October 18, 2013

Gabriella was cleaning her house rapidly as Gray took his nap. She was getting used to her recently changed schedule. She went to work on Tuesdays since that was Troy's day off. She was still working through her online classes. It was getting difficult since Gray was getting more mobile every day.

Her phone rang, causing her to stop what she was doing and answer her phone without a glance. "Hello?" She asked breathlessly.

"Hey Gabi, it's Lara. This isn't a bad time, is it?"

"No. Gray was sleeping and I was cleaning. What's up?" Gabriella asked, a little surprised. She leaned against the counter.

"I was wondering if… Well I don't want to be overstepping boundaries here, but I want to take a couple pictures of Grayson for the book I'm making for Troy." Lara said hesitantly.

Gabi licked her lips. "I have no problem with that. When did you want to do it?"

"Maybe today, if you're free."

Gabi hummed. "I don't think I'm doing anything for the rest of the day. Gray will probably wake up around two. It'll take thirty minutes to feed him. Where do you want to meet up?"

"Have you been to Lake Elizabeth? We could do it there."

"Yeah, I know where that is. I'll meet you there around 3?" Gabi said, looking at the clock.

"Sounds great."

"Should I dress him up?"

"If you want to. They're just going to be candid shots." Lara said.

"I'll bring a couple of outfits just in case." Gabriella licked her lips. "I'll text you when we leave."

"Great! Can't wait to see you and Grayson again! I'll see you later Gabriella." Lara said before she hung up.

Gabriella leaned against the counter and let out a breath. She turned and quickly finished cleaning the kitchen. She jumped in the shower quickly and checked on Grayson before she got dressed. She picked out three outfits for him and packed them in an extra bag. She made sure she had everything for Grayson while they were out. She took the extra time she had to work on some school work and waited for Grayson to get up from his nap.

Grayson was packed in the car and ready to go. He just ate, content with a full belly. Gabriella decided to take her car, not the SUV. She couldn't remember the last time she drove her own car. She felt small and really close to the ground in comparison to the truck. She missed her first baby though.

She called Lara, as promised, just before she drove out the driveway. She sang loudly to Grayson on the ride over. Once she got to the park and found a place to park, she lifted Gray's car seat out of the car. She cursed when she realized she left the stroller in the SUV.

"Oh well." She mumbled, hoisting the bags on her shoulders and carrying Grayson to where Lara said she would be.

Gabriella saw her in the distance, sitting on a blanket under a tree. She was reading a book. Her camera bag sat next to her, closed. Gabriella readjusting Grayson though the trudge in the grass. Lara looked up and smiled, closing her book and standing up to help.

"Hey Gabi, Hey Grayson. Do you want me to take him?" She asked, looking down at Grayson.

"Please." Gabriella said with a small laugh.

Lara took his car seat from her arm and placed it on the blanket. "Was the ride far?"

"Nah, just across town. How about you? We could have went somewhere closer to Berkeley."

"It's alright. I like this park. I like the community." She said with a small smile. "So, are you excited to be back in school?"

Gabriella smiled. "You have no idea. School is my thing, ya know? Sharpay does clothes, Taylor is just a perfect human being, Troy has basketball, Chad is extremely charismatic, Zeke bakes, Ryan does the dancing thing and Kels does the music thing. I have school so it feels weird not being there physically but spending the day with Gray is way more important."

"Troy always says he wants to switch places with you. He'd rather be at home with Gray than play basketball and go to school."

Gabriella smiled. "He gets tired of things easily. Basketball comes in waves of desire."

"He is something." Lara said with a smile.

"Sure is."

"Me and you are alike, I've noticed."

"You're way smarter than me. You haven't gotten pregnant yet." Gabi joked with a small laugh.

Lara shook her head. "No, you are way smarter than me. You're at Stanford for Christ sakes. Troy says you got into Stanford twice. I couldn't even get in once. Are you continuing with school after you graduate?"

Gabi sighed quietly. "I don't know. I never thought about it to be honest. I just want to pass my bar exam and get a good job. What about you?"

"I'm not going back either. I got offered a job to write in New York."

"New York? Wow! That sounds like a great opportunity." Gabi said, taking Gray out of the car seat. She took a seat on the blanket and put him in her lap.

Lara smiled. "It really is. I told Troy at the first basketball game, in the car. He wasn't as excited as I hoped he would be."

"He is totally happy for you. He just has a weird way of showing his emotions sometimes, especially to other people. He's very sensitive." Gabi explained.

She nodded in agreement. "Sometimes, but other times he is a floodgate. Like when you went into labor with Gray. He came over and he ranted about how terrified he was about messing up his sons life. He didn't want to let anybody down. He was very… emotional."

Gabi tilted her head to the side. "I didn't know that. I didn't know you guys were talking for that long. I guess that explained where he went when he left me at the hospital."

Lara frowned. "We were friends for a while before Grayson was born." She shook her head. "We've only been dating for maybe three or four months now."

"What did Troy think about you going to New York?" Gabi asked, kissing the top of Gray's head.

"He was just not very happy about me moving across the country in two months." Lara said with a sigh. "We already talked about breaking up just before I leave."

"What if he gets drafted over there or something? Will you get back together?" Gabriella asked with a frown.

Lara shrugged. "I'm not holding my breath about it. He won't know if or when or where he'll get drafted for a long time."

Gabi sighed. "That's too bad. I think we could have been good friends."

"We still can be?" Lara said optimistically. "We can talk and text and stuff. I don't think it'll be too weird."

Gabi laughed. "It's always going to be weird. I had your boyfriend's baby."

"I know and I know you have history, long before I came along. I can't really get mad or upset about it. I'm not. It actually doesn't bother me. I know you guys will always have some type of feelings for each other but I get it." Lara said, reaching over to tickle Gray. Lara cooed. "Gray just smiled at me. He is so cute, I just want to eat him."

Gabi giggled quietly. "I know the feeling."

Lara pulled out her camera. "Let me see if I can get him to do it again." She turned on her camera and reached over to tickle Gray's belly again. Gabriella looked over to see him smile, causing a big smile to form on her face. "That was cute."

Gabi set him down on the blanket and let him do his thing. She watched Lara take a couple pictures of him. "Do you wanna get dinner after this or something?"

"I was going to meet Troy but you're more than welcome to come along."

"Oh no, I don't want to intrude." Gabi said shaking her head. "Gray will probably be hungry by the time I got home anyway."

"You wouldn't I'm sure Troy wouldn't mind, you guys are best friends.." Lara said, turning her camera for a different angle.

"It's okay, really." Gabi said softly. "Can I see them when you're done?"

"Of course, I'll print out extras for you…. Grayson!" She cooed for his attention.

November 28, 2013

Gabriella shot up when she heard complete silence. She looked around for a moment, adjusting her eyes. She forgot that she was home for Thanksgiving. Gray was with the three Bolton men next door. She looked at the time. She slept in, no wonder why she felt so good. Her chest was a little sore. They were weaning Gray off breast milk and introducing him to normal baby foods.

She rolled over and seriously thought about laying in bed until dinner time. Just as she was about to close her eyes, somebody knocked at the door. She groaned, sitting up in bed. "Yes?" She called out.

The door opened slightly. "Hey!" Kelsi came in. "I'm home!"

"Kels!" Gabriella popped out of the bed. She wrapped her arms around the red head. "I didn't know you were coming home for Thanksgiving!"

"Yeah, I was feeling a little homesick. Where's Grayson? I can't wait to meet him!" Kelsi asked with a wide grin.

"With his father. I should go get him. God knows Mark and Jack spoiled him rotten already. We can go get lunch or go to the park or something"

Kelsi laughed. "Alright, I'll let you get changed. I'll be downstairs. Your mom promised me a brownie."

Gabi laughed. "I'll be down in a minute." She changed her clothes quickly and threw her curls up in a ponytail. She headed to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. She slipped on her shoes and went down stairs. "Morning family."

"Hey baby." Maria said, kissing the top of her head. "Sleep good?"

"Yeah, I miss Gray though. I think I'm going to get him from Jack's."

"I thought they were bringing him over when they come for dinner?" Maria asked.

"Gabi, we don't have to get him. I'll just come by tomorrow and we can go out then." Kelsi said with a shrug.

Gabi sighed. "Sure, we can go out and eat."

"Alright, I'll see you then." Kelsi gave Gabriella a big hug. "Thanks for the brownie Maria."

"You're welcome sweetheart. You and your parents are more than welcome to come for dinner." Maria waved and turned back to Gabriella who was walking dejectedly back up the stairs. "Where are you going?"

"Back to bed."

"Come on, Gabriella. You don't need to get back in bed. You can help me with dinner."

She sighed. "Mom."

"Please?"

"Fine, what should I get started on?" Gabriella asked, stepping loudly down the stairs.

"First, you talk to me. What's the matter?" Her mother asked her, tilting her head in concern.

She shook her head. "Nothing, why?"

"You're not yourself."

Gabriella sighed. "I don't know. I'm just feeling lonely."

"I highly doubt you can be lonely with a house with four other people." Maria said with a laugh.

"I know it sounds silly but I don't know. Everybody is so busy. I don't even hang out with Troy anymore. We just pass Gray off to each other. Since Shar and Zeke got married, they haven't been around. I don't have any friends because I'm at home with Grayson all day." Gabriella explained. "At least when I'm with him, I don't feel so alone."

Maria frowned. "Oh honey, it won't be like that for long. Once Gray gets older and he'll have to go to school and you'll be working, you'll be missing the days where you only talk to Gray and he can't even talk back to you yet." Maria laughed quietly, kissing her daughters head. "You are such a great mommy Gabi, I am so proud of you."

"Thanks Mom. Since we had this little talk, can I go lay back down?"

Her mother laughed. "No! Don't be lazy. Make some macaroni salad."

"I don't even eat macaroni salad." Gabriella grumbled, walking into the kitchen.

November 29, 2013

The front door closing seemed to wake Gabriella and Gray up. It was three thirty in the morning and she guessed her mother was back from Black Friday shopping. She sat up and took the whimpering Gray out of the crib her parents bought for when they visited.

Her mother peaked in to check on them but Gabi assured everything was fine. She got Grayson to go back to sleep and went back to sleep herself. She got up again to Gray a couple hours later. She took him downstairs, fed him then handed him off to her father while she took a long shower.

After getting dressed and ready, Gabriella made her way down stairs. She poured herself a quick cup of coffee and sat in the front room where Gray and her father were playing. "Hey baby."

"Hi daddy." Gabi said, sitting on the couch with one leg under her butt. "How's work going?"

"Good. I haven't been working much but it's nice to not be so in demand all the time. I'm heading off to Argentina soon." Her father told her. "I've always wanted to go there. I'll be there for only a month."

"I bet mom can't wait to get you out of the house again." Gabi joked with a laugh. She took a sip of her coffee.

"It'll fly by and I'll be back before she knows it."

"Time does fly by. This time last year I was pregnant and crazy. Now I have this awesome little boy. He's getting so big so fast." Gabriella pouted. "In a couple months, he'll be one and you're going away. I'll hopefully graduate before this time next year. I'm already almost thirty!"

Her father laughed. "Once you hit thirty, everything goes in fast forward."

Her mouth dropped in horror. "Don't tell me that!"

"It's the truth baby." Mr. Montez said with a thick laugh. He kissed his grandsons head and turned to get a good look at him. "He's starting to look like Troy now."

"It's his mouth. The way he smiles… his hair. I see me more than Troy but I'm sure when he's older than he'll be more Troy-like."

"Does that bother you?" He asked curiously.

She smiled. "Not at all." She took the last sip of her coffee and got up to put her cup in the sink. She walked back and took Grayson from her father. She leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Me, Gray, and Kels are going out so if you need me, I'll have my phone."

"Alright, drive safe." He handed over the keys to his car. "Need help out?"

"Sure." Gabi buckled Gray into his car seat and let her father carry him out. She grabbed Gray's bag and her purse and followed, hollering a 'goodbye' to her mom who was up the stairs. She walked outside and waved to Kelsi who was walking towards her from the end of the circle.

"Where are we headed?" Kelsi asked, giving Gabriella a bear hug when she reached her.

"Doesn't matter to me. I just had some coffee. We can get brunch or something if you want."

"Sounds good. Hi Mr. Montez." Kelsi said giving Gabriella's father a side hug.

"Hello Kelsi, How's New York?"

"Great. I love it." Kelsi replied with a wide grin.

"Good I'm glad. Have a good time." He waved and walked back into the house.

"Where's your mom?" Kelsi asked, getting into the car.

Gabriella made sure Grayson was hooked up correctly before getting in the front seat. "She's sleeping I think. She got home late with all her shopping." Gabriella laughed. "You should be glad your mom is against all that stuff."

"My mom is crazy." Kelsi said with a laugh. "If it was up to her, she'd live in a naked commune half a mile from the beach. She'd wear hemp clothes and make everything biodegradable."

Gabi threw her head back laughing. "Remember when she made Troy and Chad eat Vegan, gluten free tofu burgers."

"Chad liked it until he found out what it was." Kelsi said, giggling. Gabriella started driving as their giggles subsided. "Hey, Gabs, do you remember Jason from High School?"

"Basketball Jason?" Gabriella asked, chewing her lip.

"Yeah. He was kind of an idiot." Kelsi said with a small smile.

"Yeah, I remember him."

"I ran into him a couple weeks ago." Kelsi said. "He looks pretty much the same but he has some facial hair. We got to talking and he's actually not that idiotic anymore. I guess he censors his random thoughts but anyways, he's actually quite brilliant. He is going to film school."

"Wow, good for him!" Gabi looked over at her friend. "Did he ask you out?"

Kelsi blushed. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you're practically a tomato."

Kelsi laughed, shaking her head. "He did. We've been out a couple times. He's really focused and funny in that goofy kind of way. I think I really like him."

Gabriella smiled over at her friend. "What does Ryan think?"

"I haven't told Ryan. We haven't talked for a while. It's just been easier that way, you know?"

Gabi nodded. "I wish I could not talk to a lot of people."

"I've made a lot of new friends, it's nice not just relying on Ryan to be my friend."

"I wish I could do that. I can't do much anymore since I had Gray."

Kelsi shrugged her shoulders. "Sure you can. Just made friends with other people who have kids too."

Gabriella sighed. "I guess you're right."

December 5, 2013

Gabriella and Grayson were on a plane headed back home. Gabriella had to work a couple of days. Two had two away games in a row so he wouldn't be home until the week before Christmas. She was taking the opportunity to go Christmas shopping for Troy who was away, Taylor and Chad who were still in Albuquerque, Shar and Zeke- she didn't even know where they were exactly, Ryan and Kelsi.

She was reading a book while Gray was sleeping. She was happy he wasn't screaming his head off like most babies do on airplanes. She couldn't wait to get home and sleep in her bed. She couldn't wait to get back to school. She couldn't wait to be finished with school.

The plane landed and Gray woke up. Gabi rolled him through the airport after they got off the plane. She grabbed their luggage and caught a cab to take them home. She surprisingly got everything and Gray into the house in one trip.

After feeding Grayson, she let him play on the floor. She took a seat on the couch and let out a long breath. She closed her eyes enjoying the moment of a quiet, empty house. She opened her eyes and her eyes searched the room for Grayson. He was standing against the table, holding himself up.

Gabriella gasped loudly, causing him to look up at her, surprised. "Gray! You're standing!" She grabbed her phone and snapped a picture before he fell back to his butt. "Your daddy is going to be so proud of you!" She sent the picture to Troy before she scooped Gray up, kissing his face.

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