Chapter 4: Much over Due

Gabriella's Pov

She looked down at her wedding band. It should be at the bottom of the ocean. She couldn't work the nerve to take it off. That would make her a failure. She failed with Troy and now the most sacred thing her marriage.

" Gabby"

Taylor interrupted her thought process and gives her a slight smile. One that sort of nudges her to continue with her story.

" Like I was saying I returned here. I had built this big case of what would be said but then I saw him. It was a beautiful evening as I strolled the main streets. He was sitting at an outside table. He kept glancing at his watch. About a minute later she kisses him and sits down. I watched for a couple of minutes. He was happy, for the first time since coming here for visits he was smiling. That moment I realized that he had moved on. He was happy and I wasn't going to mess that up. So I left and promised myself that New Mexico wasn't my home anymore. I returned to school and finally gave in to Steven's advances. Within the next year we eloped. It was really on a whim I was not in my right mind. My mother was not happy at all said I ruined my life. But I stayed with my marriage out of faith but most importantly out of what was right. At first we were happy with being in school and together. It felt like dating but then things got complicated as soon as we graduated. All that time I was filling in this void. Within the four months into my marriage it sort of fissile into thin air. I pushed and pushed him out of my life. One evening we had plans for dinner. We wanted to discuss the idea of marriage counseling. He must have forgotten because it passed an hour and still no Steven. I decided to go to his office. When I got there it seemed like no one was around. Then I heard it very faintly. Moans could be heard coming from his office. When I opened his office door on his desk was he and his secretary. He told me that I had driven him to her. Taylor, I'm sorry that I never told you. I felt ashamed to have married him to fill a void."

" Gabby, I'm sorry you had to carry this burden with you."

" Why was Troy here?"

" He knows Gabby, we told him earlier tonight. I don't know what possessed him to come here."

Gabriella sucks in a deep breath. She gets up off the bed and starts to pace.

" No, no, no I told you guys not to tell him."

" Gabby he needed to know. Listen, why don't we meet up tomorrow. You need to be fitted for your dress."

" Taylor, sorry I just need this weekend. I need to settle myself before starting everything else. On Monday I promise to be on your beckon call."

" Ok, it is great to see you Gabby. Just remember that I'm a phone call away."

With that said Taylor leaves. Gabriella goes to lie down on her bed. Her cries can be heard even through out her room. All those years of having him not look or talk to her had taken its toll on her. So, enwrapped in her sorrows Gabriella had failed to hear her balcony door open and close. It wasn't till the shift of her bed that she looked up. There by the end of her bed sat Troy, his deep coral blue eyes searching her for answers.

" Why did you lie?" says Troy

" Troy"

" Do you have any idea how much hatred I have against you."

" Troy please"

Tears had escaped his eyes as he quickly tried to hide them.

" I thought you loved me but to make me hate you"

" Do you know how much it killed me inside to hurt you"

" So, I've heard"

Gabriella looked at him surprised at how vile his words came out.

" I over heard everything you and Taylor discussed. I was on the balcony."

Gabriella was stunned and speechless. So many secrets were brought to light. Hatred soon turned to sadness. There stood Gabriella and Troy crying for love lost and lies told.

" Argh" yelled Troy

He was struggling to keep his emotions under check but was failing miserably. Maria who had been reading by her bed was startled. As she made her was towards Gabriella's room. Her thoughts had turned to worry when Gabby had told her that she didn't want to be disturbed. She knocked on her door.

" Gabby, honey open the door. Gabriella please you need to eat. Please honey open the door."

Before Gabriella had a chance to acknowledge her mothers request. Troy had walked over to let her in.

" Oh, hello Troy"

" Hello"

" Gabriella is everything ok here"

" Everything's fine mom thanks"

Maria looked at both Gabriella and Troy. She knew that she must have interuppted something important.

" Can I bring up dinner for the both of you?"

" Mom, I'm not hungry"

" Honey, you haven't eaten anything since coming home"

The thought of food hadn't even crossed his mind. He was hungry and sensing Mrs. Bryant's attempt to get Gabriella to eat.

" Dinner sounds great Mrs. Bryant, I'll help you."

As Troy and Mrs. Bryant walked down stairs. Gabriella took that time to wash her tear stained face. She was startled by the expression looking back at her in the mirror. She had thinned out more and her eyes didn't have that carefree look. Life had taken a toll on her. Down in the kitchen Troy and Mrs. Bryant were getting things ready.

" So, Troy it's good to see you and Gabby on talking terms again."

" We are not I'm just wanted to find out about something's I heard.

Troy was looking at everything except Mrs. Bryant, She could sense the apprehensions he was holding against talking.

" You know Troy, Gabriella lost a part of herself when she lost you. It wasn't until junior year of college that she told me everything. All these years have taken a toll on her. That girl up there isn't Gabby. Just listen to her please for the both of you. I know what you've been through. I'm sorry for wanting what is best for my only daughter. But also for the boy that has grown into a man."

With that said she gave Troy the tray of food. As soon as he was out of hearing reach she sighed. Her husband who had been listening to the whole conversation from the living room came to see her.

" Maria, if they are meant to be then they are meant to be"

" I know but I know that those two up there are meant to be"

A Troy walked towards Gabby's door he wore his heart on his sleeve. Al those years of loving her and then hating her. Most importantly never stopping loving her was just too much.

Whenever he saw her it took ever ounce of strength he had not to grab her and kiss her. Anger swelled up inside of him to know that she married. That some creep had his hands on her. He opened the door to her room and notice that she wasn't around. Couple of moments later she came back into the room. Blue meeting brown, Troy broke the moment by putting the tray of food on her desk. Gabriella sat at the edge of the bed trying so hard to avoid looking at him.

" Your mother is worried about you so just eat the food."

" I'm not hungry"

" When was the last time you ate?"

" On the plane this morning"

" Well it's time to eat again"

" Look, Troy it's nice of you to….

" I'm not here for your benefit. I am here for answers. I just found out that the last six years."

At that moment Gabriella lost it

" The last six years you thrived at U of A. I watched every single game so don't even. Look at you now." She yelled

" Look at what tell me because if you watched the you would know…

He didn't get to finish his sentence before his phone rang. He looked disturbed that someone would interrupt his train of thought. He looked at the caller i.d and blow out a breath that he didn't know he was holding.

" Hello…yeah honey I just got caught up…. Where are you?....I'll meet you there….Love you too."

He hung up the phone not noticing the awkwardness that Gabriella had. She couldn't stop the pain of hearing him calling some girl such sweet endearment. He looks conflicted but walked towards the balcony. He left without saying a word. Leaving Gabriella to wonder why she had came back in the first place.