CH 6

Gia could not stop thinking about the man in her dreams; she found it difficult to concentrate on anything. She gave up on the idea of trying to do her homework, sighing as she put down her pencil and book, thinking for the tenth time about her dream. She actually saw his face and he was beautiful. It sounded weird to call a man beautiful but that’s what he was. His black hair was kind of messy and short and his lips looked so full, so soft. She had such the urge to touch them, to kiss and taste them. His dark eyes pierced into hers, she could get lost in those deep dark orbs. His skin was dark and looked so smooth. If she tried real hard she could still picture him, standing there looking at her, into her soul. She didn’t think it was her imagination that he felt the same way about her as she did him, intrigued. Gia had to stop herself from thinking that way, he wasn’t real, there's no way he could be intrigued by her. A small laugh escaped from her mouth at her silly thoughts, she quickly put her hands over her mouth to block any more sound from coming out. She looked over at Rory and she was grateful that she hadn’t woke her up.

Gia started to think about the girl in the bed across from hers. Rory was her best friend; they met in high school in Brooklyn and had been friends ever since. Rory is a fun girl but there has always been this protectiveness over Gia, Rory’s always concerned about her friend and what was going on with her life. She wanted desperately for Gia to start dating again, to go out and have fun. But there were things that Rory didn’t know about her last relationship. It was her first real relationship; Gia thought she was in love with him. Everyone thought that Kyle was perfect; she thought he was perfect at first too. He was good looking, going to law school and he made good money. He grew up in a family full of lawyers and he worked at the law firm that his family owned while he went to school. Gia got along great with his family and friends. Everything was fine, but the pressures his family put on him were heavy. They made it clear all the time that he could not fail his bar or they would turn their backs on him. He became very frustrated with the pressures they put on him and began to drink more then he normally did. He started to distance himself from Gia, spending a lot more time with his friends, and staying out late. Gia would stay up all night worrying about him and when he finally would come home, he would pass out on the bed as soon as he came in. When Gia confronted Kyle about his drinking, he became angry with her. Gia never thought she would be in an abusive relationship but that’s exactly what she was in. At first when he started hitting her, she was in shock, she figured it just sort of happened, that he didn’t mean to do it, but as time went by and he was still hitting her, even when he wasn’t drunk, Gia just didn’t know how to stop it. Every time she threatened to leave, he would beg her to stay with him, it happened over an over again and she would always give in, telling herself that he was just stressed out. She put up with the beatings for four agonizing months; she kept it hidden from almost everyone in her life, her family and her friends, not even Rory knew about it. Her friends always thought of her as being so strong and tough, Gia couldn’t let them think otherwise, she was so ashamed that she kept it hidden from them. The only person who noticed her pain, was Jordyn, the little girl noticed the bruises on Gia immediately. It became clear to Gia that Jordyn must have been abused before she came to stay at the center; she knew that the little girl was wise beyond her years and that she must have sensed that Gia was abused as well. The two would comfort each other every day; Jordyn would always hug her and tell her that everything was going to be all right. It was easer for Gia to hide the bruises from everyone else then it was to hide the emotional pain Kyle’s abuse endured so Jordyn’s words were always very welcomed and needed. The abuse all ended one frightening night, after Kyle did something to her that would haunt her always. Gia closed her eyes, as her heart began to pound. Squeezing back the tears that threatened as she thought back to that night. She abruptly got up from her bed she was sitting on, abandoning the textbook she was on her bed. She sighed as she walked over to the bathroom and turned on the hot water, she got in when the temperature was to her liking and slowly eased away the thoughts of her past as the water rushed over her head.

After Gia was showered and dressed for work, in a pair of jeans and a rose colored baby-t, a pair of Vans on her feet, she wrote a quick note for Rory and headed for work.

Gia had been helping the kids paint when her friend and co-worker Jenny, walked up and asked is she could speak to her in the hall. She fallowed her out to the hall and looked down at a little boy who was standing there waiting for them. “Gia this is, Noah Coleman, he’s going to be staying here for a while, I think he’s a little bit shy, do you think you can show him around?” Jenny asked. She leaned in so that she could speak to Gia without him hearing. “His parents were killed years ago and he’s been living with this grandma, well she died recently and he has no family left.” Jenny whispered in Gia’s ear. Gia sighed and nodded her head sadly. “Sure Jenny, I’m sure that Noah will have a great time painting, I’ll make sure he has fun.” Gia said aloud. Jenny smiled and walked away, leaving Gia alone, to stare into the little boy’s huge dark brown eyes, they were filled with fear as he looked at her, she noticed the way his little chest was moving rapidly as he stood before her. Gia bent down so that she was now at his five-year-old level and smiled at him warmly. “Are you scared?” She asked gently. He tugged at his little black t-shirt as he looked down at his feet; he slowly nodded his head. “Noah, you’re safe now, everyone cares about you here, we want you to be happy.” Gia said. He suddenly burst into tears as he moved close to her and wrapped his little arms around her neck, crying into her shoulder. Gia lightly stroked his soft dark curls as she held him. “I miss her.” He cried. “I know, but we’re going to find you a good home, where you can grow up and be happy. But in the mean time, you’re going to stay here with us and we’re going to love you and keep you safe.” Gia said into his ear. She pulled back slightly so that she could look at his sad face, wiping the tears from his cheeks. “Would you like to paint?” She asked. He breathed in a few times as he calmed down. She watched as a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “What kind of paint is it?” He asked softly. “Oh well it’s the best kind, it’s finger paint.” Gia said smiling. Noah nervously tugged on his curls slightly. He nodded his head softly. “OK, come on.” She said grabbing his hand and guiding him into the room full of kids. Noah wrapped his arms around Gia’s leg as she walked, he hid his face into her leg as she stopped and stood in the middle of the room. All the kids ran up to meet the new addition to their little family. “Who’s this Gia?” A little boy named Spencer asked, she smiled at him, he seemed to think he was the boss of the place. “This is Noah everyone, he’s going to be staying here with us for a while.” Gia announced. All the kids gave him a warm greeting. Noah peaked over at them, sticking his hand out in a quick wave. “Hi.” He mumbled. Gia laughed slightly as she started to see his personality shine through. “OK guys, let’s get back to painting.” Gia said. All the kids went back to their masterpieces and Gia went to find a spot for Noah to sit down at, she got out all the necessary supplies and set them on the table. “OK let me just write your initials on the back so we know this is yours and you’re all set.” Gia said as she turned the paper over. She wrote out the letters N.C., suddenly an image of something from her dream flashed through her head. She saw her hand as it held out a small gold cufflink with those same initials engraved on it. “N.C.” She said aloud. Noah smiled at her, she smiled back and handed him the piece of paper. “Here you go honey.” She said and then grabbed his little hand, squeezing out some paint into it. “Have fun.” She said smiling. “Thank you.” He said softly. Gia nodded her head. “Gia, is Noah shy just like me?” Jordyn asked as she stood next to her. “Yes baby, he is, and he’s just a little sad too.” Gia said, she looked over at Jory and saw that her hands were dripping with paint. “I’m going to give him a hug. Hugs always make me feel better.” She said. Before Gia could stop her, Jordyn wrapped her arms around Noah’s neck; she was shocked when Noah hugged her back. Both kids were a mess with paint. “Let’s go play.” Jory said pulling him up. “OK.” Noah said grabbing her hand. “Wait you two!” Gia yelled after them before they went off and spread paint everywhere.

Gia sighed with relief as she entered her room, instantly collapsing on the chair by the door next to her. Rory heard her come in and walked out of the tiny kitchen in the corner of the room. “Hey what’s up? Oh god you look like hell.” Rory laughed. “Oh thank you so much.” Gia said rolling her eyes. She had paint all over her and her braids were a mess. “Tough day huh?” Rory asked sitting across from her. “Yeah the kids were a handful and I didn’t get much sleep last night.” Gia said. “Oh really?” Rory perked up. Gia grinned at her friend. “Yes really, I had another dream about him.” Gia said. “Oh my god, you did? You have to tell me about it.” Rory said. Gia went on to tell Rory about her dream, every detail of it. “Wow, I wish I had dreams like that. So you saw his face.” Rory said when Gia finished. “Yeah and now I know his initials.” Gia said. Rory laughed. “Gia! Are you listening to yourself here, you know his initials? He’s not real hun.” She said sympathetically. “But he seems so real.” Gia said softly, picturing his face in her head. “I feel this connection with him, I just can’t explain it.” Gia sighed. “Well I think you should just try and forget about him, you need to spend time with people you can actually touch.” Rory said. Gia’s heart sped at the word touch; god she wished she could touch him. She got up, trying to shake the strong feelings she felt as she thought about him. “Yeah maybe you’re right, why don’t we go out tomorrow night? Maybe you can introduce me to one of those guys you’re always trying to hook me up with, make it a double date?” Gia suggested. “Really?” Rory exclaimed as she stood up as well. Gia nodded her head yes. “Oh Gia we’re going to have so much fun! I know the perfect guy for you.” Rory said wrapping her arms around her in a hug. “OK well for now, I’m going to go to take a shower and go to bed because I’m beat!” Gia said headed for the bathroom to get ready for bed. “OK yeah go, cause you need shower. Oh and Gia, you won’t regret this, I promise.” Rory said. Gia smiled at her and nodded her head. She walked into the bathroom. “OK Gia, Rory’s right, you need to meet someone you can actually touch. Sorry N.C., who ever you are, but I can’t sit around and wait for some prince charming who isn’t even real, to come and just sweep me off my feet.” Gia said into the mirror. She laughed at her odd self, talking to the mirror to herself. She shook her head and peeled off her clothes as she continued to get ready for bed.