Here it is! The sequel to Meant To Live: Rewritten Version, The World As We Know It: Rewritten Version!
I've been working on this for a while and it has become my newest baby. And it is moving along quite well, I hope you all enjoy!
Please read and review and tell me what you think, if you like the changes or you don't. Tell me if you want to see something small from the old one or something new you would like to see because you thought it would fit well. I always respond to PMs and questions within a review. So please, give me some! I love feedback! And the more you review, the more I want to get the next chapter out
Alright, my 'please review!' session is over!.
Named The World As We Know It by Scary Kids Scaring Kids
4 years later.
(Revised 6/3/13)
"Baby." Troy kissed my bare shoulder.
I groaned as he rubbed my back gently. "No," I mumbled into my pillow. "I didn't even get any sleep."
"Neither did I, but we planned this remember?" he questioned. "You said you would sleep in the car," he added, bending to kiss my neck quickly. "Come on, your mom will be mad if we're too late."
"She expects me to be late," I sighed, reaching for my bra and underwear. He was quiet as I got dressed, but I felt him watching me. "I hate this," I stated as I put my hair up in a messy bun. I was sure I had huge eye bags, but didn't care. I'm going on a twelve hour car ride, not out on a date.
Troy grabbed my hand and kissed it before pulling me down into his lap. "Three more years until we're done."
"It's still not right now," I replied. "I'm keep telling you, I can transfer-"
"No," he cut me off in a rather harsh voice. "You miss me, I get it, I miss you just as much but I am not letting you transfer for me," he told me. "Stanford is good for you, it's all you've wanted since you were little."
"I know what I've wanted but you are so much more important," I responded in a soft voice. "Duke is a good school-"
He cut me off with a kiss. "Yes, it is a good school, I have to work my ass off to do well, but for you it would be such a step down," he insisted. "Stanford is where you belong. We've made it work, Brie, and the first year is the hardest. You have really good friends there, and you do so well. You are learning so much about yourself there, you need to stay. We'll be fine, even when it is hard, you know that. We'll make visits, write, call, Skype, everything," he went on. "I promise."
"I promise," I agreed in a whisper with a kiss. "We'll tell each other everything. Well, everything important. If I stub my toe, I don't suppose you'd care."
"If it really hurts, tell me," he joked, I think. "I'm going to be ranting to you all year about my dad riding my ass because of basketball and my undecided major," he muttered grumpily.
I ran a hand through his too-long hair. "Don't let your dad get to you. Coach K said you're awesome, he knows more than your dad. As for your undecided-ness, we're only sophomores; it's not exactly needed until next year. You'll figure it out, I'll help you," I assured him while pushing hair out of his eyes. "See? You need me; this is why I should-"
Troy kissed me again. "Don't even think about it. If one of us should do anything about changing their schools it should be me," he stated. "I'm the one who's not completely in love with college," he sighed. I rested my forehead on his. "I mean it, Gabriella, don't even think about transferring anywhere."
"I promise before I do anything we'll talk slash fight about it," I said. He let out a breath and silently accepted my answer. My phone went off on his nightstand. "That's Maria Montez-Smith's warning," I murmured quietly.
Troy pulled me into a hug. "I'll come see you once we're settled and I know I can skip a few classes."
"And I'll come see you before break," I replied. "It'll be tag, just like last year," I reminded him.
He smiled. "Exactly," he chuckled. "I love you, Gabriella, more than anything."
"I love you too, Troy, it's why this hurts so much," I breathed.
"Gabriella!" Vince broke me from my trance.
I turned, my mind cloudy from my memory. "What were you saying?" I asked with wide eyes.
He shook his head. "Never mind, where did your mind go?" he wondered.
"Just thinking about college. I'm excited to be home, but I'm going to miss it," I sighed as I lied, leaning back against the headrest. This is already too much to handle. "I don't think I'm ready for this," I breathed, rubbing my eyes.
"Its home, Lala," Vince responded. "You can't avoid it forever, although you have done a pretty damn fine job of spending as little time here as possible in the past two years," he went on.
I unbuckled my seatbelt. "I'm fine, Vin, I promise," I assured him. "I just thought things would be different after college."
"Things change, shit happens," my little brother told me. "But, as they say, when one door closes, another opens."
"What the hell are you, a bad Chinese fortune cookie?" I questioned, making him laugh.
Vince turned off my car once he finished parking. "Lala, everything is going to be fine," he assured me. "Trust me, things are happening right now that you aren't even aware of."
"What the hell does that mean?" I asked, only further confused.
"Get the hell out of the car," he insisted, opening his door and exiting the vehicle.
I followed his lead. "Vince, what are you talking about?" I demanded to know.
His head was in the trunk, grabbing some of the bags. "I'm saying you are home, you're twenty two, in your prime, single, and a new college graduate," he began. "You have no idea what is out there for you, so stop dreading being here and living at home when anything can happen."
I sighed as I picked up one of my bags. "Listen, Dr. Montez," I started. "Stop using those weird lines on me, I'm your older sister, I can kick your ass no matter how many steroids you take." My little brother is no longer little, what so ever.
He laughed. "It's not steroids, it's called working out and a semi healthy diet," he corrected me. "You run, I run, I just also lift weights and stuff."
"And shoot up some steroids," I added, closing the trunk. I only brought two bags with me. The rest I had slowly shipped home for the past month or so. I'm sure my room is filled with boxes by now. I lived off campus junior and senior year, it's hard to imagine how much junk you collect in that time.
Vince rolled his eyes. "Get in the house, I bet Mami is wetting her pants wondering where we are."
Before we could get halfway up the walkway, a blond who made me smile came practically running out. "AJ!" I squeaked as he picked me up, causing me to drop my bags onto the ground.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your graduation," he instantly apologized.
I rolled my eyes as he set me down. "You don't have to apologize, Age, I understand," I told him as he picked up my bags himself.
AJ is the result in my mom's bout of Empty Nest Syndrome. With practically all of us moved out besides Alex, who was never home his senior year of high school because he was so popular, she couldn't stand the quiet and became a foster parent with my step dad. So here is AJ; he's tall, blond, and white, which makes him stick out around here, but we don't care, we treat him like a brother.
"Isabelle and Serena couldn't make it either, it wasn't only you," I continued to cheer him up.
The one issue with AJ is that he is always apologizing, like if he messes up we'll send him back to the group home. It won't happen; he's ours now, at least in our mind. Mami is even looking into adopting him. He's sixteen and going into his junior year of high school at East High next year. He couldn't make it to my graduation because of school, but my sister's had their own excuses.
Belle, for one, now has four children and couldn't (mostly didn't want to) make them all fly to California with the family. I didn't mind, I wouldn't want to with four kids either. During my freshman year she got pregnant by her now husband Ben. Without telling anyone they took a trip up to Vegas with a few friends and got married. Mami and Papi were both pissed that she didn't tell them before getting married. They said that she was twenty three, they would have understood and helped her do whatever she wanted, whether it be plan a big wedding or get through the pregnancy and then marry. Belle, on the other hand, stood by her choices and said she wouldn't change anything she did even if she could. Our parents eventually accepted her choices and were happy for her. Out of that pregnancy she got Benjamin Junior also known as Benny. Soon after came along the twins Evan and Eve, and lastly now six month old Sierra. Yeah, they can't get enough of each other. Even with her growing family Belle owns her own beauty salon. They currently live with my mom because their newly bought home is getting remodeled. They bought a huge house, but it was a fixer upper so it was quite the steal.
Serena didn't come to my graduation because she's just about eight months pregnant with twin boys not to mention she does have a daughter of her own to look after. Serena got married when I was a senior in high school, and then got pregnant very quickly after. She and Kris, her husband, decided to wait after Tara, who is a mini Serena (scary!), before having more kids. Right when they began trying again she got pregnant. It literally took a month and a half if I recall correctly. Serena owns a boutique in town, selling odd yet sexy fashions including her own creations. She lives down the street and is always over my mom's house. Kris works from home to help with her pregnancy at the moment. He works for the newspaper. He and Ben are practically best friends. Ben works for the bank, by the way.
My eldest brother Felix graduated from college and while thinking up what the hell he wanted to do with his business degree became a bartender to pay the bills. He loves it and now plans to open his own bar. He's just looking into the money situation since he refuses to borrow it from my father. After college, he broke up with his long-time girlfriend Jaymi, who I miss terribly. He said he needed time to discover what was out there before he settled down. Jaymi slapped him during the break up, as did my mother, only on the back of the head. Like me, she loved Jaymi.
Following in the repetitive-ness of our older siblings, Marc and Luke graduated from college and opened up a gym/working out facility. They started up some community basketball teams for kids and coach them in the gym, not to mention hold the games there. They love teaching kids ages nine to sixteen and they're good at it. They, unlike Felix, happily took my father's money and are already well on their way to paying him back. Papi is so proud.
As assumed, I graduated Stanford as a Magna Cum Laude which is basically a type of valedictorian. I have a degree in secondary education for English and want to teach at East High, it's been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. And Vince is right, I'm twenty two, in my prime, and single, I shouldn't be so sad about being home, but I can't help it.
Vince is planning on becoming a doctor and decided to go to UNM. He has a helluva lot of school ahead of him, but our parents are proud. During Vince's freshman year after an, uhm, experience he discovered that he is bisexual. I'm the only one who knows, but I don't mind. It's his life. He is just unsure how all of our brother's will handle it, especially Alex since they are so close. He is still so confused with it all he doesn't want to say anything.
All I gotta say is it is going to be quite the full house with Vince, Alex, and I coming home for the summer, plus Belle's family, AJ, and our parents. I really need my own place.
Alex now goes to U of A with an undecided major. He started partying too much too quickly and his grades went downhill so roughly my dad made the trip from Nevada to see Alex and tell him that if he didn't start to do well he wouldn't pay for his tuition. Alex quickly brought his grades up to a B-C average. He still parties hard, but he studies hard too.
My dad lives in Nevada now. He left sometime around when my mom got remarried. I don't think it was him being selfish, I just think it was him moving on with his life as well, only in a different way.
Richard, my mom's husband, is great. He is seriously so in love with my mom I love watching them together. She is so happy. He treats us all like his own, but would never overstep his boundaries with Papi. Although Papi was hurt, kind of, he likes Richard. He even told him to look after us. Rich is truly a father to AJ, he's stern, and encourages him, goes to all of his basketball games, baseball games, and track meets, not to mention guides him like a father should. He's great.
Once I got into the house I was attacked by my nieces and nephews. "Hello," I greeted with a smile as I crouched down to hug and kiss them. I'm the fun aunt. I'm the one who doesn't discipline them as much, brings presents, and lets them get away with things. Does the fact that both my sisters have awesome husbands and beautiful children bother me? Not yet, but I'm sure it will eventually. Besides, I'm not next in line, Felix is. We'll skip Marc and Luke because let's be honest, they won't get married any time soon.
"Gah-he," Evan garbled.
"Make that Gah and Gab and you're on your way, little man. And hey, where is the Aunt?" I questioned before tickling him. "I deserve some respect," I teased, hugging his twin.
They are almost two and still have trouble with my name. Tara and Benny got it down, then again they are older. Benny and Tara don't always get along and it's shown when they fight. When Serena got pregnant Tara became jealous of everything having to do with babies and people stealing her parent's attention. Benny, on the otherhand, loves getting new siblings; he has the whole big brother thing going on.
"Don't forget one," Belle spoke up from in front of me.
I looked up see her holding her newest addition to the James clan, Sierra. I smiled and stood while taking her into my arms. She looks so much like Belle its odd, but it's the same with Serena and Tara, plus me and our mom. "You're getting so big," I cooed at her. Although I'm sure she doesn't remember me, she didn't cry or whine for her mom back. "You're gonna be so pretty when you get older, just like your mom," I told her while kissing her forehead.
"I knew I missed you for more than one reason," Belle mentioned in a laugh, then hugged me. "I did miss you so much, little sister."
I smiled. "I missed you too, Belle. We'll be seeing a lot of each other now that we live together again," I joked, handing back her daughter.
"Don't forget me," Serena spoke up, holding onto her back.
"You shouldn't have gotten up!" I informed her. "I would have come to you. Kris is going to kill me because he's so protective of you," I commented as we hugged. "How are you feeling?"
She groaned. "Like these boys are still growing and I have no skin left to give," she complained. "I hate you, you look like what I used to," she whined, her eyes drifting down my body awkwardly.
I looked down to see my low riding holey blue jeans and an oversized black top that hangs off my shoulder and shows a little boobage at the same time. I did my make up like an hour ago in the car, smokey looking and left my hair down and curly. I looked like crap for most of the car ride, but fixed myself up during the last leg of our journey while Vince drove.
"I know it doesn't help to say it'll be over soon enough, but just so you know, you're beautiful," I complimented while rubbing her large stomach. I only did it for a moment knowing she gets pissed more easily than normal while pregnant.
"I tell her that all the time, now will you sit down please?" Kris walked over. I hugged him quickly. Kris cut off his long hair and looks more like a dad now, but still shows off his tattoos from time to time. "Congrats on college," he told me.
I smiled. "Yeah, last finals I'll ever take," I responded. "Unless I go for my Masters," I added as an afterthought. Always the nerd, I want to look into that eventually.
"I'm sitting, I'm sitting!" Serena exclaimed, letting Kris pull her bag towards the living room. Tara tagged along as always.
Ben came over and I gave him a quick hug before my mother got to me. "Mija!" she cooed, kissing me and hugging me so tight I needed oxygen after a few moments.
"Mami, I just saw two weeks ago," I reminded her.
I had decided to stay in California a little longer in order to pack and spend some more time with my friends Shyanne, Adam, and Damien. We all stayed together in the apartment we shared.
Shyanne and Adam have been dating since they were teenagers and went to Stanford together. Although they have been dating so long, they are still virgins. Shyanne is determined to wait until marriage. I'm sure they'll be engaged any week now. They live in Texas.
Damien lives in Florida even if he is from Australia and is a flamboyant gay. He's the cliché gay, clingy, cute, loud, and has an eye for fashion, but I love him. They've all been there for me throughout college, I couldn't ask for better friends.
Another reason I stayed a while longer was to skip the annual family party. I wanted to see my dad, and my remaining grandparents, and cousins, but I did not want to see my sister's brother-in-law Robbie. I met him in high school and has had a crush on me ever since. I thought he was over it, but at the party before my junior year of college I came home and got drunk with him. One thing led to another and we had sex.
I regret it and have been avoiding him ever since. At last year's party I had my cousin Adrianna literally be my physical shield. I'm not self-centered or think everything is about me so I know I'm not the only reason he attends the party every year, but I know I am a reason and I really don't want to be. I don't like Robbie that way, I never will and he doesn't understand that. I think he thought after things were over with my longtime boyfriend him and I would start something up, but it never happened. It never will.
I haven't been with anyone since Troy. I haven't been on a date, I haven't gone too far at a party (other than the Robbie incident), I haven't done anything. I don't see the point. There is nothing after Troy, I knew that when I broke up with him, but I did it anyways. He knew it was coming I'm sure, and we hadn't talked in weeks. I ignored his calls and texts, I threw away his letters without reading them, I never listened to his voicemails, and I even got a new Skype account so I didn't have to decline his calls. The only time I called him was when I knew he was in class. I left him a one minute and seven second voicemail saying we were done.
I know I was horrible for doing it. I regretted it the moment I hung up, but never had the guts to try and make things right. I just couldn't handle being with him anymore. In my mind at the time, it was impossible. I couldn't be with him after what had happened, so I ended it.
Even though I ended it for what I thought was good reason at the time, I know the truth. Troy was the one for me. I'm still as in love with him as I was when I said goodbye to him on the last day of break sophomore year, if not more somehow. Because I am still in love with him what is the point to dating? Even if I did happen to find someone, I'd know he'd always be second best and in the end, it wouldn't work out because of that reason. My hope is that Troy moved on, he deserves so much out of life. He deserves a beautiful wife, adorable children, a white picket fence, all of it.
"Oh, my baby girl is finally home," my mother continued anyways with another tight squeeze.
I did get many of these hugs two weeks ago, but it was nice to get one again. "I missed you so much, Mami," I whispered into her shoulder. Nothing compares to being hugged by your mom. I swear, Moms have magical voodoo power.
"You're home now, so you won't miss me much longer," she replied and gave me another kiss. "I swear looking at you is like looking in a mirror over twenty years ago," she commented in a nostalgic sigh.
It's no secret I am practically my mom reincarnated. We look so much alike except for the fact that she's my mom, duh. Our personalities are eerily similar as well. I think it's the reason I love Richard so much, he reminds me of Troy. Troy and I are- were... we were perfect. Richard and my mom are perfect together.
I shook my head of the thoughts. "Well if I'm looking in the mirror of my future I'm still pretty damn good looking," I joked with a wink.
"I agree," my step dad commented.
I let go of my mom to hug him. "Hey," I greeted as we let go. "It's good to see you," I said with a smile. He wasn't at my graduation due to AJ. Someone had to watch him and Belle is busy enough with her own kids. Mami didn't want to add stress.
"Back at you," he informed me. "There is a shoebox full of money-scented envelopes in your room. You gathered quite the little bundle for graduating from college."
I smiled brightly. "I so was not expecting to get anything. Awesome. Now I'll have something to spend this summer while I look for a job!" I mentioned.
"Hey, you should save that money," Ben suggested as he walked by with Benny pulling him.
"Listen, Mr. Banker, I'm twenty two and not the best with money so it's getting spent," I told him, making him shake his head at me. Those are his banker instincts kicking in. "So, where are my older brothers?" I asked my mom.
She looked away from AJ, whom she was speaking to as I spoke to Richard. "You know them, party all night, sleep all day. They'll be by before dinner. I'm making your favorite by the way," she informed me.
"Thanks," I responded with a smile. Maybe being home for a while won't be so bad. "You're lying!" I accused my little brother over two hours later, almost choking on my sip of beer.
AJ shook his head. "No, I swear," he insisted. "Mrs. Freshcorn retired and I asked Mr. Matsui what they were going to do about it. I mean, they'd need another English teacher. He said they were going to hire a new teacher over the summer so I told him about you. He remembered you, of course since he remembers most of the Montez's, he said you should definitely call to find out more information," he explained.
I put my bottle down before throwing myself at him in a hug. "Oh my gosh, thank you so much!" I exclaimed into his ear. "I am so calling tomorrow. I'm going to work at East High. I'm going to teach English and-" I stopped when my brothers began laughing at me. "What?" I questioned.
"You're excited to go to school for pretty much the rest of your life," Marcus informed me.
"I'd kill myself," Lucas stated, then shuddered. "Ugh, school," he went on with a look of disgust then took a swig of his beer.
Felix chuckled while I glared. "Leave her alone, Gabi always liked school, remember?" he asked them. "It's her dream or something," he said.
"Thanks, big bro," I replied. "But I'm still mad at you for breaking up with Jaymi," I told him.
"Gabi, it was over a year ago!" he reminded me.
Our fight was interrupted by Sierra crying upstairs. "I'll get her," I volunteered before Belle could even attempt to move off Ben's lap. They are practically making out. I quickly went up the steps to Belle's bedroom. "Hey, it's okay," I cooed to her. She quieted in my arms but still whimpered lightly. "You're okay with me, little girl," I said as I attempted to comfort her. I felt her diaper and found it felt heavy. I brought her to the changing table to quickly get her into a clean diaper. She was mildly still so it went well.
I was never around babies until my sister's had kids and even then I found ways not to come home, so I am unsure of my child skills. Like, I would go on spring break instead of coming home. I would go be with Shyanne and Adam for a part of the summer or Damien for that matter. I would travel. I went to Europe last summer with Shyanne, Damien, and Adam. I went on a trip around the country with them two summers ago just for the hell of it. I missed out on a lot by avoiding home, but I can't deny that I enjoyed being young with my friends. I also can't deny how much I missed home, felt guilty for missing out on the niece's and nephew's upbringing, and not to mention just being home in general.
Still, it surprised me how well I was dealing with Sierra. I remembered being scared to death when Tara was born. I almost fainted when Serena asked me to be the godmother while I was holding her for the first time. I couldn't even bear to be in the room with any of my sister's deliveries. It's just so gruesome to me. "Did you have a nice nap?" I questioned her on the way down the steps. She quietly sucked on her bink while resting her head on my shoulder.
"Where did everyone go?" I asked the empty living room before going towards the kitchen.
I barely made it in when my sister came out, startling me. I get scared easily. "There you are!" Belle said when she saw me. She took Sierra out of my arms. "Everyone is out back, Richard is cooking some food on the grill and Mami is finishing up in the kitchen. Did you change her?" she demanded to know.
I tried to get my heart rate down as I nodded. "Yeah, she did a number one," I informed her.
"Can I talk to you?" she asked in a low voice.
"Is it a secret?" I whispered back, teasing her. She slapped my arm. "Ow, what?" I laughed.
She juggled Sierra on her hip. "What would you say if I told you I am pregnant?" she questioned.
"Damn," I breathed. "Uh, I'd say you're fertile?"
"Gabi, I'm being serious," she whined in the same low voice.
"So am I," I responded. "What does it matter, Belle? You're married; you already have four, what is one more?" I asked. Damn, though, she is very fertile. It's probably a family gene. I'm surprised none of my brothers have impregnated anyone.
My sister leaned against the door jam. "I'm scared to tell Ben," she mentioned.
"What? Why? Belle, you were just making out ten minutes ago," I reminded her in a laugh.
"Yes, yes, but we just agreed to not have any more kids right now because I am so fertile," she told me. "God, I swear all I do is ovulate around him," she sighed.
I tried to hide my laugh. "Did you tell Serena or Mami?" I wondered.
"I told Serena," she admitted. "She complained that I am always stealing her thunder. She gets pregnant for the first time and I overshadow it by getting married and pregnant at the same time. She buys a house, I buy a bigger one. She gets pregnant again, I get pregnant again. I swear, she'll always think everything is about her," she mumbled.
My eyes rolled. "You two can be the best of friends and still the worst of enemies, I don't get it," I mentioned. "Belle, Ben is completely in love with you and wanting to wait or not, he'll be happy you're pregnant. You'll just wait after this one, okay? Did you even confirm it?" I questioned.
"Not exactly," she replied. "But, I know my body, I know I'm pregnant," she stated.
"That's fine. Get it confirmed, take him out on the town, tell him you're pregnant, then get a hotel room and have naughty hotel sex or something," I suggested with a shrug.
Isabelle laughed. "I'll set a doctor's appointment," she agreed as the doorbell rang.
"I'll get that, you can get back to the family with your adorable daughter," I said before turning towards the door. I ran a hand through my hair as I turned the doorknob.
The man who had ringed the doorbell was turned around, but I knew exactly who it was. This cannot be happening.
Troy Bolton stood in front of me and I'm pretty sure my heart stopped beating. He was wearing a pair of old ratty jeans, a plain navy blue t-shirt, and white converse. His hair was shorter, but tousled up on top as if he ran his hands through it every five minutes. He was taller, I'm sure of it. His back was broader; his arms looked more muscular, more defined. I could pick out every single thing that had changed about him since the last time I saw him, but my mind went blank when he turned around.
"Hey, Brie," he greeted, effectively knocking all the wind out of me with only two words. The nickname. He used the damn nickname. Brie.
"I," I breathed and closed my eyes for a moment before opening them. He was still there. I couldn't speak; I was glued to my spot wordlessly. "Uh," I breathed again. Where the hell did all of the oxygen go?
Troy smiled at me, showing his perfectly white teeth. He looked so much older, but not really, and so much sexier somehow. He wasn't in the stage I left him in of becoming a man. He's now a man, there are so many little tells that are different about him and I love every single difference.
Somehow he didn't seem so unsure of himself like he was in college, I could tell. Basketball pressures seemed to be lifted from his shoulders, career worries, our- his hazy future, none of those things seemed to be burdening him now. He seemed new. He seemed free of everything that once held him down. How can he look the same yet so completely different at the same time? And I'm not sure if I love or hate that I know all of this from a few simple looks.
"Can I come in?" he asked in his intoxicating voice. His voice was deeper as well, but only slightly. It still sounded so fucking good in my ears, though.
"Why?" I found my voice, and then felt horrible afterwards. "I- I mea- I mean," I stuttered. I cleared my throat.
"Troy?" I heard behind me and turned. Vince was there looking as confused as I did. No, I'm sure I looked more confused. He lives here? Not with him mom back in Arizona? Not in North Carolina where Duke is? Here?
I felt his presence behind me. The doorknob slipped from my hand as Troy took it out from underneath. I jumped away in shock at the feelings shooting up my arm. God, he still makes that happen too? "Hey, man. Your mom asked me to stop over," he told my little brother.
I sent Vince a distressed look. My mom did this? She would. I crossed my arms as I felt eyes on my backside. Why is he checking me out? Suddenly, I felt self-conscious in my outfit chosen for the day. "I'll bet she did," Vince continued the conversation. "Uh, I'll go get her," he volunteered, then made a quick getaway.
Troy walked out in front of me so I could see him again. I wanted to reach out and touch him. I wanted to hug him, kiss him, anything, but knew I didn't have the right to, not anymore. My eyes drifted to his hands. He wasn't wearing his varsity basketball ring. I wondered where it was. I mailed that along with the promise ring he gave to me to his house as soon as summer began after sophomore year. I had worn them on a necklace since the breakup, but knew it was wrong. We weren't together anymore so he didn't owe me those promises anymore. I had no right to keep them.
"How are things?" he questioned me, probably to make polite conversation.
If this situation was reversed, if he was the one who broke up with me, I would have slapped him upon seeing him. He's too nice to do anything mean to me and I know it. "College," I choked out. Come on, Gabi, pull yourself together. You're not seventeen anymore! "I graduated from college."
"I know," he responded with his perfect smile. "How did it go?" he wondered.
I coughed. "I, um, was Magna Cum Laude," I told him softly while trying to avoid his eyes.
Troy chuckled. "No one expected any less," he mentioned. "You're a teacher now?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah," I answered, finally looking in to his beautifully blue eyes. Those had not changed what so ever. "That was the dream, now it's a reality," I commented.
"I'm happy for you," he told me. "I always knew it was something you could do. It was probably what you were meant to do. Well, I always got A's," he added.
I blushed. Yeah, I'm not going to strip for my students like I did for you. "I- you?" I questioned. "How about you? What did you decide on?" I asked curiously. I really want to know.
"Once I dropped out of Duke I didn't have as many choices," he began. My eyes went wide. Dropped out of Duke? "You didn't know did you?" he asked, reading my face too well for my liking. I shook my head. "I practically failed out at the end of sophomore year. Probably would have lost my scholarship if I didn't drop out anyways," he informed me.
Failed out? What? Why did no one tell me this? Why did no one tell me anything? "So, what did you do?" I questioned with an awkward cough.
He smiled at me for some reason. "What all great Bolton men do, I'm a firefighter," he answered. It oddly seemed fitting, he was always interested in that and he does take after his grandfather who was one as well. It suited him and he didn't need a degree either.
"Do you like it?" I wondered.
Troy's smile resurfaced. "Are you kidding? I love it," he stated, the smile never leaving his lips.
I'm sure I would have gotten lost in it had my mother not made herself known. "Troy!" she exclaimed happily, hugging him upon arrival.
"Hi, Maria," he greeted her. "I was just catching up with Gabriella."
"I'm sorry about the wait," she apologized. "I am finishing up Gabi's dinner. I had Vince go grab what I want to give to you to send your mom," she explained to us.
She looked to me and I quickly gave her a flash of a glare. "Can I-" I was about to ask to leave, but my mom slithered her arm through mine.
"Did Gabi tell you about her graduation? Magna Cum Laude, can you believe it? I can't even believe I was surprised, you know her, she's all brains," she gushed.
Troy nodded. "She told me," he said. "I wasn't surprised, I know exactly how smart she is," he mentioned with a look in my direction. "I was just telling her how I'm a firefighter," he added on.
"Probably the best in your squad or whatever," my mom stated.
Troy laughed. "I wouldn't say I'm the best, but yeah, I have good instincts. I guess it's in the blood," he agreed.
"Here you go," Vince said as he walked up with a package.
Troy took it off my brother. "Thanks."
"Oh, Troy, you don't have to go," my mother spoke up. Yes he does! I squeezed her arm, but she ignored it.
He shook his head anyways. "Nah, I have to work in a little bit and I'm meeting up with some friends first," he told her. Thank you, Jesus! "Thanks for the invite though."
"You're welcome over any time, Troy, you know that," she replied. She and I are so fighting the minute he is gone.
He began walking towards the door. "Thanks, Maria. I'll see you guys later. It was nice seeing you, Brie," he told me before he left through the door Vince opened for him.
The second the door was closed I took my arm away from my mom. "You did that on purpose!" I accused vehemently.
"Mija, I know-"
"No, Mami, I know you butt into people's lives. I know you do because I do it too, but that was out of line and you know it!" I exclaimed.
She looked guilty for a moment. "Gabriella, you are an adult now," she started.
"I don't care!" I interrupted. "You knew how much he meant to me! He was my first love, my first everything and you just invited him over like he was nothing to me."
"No, I invited him over as a friend of the family, which he is," she responded.
I shook my head. "He's not allowed to be a friend of the family," I insisted. "You're my family; I got you in the break up, not him."
"Gabriella, please, don't be childish about this. I had something for his mom, I asked him to come get it," she explained.
I continued to shake my head. "I don't care," I replied in a broken crack. "I wasn't ready to see him again after everything that happened, everything I felt," I confessed. "And, as my mother, you should have understood that," I whispered.
"How was I supposed to understand that when you never talk about him? Whenever someone asks why you broke up you would brush it off and mumble something about the distance. Whenever someone brought him up in conversation you would change the subject. So tell me, how was I supposed to know what you felt?" she demanded to know.
"You just were," I muttered, and then stepped by her before making my way back up the steps.
I knew Vince was following me, but didn't say anything. I got into my room and went to slam the door but Vince caught it. "Are you okay?" he wondered. Vince knows of my feelings. I couldn't deny him that information, he knows me too well anyways.
"No," I squeaked, trying to hold it here, in front of me, in touching distance. I could have broken down and told him what happened, why everything happened the way it did, but kept it together instead. I could have begged for forgiveness, but wouldn't let myself. "How long? How long did you know he was here, that he dropped out, what he does?"
"Forever," my brother answered honestly. "Mami's right, he's a family friend. He watches the kids sometimes, comes over once in a while, we see him around town from time to time. It was only a secret to you that he lives here and only because you made it that way. Mami's right, you never spoke about him so we stopped trying to tell you. Mami was scared if you knew you would go to Texas with your friends or stay in California. She was bouncing off the walls when you told us you turned Crest Hill's offer down to teach there after your student teaching," he told me. "She was so excited for you to come home. I don't know if it was because she had this up her sleeve or just because you're her baby girl. Maybe both."
I sat down on my bed. "I know it's naive of me, but I thought he would have moved with his mom when she moved back to Arizona. I thought he would have stayed in North Carolina. I didn't think he would be here for some reason and you would think I would because Mami's right, I'm all brains," I told him.
"You're not all brains," my brother said as he sat down next to me. "You're a lot of heart too."
I felt like breaking down right here, but I told myself a long time ago I wouldn't cry over Troy Bolton anymore. I was the one who caused the pain, I was the one who broke up, with him, I was the one who ruined things, and I didn't deserve to cry anymore. I always caused the pain. I was almost always the one to cause problems in our relationship. I kept things from him, I was the jealous one, I was the insecure one, I was the cheater and I almost always caused things to go wrong. I also caused the whammy, the break up. He doesn't deserve someone who hurts him so much. He deserves so much more, so much more than me. He's perfect so someone perfect deserves him. That person isn't me, not anymore.
"Everything is different now," I stated. "The world as we know it is now different," I said more to myself and Troy than my little brother. Everything is different now.
I love this chapter.
It's the same, but different, more mature in my opinion.
To all my new readers who are probably angry with me now:
Trust me. Don't get mad at me for breaking them up, continue to read, you'll regret it if you stop. I have A LOT planned for Troy and Gabriella, A LOT.
Really, trust me ;)
Review what you think.
- Kayleigh