THE SOMEDAY TRILOGY
PART II: THIS MOMENT
Author's Note
Firstly. Wow. Um. The response to Chapter 1 was... incredible. I'd love to go through and reply to all of your wonderful reviews but I don't like to just copy paste one stock standard reply; and to give personalised reviews would take away from my writing time and I think you guys would prefer I just write and hence update quicker. Yes? Just know that to each and every single person who took the time to express their support, I am so incredibly grateful. Thank you for your lovely comments and an especially huge thank you to the people who were specific with the things that they enjoyed.
A couple of frequently asked questions were is Felix going to be a regular? and how old is Felix? He is not a regular, don't stress about learning about him. I referenced him in Part I, and said that he was fifteen and 'a bit weird' meaning fifteen and 'a lot immature'. I am a huge believer in continuity and I'd made a point in Part I of referencing various family members who were going to be in town for Thanksgiving; and although I ultimately never depicted much of this interaction, I wanted these references to have a point.
Also. I just want to use the white space here to publicly thank and acknowledge and send cyber hugs and kisses and marching band parades to Audrey (Audrey K). This series is being prepared with her integral assistance. There are no words to display how grateful I am for Audrey's assistance, the marching band is nowhere near enough. Let's see if she becomes sick of my tirade of e-mails soon. :-)
Chapter 2
No guarantees that this time will come again baby
So cherish this moment
No guarantees that our love will be like this again girl
So lets cherish this moment baby
- 'Cherish This Moment' by Kem
"And… cut."
Jason quickly rewound the footage of the final sequence of film he had just shot; analysing the angles, lighting, actors and sound. He swallowed, almost in disbelief as to what he was seeing.
"And that's a wrap," Jason declared triumphantly.
"That's it? You have all the footage you need?" Chad asked, seeking confirmation of what he had just heard.
Jason nodded, feeling dazed at the prospect.
"Halle-fucking-lujah!" Chad exclaimed.
He immediately tore off the trench coat and tossed the item to the ground. If it was his own he might had trod on it triumphantly, but he had enough self control to realise that it actually belonged to Ryan. The rest of the cast and crew burst into a smattering of applause. Kelsi bound over and immediately threw her arms around Jason.
"You did it," Kelsi whispered into his ear.
He collapsed back into the director's chair, feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion. He ran his hand through his hair, rubbing at his somewhat throbbing head. The next few minutes were a blur of people coming up, shaking his hand, expressing their congratulations. Throughout it all, Jason remained seated and still, attempting to regain some semblance of control.
"Wrap hang out at Jason's from 7pm! Be there!" Zeke was wandering around informing everyone within earshot.
"Wait! What? There is?" Jason asked, hearing the announcement and trying to recall when exactly it was that he had told them they could have a party at his house.
"Yeah man," Chad confirmed with a nod. "Don't worry, we've organised it all, you just have to be there."
Jason grinned broadly. "Awesome."
Gabriella bound over to Jason, and he rose to his feet to allow her to give him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"The hard work is all over," Gabriella said.
"I think the editing is gonna be the harder part, personally," Jason confessed as he pulled back from her embrace.
"But still, it's a great start. Right?" Gabriella said optimistically, squeezing his arm.
"Right," Jason said with a nod and a grin.
"I'm going to skip the pizza part of the hang out and go home to have dinner with my family before they drive home to Ciudad Juárez. Then I'll be back at yours later on for this mini celebration."
"Do you know who decided to have it at my house? Since then I'm gonna be left with the clean up," Jason joked.
"I don't know, but I think the guys cleared it with your mom when we were filming there earlier today. And like we would actually leave you with the clean up!"
Gabriella felt an arm slip around her waist, immediately relaxing into the familiar touch. She glanced up to see Troy and flashed him a small smile.
"Awesome job man, can't wait to see the finished product," Troy said, holding out his hand to shake Jason's.
"Thanks dude, and thanks for your help, both of you," Jason said, genuinely very appreciative for their assistance. "You know, when you were actually here and not off making out or 'running an errand' or something," Jason added with a smirk.
Gabriella's eyes widened, feeling slightly embarrassed, although his insinuation was completely accurate. Troy's hand which as resting on her waist squeezed comfortingly.
"No worries man, it was a pleasure to help out," Troy said, sailing straight past Jason's afterthought. Troy then glanced down at Gabriella. "You ready to go, babe?" Gabriella nodded in conformation and Troy turned back to Jason. "See you back at yours."
Troy returned home to quickly have dinner with his parents, and then retreat to the sanctuary of the backyard with his dad, basketball in hand.
"Okay, five more minutes. Then I have to go have a shower before I pick up Gabriella," Troy said as he retrieved the ball.
"So uh, Jason's parents are going to be home?" Jack asked, trying to sound casual.
Troy nodded, and trotted back over to stand in front of his dad with the ball. "Yeah, it's not really a big thing, just a few of us hanging out."
Jack cleared his throat. "You've been spending a lot of time with Gabriella lately."
"Well… yeah, like I have pretty much since meeting her," Troy pointed out, dribbling the ball as he spoke. He had yet to catch onto the emphasis of the lately within Jack's sentence.
"But, it's different now. Isn't it?" Jack said, looking Troy directly in the eye.
Troy tore his eyes away from his fathers, and turned to face the basketball hoop. He rolled his eyes; having picked up on the implied direction of Jack's probing remarks. He made a quick, sleek jump shot before turning back to him.
"Well… yes. But, different in a good way," Troy said. Jack coughed, and Troy realised the implication of good. Troy clarified hastily. "I mean, in a mature, responsible way, which you so do not need to lecture me about."
"Fair enough that you think that, but more importantly, is she okay with it?" Jack asked.
"Dad! Yes!" Troy exclaimed, genuinely offended at the suggestion that he lacked the ability to respect his girlfriends wishes.
"Okay, okay. Just making sure."
"Well you don't need to!"
Jack decided to change tact and move on. He went over to trot over the ball which was now rolling around the asphalt, picked it up, and threw it back to Troy. "These next few games, they're going to be crucial Troy."
Troy sighed. "Yeah yeah, playoffs, I get it."
"Not just for the team though, the team could play terribly and you still need to be at the top of your game because they are still going to be crucial for you personally."
"And I also get that. Scouts. College recruitment. I am very well aware of it all."
"Eyes will be watching you, my ear is to the ground and there are all sorts of rumblings about you," Jack said. He wasn't exaggerating, he knew people who knew people and he wasn't going to tell Troy, but Jack truly was expecting at least another half a dozen offers to be made over the coming weeks, providing Troy performed well when the requisite college representatives were around. "You need to be focused."
"Dad, I know all this. And I know what you're suggesting and…" Troy paused and took a breath. "Gabriella doesn't take away from my game. I'm not losing focus. If anything, she adds to it. I've been playing better and better since she and I got together."
Jack narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at his son reflectively. "I think that's coincidence Troy, I wouldn't attribute your improvement to Gabriella. It's you who has put in the hard work, and so it's you who is reaping the rewards."
"I put in the work, but she is the one who keeps me focused, and inspires me," Troy said honestly.
"Shouldn't that focus and inspiration be coming from within yourself?" Jack queried.
"Maybe it should, and it does, a little. But, if it works for me, what's wrong with taking what she gives me?"
Jack hesitated. The answer was what if you don't always have her there. But it wasn't something that Troy would receive particularly well. He settled upon replying with, "Just something to think about, is all."
A few blocks away from the Bolton household, the final dinner with Gabriella's aunt, uncle and younger cousins was finished. The suitcases had been packed, the car had been loaded, and goodbyes were taking place on the Montez driveway.
Gabriella wrapped her arms around her twin cousins, and then turned to give her cousin Felix an awkward hug – he was at the age where physical contact with a female cousin was somewhat weird. Gabriella then turned to her uncle, before her final good bye with her Auntie Eva. Her aunt lovingly encased her niece in a warm, tight embrace, and planted a soft kiss on her cheek.
"You hang onto that boyfriend of yours, he seems like a keeper," Eva said, and then added cheekily, "and he's pretty cute too."
Gabriella blushed. "Thank you, for everything."
Elena and Gabriella stood arm in arm, waving at the car as it pulled away down the street. Gabriella glanced up at her mother to see the tears shining in her eyes.
"Oh mom," Gabriella said sympathetically, engulfing her mother in a hug.
It was the same every time Elena's sister would visit, they would have a wonderful few days together and then the separation would inevitably be difficult.
"I'm okay," Elena assured her daughter.
"You know, I don't have to go out for this thing tonight. I can call Troy and tell him to just go without me. It's not a big deal."
Elena released her daughter and dabbed at her eyes. "No, it's fine you should go, you've been working very selflessly on this movie for your friend so you should all have some fun. Besides, I just so happen to have a social plan for tonight."
Gabriella stepped back, mocking shock – but she was genuinely surprised. "What? What is this?"
"Didn't I tell you? One of the women at work is transferring interstate and we are just having a few farewell drinks, nothing big. I should probably start getting ready to go myself."
"My mother, with a social life?" Gabriella asked incredulously, a teasing smile toying on her lips.
Mother and daughter arm in arm slowly returned inside of the house.
"Yes, don't get used to it," Elena warned. "Consequently, this evening I won't be here. I hope I don't need to tell you that this does not provide you with a license to have various… visitors… in the house unsupervised."
"You make 'visitor' sound so official, I think we've both moved upon that kind of formality with Troy," Gabriella pointed out, rolling her eyes.
"The principle still applies."
"We are going to Jason's. In fact Troy will arrive fairly soon, so if you will likely be here when he gets here, to make sure we do leave," Gabriella teased her mother.
"Good," Elena said simply, before taking a breath. "Gabi?"
"Mmm?"
"Are you really okay with… everything?" Elena said tactfully. "Just because I'm not entirely used to the idea of you growing up yet, doesn't mean that I'm not here for you to talk to if you need… if you have any questions or… if you just want to talk about something."
"I do know that mom, and I really am okay with everything, more than okay. And I know that I can talk to you, which I know I am lucky for as well. Kelsi's mom doesn't even know that she is going out with Jason. And Taylor never actually told her mom that she and Chad broke up… although surely Ms. McKessie worked that out for herself," Gabriella mused. "But the point being that I know I can talk to you, and I'm so fortunate for that."
The basement lounge at Jason's house was very spacious. Which was a good thing, given that almost the entire cast and crew of Jason's film had come along to the impromptu hang out. Some pizzas had been ordered and already consumed. A core group of Wildcats - Ryan, Chad, Taylor and Zeke – had gathered in a corner with their pizza slices and soda cans. A set of beat up outdoor dining chairs were gathered around a small round coffee table.
"So you're sure Sharpay isn't gonna come?" Zeke asked, his eyes demonstrating evident hurt.
"Sorry man," Ryan said sympathetically.
"I thought she was getting along real well with everyone," Zeke persisted.
Chad snorted. "Wasn't she like, ordering you around to get her milk?"
"She was the star of the movie, and I don't blame her, I like having milk with my cookies too," Zeke said defensively.
"Zeke. Do you really think that re-fixating yourself on Sharpay is a good idea?" Taylor asked, attempting to be diplomatic. "I mean, you were doing really well."
"Doing really well?" Zeke repeated. "You make it sound like I had an illness that I was recovering from and have relapsed."
"That analogy works."
"Taylor, you are talking about my sister here," Ryan said, throwing a sideways glance at her.
"Ryan, I know she's your sister, and so you should get more than anyone that maybe Sharpay…" Taylor searched for a way to diplomatically say what it was she wanted to say. "… isn't in a place where she wants to be dating right now."
Chad wasn't one for diplomacy. "She wants to be dating. Just… a different member of the basketball squad," he said under his breath. "And not Jason."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "That's not true."
"It's not true?" Zeke said, sitting forward slightly.
"Ummm…" Ryan winced, and sighed. "Sharpay isn't stupid. She knows Troy isn't into her."
"Any mention of…"
"Don't do this to me," Ryan said firmly. "It's hard enough that Sharpay doesn't exactly gel with you guys. But she's my twin and I'm not here to provide you with information about her."
"This indicates that there is information to give," Zeke mused.
"Zeke!" Ryan exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
"Okay, someone change the topic," Chad said quickly.
"I wonder what held up Troy and Gabriella?" Taylor mused. Her comment was entirely innocent but opened the can of worms for multitudes of innuendo filled speculations – and what better way to change the subject than gossipping about your friends.
Zeke snorted. "Gee, I wonder," he said sarcastically.
"Zeke and Monica used to be pretty bad, randomly ditching us to go fuck," Chad remarked.
Zeke shot a glare at Chad. "Thanks man."
"Gabriella went to have dinner with her family!" Taylor pointed out, rolling her eyes. She glanced at her watch, and conceded, "But she should be done with that by now."
"Oh come on, you've seen the looks they've been giving each other all week," Ryan pointed out, more than happy to join along with the gossip session. He'd been respectful of their privacy during the weekend of the event itself, but since the pair had told enough people to allow word to get out, he wasn't going to sit and silently listen as the conversation went on around him.
"The, I want to tear those clothes off you right here, right now look?" Zeke said, nodding along in agreement.
"Do you blame them? This is Troy and Gabriella! And they've finally… you know…" Taylor said.
"Screwed? Rooted? Shagged? Banged? Rolled in the hay?" Chad supplied.
"Yes, all of those," Taylor said, rolling her eyes at Chad. "Although I doubt there has been any hay involved."
Ryan smirked and jumped up to head over to where the pizza boxes were in the centre of the room. He stood over the table contemplating between selecting a slice of either vegetarian or barbeque chicken.
"Yo Evans, your cell is ringing!" Chad shouted across the room.
Ryan glanced up in the direction of his group of friends, and where he had left his iPhone on the table. He quickly put a slice of each option onto his place and darted back over to the table. Taylor had picked it up to check who was calling, wondering if maybe it was Gabriella. She furrowed her brow at the caller ID, not recognising it. Just as Ryan reached out for the cell, it stopped ringing.
"Who was it?" he asked, reaching out to grab his iPhone.
"Someone named 'Chase'," Taylor responded as she handed the phone over.
Ryan froze. "Oh… oh?" he said, his throat becoming uncharacteristically dry. He collapsed back into his seat.
"How dare you have friends outside of our group," Zeke jibed jovially.
"Is there even a Chase at East High?" Taylor pondered thoughtfully.
Ryan was staring at the screen of his phone, confirming that Chase was actually among his missed calls list.
"Ryan does know a lot of people outside of school, with his dance classes and at the country club and stuff," Chad pointed out diplomatically, knowing very well that Chase fell into the category of 'and stuff.'
Ryan somehow managed to clear his throat and find himself capable of speech. "Umm yeah… he's in my dance class. We hang sometimes. You know, being only a few guys there."
"Aren't you going to call him back?" Taylor prompted.
Ryan glanced back down at the screen, panic filling him at the thought of it. "I'll call later, if it's important he will call back soon."
Taylor shrugged, not particularly thinking anything otherwise. "Fair enough. I'll be back, just going up to use the bathroom."
"Oh God, this is the third time in two days that I haven't wanted to leave my truck to go meet our friends," Troy groaned, as he glanced down to make sure his shirt buttons were done up properly.
Gabriella nodded. "We're becoming one of those annoying anti-social couples who only care about being with each other."
"Does that bother you?" he asked, leaning forward to press a lingering kiss to her lips.
"Umm, not particularly. Not… at this moment," she responded breathily, returning the kiss zealously, before breaking away. "But we really should go in. We're already running late. "
Troy complied – knowing that if the make out session continued any further, he was going to have a repeat of Friday morning's dilemma where her grinding had left him unbearably uncomfortable for hours. The front door was answered by Jason's mom, who smiled broadly at the couple.
"Hi kids," Alana Cross said cheerfully. "Everyone is down in the basement lounge, Troy, you know the way – or do I have to show you?"
"Course I know the way Mrs. Cross," Troy said with a smile.
He led Gabriella down the corridor toward the basement door. At that precise moment, Taylor exited from the downstairs bathroom, coming face to face with the newly arrived couple.
"Guys, when you make out in the car before coming in, you need to learn to look at each other and make sure you check each others appearances. Troy, wipe your mouth. And you, need to come with me and fix your lip gloss," Taylor said, grasping onto Gabriella's hand.
"It was dark," Troy said defensively.
"Evidently. As politely as possible, can I ask that you get down into the basement," Taylor said, pointing to Troy's chest, before turning back to Gabriella. "You, come with me."
Troy had slipped in with their group; both Kelsi and Martha had wandered over from their conversation with Jason and some of the other film people, and dragged chairs over into the Wildcat corner.
"I've finished nearly all of my college applications, just one more to go," Martha revealed, smiling and feeling pleased with her accomplishment.
"I'm struggling," Ryan confessed. "I'm so set on getting into Juilliard, but I know I have to be prepared that it may not happen and have my regular applications in."
Kelsi nodded in agreement. "Same here. I mean they're coming along but… I don't spend my time focusing on school, my focus is my music. It isn't fair that a regular college would be accepting me or not accepting me largely on the basis of my GPA and SAT and ACT scores – when all I am going to do is study music and performing arts."
"Can you believe SATs are next Saturday?" Zeke said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Don't you mean the S-H-I-T exams," Chad said darkly. "I so am prepared to fail, even after all the study we've been doing."
"You can't really fail the SATs," Martha pointed out. "Unless you get in there and can't even remember your own name. You get automatic points for filling in your name, remember?"
"I was all worried about them but now I don't really give a shit to be honest," Troy said, before adding, "Don't tell Gabriella I said that."
"Why, coz you're gonna just get recruited?" Chad asked.
Troy nodded. "Even if I don't get any more offers, I'm pretty sure I'll just be taking one of the offers that have already been made. I've looked applications for some of the schools I really hope to get recruited to. But the truth is, if they want to recruit me, it doesn't matter what I put on my application. As long as it's filled in, they'll accept me and then I just have to decide which offer I want to take."
"I was hoping to be made an offer but I'm thinking it's not gonna happen now," Chad said, his tone indicating that he was a little hurt.
"U of A came back to check you out," Troy pointed out.
"One guy came, and from what I hear they came to check out the captain of the other team," Chad said.
"All you can do is wait and see man, I think they'd be fucking crazy to not snap you up," Troy said.
"You have to say that."
"No, I am saying it because it's true."
"So Troy, I guess you're hoping for an East coast school to make you an offer?" Martha said casually.
Troy narrowed his eyes. "Uh… well… the best basketball schools are spread across the country really. My personal ideal is UCLA but that won't happen."
"I was referring more so to where all the Ivy League and scholastically heavy schools are located, actually," Martha said.
Troy coughed. "Yeah, don't know about that either yet."
Meanwhile in the bathroom, it literally only took Gabriella a minute to wipe away the remnants of her lip gloss and put on a fresh coat.
"Presentable now?" she asked Taylor teasingly.
"Yes," Taylor said approvingly. "So tell me, is having sex in a car hot?"
"Taylor!" Gabriella exclaimed, feeling embarrassed. She glanced toward the door, almost as if anticipating one of Jason's parents to knock any moment. Gabriella lowered her voice. "Firstly I cannot believe you just asked me that. And secondly, I wouldn't know."
"Yeah right," Taylor scoffed.
"I really wouldn't! I told you yesterday that we hadn't done it since last weekend."
"And then yesterday when you took an hour and a half to go get flour that Zeke didn't really need?" Taylor asked pointedly.
"Well, it wasn't in his car!" Gabriella exclaimed with a blush. "It's like… you know at the very very very beginning of a relationship how it's all new and exciting and you're just having fun exploring and getting to know each other?"
Taylor nodded, thinking back to the few weeks of bliss with Chad – before everything went down the drain. "Yes."
"It's like that, combined with the comfort and closeness of the serious relationship. I'm so glad that we waited, I think it's just made it even better. I look at him and I'm looking at someone who I feel so connected to on a deeper level… but at the same time, someone who I am beginning to understand on a whole other plane…" Gabriella trailed off. "Sorry, you didn't need to know that."
"Would you stop apologising for talking about it? I'm the one who practically dragged you into this bathroom so you could talk to me about it because I want to hear about it!" Taylor pointed out.
"Yes but sometimes I just don't know when to shut up."
"Was it… was it better? After, you know, you weren't feeling sore any more?"
Gabriella hesitated. "Umm, yes?"
"Why are you saying that like it's a question? That should have been a resounding, 'yes, Taylor, it was fantastic' or something like that," Taylor said, raising her eyebrows.
"It was nice," Gabriella said diplomatically. "You know, like it was the second and third time on the weekend."
"It was nice?" Taylor repeated incredulously. "Nice?"
"Do you want me to lie and tell you that it was amazing?"
"No, I don't but, it was nice?"
"I'm not saying it was bad. It hasn't been bad, not even the first time when it was the most physically painful thing I've ever experienced, even then I wouldn't say it was bad."
"Did you, you know… arrive?" Taylor asked tactfully.
Gabriella blushed. She wanted to talk about it in detail, and she knew that Taylor wanted to hear about it in more detail. But she found it more than a little awkward talking about the details aloud. "Yes," she said slowly. "But, um… okay. It was… he was…" Gabriella paused. "On the weekend, in the morning, he was doing his thing… and at the same time, I was… you know… with my hand… externally…"
It took Taylor a moment to decipher Gabriella's embarrassed stammerings. "Oh! Okay, and…"
Gabriella sighed. "I think that when… the moment arrived," she said tactfully, "that it wasn't really about what he was doing and it was more about what I was doing."
"So that was on the weekend, what about yesterday?"
"Same thing, but it was him doing it and not me. It's like… he's doing his thing and he's all into it, really into it. And for me, it's nice, pleasant, all good. And he realises he's nearly there and he realises I'm not nearly there. So he does that. And so it all works out good."
"Just not… amazing brilliant good like you want?" Taylor said sympathetically.
Gabriella sighed. "It doesn't bother me, not really. In my head, emotionally, it is at that place. Which is enough for me. But then he's all raving about it. And I don't want to lie to him, but I don't want to dent his ego. Maybe it's just always like this for girls, the actual act itself isn't the best part. Maybe I should talk to Paula about it…" Gabriella mused.
She missed the look of slight annoyance upon Taylor's face. "We should start investing in Cosmo magazines. I could borrow some of my sisters old issues, that's where she gets half of her wisdom from. I'm sure there are lots of things you can do, it's just a matter of experimenting," Taylor said optimistically.
Gabriella nodded. "Yes. It's all good, really. I'll keep trying, I mean, like I said it's not bad." She glanced toward the door. "Hey Taylor, while we're talking… can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"When you and Chad were going out, he knew that you wanted to go to Harvard, didn't he?"
"I think the entire world knows I want to study at Harvard," Taylor pointed out wryly.
"Did he ever indicate where he was thinking about applying?"
Taylor shook her head. "Chad's very negative about the whole thing. He wants to get recruited into a basketball team but unlike Troy, he's not getting the same attention. I know he's put in a handful of applications already, to the U of A and New Mexico State, and I think to Boston University. But I don't think he really has a preference, he just wants to go wherever he can play basketball."
Gabriella nodded. "Interesting."
"Obviously you want to say something, so just say it," Taylor said, raising her eyebrows.
"My auntie was asking me all about my college plans and stuff."
"And…"
Gabriella sighed. "She asked if Troy and I were trying to make sure we were going to be near each other."
"A valid question."
"But, we can't really 'plan' this kind of thing. So what's the point in contemplating it?"
Taylor rolled her eyes. "Gabriella, this has reached a point of absolute ridiculousness. This is you and Troy. You're now having sex, which to you is obviously a very big deal. You're in a serious relationship and it is not natural to be avoiding talking about this. Even if the point of the conversation is simply to acknowledge that it is impossible to have a conversation. It needs to be said. Fair enough that you put it off last weekend…"
"I know all this Taylor, I know," Gabriella said with a pouty sigh. "I just… I don't know how to start."
"Just be blunt. 'Troy, we need to talk about college.' Simple, direct."
Gabriella sighed. If only it were that simple. "Sounds great in theory. But in practice, not sure if it will work."
Ryan temporarily escaped from their group of friends, slinking away to stand in the corner of the room. He was clutching onto his iPhone, still staring at the screen somewhat in disbelief. Chase. Missed call. Chase had picked up his phone, hovered over Ryan's number, and dialled. Chad spotted his friend in the corner appearing somewhat gob smacked, and took the opportunity himself to go over to grab another slice of pizza and head over.
"Why don't you just call him back? You could take it out of the room, go stand outside or something," Chad pointed out, his voice low.
Ryan looked up at Chad. "Um, no, you're missing the point. I'm not calling him back because we haven't actually spoken on the phone before," Ryan revealed. "We IM and e-mail and text but… that's all."
"Okay so, you do all that and you're getting along really well?" Chad asked.
Ryan nodded. "Yeah. Really really well."
"And, you think it could be more?"
Ryan cleared his throat. "I guess. We… I guess flirt is the word."
"Well surely the next step is talking to him."
"Yeah," Ryan said with a sigh, knowing that Chad was right.
"For all you know, his voice is irritating as all fuck, too irritating to be able to stand having more with him. I say you should talk to him sooner, rather than later," Chad advised with a grin.
"I might text him later and asked if he meant to call me or what. Maybe he like, sat on his phone and it dialled accidentally," Ryan pondered. "I wouldn't want to call him back all eager and it turns out he never wanted to call me."
"Did he leave a voicemail?" Chad asked.
Ryan shook his head. "No. Maybe he heard my voice on the voicemail and got put off!"
"I highly doubt that."
Troy had volunteered to go into the kitchen and start making some popcorn. He was hunting through the pantry, attempting to find the package of kernels.
"Looking for the popcorn?" a voice asked.
Troy looked up and saw Kelsi in the entrance to the room. She'd come in to refill her water glass.
"Yeah. I swear it's not here, I can't find it anywhere," Troy complained.
Kelsi smiled and came over and stood behind him. About three point five seconds later, she located the package, picked it up and handed it to him.
"I've been trying to find it for like, five minutes," Troy said, both grateful that it had been located and annoyed that he'd missed it.
"I was here just the other weekend having a movie day and went through the exact same process when I offered to come in and make the popcorn while Jason set up the DVDs," she explained with a smile.
"I find it interesting that Gabriella and I cannot do anything without everyone knowing about it. And yet you and Jason just do your own thing and we don't hear peep about it."
Kelsi smiled. "And I'd like to keep it that way."
Troy was looking at Kelsi thoughtfully. Ironically, of all of his friends, it was the people who he wasn't necessarily as close to who were in the position to provide objective advice – and keep it private.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" Kelsi asked, her hand flying up to her chin to rub beneath her lips.
"No," Troy assured her. "I just umm, okay. This is kinda random. But, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"So… you do realise that Jason wants to get into a film school in California?" Troy pried.
Kelsi nodded. "Yes."
"And your backups, after Julliard, are pretty much all in New York or that area as well?" Troy said.
"That's right."
"And Jason is aware of this?"
"Yes."
"Isn't that an issue?"
"An issue with what?" Kelsi asked blankly.
"Your relationship," Troy said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"We've only been dating for like a month or so," Kelsi pointed out. "I mean we're only dating each other but we're not exactly making plans for the future. It's more… casual. Just seeing what happens, I guess."
Troy sighed. He and Gabriella were entirely different to Kelsi and Jason. He knew he couldn't really draw comparisons between the two relationships.
"You're trying to work out how you and Gabriella can stop putting off the serious talk about the future like you have been?" Kelsi said sympathetically.
"And here is evidence that everyone knows our business," Troy remarked.
Kelsi smiled wryly. "Between you guys telling people, and the rest of us gossipping… it is inevitable, unfortunately."
"I kinda wish Gabriella and I had just talked about things from the beginning. We agreed to do our own thing and not stress about the other one. I guess we didn't want to feel obliged to apply anywhere in particular. But now, it's like, it's awkward. It's awkward not talking about it. But talking about it is just going to become more awkward the longer we leave it."
"Troy, I'm not an expert with any of this stuff. Before Jason I'd only really gone out with two other guys. But, you know what?"
"What?"
"I think you and Gabriella are both being idiots. You have an awesome relationship. Just talk about it. Ultimately, you're not going to be able to make any 'decisions' right now anyway. But obviously it's on both of your minds and you'd both feel a lot better if you just put your general thoughts out there."
Soon all of the cast and crew of Jason's film were gathered in the lounge room. Troy and Kelsi delivered the warm bowl of freshly popped refreshments. Troy snagged one of the old raggedy lounge chairs and beckoned Gabriella to come sit with him. She obliged him, squishing into the chair with him, sitting sideways with her back against the right arm of the chair and her legs over the left.
"Are you guys going to be making out the whole way through this movie?" Chad complained. "Because you are right within my eye line and I think I'll move if you are."
Troy threw a cushion at Chad which consequently was thrown back and hit Gabriella in the head.
"Hey! I didn't throw it at you!" she exclaimed.
Martha passed the snacks over to Troy, who dug a handful of kernels out before passing it over to Katie, one of the drama club members and actresses in the film. He held a piece and placed it to Gabriella's lips.
"Want one?" he asked softly.
She opened her mouth, allowing him to feed her.
"Popcorn feeding isn't very sensual," Gabriella whispered, giggling slightly.
"We could go get some strawberries or something, would that make it better?" Troy asked in a hushed tone.
From afar the exchange seemed light, teasing, jovial. But in reality, it wasn't. It was behaviour being exhibited in an effort to conceal the true thoughts and feelings they possessed. Each was filled with their own sea of worries and concerns; slightly forcing the lightness to come out of their tone. There were discussions that needed to be held that had been put back for longer than either of them felt comfortable with.
Gabriella was the first to quietly slip away from the group, fifteen minutes of the movie had gone by and she had no idea who the main character was or what he was doing. She quickly went upstairs from the basement into the kitchen, to retrieve a glass of water. She found herself ambling outside, grabbing her jacket along the way. Jason's house was nice, similar to both hers and Troy's in that it was an upper middle class house with a decent backyard. Gabriella first came over to Jason's when he'd hosted a party about a month into her time at East High. She and Troy had lain outside on a soft patch of grass, staring up at the stars. Just talking, laughing, sharing stories – in a simpler time. A time when the cautious 'will they, won't they' flirtation between them served as the biggest drama of their interactions.
She found herself sinking to her knees and lying back on the very same patch of grass around the side of the house, staring up at the sky once more. It was fairly dark, with only some lights from the neighbours house and the starry, half mooned sky illuminating the area. It suddenly became darker, Gabriella sensing an additional presence behind her. She tipped her head back, seeing Troy standing over her with an amused expression upon his face. He smiled, glancing around in realisation of exactly the spot she had sought sanctuary within.
"What are you doing out here, you?" he queried.
"Just thinking."
"Room for one more?"
"If it's you, always."
Troy knelt on the grass, and then fell back to lie beside her. There was no hesitation between the two, the hands which lay beside one another on the ground instantaneously adjoining, fingers entwined. Gabriella closed her eyes for a moment, before opening them, staring up at the sky for one more moment. Her head fell to the side, to find herself staring straight into his mesmerising cobalt gaze.
"Troy?"
"Gabriella?"
The two spoke each others names in chorus.
"You go," Troy insisted.
"No you."
"No really you should…"
"But I want you to…"
They both fell silent for a moment, and then once again, they spoke simultaneously. This time, they both spoke the exact same four words. Four words which have the power to induce fear in the heart of any person in a loving, committed relationship.
"We need to talk."
Author's Note: I dare each and every single person who reviewed last chapter to review again. :-) Ha. A girl can dream, right? -Dani xo
