Are You Afraid of Musicals?

Chapter 7.4: Actress

Gina's pov:

-And you are?- Andrea asks, smooth and deliberate, that amusement I saw in her eyes still sparkling in her eyes as she takes a step forward, letting us know that she owns the room, showing her power.

I hate to admit it, but her presence is truly unsettling. I don't usually let this things affect me, I'm usually really confident and ready to put on a fight, but with her... she's got something I don't know how to name, something in her eyes, her expression, that makes me want to take a step back the moment she takes her step forward.

But I don't step back, I don't flinch. I don't let myself give her what she wants.

Instead, I straighten my shoulders and meet her eyes with calm, quiet steel, because I refuse give her a reaction, even though every instinct in me wants to wipe that smug expression off her face and tell her how bad of a mother she is.

-Gina Porter, ma'am.- I say politely, my voice steady, much more controlled than I thought I would be capable to pull off as I hold her gaze, showing her that I'm not going to play whatever game she's playing.

To my words, my tone, her eyes narrow and I see it: the flicker of disappointment, almost imperceptible, but there. Because maybe she thought I'd bite back, she wanted me to bite back, and for a second it feels like I failed some twisted test.

But I don't care.

Because this woman doesn't deserve my respect, this woman doesn't even deserve to be here, in this room, so close to Dani... but I'm not about to risk our access to Dani, not for anything.

Not when we've been coming to this hospital every day since the shooting, not when we've waited so long to finally see her.

Not when Gabby needs this, being close to Dani, more than anything.

So if I have to swallow my pride and be polite to be in this room, I'll do it.

Dani's mom doesn't say anything in return, doesn't even acknowledge what I said, she just turns to Gabby and if the look she gave me was cold, the one she gives Gabby is arctic. No curiosity, no recognition, not even the bare minimum of compassion.

There's a moment of silence, just a second where I catch the way both the doctor and Gabby's mom shift subtly at Andrea's reaction, or better saying, lack of it.

They're asking themselves how a mother doesn't know her daughter's best friend, how can she not even recognize her... or at least I hope that's what they're thinking about.

But I don't let myself get lost on that thought, because the seconds pass, Gabby doesn't respond and I can see how Dani's mom sizes her up with her gaze, the judgment practically radiating from her.

Because Gabby's been doing a little bit better these past few days, she's been eating a little bit more, being able to sleep a little bit more... but the nightmares are still there, the restless nights are still there, the haunted look never really leaves her face... and it shows.

It shows, and that only gives more ammunition to Andrea, only gives her more reasons to look down at Gabby, trying to crush her under the weight of her cold unforgiving gaze.

And the worst part is that she's succeeding, because I can feel Gabby crumbling by my side. She's not being capable of meeting Andrea's eyes, she just looks at Dani as if trying to ground herself, to focus on the fact that she's ok to calm herself down... but I can feel her hand trembling inside mine, I can see the anxiety growing behind her eyes, and I can't let the moment linger anymore.

-Gabriella Lewis.- I tell Dani's mom, my voice still polite, but firmer now, adding one last statement when I see her smug expression at the fact that Gabby couldn't answer herself.