Following Her Shadow
Disclaimer - I own nothing but the plot. (:
A/N - So, this is the first chapter of my next story. I hope you guys all like it. I wanted to wait until after I finished MTMTE, but I keep writing and deleting that chapter. Anyway, I how you like this story. Oh, and you should check out my new story A Curious Soul Wanders the Earth. I only have three reviews ): You don't have to like it, but please just read the first chapter and see how you like it. If you don't, you don't have to read it. But please give it a chance. Otherwise I'm gonna take it off of FanFiction. Thank you.
Chapter One - Gabriella Montez:
The night was gloomy, a jet-black ocean weaving through it. Her chest heaved as she ran down the worn out road and into the shallow depths of the night. Its cold winds were rippling around her, whipping her hair behind her and clouding her eyes. She willed herself to run faster, knowing that if she were to stop and give up, she'd stop and give up her life as well.
How did she end up here, a runaway that was fighting for her life? It was one thing. A secret. She had one; one that changed her life forever and one that she could never get over.
One that would always be following her shadow.
"Papi, I'm going now," Gabriella called out to her father. Greg Montez looked up from his work place and smiled at his daughter. "Okay. Be home by ten, though. I don't want you to be out late, m'ija."
"I'm just going to Liyah's," Gabriella promised. "Bye, daddy." Gabriella quickly twirled around and exited the house and into the cool nights air. She took very slow steps as she pushed her hands into her jacket pockets. She felt ridiculously flustered and guilty. She actually wasn't going to her best friends Aaliyah Browns house. She was actually heading to a house party down in West Albuquerque. Normally she would be enthusiastic to tell her father about going to a party just in case she needed a ride home, but now she was reluctant. West Albuquerque was bad news. There were a lot of criminals and homeless people tucked slyly in the streets. But this was a party of the life time and ever since she moved to Albuquerque from California, there actually hadn't been any cool parties she found interesting. Sure there were a few, but they were nothing to be excited about.
She walked to the end of her block before climbing into the car filled with other people and her best friends Yazmyn Ramírez and Aaliyah Brown. "Gabi, you look gorgeous!" Aaliyah squealed. "I love your halter." Gabriella smiled thankfully and looked down at her outfit. She wore a simple baby blue sequin halter top that shimmied down mid-thigh and dark jeggings. She had slipped into some black comfortable plat-form boots and slid on a few bangles and rings to complete the shimmery look. "Thanks," Gabriella said, smiling. "I love your dress. How long will it take to get there?"
"As long as we can take," Yazmyn said in a thick, Spanish accent. "Those people up there are loco. We'll be lucky if we can make it pass some hobos without them trying to mug us."
"I have to get home by ten," Gabriella reminded them. "And it's seven thirty. So hurry up."
Aaliyah laughed. "Your dad is seriously tedious. Only until ten? My parents said I can come home tomorrow, but I need to be back before noon."
"That's because your parents act like teenagers," Yazmyn said, snickering. "I saw them smocking some weed a while back."
"When?"
"Last Friday," Yazmyn and Gabriella said at the same time. They all started laughing and Aaliyah rolled her eyes and turned on the radio. Better with the Lights Off blasted through the car and Yazmyn grinned. She reached for the volume dial and turned it all the way up. "Oye, I love this song. You're a dime, so beautiful. Top of the line, so unusual. Words can't define. You're running through my mind all day. I'm so happy you're mine." Yazmyn grinned. "Gabs, since you have to be home by ten, you should carpool."
"I don't have a license," Gabriella protested. Yazmyn rolled her eyes. "You don't need one, chica. I don't have a license and what am I doing now?" Yazmyn lifted her hands off the steering wheel. The car jerked to the side and everyone in the car screamed, gripping onto something nearby. "Shit, grab the wheel!" Owen Wilson shouted. Yazmyn laughed and grasped the wheel. She drove them on the sidewalk and down an ocean of grass. "Get back on the road, Yaz," Aaliyah demanded. "Do you want us to get caught?"
"And killed?" Gabriella quipped. Yazmyn waved them off. "Be quiet. I got this." The car jerked to the stop, throwing everyone forward. Yazmyn pulled on the gear shift and they backed up hastily. She turned the car around and cut through the traffic, earning a series of honks and curses from other people on the road. Yazmyn stuck her middle finger out of the window and quickly drove away.
"You're crazy," Gabriella commented, laughing quietly. Yazmyn grinned. "Sé que. I know. But that's why you guys love me."
"Hey, stop the car," Gabriella said when she saw something. Yazmyn looked at her curiously but nevertheless, she parked the car. Gabriella flew out of the car and squinted at a figure walking slowly down the side of the road. "Jazmyn?" Jazmyn looked up. She quickly wiped at her eyes and Gabriella ran to her, crushing her sister in a hug. "My god, where have you been?"
Jazmyn managed to muster a smile. She straightened her posture and pulled down her shirt. "Just with a friend," she said solemnly. "Dad knows you're going west?"
"Does dad know you were in west?" Gabriella countered back. "What are you doing down here? For a fourteen-year-old, you've got some killer curves. There are creepy men wandering around. You'll get raped."
"I'm fine."
"Come on, I'm taking you home." Gabriella started to tug on Jazmyn's arm, but Jazmyn tugged her arm away and shook her head. "I'm fine. You go ahead and have fun with your friends. You were certainly immersed in them after school."
Gabriella looked at her bemusedly before she understood. She gaped at her. "Oh, my God, Jazmyn, I'm so sorry! I forgot to pick you up…I…" She trailed off, guilt washing over her. Had she really blew her sister off to hang with her friends? Some sister she was. But Jazmyn just shrugged. "It's fine. Have fun." Her smile grew wider, but Gabriella could tell it was fake. Jazmyn turned after that, walking slowly down the road.
Stiffly, Gabriella turned around and walked to the car. Yazmyn hung out the window. "You okay, chica? What happened?"
Gabriella climbed in and sighed. "I forgot to pick my sister up from school. And she was in the west. What was she doing in west Albuquerque?"
"I bet she's fine," Aaliyah said, trying to cheer her up.
"Yo, can we just go?" Owen groaned. "It's seven forty-three." Yazmyn nodded and pulled away from the curb. She drove quickly down the road and towards the party. But Gabriella wasn't thinking about the party now, she was thinking about Jazmyn. She should have taken her home. What kind of sister was she? What if she were to be snatched up, or worse, killed? Gabriella didn't think she could live with herself. Deciding it was best to relax and forget, Gabriella deflated back in her seat, looking up at the black ceiling.
They arrived at the house at eight. The party was already crowded and music was blasting at full-volume. Teenagers pilled out of the car and Yazmyn grinned. "Come on. Riley said there'd be alcohol."
"Can't drink," Gabriella said. "I'll hang by the pool."
"Find us if you need us," Aaliyah said. Yazmyn nodded and dragged Aaliyah off, leaving Gabriela alone. Sighing, Gabriella walked in back. What was the point of coming? She only had about an hour in a half if she needed to get back home by ten.
Gabriella dropped by the edge of the pool. She pulled her jeggings up so they'd reach her knees then she sunk her legs into the water. Smiling, she leaned back on her arms and kicked her legs softly against the blue, fluorescent water.
"You are the only teenager, besides me, that doesn't look drunk." Gabriella peered up. A boy sat next to her, smiling. "Huh?"
"Everyone here—and I mean everyone—is either drunk or tipsy. Excluding you and me."
Gabriella tilted her head back, examining him. "How do you know I'm not drunk?"
"For starters, you're not talking like a baby speaking gibberish," the boy said, smiling. Gabriella smiled back and nodded. "Okay, I'm not drunk. Anyway, I just arrived and I'm carpooling, so…I guess it wouldn't be best for me to drink. Your reason?"
"My father will literally choke me to death if he finds out I've been drinking. He says it'll ruin my brain cells and make me forget about basketball. I agree with the brain cells, but I highly disagree forgetting about basketball."
"You play basketball?" Gabriela questioned.
He nodded. "Yeah. I'm thinking about trying out for the team in October. My dad already has me warmed up."
"You go to East High or West?"
"East."
"What are you doing out here in the west, then?"
"My best friend dragged me, but I don't know why. We've been here for only thirty minutes and he's already fucking some random girl. What about you? You go to West High?"
Gabriella shook her head. "Nope, and I don't want to. I go to East High. I'm here with my best friends, but since I can't get drunk I guess they'll get drunk for not only them, but me as well." The boy chuckled and Gabriella smiled. "What's your name?"
"Troy Bolton. I just moved here a few months ago…"
Gabriella nodded. "That's why I haven't recognized you."
They shared a short moment of silence and Troy's eyebrows rose. "Aren't you going to tell me your name?"
Gabriella smirked and tilted her head to the side. "I don't know. I think I should get to know you more, Troy Bolton. I only know your name, you don't drink, you've just moved here and you play basketball. And basketball seems to be an exciting sport at East High so you'll fit in just perfectly."
"I'm glad to hear that. Hey, you want to dance or something?"
Gabriella looked around. She looked back at Troy and nodded. "Okay. Come on." They both stood and walked back into the house. The jumpy beat to Party Rock Anthem's LMFAO was playing and everyone was bobbing their head and moving to the music. Some people were grinding and some were full-on dry humping. Snickering, Gabriella led Troy through the throng of drunken teens.
Troy and Gabriella danced about a few inches away. Gabriella was swinging her hips to the beat and Troy was awkwardly dancing. He laughed when Gabriella threw him a weird look. "I'm a horrible dancer," Troy announced. Gabriella grinned. "Me too. You just have to find a rhythm for it." Daringly, Gabriella turned around so her back was pressed against Troy's body. She gently started another round of swinging her hips and Troy gulped. Gabriella grabbed his hands and pressed them to her waist. Finally, Troy joined her, his hips swaying softly as he squeezed her hips and pulled her closer to him.
Sighing, Gabriella turned around and put her hands on his shoulder, smiling up at him. "Don't get any ideas, Troy," she murmured. The song changed abruptly to Jessie J's Price Tag. Most people, wearied from dancing, walked off the dance floor for another round of drinks. Gabriella leaned up on her tippy-toes and hovered her mouth over his ear. "My name is Gabriella Montez," she whispered, her breath tickling his cheek. Gabriella pushed away from him, smiling slyly. Then she waltzed away, leaving Troy standing there all hot and bothered from her basically grinding against him. After a moment or two, Troy shook his head and walked to the couch. He sat on it and gazed around, wondering where she had gone.
Gabriella sliced her way through the crowd of people. She walked over to Yazmyn when she spotted her taking body shots. Jacob Austin, the captain of the football team, was hurriedly licking tequila off her skin. Gabriella almost laughed out loud at her friend's already drunken state. Her head was lolling around and she was laughing, her stomach and chest rising with every squeal and laugh tumbling for her lips.
"Oye, Gabi! Jacob no es caliente? Dios mío, ya estoy borracho cómo el infierno. Sin embargocarpooling?" Yazmyn slurred. "I just drunk like six shots. And two Piña Coladas before."
"I'm sure you did," Gabriella muttered. "Where's Aaliyah?"
"I don't know." Yazmyn pushed Jacob off of her. "She said she had to go to the bathroom, but she's been gone since…the beginning of time." Yazmyn giggled after that and leaned forward to press a sloppy kiss to Gabriella's lips. Gabriella jerked back and wiped her lips. "Yazzy, get some water and cool down, okay? We're close, but we're not that close." After that, she maneuvered around in searched for Aaliyah. Behind her she could hear Yazmyn slurring words in Spanish and Jacob laughing.
After a while, Gabriella pulled her phone out. 9:08. She had twenty-two minutes to find Aaliyah. Quickly she punched in Aaliyah's number and held the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" came a whisper after the second ring. Gabriella breathed a sigh of relief. "Where are you, Liyah?" Aaliyah coughed. She paused for a second before answering. "I don't know. I caught a ride with…with some, um, some guys to alley. To an alley." Another cough. "And they invited me to…this thingy." Two more coughs and then she giggled. "You have to come."
Gabriella gasped. Please don't let her friend be smoking. "I'm coming, okay? Where are you?" She was already out of the house, quickly running to Yazmyn's car. Aaliyah coughed and wheezed into the phone. "Carmen Street. You comin'?"
"Of course. But not to do what you're doing. Just stay put and do not move." Gabriella pressed the END button and slid into the car. She put the key in the ignition and turned it.
The car didn't come on. Instead it grumbled and smoke licked out of the hood. Gabriella's eyes went wide. Not only did she not have transportation to get Aaliyah, but she didn't have transportation to get home. "Dang it!" She leaned forward and rested her head against the cold steering wheel. Why'd she come to this stupid party, anyway?
Gabriella sat up when she heard light tapping on the window. She looked out the window and bit back a scream when she saw Troy. Quickly she opened the door. "Yeah?"
"You need a ride somewhere?" he asked. Gabriella looked at him. He seemed like a nice guy; it seemed like she could trust him. Following her gut, Gabriella nodded. She slid out of the car and closed the door. Troy grabbed her arm and they walked to an old, beaten, hand-me-down deathtrap. Her eyebrows drawn, Gabriella looked at Troy. "You've got to be kidding, right?"
"My car is more stable than yours," Troy said back, quirking an eyebrow. Gabriella rolled her eyes. She opened the passenger door and Troy jumped in the driver seat. He turned the car on and it literally purred. Raising her eyebrows, Gabriella rubbed the dashboard as it rumbled beneath her fingertips. "Nice," she commented. Troy nodded and pulled onto the road. He turned on the radio and an unfamiliar song blasted through the radio. Instantly, Gabriella reached for the volume dial and turned it down. "What the heck was that mess?" she asked, looking at Troy.
Troy rolled his eyes, "It's Green Day Basket Case. They're awesome."
"They're horrible," Gabriella argued. "Got any Trey Songz or something?" She bent down to look through his CD collection and scoffed when she saw The Beatles.
Troy chuckled and Gabriella sat back up, looking at him. "No. I'm not into that stuff. I'm more into rock, oldies and hardcore. You know Green Day, Nickelback, Metallica, Elvis, Debussy, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, The Beatles you know, stuff like that." Gabriella looked at him blankly. She shook her head and blinked. "Who the heck is Debussy? Who names their kid Debussy?"
"Claude Debussy," Troy corrected.
"I've still never heard of those people. Except for Elvis and Bon Jovi, but I'm not into them. I'm actually from the twenty-first century, thanks."
"Everything for the twenty-first century is about sex," Troy said blankly.
"You act like you don't think about it a lot when you see any girl that you think is hot," Gabriella said. Troy's cheeks tinted a cute shade of pink and she giggled. He turned on the radio and a song with a sweet melody eased its way into the car. Gabriella leaned back and sighed softly. It was actually nice. "Turn right," Gabriella said softly.
Troy obliged and turned to look at her when he stopped at a red light. "This song is called Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day. It's nice, isn't it?"
Gabriella shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Nice beat and stuff." Troy started again when the light flashed to green. Silently Gabriella told him directions and he followed them with no commentary. They finally stopped at the shoulder of a street. Gabriella had tumbled out the car frantically and to her friend, who was indeed, smocking weed.
"Aaliyah!" Gabriella snatched the drug away, well aware that it was filled with nicotine. Aaliyah glared at her, her eyes blotchy and red. She stumbled up, having to brace herself against the brick wall to steady herself. "Give me my fucking weed."
Gabriella shook her head and threw the drug to the ground, smothering it with her foot. Aaliyah looked up at Gabriella, glaring actually. Her shirt was scrunched up around her midsection and her jeans were hanging low on her waist. Her shoes had disappeared and her hair was disheveled and rowdy. "What is wrong with you?" Gabriella said firmly. "This stuff could kill you…" Aaliyah rolled her eyes and turned away and leaned against the wall, her eyes closing. She looked totally wasted. Gabriella had never seen her like this. And she didn't like it one single bit.
Gabriella grabbed under her arms and hauled her over to Troy's car. She pushed her gently into the back of Troy's truck before climbing in the passenger side. Troy looked at Gabriella, confused. "One of your best friends?"
Gabriella nodded. "She's totally wasted. I need you to drive her home and then you need to drive me home. It's almost ten o'clock."
"Is there a please in this?" Troy said teasingly.
Gabriella shook her head and leaned against the window. "Troy…I don't want to joke around. Please just drive." Troy looked at her for a moment before nodding gently and driving off. Gabriella told him the directions, her voice dull and weary, but she wasn't tired. It was something else and Troy knew there was. But he only knew her for about thirty minutes. He wouldn't press her to tell him anything.
After dropping Aaliyah off and sneaking her to her room so her parents wouldn't see, Troy drove Gabriella to the shoulder of her street. She didn't want her dad to see her being dropped off by Troy.
Gabriella turned to Troy, smiling gratefully. "Thanks, Troy. If it weren't for you, I'd still be stuck at that stupid party at nine fifty-six."
Troy smiled and shrugged. "I don't mind at all, really." Troy pulled out his cell phone and looked down at it. He looked up shyly back at Gabriella. "Crap. Something's wrong with my cell."
"What's wrong?"
"It's just…you're number isn't on it." Gabriella laughed out loud. Not because she was charmed by his cheesy pick-up line—it was a horrible pick-up line—but because it was, well, a cheesy pick-up line. And the horribleness of it made it even funnier. Gabriella wiped at her face with both hands. "Okay, so that cheered me up. Do you really want my cell number?"
"I'd like to call you. Even though I'll be in school next week and we'll be seeing each other every day." Troy smiled and Gabriella returned the motion. She pulled out her cell phone as well. "Okay, fine." Quickly, they exchanged numbers and pictures before Gabriella slipped out of his truck. Before she descended to her house, she turned around to face Troy and gave him a grateful smile. "Really, thank you for being my chauffeur, or whatever."
"Like I said," Troy started. "I don't mind at all. Now hurry inside because you're so pretty that you're making the moon jealous." Gabriella grinned. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Very hilarious, Mr. Cheesy. I'll talk to you tomorrow." Giving him another , shy, innocent smile, Gabriella twirled around, inhaled deeply, and then started towards her house. All the way there she couldn't hide the smile etched on her face.
When she walked into the house, she was met by frenzied arguing. Not accustomed to the noise, Gabriella advanced to the living room. Jazmyn's face was red, tears trailing down her eyes. Greg was just the same, but tears stayed stationary in his eyes. "What's wrong?" Gabriella asked. "What happened?"
"He's such an asshole," Jazmyn said, frustrated and pointing an accusing finger at Greg. Gabriella's moth went agape. She had never seen Jazmyn curse at an adult, especially not an adult she was related to. "Jaz?"
"He never gives me freedom since mom died. But you know what? I don't give a fuck, I'll do whatever the hell I want to. He can go to fucking hell for all I care." Enraged, Jazmyn marched out of the house, the door slamming stridently behind her. Greg's eyes went wide. He marched after and yanked the door open. "Jazmyn Medina Montez you get your ass back in here this instant! No séquiénte crees que eres, pero nosemarchany maldiciendotodoen mi casa, conmis reglas!Jazmyn!" Gabriella quickly ran next to her father, peering out at the dark night. Tears filled her eyes. Jazmyn had never blown up like that and it must've been because of something big. And Greg never yelled in Spanish unless he was infuriated. Gulping, Gabriella backed up and watched as her father turned solemnly around, a tear escaping his eye.
Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck and Greg returned the embrace. "I don't know what happened," he said. "I asked her why she came home late and then she yelled at me asking why I cared when all I care about is work. I…she's never yelled at me. I've never felt so…so…horrible in my entire life." Greg pulled away from the embrace and looked over his eldest daughter. "¿Qué pasó conmi bebé?"
"It's okay," Gabriella assured him delicately. "She'll come home soon. It's probably just a faze."
"I hope," Greg said. "Why don't you go to sleep, Gabs. I'll stay up and wait for her."
"Are you sure?" Gabriella murmured. Greg nodded reassuringly and gave her a little shove. "I'll see you in the morning. No talking to Aaliyah and Yazmyn, either, Gabs. By the way, how was the GNO?"
"Huh?" Gabriella asked, halting on the step. She turned to her dad, her eyebrows creasing. Greg's eyebrows rose. "The girls' night out? How was it over Aaliyah's house?"
"Oh!" Gabriella said. She felt her gut sink with guilt. "Oh, um, it was great. Aaliyah went to sleep pretty fast and Yazmyn and I stayed up and watched TV." Nervously, Gabriella chuckled. It was a little bit true, actually. Aaliyah was passed out on her bed, completely wasted. And Yazmyn and Gabriella were up, technically. Well, Yazmyn most likely was still up getting dizzy and drunk. Greg nodded, narrowing his eyes at her. "Well, okay. Get to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay." Gabriella quickly walked up the steps, taking two at a time. When she was in her room with the door closed, she let out a sigh. Tonight had definitely not gone how she planned it. She planned on having fun but instead she had to take her very wasted friend home, lie to her dad, and witness her little sister storm out of the house in an unfamiliar rage. The only great outcome of this night was when she got to talk to Troy; got to laugh and joke with him.
Thinking of Troy sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Gabriella grinned and pulled out of her clothes. She pulled on an over-sized tee and some short pajama shorts before turning the light off and jumping in bed. She couldn't wait for next week to see Troy in school.
So how do you like it? This story will slowly unravel itself as I write chapters. It will give you chunks of what happened to Jazmyn as you read along. Thanks for reading and review please!
~~~~Nessa Kiss