Chapter 4 – Beach Weekend

Thursday, August 31st, 2017

Gabi's POV

"Are you enjoying your last week of freedom?" Troy looked over at me as he shot the ball with little effort and shrugged. "I am trying to get ahead on my homework and picking up more hours at Rents so that I can have a little bit of spending money." I nodded my head with a smile because starting after labor day the basketball practices picked up just a little bit. Instead of just get together to practice they turned into hour work-outs and then they added weights. They spend Tuesday through Thursday doing work-outs for an hour and then on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday they had weights.

I took the ball from Troy as it was late again. The crickets from North Carolina were talking and not many people were in the area we were in. The college mode had fully kicked in as tonight was thirsty Thursday causing many college students to hit the bars. "Gabi, I have a question and feel free not to answer it…at all." I looked at the man with blue eyes as I nodded wondering where this was going. The team had the week off so I had yet to really see him this week. I went to Rents and he gave me free coffee but that was about it. "Go ahead but I may not answer it," I warned and he pulled a little smile from the corner of his mouth.

"I want to start off by saying…you were good. Great actually," I frowned and he noticed, "I went back last time after our game and looked you up on YouTube." I nodded because it wasn't unheard of when the guys meet me and he shook his head, "Great, a natural on the court. So then…" he dragged his sentence out but he kept his eyes locked to mine because I knew what he was talking about. "Yea, it sucked." I answered for him and he only nodded his head because he knew I didn't want to talk about it much. "what's keeping you from playing basketball?"

I pointed to my left knee and he only nodded his head slowly, I could see his brain spinning with questions but I didn't have answers for him right now. I passed him the ball and he knew the end of the conversation had come. He went back to playing and I went back to playing as we moved alongside each other on the court. "Are you going with the team to the beach this weekend?" he asked and I nodded my head. "Anderson invited me."

"Do they all invited you?" he asked me and I laughed nodding my head, "They switch around who asks me so my dad never gets too suspicion if the same guy is asking me to all of these things. If my dad even smells a whiff of one of you getting too close you have a private practice." His eyes grew wide and I looked down at my feet, "I try to keep my distance because those are brutal practices. Only two guys have had to do them but…yea."

"What started the rule?" I asked her as we continued to play and I wasn't in any type of pain tonight. "My dad has been coaching forever. He worked his way up the ranks and about when I turned 13 he suddenly became paranoid that I was going to get too close to these guys and I don't know but at that time I had no care in the world. I was playing basketball. I didn't give two shits about the male species unless you were a basketball player and we could practice together." He gave a smile and I shook my head, "The rule got worse as I got older. Every boy was warned and I was warned every single time there was a new guy. Again, I didn't care. I had basketball and that was all I needed in my life."

Troy followed along as I shrugged my shoulder, "Then stuff happened and my dad thought it was a genius idea to throw me on the manager list and for me to help but the rule still applies. So I am hanging around guy who love to play basketball, who are my age, and I can't look at them because if I do then well…." I looked at him with a knowing look and he understood my reference to the past. "I only did that because I was so angry at the world. And I feel bad for Cooper. He was the youngest on the team and I didn't know him so I took full advantage of the situation. I have apologized a hundred times over but he was just there and he sadly got the short stick of my anger."

"Where did he transfer too?" he asked me, "South Carolina. He was a good player but I think my dad actually lucked out in this deal." I looked at him and he gave me a bit of a surprised look. "You are a lot better than Cooper ever will be. He was good but I too know how to work YouTube." He smiled and shook his head, "I haven't done anything nearly as impressive as you."

"I think you won every award in Oregon." I disagreed and he smiled with a shrug of his shoulders, "Yet, I only ended up at a community college." He said and I shook my head, "You had a bad AAU team…" I told him and he laughed with a nod, "Was that it?" I stole the ball from him and I nodded, "You were in a little town of Seaside and your club team didn't travel much farther than Portland." He shook his head with a nod and he understand what I was saying. He didn't have exposure.

"What happened to Oregon?" I asked him and he shrugged his shoulders, "We talked. I just didn't like the offer too much." He didn't say much about the offer besides that moot point and I narrowed my eyes, "Did something happen at Oregon?" I pressed and he looked at me before shooting the ball and he sighed, "The coach was a dick." He answered, "I didn't like him so why would I want to work for him? Y'know? I just didn't have a good feeling about the program."

"Fair enough…"

"And that was the only major college looking at me so I decided to just go to community college, be close to home, and have fun with Hallie," I looked at him a bit surprised and he looked back with a question in his eyes, "What?" I smirked, "I had you pegged right. You had a girlfriend hold you back from doing what you actually wanted." Troy rolled his eyes at that statement and he shook his head, "She was my number one advocator for going to Oregon." I laughed, "What happened?"

"She broke up with me when I told her I was going to Duke. She doesn't want to do long distance and she doesn't ever want to leave Seaside." He seemed annoyed because I knew he loved that girl but not enough to get in the way of his dreams. "So she just broke it off?" he sighed and nodded as he finally sat down on the court. I followed suit as I sat down across from him as we continued to talk. "Yup, she told me that I was stupid for leaving the West Coast and that she wanted nothing to do with me. So…" I grimaced, "You don't want to stay in Seaside?" He laughed and I knew from that statement he was trying to get the hell out.

"Yea, I don't want to go back. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love my family and my friends from there. I love the little town but I also want to branch out. I want to live in a city where everybody doesn't know me, my life, and definitely not my personal life." I arched an eyebrow towards him and he laughed, "My mom found out I had sex before I even got home for the first time with Hallie," I grimaced and buried my head into my heads as I couldn't control my laughter.

"That is very sad." I told him once I could control my laughing and he shook his head with a laugh, "Yea, that wasn't a fun night either. We were seventeen and my mom went ballistic." I shook my head with a laugh, "I didn't lose my virginity until last year." I spoke looking down at my shoes, "Cooper?" he asked and I only nodded my head, "It's the first time I could focus on boys in my life and well…" he just nodded his head and looked at me, "You haven't since?" I shook my head, "After the whole Cooper incident I went and lived with my brother and his wife for a couple of months."

"Coach was pissed huh?"

I snorted, "Pissed is an understatement."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that, I'm assuming since you didn't really love cooper…" I grimaced and nodded, "Yea, completely regrettable." Troy sighed, "I'm really sorry, he shouldn't have even done it with you." I looked at him and my stomach sank because I couldn't have him. It made me want to actually cry because from that sentence alone I knew he was a good guy. He actually cared that my first and only time was shitty as hell.

"I should probably go," I said abruptly because I had to remove myself from the situation because I could talk to Troy Bolton for hours without realizing it. "Let me walk you," he quickly said and I cringed because he always offered. Always. He didn't hesitate and I always felt better walking back with him as campus could get scary sometimes. I just nodded my head and we walked quietly back towards our apartments. "Thanks for walking me back," I said to him and he gave a shrug, "We have to walk the same direction anyways but I also like talking to you."

"I like talking to you too but…" Troy smiled and nodded, "I won't let you. One girl already dragged me down from what I really wanted to do…and please don't take that the wrong way." I laughed shaking my head, "No. I understand."

"Do you think your dad will ever drop the rule?" he asked and I couldn't help but pull a smile, "Maybe when I'm fifty." Troy laughed and nodded his head as we made it to my apartment first and I began to walk up the steps when he to walk backwards while looking at me, "Maybe I can wait till I'm fifty to get to know you a whole lot more." I felt my cheeks flame and he winked before turning around and disappearing. I gripped the railing and took a deep breath as he walked away into the night as I finally went inside the building. I walked to our apartment door and I opened it up then shutting it quickly to lean back against it.

"You okay?" I jumped and I looked over at Lauren, my lips pressed together and I couldn't come up with the proper words for her. "Gabi?" she got up from the couch as I finally pushed off the door and nodded my head, "I'm good, I am." I told her as I walked towards my bedroom while she narrowed her eyes at me, "What did you do?" she asked me and I shook my head, "I did nothing. Troy and I were just playing basketball again. I promise. It was innocent."

"Then why do you look the way you do?" I plopped down on my bed as I groaned leaning back, "One, the man is seriously perfect. Like he is so kind and such a gentleman and ugh…I am struggling to keep my distance but then he asked about my dad's rule so he is having a hard time myself and I told him my dad might stop when I'm fifty and when we were walking in he turned around and looked at me and with those damn blue eyes goes 'maybe I can wait till I'm fifty to get to know you a whole lot more.'" Lauren raised an eyebrow as I shook my head, "We can't hang out. There is no way we can just be friends."

"You both seem to have something for each other." Lauren observed, I shrugged and I shook my head, "It'll be okay. We'll figure it out."

"You better or you are going to have another Cooper situation on your hands." I rolled my eyes at that and Lauren gave me a hug and smiled, "Can I have him between now and fifty?" I laughed and nodded, "Will you hold him for me?" Lauren gave off a laugh and I smiled shaking my head. "Good night G,"

"Night L,"

I laid back as my room went dark and I thought about Troy Bolton and I knew I was in deep trouble.

Troy's POV

Friday, September 1st, 2017

Grey rolled over the hills as we made our way closer to Wrightsville Beach. I was riding with Grey, Anderson, Ashley, Gabi, and Lauren as we navigated North Carolina. We were still over an hour out from the beach when I asked the same question for the tenth time. They were all annoyed with me by this point.

"So your dad, coach, rents us out a house, puts alcohol inside the house, and doesn't care what we do as long as we all come back alive?" I questioned and the car laughed, "Yes, Troy, we get to have one last weekend to completely let loose before practice start hardcore." I scratched my jaw and finally nodded my head, "That is completely different." Gabi reached forward and rubbed my shoulder.

"Bolton, you are about to have a weekend of your life down here. We really don't leave the property because we have the pool, the beach, and all the alcohol that we need. Girls stay in girl's room which is in the basement. We lock the door at night so…no funny business." Grey leaned back from the driver's seat, "Don't listen to her." He said pointing towards Ashley.

"Disgusting." Lauren muttered and I shook my head as we returned to singing to current summer hits in the back of the car when my phone buzzed in my lap. I picked it up to see Gabi's contact name. I glanced back at her and she was buried into her phone.

Gabi: No funny business Bolton…

Troy: Whatever. Don't put my name in your phone as Cooper.

Gabi laughed behind me and Anderson tried to snatch her phone but she pulled it back easily, "Fuck off Anderson." I laughed as I tilted my head back because it was still early in the morning but they wanted a head start. Most of us didn't have Friday classes so we were set free.

The rest of the basketball players were following in two other cars as the older guys led the way to the infamous beach house. "Gabi, did you grow up in this beach house?" I asked turning my head back to look at her and she nodded flipping through the magazine. "I spent a lot of time here. Yes," she answered, I nodded, "That must have been neat."

"You grew up on Seaside. I am pretty sure that entails the sea." I laughed, "Yea, but it was cold as all get out. Did you spend summers here?"

"Yes," she answered and the car went quiet again. I let it this time as I settled back into the car and I let my eyes close against the headrest until Lauren shoved me from behind. I grunted and she leaned over, "Can you tell me more about Oregon? Should I go?" I opened my eyes to look at her and I just nodded my head, "Highly recommend. It is pretty amazing."

"Seaside sounds sleepy, oldish…" Lauren stated and Grey sighed annoyed from up front. "Lauren, it sounds like you belong there." Lauren rolled her eyes and I laughed, "Uhm yea, everybody knows everybody and it's pretty much a tourist trap…including my families' restaurant."

"Whoa, your family owns a restaurant?" Anderson said leaning forward and I nodded my head as my phone buzzed at that moment. I answered it, "Jake," I answered, "Dude, you need to get the hell home. Dad is driving me nuts with the restaurant." I laughed and looked out the window. "I bet. How is the football season going?" I asked him and he groaned, "Dad is pushing me so hard. I wish you were so he could push you."

"You're almost done. Just let him push you, I wouldn't be at Duke if it wasn't for Dad." Jake sighed from the other end of the phone and I knew where he was. He was most likely hiding in the backroom behind the hamburger buns hoping that he could push his twenty-minute break into a thirty without anybody noticing. "Grab the buns and go back to work,"

"I miss you dude," I looked down at my lap and I didn't say anything for a minute because if I was being completely honest I missed the hell out of them every single day but it was getting easier by day. "I miss you too Jake, I'll see you Thanksgiving week. You're coming to us,"

"I can't wait to watch you destroy at Duke dude,"

"You know I will, how is Aude?"

"Missing you more than mom I think. She misses your guy's movie nights or when you would play basketball with her." My gut sank because I knew she was having a hard time with the adjustment. My mom had told me a couple of times that she wasn't doing well and my dad had even mentioned it.

"I'll call her later."

"She'll be here soon. Do you want me to have her call you?"

"No, no, I'll call her. She has called me every time. I'll call her." Jake sighed and I nodded, "Go back to work Jake, I'll talk to you later, call me if you need any help escaping pressures from dad." He laughed and agreed as we hung up with each other. I dropped my phone in my lap as I continued to look out the window.

My phone buzzed once and I looked down at my lap.

Gabi: Jake? Aud? Are you cheating on me, Bolton? You should've told me you were gay…

I snorted shaking my head as I went to type back my response to her as I smiled thinking about the two of them.

Troy: Jake is my younger brother and Aud aka Audrey is my younger sister. I don't get to talk to them all that much. Kinda miss them.

My phone landed in my lap again as I continued to stare out the window thinking about them. I was surprised when I didn't get a text back from Gabi but I let it go as we traveled the remaining distance to the beach. Once we pulled up to a house, correction, mansion everybody piled out quickly.

I stretched my long legs while everybody went running to grab the room they wanted. I was more than willing to grab a couch or something as I strayed back, "I'm sorry about your siblings. I can't imagine being far away from Trevor." I nodded my head as I gave a smile, "It's okay. My little sister is in seventh grade, just starting middle school, and she is struggling a little bit. We were pretty close and we would have these movie nights with each other when she was bummed out or just had a rough day. We also would go to the park and play basketball together sometimes. I don't know. We were just close." I stopped to think about it and I shrugged, "She would come to my room during thunderstorms and crawl into my bed. She has since she was little."

Gabi squeezed my shoulder and I looked at her, "Thanks for letting me talk that out. I need to call her once she is finished with school but that could be a while." Gabi nodded as we both walked into the house together with looks from both Lauren and Grey. I rolled my eyes as I walked over to Anderson, "Where am I sleeping?" I asked him and he pointed the couch as I nodded tossing my bag onto the sofa. "It pulls out," Gabi offered up, "Thanks." I told her and she nodded before disappearing down the basement steps. My eyes took in the large living area with two couches. One of the freshman took one of the others. I moved into the kitchen which was large and spacious. The alcohol bottles piled onto the counter with every liquor you could probably imagine. Inside the fridge was beer and wine in the back.

"I told you, he stocks up," Grey said putting his hand on my shoulder. My eyes took in the different chasers before finding what I was looking for. I pulled out OJ and went over to the rum as I mixed together my first drink. The guys wasted no time starting to get drinks together, "What did you make me?" I looked up and I felt my body pause, I took in Gabi with her navy and coral flower print bikini and matching bottoms. I quickly snapped out of it as I smiled, "I bet you'll make fun of me but…it's the blue devil." She cracked a smirk towards me at the name as I handed her the drink and she took a sip before closing her eyes. "Holy Moly," she said, she smirked and took off with my drink.

"Hey!" I called and she laughed, "You're going to teach me how to make this one," I only shook my head before making myself another one but a little bit stronger because I just realized that I was in over my head this weekend because she had such an amazing body. I only had imagines of us doing the dirtiest things with each other. I closed my eyes taking a drink and I moved out of the kitchen. Most of the guys cracked a beer open and I would get there eventually but I knew I needed the hard alcohol before I did something stupid sober. I followed the majority of the guys outside where I saw the massive pool in the back. Gabi, Lauren, and Ashley already found their spot. A couple other girlfriends had met up with them.

I went down the steps where I noticed the basketball court on the other end of the backyard. I found Grey and Anderson as they were seated next to two of the seniors: Nick and Matt. I greeted them as I took a seat on the ground. "Boys, boys, just wait until Bolton has to play pong tonight," Matt said with a growing smirk. I looked at them unfazed.

"Pong…man…I haven't played pong in a while." Grey smirked, "Then we are about to have one fun night."

After I hit four cups in a row I was quickly getting glares from the seniors and a frown from Grey. "Did you hustle us?" I couldn't contain my smirk as I hit another cup causing Matt to groan as he took a shot. "I'm glad I'm on your team," Grey said rolling his eyes as I laughed. "C'mon guys, I live in a town called Seaside. What the hell do you think we do?"

Grumbles came from the guys after I hit the final cup without them hitting one cup. "Bolton, are you good at everything?" I only shrugged taking a drink of my own drink. I moved away from the table to give them a break when I spotted her lounging talking to Jayson. I looked down at my phone to see that Audrey should finally be home. I went inside the house where it was quiet as I called her cell phone. It rang twice before she answered, "Troy,"

"Hey babe, how are you?" I asked and she laughed, "I'm good. Jake and I are playing a board game. He doesn't want to do homework." I smiled, "I bet not. Make sure he does his homework okay?" I could see her rolling her eyes and I smiled, "How was school today?"

"Good. Mom brought me lunch from the restaurant." My mom was a fan of bring us food all the time and making sure we are doing well in our atmosphere as she would always tell us. It was bullshit to come up and spy on who are current friends were and who we were talking too. "Yea, what did she bring you?"

"Grilled cheese and a salad," my mouth watered because my mom would make us the best grilled cheese. It was always my comfort food go to. "Man, one of her grilled cheeses sounds amazing." I told Audrey and she sighed, "I wish you could come home." She said quietly and I nodded looking down, "I'll be home in December. You'll come see me in November though."

"That is so long from now Troy, it's only September." I squeezed the back of my neck, "I know Aubrey. How about Monday night we have a facetime date okay? It's been a while since we have even got to do one of those."

"Okay,"

"I love you Audrey,"

"I love you too Troy," I hung up the phone as I went to make myself a Jack and Coke. I went back outside to see another intense game of pong going. There was a couple of guys just talking and then I noticed a bunch that was on beach. I walked that direction but was distracted by Gabi talking to a non-basketball player. I exhaled as I went down further where I spotted Grey finally. "Hey, Troy, you want to help with dinner? We should probably put food into our stomach."

"Sure thing," I agreed and we both retreated back to the kitchen.

Gabi's POV

I watched as Troy came closer as I was stuck talking to some guy who stopped me. He retreated back with Grey towards the house. Grey normally took charge of dinner and I figured since he knew Troy could cook that he would request his help. "Gabi," I looked over at Lauren in a complete daze and she smiled, "Stop."

"What?" I asked her and she shook her head because we both knew what she meant. I needed to stop with Troy. I needed to stop going to play basketball with him. I needed to stop going to Rents to watch him work. I needed to stop looking at Troy hoping that he would come distract me from this boy. I needed to stop expecting for my dad to change his rules.

Troy and I were going to remain friends and that was it. We were only going to be friends and I knew he was a good friend. He was one of those friends you just didn't let go. "You ladies want to come back to my beach house for the night?" the guy asked and I looked at him with a small smile, "Sorry, I have plenty of friends waiting for me." He just nodded and left while I returned back to the house with Lauren. I went inside where Grey was moving all the alcohol while Troy began to pull food out of the fridge.

I pulled a chair up to the counter, "Troy," he looked up at me and I smiled, "What's up?" I looked at him pulling out hamburgers to grill out tonight. "What is in that drink you gave me? It's addicting." He smirked, "A little dose of cocaine," he said with a wink and I rolled my eyes, "What drink?" Grey asked interrupting our conversation. "A blue devil," I spoke up quickly and Grey laughed.

"Are you shitting me? Did you make it up on the fly?" Grey asked him and Troy shook his head, "No. It's on our menu at the restaurant. I have made it millions of times since turning 18 and I was legally able to make drinks for my parents." I leaned forward, "So are you going to tell me what's really in it?" Troy shook his head again and I sighed, "I want to try it." Grey said offended and Troy smiled, "I'll make a big pitcher of it tomorrow for the beach day tomorrow."

"This is so unfair. I am going to call your parents and ask." Troy laughed, "Good luck with that." I smiled at Troy as the drink was good and it was named the Blue Devil which only fit this entire weekend. I watched Troy and Grey prepare everything for dinner. Troy went outside to grill while Grey set up everything inside. "Gabi, c'mon, don't lead him on okay?" Grey didn't even look at me but I knew he spoke. "Grey, stop, Lauren already lectured me."

"Smart girl," he said and I shook my head, "I don't want to get him in trouble. I promise." I told Grey as the backdoor slid open and Troy came back through searching for something else. He went back outside and I glanced at Grey. "I almost didn't let Anderson invite you because I didn't want anything to happen between you two."

"I won't let anything happen. Once basketball starts up for you guys next week it'll be basketball, him working, school, and social life. There will be no time for anything else. Stop stressing." I told Grey and he just nodded as I got off the stool and went back outside. I knew how to be responsible and I knew everybody was worried because of Cooper but I wasn't worried because I knew that I couldn't test my dad again without serious consequences.

Saturday, September 2nd, 2017

The sun beamed on my face as we were all sitting on the beach soaking in the summer sun. The boys were talking about renting a couple of boats and going to town. I wouldn't mind sitting in a boat soaking up the sun either. Troy did as promise and made a huge pitcher of the Blue Devil and he already had to make a second because of popular demand by everybody.

The boys all dragged coolers out of the house and drug them to the beach. "Hey girls," Anderson called and Jayson whistled causing all of us to roll our eyes. Grey quickly leaned over and kissed Ashley but I pushed him away from me. He stumbled and I laughed, "Boat or no boat?" I asked and Grey shook his head. "Bolton got us all intoxicated with that good ass shit."

I pouted but I also knew that with Troy not standing here that he must have been inside making another batch. One of the seniors went and made another alcohol trip this morning to get whatever else we needed. Troy also cooked us one hell of a breakfast that made me want more. "Why is nobody in there paying attention to what he is doing right now?" I asked and Grey laughed.

"He kicked us out." I groaned because the man was being too secretive over the damn recipe that all of us were craving more and more of. It was strong too because after two glasses I was out of it and I also wasn't a lightweight either. I could handle my alcohol well. Troy came down to the beach with a Gatorade cooler and the boys all laughed as Troy set it down. "Enjoy my friends," he collapsed in the sand and I smirked, "You are smart."

"My dad has done it before for big parties that they host." I smiled as I closed my eyes again to enjoy the sun. The was chatter about the coming weeks of practice and how brutal the season was going to be again but it was relatively calm. A couple of guys threw a football back and forth. Troy ended up joining them and he spiraled them through the air with talent. "C'mon, were you QB 1 too?" Jayson asked and Troy laughed, "For my senior year, again, Seaside Oregon,"

"But you're good."

"My brother was right behind me. We were just into sports." Troy said with a shrug and I looked down at my phone to see my dad calling me. He had no idea that I came up to the beach house this weekend. I just told him that Lauren and I were going to stay with her friends at the beach. He okayed it and I knew if he knew I was here he would flip shit.

I got up and I walked away as I put the phone to my ear, "Hey Dad," I answered, "Hey Gabs, how is the beach with Lauren?" I smiled because it was wonderful, "Perfect," I answered and I could hear him smile, "Good. Are you going to be able to be at most practices?"

"Of course," I answered, "I don't think my class time effects anything." I told him, "Good. We are having a family dinner Monday night. Trevor is supposed to come up with Vivian so…"

"I'll be there." I told him and my dad sighed of relief, "Okay, I'll talk to you later sweetie," I nodded and hung up the phone as I rubbed my arms. I retreated back to the little area as I sat on the end of the chair. "Dad?" Lauren asked and I nodded my head, "Yea, just checking in." Troy smiled towards me and I smiled but looked away quickly after. I took a deep breath and exhaled while looking through Twitter and Facebook. Troy and I had to remain friends. No little smiles. Nothing.

"We'll figure it out," Lauren said next to me, "Eventually he'll be another Grey to you and you won't have feelings for him." I hesitated because that sounded too simple. It sounded too easy and I felt like there wasn't going to be anything easy with Troy Bolton's name attached to it.

"Yea, one day," I answered drifting my eyes up to the ocean listening it hit the beach with the crashing noise with the birds circling overhead as the birds were dive bombing into the ocean. The sun was high in the sky and I took the opportunity to close my eyes and let the sun do its work.

I could hear the faint thump from outside the window. I pushed the curtain to the side from my bed to see a tall figure on the basketball court. Most of the boys were so drunk after dinner that they fell asleep pretty early tonight. Tomorrow would be the late night as they would pace themselves before having to return back to school, to my dad, on Monday.

Pushing off the bed I saw that Lauren was asleep. Ashley must have gone to sleep with Grey as I quietly grabbed my jacket, slipped on my flip-flops, and moved to the door. My hand grasped the knob and it quietly pushed the door open. It squeaked and I turned around to make sure Lauren didn't move. Once I saw her chest move and a lack of movement from her. I snuck up the rest of the stairs and pulled open the backdoor to see that it was indeed the man I thought it was.

He moved fluidly on the court and did a fake before going right. "You know; North Carolina is going to eat that fake-away up." Troy glanced up almost frightened but let an easy smile roll on her face. My shoulders relaxed with a nod, "I heard they don't fall for that very often. Good thing I am skilled going both directions." I smirked as I walked down towards the basketball court. I crossed my arms as the wind blew off the sea causing chills to run down my back.

"Are you? I can even normally pick what direction you are going…" I offered and Troy rolled his eyes, "Says the number one wanted women's basketball player." I smirked shaking my head, "I was number two. Kelsey Porter was number one." I told him as I took the basketball out of his hands and he rolled his own eyes again. "Oh wow, number two," he said dramatically and I laughed. "It did no good anyways. Look where I am?" Troy gave a smile and nodded his head, "You were going to kill it." He offered quietly and I looked down at my knees.

"Why can't you play anymore?" he asked again, "My left knee has a partial replacement. I beat it up pretty bad over the years. That also kept me from being the number one." Troy nodded, "And you'll never be able to play again?" I just nodded my head, "I guess. That's what the doctors tell me." Troy narrowed his eyes, "Have you completed physical therapy?" he asked again and I nodded, "A couple weeks ago. They told me I was cleared for everything…but basketball."

"I don't understand…" he told me and I shrugged, "I don't understand either. I think they don't want me to completely kill my knees but I would play with braces and I wouldn't let them play me all forty minutes but I want to play just some time. I wish they would at least let me do that." Troy narrowed his eyes for a minute and smirked, "What if we got you back into tip-top shape," I threw him a look and he held his hand up, "You look amazing, I am talking about basketball shape here. We both know getting back into basketball shape is different than normal shape." I nodded with a half-smile because it was true. But I couldn't get over the fact that he said I looked amazing. Stop Gabriella.

"So say we got you back into basketball shape and if you knee holds up then we confront the parents/doctors in letting you play next year? Wouldn't you still have some playing time left in the tank by next year? Red-shirt one of those years and play, get a proper good-bye?" I looked at him in awe because it was a good plan. If I could get back into shape, play basketball full time, without my knee getting hurt then I should have a chance to convince all the right people. "Yes," I answered looking up at him. He couldn't contain the grin that spilled over his cheeks, "We'll use the court as our place to get you ready."

My head bobbed up and down with a slight smile on my face, "But," Troy said as I knew there was a big but, "If you are ever, and I mean ever, in any horrendous pain then we have to stop, okay? I don't want to be responsible for telling your dad that I 1) got too close to you and 2) blew out your knee again." I gave one faint smile and nodded, "Okay," I answered and he smiled, "Good. Now…" he bounced me the ball.

"Let's get started."

Sunday, September 3rd, 2017

I woke up in my bed with a faint throbbing in my legs, a normal throbbing, I was sore. Troy and I played basketball and conditioned for an hour last night. It was more than I had done in a long time and it felt good for somebody to believe that maybe I still had something left. I knew my dad would flip out if he found out what I was doing but nobody ever gave me a solid explanation on why I couldn't play anymore. They just said I couldn't.

Bullshit.

Pushing off the bed I went upstairs to see many of the guys drinking coffee, "What did you lace it with?" I teased Anderson as I walked by and he cringed, "Nothing. Pure caffeine." He mumbled barely coherent as I laughed. Troy was cooking up breakfast in the kitchen and he was focused not actually witnessing my entrance, "Two eggs, over easy," I barked and he jumped slightly before turning to look at me. He rolled his eyes, "Yes madam," I laughed as I poured myself some coffee, threw in some sugar, and finished it with a dash of vodka.

"Whoa, easy their tiger," Troy said and I laughed, "Just to get my day started. I am not hungover so I feel like I have a right to start early," Anderson grimaced from across as Ashley and Grey came from the other side of the house. "I was not talking to Lauren," Grey hissed as they walked into the kitchen. "I was insulting her," he declared and Ashley rolled her large green eyes, "Bullshit Grey, you two can never stop flirting." Grey looked at her like she had lost her mind, "Are you insane?" he finally said to her, I couldn't help but contain my own laughter as I turned away from the fighting couple. "You two quiet down," Anderson muttered and Grey laughed, "A little hungover buddy?" he just took another sip of his drink and nodded his head.

I took a sip of my own drink as I leaned back against the counter, "What's on the agenda today?" I asked and Grey smirked, "Gabi, you know what day today is." Troy sent a glance towards Grey, "What's today?" he asked and Grey held his hands up, "Only the greatest day ever, we have a one v one basketball tournament on the court all afternoon. The winner gets to pick what music we listen to on the way home and get all the leftover booze."

Troy's eyebrows shot up, "That is a worthy prize," Grey smirked, "Yes, yes it is."

"I want to play," I spoke up and eyes turned to face me, I shrugged my shoulder, "I feel fine and I want to play. C'mon Grey, don't be all dad on me now." Grey rolled his eyes, "Gabi, if your dad found out he would kill me." Grey said, I laughed, "My dad would kill you either way. I am not even supposed to be here." Grey shrugged and I finally turned my eyes to Troy. I don't know why I looked at him for permission. He was going to be the last to give it to me after last night. He said we needed to only practice a couple days a week to start with and he said no basketball tomorrow.

I was about to be my stubborn self.

"C'mon guys, please," I begged and they all finally began to give in, Anderson only gave in to get me to shut up. I did a silent cheer, "No, Gabi, you are not playing." Lauren came into the kitchen and I turned to shoot her a look, "You aren't my father." I told her and she shrugged, "Out of anybody here I sure as shit can tell your dad." My face paled and I looked at her, "No." I answered shaking my head, "Just let me play," I begged looking at her and Lauren shook her head. "Alright, if you let me play and I win you don't tell my dad." There was an eerie silence that was replaced in the room as Lauren stared at me. "If I lose, you tell me dad."

Lauren crossed her arms and nodded, "Fine. But no booze in our apartment. If you win the guy, you beat gets the booze. He'll need it anyways after a girl beats his ass." I smirked as I spun around to the boys, "Let's do this." I echoed and I caught eyes with Troy but he quickly turned away. I knew he disagreed but I also knew that I could handle it. I was going to be fine.

I think.

After battling my first two opponents I made quick work of them causing them to disappear to drink more after getting beat by a girl. Sweat dripped down my back on the warm Sunday afternoon, the ocean breeze coming up but not nearly enough to allow the warmth of the sun to fade. I was sitting this game out as this was the other side of the bracket playing. Troy had yet to actually talk to me since I had decided that I was going to play this year.

We were on opposite sides of the bracket so we normally missed each other but I watched as he dominated Jayson on the court. Jayson frowned as he caught the rebound and went back to the net only for Troy to grab it from him and took the shot himself. The crowd egged them on as it was the first to twenty was able to move on and they normally took about fifteen to twenty minutes. I stretched my arms out as I went inside to find Lauren sitting on the couch with Grey. I rose an eyebrow at the two people who hated each other sitting on the same couch. "What are you two doing?" I asked grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.

"He's blaming me for Ashley leaving." I raised an eyebrow over towards Grey as I twisted my water bottle open. "Ashley left?" I questioned and Grey shook his head no, "No, not yet but she got mad at me for talking to Lauren. I was mostly telling Lauren amused but then Lauren of course made it a bit more dramatic than that." I just nodded my head with a laugh, "Well then…I'll leave you two love birds alone." Grey rolled his eyes, "Not in a million years,"

"What's so bad about me?" Lauren asked and Grey shot up from the couch at the question, "Lauren, you're like my little sister. I want to kill you all the time and you make fun of me a lot." Lauren rolled her eyes at his statement. She got up with a cocky smile on her face as she looked at Grey with her big green eyes as she batted them together, "I think you like me Grey and you just can't admit it because we have been fighting since day one because I am Gabi's best friend and you are Gabi's male best friend." I felt my eyes go wide as Grey let his jaw drop but he recovered as his jaw twitched. Lauren smirked even more as she put her hand on his chest, "Just think Grey…we tease each other all the time and one day we're both going to explode."

Grey pulled away and shook his head, "Not a chance Lancaster,"

"Whatever you say Lewis,"

Lauren walked over towards me and I shook my head as Grey only stared after her. "You know once Ashley graduates and moves on that you'll probably break up and be letting a great girl walk away…right?" I asked him and he looked over at me quickly as he ran his hands through his blond hair shaking his head, "Gabi, stop, I am dating Ashley." He said and began to walk past me when I grabbed his arm, "Are you dating Ashley or like her because you only have to deal with her every so often and mostly just have sex with each other?" Grey looked at me with his hard blue eyes pulling away from me. "Fuck off Montez,"

I let him go this time as I shook my head watching him walk away. I went back outside where they were starting the next game on my side of the bracket. Troy was sitting on the grass drinking water so I went over to join him. I settled by him and I watched the game play out. "Don't be mad at me," I finally said after five minutes of silence. "I'm not mad. I just think you're being stupid about this. This isn't worth anything and if you get hurt playing us?" I bit on my lip and looked forward because sadly, he had a point, I just didn't want to let this go. "I miss having competition." I declared, "I miss competition in my life and having to fight for something."

"Fight to play again, fight the world on it." Troy said turning to look at me finally and his blue eyes caught me completely off guard. They had a storm brewing inside, the blue was dark and his features were stressed. I swallowed on the lump in my throat, "Will us doing this together cause problems?" I asked him and he shook his head, "I won't let them," he answered and I just nodded my head because it was probably good that he was going to stop it because he made me weak and I just needed to breathe.

"I'm sorry that you are concerned. I won't play basketball for a few days, I'll just work on my core training and arms. I'll give my legs a break." Troy turned and just nodded his head, I pushed off the ground and exhaled.

This was going to be so much harder than I originally thought.

Troy stared at me and I stared back at Troy as the ball was held firmly underneath my hand as it bounced against the concrete. All eyes were on us as we were the final two standing causing a lot of boys to get pissed off that I made it this far and the transfer made it this far. They felt that things were unfair but we had earned our way to this spot. Troy and I were both tied at 18 and the next basket won. Troy tried to swipe the ball from the dribble but I pulled back causing a frustrated groan to come from his mouth.

I went left causing Troy to dramatically go left before I went right around him to the basketball but I overshot the jump shot. Troy rebounded it as I cursed chasing after him as we hadn't said a word to each other on the court. You could tell that we had played each other before because we knew the tendencies, just like I knew that Troy favored going right vs left when faking around people so when he went right I only went a little bit before turning as he went left quickly only to run right into me.

"CHARGE!" Anderson called from the other end, "What?!" Troy called out dropping the ball to spin around to look at him, "That was not a charge! Her feet were not set," Troy argued and I laughed, "Scared to lose Bolton?" he faced me and then shook his head, "Nope. Not at all." I smirked as he tossed me the ball as I began to move around him again, but I decided to do something a little unexpected and to just take a step back and let the ball fly.

It sailed from my fingers as Anderson held up his arm to signal the three before it sank into the basket. Troy tossed his head back and then let his hand run through his dirty chestnut hair as he turned to face me. "Montez, you are one hell of a player." He said looking at me with a faint smile on his face. I smiled back as I reached across to give him a high-five and he gave me one back as Grey jumped up next to Troy, "DUDE. We get all the booze at least." Troy laughed and nodded wiping his sweat off with his t-shirt.

"Gabi, I forgot how good you are." Jayson said coming up and putting his arm around my shoulders. "Boys, boys, I could beat every single one of you," A lot of looks came my direction but I smiled, "Maybe another time because I am ready for a good ol drink and some more beach time." Lauren saw me and I smiled as I shrugged my shoulders, "I still have it." I told her with a smirk and she rolled her eyes, "I hate you sometimes, you know that right?"

I laughed as I hugged her tightly, "I love you Lauren,"

"I love you too Gabs,"

Walking back inside I fell into the couch and exhaled as the air conditioning took over, "You just beat me and you are sitting on this couch," I shrugged my shoulders, "Sorry," I said with a laugh, "I need to catch my breath and cool off." I told him and Troy smiled sitting on the floor, "You really did play well though. You beat me and I didn't even let you," I shook my head, "You did." I told him and he cocked his eyebrow at me, "We talked about it last night that you love to go right only to go left and you did it right there. You knew you should have gone left and then right."

Troy's cheeks flamed and he just nodded his head, "You caught me." He said with a laugh and I smiled, "I couldn't let Lauren tell your dad." I laughed, "I know. It was still fun and you get alcohol either way," Troy smiled looking down at his shoes, "Yea, I guess that's right." I shared a look with him and he shared a look with me and we both knew that this weekend at the beach house changed just about everything.

Guys! I love how much you guys love this story! I can't believe it! I absolutely love this chapter! It was one of my favorites to write and it was an added chapter when I was writing the story. I hope you guys enjoyed!

Next Update: It will be delayed a week. I will not be able to update in two weeks because I will be out of town. So the next update will be on November 19th!