Thank you so much for all your support! I have finally managed to edit the mammoth document on my computer that was about this incident and this was the last of it! I am so thrilled about the positive feedback I have gotten from you all and I am over the moon about your reactions to this incident overall. A big shout-out to pumkinking 5 and Grace for reviewing my last chapter you are amazing!
Thought, comments and criticism are always welcomed and I do have to warn you that since English is my second language, I am not a 100% certain that I have spelt some idioms correctly. But I really hope I have. If not, then all mistakes are my own!
Please enjoy!
"I was thinking about telling them about drama and as you know proximity to the arts is cleansing for the soul, but I will spare you both. I could imagine you both have a lot going on so on this rare occasion I will let you both do homework," she informed us and we were somewhat in shock. Darbus never allowed to do homework in class.
"Unfortunately I cannot let you off early but you both deserve it," she shared with us, a certain sadness in her voice coming through. "It means a lot," I told her as we sat down starting some of the work.
Friday, February 15th
Gabriella were looking at the clock once again as the time passed. Troy had finished school by now and somehow she knew that he should have been here by now. Maria caught her daughters look and Gabriella offered her a small smile. "Looking for something?" she questioned and Gabriella sighed.
"He should have been here by now. He promised." "I am sure he just got caught up at school. Don't worry sweetheart," Maria tried to ease her daughter's worries.
"But we finished over half an hour ago. He should have been here by now, even if he went home first," she argued looking from the clock towards her mother. "Maybe he won't come at all," Gabriella told her mother darkly.
Maria moved towards her daughter and sat down on the bed beside her, cupping her chin. "Hija," Maria started wiping away a tear that ran down her cheek. "That boy adores you, and do not doubt that, even for a second. He would do everything he can to spend as much time with you as possible. Remember yesterday?" Maria questioned and Gabriella nodded slightly.
"He didn't want to leave your side all day. The only reason he left at night were because he wasn't allowed, because he isn't close family. I heard that Lucille almost had to force him to school today, he would much rather spend it with you," Marie told her daughter kissing her head.
In that moment there were a knock on the door before it opened and Taylor walked inside. "Hey is this a bad time?" she questioned standing in the doorway.
"No," Gabriella said shaking her head. "Please come in," Maria invited and Taylor smiled closing the door behind her.
"Was Troy at school today?" Gabriella questioned her friend at once. "Yes and that is the reason why I am here," Taylor explained taking a seat in the chair. "Troy and Chad had history together before the last period and Mrs Howie gave them both detention after school. I had to finish up with the Scholastic Decathlon club but I came as soon as I could," Taylor shared with her.
"How did he manage to get detention?" Gabriella questioned frowning. "Well something about the two of them not paying attention in class," Taylor explained and Maria smiled looking at her daughter. "He said he would be here as soon as he could," Taylor hurried to add and Gabriella's shoulders sagged in relief.
Back at East High Darbus had been sitting on her throne having been reading the whole time. Troy and Chad had both finished up their work and were beyond bored. Chad were seated beside Troy and the two of them had come up with a game. Each were to make a list of as many names they could in alphabetical order starting with A. Whenever either of them could not think of a name they were to write the next letter in the alphabet and so it continued. By now the two of them were all the way down to Z and it was Chad's turn. He scribbled something onto the paper and passed it to Troy. Unfolding it he saw the single work pass! scribbled onto with bold letters.
Troy laughed and curled the paper together as Darbus looked at the two of them raising an eye. He took the crumbled piece of paper and threw it at his friend hitting him in the head. The ball bounced off his hair and landed on the floor close by. "Idiot," Chad muttered lifting his head to look at his friend. Darbus had no other choice than to laugh quietly looking at the two of them. She glanced at the clock that were situated in the back of the classroom before she closed her book softly.
"Well I have to leave now but I assume you both are staying?" she asked with a little wink at them. "Have a good week-end," she wished the two of them and closed the door behind her.
"Can we leave?" Chad whispered confused and Troy gave him a look. "Ohh…" he suddenly realised making a face. The two boys picked up their backpacks and walked out of the classroom and towards the hospital.
Chad had driven the two of them to the hospital stating that he wanted to say hi to Gabriella too, but Troy suspected that it might be to see Taylor too. The two of them made their way towards her room and entered after knocking. The sight that meet them were both Taylor and Gabriella sitting on the bed with books and papers scattered everywhere. Gabriella looked up once she heard someone enter and she broke out into a big smile seeing her boyfriend.
"Hey you're early," she commented closing the book. "Darbus let us out early. There were only me and Chad there," Troy told him and Taylor frowned cocking her head.
"Are we talking about the same Mrs. Darbus?" she questioned and we all started laughing. "Well I'm glad you're here now. How was school?" she questioned but Troy heard the slight fear in her voice.
"School is school," he shrugged taking a seat beside her bed. Gabriella nodded before looking at Taylor whom were starting to gather the scattered papers. "We should just call it a day. You've really helped me," Taylor told Gabriella looking at her.
"It was nothing. I enjoy doing this Taylor really," Gabriella told her helping to gather everything. "Scholastic decathlon team?" Chad questioned looking at the content on the bed. "Yes, we have a competition soon which I really hope I could participate in but for the time being the least I could do is to help Taylor," Gabriella explained and Taylor stopped abruptly looking at her.
"Gabi don't worry about it. If you're there that would be awesome but just focus on getting better and we'll take it from there," Taylor assured her and Gabriella nodded. "Alright."
"How are you Gabster?" Chad questioned earning a genuine smile from Gabriella. "I am better defiantly but I am not a hundred percent yet but I am getting there," she told them confidently. "And all of you guys have defiantly help me so thank you," she told them honestly which earned a smile from everyone in the room.
"I hope you know that you can give anyone of us a call if there should be anything," Chad told her and Troy nodded agreeing earning a smile from both of the girls.
"Oh I defiantly know," Gabriella answered looking at Troy. "Especially love boy over there," Taylor whispered to Gabriella but not quietly enough for the two boys not to hear.
"I heard that Taylor," Troy told her laughing. "What?" she asked faking clueless earning a laugh from her best friend.
"Come on Chad," Taylor told her boyfriend taking his hand. "Let's leave the lovebirds alone," she continued almost dragging him behind her. "Thanks Taylor I'll remember that," Gabriella laughed. "Bye see you soon," she called out as they left us laughing.
"I am sorry I couldn't be her earlier," Troy apologized taking her hand. "No it's okay. I won't lie and say I wasn't worried but I understand now," Gabriella said and leaned forwards kissing him softly. She smiled once she felt the spark in their kiss and she felt Troy smile too.
"I love you Troy. So much it hurts," Gabriella said gazing deep into his eyes. "I love you too Gabriella. Don't ever doubt it," he told her and kissed her softly once more.
"I'm tired of being here," she said with a sigh changing the theme of their conversation. "I could understand that. On that note, I spoke to the principal today and he was wondering when you were returning to school and that when you did just to talk to one of the teachers or him if there should be anything. Also, I cleaned out your locker for the notes."
"Thank you, it means a lot. I want to go back to school but I don't want history to be repeated," she confessed and he looked at her somatically. "It won't," he assured her. "Brittney was expelled, Alexandra was suspended with detention and Chad, Taylor and I gave the notes to the principal today so he was going to look into that," Troy shared and she visibly relaxed.
"Besides when you return I won't leave your side and all of the other Wildcats will be there," he confessed and to his surprise, Gabriella smiled patting the spot on the bed beside her. "You're the best," Gabriella told him as he sat down, cuddling into him. Troy wrapped his hands around her and kissed her forehead.
"I'll always be there for you, whatever happens, no matter the distance," he told her almost in a whisper.
"Tomorrow," Gabriella started looking at him, gaining his attention. "Tomorrow I'm going to talk to the doctors all day and I think you should spend some time with your mom," Gabriella confessed. "If you're sure," he told her a little hesitantly.
"Be with your mom, play basket with the others and have some fun. It's going to be boring for you here at the hospital because I doubt you'll be allowed to be here. I'll call you if I need you okay?" she questioned and he agreed.
"Don't be scared to call ok? I would be here in a heartbeat," he told her. "I know," she smiled.
Troy arrived home a little after seven that evening and entering the house his mother was in the kitchen making dinner. "Hello, how was school?" she questioned walking out greeting her son.
"Okay," he told her putting his backpack on the chair by the table, kicking off his shoes. "Me and Chad ended up in detention though," he told her with a sigh taking off his jacket. There was no point in lying seeing as she would know in the end.
"Really? How did that happen?" she questioned knowing that Troy usually did not get himself into trouble.
"It was in history and neither one of us paid attention so when our teacher asked a question neither of us could answer. Twice," he confessed and surprisingly enough Lucille was smiling. "Taylor went over to the hospital to tell Gabriella after school," Troy continued following his mother into the kitchen.
"That was nice of her," Lucille said retrieving the food, putting it on the table. "Yeah, the two of them have been friends since Gabriella moved here last year," he shared sitting down with his mom to eat dinner.
On Saturday Troy showed his mother around in Albuquerque before he met up with Jason, Zeke and Chad to play some basketball. Well, as much as he could with his hand still in a cast being well aware that he shouldn't play at all…
In the evening he received a text from his girlfriend stating that she was having meetings at the hospital tomorrow as well not knowing the surprise he was in for on Monday morning.
"So Gabriella Dr Juanez is ready for you now," the nurse told her and Gabriella nodded. "Thanks," she told her and together with her mother she walked towards the psychologist's office.
"Are you hopeful about going home?" Maria questioned her daughter who nodded excitedly. "Yes. I am ready for it only to be the two of us," Gabriella told her as they walked down the hallway.
"Do you really think Troy would leave you alone?" Maria asked and Gabriella blushed. "No," she muttered smiling. "No need to be shy hija. That boy adores you, and he will do anything for you. I know your father would very much approve of him, and so do I," Maria told her daughter.
"Thank you, mom. It means a lot to me," she told her almost excitedly and they stopped outside her office.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Maria asked looking at Gabriella as she thought for a split second. "Is it all right if I go by myself?" she questioned and Maria nodded.
"Of course hija. I will be right outside if there should be anything," Maria told her watching as her daughter knocked on the door before entering. She gave her one last encouraging smile before she sat down in one of the leather couches there.
"Hello Gabriella," Dr Juanez greeted her in her thick Spanish accent. "It's good to see you again," she greeted and got up to shake her hand. "Hello Estelinda," Gabriella said taking a seat in the large chair there.
"I see you're here alone," she commented and Gabriella nodded. "Yeah," she breathed out having a quick moment of doubt about her decision. "Mom is sitting just outside waiting," she told her and Gabriella seemed to gain a little confidence by saying that sentence.
"So mom still won't know anything about what we're talking about?" Gabriella questioned making sure. "Not if you don't want to," Estelinda assured her. "This could stay between the two of us."
Gabriella took a deep breath looking at her therapist, meeting her look. "There is one thing I am worried about," Gabriella started. "Please share," Estelinda encouraged her.
"After I've been discharged. I want to return to school but what if something pushed me over the edge. What if I actually go so far as killing myself?" Gabriella asked her voice thick with emotions.
"It sounds as you don't want that to happen. That you want to live," Estelinda said and Gabriella nodded agreeing. "When you say you want to live I believe you, Gabriella. You seem so much better than when we first spoke. Why do you think that is?" she asked wanting Gabriella to say it herself.
"I can thank my boyfriend, my friends and of course mom. They have really been there for me for the past week. I love all of them," Gabriella told Estelinda smiling from ear to ear.
Estelinda didn't say anything and watched Gabriella as she suddenly realised something. "Oh my gosh," she suddenly realised. "Mhm. I would say you have improved enormously. Earlier you didn't think that people loved you because…" "because I stated so myself, but now I know that they really do because they have been there for me," Gabriella finished.
"Exactly and that means you have improved. I won't lie to you, Gabriella. You will have days that are harder than others where the world seems to be against you. Therefore, I want you to write down things that make you happy," she said handing her a paper and pen.
"Why?" Gabriella questioned. "You'll see. Write a list about what makes you the happiest at the top and continue," she said and watched as Gabriella took the pen and started writing.
Gabriella did as her psychologists said and put down the pen down when she was done. "I don't need to read it, Gabriella. No-one besides you have to unless you want to," Estelinda clarified to her. "Now whenever feel down and things go against you I want you to look at that list and do one or several things on there to make you feel better. Experience shows that most suicide victims have a hard time on the date of their suicides, but being around loved once always help," Estelinda confessed.
"Thank you Estelinda," Gabriella told the woman smiling. "You're welcome dear," she told her having a smile of her own.
"Is there anything else you want to talk about?" she asked and Gabriella thought for a moment. "No, I don't think so." "Ok, that was it for this time then. I would say you are ok to be discharged and sent home but I want you to remember that you can call me and set up an appointment at any time. Also, the school nurse is great to talk to if it is urgent. Remember you are not alone Gabriella," Estelinda said.
"Thank you for everything," Gabriella said standing up. "No problem. You are a beautiful young woman with a bright future ahead of you. Go out and enjoy yourself," Estelinda advised.
"I will," Gabriella agreed with a smile hugging her. "This is not a goodbye, it's I'll see you later, but hopefully during other circumstances," Gabriella told her wisely. "I couldn't agree more," Estelinda smiled proudly.
Gabriella walked out of her office, the list in hand, and saw her mother sitting there waiting. "How did it go?" she asked putting the magazine down walking towards her daughter.
"Great. We talked and she gave me some advice on how to tackle hard days and reminded me that I could just call her or talk to the school nurse," Gabriella summed up. "That's great hija. Did she tell you anything about when you could go?" Maria questioned hopefully.
"As soon as the doctors would allow so I am hoping for today. I miss my bed," she stated and Maria laughed hugging her daughter. "Oh sweetheart."
That was it! Hope you all liked it and things are finally looking good for Gabriella! Comments are always appreciated.
-FreeFlyingWriter