“I came back to tell you. Tell you before you hear about it.” Gabby said
authoritatively.
A woman dressed in an emerald green dress and matching dress shoes,
with dark auburn hair that was accentuated by the dress and gold hanging on
her ears and neck, and deep blue eyes, much like Gabrielle’s, asked sharply,
“And what may that be? Don’t waste my time here. I do not have time for more
unattainable dreams.”
A frown plastered upon her face, Gabby looked at the two people in front
of her. She was disgusted. Truly disgusted. In a time long ago, and far away,
she had treasured these two people with all that she had inside of her. They
were her heros, her friends, her “cheering squad” to brighten things up on a
gloomy day, her parents. How much her father had changed since that fatefull
day she had last seen him. His once blonde hair was now lightened with traces
of gray, dark circles under his perviously bright eyes, no smile upon his face. He
wasn’t the man that she called “Daddy” any longer. He was a withered old man,
with no spark left in him. It was as though he had lost his world the day that
Gabrielle stepped out of his life. She thought to herself,”Oh Daddy, if only you
had believed in me. Maybe things wouldn’t be the way they are today. I’d still
be your little girl.”
Turning slightly on her heels, Gabby’s sorrowful eyes met Justin’s. He
had now become her world, her everything. Within the past few months, he had
brought so many smiles to her face, so many reasons to go on, so much
assurance. At that moment, Gabrielle looked at Justin in a new light. He really
was quite handsome. Curls sat atop his head, gorgeous blue eyes, and his
hands... For some reason, Gabby loved his hands. Beforehand, she just would
not allow herself to see it. She knew she couldn’t stand ever being separated
from him. For, at that moment, 18 year old Gabrielle Reynolds knew that she
was in love- in love with the person she turned to whenever she needed a friend.
That by itself gave her the courage to turn around and face her greatest fear.
“I know you don’t support me, but I felt that you had a right to know... I’ve
been signed to a contract with JIVE records and have begun recording my
album. Now, I’m not trying to make you do anything. Frankly, I’ve given up on
both of you. I don’t understand how you could turn your backs on me, but I’m
over that now. A very good friend helped me see that...” she looked back at
Justin, smiled, and continued, “Helped me see that I can stand own my own two
feet.”
Justin’s gaze moved from Gabby’s parents to her- wonderful Gabby.
Days beforehand, when he was away from her, it was then that Justin realized
that he loved her. He loved her, and was in love with her. It was with the help of
JC that this was brought to his attention. He fondly recalled it as he sat staring
intently at Gabrielle.
“Justin?” JC flashed his hand in front of Justin’s face again, then
mutterered, “Oh no. Here we go again.”
Flinching when JC’s fist came down on his arm roughly, Justin
asked, “Man! What do you want?”
“You’re in LaLa Land again.” JC announced, humored.
“Sorry, I was thinking about something.” Justin stated,
apologetically.
JC muttered, “More like someone.”
Justin’s eyebrows furrowed and he asked sharply, “And what’ s that
supposed to mean?”
Calmly, JC answered, “You’re thinking about Gabby- again. Just
face it, dude.”
“Face what?” Justin asked, knowing full well what JC was getting
at.
Trying to hide his amusement at the situation, he answered, “You,
my friend, are in love with Gabby. If you want to admit it or not...”
A bright smile crossed Justin’s attractive features, “You’ve got that
right, JC. You definitely got that right.”
Gabby’s father, Johnathan, walked Gabby, Justin, Lani and House to the
door, stepping outside with them. Her mother, Mildred, had refused to even say
goodbye, claiming that her daughter had simply tried to make them think her
fantasies had become reality. Johnathan was a completely different story.
Overcome by anxiety, he cleared his throat, pensively looking at his daughter.
“Look at you, Gabby. You’re all grown up. My little girl. I’m... I’m so sorry
for what happened. There wasn’t a day that passed that I didn’t think of you.
Think of you and wonder if you were alright, if you were safe, where you were.
Your mother... things and I aren’t working out between us anymore, darling. The
minute you walked out the door, I said we were wrong. We were so wrong. I
should have come after you the minute you walked out. I’ve always wanted
things to work out for you Gabby. I’m just sorry that you had to do it alone. Can
you ever forgive me?” He pleaded, a pained look in his eyes.
Justin’s hand found its way into Gabby’s squeezing hers for reassurance.
Her eyes falling to the ground, Gabby thought of what to say. Never was she
going to aologize for leaving, due to the fact that she had met someone who had
altered her life for the better. “We can’t change the past, Daddy. And we can’t
look back. Someone very...very important in my life taught me that. The only
way to look is forward. I’m fully willing to move on, if you are. Clearly Mother
isn’t.”
“I’ve filed for divorce, Gabby. We.. we aren’t right for each other. Maybe
I’m fooling myself. Maybe we never were. I’m sorry to have to tell you this way.”
Gabby then thought to herself, “Thus, the fairytale is completely
distorted.” Looking back at Justin, she thought again, “But maybe a new one is
starting...” Her Prince Charming smiled at her, making her feel warm inside.
The story was truly just beginning to unfold.
