Gabriella was breathing heavily as Peyton blew the whistle. So far they had been in training for two hours now and they weren't even halfway done. The only things that they did so far was conditioning, some defense drills, and now she was done with her boxing technique as it was Troy's turn to go against Josh.
Gabriella found that it was a little harder than yesterday for her, and she had a theory that it was because when she went to get a quick dinner last night with Josh as friends, he asked her out for a real date, and she kindly replied that she wasn't dating right now since she just got out of a relationship, which was partly true even though she wasn't even affected by the break up since she had no connection with him in the first place.
Gabriella stepped on the bottom rope of the two outlining the boxing ring and ducked under it as she jumped out and Josh stayed in while Peyton threw him a water bottle. "That was great Gabs." Peyton said as Gabriella undid her right boxing glove that she found to be super light, but there was something else wrong with her hands. She chucked her glove down on the ground somewhere over by the bench where Troy was wrapping his hands up before he got into the ring.
Gabriella looked down at the white tape around her knuckles and saw that some spots were turning a dark red. They weren't big spots, more like lady bug size to ant size, but still. They kind of stung even though Gabriella knew that she had endured worst in her life.
"Nice hands." Troy said as Gabriella walked over to him next to her own water bottle.
Gabriella looked down again before ripping off her left glove that was very light compared to the other gloves Gabriella was used to working with at her old agency. Gabriella started unwrapping the left hand that had a couple of blood marks indicating she ripped her skin and shrugged.
"I don't see why they bother making us wear this stuff if you're gonna end bleeding through it." Gabriella muttered as she tossed the two long strips of tape into the garbage and examined her beat up knuckles that had dry blood on them.
"God girl, we're gonna have to get heavier gloves." Peyton said in her cheerful voice coming up to Troy and Gabriella. "So after Troy does this then I think we're ready to see how well you two work together." Peyton informed them and Gabriella and Troy both shared a glance at each other, both with anything but amused happy faces on. "You two look like you'll work out perfectly with each other." With that Peyton walked away as Troy and Gabriella both let out little snorts at how wrong Peyton was.
They both looked at each other again and Troy looked Gabriella up and down. "How was Josh last night?" Troy smirked as Gabriella rolled her eyes.
"Just because we're partners doesn't mean I have to talk to you." Gabriella sneered as she started walking away from Troy to go clean off her knuckles.
"You two have to TALK to each other!" Peyton yelled as Josh once again went in the air and shot the basketball only to have it go in once again.
"I can't be guarding two people Montez." Troy warned her as Gabriella and him stopped on the basketball court that was in another room connected with the main training room. Gabriella couldn't believe that this was what they were doing for training to work together…playing basketball!
Gabriella Montez did not play basketball. She had never touched a basketball in her life. The only time she had seen a basketball was on TV and once she did she would change the channel, but there they were. Learning to trust, anticipate, and work together on a basketball court.
"This is pointless. I have no fucking idea how to play." Gabriella complained as Peyton and Josh just watched the two, at least they were talking now.
"At least we agree on something." Troy mumbled as Gabriella narrowed her eyes. She had to just keep reminding herself that it was just one and a half more days of this and then she would be on some case even though she highly doubted this learning how to trust each other camp was gonna stick with them.
"What is this even supposed to be teaching us? Because working out on the streets there is no basketball." Gabriella pointed out to Peyton and Josh.
"You need to be able to read each other, anticipate the other one's moves, work together as a team no matter what task you have to do." Peyton said. "But I think we should stop and work on something that you two are more familiar with ." Peyton looked at Josh who shrugged and Gabriella got the feeling that he could really care less what they did.
"Yeah, like I can do that with her." Troy said pointing at Gabriella with a disapproving look on his face as Gabriella narrowed her eyes.
"And what is that supposed to mean. It's not my fault that I've never played before and you're just pissed that I beat you at rope climbing again." Gabriella sneered in his face as Troy took a threatening step closer and Gabriella saw his eyes narrow more so she copied his actions.
"Guys!" Peyton yelled. "Let's just go work on something else. I think we have something that will fit your style." Peyton said slyly as Troy and Gabriella both gave her a suspicious look.
Gabriella followed behind the three wondering what did Peyton mean by fitting her style. Peyton and Josh stopped by a full length mirror that seemed out of place on the black cement wall that was in a little room connected to the basketball court. Gabriella looked at them strangely as she saw Josh reach up and press down on something in the corner of the mirror up on top and then all of a sudden the mirror opened up and Peyton and Josh walked through like it was no big deal that a mirror used to be there.
Gabriella saw that Troy didn't go in as he stood there and moved out of the way. "Ladies first." Troy said with a sickly sweet tone in his voice that Gabriella could automatically point out the mocking in his voice.
"You're closer. I insist." Gabriella said not wanting to go first, as the only reason being Troy offered her that.
"Look, if they killed us they would have a better chance killing the first one to walk through, now once again…ladies first." Troy smirked as Gabriella rolled her eyes.
She was getting sick of Troy that day, at least they only had an hour and a half left and she could leave to go back to her new apartment flat and just crash. Yeah, it must've been hard losing a case a week ago, and then finding out that you're getting a new partner, but he should at least be over the new partner thing by now and from what Gabriella saw when Troy was around other people he was okay and laid back, so why was he so cold towards her? It's not like she was the guy who kidnapped the little girl two weeks ago.
Gabriella glared at Troy letting him know how mad she was as she walked in first not wanting Peyton or Josh to get mad that they were still fighting. Gabriella heard Troy's footsteps behind her as she picked up her pace and entered a grim looking room that had no doors, windows, or mirrors to it. It basically looked like a huge warehouse room, but it only held a chair with a huge metal contraption by it, locks, and keys.
"Now, do you guys trust each other?" Josh asked as Gabriella and Troy shared a look with him that told him, 'you got to be kidding me?' "Okay, never mind. I think I can figure it out."
"I think you two will appreciate this then." Peyton said as Josh rolled his eyes.
"And there goes my optimistic partner." Josh muttered as Peyton rolled her eyes this time. Gabriella couldn't believe that Troy and her were supposed to learn to trust each other by learning by these two that couldn't have a proper conversation with each other either.
Gabriella snapped out of her thoughts as Peyton continued with the directions. "So Gabriella here will be tied up to that chair with the chains."
Gabriella looked over at the chair that looked to be the kind in the dentist office that lowered you, or raised you and were blue and squishy. Gabriella saw the chains also and knew that they had to weigh a lot since they were huge, they would be chains to use if you ever had to hold a rhinoceros down.
"And then you see that contraction over there by the chair?" Josh asked as Gabriella and Troy both nodded and Gabriella hoped with all hope that she wouldn't be strapped down with that thing also. How was this fair, just because she was a girl, it meant she would be the victim in this scenario and Troy would play the hero part! "It will be strapped onto Gabriella's head and jaw. You guys have never probably seen this thing yet, and it can be highly dangerous. You see, it has a timer and you set it to whatever time you want, and when time's up it sets off a clamp and it snaps your head along with your jaw so you can't scream out." Josh said as if it was nothing.
"And what job does Bolton have if I'm the one tied up?" Gabriella asked with a little attitude. The two people that were supposed to be on their side were all of a sudden throwing them into the lions den without preparation, and worst yet, she had to trust Troy in this and over the years Gabriella learned that trust isn't something you get in three days.
"He's gonna be given a set of keys and he will have a minute to unlock you." Peyton said as Gabriella looked at Troy with wide eyes and her heart beat picked up. A minute!?
"A minute?" Troy asked skeptically as Gabriella saw that there were no signs of concern, freight, nervousness.
"A minute, shall we get started?" Peyton asked as Josh started walking over to the metal death trap.
"Wait, how is this based on trust. It's more like luck that I won't DIE." Gabriella said making sure that she emphasized the last word.
"Scared Montez?" Troy teased with a smirk as Gabriella saw his eyes twinkle with mischief.
"How about we switch positions and I'll ask you that then?" Gabriella retorted as Peyton smiled at the two obviously seeing something they weren't.
"Well, Troy's part if kind of based on luck if he isn't smart enough to match a couple of keys to one lock, and your part is more of the trusting. You're gonna have to just trust that Troy has luck on his side."
"And what if he doesn't?" Gabriella asked frantically. Usually she was more put together at this, but having your life in someone else's hands sucked right now. Actually, it sucked anytime and Gabriella bet anyone would back her up on that.
"Then…let's not think of that. No one has failed this. Tay and Chad did this yesterday." Peyton said
Gabriella sighed as she still saw the smug look on Troy's face. "And don't worry. You and Troy are gonna switch spots after he unlocks you." Peyton said as Troy's face dropped and Gabriella let out a triumphant laugh.
"See who's nervous now." Gabriella taunted as she waltzed over to Josh who gave her a small smile as Troy saw Gabriella's face light up instantly.
"You know…" Peyton started. "You two are either gonna make it in this business or end up killing each other." Peyton chuckled to herself as if it was some joke and walked over to the other two leaving Troy staring in shock before snapping out of it and following behind.
"I can't believe you actually left me to die!" Gabriella screeched as it was just Troy and her now in the training room they started out in near the locker rooms. It was just them there and Troy could see the fire coming off of Gabriella and he could tell that what he chose to do earlier affected her when it came time for her to unlock him.
Troy had to admit, that it was a fun way of testing their trust on the other one, but it was a little extreme, but when they found out that it didn't actually crack your head off when the one minute was up, Gabriella relaxed a lot since she knew that she wouldn't die and then have a chance of killing Troy herself.
Troy bit his lip, but quickly composed himself as he glared hardly at her. "I did what I had to do." Troy stated even though he knew that was bull. He had stopped trying before the timer went off.
"Yeah, to keep you alive, what about your partner?!" Gabriella exclaimed throwing her hands up and Troy couldn't help but stare at how her training bra covered chest rose and fell with each of her heavy breaths.
"Hey, what good would it have been if both of us died instead of just one?…Plus I came back didn't I?! You just pushed me away." Troy shot back as he took a step closer to her. He knew that he was wrong, but usually when you were in that situation as before the victim would be pleading with you and thanking you, not screaming at you and cursing you to hell.
"And I suppose you would tell that to a little girl or boy!" Gabriella took her step forward and Troy narrowed his eyes even more on her. He knew what he did was wrong, but she was really asking for it.
"Okay, so I'll blow this whistle and you can start Troy." Peyton instructed as Josh held the stop watch and Gabriella was already strapped in.
Troy fingered the set of twenty keys nervously as he looked down at them. Peyton said that there was only a couple of keys, this was more than a couple for only a minute of time. Troy knew he had to automatically rule out the keys that looked nothing like the one lock or else he wouldn't have any time and he saw the nervousness in Gabriella's eyes. There was no trust, but Troy didn't blame her for that, he wasn't looking forward to Gabriella doing this to him either. Hell, he didn't think anyone would want to do this, but if Chad and Taylor did it, then they could too.
"Are you ready?" Josh asked as Troy looked up and his eyes locked on Gabriella's who lifted her thumb up measly to indicate she would be as ready as ever.
Troy's eyes stayed on Gabriella's. It wasn't that he didn't like her, he just…he didn't know why he was so cold towards her these two past days, maybe it was because she seemed perfect and that just ticked him off. If only he read her file…
"Um…yeah." Troy said and instantly Josh blew the whistle surprising both Gabriella and Troy as Troy hurriedly ran over to Gabriella and located the lock to the machine on the side of her head.
Troy looked at the first three keys and automatically ruled out the first two since they looked too long. He heard Gabriella squirm beneath him in the chair that she sat in as the metal chains clanked together and he figured she was at least trying to free her arms as they were practically glued to her body and she might just be small enough to wriggle one arm out compared to him.
The seconds were ticking down as ten flew by and he had only tried one key out. This was a stupid test Troy decided. He didn't think that he would be able to forgive himself if he lost his new partner during training! TRAINING! That was just unheard of and he wasn't going to be the first one to start a record.
Troy flicked through the keys ruling them out left and right deciding they either were misshaped, too big, or too short, the last thing he needed was to jam an unwanted key in the lock and having it break so that they were screwed. Troy heard Gabriella gasp as her right arm that was on the side with Troy closest slip out of the chains so she could bend at her elbow.
Troy knew that the first thing he had to do was get this head piece off or else what was the point of getting the chains off? Gabriella's hand reached up and started pulling at the piece in her mouth as she spit it out and Troy figured it was a mouth guard, but what the hell would Josh give Gabriella a mouth guard for if this thing would end up bursting? It wasn't going to do anything.
"Come on Bolton." Gabriella said frantically as Josh held up the clock and they only had 30 seconds.
"I'm trying." Troy said as his nerves showed through his voice and his fingers slipped and he dropped the keys.
"What was that?!" Gabriella exclaimed as the sound of keys clattering to the cement ground could be heard echoing through the empty creepy room and Troy quickly picked them up and forgot what key he was on. He was near the end, he knew that…but which one? This was so unlike him, usually he was so put together where he was ready for everything, but he was not good with these things. He was good with guns, hand grenades, planning, fighting, using his strength, not unlocking things when the pressure was on.
"It's gonna be okay Montez." Troy said even though a six year old could point out that Troy wasn't sure himself. He wasn't even 10 percent sure and that scared him. He was always sure, that's why he always had a full proof plan.
"Twenty seconds." Peyton called out.
"Bolton, hurry the hell up!" Gabriella demanded as if that would make him work faster.
Troy narrowed his eyes on her, he was scared, there was no denying it as he continued with a key, then another key. This was pointless and he was starting to believe that none of these keys worked.
"I'm trying. Just hold on." Troy said as he took a deep breath and Gabriella's hands started pulling on the contraption around her head as Troy noticed her eyes were shut as she was also breathing heavily and he was starting to not even trust himself.
"Go to hell Bolton. Do not tell me to hold on when you're free to go anytime." Gabriella seethed and Troy found that she had some nerve to fight with him at a time like this.
"Fine." Troy said dangerously low. "You want me to leave, I will." Troy threatened as his hands still tried to pry the lock open.
"10 seconds!" Josh called out.
"You're not doing so hot Bolton." Gabriella taunted and Troy froze. "That's right, just quit. You better get out of here before it blows up."
Troy dropped the keys on the ground. It felt like he wasn't even controlling his actions. He knew a lot better to never do this, but Gabriella was asking for it. He stepped back and saw that Gabriella looked so brave as Peyton called out, "Five seconds.
Troy shut his eyes as he knew that they were glossed over. He had failed. He had failed his partner and now she was going to have to pay, Troy stepped forward and he put his hand on Gabriella's shoulder.
"I'm not leaving." Troy said roughly, at least he would somewhat be known for as brave and not someone who got killed in training.
"Yeah…you are." Gabriella said softly and Troy didn't know how she did it, or how she got enough strength, but her right hand went up to his chest in one swift movement and pushed him back as you could hear the timer go off and Troy stumbled back.
Everyone was silent as nothing happened, but five seconds later something unlocked and the mask that was around Gabriella's head, snapped open and Gabriella moved. She pushed it off of her with her right hand as she was still strapped down to the chair.
"Oh my God." Troy breathed out as Josh went over to Gabriella with a key to get her out of the chains and Peyton came up to Troy and patted him on the back.
"You didn't pass, but…at least you care enough for her to die with her." Peyton said softly so only he heard.
Troy's eyes went wide as he saw Gabriella sit up in the chair as Josh took the chains off. There were red marks on her visible skin from the chains rubbing up against her and being so tight.
"It wasn't about her. It was about not leaving anyone behind." Troy said as his heart rate still was racing at a hundred miles per minute.
"Whatever." Troy said as he turned away from Gabriella. He couldn't stop thinking about what if that was a real contraption? She wouldn't be there right now, and that just ate at his skin.
"Yeah, whatever. One more day of this." Gabriella said out loud and Troy couldn't help the smile that came over his face. She sounded just like him except she was a girl. "What?" Gabriella asked and Troy supposed she saw that smile on his face.
Troy shrugged, "Nothing, you just remind me of someone." Troy said as he was looking at the damn rope again in the corner connected to the ceiling.
"That's really getting at you, isn't it?" Gabriella asked as she turned her body to look at the rope also.
Troy shrugged, "Just a little."
Gabriella sighed, "Come on, I'll help you." Gabriella said as she started for the rope. Troy looked at the spot that she used to attend, back to the spot she was at now. "For a price." She added slyly as Troy rolled his eyes.
"What would that be?" He asked as he slowly walked over to where she was.
Gabriella turned away from the rope and hopped into the boxing ring. "You help me with my upper cut." Gabriella said with a smile.
Troy didn't know what possessed him to do this, maybe it was the fact he thought he killed her, or she was going to do something in return for him, but he threw her a pair of boxing gloves, and grabbed some for himself before going into the ring also.
Troy didn't know what changed his attitude that night when he was showing Gabriella how much weight to transfer when throwing a punch, but maybe what some people say is true. That you see things differently when faced with death, or at least in this case…fake death.
Author's Note-- Tell me what you think because I personally don't really like this chapter that much. Review please and thank you. You guys really make my day.