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A Gaby FanFic by PB
Chapter 7
After they dropped off the rest, it was actually dark when the minibus, now with just the British escorts, Miss Bell and ‘ Maddy ' parked up at Augusta High.
“Well … goodnight Jess … Maddy,” Mr. Pilling bade as he and Miss C headed to the car the school board was leasing for their use while they were in Grottoes..
“Night … John,” Jessica replied.
“We'll meet up about ten in the morning … G'nite Maddy,” Fran reminded Jessica.
“See you then,” replied Miss Bell.
“Er … G'nite Miss,” ‘ Maddy ' replied.
“Come on Maddy … if we're real quick getting home, we'll just catch ‘Buffy',” Miss Bell said with some excitement. Gaby followed Miss Bell to her car and noticed it was a black VW Jetta.
“Come on … get in,” Jessica urged. Gaby found the door took a bit of effort to open. The catch was stuck and it needed a bit of assistance from Miss B to get it open. “I really should let the auto shop look at that … they said it's probably just a bit out of alignment when I asked at Doug's last Fall,” Jess apologized.
Maddy's quick briefing of Jessica's place was pretty accurate and Gaby had no problem acting as if she'd been there hundreds of times , even in the dark. It occurred to her that she'd ridden by Jessica's several times when her training rides took her out to Piedmont and beyond. When they got inside the house, Gaby again felt that it was familiar. True to her word, Jessica got them home in time for “Buffy” and for the next thirty minutes the two languished in front of the television.
“Is that the time? Damn! …Come on, Maddy … we don't have much time to get ready … the Roberts are expecting us in an hour!” Jessica urgently exclaimed.
“The Roberts?” This was new to Gaby. Maddy never told her about doing dinner with the Roberts.
“Remember? … I told you this morning, we're having dinner with the Roberts tonight,” Jessica replied. Still seeing an inquisitive look on “ Maddy's ” face, she added, “Samuel's parents?”
“Umm … I must have forgotten … sorry,” Gaby offered, still somewhat bemused.
“No jeans, please … put on something nice!” Jessica instructed as Gaby started up the stairs.
“…'kay,” ‘ Maddy ' answered.
Gaby arrived at Maddy's room, resigned to whatever she has set her up for. Looking around, Gaby spied a phone and promptly fell upon it, quickly dialing the Walters number.
“Umm … hi, this is Ga … ‘ Maddy Peters' … can I talk to ‘ Gaby ' … please?” Gaby found herself having to think carefully, before she spoke.
“Oh, hi Mad … its Deb. Sure … I'll just call her down.” Debbie cheerfully replied.
“Thanks,” Gaby replied as she heard Deb obviously put her hand over the receiver and call for ‘ Gaby '.
Time drags on when you're in a hurry and Gaby held on for what seemed like hours before she heard Maddy's voice on the other end.
“Hullo?” ‘ Gaby ' asked.
“It's me, Mad!” Gaby quietly replied into the phone. Last thing she wanted was for Jessica to overhear the conversation.
“… ‘ Maddy ' … what's up?” Thinking carefully, Maddy inquired ever so aware that both Walters girls may be within earshot.
“I'll tell you what's up! … Dinner at the Roberts! … An' just who is this Sam-u-el?” Gaby hissed. The tone of her voice told Maddy that Gaby was not pleased!
“Oh! … I forgot about that,” ‘ Gaby ' replied in an attempt to dismiss the whole anticipated conversation.
“Convenient!” Gaby replied, unconvinced of her girlfriend's sincerity.
“Honest … I'm sorry!” ‘ Gaby ' apologized. In truth, Gaby did think Maddy did sound like she meant it, but she still had a nagging feeling about it.
“So who's this Samuel character?” Gaby demanded.
“He's in my homeroom an' he gets a lift home with us sometimes .. that's all,” Maddy innocently offered.
“Oh,” Gaby replied, still unconvinced.
“There's nothing going on,” she defensively blurted.
“I never thought there was … until now,” Gaby quietly and slowly, allowed.
“Really … we just do homeroom together …honest!” Maddy pleaded.
“We'll talk later!” Gaby made no attempt to hide her displeasure and then added in a more calm tone, “But right now … Jessica expects Maddy to get ready for dinner … just what am I supposed to wear?”
“Don't get your knickers in a knot! … I brought the dress you gave me for my birthday … by the way I like the stuff you got last weekend … you can really walk in those heels? … Wow! … I'm impressed” Maddy quietly carried on.
“Mad!” Gaby's impatience was beginning to show.
“Oh, alright! … If you go in the wardrobe, you'll find the dress hanging up … lingerie is in the dresser, second drawer from the top … just don't go poking around.” Maddy whispered as she thought she heard someone re-enter the once vacant living-room.
“May I remind you … they're my drawers for the weekend … an' I'll need clean undies before the weekend's out … won't I?” Gaby sarcastically mentioned, confident she scored a point against Maddy.
“Yeah … well … ok,” Maddy conceded, her voice conveying a certain disappointment.
“What's wrong … Mad?” Gaby quietly asked.
“Nothing … I gotta go,” ‘ Gaby ' mentioned. “Brit's calling me.”
“Yeah well … g'nite … an' remember the ride in the morning!” Gaby answered.
“Okay ... have a nice dinner … an' … I really am sorry I dropped you in it,” Maddy softly apologized. Just as she was putting the receiver down, Maddy quickly brought it back up to her mouth, “' Maddy '? …”
“I'm still here Mad,” Gaby whispered. She then heard the distinct sound of Maddy placing a kiss on the receiver before she hung up.
The dress was where she said and with minimal digging Gaby found fresh underwear. The lacy set looked like they'd do the trick. Clothing resolved, next the shower!
“There you are Maddy … I was beginning to wonder … my … but that dress looks lovely on you,” Jessica gushed.
“Thanks … ummm … it was a birthday present!” ‘ Maddy. ' admitted, slowly twirling to show Jessica the dress.
“Well … whoever bought it for you has great taste,” Jessica replied.
‘ Maddy ' blushed a bit, never thinking that when she tried it on and bought it for Maddy's 14 th birthday, that she'd be wearing it herself to a dinner. In some nagging way, Gaby felt a bit uncomfortable knowing that she could easily pass for Maddy and vice versa.
The drive to the dinner date was barely five minutes from start to finish as it was only at the other end of Piedmont.
“Hi, Jessica … and you must be Madeline! … Sam never stops talking about you!” Sam's mother greeted them as she allowed the two to enter the house.
As ‘ Maddy ' unbuttoned her coat and started to remove it, Mrs. Roberts observed, “My … that's a pretty dress … it looks very nice on you!”
While they were taking off their coats, ‘ Maddy ' noticed a slight and spotty youth bound into the hall that they had now occupied. She at once assumed that this must be Samuel.
“Hey Maddeeeee … glad you could come! … Did you enjoy the caves?”
Gaby was taken somewhat aback. She reasoned that it's one thing to dress up in Maddy's clothes and look like her but to be thrown into a social situation and to act like her with total strangers was something totally above and beyond. They knew her, but how well? That was one of the many new questions Gaby had for Mad. In the meantime, Gaby reasoned she would just have to play it by ear and do the best she can to be Maddy.
“It was quite nice.” ‘ Maddy ' politely replied.
“C'mon kids … Sam don't keep Madeline out here … take her into to the family room,” Mrs. Roberts directed. “You wanna soda Maddy?” Sam asked, playing the ever attentive host.
“Please … Ummm … have you got any Diet?” Familiar with the American use of ‘soda', Gaby had to think fast, momentarily forgetting what her Maddy drank.
“Oh sure … that's all Mom drinks … Diet Pepsi ok?” Gaby nodded her approval.
“And who's this delicate flower?” Gaby found herself blushing deeply as Mr. Roberts greeted their arrival in the family room.
“Dad, this is the girl I told you about … Maddy Peters ... Maddy this is my Dad.” Sam eagerly performed the introductions.
“Nice to meet you Miss Peters ... c'mon in and grab a seat!” Mr. Roberts invited ‘ Maddy ' to make herself at home with a sweeping gesture of his hand.
“Um, thanks … Mr. Roberts,” ‘ Maddy ' replied. She was still unsure of her performance. As Gaby sat down, one question kept racing through her mind. “Just what did Sam tell his dad about Maddy?”
“ Where ‘bouts in England, do you call home … Madeline?” Mr. Roberts asked.
“Warsop … that's a small town in central England … near Nottingham,” ‘Maddy' offered.
“I'll get that drink Maddy,” Sam enthused.
“Okay … thanks.” Casting her eyes around the room, Gaby spotted what looked like a safe and comfortable seat then proceeded to head for it.
“You don't want to sit way over there Maddy … come sit by the fire,” Mr. Roberts offered, indicating a large overstuffed armchair or couch. Considering her outfit, Gaby chose the ‘safer' of the two and took the chair.
“So, Maddy … my son being a bore yet?” Mr. Roberts asked in an attempt to lighten the situation.
“Er … not really … so far he's been a perfect host,” ‘Maddy' answered. Considering he only offered to get her a drink, she figured she told the truth.
“Well … he seems to be quite taken with you … it's Maddy this and Maddy that and I think I can see why,” Sam's dad confided.
Gaby again blushed a deep red but was rescued from further embarrassing compliments by the arrival of Jessica and Amanda Roberts.
“What have you been saying Cory Roberts?” his wife asked seeing that ‘ Maddy ' was a crimson red.
“Nothing Mand … hi Jess!” Mr. Roberts innocently replied then seeing Jessica, tried to re-direct the conversation.
“Hi Cory … you got one of them for me?” Jessica asked, indicating the beer in Mr. Roberts hand.
Sam brought ‘ Maddy ' her drink while his father got up to fetch one for Miss Bell. Gaby sipped carefully and took the opportunity to check out the rest of the room. As she was looking around the room at the many family photos and paintings, she noticed Miss Bell ‘freeze' as she was about to take a sip of her beer, and give Gaby a curious wide-eyed look.
“Dinner will be about ten minutes ... people!” Amanda announced as she returned to the living room after checking on the meat.
“Ummm … excuse me … but could I use the toilet please?” Gaby timidly asked Mr. Roberts.
“Oh … sure Madeline … Sam show her the way!” his dad suggested.
Sam jumped up from his makeshift seat on the arm of her chair. Until that moment, Gaby was unaware he was even there.
“C'mon Maddy! … It's out in the hallway,” Sam mentioned.
Gracefully getting out of the chair was harder than she thought it would be, but in the end ‘ Maddy ' managed it. Once safely behind the closed door of the washroom, she sat down to take care of things and at the same time tried to think of how she got here and what her next step would be. Obviously, this Sam had a crush on her Maddy. Question was, was the feeling mutual? Why did Maddy accept the dinner? Gaby filed these additional questions away for a future time.
Luckily, with the three adults playing interference, any hopes that Sam had of advancing his relationship with ‘ Mad ' were effectively stomped on. The food was okay and most of the conversation centred around Sam's siblings. Gaby learned Sam's older sister, Jane was away at university and Joshua joined the Navy last summer.
After they'd eaten, ‘ Maddy ' was quite surprised when Miss Bell announced that both of them would have to leave in short order. It seemed to her, that despite Sam's attempts at romantic advances, it was a bit rude to just eat and run. Sam's face predictably dropped at the news. Obviously, he was hoping to get some one-on-one with ‘ Maddy '! In the end, Jessica's quick departure took nearly an hour when all was said and done! It was nearly ten before they walked out the door.
“Glad that's over with!” Jessica extolled as she and ‘ Maddy ' got into the car. “I never would've guessed Sam to be that aggressive with girls ... he's so quiet at school ... I can't believe Cory and Amanda allowed as much of that kind of behaviour as they did!” The more she thought about it, the tenser her face muscles became.
Jessica pulled out of the Robert's driveway and onto the main county road heading back to her place. The return trip was a short and quiet one, with Gaby staring out the front passenger window at the passing farms. As she pulled into her own driveway and turned the car off, Jess turned to her young passenger.
“You alright ... Gaby? The sound of her name brought Gaby out of her trace and she jerked her head around to look at Miss Bell. “I said ... you alright, Gaby?”
“That's twice you called me Gaby ... I'm Maddy!”
“Ut uh ... I ... don't ... think ... so!” Jess quietly replied as she worked to move “Maddy's” hair behind her left ear, finally uncovering it as she uttered the last word. “Maddy doesn't have this piercing but I clearly remember Gaby did when we were in Warsop ... You obviously had it removed … b ut the hole's not quite healed over yet,” Jessica observed. “Am I right?”
“Yes m'am,” Gaby forlornly admitted.
“Who's idea was it to switch places on me?” Miss B quietly asked.
“I kinda guess it was the both of us,” Gaby replied and quickly added, “But it wasn't you … honest! ... It was Brit! ... You gonna take me back to the Walter's now?” Gaby was almost in tears by this time. They made no provision in their deal to cover if Gaby was discovered! “Mad will never let me hear the last of it, if you do!”
After a short silence, Jessica leaned over, gently cupped her hand behind Gaby's head and gave her a peck on the forehead then softly instructed, “Let's go inside and get ready for bed ... we'll be more comfortable ... then ... we'll talk over some hot chocolate or something ... ok?” Gaby nodded her head and the two girls got out of the car.
As they headed into the house, Jessica turned to Gaby and remarked, “Maybe a weekend away from Britney might be just what the doctor ordered ... I certainly know her mom can get to you after a while! ... C'mon ... we'll make this our own “girl's weekend” ... just the two of us! ... Ok?” Gaby turned and gave Jessica a long hug as a reply. “Now … go change and I'll make us some hot chocolate ... or would you prefer tea? ... Maddy tells me I make a pretty good ‘cuppa'!”
“Tea please, Miss,” Gaby replied as she ran upstairs to ‘her' room.
Maddy's description of Jessica's house was fairly complete, as Gaby was finding out. Everything seemed so familiar, it was as if she had been there before. Once in Mad's room, Gaby stripped to her bra and panties before rummaging around Maddy's things, looking for a nightgown. In her search, she came across several intimate items that she couldn't recall seeing Maddy wear. In ‘ her ' closet, Gaby found a couple of dresses and skirts that were also new to her. Gaby realised she had no idea of how long she was occupied with Maddy's wardrobe when she heard the back door close and Jessica come up the stairs.
“I'm just going to change ... I've put the water on ... meet you downstairs ... ok?” Jessica asked as she poked her head in the door. Seeing Gaby in the lingerie she picked out when changing for the dinner at Sam's, Jess couldn't help but recall her confusion about Drew in Warsop. Even when they left England, she still had doubts but concluded Drew was a girl. Now she had no doubts! “There's no way Gaby is a boy in that lace bra and panty set! Why did Maddy tell me Drew is a boy?”
“Tea's ready!” Jessica called up the stairs.
Gaby didn't realise that she'd been sitting on Maddy's bed and thinking about the day's events for any length of time, but accepted it was long enough for Jessica to change then return to the kitchen and make the tea. As Jess was setting out the tea on the living room table, Gaby came down the stairs wearing an ankle-length emerald green silk nightgown trimmed in lace and a matching cover-up. Jessica stood up and watched as Gaby made her entrance.
“You look very pretty in that, I must say ... but ... you really must loose those yellow fluffy slippers!” Jessica was able to be serious until she noticed the slippers.
“I think they're the only ones Maddy brought!” Gaby whined.
As Gaby placed her tea on the end-table by the sofa and then sat down, Jessica noticed how naturally she moved and sat like a girl, folding her legs up under her. When she sat in the big chair opposite Gaby, she had to smile to herself as she became aware of how she was sitting.
“I guess we should settle a few things first ... ok … Gaby?” Miss Bell mentioned.
“Ok.”
“First ... when we're not in school or a school function ... it's ‘Jessica' or ‘Jess' ... not ‘Miss' ... alright? That rule applies for your entire visit,” Jessica firmly stated.
“Now … second ... ummm ... what do I call you? ... I mean … what do you prefer? ... I can call you Maddy … but that'd be weird since I know you're not Maddy! … So that leaves us with Drew … or … Gaby.” Looking at and listening to Jessica, Gaby found it harder to see her as her teacher and more as a friend she could trust.
“Gaby,” Gaby replied.
“Is that short for something? ... I know Maddy is short for Madeline,” Jess inquired.
“Gabrielle ... that's my name, now ... it was Drew … short for … Andrew.” Jessica carefully put aside her cup of tea and sat up, when she heard Gaby's admission.
“Gaby … I think I should tell you that I know about your doctor's letter … Miss Cowlishaw showed it to me back in Washington,” Jessica confided.
“Oh…” Gaby softly replied.
Jessica moved from her chair and smoothing her housecoat beneath her, she sat on the sofa close to Gaby. “Care to tell me about it? ... You don't have to, of course … if you don't want to,” Jessica softly mentioned. “I must admit I'm a bit confused … Maddy has repeatedly insisted that you're a boy.”
Gaby nodded. “She … doesn't know about Dr. Sanwari's letter,” Gaby slowly admitted.
She then proceeded to tell Jessica everything – Drew, Gaby, Maddy, the family – everything! Of course Gaby mentioned everything that surrounded the medical tests and Dr. Sanwari's letter. After listening for some time, Jessica got up and offered to make Gaby more tea while she grabbed another coffee. Before she went to the kitchen, Jessica gave Gaby a long supportive hug.
“I always thought Fran and I should keep an eye out for you ... but now that I've heard it from you ... I think it's even more important that you let either of us know if you feel uncomfortable.” As she started to walk back into the kitchen, Jess turned and in a serious voice reaffirmed, “Gaby ... I mean it! If you feel uncomfortable with anything ... anything at all ... you let Fran or myself know immediately ...ok?”
“Yes,” Gaby weakly replied.
Bringing out a tray with the tea and coffee plus some potato chips and dip, Jessica put them on the table in front of the sofa then returned to her seat beside Gaby. In an effort to change the subject, Jess reached for a handful of chips as she asked, “So how do you like America so far, huh?”
“Ok, I guess,” Gaby quietly replied with a shrug of her shoulders.
“Uh oh ... talk to me, Gaby ... what's bothering you? ... Is it Sam ... Maddy?” Jessica decisively asked.
“Yeah ... that's part of it,” Gaby whispered.
“C'mon ... you were ok trusting me with your life story ... even telling me stuff you said Maddy doesn't even know, for Heaven's sake! ... Look! ... You know I'm a good listener ... so you talk … I'll listen,” Jessica urged.
“I dunno ... lots of little things,” Gaby softly replied. “You know I still don't know most of the kids in my class? ... Well … I kinda do ... but it's mainly because I watch who answers when Miss Johnson calls their names.”
“Why is that? … You'd think after two weeks you'd have met some new friends,” Jessica wondered.
“Most kids don't talk to me unless they have to ... like if we're paired up in class or sumpthin'. It's like I have some terrible disease ... if I try to join in a conversation … they'll either turn away or walk off ... even Brit goes off with her friends and leaves me,” Gaby offered.
“SHE WHAT?” Jessica was furious.
“It's only when we're in school. Back ‘ome, it's different,” Gaby quickly added.
“Only in school?” asked a puzzled Miss B.
“Brit says ... they understand she's my host so she has to be with me sometimes,” Gaby admitted.
“That's very magnanimous of her friends ... allowing you two to share time together!” Jessica sarcastically replied.
“And who's doing this … do you know? ... You did say most of the kids ... but not all?” Miss B probed.
“I guess mainly the cheerleaders an' some of the other girls plus a few of the boys ... I noticed that they always seem to be in the same little social groups ... I guess we have the same things back ‘ome but we're a bit more friendly to the new kids.”
“Why didn't you say anything before?”
“Dunno ... I guess I've become used to it ... besides ... I've made some kewel cycling friends outside school ... we go riding every Saturday an' sometimes I meet up with a couple of ‘em on Wednesdays after school, for a ride,” Gaby allowed with a thoughtful shrug of her shoulders.
She went on answering all of Jessica's questions and talking about her trip until finally both were showing signs of fatigue. When the dishes were cleaned up and the lights turned off, they both walked to the bottom of the stairs when Jessica turned to Gaby and asked, “Any plans for tomorrow?”
“Go riding with Erin ... then off to Diane Bigg's place with her to see how they make bikes!” Gaby enthused.
“But you're Maddy for the weekend …. is that something she would do?” Jessica playfully asked.
“No, but Gaby would! ... ‘ Maddy ' was supposed to get you to drive her to the Walters so she could spend the day with ‘ Gaby ' an' we'd walk to Erin's Cyclery where I'd be me for the day ... until ‘ Gaby ' an' I had to say g'nite,” Gaby explained.
“No problem ... actually that works out quite well as Fran and I were planning to have a visit!” Jessica admitted. “What time were you thinking of leaving?” Jess asked.
“Before eight?” Gaby replied.
“Wel-l-l-l ... ok ... I think I might persuade myself to join the living that early,” Jessica playfully countered.
“Nite, Jessica.” Gaby gave Jessica a quick peck on the cheek, much to Jess's surprise.
“That's exactly how Maddy does it,” Jessica softly stated.
“That's how she told me to do it,” Gaby replied, but as she started up the stairs, she turned and ran back only stopping when she threw her arms around Jessica's neck in a tight hug.
“Thank you!” Gaby whispered.
“For what?”
“No one's talked with me like that before ... let alone listened to what I was saying ... it felt … nice,” Gaby softly replied while tightening her hold on Jessica.
“No one?” Jessica whispered. She felt Gaby shake her head.
After several minutes, the two broke the hug and Gaby gave Jessica another kiss on the cheek. “G'nite ... Auntie Jess!”
(to be continued)
PB 16.03.08 © 2008
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