An hour later, the couple had heard Maria call them for dinner. They walked downstairs and sat at the dining room table and started eating.
"I talk to Mr. Matsui today" Maria said.
"You did? Please tell me you didn't tell him" Gabriella pleaded.
"I had to Gabi. You are going to miss school and we needed to figure out a plan" Maria said.
"Don't I have a say in this?" Gabriella asked.
"Baby, maybe mom has a point" Troy said.
"I'm not missing school mom" Gabriella said.
"Gabi, you need to have time to rest and not be stressed out" Maria said.
"But-" Gabriella started.
"No buts sweetheart. I know it's hard, but that is the choice you made" Maria said.
"Troy" Gabriella said looking at her boyfriend.
Troy sighed.
"Brie, it's going to be hard. I know that you don't want to miss school. I understand that completely. But, we don't want you to be stressed when you are pregnant or having to be running around and thinking about homework. You need to rest up for the baby" Troy explained.
A tear ran down Gabriella's face. She wasn't mad at her mother and Troy. It was just hard to think that her life turned upside down in only a couple days.
"May I be excused?" Gabriella asked.
"You barely touched your plate, Gabi" Maria said.
"I'm not hungry" Gabriella said.
"Okay honey" Maria said.
Gabriella stood up and wiped her tears away. She walked upstairs and Troy could hear Gabriella start crying as she closed her bedroom door. Troy and Maria finished their dinner in silence. After they finished, Troy had an idea.
"Hey mom, where's your peanut butter?" Troy asked.
Maria smiled knowing what Troy was thinking.
"You are a sweetheart" Maria said.
Troy smiled.
"I understand that she's upset about school and I totally get it. But, we are having a baby and there is a lot of things that go along with that. I think she's really overwhelmed" Troy said as Maria handed him the jar of peanut butter.
"I think so too. I think that once the shock wears off that she will understand" Maria said.
Troy nodded as he made Gabriella's peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He looked at Maria.
"I'm going to go bring this up to her" Troy said.
"Hopefully it makes her feel a little better" Maria said.
Troy walked upstairs with his girlfriend's favorite food. He knocked on the door.
"Brie, can I come in?" Troy asked through the door.
Troy heard a muffled yes and opened the door.
"You okay?" Troy asked carefully.
Gabriella looked at Troy with tears in her eyes.
"I brought you something that might make you feel a little better" Troy said putting the plate that held the peanut butter and jelly sandwich onto Gabriella's lap.
Gabriella smiled tearfully.
"I love you" Gabriella said.
"I love you too" Troy said.
Gabriella ate her sandwich and Troy looked at her.
"So, can we talk about this?" Troy asked.
"I want to stay in school" Gabriella said.
"I know you do baby. But, you can't just go to class when you are nine months pregnant" Troy said.
"I'm going to go crazy without school" Gabriella said.
"Maybe some of your teachers will allow me to bring you your work and then turn it in for you" Troy said.
Gabriella shrugged.
"We can try that and see how it goes" Troy said.
"How am I going to tell Tay?" Gabriella asked changing the subject.
"You will have to sit her down and tell her. She's going to find out eventually baby. You might as well be upfront with her" Troy said.
"She's going to be really mad" Gabriella said.
"As it is expected. But, you have to tell her. She's your best friend, Brie" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"Should I go over there now?" Gabriella asked.
"Don't you think it's getting kind of late baby?" Troy asked.
"I just want to get it over with" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded. He got off Gabriella's bed and picked up his keys.
"Let's go" Troy said.
Gabriella got up and kissed Troy's lips softly.
"Your sandwich made me feel a lot better. If you were wondering" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"Good" Troy said.
The couple walked downstairs and saw Maria reading in the living room.
"Where are you both off to?" Maria asked.
"Going to Tay's to tell her about the baby" Gabriella said.
"Be back before curfew please" Maria said reminding the couple.
"We will" Gabriella said.
Troy and Gabriella left the house. Troy drove to Taylor's house and parked his car.
"You ready to get lectured?" Troy asked.
Gabriella giggled.
"It's not going to be that bad" Gabriella said.
"Brie, Tay is the queen of science, like you are. She's going to lecture us on how we didn't listen in biology about sex and reproduction and all of that" Troy said.
Gabriella laughed.
"Come on" Gabriella said.
The couple got out of the car and walked to the front door. Gabriella rang the doorbell and Taylor answered it.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Taylor asked.
"We need to talk to you Tay" Gabriella said.
"Did I do something wrong?" Taylor asked.
"No, we just need to talk to you" Gabriella said.
"Come on in" Taylor said.
The couple walked into the house and went upstairs to Taylor's bedroom. Taylor closed the door behind them.
"So what did you need to talk to me about?" Taylor asked.
Gabriella looked at Troy and nodded.
"You are going to be really mad at us, but what has happened, happened and there is nothing we can do about it" Troy said.
Taylor looked at the couple confused.
"What did you do?" Taylor asked.
Gabriella pulled out the sonogram and handed it to Taylor. Taylor looked at it and gasped.
"No" Taylor breathed.
"I'm five weeks" Gabriella said.
"Gabi, how could you be so...so...ugh" Taylor started.
"Stupid? Yes I know Tay" Gabriella said.
"You just ruined everything you have worked for Gabs. Your GPA, your extra-curricular activities...all for what? Love?!" Taylor asked increduously.
Gabriella wiped the tears that were falling from her eyes. Troy rubbed Gabriella's back soothingly.
"Tay" Troy started.
"Don't say that I'm overreacting Troy. Because I am not" Taylor said pointing her index finger at him.
"I want to go home" Gabriella mumbled.
"Okay baby. I'll take you home" Troy said.
"Can I have your keys?" Gabriella asked quietly.
Troy handed Gabriella his car keys and she left the room.
"Tay, we know that we messed up big time. But Brie needs a friend right now...preferably a woman friend. She's scared to death and you just lectured her. Not thinking of what she was feeling" Troy said.
Taylor had tears running down her face.
"I need time" Taylor said.
Troy nodded.
"I've heard a lot of that lately" Troy said.
Troy left the house and saw Gabriella sitting in the car with her head leaning against the cool window. He got into the car and looked at Gabriella.
"Brie" Troy started.
"I'm so stupid" Gabriella cried.
"Baby, you are not stupid. We made a mistake. Yes, we should have been more careful. But this is what's happening now and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Tay is just upset and it will blow over" Troy said.
"I want to go home" Gabriella said.
"Alright, I'll take you home" Troy said.
Troy drove home and parked his car. The couple got out of the car and walked into the house.
"How was-" Maria started but then stopped when she saw Gabriella run upstairs.
Troy and Maria heard the bedroom door slam.
"It didn't go well I am assuming?" Maria asked.
Troy sighed and shook his head.
"She lectured Brie and wasn't very supportive about the whole thing. She said she needs time" Troy said.
Maria nodded.
"I'm going to go try and talk to her" Troy said.
Maria nodded.
"Thank you" Maria said.
Troy smiled.
"It's my job" Troy said.
"Not just for that Troy. You stood by Gabriella when she needed you the most. You didn't run away from it. That means more to me than anything" Maria said.
Troy smiled.
"I love her with all my heart, mom. She's the love of my life and even before we found out that she was pregnant, I knew that I wanted to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her" Troy said.
Maria smiled.
"I'll let you go see how she is doing" Maria said motioning up the stairs.
Troy nodded.
"But thanks mom. For letting me know that I'm doing something right" Troy said.
Maria smiled and nodded.
"You are my son" Maria said.
Troy smiled. He walked upstairs and went to Gabriella's room and saw the door closed.
"Brie?" Troy called through the door.
"I really don't feel like talking right now, Troy" Gabriella said and Troy could have sworn that he heard her crying.
"Okay. You know where I will be if you need to" Troy said.
Troy walked downstairs and went into the living room and started doing his homework. Maria came into the room.
"Did she talk?" Maria asked.
"She wants to be alone right now. I think what Tay said really hurt her" Troy said.
"She feels alone and scared. We have to make her feel like she has people around that love and support her" Maria said.
Troy nodded.
"That reminds me, I have to tell Chad. Oh my god I am never going to hear the end of it" Troy said putting his head in his hands.
Maria put a hand on Troy's shoulder.
"Chad will understand" Maria said.
"U of A was something our parents have talked about since we met. The fact that I may not go when he does, will kill him" Troy said.
"Talk to him and see how it goes" Maria said.
"Can I invite him over? He may want to see Brie" Troy said.
"Of course honey. You are doing everything right Troy. I'm proud of you" Maria said.
Troy smiled slightly.
"Thanks" Troy said.
Troy called Chad and told him to come to Gabriella's. Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang and Troy answered it.
"Hoops" Chad said shaking his best friend's hand.
"I need to talk to you man" Troy said.
"What's going on? Are you and Gabi okay?" Chad asked.
"That's what I need to talk to you about Chad. You might want to sit down" Troy said.
Chad sensed that what Troy needed to talk about was serious. He sat down and Troy sat across from him.
"What's wrong with our Gabi?" Chad asked.
Troy took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He wanted to word this conversation perfectly.
"Remember when we were kids and how our parents always talked about going to play ball for U of A?" Troy asked.
"Yeah, but what does that have to do with Gabi?" Chad asked confused.
Troy took a deep breath in and looked at his best friend.
"I'm not going Chad...at least not when you intend to" Troy said.
Chad looked at Troy confused.
"Why? We dreamed of this our whole lives hoops. You can't not go because of Gabs" Chad said.
Troy put his hand out, signaling that he wasn't finished. Chad stopped talking and looked at him. Troy swallowed hard. He didn't think it was going to be this hard.
"I can't go when you go Chad because Gabriella is pregnant" Troy said.
There was silence. No one said anything for a couple minutes. Chad was looking at the floor trying to let the news sink in.
"She's-" Chad said trying to make sense of everything.
Troy nodded.
"Is she going to Stanford still?" Chad asked.
"That's on hold for right now. She's really upset about it" Troy said.
"Where is she?" Chad asked.
"Upstairs" Troy said.
"Can I see her?" Chad asked.
"Of course. But, be sensitive about this with her. Tay gave her an earful and is very upset. She needs support in this" Troy said.
Chad nodded. He got up and walked upstairs. Chad knocked on his "little sister's" bedroom door.
"Gabster? It's Chad. Can I come in?" Chad asked.
Chad heard a muffled yes. He opened the door and saw Gabriella lying on her bed.
"Hey, Troy just told me the news" Chad said.
Gabriella looked down at her feet, embarrassed of what she had done.
"Are you going to lecture me too?" Gabriella asked.
Chad shook his head.
"I just wanted to come up here and see if you were okay. Troy told me that Tay's reaction was...well Tay. I'm not thrilled that this is happening but I will always be here for you and Troy okay?" Chad said.
Gabriella had tears running down her face.
"I'm so scared Chad" Gabriella cried.
Chad opened his arms and Gabriella crawled into them and hugged her best friend.
"I know you are. But hey, I will be Uncle Chad in a few months" Chad said.
Gabriella smiled.
"Troy will never trust you to be alone with our baby" Gabriella joked.
"I am hurt that you would even say that Gabriella! I have never injured a kid while they have been on my watch" Chad said putting a hand on his heart.
Gabriella giggled.
"Hoops and I have practice in a hour. Are you going to be-" Chad started.
"I'll be fine. My mom is here" Gabriella said.
Chad smiled and nodded.
"I love you Gabs. Always remember that" Chad said.
"I love you too Chaddy" Gabriella said.
"I have to get going. I'll send the baby daddy up to say goodbye" Chad said.
Gabriella rolled her eyes playfully.
"Hey, I didn't say that I wouldn't let him off easy" Chad said.
Gabriella giggled and nodded.
"Bye Chad" Gabriella said.
Chad left the room and Gabriella sighed in relief. That had gone better than when they had told Taylor. Gabriella was pulled out of her thoughts when a shirtless Troy came into the room.
"Feel a little better?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded.
"At least Chad is supportive" Gabriella said.
"Yeah. Practice is only an hour today. So I will be home early" Troy said.
"Okay, can I go with you? I can finish my homework in the library" Gabriella said.
"Are you sure you feel up to it?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded.
"I feel fine, other than a little emotional" Gabriella said.
"Alright. Get your stuff ready" Troy said.
Gabriella got off the bed and got her books. The couple then walked downstairs and left the house. They knew that with time, everything would be okay.
