Ready for the big reveal?
Enjoy! X
Christmas Eve came round too quickly for Inez's liking. After last night's confrontation with Jack, Inez hadn't slept a wink. She had had several glasses of wine after Jacks departure to steady her shock. However, once the shock wore off, reality set in. She had to find someway of splitting her daughter and Troy up. She heard footsteps upstairs and Gabriella soon entered the living room, washed and dressed for the day.
'You are going out again?' Inez asked.
'Yes, Taylor's freaking out because she still hasn't got Chad's present! Said I'd go and help her. I promise I will be back in time for supper' Gabriella stated, before she grabbed her car keys and rushed from the house and out to her car, leaving her Mom in the living room, her mind going into overdrive...
'Troy! Pleaseeee I'm begging you here! Taylor's about to snap and I have no idea what else Chad likes other than basketball!' Gabriella said through the phone. She and Taylor had been at the Mall for three hours and so far they had found nothing.
'Calm down, baby! Now turn that frown upside down and turn around' Troy said. Gabriella turned and saw Troy heading towards them, a bag in his hands. Gabriella ended the call as she rushed into her boyfriends arms, planting a kiss on his lips.
'You are the best boyfriend ever!' Gabriella whispered against his lips. Troy smiled and turned half of his attention to Taylor, handing her the bag.
'A signed basketball from the Lakers. Dad and I found it on EBay going for $500... Was going to keep it for ourselves but then I heard you struggling for Chad's present and I knew this would make him happy... You're going to be in good girlfriend books for a long time' Troy told Taylor, who smiled and hugged him tightly.
'Thank you! I owe you!' Taylor said, gratefully. Troy nodded and kissed the top of Gabriella's head, breathing in her Passionate Fruit shampoo and conditioner.
'Mind if I steal her for a bit?' Troy asked, motioning to Gabriella with his head. Taylor shook her head, smiling.
'She's all yours' Taylor said, before they parted ways, Taylor heading for her car and Troy and Gabriella disappearing into the busy crowd of people in the Mall...
'So, do you want one of your presents now?' Troy asked, three hours later. They were laid on top of Troy's bed together, fully clothed with Gabriella wrapped in Troy's arms.
'One?' Gabriella asked, her voice holding slight surprise.
'Yes, one... One present isn't enough for my girl. She deserves everything' Troy told her. Gabriella raised herself so she rested on her arm and looked at her boyfriend.
'Troy Alexander Bolton...' A warning tone in her voice told Troy she wasn't exactly thrilled at her boyfriend, but he could detect a hint of adoration underneath.
'I mean it, you deserve everything, baby' Troy said, his thumb running softly over her cheek. Gabriella leaned up and connected their lips softly. Just as things were starting to heat up, Troy's bedroom door banged open, revealing Jack.
'Oh my god!' Gabriella shrieked in shock.
'DAD! Get out!' Troy yelled, as he turned to see his Dad in the doorway.
'Get into the living room, now. Both of you!' Jack ordered, before he stalked into the living room, leaving a bewildered Troy and Gabriella in the bedroom. They heard Lucille shouting at him as they headed into the living room, Gabriella seeing her Mom sat on the sofa.
'Mom? What are you doing here?' She asked, as she sat on the sofa in Troy's lap. Inez went slightly pale, as she realized she was about to destroy her daughters relationship.
'Jack has got something to tell you both' Inez said, her palms sweaty. Jack glared at her.
'I don't really know how to tell you this...' Jack stuttered, clearing his throat. Troy frowned.
'Tell me what?' He asked his Dad, sitting up. Gabriella slid off his lap, but sat next to him, hooking her arm through his.
'I think it's better if I show you' Jack said, his hand shaking as he handed Troy an envelope. Troy took it and started to open it. Inez let out a choked sob and clamped her hands over mouth, causing Troy to freeze.
'What's wrong?' He asked her, as Gabriella rushed to her mother's side, with Lucille, both of them crouching down in front of her.
'Mom? What is it?' She asked. Troy and Gabriella looked at each other in worry. Troy finished opening the envelope and pulled out the sheet of paper. He folded it and scanned the paper...
Gabriella had never seen her boyfriend go so pale so quickly. She frowned as Troy dragged his eyes to meet hers, his face expressing horror.
'What is it? Troy?' She asked, as he didn't answer her. She got to her feet and headed over to him, snatching the piece of paper from his hands. The other occupants in the room watched as Gabriella froze and her eyes widened. Her face ranged from a motion of expressions before settling on devastation.
'This is sick!' Gabriella gasped, as tears suddenly spilled down hers cheeks. Troy grabbed her into a hug and wrapped his arms tightly round her.
'It's a lie, babe! It's a lie... You're my girlfriend... You're my girlfriend' Troy choked out.
'What's going on? Of course she's your girlfriend!' Lucille told her son, looking at Jack for answers. He looked at the ground, before looking at his wife.
'Eighteen years ago... When Greg died... I slept with someone...'
'No, you didn't' Gabriella whispered, in shock.
'And I'm so sorry, Lucille!' Jack said, watching as everything started to click into place for her.
'Oh my god!' She shrieked, clamping a hand over her mouth in shock.
'I'm so sorry! I honestly didn't know until the night we had Inez round... I had my suspicions afterwards... I didn't know what to do' Jack said, heading towards Lucille but stopping as she held up a hand.
'Don't! Don't come near me!' She hissed, tears sparkling her eyes.
'You're not my father! You can't be my father!' Gabriella sobbed, before her knees gave out and she crashed to the floor, taking Troy with her and allowing the sobs to take over their bodies...
Half an hour passed and the Bolton household was silent. Troy and Gabriella were still on the floor; however both of them had eventually gone into shock. Lucille was breathing heavily trying not to let her anger out at Jack, who was sat on the sofa staring at the fire.
'How long have you know?' It took a few seconds everybody to realize Gabriella had spoken directly to her mother. Inez sighed.
'Since last night. Jack came round with the results' Inez answered quietly.
'But... You must know have known for eighteen years that someone else could be my father' Gabriella retorted angrily. Inez didn't answer and looked to the ground. Gabriella sniffled before a thought slammed to the front of her mind, causing bile to rise in her throat. She scrambled from Troy's grip and stumbled into the kitchen, throwing up into the sink. Lucille rushed past her son to Gabriella in the kitchen, to help her.
'What the hell were you thinking?' Troy asked Jack. Jack sighed.
'I don't know. Me and your Mom had had a bit of an argument and then I found out my best friend had died-'
'So, you slept with your best friend's girlfriend?' Troy angrily shouted, before the sound of tears came flooding into the living room. Troy got to his feet shakily and walked into the kitchen, seeing Gabriella crying heavily on Lucille's shoulder. Lucille stroked her hair until Gabriella saw the others in the doorway and tensed up. Lucille pulled away from the hug gently and turned to others.
'See what you've done? Are you happy now?' Lucille asked. Troy started to head towards Gabriella, but he saw fear flash through her eyes and he froze.
'Ella?'
'Stay away from me' she whispered, her tears falling down her cheeks. Troy shook his head.
'Ella... Please don't shut me out' Troy whispered, standing behind his mom.
'I slept with you... I slept with my own brother!' she cried, closing her eyes and Troy took the chance and pulled her in for a hug.
'We didn't know! We didn't know!' Troy sobbed, kissing the top of Gabriella's head. Gabriella started to struggle but Troy held on, until Gabriella gave a particularly hard shove and rushed from the kitchen.
'ELLA!' Troy yelled, rushing after her. He saw the front door open and skidded outside to see Gabriella starting up her car. She saw him in the doorway, wanting everything to be a bad nightmare. She pushed her car into first gear and sped off, leaving a dust of snow and leaves swirling the air...
R&R X