Hey there! So, so, so sorry it's taken me so long to review - have been on holiday ^^
**I started this review yesterday, but didn't get time to finish it. :/**
Righto, here's the stuff:
Chapter 6: A lie to be told and a secret to keep
Yeah, I know. Starting at the very beginning... I don't think "keep" fits in with it. Seeing as you've got the "to be" thing in the first part, the repetition of it in the second would make it more catchy, and, seeing as you can't say "to be keep" because it's bad grammar, "to be kept" perhaps?
they’ve never talked to me this much… Well, at least my mom.
Judging from the rest of the chapter, I'm guessing she means her mum's never talked to her for so long. To make this clearer, I suggest sticking a "hasn't" on the end of your last sentence.
I felt tired.
Not sure about this. Feels like you've stuck a past tense sentence among loads that aren't. **ARE YOU WRITING IN PAST TENSE? I'm guessing not, from the beginning of the chapter, but there's such a balanced mix that I don't know!!! Please just say if you are or aren't, so the mystery can stop killing me.** Anyways, suggestions.
I feel tired. I am tired. I'm tired.Dad and mom were here,
Reverse it, it'll sound better. Also, I noticed "mom" is capitalised every other time you mention her.
Mom and Dad were here,sleep depriving me.
Mmm.. doesn't make sense. Do you mean: depriving me of sleep?
to the questions and lie carefully. ‘Cause if I didn’t I was afraid my sleepless state might give away too much truth.
Why not make it all one sentence. They're relevant to each other.
...and lie carefully, 'cause if I didn't...Also, "...too much truth" sounds a little strange, but it might just be me. Too much
of the truth?
...huge then, they’ll start...
Comma not needed.

But once I do get huge then, they’ll start wondering whose baby it is. And if Connor gets the idea that he is the father, I’m screwed. Unless I tell him it’s not his.
A little too many half thoughts for me. Notice how you've started with conjunctions three times in a row? This is me being WAY too picky, but I think the second one (And...) breaks up the great flow you've got going on there. On it's own, "And if Connor..." sounds pretty good, but somehow jars here. *shrugs* the only thing I can think of at the moment is scrapping the "and".
I don’t even believe this. My brother, who’s completely oblivious wouldn’t believe that.
At first I didn't get what you meant by that. Maybe "gullible" would be better than "oblivious".
Comma after "oblivious".
“Gabriela!” My mom half shouted.
'Tis a speech tag

so lowercase "m" on "my". It's a little confusing all these speech-tags and non-speech-tags. I just remember it as: a speech tag is where they're describing how the person says it.
You've also slipped into past tense again. "Shouted" should be "shouts"
“Are you even listening to me?” I looked at her and yawned in response. Dad stood in a corner of my room in silence. He let Mom do all the heavy questions and just listen to my answers. “You know one of thing that I want to do right now is slap you,” she said with a strong, but tired voice. Obviously she was tired of dealing with me.
Okay, personally, I think it would be better if you split it into another paragraph after "'...even listening to me?'" so that the speech stands out more and directs the reader's attention to it, like Gabe's when her mother interrupts her thoughts.
Uh-oh, still in that past-tense.
I look at her and yawn. Dad stands silently in a corner of my room, letting Mom do all the heavy questions while he listens to my answers."...one of the thing that I want to do..."
Typo = "...one of the thing
s that I want to do..."
Comma after "obviously".
"Said" should be "says" as you're not writing in past tense, correct?
“You know mom, that be actually one of the first things you do as a parent in long, long time,” I said with a shocked voice.
Comma after "know".
Capitalise "mom".
You're missing "would" here: "...that
would be..."
Scrap the "actually" - it confuses us and slows it down.
"Said" should be "say".
Elaborate on why she's shocked. Is she surprised her mother would threaten to slap her? Or is she astounded that she said such a thing to her mum?
“Gabriela, don’t take it out on me if you made the stupid decision of having sex. Also, it’s not my fault that you’re pregnant.”
Okay, my mum would not sit back and take that (quote above this one). Don't know about this character, but wouldn't she get super-mad she was being talked back to like this? I know I'd get called every name under the sun, and not such a logical, emotionless answer. At least describe how she said it. You could say it was heated or angry or furious or... in my mind I'm hearing a cool, calm voice.
“You know Mom my first period,
Comma after "know" and another after "Mom".
And when I first got it, was at Emma’s house.
Ooops, missing the "I" there. "...got it,
I was at.."
“My first date, you weren’t there, to busy working in New York.
"Too" instead of "to"
Ha ha, gives me images of the mum spying on them, or sitting at the table with them - right in the middle.
first and only boyfriend never met him.
:
...first and only boyfriend - never met him.- Punctuation was needed there, otherwise it didn't make sense.
LOVED that way you've done that, as though Gabe is counting on her fingers how many times her mum's let her down.
...times if my mom, ever really loved me.
Dad said, with a strong voice.
Commas not needed.
“Oh, really? ‘Cause, I don’t think she really does.”
Watch out for unintended repetition. Get rid of one of the "really"s and try another word.
...but not enough to collapse, not right now that I was thinking what had happen today.
Typo - "happened" instead of "happen".
I would have to arrange my funeral or something, the worst I got today was probably: Dads disappointment in me and no car, I did get the credit card back though.
LOVELY start to the paragraph, but you get a little mixed up here and it lets it down. Separate into new sentences.
...my funeral or something. The worst I got...Colon not needed.
"Dads" should be "Dad's" as it is
his disappointment.
List it:
Dad's disappointment in me, no car, although I did get the credit card back.I hate waking up by a stupid alarm.
Even though it's a great start, the alarm is the first thing we picture in the scene, it sounds a little strange to me.
I hate being woken up by my stupid alarm. I hate waking up by a stupid alarm. Especially when I haven’t slept at all, I swear one of these days I’ll grab a hammer and kill it.
Turn the full-stop into a comma and turn the capital "e" on "especially" into a lower case one. (Make them the same sentence). The next part; make into another sentence. ...when I haven't slept at all. I swear one...
My phone started vibrating on my night table, and I was debating whether I should answer it or not.
Comma not needed. "Began" instead of "started"/?
...before answering, it was Emma.
Comma is definitely the wrong punctuation. Either: ":" or "."
I said kind of grumpy and sleepy.
Comma after "said".
when people don’t get there eight hours of shut eye.
"Their" instead of "there"
"Shut eye" could also be "shut-eye" but that's not too important.
Em said, with a cheerful voice.
Comma not needed.
I said, as I got up from bed and headed to the bathroom. “I’m officially without a car, until further notice. So you are now my official chauffeur.”
No comma after "car". If you wanted a "dramatic" pause then use "-"
I also don't think you need the comma after "said"
but it’s that or walk to school. And I am not walking.”
Okay, I know most dialogue today have sentences that start with "and" but when you're reading it, well, it gets a little tiring. :
...but it's that or walk to school - and I am not walking."And with that she hung up the phone.
"the phone" is not needed. We know they were on the phone.

I took a quick shower having in mind that knowing Emma; she’d be here in my house in thirty minutes.
:
I took a quick shower, [s]having in mind that[/s] knowing that, Emma being Emma, she would be [s]here in[/s] at my house in thirty minutes. Because, really one thing that when perfect this summer was my tan.
"When" should be "went".
Sounds strange. Scrap the "really", even though I get what you're doing with it. Replace it with "only" and scrap the "that". Insert "and that" before "was my tan".
Because only one thing went perfect this summer and that was my tan. or
Because only one thing went perfect this summer - my tan.Also, I got to enjoy my body while I can, ‘cause in a couple of months I doubt that I’ll look great in a skirt.
Bad grammar. You need to have a "have" between "I got" = "I have got" which is better grammar. If you think it's too formal, turn it into "I've got"
Move the "that" in the second part ("I doubt that I'll) to "I doubt I'll look that great"
I smelled that something was wrong, that something was edible food.
Confused me for a sec. Maybe quotations around the second "something".
My eyes almost fell out of there sockets, when I saw my Mom cooking.
"there" should be "their".
Comma not needed.
Scrap the "my" otherwise lowercase "m" for "mom"
Dad gave me a wink, as if he were trying to tell me “Yeah, she cooks.”
Seeing as he hasn't actually said it, and you're just quoting:
Dad gave me a wink as though he was trying to tell me “Yeah, she cooks".I changed "if" to "though" even though it doesn't really matter.
Looks a little strange, huh? Full-stop outside of the speech mark, but if he's not actually saying it then that's what you do.
“Yeah, she cooks.” which honestly is unbelievable.
Seeing as it's another sentence, capitalise the "w" on "which".
Then again, I barely know here at all.
Typo - should be "her" instead of "here".
I stood there looking at mom with real curiosity, I’ve never really seen her cook,
Capitalise "mom" 'cause it's her 'name', right?
Turn the comma into a full-stop.
...real curiosity. I've never really...
and all I’ve ever seen her do is give people orders and make people sell their souls to the devil.
scrap the "and" at the start as what she hasn't been doing isn't in the same category as what she has. If that makes sense...
Okay, SERIOUSLY do not get the last part. Sell their souls to the devil? "make them do anything" This expression doesn't really fit. It's more:
I'd sell my soul to the devil for that car. or
I'd do anything for her! I'd ... I'd sell my soul to the devil!Get me?
she said, when she caught me
Comma not needed.
And since when is she so happy to greet me in Spanish.
Remember when I said sentences starting with conjunctions get really tiring? You have no need of the "and"! You'd still have that snappy effect even if you took it away! Plus - it would flow better! And make more sense.
Also, should be a question mark at the end - not a full stop.
Since when is she so happy to greet me in Spanish?
LOVE the suspicion though

I mean, last night she was cursing in Spanish and other several of other languages I don’t know of, and now she’s all “Good morning” at me.
Major laugh at the first part - "cursing in Spanish and several other languages"
But, "cursing at me" may sound a little better, so we get an image of her shouting in random languages AT Gabe, rather than just her saying stuff to nobody.
"...several of other..." Scrap the "of"
Same here. "...don't know of," Bye bye "of"
"and now she's all "Good morning" at me." Capitalisation on "good" not needed.
“Are you hungry?” Mom asked, with what I thought was a sweat voice.
Comma not needed.
Sweat voice? Ick. Do you mean "sweet"?

“Si,” I said struggling on how to remember other words. “Mucho hungry. Por please?”
“We’ll work on that,” Mom said,
Ha ha!! Great

I’ll admit it, mom knows what she does when she’s cooking.
Capitalise "mom"
"what she does"? Do you mean "what she's doing"?
I always get old sayings mixed up, especially when I don't know them that well.
as I said, everything.
:
As I said - everything.To give it a bit more emphasis.
“Are you ok, honey?”
O.K. or okay - I personally prefer the second.
she informed me in a sweat honey voice,
Sweat honey voice?
she informed me in a voice sweet as honey.How sweet of her to put
Seeing as you've used "sweet" in the same paragraph - I think it's the same paragraph - I suggest using a synonym. If you're using Word then just right-click on the word and on the menu that comes up is - surprise, surprise - synonyms. Click on that an it'll come up with different with a whole bunch of 'em. It's a life-saver. Seriously.
“Anyway I got to go.”
Out side was Emma waiting for me.
Comma after "anyway".
Typo - "Out side" should be "outside".
She smiled at me, and unlocked the passenger door. As I got in and put my seat belt on, I noticed that Emma had the same type of denim skirt I did; only hers was shorter. She was wearing a pink halter top that I bought her ages ago, that she said she didn’t have a special occasion to wear it.
"she smiled at me, and unlocked..."
Comma not needed.
"I bough her ages ago, that she said..."
"But" instead of "that"? Might sound better.
The next five minutes where spent in silent,
Typo - "were" instead of "where"
Typo - "silence" instead of "silent".
Emma focusing driving, usually
"...focusing
on driving..."
It’s kind of weird seeing Emma focusing driving, usually I have to beg to her to shut up and focus. But now she’s like the queen of focus and responsibility,
Remember what I said about synonyms a few quotes ago...

she said looking at me for the first time since I was in the car.
she said whimpering.
Comma after "said" on both of 'em.
she wanted to give me a hug now.
Nothing wrong, just though "now" in italics would stress the word, making it funnier.

she wanted to give me a hug -
now?
Maybe turn it into a question, just to give it that sense of
"what?!"she said murmuring.
Nah. Just say:
she murmured. what is she stupid?
What is she? Stupid?You know that part where I said I’d never hit Emma, scratch that.“
Scratch the "scratch that"

We get she's thinking of hitting her. Let it trail off as a half-threat.
Also, it's a question, so - question mark!

"remember when" is shorter and sounds better than "you know that part where"
“You can’t throw me out of my own car!” she said incredulous.
Ha ha!
Comma after "said".
Or
She said incredulously. “If you’ll just let me explain.” I gave her a dead look, and she took off her seat belt and did what I told her.
"If you'll just let me explain-" makes us feel more like she's been cut off by Gabe's look.
Dead look? Do you mean "death look"?
"...what I told her
to."
Emma, had left the pharmacy receipt in her bathroom, and Eve found them when she was cleaning Ems bathroom.
"Emma, had left.." comma not needed.
"...bathroom, and Eve..." comma not needed. And woo! Emma's mum finally has a name!
"...cleaning Ems bathroom."
Em's as the bathroom belongs to her. Lucky girl.
Well, Emma thought she was going to need a cushion for her butt.
WHAT?? For smart-ass quips - that can't be counted as one. Emma thought she was soon gonna see the light? Okay, that's pretty bad too. But cushion for her butt...
So, the only way Emma could say her butt from extreme pain was telling the truth.
Comma not needed.
"...pain was
by telling the truth."
Typo - "save" instead of "say".
She never could keep anything alive, not the hamster, the bunny or the cat. “So… am I forgiven?” she said still laughing, probably thinking the same thing I was thinking.
Cruelty to animals much?? Okay, hamster. Understandable. But a rabbit or a
cat?? Stick with small things, like fish and plants alongside the poor hamster. It would be funnier because everyone's killed either a plant or a fish via negligence at least once. Can't say the same about a cat.
"she said still laughing..." Comma after "said".
The place where I could find him: Connor.
Why would she want to find him? I get the feeling she want to
avoid him.
Maybe say how he was there.
The place where he would be. Connor.No big changes in it, unless you count
You don't really need to, but maybe scrap the "in it" I get the feeling it slows it a little.
Inside the school was impossibly full, every corner people greeting each other, girls squealing in excitement, footballs flying on the air, which by the way one almost hit me. Beside me Emma was already texting Luigi, and poor little me with nobody.
Comma after "inside"
Semi-colon after "greeting each other".
oh, yeah, "
in every corner
were people greeting each other".
"...flying on the air..." Flying
in the air.
"which by the way one almost..." = "which
, by the way
, one almost..."
"Beside me Emma was..." = "Beside me
, Emma was..."
Okay, this bit REALLY confuses me here. "and poor little me with nobody." What?? She's with Emma, isn't she? Do you mean nobody to talk to?
Simple ‘cause I’m pregnant.
URGH! Okay, this is starting to look like an excuse. Sorry, can't pick up my pen - I'm pregnant. The only thing I can think of is that she' stopping herself from talking to boys because she's pregnant. WHY?? You can still talk to guys, right?
Comma after "simple".
Unless the cute idiot whose coming to greet me right now keeps giving me these unbelievable kisses that keep me thinking about them, even though I don’t want to.
What? I'm not even gonna try and understand that.
"Whose" should be "who's"
Who isStop right there Gabriela, you’re pregnant. What’s the matter with you? What did I say later this morning: no boys. Be serious.“Hey,” he said with a wide smile. Mario was staring at me up and down.
I really think you should start a new paragraph when Mario speaks to her. No only for the same reason I suggested when the mum spoke, but because you're talking about the school and her feelings. Then Mario is stuck in the same paragraph.
Comma after "stop right there".
"What did I say later this morning: no boys." = "What did I say this morning
? No boys."
“Hey,” he said with a wide smile. Mario was staring at me up and down.
The "mario was staring at me..." makes me think he's tagged along with the speaker, even though he is the speaker. Maybe:
“Hey,” he said with a wide smile, staring at me up and down. ...esteem I’ll now who to see.”
Typo - "know" instead of "now"
“You can come see me for anything Gabe, whatever you need, I’m here.”
Awwww.
Comma after "anything".
In that moment
At that moment.
So, we ended up going our own way.
=
So we ended up going our own ways.Comma not needed.
"way" makes it sound like they're both going the same way, but different from everyone else.
Yeah, this is one of the moments were I would normally go: Oh my God! A dream come true and start jumping from joy, only I’m going all: What the fuck?
Typo - "where" instead of "were"
"Oh my God!" = "oh my God!" as "oh" isn't a name or the start of a sentence.
"A dream come true and start jumping..." = "A dream come true! And start jumping from joy,"
I entered the classroom with the sole focus of not looking at Connor. Yeah, like always I failed. I just had to look out of the corner of my eye didn’t I. He looked at me with his green beautiful eyes and my heart just accelerated. I felt like it wanted to escape my chest or something, and my stomach was just filled with millions of butterflies.
Slipped into past tense with the "entered".
"Yeah, like always I failed." = "Yeah, like always
, I failed."
"I just had to look out of the corner of my eye, didn't I?" Comma after "eye" and it's a question, so question mark at the end.
"...at me with his green beautiful eyes..." "green" and "beautiful" need to get switched around, or it doesn't make sense.
"and my stomach was [s]just[/s] filled with millions of.."
The classroom was full and the only place available was next to Connor and a nerdy guy, who for some reason I feel that I’ve met before.
"was" is past tense here, maybe "is".
Oooh, who's the nerdy guy?
He’s actually kind of difficult to ignore and pretend like he doesn’t exist.
Get rid of everything that comes after "ignore" 'cause itslows it down.

he said to me playfully, when I finally gave in and looked at him.
Comma not needed.
Sorry, I didn’t return the phone calls.
Again, comma not needed.

Yeah, and I’ll be sick for eight more months, thanks to you.
Ha ha.
and my eyes just kept looking at him even though I tried not to.
Huh? Sounds freaky. Maybe just say how
she kept looking at him, even though she tried not to.
‘Cause I know one thing: staring is rude.
She just knows one thing? :/ I know it's a saying, but here it just makes her sound stupid.
‘Cause I know [s]one thing:[/s] staring is rude.maybe his black eyes, that are protected by...
Comma not needed here.
For a second his eyes and my eyes met; and I...
Repetition and past tense.
His eyes and mine.
"Meet" instead of "met".
Semi-colon should be a comma.
I can’t help to think that we where both thinking the same thing:
...silver glasses, where so familiar to me.
Typo - "were" instead of "where".
WOW. FINISHED. Bloomin' hell - that took me forever. I nit-pick WAY too much. Sorry. Okay, so, another great instalment. Not as funny as the last, but ya need a break from all the humour once in a while, huh?

Or the funniness fades. Yeah, I dunno what I’m talking about either. ‘Twas great, awesome, fabulous, all that – but you already know.

Once again, sorry for the late reply – and the essay. Still love my Mario Man

even if Connor is super-hot. And who IS that nerdy guy??
~EmmaJane~