God, I've been getting so many reviews. Thanks! As a reward, I've put up the new chapter all ready:
Down on the beach that night, Gabriella was walking along the sand, just where the water was trickling over her toes. Troy was sitting on the veranda of the Montez house when Eva walked out and sat beside him. Troy smiled shyly at her before looking back to the horizon. Silence remained until Eva began to talk.
"I've figured out what's going on at your home," she started softly. Troy looked at her, startled. "And I know that your friends now have." Troy bit his lower lip and looked down. "I understand that you want to keep it a secret, since it would bring embarrassment on you and your father." Troy nodded miserably. "But you chose the right person to be your confident. Gabriella's been through a lot. She's an amazing girl for her age." Troy looked up at Eva and nodded again.
"What's she been through?" Troy asked after a few minutes. Eva shook her head slowly.
"It's not my place to tell you. She's told Lisa, Taylor and Jesse….I think that's all….but let me tell you, you are the first person she has accepted so quickly. She was extremely hesitant when it came to Lisa and Taylor. She doesn't like people getting too close to her," Eva told Troy. "But you're lucky….enjoy it." Eva gave him a small smile and walked back inside.
Troy went back to staring out at the beach, but realized that Gabriella was no longer in sight. He stood up and looked up and down the beach for her, still not seeing her.
"Yo! Troy!" Came a shout from just a little way off. Troy turned and saw Jesse making his way to him. Luckily, Jesse was smart enough not to ask any questions about that morning and so the two boys sat down in the sand-dunes, Troy keeping his eyes away from Jesse. "You staying with Gabs?"
"Uh, yeah, for a while," Troy replied with a nod. Jesse reached over and touched Troy lightly on the arm.
"She's a great girl…she might tell you about it sometime," Jesse looked out into the distance where Gabriella had come back into the view and was walking towards them, a smile on her face. When she reached them, she plonked herself down in between them. "We were just talking about you…"
"Hm," Gabriella put on a frown. "Good talk?" Jesse shrugged teasingly and Gabriella shoved him. He shoved her back and then a moment later, they were tumbling down the sand-dune, laughing as they came to a stop and Gabriella rolled off Jesse. Troy used to be jealous of the close relationship between Jesse and Gabriella, but now he understood; they were just best-friend. Troy skidded down the sand-dune after them and fell down hard on his butt at the bottom. Gabriella was still laying in sand as Jesse picked himself up.
"See you guys, I gotta get home," Jesse grinned at them and began walking toward his house. Gabriella let her legs and arms slide through the sand as Troy leaned over her.
"Gabi?" Troy asked softly.
"Mm?" Gabriella replied.
"What's this about you having….a secret? Or a dark past, or something?" Troy saw Gabriella's eyes narrow as she pulled herself up and looked away from him, resting her chin on her knees.
"Has someone told you something?" She asked, her voice cracking.
"No, no, don't worry about that….I just--I wanted to know what was wrong," Troy murmured. Gabriella turned to him and smiled sadly.
"It's okay, nothings wrong now," Gabriella leaned over to him and rested her head on his shoulder. "The only thing which is worrying me now, is how we're going to tell your dad." Troy took in a sharp breath.
"I haven't figured that out yet…especially since I told that woman that he wasn't…you know, hurting me," Troy whispered in a hurt voice. Gabriella ran her hand through his hair and he turned to her.
"We don't need to figure that out tonight," she murmured to him as Troy began to adopt the lost orphan look again. "Just get along with Eva, and she won't mind sticking up for you." Troy nodded once before leaning in and resting his forehead against hers.
"So you're not gonna tell me what happened to you?" He asked again. Gabriella shook her head slowly.
"At the moment, no," she replied steadily. Troy nodded his head, respecting her decision. "But you can do me a favour…" Troy raised an eyebrow questioningly. "You can promise not to think any less of me when you find out."
"I promise," Troy murmured to her. Gabriella smiled and went back to looking out to the beach, his arm around her.
So, Troy's not the only one with family secrets! I'm not quite sure what her secret it yet, though...
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