The Hate and Love Game

Game #136

GABRIELLA POV

"I don't understand why we're fighting with each other more now. Just the other day, he threw a glass cup at me. Not only that, but I threw my high heel at him. I'm starting to get worried. Especially when we act like nothing ever happened the next hour or two." I said over the phone with Ruby. "I don't think you should be worried though. The longer your married to someone, the more you'll fight occasionally." she said. I sighed. "Okay. But what about you and Jake? Even though y'all haven't been married that long, it still goes the same way as a relationship. You've been with him since middle school or the beginning of 9th grade right? Do you guys fight?" I asked. "Well yes. But not a lot. Just don't make any stupid decisions. Let him cool off on his own and don't get serious in a conversation turning into a argument. Let him win. He'll feel like he achieved something." she said. I nodded my head. "Right. Let him win. But I can't promise you I can keep his wrong answers to myself. If he's wrong I have to speak up." I said. "Well learn how to keep it to yourself, love!" "I'm a bad lair though." I said sighing. "You don't have to lie. Just say okay or ... yeah if you can't lie saying okay is your only option." I bit my lip. "Alright. Well I have to take the kids to my mothers house." I said. "Alright. Tell miss Garcia I said hi." she said. I nodded my head. "Will do. Bye Rubs." I said hanging up the phone. I brushed myself off standing up. "You guys ready to go?" I yelled up the stares. One by one they all ran down the steps. "I got everything I want. My games, coloring books, and m--GCO." "Barbie dolls." Chrissy said. I laughed a little. "They're not Barbie dolls. They're action figures thank you." he said turning his back to her. "If you can move them by their legs and arms, and hold them in your hand pretending to kill people and things, they're dolls." she said walking out the door. "They are not! Mama, you're going to let her say that about my action figures?" he asked looking at me. "Don't let her win the fight. You finish it." I said encouraging him to get the satisfaction. After that, we all left. It's been a very long time since I saw my "mom" and I thought it'd be nice to see her again and for her to meet the 2 other kids of mine she hasn't met before. When we pulled up to the house, it all brought back memories. I miss being a teenager. I should have made those years drama free so I could just enjoy the 6 years of it. To those teenagers who are 13 now, my advice to you is to start having fun now. The few years you have left of being a kid are the years you'll miss the most as you get older! When we finally got to there, I was nervous and anxious all at the same time. I'm closer with Chres's mom then I am with the woman who took me in when no one else would. Considering I haven't been able to see her in a while, I thought she'd be mad or something since neither one of us visit each other anymore. I picked up Crystal and held Trey's hand walking to the door with the twins lagging behind and still arguing about the Barbie doll stuff. "Who's house is this mama?" Trey asked letting go of my hand and ringing the doorbell. "Someone you might like a lot." I said smiling at him. When the door opened, my heart stopped as I looked at her. She looked really different. Older but still just as beautiful as she's always been. "Gabriella?" she asked looking at me. I nodded my head slowly still in shock. "It's been so long..." I said putting Crystal down and hugging her tightly. She laughed a little hugging back. I missed the warm hugs she'd give me when I needed advice from someone who gives it the best. I pulled away tearing up a bit. "There's so much we have to talk about." I said wiping my eyes. She nodded her smiling. "There really is. I missed you sweetie." she said rubbing my arm. I laughed a little looking at my kids. She looked at them also studying their facial features. "Are these all Chresanto's?" she asked. I smiled nodding my head. "And they all look exactly like him don't they?" I asked putting my hands on my hips. She kneeled down to their height. "They really do. I remember you 2. These 2 I don't." she said. "That's Crystal who's the youngest now, and that's Trey." I said pointing at them. "They're beautiful. You and Chresanto are still married?" I nodded my head sighing. "You look like it's a bad thing. Is something bothering you?" she asked standing back up. I shook my head. "Not exactly. I love my husband and the problem is normal. The arguing and fighting." She said nodded rubbing my back. "I get it." she said. Then she told the kids to go play in Monse's old room and we sat down to talk. After a long explanation to the arguing and fighting, I understood it more and got ideas of how to avoid it. But that doesn't mean I'll succeed every time a argument is coming on. It's really bothering me though, and I can't get over the fact its becoming a daily thing now. I don't want that. The kids ended up staying to get to know her and I went back home. While I was driving, Chresanto called. I hesitated to answer because I didn't really want to talk to him until I had all my thoughts sorted out. It could be important too so I just answered it. "Hey." I said turning the corner. "Aye, where you at?" he asked. "Just went to Monse's moms house." I said quietly. "And the kids?" "They're still over there." I said. "When were you going to tell me you left?" "I wasn't going to because you were at work anyway. At least you said you were. Not so sure now since you're asking about me." I said getting sassy a little. Wrong choice. "Are you calling me a liar? Why would I lie about that. And I'm asking you because I worry about you. Don't get smart now Ella. Think about who you're talking too." he said. "I don't have time to argue with you while I'm driving but now this, I'll talk to you how ever way I want. You don't control what comes out my mouth." I stopped the car pulling to the curb. "This wouldn't have to be a argument if would've just kept you mouth shut from the start. All I did was ask you why you didn't tell me." he said getting louder. "Whatever Chres. Like I said before, I don't have time for this." I said hanging up the phone. I sighed aloud leaning back in my seat and letting the phone ring as he called back. I ignored it trying to avoid another fight. If I go home now, we'll just fight more since I ignored his call. I looked out the window and it was getting real dark out. Then I noticed something so familiar. I stepped out the car and walked towards the side walk. I looked closely and when I realized why it looked so familiar, I felt tears in my eyes. I covered my mouth walking closer the boarded up house. I pushed it off the front door since it was basically falling off anyway. I felt my hands start shaking as I reached for the knob. This house doesn't bring back any good memories. I opened the door and walked inside to a dark and cold house. I couldn't see a thing. I used my phone light to look for a switch or something that might still work after all these years. I hit the first switch I saw and nothing happened. I hit the next switch and the dining room light came on, but it was flickering. When I saw the features of the house that still remained here was sad. It looked the same way it did the day I was sent to the hospital. Dried up blood stained the hardwood under my feet. I walked up the stairs and to my old room. It remained the same other than all the things Monse's mom took for me. Pictures of me when I was a kid stood tall on the dresser along with the shattered glasses my dad threw at me multiple times a day. Tears just streamed down my face remembering the bad things and good things that still filled the house. It was so depressing. I jumped at the sound of my ringing in my hand. I dropped it out of my hand trying to catch my breath. I looked around before picking it back up. It was Chresanto ....again! I rolled my eyes coming back to reality. "Yeah." I said putting the phone to my ear.

CHRESANTO POV

"Why aren't you home yet? A man is getting hungry." I said a little loudly through the phone. I called her like 20 times already when she hung up on me. "Then make yourself some food Chres." she said in a low voice. Kind of even shaky. I wrinkled up my face listening to her voice. "Uh, where are you Gabriella?" I asked. "I'd rather talk about that when I get home. I'm on my way." she said. Before I could say anything she hung up. I sighed sitting on the couch staring at the clock. Even though I just got done arguing with her, I haven't seen her since this morning and I miss her so much. And the kids of course. Although, the worry and unsteadiness in her voice is making me worry. About 10 minutes later Gabriella walked through the door. I jumped up looking at her. It looked like she was crying because red lines from the tears were all over her face. "Baby, what happened?" I asked running over to her. She shook her head taking off her shoes. "Nothing happened Chresanto." she said quietly. "Look at me..."  I said trying to look her face, that was looking at the ground. She sniffled ignoring me. "I won't repeat myself." I said to her. She sighed looking up at me slowly. I put my hand on her chin studying her facial features. "2 simple questions babe. Why are you crying and where were you?" she hesitated. "I was at my old house..." she said looking at my eyes. "That doesn't explain why you're crying." "That explains everything! Chres, the house was so depressing and brought back more bad memories then good memories. The house was boarded up, it was falling apart, and nothing in there changed. The blood that belonged to me the day my parents were arrested is still there today! Pictures in my bedroom are still there, and I can't look at anything there without feeling watched, or scared. Looking at the house you grew up in is suppose to make you feel happy inside and make you wonder why you ever left in the first place. You know how I feel? I feel like I just grew up in a haunted house or, a abandoned house. I shouldn't have to feel like that." she said tears falling down her face. I tried to think of something to say without making it come out wrong. "Baby..." I said softly. She sniffled wiping her face off with her jacket. "No. Its, its okay.  I don't even care that I went there." she said walking away and to the kitchen. I watched her as she put her hair in a ponytail and wash her hands. "What do you want for dinner?" she asked looking at me. I sighed. "You don't have to make dinner, love. I'll do it." I said walking up behind her. She rolled her eyes. "No. You wanted me to make you something. It's my job, I'll do it." she said grabbing a pot and putting it on the stove. I grabbed her arms and pulled her away from the stove. "But it's my job if I want my wife to take it easy. Relax Gabriella. I got it from here." I said. "Bu--GCO." "No buts. You heard me." I took some stuff from out the fridge and put it all on the counters. She was still looking at me speechless. What broke the silence though, was the house phone. She wiped her hands off picking it up and putting it on speaker. "Hello?" she said folding her arms. "This is Lloyd Wister. I'm the producer for the upcoming television show. I'm looking for Gabriella or Chresanto August." the man said through the phone. I stopped what I was doing and looked at Ella. She pierced her lips together shaking her head quickly. She cleared her throat and sat on the side of the table. "And this is  Gabriella August. Sorry Mr. Wister but, you'll have to find some other couple to do your damn show. Go tear someone else's life apart through the television, because you're not doing it to my family. Have a good rest of the day sir." she said hanging up violently and throwing the phone across the room. My mouth dropped. "Uh babe, do you know what you just did?" I asked walking up to her. "Of course I do." she said looking up at me. I chuckled. "I don't know if its because of this thing about the house, but that was a opportunity to be on a television show. You just gave that opportunity away. It went down the drain." I said looking down at her. "It's not because of that thank you. And I need you to understand something honey. They won't do anything but ruin your reputation through the publicity. I've been thinking this over the past few days and I don't think it's a good idea. It's good our names would be out there. But conversations and private things between me and you might be a big deal. Trust me on this please." I thought about what she said for a moment and it was actually true. Wish she would've told me earlier though. I sighed nodding my head. "Okay." I said shrugging my shoulders. She smiled and I grabbed hold of her cheek, kissing her lips. She giggled. "Just know I'ma make sure you're safe and protected. I'ma make sure you're not uncomfortable anymore okay? Don't go back to that house because I said so. Do you understand me?" I asked kissing her after every sentence. She smiled. "I like it when you talk to me so demanding..." she said laughing a little. I just kissed her again.