.
"You haven't really changed much since you were a teen. Men still make you nervous and you still don't trust people you don't know." Kelsi said.
"I have changed a lot."
"Yeah you are stronger and more confident in yourself but not in others."
"I trust others just fine."
"Oh yeah? We've been friends since high school and you still get nervous around Chad and the others."
"That's not true."
"Yes it is even I can tell." Taylor said.
"I don't get nervous. Chad makes everyone nervous."
"You in denial." Taylor said.
"I'm not. Plus Troy feels the same way. Jack and Lucille too. None of them trust Carlos."
"They're just scared Carlos will take you away from them."
"I'm twenty four he can't take me anywhere."
"Look Gabriella Your Uncle came to you asking you for a chance but your just scared history will repeat its self and Carlos will hurt you like Greg did."
Before Gabriella could answer another worker walked over.
"Gabriella the boss wants to see you." They said.
Gabriella nodded and she walked off. She turned to look at Taylor and Kelsi.
"In case you guys haven't noticed history is already repeating its self."
With that said she walked away.
Ashley was still with the bully.
"I said sorry. I didn't mean to take your ball. Please stop being mean to me." Ashley said.
"You the mean one. You took my ball."
"Hey leave the girl alone." A voice said.
Ashley turned and saw Carlos.
"The ball belongs to the school which means anyone can use it. You have no right telling this young girl she took anything from you. She had it first now you either share with her or give it back to her and play with something else got it?" Carlos said.
The bully dropped the ball and walked away. Ashley just whimpered. Troy and Gabriella had told her she had to trust her heart with this man and whatever her heart said is what she should listen to. Her heart was telling her this man was bad and was going to hurt her.
"Please don't hurt me."
"I'm not going to hurt you. I wanted that girl to leave you alone."
"Thank you…."
"I'm Carlos I'm your Uncle."
"Troy and Gabi said I shouldn't talk to you unless I feel comfortable."
"Well what can I do to make you comfortable?"
Ashley thought about it for a minute. "You have to promise me you won't hit me like daddy did."
"I promise."
"Ok I trust you."
"Good." Carlos smirked.
Gabriella had made her way to the Principal's office only to find out he didn't need her. So why did that girl tell her he did? Then she heard Ashley scream. She ran back outside. She gasped at what she saw. Taylor, Kelsi were standing around talking to Carlos who was holding Ashley upside down tickling her stomach making her scream in giggles. Taylor and Kelsi tickled her stomach too. She went right over and grabbed Ashley from his hands.
"Get off her."
"Chill Gabriella she wanted it. She trusts me right Ash?" Carlos asked.
"Yeah. He stopped someone from being mean to me." Ashley smiled.
"Carlos was just tickling her and she asked for it so calm down Gabriella not every man is an abusive pig." Taylor said.
"I did ask for it Mrs. Gabi. I like being tickled."
Gabriella sighed. If this is what she wanted why did it feel so wrong?
"I'm happy she trusts you but you aren't allowed on school property so please go." Gabriella said.
"I'm family. I'm the Uncle."
"Please just go Carlos."
"Just because Troy isn't here doesn't mean I'm not allowed near you."
"Yes it does. It's the rules." Gabriella said.
"Seriously Gabriella? You can't be around your own Uncle without Troy there to protect you?" Taylor asked. "I thought you said you changed. If you had changed you wouldn't be so scared."
"I'm not scared. Until Troy gets comfortable with Carlos those are the rules he set and I agree with them."
"So he's possessive? You're not allowed near another man without him there?" Taylor asked.
"It's not like that Taylor you know it. Troy is not possessive."
"Gabriella…."
"Just forget it. Carlos you need to leave we need to bring the kids back inside."
Gabriella called out to the kids and they all ran over to her and lined up. Gabriella set Ashley down and went inside. Troy was not possessive that was one thing she was sure of but how Carlos suddenly got Ashley to trust him confused her. Maybe Carlos really did deserve a chance. Maybe Carlos wouldn't hurt them and they really could be a family.
Later that night after Ashley had been put to bed and everyone had, had dinner Gabriella sat in bed staring into space. Troy had already fallen asleep and she had tried for an hour before giving up and just staying awake. So much was running through her head. So many things were bothering her and so many things were unanswered. She sighed and sat up leaning her back against the head board. She felt Troy wrapped his arms around her pulling her into him.
"What's wrong baby?" he asked.
"There is just so much running through my head I can't sleep."
Troy sat up keeping her in his arms. "So talk to me what's going on?"
"I don't want you to stay up. Go back to sleep."
"Gabriella I'm your husband if you're upset I want you to tell me so I can help make it better."
Gabriella sighed.
"Troy do you think I've changed since high school?"
"Of course you have."
"Do you think I'm still scared of men and that I don't trust them?"
"It depends on the man. A man you know really well you trust and aren't scared of but a stranger would make you uncomfortable but there isn't anything wrong with that. No one trusts strangers that's why they are called strangers. Once you get to know the man better you start to trust them. Why the sudden questions?"
"Taylor and Kelsi told me that I should just get over my fear of men and trust Carlos. They say I'm scared of him because of my fear towards men."
"Gabriella there is a difference between being scared of someone and being careful. You don't trust Carlos because of your background but that doesn't mean you're scared of him. I don't like him either. Both my parents don't like him it doesn't mean we are scared of him. You are being careful around Carlos which is the right thing to do. Don't let Taylor and Kelsi talk you out it…Now speaking of Carlos…Ashley told me he was at the school today?"
"Yeah…."
"She suddenly likes him and trusts him?"
"Yeah…"
"What happen?"
"I don't know…."
"Gabriella be honest."
"I am Troy. I don't know what happen I wasn't there….I sound so horrible."
"Gabriella tell me what happen."
Gabriella sighed. "Another worker told me the principal wanted to see me so I left Ashley outside with Taylor and Kelsi and the other kids. I got to the office and turns out I didn't need to be there so I heard Ashley scream and I ran back outside to see Carlos holding Ashley tickling her with the help of Taylor and Kelsi. She told me he stopped a bully from picking on her and now she trusts him. I swear Troy that's all I know. I didn't even know Carlos was there."
"I believe you."
"Are you mad at me?"
"No I'm confused. Are we supposed to be mad at Carlos for coming near Ashley or happy that she trusts him?"
"I don't know I was hoping you could tell me."
Troy sighed. "He saved your life we should trust him."
"But we don't is that a sign?"
"I have no idea. I want to be wrong about him but I just can't seem to get rid of this feeling that he is bad."
"Me too."
"So do we allow this friendship between Ashley and Carlos to continue or stop it in its tracks?"
"I'd like to get to know him Troy. There are so many questions about my past that I have that I want to ask him. I just don't want to take a chance of putting Ashley in danger."
"Do you feel comfortable being with him alone?"
"Yes…no…I don't know."
"That's not an answer."
"I know. A part of me trusts him but another part doesn't. I don't want to say yes then regret it but I know you don't like him or care to spend any time with him."
"I'd do it for you. If it makes you comfortable I'll come with you."
Gabriella sighed. "I just…I need answers Troy. I realized something new about my father and I need to see if it's true or not and the only way to do that is to ask Carlos but he might not answer if you're there."
"If you really want me there I will be. I can be far enough away that Carlos won't know but close enough that if you need me I can be there."
"I don't know Troy."
"What did you find out about Greg? What questions do you have?"
"Just questions about his home life and how his parents treated him."
"Where did that come from?"
"Ashley, she asked me why my dad hit me and I told her it was because he didn't know any better and she said that he would have known better because his parents taught him the difference between wrong and right."
"So you think your father was abused as well?"
"I don't know." Gabriella whimpered.
Troy held her tighter. "What are thinking?"
"If he wasn't abused then everything he told me before he died was a lie. He doesn't nor did he ever love me and I don't know if I can handle that."
"How do you figure?"
"Carlos told me my dad planned everything. He wanted to get shot so he could stop running from the cops but not be in jail. He told me my dad just gave me some sob story before he died so I'd forgive him but that none of it was true. I just…I'm so confused Troy everyone is telling me something different about my father and I need to know the truth. I need answers."
"Ok then call Carlos up and ask to meet him. I'll stay here with Ashley and if you need me you just call me and I'll come right over. If it's that important to you then I'm not going to stop you."
"Ok…you're right. Thanks Troy."
"You're welcome baby. You feel better?"
Gabriella nodded and yawned.
"Let's try getting some sleep we can call Carlos tomorrow."
"Ok. I love you Troy. Good night."
"I love you too Angel sleep well."
They both laid back down and were out within seconds. Troy just hoped Gabriella got the answers she was looking for otherwise he didn't think she'd ever recover.
A/N ok everyone I'm back and writing. Next chapter Gabriella asks Carlos questions about Greg but will she like what she hears and is he being honest? Also I need some ideas on how to make Troy trust Carlos. I've got nothing and I need some help so any ideas you guys could offer would be great.