Because Of Grace and Blue Eyes by Mochamint19
Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical, so please don't sue me
Rating: T- for teen elements and drama
Please Enjoy! I worked really hard on it.
Chapter 1: Between Lines and Happiness
-December 19th, 2008-
It was a cool and beautiful day. One of those perfect days in December where the air was crisp and felt fresh on a persons skin. The temperature was only in the low fifties and was very unlikely for the state of New Mexico.
Eighteen year old Gabriella Montez yawned as she walked into her blue townhouse. Finally home, she thought as she threw her keys apathetically on the counter. She didn't want to go back to her dorm room; there were too many distractions. It was three o' clock that afternoon and she knew her mother would be home in less than two hours. Taking the grocery bag in her hand she pulled out the contents deliberately. Teen vogue; check, snickers bar; double check. Chocolate always seemed to comfort her in tense times, and she was really going to need that comfort right now. The last thing she pulled out made her hold her breath slightly, it was just a simple drugstore pregnancy test, but to Gabriella it held so much more. Today it became the most important item in her young life. Taking her bag and her mother's cooking timer she headed towards her upstairs bathroom. Nervously Gabi set the timer for three minutes and thought back to the reason for her latest purchase.
Gabi was always know as the 'smart girl', the one of the group that had it together no matter what situation. She was everyone's golden girl, always thinking ahead and in all eyes she was perfect. That was before the party at Chad's bunkhouse. It was the first big one since all of the kids went off to their respective colleges that fall. Chad wanted all of them to get together and have a big blow out for their first holiday break. Throughout their high school years many things had changed. At the beginning of Junior Year it was almost as if the leaves changing and falling signified the change from the once drama filled sophomores into a new group of true friends.
Gabriella could probably place it back to Homecoming that year. Taylor and Chad had dated for seven months and everyone assumed that they were happy, but like many high school relationships it just kind of fizzled out. Troy and Gabriella, and Kelsi and Jason tried to help their friends, but knew that they couldn't say anything that would make sense when they were all doing fine. The second big change was when Ryan, tired of being in his sisters shadow decided to drop out of the musical that year to start a band. So recruiting Jason on drums they started 'Gray Moring'and aspired to make it big one day. Along with the band came a change between Sharpay and Kelsi, a new special friendship that could last lifetimes. The last thing that definitely changed the group was the romance between Zeke and Taylor that April of junior year. Chad had reacted to the idea better than the group would have anticipated. He was glad to see that Taylor had finally found something other than schoolwork to make her truly happy, he had no doubt in his mind and knew that she loved Zeke. Their lives like most teenagers continued through Senior Year. By May that year Ryan and Jason's band had gained another guitarist and a bassist and were ready for their first gig. Everyone showed up and were surprised at how good the band sounded. Life was pretty good for the teens, but like any group of friends the imminent thoughts of college and graduation cause more changes. For this group, it was life-altering ones.
The first was the decision between Kelsi and Jason to break up after two and a half years of dating. The decision was mutual, with Jason staying in New Mexico and traveling with the band and Kelsi going to Juliyard in the fall they decided to break up while they could still be friends. Gabi laughed delicately as she remembered a month later that Zeke and Taylor had gotten engaged. So they all went off to college, some stayed and some left. Taylor, Gabi and Troy went to the University of New Mexico in the fall. Zeke went to Culinary school in Phoenix, Arizona, it was a challenge for Taylor and him, but they were making it work. Kelsi and Sharpay went to New York and attended Juliyard that September. It was almost as if the whole tension in sophomore year had never existed and they had become best friends, they had even decided to dorm together. Ryan and Jason decided to go to college at the local community college in New Mexico and study music production. Chad decided to go to Penn State that year and play basketball. He was going into sports journalism, he had wanted Troy to come with him, he even begged Troy, but Troy was willing to let that go for Gabriella.
It was amazing to see everyone together in one room again. There was alcohol and food, and was one of those parties notorious for a group of college students. Gabriella assumed the combination had been a few nice words, a couple of love songs and too much eggnog that led to her lack of thinking. She remembered that Troy had looked so awesome that night with his blue polo shirt and khakis, that was the last thing she remembered. The 'smart girl' was lost at that moment. The next morning she woke up in the bathroom and it all came back to her. The alcohol, the rented bunkhouse and looking at herself, her night with Troy. Slowly untangling herself from Troy's arms she put her clothes on and walked into the living room she found it was noon, shit, she said mentally. And although it was just Troy and her friends she had never felt more embarrassed and out of control in life. Standing in the doorway to the kitchen she started to tear up. She had no questions in her mind if she loved Troy, but this was way too soon for her. Suddenly she felt sick, her head was pounding and she needed to throw up. Experiencing her first hang over she went to back to the bathroom; she reached the toilet just in time.
"Are you ok?" she heard Troy sleepily waking up.
"Yeah, I don't think eggnog sits well me, I never think I want any again." She said now washing her mouth out with water.
Instantaneously it occurred to Troy that he wasn't wearing anything but a towel. Oh crap he thought abruptly.
"What exactly happened last night?" he said stuttering a little, fearful of the answer.
Slowly Gabriella turned around; her eyes were starting to get that glossy look as if she was forcing herself not to cry. She nodded and they both kicked themselves internally, what happens now they both thought. Going into the kitchen they found Zeke making Pancakes as six college students stared hazily with Advil and glasses of orange juice. Nobody thought anything and no one judged the headaches were too intense to even think and comprehend the questions that would normally come to mind.
"I love you Gabi" Troy said as if everything was ok and was going to be. He said this as he casually sat down at the table.
The timer dinged as if screaming her to come back to reality. Carefully she picked up the pregnancy test and even though she was not late and had no sickness of any kind she realized that her fearful feeling was right. She was going have a baby. The thick blue line glared at her unforgivably and immediately big fat terrified tears starting falling down her face. About an hour later Gabriella had composed herself enough to drive over to Taylor and her dorm room. When Taylor opened the door she felt all the blood rush to her face. Ushering Gabi in she noticed that Gabriella was a wreck, her hair was messy and put up into a greasy ponytail. Her brown eyes were smeared with makeup and looked as if all the hope and happiness were lost from them. Taking Gabriella by the hand she led her to the kitchen table and got her a glass of water.
"What happened?" Taylor said instantly thinking that something had happened to one of their boyfriends.
Gabriella swallowed hard and wiped the remaining tears away. Putting on all the confidence she could muster she looked up at Taylor who looked terrified at this point.
"It's ok Taylor, everyone is ok," Gabi said taking a deep breath she wasn't drunk but the air was sobering; it felt good inside of her lungs. "I'm going to need your help Tay." She said new tears now forming in her eyes.
"Sure of course?" Taylor said relieved that everyone was ok, but still worried. Looking at Gabi confused, "What is going on Gabriella?" the fear now showing in her voice.
Sniffing softly Gabriella had finally composed herself enough to finally tell Taylor, she felt so ashamed of herself.
"I, Taylor I think I'm pregnant. I mean I took a test and it was positive and I just wanted to know if you would and could drive me to the clinic for my appointment tonight at five." Gabriella was now babbling.
"Is it Troy's?" was the first thing to come out of Taylor's mouth and she regretted it right away. Quickly she tried to save herself. "I mean sorry, of course it is Troy's sorry, it was just such a shock, I didn't mean that…" Now Taylor was the one that was babbling. "I just didn't know you had decided to start sleeping together." Taylor said trying to look like she understood and was not being judgmental, she felt embarrassed, "Sorry, some friend I am."
"It was only one time Taylor, and it wasn't suppose to happen." Gabi said now biting her inner cheek. "Do you remember Chad's party three weeks ago?" Taylor nodded and she knew.
"What time do you need to come with you again?" Taylor was so shocked by this new information that she had forgot what time Gabi had said. Gabriella laughed slightly as she looked at Taylor's reaction to all of this.
"My appointment is at five tonight, so we should probably go now." During the drive to the clinic Gabi and Taylor talked about school and how Taylor was going to miss Zeke when he left to go visit his grandparents in Palm Springs and then she wouldn't be able to see him until Spring Break.
They were sitting in a white room surrounded by sick kids and broken limbs. Looking up from her magazine Gabi whispered softly to Taylor. "Taylor, no matter what happens today don't tell anyone ok. Even Zeke."
"What about Kelsi and Sharpay?" Taylor looked with true concern.
"No, especially not them or at least not until a couple of weeks, gosh I love Sharpay, but she couldn't keep a secret if her life depended on it." Taylor and her laughed genuinely as they remembered a week before Graduation day. Zeke had told Ryan that he was going to purpose to Taylor on Graduation day, Ryan told Sharpay who managed to let it slip out one day when all the girls were in the bathroom.
"Gabriella Montez!" a nurse yelled from the doorway and looked at her as if she was like every other stupid girl.
"Do you need me to go in with you?" Taylor asked as Gabi shook her head.
"It's ok Taylor, I think this is something I have to do myself." Gabriella said turning around and biting her lip.
It seemed like forever that Taylor had waited, but finally Gabi came through the door. Stopping a little Taylor saw a few tears in her friend's eyes. Gabriella nodded and Taylor walked over to her friend and gave her a hug. "I'm going to have a baby." Gabi whispered. She was so used to the idea by now that it had only taken fifteen minutes to calm down this time. Walking to the car Gabi understood fully how challenging her life was about to become.
"What I am going to do Taylor?" She said trying to keep the hopefulness in her state of mind.
Taylor smiled slightly trying also to give her best friend hope. "You are going to have a baby Gabi."
Gabriella laughed, "I know that silly, I mean how am I suppose to tell this to Troy?"
Taylor thought about this seriously. "You're going to tell him right? You have to tell him Gabriella, he needs to know."
Gabriella took another breath, "I know Taylor, but I am so afraid to say anything, you know his dad hates me. How am I suppose to explain to him that his superstar son knocked me up."
Taylor looked at Gabriella sternly, "Don't say that, and don't be so harsh on yourself. Things like these happen everyday, people have children at all times. But you should probably tell him sooner rather than later."
Gabriella nodded and mentally told herself that she would tell Troy soon. It was Monday December 19th and she figured she would tell him this weekend on Friday before the holiday. This would give her time to think of what to say. The whole rest of the week was tense for Gabriella. On Tuesday she hung out with the girls and they all went shopping. She had fun that day. Wednesday however she dreaded. As much as she loved Troy, she felt sick by the sound of his voice when he called to see if she wanted to catch a movie. She felt so guilty but agreed. Still she couldn't shake the bad feeling she had. At first she thought it was the nervousness, but on her other hand she felt as if fate was warning her that this was not going to work. That afternoon she sat silently at the movie, her kisses had no passion, no happiness to them. All she felt that day was utter fear.
It was Friday and it couldn't have come faster, after consulting Taylor to drive her because of her shaking nerves and her best friend coaching her on what to say she knocked on Troy's front door. She had dressed up that day, a pink blouse and a long black skirt. She thought that maybe this would impress Troy's father, as if he was going to be thrilled at the idea that his teenage son had gotten his girlfriend pregnant. After what seemed like two minutes the door finally opened revealing Troy's mom. She was dressed in comfortable pants and a shirt, with an apron that showed that she was baking.
"Hello Gabriella Dear, I'm sorry Troy isn't here right now, but I'll tell him that you came by." Troy's mother said sincerely, happy to see Gabriella. Despite what Troy's father thought of the girl, that she was just a high school relationship that would end as soon as Troy became somebody. Troy's mother Karen loved seeing Gabriella, it was almost as if she was the daughter she never had. Gabriella a little nervous started to hyperventilate.
"Are you ok Gabriella?" Karen asked. "How about you come in and have some Christmas cookies and a glass of milk." Karen said giving Gabriella one of those comforting smiles. Gabi shook her head and walked into the Bolton household.
"I'm sorry Troy isn't here, he went with his grandmother to help her carry Christmas presents. Did you need him for something him important?"
"Um, I don't know, what is considered important." Gabriella started to babble as Troy's dad Jack walked into the kitchen. Immediately Gabriella could sense that hate in the air, but like the adult his sometimes tried to be he kept himself controlled and didn't say anything rude or backhanded like normal. He just asked about the cookies. And then like anyone who truly hated someone else, he perked up and Gabriella knew that her world was about to collapse.
"Did you hear Gabriella?" he said with venom almost despising even saying her name at all. "Troy got an offer for a partial scholarship to Duke after the New Year."
Karen smiled "he's not sure if he wants to take it yet, but it will be a great opportunity for him."
"Of course he's going to take it Karen! Why wouldn't he, there is nothing here in New Mexico that is going to help him, nothing to really stay for."
At this point Gabriella started to silently cry. Karen startled tried to comfort the distraught girl and gave her a husband a glare. It was now or she knew she would never be able to do it. Gabriella spoke softly.
"I can't lie to you anymore." She had now calmed herself down to speak clearly. " A couple of weeks ago at Chad's, thing, Troy and I, um we slept together, and I just found out that I am going to have a baby." Gabi could see Jack's lips pinch and his face turn to an infuriated red.
"Get out of my house!" he bellowed shamelessly.
"Jack Bolton!" Karen said harshly trying to run into the entryway after Gabriella.
Chasing after both of them he had more conviction now. "No, this is not going to happen, my son does not go around knocking up stupid girls. You knew about what would happen because you knew that Troy wouldn't care about you anymore and would eventually leave your sorry ass. So you found a way to lock him into your life, he was going to be somebody and you screwed that up. You can't be that far along anyway right, a couple of weeks, you could always get rid of it."
It was the first time in that week that she felt truly like a mother and with more venom than her sweet voice had ever sound she spat at him. Bitterly she almost screamed, "I'm not going to get rid of my baby!"
Taking his checkbook he quickly scribbled and ripped out a check. "Here is 2,000 dollars to keep your mouth shut. Go away and leave my son alone, he has dreams and aspirations and you silly girl will ruin him. Either get rid of it or break up with him before we leave for Aspen on Sunday make your choice or I'll make it for you. And girly, if you do decide to keep it, don't bother talking to my son anymore. If you ruin this for him he will never forgive you, please know that I don't want you to see him again. Don't talk to papers, and don't even glance his way, because I will find out and I will make you pay."
Karen looked at her husband disgusted and ran to follow Gabriella out the door. "Gabriella sweetie, please come back here, I need to talk to you. I am so sorry for my stubborn husband." Karen said sympathetically.
"No Mrs. Bolton, he's right. Troy deserves this, to go to Duke." The tears were now pouring out of her eyes. "Troy has been working towards this ever since I met him."
"But Sweetie?" Karen said sadly
"No Mrs. Bolton, you even said it yourself. This is a wonderful opportunity for him. Please I am begging you, don't ever tell Troy. I don't want to be the reason for him not following his dream." Gabriella said pleading with Karen.
"Whatever you want Dear, Just let me help you ok, in anyway I can. I promise to send you any money you need, if you promise to write letters and send pictures." Karen said smiling.
"I don't need your money Mrs. Bolton." Gabriella assured her.
"No, Sweetie I insisted, it is the only way I will be able promise not to tell Troy. It is the least I can do for my new grandchild. A way that I can be in his or her life, please let me help you, I don't want you to be alone in this."
"Thank you Mrs. Bolton, really" Gabriella smiled widely for the first time in over a week.
"Please, call me Karen," and after that the two women hugged and started an odd friendship.
"That could have gone worse right?" Gabriella said as she got into Taylor's car.
"What do you mean? Did Troy react really bad?" Taylor said in her 'I'm going to kick ass' voice.
"Troy wasn't there," Gabriella said sighing and tearing up a little. "Let's just he won't be there either, please don't question me on this one Tay. He got a scholarship to Duke."
Gabriella explained what had happened and Taylor knew that she meant business so she dropped it. Life was going to be ok for them; Taylor would make sure of it.
It was December 31st, 2008 and Gabi was in front of the television with a pint of Ben and Jerry's brownie batter. She knew that in for nine month's time and the rest of her life she would have to do this alone. It broke her heart to remember the conversation with Troy, when she broke up with him and said good bye forever.
"Hi Gabi!" Troy said cheerfully "You called and said you had something to say?"
"We need to talk" Gabi started softly as she saw Troy face fall. "I heard you got a scholarship to Duke after the New Year."
Troy spoke carefully. "Well yeah, but I might not…"
"Take it! Gabi said more forcefully than she intended.
"But, huh?" Troy looked confused at this point.
"Just go, leave Troy." Gabriella started to cry and continued. "This is actually good timing, because I was going to break up with you soon anyways."
"But why?" Troy said not trying to hide the pain in his voice.
"I don't love you anymore Troy," she knew this was a lie, but she tried to make it sound convincing. "I don't want to see you anymore, ever." When she stopped she ran away and started to cry. "Just leave me alone Troy."
She was crying right now too, right into her ice cream. This was going to be a scary new year. It would have been four years since she had met him and it was funny what a couple of years could do. She thought this as the ball dropped and signified that it was 2009.
"This is the start of something new." She whispered to herself softly falling asleep.
A/N: Thank you guys for reading my story I worked really hard on it. I know it seems really boring and like alot of other stories at this point, but it is just the fist story and setting up for the actual story which will take place about five years after that last moment. So be shy with the reviews because I love to hear your opinons.