I'm Only Me When I'm With You
Chapter 3
She awoke groggily her eyes bleary with sleep. She wasn't sure where she was but she knew she wasn't at home in her bed. She was on Troy's couch - again. She groaned and looked at the clock - 2pm. Every Saturday when her shift finished she would head up here mainly because she finished at twelve and she had no hope of getting out of the car park then. She would curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea and the food safety book and wake at three or later. Sometimes it even got to six pm and if it was that late then Troy would wake her. However sometimes Troy would just leave her and wake her at six to have breakfast and go straight to work before she headed to college.
"Brie!" called Troy, as she headed into the kitchen.
"Hmm," she answered.
"You're awake today," said Troy.
Gabriella nodded.
"You came back from college at one help to clean down a bit and serve, came up here and fell asleep," said Troy.
"I don't know what's up with me I can't stop sleeping," said Gabriella, as she grabbed a towel.
"You've started a new job, you're getting up early, you have sore feet, college and college work that keeps you up late," said Troy. "So when you have a free minute you just want to fall asleep."
Gabriella nodded.
"I just don't get why you don't fall asleep at home," said Troy. "I mean I get why you don't go home on a Saturday getting out of the centre of town at that time is a nightmare and no one wants you to have an accident. But after college coming here doesn't make sense," said Troy.
"There's no one there," said Gabriella. "I don't like sleeping in a house on my own."
"Mum?" asked Troy.
"Business trip in the Philippines that has extended into a family reunion holiday before she heads to Hawaii when her latest boyfriend and then Paris and then New York for a business trip," said Gabriella.
"Isn't she married to your dad?" asked Troy.
"No at anymore she served him a divorce a couple of years ago and all though he fought for her, she didn't want him. He wanted her to happy so he signed," sighed Gabriella. "Anyway it's all in the past now."
Troy nodded. "If you need to talk you know where I'll be said."
Gabriella nodded. "Can I have a quick break. I um need some air?" asked Gabriella.
Troy nodded and turned back to the dishes not noticing Gabriella grab something from her bag before she headed out into the alley outside the kitchen - until he smelled smoke- and when he looked, there she was Gabriella cigarette hanging from her lips as she leaned against the wall looking slightly morbid.
"What the hell are you doing?" he asked.
Startled the cigarette fell from her mouth as she looked up open mouthed.
"I um err," she stuttered.
Troy leaned against the door frame, arm crossed waiting.
"What's it to you?" asked Gabriella.
"Gabriella what are you doing?" asked Troy.
"I'm on my break," snapped Gabriella, grabbing another cigarette from her pocket.
Troy looked at her a sad smile on his face, shook his head and headed back inside.
"Your break finishes in five minutes!" he called.
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Gabriella Somerfield