Chapter 2: First Meeting
Gabriella folded up the cardboard box and placed it on top of the pile of other boxes. "Mom, I'm done with these boxes," she called out. Her Mother came out from the kitchen, "Thanks for helping Gabi. At least most of the boxes are unpacked; I only have two more left in here and then I'm done," her Mother said. Gabriella nodded, "Do you want help?" she asked. Her Mother shook her head, "I was wondering if you would go to the store on Main Street and pick up some milk and bread for me?" her Mother asked.
Gabriella nodded and took the $20 that her Mom was handing to her. "You know your way don't you?" she asked. Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Yes Mom. It's only around the block, I'm sure I'll find it," she said, smiling. Her Mother nodded and kissed her quickly on her forehead. "Thanks Gabi," she said.
Gabriella said goodbye to her Mother and left the house. She stepped outside her door and saw the street full of kids playing with different toys. She smiled as she saw a little girl across the street sitting in the shade, reading a book. She was exactly like Gabriella; not really into what other kids were. Gabriella turned left down the street and followed the path.
She sighed as she saw a group of teenagers hanging out outside a house. She quickly crossed the road so she wouldn't walk to near to them. She never liked big groups; they always made her feel insecure and uneasy. She hoped at this school things would be different. She hoped that everyone wouldn't treat her like some freaky genius girl and that she could just be normal, like other kids.
Troy glanced at his watch as he walked down the Main Street. He looked around, searching for his friends. Where are they? Suddenly he spotted his bushy haired friend, standing outside the grocery store with his two other friends Zeke and Jason and a couple of cheerleaders. Troy rolled his eyes. Every time he came near a cheerleader they immediately latched onto him and it drove him nuts.
He approached the group with caution. "Hey guys," he said, uneasily; watching the cheerleaders as they turned to greet him. "Hey Troy," they all responded. "What's up man?" Zeke asked, slapping him on the back. "Nothing much, what you guys doing?" Troy asked.
He looked around and noticed that the head cheerleader Brittany was staring at him. "Hi Troy," she said brightly as she moved nearer to him. "Um...hi," Troy said, moving slowly away from her. But it didn't work as either she didn't notice or she didn't care. "So what have you been up to since yesterday?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him. Troy cleared his throat, "Nothing much...just homework and basketball as usual," he replied. She giggled loudly and touched his arm lightly, "Oh Troy you're so funny," she said. Troy frowned, "Thanks...um Chad I'm gonna go in here and get a drink," he said, moving towards the entrance of the grocery store. Chad nodded. Troy noticed that Brittany was following him and Troy quickly added, "Alone!" Brittany frowned and moved back to the group as she watched Troy walk into the store. Once inside Troy breathed a sigh of relief.
Gabriella found the grocery store easily enough. She groaned when she saw a group of teenagers standing outside. Her eyes immediately fell on a guy with big brown bushy hair. She smiled slightly and quickly entered the store. She began walking down the aisles, searching for the milk. The store was practically empty as Gabriella walked down the aisles.
Eventually she came to the fridges and she stopped, scanning them for milk. Her eyes landed on the cartons and she quickly walked over and opened the door. She took out two cartons of milk and let the door close again. She quickly searched the aisles for bread. She shifted the milk cartons to one arm and reached out to get the bread. She grabbed it and spun around, trying to get to the counter as fast as possible as she could feel the milk slipping from her grasp.
Troy was scanning the shelves for his favourite cookies. He let out a frustrated sigh as he looked closely at each shelf. He eventually gave up and turned to walk down the aisle. Suddenly he bumped into someone. The person's items went crashing to the floor. Troy frowned slightly when he saw the items included two cartons of milk.
Troy looked at the person he bumped into. He froze completely when he saw a girl with sallow skin and long brown hair that tumbled down her back, looking at the mess on the floor. He continued to look at her. Eventually she lifted her gaze from the floor to meet his.
Troy felt the hairs on the back of his neck stick up as he looked into her chocolate brown eyes. Gabriella felt her heart beat slightly faster as she gazed into Troy's deep blue eyes. For some reason she couldn't look away.
After a few minutes of staring at each other Troy quickly remembered what had happened. He snapped out of his daydream and looked at the mess on the floor again. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going," he said. Gabriella shook her head slightly, "No…it was completely my fault. I was so clumsy and wasn't paying attention," she said quietly. "I'm sorry," they both said at the same time. Gabriella giggled shyly while Troy smiled. "I'm Troy," he said, reaching out his hand. Gabriella smiled and shook it, "I'm Gabriella," she said.
Troy was about to ask her where she lived when one of the workers came along. "What happened?" he asked angrily, looking at Gabriella. Gabriella blushed and opened to mouth to speak but didn't know what to say. "I...uh...um..." she stuttered. Troy immediately jumped in to save her, "It was my fault. I was carrying the milk and I was in a hurry and I bumped into her, sorry about the mess," he said sincerely. Gabriella looked at him with wide eyes.
"Well sir, you're going to have to pay for them, if you'll follow me," the worker said. Troy nodded and followed the guy to the top of the shop. Gabriella quickly grabbed two more cartons and made her way to the cash register. On her way out she saw Troy and ran over to him.
"Hey, look you didn't have to do that," she said. Troy shook his head, "Forget it," he said, smiling. "No, I want to pay you for the cartons. You totally save me in their. I owe you," she said. Troy shook his head again, "You can make it up to me another time," he said. Gabriella blushed and looked down at her shoes. "So I'll see you soon Gabriella," he said, opening the door for her. Gabriella smiled shyly and walked out. Troy winked at her and walked over to his group of friends. Gabriella saw Brittany immediately latch onto Troy and assumed she was his girlfriend. She sighed and walked back home, still thinking about Troy.
"Hey Mom, I'm home," Gabriella said cheerfully as she closed the door behind her. "Did you get everything?" her Mom asked as Gabriella placed the paper bag full of groceries on the counter. "Yeah I did," Gabriella chirped.
Her Mother stopped and looked at her, smiling. "What has you in such a good mood?" she asked. Gabriella looked at her, puzzled, "Huh?" she asked. Her Mother laughed as she began unpacking the bag. "You seem to be in a really good mood. Did something good happen at the grocery store?" her Mother asked. Gabriella shook her head and smiled, "No nothing. I just got the groceries," she said. Her Mother nodded her head, not convinced but she decided to let it be.
"I'm gonna go watch a movie. Do you wanna watch one with me?" Gabriella asked, walking into the sitting room. "Sure sweetie, what were you thinking of watching?" her Mother asked, unpacking the last of the groceries. "Um...how about… 'Dirty Dancing'?" Gabriella suggested, scanning through the rack of DVD's.
"Good choice. I do love Patrick Swayze," her Mom said sitting down on the couch. Gabriella giggled as she put the DVD on. She sat down beside her Mother and began watching the DVD happily. Maybe this town wouldn't be so bad after all.
"So is that okay?" Chad asked his friend. Troy just nodded. He wasn't even listening to his friend. For some weird reason he couldn't get his mind off the girl he met in the grocery store. "Dude your actually okay with this?" Chad asked, in disbelief.
Troy just nodded. He was too busy thinking about her deep chocolate brown eyes and her flowing hair. He smiled as he thought about her face when he said he'd pay for the mess. "Okay so Friday at seven in Tony's," Chad said. Troy snapped out of his daydream. "What's Friday at seven in Tony's?" he asked, uneasily. Chad rolled his eyes, "The double date you just agreed to," he said. Troy winced, "No Chad I never agreed to any double date," Troy said, frowning.
Chad sighed, "Yes you did. Two minutes ago. It seemed like you were off in dream world but you still agreed. And I asked twice," Chad said. "Well just cancel it. I'm not going on a double date. If I want to date someone I'll ask her and it won't be a double date either. I'm not going on a double date just to sit at the table with some random girl and watch you flirt with the girl you're on a date with. No thanks," Troy said. Chad sighed, "Fine. But what is with you man? Ever since you came out of that grocery store earlier you've been off in your own little world," Chad said.
Troy quickly looked down at his feet, "No I haven't," he said. Chad rolled his eyes, "Sure you haven't. That's why you agreed to a double date without realising it. It's frightening dude. Every five minutes you get this smile on your face as you stare off into space. What happened in that grocery store?" Chad asked. Troy shook his head, "Nothing. Nothing at all," he lied. Chad sighed, "Well okay. But come on we gotta get back to my house my Mom said she'd keep us dinner," Chad said as he began walking in the direction of his house. Troy followed him, trying to take his mind of Gabriella.
So what do you think? Should I continue. I really appreciate hearing if you like it! Thanks!
