art Two

I mouthed, 'Oh...' Aaliyah giggled. I felt my face turn a deep red. For a minute, I glanced from Aaliyah and Chad. I had always thought they looked related. But Chad had been flirting with her so I thought, 'Nope' Chad rolled his eyes and got off of the floor. Aaliyah got up and stuck her tongue out at Chad. "I'm older." he said plainly. She pulled one of Chad's unruly and ridiculously long (don't tell him I said that) locks and said, "You're not." Pulling away Chad argued, "Are too."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Okay, you guys. Now that is just annoying." I interrupted their silly argument. I turned to Chad, "And no offense but neither of you act mature." Aaliyah's eyes got big and at first I thought she was going to scream but instead she dropped her purse and looked at Chad. Chad slowly picked up a pillow from the couch and threw it at me and Aaliyah grabbed another pillow and started a pillow fight. "No! I just combed my hair this morning." I whined. Chad rolled his eyes and picked up another pillow. I ran upstairs with my two friends following. We were in the hallway when we heard the doorbell. "Okay, I take back what I said." I lied. Fingers crossed. Aaliyah saw it and raised an eyebrow but left it at that. She went downstairs to get the door. Chad and I started talking.

"Oh hello."

"Hey, Aaliyah. Do you know where Troy is?"

"He's upstairs with Chad."

"Okay."

Gabriella.

Chad and I looked at each other. "I'm so late for a date...I promised you I'd come over, but like right after that Gabriella asked me on a date and you know how I can get." I explained. Chad thought for a second. "You mean like a mindless pigeon?" he asked. I elbowed him. But then I nodded. "More or less." I admitted. Then Gabriella came up the stairs. I swallowed. "Troy, where have you been? I've been looking ALL over for you." she complained, "My feet hurt." I sighed, "I'm so sorry, Gabi...I just totally forgot that I had promised Chad that I'd come over and so he called and so I was late because of traffic, rain and my flat tire and so I ended up walking and so then I met Chad's fraternal twin sister, Aaliyah and so then you came and so then I had to explain myself so you wouldn't be mad and so you wouldn't think I stood you up." Aaliyah smirked, "That's a lot of explaining." Gabriella added, "And it's so cool Chad has a sister. But back to you Troy, I'm sorry for complaining, I know you have had a rough day now. Worse than mine."

I sighed and nodded. Then, Gabriella smiled, "Well, there is still time for our date." I smiled back, "Of course, Gabriella." Aaliyah forced a smile. "Well, why don't you two love birds get going. Chad...I-I'll be up in my room." she barely spoke. I glanced from her to Chad and Chad shrugged, but got up to go after her. Gabriella kissed my cheek and reached in my pocket. She took my keys from my pocket. "What are you doing, Gabriella?" I asked. She smirked, "I kind of changed our dating location…" I smiled, thinking 'That's my Gabriella.'

*AT OUR DATE*

I pulled back the chair for Gabriella and we waited for the waitress. When Gabriella had pulled up to the restaurant, I immediately thought it would cost too much. But she confessed her mother paid for everything.

We started talking. "So Aaliyah has known forever that Chad was her brother...well since she moved here, Chad told me." I said, switching the subject over to our friends. Gabriella nodded. "Wow...really?" she asked. I nodded. Then I added, "Chad says that she likes me." I tensed, expecting Gabriella to get angry. "How could she not? Every girl likes you." Gabriella giggled. I let relief fill me over as the waitress came to our table.

*AFTER OUR DATE*

I received a text from Chad:

Aaliyah is ok. She did not know u & Gabi were going out.

She apologizes 4 the dramatic walk-out. btw, i called u.

why didn't u pick up?

Okay, Chad knows I'm going on a date. Seriously, sometimes I think he needs help.

I texted back:

Dude, i'm on a date

put a sock in it XD

Chad texted back:

Haha, real mature

T_T lol

I rolled my eyes.

I texted back:

Whtvr, i'm busy. and not like

what I KNOW ur thinking. we're

having fun.

Chad texted back:

O-O ooh yall r getting busy

remember to clean

I looked at Gabriella as we got into my truck.

(A/N: If I said car before, I'm changing it to truck because I forgot Troy got a truck and not a car.)

Gabriella looked over at the text. She covered her mouth as it formed an 'o'. Then she started laughing.

I texted Chad back:

we r NOT...SO NOT getting busy and I am so

embarrassed because Gabi saw that. .

Chad did not reply.

I put my phone up and rolled my eyes but Gabriella's laughter got to me, making me laugh too. How could Chad assume we were...yeah…? It was funny once you thought about it.

"Why don't you drop me off at my house and I'll see you tomorrow at school, okay? My mom wants me to run a few errands for her." Gabriella said. "At 9:30 pm?" I asked. Gabriella shrugged, "Shopping. Work keeps her busy...so, yeah." I knew she was lying. What was she trying to cover up? She could tell me anything. But I let it go, tricking my mind into thinking, 'It is a simple lie, she's not gonna hurt anybody with one lie. She's not cheating on me or I'd know. Trust me, I've been with girls who tell far worse lies than Gabi. So yeah.'

I stopped at Gabriella's house and she got out but kissed me first. "Troy, I'll be fine, I promise. Go spend some time with Chad and his sister. I promise, you won't regret dropping me off here-" Gabriella started to ramble on and on. I kissed her to make her shut up. "Thanks, Troy." she giggled. "I'll see you tomorrow okay?" I asked. "Tomorrow." she replied, eye locked on mine. I let her go and she ran to her house and waved goodbye. I drove to mine, ready to sleep up for tomorrow's practice.