A Gaby FanFic
by PB
Prologue:
Thanks go out to the various fanfic authors and Maddy Bell, herself, for creating this ‘universe' and providing the inspiration. Whether you realize it or not, there's a part of each of you, in this work. I also wish to dedicate this work to Karen J, Jillian and Angharad – three lovely people that without their continued prodding, this would never have appeared.
A much deserved ‘ Vielen Dank' to Saphira, Sidonie and Meri for their combined help in keeping my German and any details of life in Germany, close to reality.
… And to all who read this, I hope you enjoy it as much as it was for me to continue the Journey.
It would seem that I've been put on a literary path somewhat like George Lucas did with Star Wars. “Rough Waters” is the prequel to “Reconciliation”, which in turn was based upon “Notes of a Journey”. As such, like “Reconciliation”, it is highly recommended your read/re-read “Notes of a Journey”, at least up to the point the kids are preparing to leave Grottoes, Virginia. This is to avoid any confusion with references to events that occurred prior to the start of “Rough Waters”.
How can I even try
I can never win
Hearing them, seeing them
In the state I'm in
How could she say to me
Love will find a way
Gather round all you clowns
Let me hear you say
Hey, you've got to hide your love away
Hey, you've got to hide your love away
(The Beatles – partial lyrics “You've Got To Hide Your Love Away”)
PB
“It's all set then … Gaby and I will meet you at the airport on the 11 th … see you then, Auf Wiedersehen ‘cuz.” Jenny was beside herself with happiness as she went back to join the rest of the family at dinner.
“That was Carol … everything's all set for her to visit during the girl's Autumn Holidays. I told her Gaby and I will meet her in Bonn on the 11 th .” As Jenny looked around the table at her family and she got to Gaby she added, “No Maddy … just like you told her, sweetheart … besides, Maddy'll still be in school.”
“Why do I have to go?” Gabs asked.
“Well, because … I'd like the company, your dad's working and Jules will be cleaning the house … besides, I thought you'd like to talk with Carol on the way home … about Maddy,” Jen replied.
Jules was about ready to say something, but a quick glance from Jen made her rethink her objection.
“OK … Umm … Mum? Dad? Is it alright if Ally visits during the Christmas break … if her mum and dad say it's ok? Gaby timidly asked.
When she saw they had a non-committal look, she explained, “I sent her my holiday schedule an' we figure that's the only hols we really have in common … an' I don't think I'll be doing any training then … will I?”
“If her parents agree, I don't see why not,” Dave answered for both of them and then looking at Jenny asked, “I don't believe we're expecting family, are we dear?”
“No, not that I know of … Ally's welcome to come during Christmas,” Jenny confirmed.
“Even if we do need the spare bedroom, we still have that stow-away bed so we can always put Ally in with you,” Jenny offered. Upon seeing a subdued Jules, Jenny addressed her oldest daughter.
”As your sister mentioned, your holidays don't have much in common with Warsop and we only have one guest room and the one stow-away bed, but if you would like to invite Anna here for some of your summer holidays?” Jules' face immediately lit up as she vigorously nodded her response.
After dinner, while Gaby and Jenny washed up, both Dave and Jules made themselves scarce. Dave went into his study to make final arrangements to meet with another potential candidate for the Youth Program while Jules rushed up to her room to email Anna.
“ Three computers, who'd have thunk it? I can remember back when two cars was a big thing ” Jenny chuckled at the thought as she was washing the dishes. After Gaby finished helping her mother, it was her turn to go up to her room and sign onto the family network.
Hi Ally ….
Munich didn't live up to my expectations. Sure it's a big beer party, but mostly everybody was well behaved! Once you were outside the Wiesn (tents), things were just too calm. Inside, it was another story!
Jules got to have a pint or two, but I got stuck with the pop. You think Mum & Dad would let me have at least one pint. When I asked, Dad just looked at me & said “next year”. How can you join in with the drinking songs an' all the fun, with a pop in your hand? But I will grant you, there was some great food & lots of happy people!! There were (I think) about 14 ‘tents' or Wiesn & each one, according to Maria, had a different theme.
Mum & Dad did let me have a glass of sekt (sparkling wine) at the Weinzelt or Wine tent. Things were just a bit quieter in that Wiesn, but at least I didn't have pop!
One Wiesn, I think it was called Hacker something, had some good ol' fashioned loud Rock n' Roll in the evenings. Kat, Jules & I liked that! Even the ‘olds got into it. The band they had the night we were there, did a lot of the old stuff. Tradition is one thing, but I can only take the Oompha bands for so long..
That's another thing – those Wiesn! They aren't tents, they're huge pavilions like you'd see at Brighton. One, the Schottenhamel held 10,000 people! I think you'd like Oktoberfest – maybe one year, we'll do it, ok?
Remember the race I had in Berlin a few months ago? A girl named Nina beat me in a sprint. Anyway, while we were at the Oktoberfest, Dad & I had a meeting with Nina, her parents. Make a long story short, the Apollinaris Youth Program claimed another victim!
Have you talked to your parents about Christmas, yet? Mum and Dad said it's ok with them. When I asked them, I got the impression they'd love to have you stay over the hols – Christmas to New Year's if your parents will let you.
Hugs,
Gaby
So far this had been a normal Monday for Gaby. She just completed her long training ride when her scheduled P/E was finishing up. As usual, she joined them in the change rooms to shower and exchange her skins for clothing that was more suitable to attend class in. Once changed, she joined Suse and headed to their lockers to get their books for the remaining classes before lunch.
“Gabs!” Steffie ran up to Gaby and Suse while they were at their lockers during the morning break.
“Are you coming mit us?” Steffie asked and seeing Gaby return a blank look, Steffie turned to Suse. “Haven't you told her?”
“Sorry.”
Turning back to Gaby, Steffie explained, “Ohhhh! … ok … I've got to get to class … in a nutshell … since it's Autumn Holidays next week, we're all going out for dinner and whatever … this Friday … You coming?”
“Who's ‘we'?” Gaby asked.
“Me, Liesl, Kat, Suse and the boys … Duh … who else would ‘we' be? … What are you, blon…de … oh, sorry.” Realising Gaby's hair colour, Steffie's voice trailed off as her embarrassment grew, much to the amusement of her two friends.
“Well?”
“I'll let you know later, Steffie … ok?”
“..'Kay … gotta run … see ya at lunch.”
“Sorry, Gabs ... Steffie asked me earlier to tell you and I kind of forgot,”
“S'kay … there's plenty of time to decide … c'mon, Suse … math awaits.”
Gaby and Suse arrived just as Herr Ruth was about to close the classroom door and take attendance.
The rest of the day was pretty well routine. At lunch Gaby had to recount her training ride, as per her usual practice. At final dismissal, the girls made their way to the girls change room and got changed into their riding kit for the journey home while Jules made her way to the train. Some days when Gaby was riding home and she had a lot of homework or goes out on a training ride directly from school, she'd get Jules take her backpack home, on the train.
“Looks like a light load today, Gabs,” Kat called over as she rode up beside her.
“For once, no homework … just my clothes … what about you?” Gaby replied.
“Looks like I'm stuck with History and Political Ed. tonight,” Kat lamented.
“No chance of getting together, huh?” Gaby had to ask although she knew Kat had a heavy workload with those two subjects.
“Nein … I think it'll be a stay-in night for all of us by the size of their backpacks,” Kat reluctantly admitted as she quickly glanced over her shoulder at Steffie and Liesl.
As Kat suggested, it was a quiet evening for Gaby with all her friends occupied with homework.
“No one going out tonight, Kiddo?” Jenny cheerfully asked as she joined Gaby on the couch to watch some television.
“They've all got homework, so it looks like a quiet evening,” Gaby replied as she cuddled up with her mum.
Gaby's thoughts at times, drifted from the telly to those of her mum's retirement. It may have been a bit of a let down not to have her compete anymore, but she had to admit to herself that she'd become quite used to having her mum around. Gaby also admitted to herself that moving to Germany was probably the best thing to happen to her and the family.
“Gaby? … Dear? … Earth to Gaby … earth to Gaby.”
“Huh?”
“You were in a fog … I just wondered if you wanted a tea?” Jenny asked.
“Ummmm … No thanks, Mum … think I'll call it a night,” Gaby allowed after noting the time.
“Mum? … Would you be able to come with me when I'm supposed to talk to the school's cycling club on Wednesday? … They meet at 3:30PM in Mr. Koch's room,” Gaby asked, as she got up off the couch.
“I don't see a problem with that, sweetheart … 3:30PM you say? How about we meet in front of your locker just after 3:00PM?... You can tell me more tomorrow, but right now, I don't see a problem.”
“Thanks Mum …g'nite.” Gaby walked back to give her mum a peck on the cheek before disappearing upstairs.
Tuesday dawned with a cold downpour so that immediately made Gaby switch to Plan B for getting to school. Along with Jules, she made her way to the train station where they met up with the rest of the Mayschoß ‘gang'. Classes were rather routine as far as Tuesdays go. She found the double French getting a bit boring in the second period, but through sheer willpower, she survived.
By the end of the day, on one hand, the weather was such that Gaby was wishing she had her bike to ride home. On the other hand, she was glad she was taking the train, considering the weight of the books in her backpack.
Wednesday proved to be excellent riding weather when Gaby rose in the morning. Both Jenny and Maria decided to join Gaby, Kat and the others for the ride to Bad Neuenahr. The only downfall to the ride was that she had to carry all those books she brought home the previous evening. Like the previous day, Wednesday's classes were pretty mundane as far as Gaby was concerned. Then again, she considered her Wednesday schedule to be one of the easier days of the week.
Although Gabs had to work at Math, she enjoyed it. The double Art provided a nice ‘rest' in the middle of the morning, even though every second week she had to sit through a period of Art History. English class was a given in her case and History was a great way to end the day. Best of all, Gaby had a double spare for the final two periods of the day. Since she had to stay in the school for the spares, she used the time to get any homework done.
“Much homework Gabs?” Liesl asked as they approached Gaby's locker.
“Got it done in my double spare … Just got a wee bit more to do on a History paper that's not due until after the holidays, but I figure I might as well get it done now,” Gaby replied.
“Wanna trade? … Physics, Math und English.”
“Hallo, Mädchen.” Jenny greeted the girls as she came up behind Gaby. When Gaby turned around she noticed her mum was wearing her team uniform and jacket.
“I thought you and Maria were riding to work this morning … you usually only bother to wear that at team functions,” Gaby commented.
“I did ride in today, but I'm representing the team while I'm here,” Jenny replied as she brandished her backpack. “Mike dropped me off with my bike and riding kit.”
“Reminds me … be right back … I gotta change,” Gaby voiced.
A few minutes later Jenny turned and looked down the hall at her daughter as she approached the lockers, amid more than a few good-natured ‘wolf whistles' from the students still in the corridor.
She saw Gaby now wore her team skins and the team's loose black velour track pants, emblazoned with a white ‘Apollinaris' going down the outside of the right leg and a pair of trainers. She also wore her team jacket, like Jenny, but she left it unzipped.
As she looked at her daughter fixing her backpack and talking with both Liesl and Suse, for the first time Jenny really noticed how Gaby looked in the Apollinaris skins. Even with wearing a sports bra, her long blonde hair, feathered earrings and beaded choker made it very it clear to Jen why Gaby received the reaction she did when she came down the corridor. “ This girl is going to break a lot of hearts when she starts going steady ” Jen thought as a smile crossed her face.
“Shouldn't we be going, dear?” Jenny asked as she noted the time.
“Catch you guys later … Herr Koch has been after me to do this, since school started.”
Gaby gathered up her backpack as she bade good-by to her friends. She then joined her mum and headed for the room used by Herr Koch and his cycling club. As they approached the room, he had just finished propping the door open.
“Ah, Gaby!” Herr Koch greeted Gaby at the same time he noticed Jenny walking up, a bit behind her daughter. “Frau Bond! … this is an unexpected honour!”
“ Wir haben heute zwei Gaeste, Gaby Bond, von der Appolinaris Jugend-Gruppe und ihre Mutter, die ehemalige Damenweltmeisterin und nun Mitglied der Team-Apollinaris Mannschaft, die allseits bekannte Jenny Bond.”
Once in the room, Herr Koch proudly introduced Gaby and Jenny to the group, stating Gaby was part of the Apollinaris Youth Project and Jenny was the former Elite Women's World Champion Road cyclist.
Upon entering the room, they found themselves in front of a mix of recreational and serious cyclists, about twenty all told.
“Wir haben heute nichts geplant, also stellen Sie einfach ihre Fragen und wir fangen dann von dort an.” Jenny explained that nothing was planned and opened the floor to questions.
Jenny and Gaby fielded questions about themselves, their motivation, memorable races, equipment preferences and the Youth Project. Gaby took a full 15 minutes to answer a question about her bike from Biggs Fabrications and noticeably coloured up when people mentioned her encounter with Lance in Atlanta. Jenny even took to the chalkboard, to give an impromptu lesson on tactics.
The meeting finally broke up after about an hour, with Jenny once again the target of autograph seekers. She also left some literature about the Youth Project with Herr Koch. Both of the girls let it be known they were riding home and a number of the cycle club accepted the invitation to ride with them.
A short time later, Jenny and Gaby joined the others out front. Jenny had changed from her team uniform to her Team Apollinaris skins. Like Gaby, she had a small backpack on her back.
Gaby now appeared to be more suitably dressed for cycling having put her track pants and trainers into her backpack as well as removing her earrings and after carefully placing them in their box, placing it in with her track pants. Her hair was pulled back into a low pony and held tightly by a scrunchie.
“Jeder bereit?” Jenny called out. Since no one replied in the negative, she assumed everyone was ready and set out, leading the small group of cyclists back to Mayschoß. Not knowing the abilities of the kids accompanying them, Jen kept a comfortable pace around the mid 20's.
The group seemed to naturally divide between the two and Jenny was amused to see Gaby ‘holding court' as they rode along. A few of the riders stayed around Gaby as she demonstrated things like how to tuck and generally talked technique. However, Jenny noticed one girl in particular who seemed to be getting on well with Gaby and by the way she rode, demonstrated a potential that caught Jen's attention.
“Frau Bond?” Judith called over as she rode up beside Jenny.
“Jenny, bitte … Judith isn't it?” Jen replied.
“Ja … Gaby told me to ask you if it was alright for me to come on her training rides?”
“That would be ok … I have no problems with that. I assume Gaby has told you about her training rides?” Jenny asked.
“Ja … I've done those distances myself but it is hard when you are alone,” Judith confessed.
“Well … You and Gaby work out when you can ride with her.”
“Danke, Fra … Jenny,” Judith replied as she dropped back to let Gaby know what her mum had said.
Once the group neared Mayschoß, individuals bade farewell to both Jenny and Gaby then dropped away to return to their own homes.
As they were putting away their bikes, Jenny asks, “How do you know Judith, dear?”
“She's in some of my classes, but I didn't know she rode until today,” Gaby replied as she secured her bike.
“What's her last name?” Jenny asked.
“Schröder.“
“Well, when you see Judith at school tomorrow, could you get her phone, please?” Jenny asked Gabs as they headed into the house.
Later, after dinner was just a memory, everyone had settled down for the evening. The girls went off to their rooms, Jules to finish her homework and Gaby to relax doing nothing having finished her History before dinner. Dave retreated to his study and his research into German castles. Jenny's plans to crash on the couch in front of the telly were interrupted as she went to answer the front doorbell.
“Guten abend, Jenny … ist Gabs in?” Kat asked as Jenny opened the door.
“Up in her room … listening to some CD's I think … go on up,” Jenny implored.
“Danke.” Kat replied as she proceeded up to Gaby's room.
“Hallo, Gabs … uh, your Mama said you were listening to CD's,” Kat cheerfully greeted Gaby as she entered the silent room.
“I was until I found this book,” Gaby replied whilst waving her Dad's dog-eared copy of an old James Bond novel.
“A relative of yours?” Kat inquired. Gaby was about to answer, then realising the central character's name, took a playful swipe at her friend.
“Got to stop thinking of your Mama,” Kat pondered in a more serious tone.
“What?”
“Your Mama … I called her Jenny when I came to the door, tonight.”
“So?”
“Everyone else's Mama is Frau whoever … yours is … Jenny,” Kat replied.
“You've only known her as Jenny … so what's the problem?” Gaby asked, not quite knowing where this was heading.
“Nothing I guess … just struck me tonight when I came in.”
“Sometimes I worry about you, Kat!” Gaby jokingly replied.
“Anyway … Are you coming or not … Gaby?” Kat excitedly asked, wanting to change the subject.
“Where?”
“Out with us on Friday … whaddya think I mean?”
“Naw, I don't think so … I wouldn't feel right,” Gabs admitted. Even though she tried to put up a brave front, Kat heard something in her voice.
“Vhy not, Gabs? … It'll just be Suse, Steffie, Liesl und myself,” Kat intoned.
“You forgot to mention Aldrick, Fritz, Martin an' Kurt.” Gaby's frustration was starting to show. Her reply was quick and sharp – a bit sharper than she intended, and she regretted her tone as soon as she said it. “I'm sorry Kat … I didn't mean it to sound like it did.”
Kat had never heard Gaby sound so depressed and she found it very unsettling. To her, other people got depressed, not Gabs. Kat attempted to provide a measure of comfort for her British friend by softly pleading, “It's only dinner, Gabs.”
“If you guys wanted to do anything as couples after dinner, I'd only be in the way.”
“If that's all that's bothering you, I know Friedrick would jump at the chance if you asked him to go with you.”
“Just so I could go and not feel left out? … You know that'd be so unfair to him … Nein, Kat … I wouldn't even ask.”
“Well, maybe one of the girls in your class would come….”
“Kat! ... I appreciate that you're trying to include me … but not at the expense of others ... male or female!” Gaby admonished her friend. As her frustration welled up inside her, Gaby broke down and voiced her feelings.
“I know all you guys accept me for who I am … but … sometimes … I wonder how you really feel having a lesbian around ... (sigh ) You can't tell me that you or any of the others haven't had any awkward or uneasy feelings at some time because of me … ( sniff ) Sometimes I wonder what it would be like when Maddy and I do get back together … I've even tried to imagine how you guys would really feel if Maddy and I double dated with all of you an' … ( sniff ) we acted like any other couple in love … ( sigh ) would you run from us the first time we held hands or kissed in public?”
“Mein Gott! … ist that what you think ve' do? … Gaby? … We are all good friends … all of us … good friends don't turn away from friends….” Kat's voice trailed off. Gaby's biting comments hit her like a hard slap to the face.
“I thought I had good friends in Warsop,” Gaby whispered through her tears.
She didn't want to say as much as she did, but it just came out as the feelings of disappointment and frustration surfaced. Kat knew exactly what Gaby meant by that statement and her own tears flowed quite freely upon hearing her friend voice her pain.
It was only then that Kat really understood that for the entire year Gaby had lived in Germany, despite all the friends she'd made, despite being ‘open' and accepted by her peers, despite her cheery attitude, despite everything she had going for her, Gaby's wounds still were very much open and then still ran very deep. However, now Kat realised just how open and deep those wounds still were.
“God, I'm (sniff ) sorry Kat … I didn't mean to come down on you …( snif f) I'm sorry.” Gaby leaned over and gave her a hug.
“Gabs? … I know what you mean und I can't really give you an answer, but ( sniff )… I honestly don't think it would bother anyone in this valley … these people aren't like that … even seeing you und Maddy together as a couple. I ( sniff ) … I know it wouldn't bother Kurt and me,” Kat softly confided in Gaby's ear as she returned Gaby's hug.
“Last time I'll ask … you coming out with us on Friday?” Kat quietly asked after they both took some time and composed themselves.
“Nein … sorry … I still think it'd be too awkward … whether anyone says anything or not … versteht ihr?”
Kat had simply wanted to ask her friend to join them for an evening out and it all went wrong. In the end she couldn't decide what hurt worse – seeing the real extent of Gaby's pain, something Gabs had hidden pretty well until now or knowing why Gaby felt like that and being powerless to make her pain disappear.
Kat closed her eyes and gently holding Gaby's hands, softly relented, “Ja … I understand … I don't agree with you staying home, but I think I understand why you think you haff to.”
Kat moved over on the bed, beside Gaby and gave her a tight hug. “Maybe in time, you'll let us prove you wrong?” As she went to give Gaby a peck on the cheek, she thought better of it and instead planted a long, tender kiss on Gaby's lips.
“A kiss on the cheek just didn't seem right.” Kat noted after seeing Gaby's surprised but content, reaction. “I may not like the girls same as you do, but I'm not afraid to show a very dear friend how I feel about her being a lesbian, with a kiss.”
“ Scheiße! … I wish Kurt kissed like you,” Kat admitted with a smile, as she traced Gaby's lips with two of her fingers.
After pulling Gaby closer and in a more serious tone, Kat whispered, “I really hope that Maddy realizes what she has put down, only to rush back and pick it up … never … ( sniff ) never, to put it down again.”
“I pray to God, you're right!” Gaby whispered a reply as she engulfed Kat into yet another tight hug. A few tears still escaped Gaby's closed eyelashes, despite her best efforts.
“Hold me, Kat… please?” Gaby whispered before she broke down and openly cried on Kat's shoulder.
As the weather was holding out, Gaby, Judith and Jenny went for rides throughout the rest of the week, including Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's ride was only to Remagen and back whereas Sunday's was one of the longer training rides Gaby had done to-date. As was normal for these long rides, Jenny followed in a team car but this time Gaby and Judith were joined by Maria and Tina.
Judith was in her glory, surrounded by the three cyclists in Team Apollinaris skins and Jenny, wearing her Team Apollinaris jacket, following in a team car. All along their chosen route, the sight of this group caused some excitement for the people they passed along the way.
Later that Sunday evening, Jenny sat down with Dave in his study and told him about Judith.
“She's been out on a few rides with Gaby including today's 100Km ride. From what I can see, this girl's got a lot of potential. She was able to keep up the pace on the rides she's been on, she's a quick learner, very keen and from talking to Herr Koch at the school, she does pretty well in time trials. I really think you should talk to her and her parent's about what she wants out of the sport. As far as I'm concerned, Judith would do very well if she decided to join the programme. Also, for the short time Gaby's been riding with her, it's amazing how well they work together.”
As an afterthought, Jen coyly hinted, “Gaby knows where she lives, if you don't want to wait until after Autumn Holidays.”
“Hold it Jen … you said 100Km?” Dave asked, very surprised at the length of the ride. “Where'd you girls go?”
“Well, it's not like she hasn't done that kind of distance before … she did ride with the pro team,” Jenny defensively replied. “Besides, I had the car and was following them.”
“Settle down, luv … all I asked is where you went,” Dave commented in a calming voice.
“We went to Altenberg like usual but Gaby led the others down to Kreuzberg then turned at Brück towards Kesseling, through Oberheckenbach, up to Ramersbach, Godeneltern, Bad Neuenahr and home” Jenny explained.
“That's right up in the hills … how did she … they do?” Dave remarked.
“The girls both did very well, especially in those hills … as you call them,“ Jen replied. “I don't think the pro team has anything to fear … yet … but Tina and Maria were very impressed!”
(to be continued)
PB 13.04.07 © 2007 (revised 23.05.07)
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