Alone With You

"I don't see you laugh.
You don't call me back,
but you kiss me when you're drunk.
I don't know your friends,
don't know where you've been.
Why are you the one i want?

Don't put your lips up to my mouth and tell me you can't stay.
Don't slip your hands under my shirt and tell me it's okay.
Don't say it doesn't matter, cause it's gonna matter to me.
I can't be alone with
You've got me out on the edge, every time you call
And I know it'll kill me if i fall
I can't be alone with you."

Every body has one person that no matter how things turn out at the end of the day you want to be with them. It may not be love, but it is definitely attraction. They are all you can think about, always on your mind. You want to be with them, every second of the day. But, of course, they are not on the same page as you are. You know what they say- You always want the one thing you can't have. I have a weakness, her name is Gabriella Montez.

I met her at a bar and I only see her at the bar or if I take her home. My Buddy, Chad, and I went out after work one day. We worked typical 9 to 5 office jobs. Chad and I knew each other since elementary school. He was my brother, my best friend. We always did everything together. Even more than we'd like to admit.

Chad is engaged to his girlfriend of 10 years, Taylor McKessie. Taylor and I haven't been the best of friends but I've grown on her. I've always been the third wheel since they've got together. I never really minded. My best friend found the love of his life. What kind of shitty friend would I be if I got in between?

Anyway.

Chad and I went down to the bar after work. We were so ready to get out of the office by five. The bar was literally 3 blocks away from my apartment. After I dropped my car off at home I walked down to the bar. Taylor dropped Chad off. Taylor was never insecure. She knew Chad would probably do something stupid and she would be more than happy to pick her drunk fiancé up from a bar. She has definitely calmed down from high school.

"Hey man." Chad said, getting out of the car.

"Hey Tay." I waved to her, she waved back to me before driving off. "Hey Man. I am so ready for a beer." I said.

We walked into the bar and sat down. "What can I get for ya?" The bartender said. He slapped a towel over his shoulder.

"A beer for me." I said, turning to look out at the people in the bar.

"One for me too, and a round of shots." Chad said to the bartender.

My eyes scanned over the people in the bar. A couple of biker looking guys were shooting pool. A group of women were dancing in the middle of the room to a classic rock song blaring out of the juke box. I scanned the music machine and saw a brunette standing next to it. She was nodding her head to the music and tapping her fingers against the machine.

Her curls cascaded over her shoulders. Her eyes were brown and man, she was beautiful. I scanned over her body slowly. She had killer curves. My eyes made their way back to her face. Her eyes met mine and a smirk formed on her face.

Chad nudged me. "Troy, Your beer."

I pulled my eyes away from her. I picked up my beer and took a drink. "Thanks man."

He slid over a shot and I picked it up. "Were going to need another round of these." Chad said to the bartender. "Cheers man." He lifted up the shot glass and I clinked my glass against his.

"Cheers." I put the glass to my mouth and knocked it back. I felt the smooth liquid burn down my throat. I licked my lips. "That is good." I said looking over at Chad. I chuckled to myself. "When did we turn 24? I feel like I'm 18 sometimes."

"I was just walking to Taylor about that. It's crazy. Taylor and I have been together for more than 10 years. I feel like an old man." Chad said, sipping his beer.

I chuckled. "Well you are going to be an old married man." He nodded and we took another drink of our beers at the same time. I swiveled my chair around and scanned the room again. I was looking for that brunette again. My eyes drifted over to the Juke Box. She wasn't there. "Shit." I cursed under my breath.

"Can I get a Sex on the Beach?" A beautiful voice said from next to me. I turned to see the brunette standing next to me, leaning against the bar. Her back was arched perfectly as her elbows rested against the bar.

God everything about her was perfect. Her ass, her toned legs, the curve of her arched back. I shifted the crotch of my pants and turned back to face the bar. I turned in her direction and I couldn't help but stare. She picked up her drink and took a sip from her straw. She picked up the piece of fruit on her glass and turned to look at me.

I tried to peel my eyes away from her but I couldn't. She seductively put the piece of fruit in her mouth. She licked the juice off her lip as she placed the citrus rind on a napkin.

"Here's another shot Troy." Chad said, nudging me.

I whipped my head over to him a little too quickly. "Hm." Chad held up the glass. "Oh… right." Chad gave me a weird look as I took the shot and downed the rest of my beer.

"You alright man?" Chad said looking at me.

I nodded. "I'm fine. I'm fine. I need another beer please." I said as the bartender walked by. I glanced to my side and the brunette was gone again. I sighed.

After an hour, Chad and I just talked. He was ready to go home, so he called up Taylor and was waiting for her to get him. "Are you sure you will be alright?" Chad said as I walked him outside.

"Yes Chad. I'll be fine. I'll have a couple more beers then I will walk home. Do you want me to call you when I get home dad?" I said sarcastically. Chad chuckled and shook his head. "I'll be fine Chad." I repeated.

We watched Taylor pull up. "If you don't get the brunettes number I will personally kick your ass." He said walking backwards. He climbed in the car and I waved to them as Taylor drove away.

I turned to go back into the bar when the brunette walked out with a cigarette in her mouth. She pulled a lighter out and lit the cigarette. She took a drag before blowing out the smoke, holding the cigarette in her two fingers. "Hey." She called out. I looked around. "No, I was talking to you necktie." She said, staring right at me.

"Uh, Hello?" I said, taking a step toward her.

"What's your name?" She asked before taking another drag.

I made my way over to her and stood in front of her. "I'm Troy Bolton." I extended my hand.

She switched the cigarette to the other hand, she flicked the ashes to the ground. "Gabriella Montez. Most people call me Gabi though."

"Well, It is very nice to meet you Gabi." I said, stuffing my hand in my pocket.

"I didn't say you could call me Gabi." She said, with a serious face. I shifted uncomfortably. I opened my mouth to apologize. "I was kidding Troy." She said with an equally serious face.

"Oh, right." I said with an uncomfortable chuckle. "What do you do Gabriella?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I work in a Woman's Correctional Facility." She took one last drag and threw the cigarette to the ground. She stomped it with her heels. My eyes traveled down her legs to her shoes. My mind shifted into a fantasy involving me and her fucking with those heels on. "Buy me another drink?" She said. I snapped out of my fantasy and looked up at her.

"Sure, Anything." I said as we walked toward the doors. I opened the door for her and she walked in. I watched her ass in her tight dress as we walked back to the bar. We got our drinks and watched everybody dance. "Do you want to dance?" I asked her.

"Sure." She put her drink down and took my head. She lead me out to the dance floor. My arms snaked around her waist and I pulled her against me. We danced closely for a couple songs in silence. She leaned in and whispered. "Good thing I hold my alcohol well. I am so drunk." She said staring at me.

"You could have fooled me." I said looking at her. "You from around here?" I asked. She shook her head and her lips brushed against mine. Her tongue pried it's way into my mouth. She tasted like fruit and cigarette smoke. I wasn't much of a smoker but cigarettes tasted so damn good on her. She pulled away from my lips. "You are beautiful." I opened my eyes to look at her.

"You talk too much." She pressed her lips against mine slowly before pulling away. I opened my eyes and watched her find her drink. She took a sip and watched me as I stood on the dance floor alone.

I let out a breath and made my way over to her. "Do you want to go back to my place?" I asked boldly. I've never done anything like this. I worked all the time. When I wasn't working I was eating or sleeping. I looked into her eyes. She let out a breath.

"Okay, I'll be right back. I'll meet you outside." She said picking up her drink and walking away.

I paid my tab and walked out the door. I looked at my watch and started pulling off my necktie. I was so used to wearing them I didn't even feel them anymore. It was a little after 9:30. It was very early but I didn't really mind. I checked my watch and 10 minutes lapsed and there was no sight of Gabriella. I was starting to get a little worried.

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed in defeat. I hung my head and started to walk away from the bar. "Leaving without me?" I heard Gabriella say from behind me. I stopped walking and turned around. She had a coat on and her heels clicked as she walked over to me. "Where are we headed?"

"Just a couple blocks. It's a 10 minute walk." I said, pulling my tie off. She caught up to me and took the tie out of my hands. She unraveled it as we walked. "So where are you from?"

"I moved around a lot. I don't really call one place home." I glanced at her and she tied the tie to he wrist and was tugging at it. "These are very secure." She looked up at me with a smirk on her face. "It's good to know, don't you think?"

I unbuttoned the first button of my shirt. "I suppose so." We walked a little longer in silence until I turned down my street. "Its coming up." I saw her nod out of the corner of my eye. I wrapped my arm around her waist and she didn't seem to mind.

We walked up to my door and I opened it, turning the lights on. "Nice place." She murmured, taking off her jacket. I closed the door and she flung it on the couch. "I like it."

She sat down, crossing her legs. "I'll be right back." I walked into my bedroom and I took off my shirt. I took off my pants and put them in the hamper. I walked over to my dresser and opened the drawer.

"Damn, I didn't know you were ripped." I turned to see Gabriella standing at the door biting her bottom lip. She reached to the side and unzipped her dress slowly. She let it drop to the ground and walk over to me. "You better put those shorts away, you won't be needing them."

I dropped the shorts and I walked over to her and connected my lips to hers. She jumped on my waist and I held her up by her butt. I licked her bottom lip slowly. She let out a quiet moan as my lips traveled down her neck. I walked over to the bed and laid her down with her heels still on.

"Please don't chain that door.
I can't win this war
Your body's like a pill i shouldn't take.

Don't put your lips up to my mouth and tell me you can't stay.
Don't slip your hands under my shirt and tell me it's okay.
Don't say it doesn't matter cause it's gonna matter to me.
I can't be alone with
You've got me out on the edge everytime you call
And i know it would kill me if i fall,
I can't be alone with you"

That was the beginning of it all. The beginning of me going out to the bar three times a week, spending half my paycheck on booze and half my time trying to get her to come home with me again. And she did, every time. After a couple of months it almost seemed routine. Gabi called me up every couple of days and we would meet at the bar or sometimes she would show up at the door drunk off her ass.

I knew I should have taken advantage of her while she was drink but she was very aware of what we were doing. Even though she was gone before I woke up I felt myself falling in love with her. I don't know where she lived. I don't know what her middle name was. I don't know if she has siblings, friends, or any family. She never laughs. I've only seen her smile at something I said twice. She had a beautiful smile.

I call her. She never calls me back, she doesn't even answer sometimes. She never wants to hang out during the day. I've only seen her once when she wasn't drunk. We made small talk before she left. I don't understand that if she wasn't interested in me, then why did she keep coming back? I was so wrapped around her finger I didn't care.

It's been about 6 months since that first night with Gabi. I wanted more. I wanted to be able to talk to her about everything. I wanted to know everything about her. I wanted her to spend the night and be there when I wake up in the morning. My phone rang from beside me. I looked at the caller ID. Gabi.

I sighed. "Hello?"

"Hey, What are you doing tonight?" Gabi asked.

"Don't know. Why?" I was still at work. I closed the file cabinet I was working in and logged off my computer. "I'm about to leave work. I had to do some overtime so could you call me back later?"

"If you want to meet up, I'll be at the bar around seven. Bye Troy." She hung up and I shook my head and shoved my phone in my pocket.

"Fuck." I muttered to myself. I grabbed my suitcase and walked out of the office. I got in my car. I walked up to the door. I opened the door and Gabi was sitting on the couch. I jumped. "Gabi. How'd you get in here?"

"You have a key under your matt. Kind of cliché if you ask me." She got up. "Sorry, for breaking and entering."

"Why are you here?" I asked walking over to her. "Are you drunk?"

She raised her eyebrows. "I might have had a couple of drinks." She shrugged and wrapped her arms around my waist. "I missed you last night." Her lips found my neck.

"Gabi-" I started.

She put her finger on my lips. "Stop talking." She connected her lips to mine and I felt myself falling again.

I pulled away slowly. "Stay the night, please?" I begged.

She kissed my lips slowly and mumbled. "I can't stay Troy."

Gabi un tucked my shirt and looked at me. I frowned. "Why can't you just stay one night?" I asked with a sigh.

She rubbed my abs slowly. "It's okay Troy. It doesn't matter if I stay or not."

"Yes it does. It matters to me Gabi." I pulled away from her. "I don't know anything about you and I am falling in love with you. It doesn't even make sense to me."

She sighed and looked away from me. "Troy, can we just not talk about this please?"

"Tell me you don't feel it too. Tell me you don't love me." I said, staring at her. "I love you Gabi. I LOVE you." She ran her fingers through her hair and sat back down on the couch. She pulled her knees up to her chest and sat quietly. "Are you going to say anything?"

"What am I supposed to say Troy?" She said looking up at me.

"Say what you feel. Open up for once in your life." I said, frustrated. "Do you even care about me? We just fuck and you go back to your mysterious life. I want to know you Gabi. I don't care about what happened. What made you so fucked up that you treat me like this. I just want to know."

"It's none of your fucking business Troy. You don't know what I've been through." Gabi yelled back at me.

"Because you don't tell me anything!" I said before walking into my room and slamming the door. I started changing my clothes.

"I love you." I heard from behind me, the door clicked closed. "I love you Troy. Okay? I just don't know how to be open. I don't know how to stay the night. I don't know how to be what you want Troy." I turned to see Gabi leaning against the door.

"You are already all that I want Gabi." I walked over to her and move the hair away from her face. "I wouldn't be here arguing with you if you weren't. You are everything I've ever wanted." She looked away from me. "Do you know you have the most beautiful smile I've ever seen? I can count how many times I've seen it on one hand."

"I feel stupid when I smile." She said quietly. "I feel like I wasn't meant to smile."

I sighed. "You are the only person I ever want to see smile." I leaned in and kissed her lips gently. "Tell me you love me." I mumbled against her lips.

She looked up into my eyes. "I love you." She licked her lips and kissed my lips firmly. I held her lips firmly against mine.

I pulled my lips away from hers slowly. "Are you hungry?" She nodded her head. "Pizza?" She nodded again. She walked over to the bed and laid down. I grabbed my phone and ordered pizza. We talked a little bit in between our make out sessions until the pizza came.

I paid for it and put it on the table. "Thank you for dinner." She said, grabbing a beer out of the fridge. She got one for me too and slid it over to me.

"Thanks Gabs." I popped the top and took a sip.

Things were going well at dinner. We eventually made it to bed. This time we had sex it wasn't just sex. I felt something different. We made love. I knew what I felt It was as amazing as I expected it to me. It felt like we were one. I know Gabi felt it too. She cuddled up to me as we fell asleep.

My eyes peeled open and the light was too bright so I shut them quickly. My mind was replaying everything that happened last night. I reached over to my left side. Empty. I let out a sigh and opened up my eyes. I looked over to the left and sat a piece of paper on the pillow. I picked it up and looked it over.

Dear Troy,

I'm sorry. I know you are probably pissed off right now, especially after last night. I wish I could be everything you want me to be. I wish I could tell you about everything but I can't and I don't know why. I Love you Troy and that terrifies me. I've never loved anybody how I love you. Not even my parents and that should tell you a lot. I'm sorry I could be there when you wake up. I'm sorry I let you down. I understand if you don't want to talk to me or anything. I'll miss you. I love you.

Gabriella.

I crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it away. That was bullshit.

"Don't put your lips up to my mouth and tell me you can't stay.
Don't slip your hands under my shirt and tell me it's okay.
Don't say you love me cause you know you're gonna love me and leave.
I can't be alone with
You've got me out on the edge everytime you call
and I know it would kill me if i fall.
I can't be alone with you."

5 years later

I moved out to California a couple years ago. I moved with my job. I gave up on Gabriella. I hadn't talked to her since that night. I was back in Albuquerque for the birth of my God Son. Chad already had a girl, she was 2. Her name was Destiny. She was excited to be a big sister. Michael Danforth was born this morning. I got to see him and hold him. Chad was beaming at his new son.

I couldn't wait to start a family and get married. I had to find somebody first. I had a couple of girlfriends since but it never clicked. I was okay with being alone for right now. I walked around Albuquerque to see my old neighborhood. I just came from my parents house. I walked past my old apartment to the bar.

I walked inside the bar and sat down. I looked at my watch. It was about 9:45. "Beer please." I told the new bartender. He brought me the beer and I took a drink. I looked up at the football on TV.

"Who's winning?" A woman said from next to me. I turned to look at her. She had long blonde hair. She crossed her legs and looked up at the TV. She took a sip of her beer.

"Saints just scored, then it went to commercial." I said. She turned back at me and smiled. "Who are you rooting for?"

She scoffed. "Neither. I'm a Cardinal's girl." She said with a giggle. "Who are you rooting for?"

"Neither. I was more in to basketball. I moved to California a couple of years ago and I got into football. I'm officially an Oakland Raiders fan." She made a face. "I know they suck but you have to go to one of the games. It's fucking crazy."

She giggled. "I believe it. They had the most penalties last year." She turned her head back to the TV and took another drink. I peeled the label off the beer bottle and folded it up. She looked over at me. "My friend does that. I always thought it was weird."

I looked at her and chuckled. "It's a bad habit of mine." She shrugged. "Have you lived in Albuquerque all your life?"

She shook her head. "I'm from Santa Fe. My friend and I moved down here after high school to go to U of A. Speaking of, she always hangs around this place but she is not here yet. I've beat her and I came from work. We live down the street."

"Funny." I said with a smile. I finished my beer. "Another." I slid the bartender over the bottle. "What's your name?" I asked the blonde.

"Sharpay Evans." She said with a smile.

"Sharpay? That's your real name?" I asked with a chuckle.

She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Yes that is my real name."

"Why did your parents name you Sharpay?" I asked, curiously.

She shrugged. "If I know I would tell you. My brother, who is my twin, who was born before me. I might add. Is named Ryan. RYAN! I get Sharpay!" She said finishing off her beer. "My parents punished me with a horrendous name. I punished them with rebellion. I own it though. Brie says it fits me."

"I'd have to agree. It does." I peeled off the second label of the beer and took a drink. I picked up a peanut from the bowl on the bar. I cracked it the special way that Gabi taught me so many years ago. It always cracked the shell, making the peanut come out perfect every time. I popped the peanut in my mouth. Sharpay was staring at me. "What?"

She shook her head and looked back at the T.V. "Weird." She mumbled. "I'll be right back, save my seat." I nodded and looked back up at the T.V. I continued finished the peanut and took another drink of my beer.

"There you are! I was wondering where you where. I met a cute guy at the bar. He does that weird peanut thing you do. I want you to meet him, okay?" I heard from Sharpay, behind me. She sat next to me and smiled. "Hey." I turned to face her. I froze as I saw her friend. Of course. Just my fucking luck.

"Troy?" Gabriella said, sitting next to Sharpay.

I looked from Sharpay to Gabriella. "You guys know each other?" I didn't reply. I took a long drink and I finished off my beer. "Brie, what the fuck?" I started getting up. "Wait, where are you going?"

"I have to go, my friend is expecting me. My god son was born this morning so I have to go check up on them." I dusted the peanuts off my jacket and started walking towards the door.

"Troy. Troy wait." I ignored the calls and walked out the door. "Troy. Fucking Stop!" Gabi yelled as I turned back towards the hospital. I stopped in my tracks and she stood in front of me.

"What?" I asked.

"I wanted to know how you were. How have you been?" Gabi asked, looking up at me. I could see the sobriety in her eyes.

"You ran all the way out here to ask how I've been?" I questioned. She nodded. "I've been fine. I moved to California. I got a promotion and I'm doing well." I started to walk around her.

"Wait, wait." I stopped again as she pushed in front of me. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I didn't stay. I know that I was bitter and stupid and if I could relive that day over again then I wouldn't have left." She let out a shaky breath. She looked away and wiped her face. She looked up at me with tears down her cheeks. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I wanted to but in that place and time I couldn't be with you. I knew I should have treated you better but I didn't love myself the way you loved me. So all I can say is I'm sorry." She wiped her tears away. I nodded and looked away from her for a minute. I looked back up at her and she held out a card. "If you still want the full story, you can call me."

I took the card and put it in my pocket. "Alright," I managed to say. "Tell Sharpay I said it was nice to meet her."

She nodded and put her hands in her pockets. "Bye Troy."

"Bye Gabriella." I played with the card in my pocket and walked away from her.

"I don't see you laugh,
You don't call me back.
But you kiss me when you're drunk."

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