Chapter 7

Strolling in Gabby’s room, JC stepped backwards, surprised to see Gabby sitting up in bed. Unable to contain himself, he spat out, “Gabbbbbby! OHMIGOD!”

Wrinkling her nose, Gabrielle looked at JC curiously. “May I help you?”

Grinning, JC unknowingly replied, “Sweetie, you just made my day! This is so fabulous. No one thought that you’d ever wake up! The press is gonna have an eruption! You’ll be on every newspaper. I can see the headlines now. ‘Pop Star Gabby Reynolds Ready to Lead The Pack Once Again.’” JC smiled sheepishly, “I’m sorry, I’m just so happy to see you finally up, girl. It sure was a shocker.”

A frown plastered on her face, she asked, “Who are you?”

Laughing nervously, he answered, “Verrrry funny Gabby. Hah. Almost got me there.”

Shrugging, she responded, “What do you mean almost?”

Puzzled, JC replied, “You almost got me.. about who I was...” A questionnative tone became firm in his voice.

“I don’t know who you are,” Gabby responded firmly. JC’s eyes fixed to tiny slits as he searched her face of some sign of sarcasm. He found nothing. “Gabby.. does the name JC sound familiar to you?”

Shaking her head, Gabby’s blonde hair fell in her face, she hastily brushed it back and barked, “Why does everyone keep asking me that? Do you remember this? Do you remember that? No! The answer is NO! I don’t remember anything! So just.. just stop asking me. I don’t even know how old I am... when my birthday is, nothing! I could live in a box for all I remember. And I wake up and that guy with the curly hair is kissing me and- wait, you... do you know who he is?”

Nodding slowly, JC leaned against the bed, “Gabby, you may not remember right now, but that’s Justin.... Justin Timberland. He’s... he’s your boyfriend..”

Frowning as a tear dripped down her face, she sobbed, “I feel like such an invalid.. I can’t.. I can’t remember anyone. What about my parents? Where are they?”

Weary, JC ran a hand over his face. Today was definitely one of the strangest days JC had experienced lately- if not ever. “Your, your mom died Gabby. A few months back. Your father has been here, but he had to go back to California to work on some business.”

Rolling over, her back to JC, Gabby spoke through her crying, “I hate this. I hate this so much. I can’t.. I can’t even remember who I am. I feel like I stepped into the life of another person.” Suddenly, Gabby rolled around, “Could you tell me? Tell me about my life?”

Squeezing her shoulder gently, JC answered, “You’ll find out. You’ll find out in due time... In due time...”

Silently, JC slipped out of the room in search of Justin. There was no point exposing Gabby until her superstar lifestyle until it was completely necessary. After all, Gabrielle Reynolds would be thrown back into the perilous life of a pop superstar soon enough. Now it was a time for her to rest.

From where Justin sat on the floor next to a purring Tinkerbell, he spoke aloud to the now large cat, “Tinky... your mommy isn’t gonna know you girl. Why should she know you? She doesn’t even know me.”

Justin’s eyes were fixated on a large ball of string that he held in the air above the cat. Before he could snap out of his trance, the cat’s paw caught him across the face. Shooing Tinkerbell away, Justin stood, at last glancing around the tiny apartment filled with Gabby’s things, and bags and bags of fan mail that Justin had brought from the studio. Slowly, he walked until he stood in front of the mail bag. ‘Someone has to sort through it,’ he reasoned silently with himself. After grabbing a stack of envelopes, Justin stretched out on the couch. His limbs relaxed, as he slid a finger under the seal of an envelope. It was time to do a little reading. The first letter started out like many, but the context of the later part of the letter caught Justin’s attention.

Dear Gabrielle,
I’m writing this letter, unsure of weather your eyes will ever see this. Even if you don’t someone will, and whoever you are, thank you. Thank you for taking five minutes to read my letter.
You see Gabby, you and I aren’t very different after all. I’m a young girl such as yourself. But me, I like to write. It’s my passion. Something happened a few months back however, that made me stop writing. I don’t know if I will ever be able to write again, just as the doctors don’t know that you’ll ever wake again, let alone sing. You not singing, is very much like me writing, you see. I love to write, I just haven’t been able to yet. So, Gabby, I just wanted to let you know, if not for my own sake and sanity, that there is someone out there that is just like you.
It’s such a classic tragedy, your story. The heroin that everyone is praying will wake up, and her Prince Charming, who waits by her side day and night, hoping Snow White will wake. Hoping her eyes will roll open and meet his eyes, a tear stream down her face, and a happily ever after ending. Doesn’t everyone want that kind of ending , Gabby? I know that I would. I, too, have a Prince Charming, only, he doesn’t know that I myself need to be woken up. I need to be woken up to.. the world around me, I suppose you could say. I wish I had the strength to do that myself, but.. somehow I don’t think that I do. All that I need is a little help. Maybe some day he’ll realize that. After that first push, I know that I could spread my wings like a tiny bird and fly. When you do wake, I pray you meet face to face with Justin, who everyone knows is part of your happily ever after ending... I also pray that you both know how lucky you are... how lucky you are to have someone that is pat of you... that is your heart and soul, and to have them feel the same way you do about them. The world would be a better place if we all had someone like that.
I wish you all the best Gabby... I think both of us need a little luck.
Love always,
Your Sister of The Pen-
“The Writing Angel”

For a mere second, Justin’s eyes were fixed on the letter in his hands. The penmanship was so perfect... so... so familiar.. He couldn’t remember where he had seen that same handwriting before. After glancing at the clock, he realized exactly how long he’d been sitting reading and re-reading the letter. It was time to see Gabby and try to see just how far her limits could be pushed at the moment. Justin locked the door, and as he did, he vowed to find out exactly why the handwriting was so familiar.