Looking Back And Ahead;;
"I certainly don't regret my experiences because without them, I couldn't imagine who or where I would be today. Life is an amazing gift to those who have overcome great obstacles, and attitude is everything."- Sasha Azevedo.
Chapter 4;;
Out Late;;
Lying in bed watching old TV shows, eating ice cream. Watching a movie with you're girlfriends. Finishing a good book. Even finishing homework. All things Gabriella should have been doing on a Friday night. But in Albuquerque, this Friday isn't simply Friday night. It's the first Friday night into the school year. So you could imagine how the teenagers wanted to party; everyone wants to kick start the year with a bang.
So where does Gabriella find herself? You really wouldn't believe. Where she was, should have been anywhere but there. Somehow she found herself there, though. There was no mistaking the large house for somewhere else. It was like being a lamb caught in the lion's den.
Gabriella was in a Bolton's house, and had no way of getting out.
"Come on, Gabi. It's the first party this year, you have to come." Camille held up a strong argument as she stood in the junior's doorway.
"Don't you think it's a little too much for me? Its not really my scene…" Gabriella seemed unsure, her large eyes dark with uncertainty. There was no questioning whether she wanted to go to the party or not, deep down she wanted to go. But… The party her sister seemed to be raving about it came off sketchy. Gabriella was no idiot. She was quite aware of what goes on at house parties. She got pretty cozy with house parties freshman year.
"Come on." Camille entered her sister's pale blue room now, her bare feet padding across the cherry wood floor to the dark mahogany framed bed. She sunk down into the fluffy whiteness of Gabriella's comforter and stared down at the younger sibling. "Please? For me?"
"Why do you want me to go so bad?" Gabriella's dark eyebrows rose as she gazed curiously up at Camille. She was a senior this year, why would she want her little sister to join her in going to a house party? If anything, Gabriella would of thought Camille wouldn't want her junior presence around at all.
"I dunno…" Camille's hair hung around her shoulders in a straight curtain as she looked down at her hands. "You need to get out. Plus Michelle got grounded, and I need a party buddy. You're old enough to know that girls shouldn't go to parties alone." Camille's caramel eyes rose as she looked down at her sister with a small grin. Oh, Gabriella thought. Well that makes more sense. Camille's closest friend Michelle, who happens to be Sharpay's sister, can't go to the party. So Camille wants Gabriella around for company and some sisterly bonding. She could believe that.
"You could of just said that, Cam." Gabriella laughed and leaned up. The turquoise camisole clung to Gabriella's swollen chest perfectly under her light navy tie sweater, and gave her olive skin tone a little glow. Gabriella's hair, the complete opposite of her sisters, hung in soft curls around her shoulders and complimented her dark coffee eyes.
"You'll come then?" Camille brightened, waiting like an anxious puppy for Gabriella to just say the words, so they could be off.
"Sure." Gabriella smiled meekly, "Why not."
Most people don't realize how much shit they've gotten themselves into, until after they've gotten themselves into it, right? Yeah. Well, Gabriella was one of those people. I mean, god gave her eyes, she could see where she was going. She was just too stupid to notice the address. The house itself could have given itself away; if it were any bigger it would be Hurricane Katrina.
The house was big, and white. Huge front lawn, even bigger patio around back, and of course Troy had an in ground pool. Troy's house was famous in Albuquerque. More than 90 percent of the town's population knew how to get to Troy's house. It was the famous Bolton mansion. Mr. Bolton's family was filthy rich, hence the obnoxious rock waterfall by the pool, and the mini bar smack dab in the middle of the pool. Mrs. Bolton was merely a physiatrist. Of course they make good money too, but its not like Troy's family even needed it.
Gabriella lost Camille the second they stepped onto the patio in the back, simply because a million people swarming the Bolton property shoved her around. This was definitely not her place, and after today's occurrences, she didn't have the least bit interest of wanting to stay either. But how was she going to get home? Camille drove them, in her own car. Gabriella was trapped.
Unless she wanted to call one of her friends, and never live down being picked up from Troy's house at this hour, she would have to wait. Gabriella really wasn't too sure how much of a party girl Camille was… But being a senior and all, Gabriella assumed her sister was going to have a drink. Or many.
What seemed like millions of teenagers to her was a house party in full swing. What was she to do with herself? Party? Get drunk? Jump into the pool?
I'll choose option D, none of the above, Gabriella thought, reaching into her back pocket for her cell. Her mocha eyes scanned the screen for the time, and glanced up at the crowd. It was almost eleven thirty. Keeping a tight grip on her phone Gabriella decided to take the chance, and started pushing through the crowd, keeping her head low. The alcohol seemed to almost chill the hormonal teenagers, letting Gabriella pass with an easy step aside. Grateful, she decided to keeping going while she was ahead. There was no point in stopping now, she was almost out of the mob, and Camille was nowhere in sight.
It wasn't until her head smacked into someone's chest that she looked up with half dizzy eyes and a expression of fear.
"Watch where…!" The guy towering above Gabriella's head held his drink up, trying not to spill the contents on himself or anyone surrounding them. It wasn't until the icy blue eyes dropped to meet the dark brown eyes staring stupidly back up at him, that they both realized who they each were. Gabriella's mouth hung open airily as she tried desperately to compose herself. She should of known she would have run into him; it was his party for Christ's sake! "Gabriella…?"
"Um…" Gabriella fumbled clumsily, desperately trying to side step him and keep moving. She would even walk home at this point. "Hi…" She mumbled finally, when Troy wouldn't move aside to let her through. Couldn't he just let her pass? He'd given her enough aggravation for a lifetime in the last week. Enough was enough.
"What're you…?" Troy started angrily, and then stopped as a small smile cracked at his lips. "Where's Camille?"
How the hell did he know I came with my sister? Gabriella thought as she gave him a dumfounded look.
"Just let me go, Troy." Gabriella pleaded, her hands on her hips as she ignored his question.
"I can't. It's not that easy, Gabriella." Troy glistening eyes narrowed as he watched her small frame sigh with annoyance below him. Please, Gabriella thought. This boy is so dramatic.
"Move." Gabriella said, so badly wanting to reach up and pull him out of the way by his ear. Probably would have worked too.
"Why?" Troy challenged, his eyes lighting up with a devious spark. "Can't you just stay and hang out?"
"Did it ever occur to you that I didn't want to be here?" Gabriella snapped, starting to get fed up with this back and fourth dialogue. "I want out, Troy. Just move, please."
Troy tested her limits in his head, remembering her tolerance from science class, and then finally moved to let her pass through. Gabriella's dark eyes mysteriously flashed to his as she passed, and slowly the numerous teenagers grinding to the insanely loud music swallowed her up. Something in Troy told him to follow her. Play with her emotions; see what really was behind that face. A pull behind his belly button pushed him forward, tearing through the crowd to find her again. His tall eyes locked on her frantic curls as she stumbled out of the remainder of the crowd.
"Gabriella!" Troy called, catching her attention. Suddenly Gabriella's shoulders froze, and slowly she turned to meet his face.
"Are you gonna make this a habit?" Gabriella kinked an eyebrow, a little shocked by his bluntness to keep her attention. He obviously wanted something. But she couldn't figure him out.
"Why are you really here?"
"What are you getting at, Troy?" Gabriella asked sharply, her hands landing on her hips as her thin eyebrows rose even more. "All of sudden you're seriously interested in my life, when before you didn't give a shit at all. Why now? What do you want?" The tension between the two teenage bodies seemed to get even thicker, Troy's eyes dancing with amusement. Gabriella was suddenly so sure there was some reason behind his determination that she seemed to think if she touched him, her hair would stand up from the electricity in his stare.
"I'm pretty sure this is my party, and you're here. So why are you assuming I want something… when you're at my house?" The signature smirk rose on Troy's bubblegum pink lips, and just like that, he ruined the hope Gabriella had for him. In a matter of seconds, Troy trashed what had slowly begun to build up for him once again. He started off not being an ass to her, but certainly ended with being one. The boy needs to learn before he could get back in.
I guess that's where they get the saying, you learn from your mistakes.
Gabriella turned on her heals, telling herself she didn't need him the whole time, and tried to make her get away as confidently as she could. Who was she to stand there and take his reverse psychology? The smirk that had cockily fell onto Troy's mouth quickly ceased to exist. His jaw unlocked and fell slightly before he caught it, trying to keep himself from reaching out and grabbing Gabriella's hand.
But the magnetic force pulling him to her thrashed against gravity, and before he could tell himself what he was doing, his legs moved to jog after Gabriella.
How the hell did they do that? It was like an autopilot switch suddenly flicked on and took over his body. The Troy he knew would never chase after Gabriella. Or even talk to her for that case. They didn't like each other. Well, at least that's what he kept trying to tell himself. "Gabriella!"
She kept walking.
"Gabriella!"
Head tall and back straight, she kept moving, slowly getting closer to the sidewalk out in the street.
"Go away." She whispered too quietly for him to hear, getting close to the corner lit by the tall standing street lamp.
"Gabriella," Troy breathed, jumping out in front of her like a deer in front of a truck. Both were a risk, this one happening to be more costly. Gabriella's dark brown eyes dilated, becoming black.
What the hell was he doing?
"Troy…" It seemed like the only thing roaming the brain cells in her head was his name.
"I wasn't trying to be a dick," Troy blurted out, surprising them both. His cerulean orbs seemed to glow under the bright lamp standing tall above them as he slowly began to realize what he was about to do.
Yet he didn't even try to stop himself.
"Troy…?" Gabriella murmured, still dazed and shocked. She felt like someone just whacked her over the head with a sludge hammer and then threw her into a swimming pool with her hands tied. They both knew what was happening, and neither was completely grasping it. Gabriella tried to, but Troy just let his instincts take over, and would worry about his emotions later.
He's waited two long years to finally say this to her, now is his chance.
"I just… I can't explain. But if I don't… If I don't try to tell you now, I'll regret it forever… Because you're it. You're that one thing. That thing everybody searches for in their life, but never really knows what it is their looking for."
"Troy…" Gabriella warned, trying desperately to stop the damn from cracking, because everything was pouring out. And she wasn't ready for it. Not right now, on the corner of fifth and angel.
"Gabriella… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for fucking ignoring you, and for the last week. I swear to god I'm bipolar, because I can't seem to keep hold of what emotion I feel toward you." Troy's eyes bored into hers, washing over the black of her irises and making the spot in-between her rib cage feel all warm. "I'm just…" Troy sighed, finally breaking the eye contact they've been holding for what felt like ever. His words seemed to spiral around in Gabriella's head when she was released from his pinning stare. They sat in her brain and sunk into her bones. She could practically repeat everything he said word for word, backwards and forwards.
Yet it didn't set in.
"I'm asking you to trust me here. Even though I know I don't fucking deserve it." Troy said, lifting his gaze to look back into her eyes. And when they did, his cyan eyes darkened two shades. Gabriella's black eyes seemed to glow darker, if it was possible. Cosmic waves of fury spread through her bone marrow, slicing through each one of her nerve endings, making her knee's weak.
Troy watched in a hungry stare, waiting desperately to know that she would forgive him. Needing to know the comfort of her okay. Longing to lay a hand on her olive toned skin. The wolf showing itself through Troy's blue eyes growled in his chest, and for the first time they've known each other, Troy made the offensive move.
His huge palm dove into her dark mass of curls, while his other hand griped at her hip, pulling her closer to his heat. Troy hungrily kissed her, pushing her back into the street lamp. Gabriella was taken aback by the sudden roughness of his actions, but kissed him back all as well. The feeling of being wanted took over her too well, and she dug her hands into his hair. Despite the doubt she was feeling toward him before, she kissed him back with as much as she could give.
She wasn't sure whether she could go out on a limb for him or not, but that didn't occur to her right now. All she could think about was the feeling of Troy's mouth on hers, and his hot hands on her neck and hip. Pulling back for air slightly, Troy rested his forehead on the base of Gabriella's nose, taking in a shaky breath. He nipped her bottom lip gingerly, enjoying the bliss of resting against her and just keeping his eyes closed.
Hormones were racing through both sets of veins, and neither one of them wanted to open their eyes. Afraid of what they had to face, afraid of what to come. Of course they would have to sort it out. But that was no fun compared to the steamy situation they were in now. Gabriella's hands slowly slipped down onto Troy's neck, holding there. They stood in silence; it was almost like the one to break the silence would have to make the decision.
"Troy…" Gabriella groaned as she felt a slight throb of pain in her spine resting uncomfortably against the metal pole.
"Gab…" Troy mumbled in reorganization, tracing a small pattern on her hip.
"I need to think…" Gabriella said very quietly, unsure how Troy was going to respond. She gauged his action cautiously. Suddenly Troy's hands went cold, and he released the fist of hair he had grabbed before.
"For how long…" It was a question, but the monotone sitting on top of his voice made the air seem awkward.
"I don't know…" Gabriella whispered. "Just let me think, okay…?" She slowly traced his jaw line with her thumb, feeling that he might need the comfort. It must of taken a lot to come up with what he just told her. She knew she never would of done that. Gabriella did like Troy, too. So it wasn't like she just telling him she needed to think. She really did. So many things ran through her mind, it was hard to see straight.
"If that's what you want…" Troy mumbled, pushing away from the pole and breaking the physical contact between them.
"Troy, please don't-"
"Do what you want," Troy said, still quietly, but a little bit more strong this time. His eyes were bright and didn't look like the normal kind of blue Gabriella was so used to looking at. "You know where to find me." With that, Troy went back in the direction of his house, slowly fading in the dark. He left her there, pushed against the pole, cold and alone.
Gabriella shook her head tiredly and pulled out her phone. At this point she didn't really care what her friends had to say. She just wanted to get out of here, away from this pole, clear her head and sleep. So she dialed Taylor's number and pressed the phone to her ear.
"Hey Taylor… Could you come pick me up?"
Even though i asked for 10 reviews before i woould repost, and i didn't get them, i posted anyways. So enjoy, review, and i hope to hear from you soon.
_Mare[: