Thanks for the nice reviews guys, they really help me get initiative to start the next chapter. I've had this one in my mind for a little while, I hope you all like it.
I get that some of you think that Troy and Gabriella went a little bit too far in the last chapter, I understand why you think so. But I think it was a good enough time for that, but don't worry, they won't be going all the way for a little while.
Here is the emotional meltdown I was talking about, you finally get to see who it is.
Review please.
Though the days are few
They're filled with tears
And since I lost you
It feels like years
Yes, it seems so long
Girl, since you've been gone
And I just can't go on
If you won't see me (You won't see me)
You won't see me (You won't see me)
-- You Won't See Me, by The Beatles
"Gabriella, get up!" some one said as the they shook me. "Gabi, get up now!" Shane exclaimed, shaking me harder.
"Shane I swear to God, I will kill you if you do not leave me alone," I informed him, moaning into my pillow the next morning. My brothers and I ended up staying awake until five AM watching movies, hanging out, making weird food that no one would want to try, and wrestling each other. I am the reigning champ at kicking all my brothers asses, thankyouverymuch.
He shook me more, which annoyed me to no end. Me and Shane slept on the pull out bed that came from the love seat, Drew slept on the long couch, Cole slept on the recliner, and Johnny and Noel slept on the floor. "Gabriella, we have to talk now," he urged. I sat up and wiped my eyes. None of my other brothers were in the room, and their blankets were gone too. "It's a little past three in the afternoon," he supplied the answer I was going to ask for. Shane doesn't know what happened between me and Troy, I successfully avoided it by having the sleepover last night.
"Where are they?" I asked, sitting up and crossed my legs Indian style while I yawned, and pulled blankets up over me. I noticed Shane was already dressed and showered.
"Drew is in the kitchen, Cole is picking up a couple of his friends, and Johnny and Noel are at the grocery store, don't worry I told them you asked for chicken fingers and french fries the other day, so they are grabbing that," he told me. Yay. "Now you have to get up and in the shower because Johnny invited the whole team over, including cheerleaders, and they are due here around six. Johnny thought it would be funny to let you sleep and have everyone arrive with you here, wearing short shorts and a tank top with a haystack for hair while sleeping, but I thought I would be nice and wake you up," he informed me.
I was already out of bed and picking up my blankets and pillow to take upstairs. "Thanks for warning me," I called out to him as I walked up the steps. I was throwing my stuff on my bed and grabbing my towel when Shane walked in my room, stopping me from going to the bathroom and shower. "Did you forget something?" I asked him, letting my hair loose from its messy bun.
"Yes, me and you talking. I want to know what the hell happened last night between you and Troy, don't think I don't know you were with him," he answered, holding his arms up, blocking the door from me. Oh, we're five now, I see how it is. I ducked under his arm and ran down the hall into the bathroom, and locked it behind me. "Damn it, Gabriella!" he said in frustration.
I smiled in my victory and started the shower. "Sorry, Twin, you need to work on those reflexes," I told him through the door and started stripping so I could shower. I took a long one, knowing Shane would want answers as soon as I got out. I didn't even get dressed afterward, only wrapping a towel around me, so Shane would have to let me be in my room alone to change. When I opened the bathroom door, Shane was sitting against the opposite wall.
"Oh, gross," he mumbled to himself, shutting his eyes.
I rolled my eyes. "It's not like I am naked, Shane," I commented on my way past him, and he got up to blindly follow me. I closed my bedroom door in his face, and locked it. I knew he would wait outside the door again, but I didn't care. I got dressed slowly in a pair of tight blue jeans, and baby doll type style top that had black straps and was white with black outlines of butterflies on it. I didn't want to do anything with my hair, so I just brushed it, and finished off the look with my white flats. I didn't do anything special with my make up either.
When I was done with everything it was five forty five, and I still had to call Sharpay and invite her over, because I need to stay away from Troy tonight. Sharpay already knows everything that happened last night, I called her while Drew was making a concoction of unknown food. I opened my bedroom door and Shane was there, my phone in his hand. I made a noise of annoyance and grabbed it out of his hand. "No, you are not closing this door on me, we are talking," he told me quickly running into my room. I glared at him and closed the door behind him.
I opened my phone, which was thankfully locked, and texted Sharpay, telling her to come over now. "I don't get why you want to know so much," I replied, closing my phone and sat on my bed.
"Because last night before you disappeared, I saw you. I saw you dancing with Troy and kissing him, so I want to know what happened," he explained. "So, tell me," he added.
"Why do you keep assuming that I am going to give up my virginity to him when I am alone with him?" I asked, knowing what he really wanted to hear. Sharpay texted back saying she was already on her way, she found out about the little get together through Chad, but decided to come over early. Shane opened his mouth to speak but I started talking. "No, don't deny it, you do. You think that just because I like Troy, a lot, that when I am alone with him I won't be able to control myself and I'll just give it up to him," I told him. "That is really insulting, Shane, I would think you out of all of the brothers would have a little more faith in me. And just to make you feel better, no I did not have sex with him if you haven't figured it out already. I don't plan on losing my virginity until I am in love and in a steady relationship, and FYI I am in neither of those right now," I said.
Shane scratched his head with an unsure look on his face. "Would you mind telling me what happened after you disappeared with him then?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"Yes!" I exclaimed, my voice loud. I wasn't sure why I was starting to get mad at Shane, but I was. He just thinks that I am willing to give up my virginity to Troy when I am mad at him. Yes, I let him finger me, but that was just because I got carried away. I don't regret it, sorta. I regret that I had my first orgasm at a guys house I hardly know in someones bed I don't know. I regret that I had it when I am not in a relationship, which is kinda slutty. But I don't regret it being with Troy. Even though he has hurt me, I am glad it happened with him. "Yes, I do mind telling you. Nothing happened that I didn't let happen, and he didn't force anything on me just so you know because I know you were about to ask," I told him.
"Gabi, people are starting to get here!" I heard Sharpay yell up the stairs. Well, Sharpay is here, and I guess Ryan too.
I took in a deep breath and ran a hand through my hair. "I'm sorry for being mean, Shane, I just need you to trust me, okay?" I said quietly. "I know you are mad that I went along with the friends with benefits thing when I wasn't exactly happy with it, and you are mad at Troy for not wanting to be with me and that he hurt me for not wanting to do so. But this is my life, and I will work it out in one way or another, and when I want or need your help I won't hesitate to ask," I told him.
"I'm sorry for being nosy about all of it," he apologized. "You're right, it is your life, and although I am included in most of your life, this is one part I am not supposed to be totally involved in, but you have to know I hate that you are hurting right now because of him," he added.
"I know you do," I responded. "But I need you to act normal around him for the time being. Just like I will, no matter how much I am angry at the fact the doesn't want to be with me, and mad at him for replacing me so quickly with Heidi, we have to act normal, okay?" I told him.
He nodded. "Alright, a think a lot of people are here now. Let's get down there," he said and I stood from my bed, but before we walked out the door, I hugged him silently. He suddenly picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, causing me to squeal. He ran down the steps, and set me down at the bottom. "That is for avoiding me," he informed me, and walked into the living room. Most the team was here, and almost the whole cheerleading squad too. Before I could walk in there and find Sharpay, the doorbell rang in front of me. Nice timing.
I opened it only to see Troy Bolton with Heidi Brooks hanging off his arm. Great. "Hey, Brie," he greeted, walking in. Heidi gave me a fake smile. "Did you have fun at the party last night?" he asked, ignoring Heidi who tried to pull him directly into the living room. She scoffed at him and went into the living room by herself.
"I had a good time, did you like it?" I responded, glaring at him with my eyes.
He smirked at the question. "I had a great time," he answered, looking around us to see if anyone was in a close distance. No one was. He stared at me intently for a second or two before speaking. "I ran after you last night, you know," he told me in a low voice. "I saw you go outside, and followed you out, but then you were gone. How did you get home?" he questioned, taking half a step forward.
"I hid in the bushes and after you and Heidi went back into the party I ran home," I told him. He shoved his hands into his pockets, and looked down. "I told my brothers I just lost theml, and when I thought to go outside they were gone," I added. "They don't know I was with you."
He nodded. "I would have given you a ride home, you know. It's kinda my fault they left without you," he replied. "Look, I want you to know that when Heidi pulled me back into the party, I lost her purposely and went home," he told me.
"Why do I have to know that, Troy? It's not like we're together or anything," I responded harshly. "But it looks like you brought her here anyways," I added.
"No, no I didn't. I pulled into the driveway, and she was getting out of her mom's car. She latched herself onto my arm and walked with me to the door," he corrected. "We have to talk, Brie," he informed me in the same low voice. "Just me and you."
I bit my lip and looked down. "I already know what you want to say, Troy. Last night was great, but it didn't mean anything, and you still don't want to be with me," I told him.
He was about to respond when Johnny came over to us. "What have you two been talking about for so long?" he asked, swinging an arm around my shoulders, and looked at Troy expectantly for an answer.
"School, you know me and Gab are in most of the same classes, I was asking a question about one of them, but we're done now," he answered, not hesitating for a moment to think about it.
I nodded. "Yeah, we're done now," I agreed, and walked out from underneath Johnny's arm to the living room. I walked over to the couch next to Sharpay, who was talking to Chad about something. I interrupted her anyway. "Hey, Chad. We need to talk, Sharpay. Now," I informed her, grabbing her hand and pulled. I led her through the kitchen and out onto the back porch.
"First, ouch, that hurt. Two, yes, I saw you taking with Troy," she said, knowing what I wanted to talk to her about.
"I need you to do me a big favor," I told her, and she waited for the favor. "I need you to keep me away from Troy. Because he wants to talk to me, and if we are alone together it will lead to more than just talking, and I don't want to do more than just talking at this point in time. I'm not even sure if I want to talk to him."
She took in a deep breath. "If that is what you really want, I'll go on Troyella patrol," she responded, and I nodded. "Fine, lets go back in," she said and linked her arm through mine. We went back in through the kitchen where Noel and Cole were with a couple friends along with Drew, and into the living room where everyone else was.
"Hey, Gab, I need a favor," Johnny told me when I walked into the room. "I need your I-pod cord that connects to the stereo, can you get it for me?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, I'll be back in a sec," I replied, walking up the steps. As I approached my room, I noticed someone leaning against my door. Troy. Damn. "What are you doing up here?" I asked him as he pushed off my door and I opened it to go in my room. Troy followed me in and closed the door behind him.
"I may have suggested to Johnny to hook his I-pod up to the stereo, knowing you have a cord for it, then said I had to go up to the bathroom," he answered, a grin on his face. I reached for the cord on my desk, only to feel his arms wrap around my waist and be pulled back against his strong chest, much like last night. I made an effort to get away, but was slammed back into his body. "You're wrong," he stated softly into my ear. "Last night was great, but it meant something. It means something to me and I sure as hell know it means something to you," he murmured against my neck.
As he talked his lips brushed over my neck, and I wanted to close my eyes at the sensation it created. "It was my first, Troy," I whispered so quietly that it was barely audible, knowing he would know what I meant. I was having a bit of a hard time keeping my mind on talking to him. I felt him smile against the skin of my neck before kissing it softly.
"I know it was, baby," he replied softly, gripping my hips and turned me so I was facing him. His hands slipped into my back pockets and he pressed me against him. "And please don't tell me you wish it never happened," he added, and I tilted my head up towards him, and looped my arms around his neck.
I shook my head. "I don't regret that it was with you," I responded, remembering what I was thinking about a little while ago. His hands left my back pockets now that he was confident that I wasn't going to pull away. He gripped my hips again and he walked me until I felt my back press against the wall next to my bedroom door.
"I'm happy that I was the one to give it to you," he whispered before his lips were pressed against mine in an Earth shattering kiss that made me weak in the knees. He pushed himself more against me if it was possible to help keep me up. I tugged his neck down towards me so I had better access to him.
I pulled away panting, and put a hand on his chest so he wouldn't lean in for another kiss. I can't do this anymore. "Troy, we have to stop this," I said in between me breathing. "When we are together, it is great, I feel great and it is just all around great, but then when I'm not around you I just remember that you don't want to be with me," I told him.
He didn't seem to care I had my hand on his chest to block him, and just came forward so he was pressed against me again. He opened his mouth to speak when my bedroom door was thrown open. I was about to block one of my brothers from killing Troy when I saw Sharpay walk through. "You guys have no idea how lucky you are I convinced Johnny that I should come find you," she told us. "And you didn't even move away from her, you're still pressed against her like a sandwich," she added.
"Her and I have to talk, Sharpay," he informed her. "So, if you could go now.." he said grabbing the door and tried to close it, but she put her body into it.
"Uh uh, I am not leaving you guys up here. Gabi put me on Troyella patrol, so you should be the one to go, especially since Heidi has been asking where you are," she replied, pointing towards the hallway.
He looked down at me and I could see him contemplating what he should do. "You should go, Troy, Heidi is looking for you," I told him in a quiet voice. He sighed, pushed off me, and left. I slid down the wall and pulled my legs to my chest as Sharpay closed the door behind her. "I think I might be bipolar," I mumbled to myself.
Sharpay bent down next to me. "No, you're not. You're just a teenage girl," she corrected. "Everyone says being a teenager was the best time of their lives, I think they just forgot what it actually is like being a teenager," she added. "All Heidi's are bitches. I mean on The Hills Heidi is such a bitch to LC and they were best friends. And I'm sure Heidi Klum is a bitch once in a while," she told me.
"Most girls just hate Heidi Klum because she looks perfect, not because she could be a bitch," I replied, laughing slightly.
"Not everyone can be a model," Sharpay said and sat down next to me, and I leaned my head onto her shoulder. "Have you ever actually seen Troy hit on Heidi?" she asked, and I felt her lean her head on mine.
I shrugged. "For the past two days at lunch."
"Most of the time at lunch he ignores her, and stares at you, but you wouldn't know that because you have been putting all your attention on Ryan, Shane, and Kelsi," she told me. "Heidi has to physically force him to talk to her, and it kills her because she notices him looking at you. I've been paying a lot of attention on our little friend Heidi. On Thursday she saw that Troy didn't come to your locker, and pounced on him, and come to lunch on her own, Troy didn't ask her like you assumed. Give him a little credit, he's never started the flirting, and when he does respond to her, it isn't really flirting, he just talks. You have to ask him why you guys can't be together because he never gave you a real reason," she explained to me.
"What if he says he can't tell me why or something like that?" I questioned, lifting my head up from her shoulder to look at her.
She smiled at me. "Then use your womanly ways and make him tell you," she answered, and we both laughed. "Johnny really was looking for you, you know," she reminded me. Oops. I was instantly up, grabbing my I-pod cord, and opening the door. "What are you going to tell John you were doing?" Sharpay asked as we walked down the steps.
I was about to answer when a high pitched fake laugh echoed throughout the stairwell, and I looked over towards the noise. Heidi was pressed up against Troy at the wall that connects the living room and the greeting area where the door is. He didn't see me yet. His fingers were curled around her belt loops and leaned his head forward to say something in her ear. "How is that for responding to her, Shar?" I questioned softly, stopping in the middle of the steps.
"Gabi.." she started but I was already down the steps and out the front door. Jason was walking up the pathway. I grabbed his hand and pulled him to his car.
"Is Johnny mad I am late or something and you are taking me somewhere so he won't find me? I can hold my own against him you know," he informed me. "I had to go see my grandma-" he went on but I cut in.
"Jason, I need you to take me away from here," I ordered him. Sharpay yelled my name out the front door, I looked up at my house and Troy, Shane, and Johnny were behind her. "Now, and if you don't I will tell my brothers how you tried to kiss me in a not so friendly way at my fourteenth birthday party," I added.
He opened the door and got in, and I followed his lead, getting in the passenger side. He pulled out of the driveway and down the road. "Where am I taking you?" he asked, looking over at me.
I shrugged. "I don't know, just drive," I replied, looking out the window. "And don't answer your phone when Sharpay or one of my brothers call, which they will," I told him.
"Fine, and just so you know I think of you as a sister now, that was a long time ago," he informed me. "I was confused, and-" I cut him off again.
"I know, Jason, just drive," I said, still looking out the window. I felt my cell phone vibrating in my pocket, and I ignored it. I knew my whole running out the house thing and leaving was a very immature, and a very girly thing to do, but I didn't want to stay in the house with them, together, flirting or whatever they were doing. "Stop the car," I commanded Jason out of no where, seeing around where we were.
"Gabs, this is.." he trailed off, but stopped the car anyways.
I unbuckled my seat belt and opened my door. "Don't tell them you dropped me off here, Jason, or I will tell them about the whole kiss thing," I ordered, he nodded and I closed the door.
I walked up the small hill, and opened the little black gate and walked through it into the grass. I wasn't sure if what I was doing was trespassing, I didn't know the rules, but I didn't care. I navigated my way through the grass, knowing exactly where I was going. I stopped at a bench and sat down and arranged myself so I was sitting Indian style.
"Hi Mom, Dad," I greeted in a low voice. I looked at their graves in front of me, reading their names like I have so many times before. "I haven't been here since August, sorry its been so long," I whispered, and started to fiddle with my fingers. I come here a lot, more than my brothers know. I just need to talk to them once in a while. My phone was still vibrating in my pocket and I took it out and put it on the bench next to me. I leaned back against the bench and let my head fall back so I could look back at the stars. It was dark outside already. I wasn't sure what time it was, and really didn't care. I lifted my head back up and looked down at their graves again. "I would tell you everything is fine, but that would be a lie. Everyone else is doing great, though. Drew is fine, he's still with Lacy and I think it will be that way for a long time, they're good together. Noel is alright, school is goin' good with him, he still wants to be an artist, and he's good at it. Cole is well, Cole. Loud, obnoxious, annoying," I listed off and laughed a little. "But you have to love him. Johnny is great, the Wildcats are undefeated and he is passing school. He wants to go to U of A. Coach Bolton told Drew and him that Johnny could get a scholarship, which would be awesome. Shane is going to be in the Winter Musical like always, and made starting varsity this year. He doesn't have a girlfriend at the moment. I think both him and Ryan like Kelsi, and neither of them will go for her because they know the other one likes her," I told them.
I took in a shaky breath and looked over at my cell phone which was vibrating yet again. I saw that the caller ID said Troy, and I actually wanted to answer it, but I didn't. I didn't want to know what he had to say because I was embarrassed that I just ran out like that. It annoyed me that I reacted so completely girly when I am not like that. I should have just acted like I didn't see them and went into the living room. If what Sharpay is saying is true, and that Heidi doesn't like me because she thinks something is going on between me and Troy, then this is what she wanted. She wanted a reaction out of me and she got it. Unlike in the movies, the fake blond cheerleader actually won, not the real nice kinda shy girl.
"School is going good for me, I have A's in all my classes. Conditioning for track and field starts up soon, and I broke the school record for the fastest mile a couple weeks ago. I've been tutoring kids after school this year, I really like that. I like knowing that I am helping people do well in school. The scholastic decathlon starts in January, not for a while so I don't have to worry about that just yet," I informed them. "Me and Sharpay are still as tight as ever. Her and Chad are still together, too. I'm happy for her, her and Chad are perfect for each other. She is pushy and wants things when she wants it, and he is laid back and a goof. They balance each other well." I cleared my throat and started picking at my nails. "You know, I wonder all the time if you guys are looking down at me and are actually proud of me. I'm not proud of myself because of some of the things I have been doing lately. I really, really, really like this guy and he seems to just keep hurting me. But when I am around him.. I just- I don't know, I can't resist him, but you don't need to hear that, you're my parents. That would be weird. I know he likes me, but he doesn't want to be with me, and I don't know why," I said, my voice cracking.
There was this weird tingly feeling at the corner of my eyes, and a feeling I couldn't describe shot through my nose. My vision went blurry and I finally realized what was happening. I was starting to cry. For the first time in about five years, I was crying. A tear spilled out of my eye and slid down my cheek. I wiped it away with my hand, and more poured out only violently.
I blindly reached out for my phone and pressed the speed dial for Sharpay. She answered on the first ring. "Gabi, where are you?" she asked immediately. I couldn't control my sobs just yet and she heard. "Gab, are you crying?" she questioned in an unsure voice. I heard a noise in the background and ignored it.
"What's wrong with me, Shar?" I asked her, trying to stop my crying. "Why doesn't he want to be with me? What did I do?" I asked in rapid succession.
There was another noise on her side of the phone. "Gabi, I need you to tell me where you are, okay? Jason won't tell us, whatever blackmail you have against him, it's good. I'll come get you," she told me.
I shook my head even though she couldn't see me. "You'll tell my brothers and they will all show up here," I replied, wiping the tear tracks from my face since I stopped crying. I developed a thumping headache because I cried. I really didn't want to cry again.
"Gabriella, I promise I won't tell them. I'll come get you by myself. Tell me where you are," she promised.
I could trust her, she's my best friend. "Ah, I'm at the grave yard, at my parents graves," I told her, wiping my eyes with my fingers.
"I'm leaving now. Stay where you are," she said and hung up. I closed my phone and put it back down next to me on the bench.
I didn't move from where I was. I just looked at my parents graves and hugged myself. "I think about you guys everyday," I whispered into the blackness around me. "I think about what my life would be like if you never died. I wonder why you had to die, why you had to be taken away from me and Drew and the rest of 'em. I know I'll never get the answer, so I don't really dwell on it, but I'll always wonder," I finished. "I love you."
I was silent for another minute or two when I heard my name called out a little ways away from me. But it wasn't Sharpay's voice, it was Shane's, followed by Sharpay's. I got up and another body collided with mine. "I'm sorry, G, he literally jumped in the car as I was pulling out of the driveway and wouldn't get out," she told me, hugging me tightly next to Shane who too had his arms around me.
"I'm sorry I ran out like a little girl when I saw Heidi with Troy. It was stupid and childish, and I shouldn't have done it," I replied, letting them both go and pulled away so I could look them in the eye underneath the hanging light that was above us.
"You don't have to say sorry, Gab," Shane told me, squeezing my forearm softly. "If it makes you feel better, no one knew why you left besides Troy, and maybe Heidi," he assured me.
Sharpay nodded. "Now why do you think something is wrong with you?" she asked, pulling me over to sit on the bench. "Because of Troy? Gabriella, I told you, you two have to talk. Nothing is wrong with you at all," she told me.
Shane just kinda sat next to me and stayed quiet. He may want to know what is going on in my love life, or lack there of, and hates to know when I am hurting because of a guy, but he doesn't know how to deal with guy problems like this. He was just there for strength, I guess. "If there was some weird reason why he couldn't be with me, then why was he flirting with Heidi at my house?" I questioned.
"I don't know," she answered honestly. "And neither do you, so don't try and assume anything. But even if he doesn't want to be with you, it doesn't mean something is wrong for you. It means you two aren't suppose to be together even though you like him so much," she explained. I opened my mouth to speak but she started talking again. "I do get how much you like him, Gabs, but in the real world you have to understand that even though you like someone so much they might not like you back. And if he doesn't like you back, you can't do the friends with benefits thing again because that will only hurt you more in the long run," she finished.
"I understand what you are saying, Shar, it makes sense and you are right, I have to talk to him and get the real reason why he doesn't want to be with me. But it isn't that I like him so much anymore, it is that I am- was falling in love with him. And I know it has only been a month, and I know I am not in love with him yet, but I was still falling," I told her. "So hard," I added.
She rolled her lips at me and nodded slightly. "There isn't a time line for falling in love, Gab, so I believe it. And you usually are in touch with your feelings, so I know you actually feel this way," she replied.
"As much as I don't like the guy right now, Gabs, but I know you. If you are say you are or were falling in love with him, then it is the truth," Shane spoke up from behind me. Oh, I kinda forgot he was there.
I turned so I was facing forward on the bench and leaned back against it. "When was the last time you were here, Shane?" I asked quietly looking down at my parents graves again.
I heard him take in a big breath. "I haven't been here since I was fourteen, how often do you come here?" he answered.
I shrugged. "I come here every couple weeks," I told him, looking over at him. "Sometimes I just need to feel close to them, and this seems like the appropriate place," I explained.
Sharpay must have sensed that we were about to have a sibling moment and stood. "I left my car unlocked, so I have to go back and make she it is still there. Even though in the horror movies when the dumb blond goes back to her car in the middle of the night, she dies. I am going to go anyways, because I really did leave my car unlocked," she told us, walking away and we laughed slightly at her.
"We don't talk about Mom and Dad that much," I started looking over at Shane. "It's hard, but I would still like to talk about them once in a while. When they died, it was like taboo, none of us talked about it. And now that it has been almost five years, we still hardly talk about them. I still remember so much about them because we were twelve when they died, but I've been finding myself forgetting certain things, and that hurts, Shane," I told him. I didn't know where this was coming from exactly, because I never planned to actually tell my brothers how I was feeling about Mom and Dad. Because we do hardly talk about them, but it felt good to get it off my chest.
Shane wrapped an arm around me. "Me, too, Gab," he agreed. "I think the reason we don't talk about it much is because it hurts, not because we don't want to. You are right, though, its been five years and its probably time that we start talking or else we never will," he said. "Drew sent everyone home when we disappeared, so the house is clear. Let's go home, you can make up a lie about why you left, and maybe we can get a solution to the whole no talkie thing," he suggested.
I nodded. "You really are my twin," I mentioned smiling and stood up. He stood too and swung an arm around my shoulders. "What do you want to bet that Sharpay is locked in her car, gripping the wheel because cemeteries freak her out, especially at night," I told him.
"I wouldn't bet against you when it comes to Sharpay," he replied, smiling as we walked out the gate of the cemetery.
Sharpay dropped us off at our house, and Ryan was sitting on the steps leading to my house, and got in the car as we got out.
As soon as I opened the front door my brothers were all over me, asking where I was, why I left, and why I wasn't answering my phone. "If you would all be quiet for a minute I would explain," I told them, successfully shutting them up. "Let's go to the living room," I said, and already started walking there. They followed and sat down around me on the couches. "The reason I ran out is a very girly one that you guys wouldn't understand because you are boys," I told them. To tell the truth, I couldn't think of a really good lie in the car. "But everything is fine now, me and Sharpay talked, and I'm good. You guys don't need to worry about it," I assured them.
"I think we should know why our little sister ran out of the house and was crying," Cole commented from the couch in front of me, and Noel and Johnny nodded in agreement. So they do know that I was crying. That is not very good.
"Can't you just trust me for once? If you needed to know then I wouldn't hesitate to tell you all, I swear, but even if I did tell you, you wouldn't be much help. It was a girl problem, and if you haven't noticed none of you are girls," I replied. The only help they could offer is beating Troy's ass, which wouldn't solve anything. It would probably make things worse, actually.
"You guys really wouldn't be much help, I know part of it and I don't really know how to help at all. Sharpay has it handled," Shane said from next to me. "But I do know where she went and why," he added, looking over at me. I gave him a small smile and nod. "She called from the cemetery, she was at Mom and Dad's graves. I myself haven't been there since I was fourteen, and she told me she goes there every couple weeks," he informed them.
My brothers all just looked at each other. "When Mom and Dad died, we didn't talk about it," I started from next to Shane. "And we still don't, aside from mentioning them once in a while. You guys were all older when they died, we were only twelve, and Johnny was thirteen. I still remember so much, the way they smelled, and smiled, and spoke, but I've been forgetting things, and truthfully, it sucks," I told them.
"If we don't start talking about them soon, we most likely never will," Shane went on. "And when we have kids and we're older, I'm not sure I'll- we'll remember as much about them as we do now. Memories fade, and the only way to keep them alive is to talk about them." He paused for a moment. "It still hurts all of us, I know that, and it always will, but talking about them will help us all, we can't avoid the subject anymore, at least me and Gabi can't," he finished.
Drew looked at Cole, Noel, and Johnny who all went unnaturally quiet, and all were looking down slightly. "They're right, guys," he agreed. "We all think about them everyday. What could it hurt to talk about them? It would probably make it better, maybe even easier. Remembering the good times, watching old home videos that Dad made," he listed off. "I say that we sleep in the living room again, and watch those old movies and just talk. Hey, we can even have another sibling wrestling match and see if Gabi can defend her title," he said with a smile on his face, causing me to laugh.
"I think we should," Johnny spoke up in a small voice. He looked me in the eye. "I've been forgetting things, too," he confessed, and Drew squeezed his shoulder to try and comfort him.
Noel and Cole looked at each other. "We're in," he said in unison. "And I call the pull out bed thing tonight," Cole added.
"Alright kiddies, lets get our jammies on and we'll make some food," Drew announced, rubbing my head and I ducked out of the way, fixing my hair.
We all went upstairs and changed. I already had my yellow Tweety pajama pants on along with a white t-shirt when I heard a knock on my door, followed by it opening. "Hey, can we talk for a sec?" Noel asked, poking his head in.
I nodded, and sat down on my bed as he pulled my desk chair over in front of me. "What's up?" I questioned, folding my legs Indian style.
"I just wanted to see if you were okay, and tell you something," he responded, and I saw that he was in his black and white plaid pajama pants with a black t-shirt.
"I'm fine, really," I told him with a reassuring nod of my head. "What do you have to tell me?" I asked.
He bit his lips for a second before talking. "Do you remember when me and Cole were seniors and we swore to go to the same college?" he asked, and I nodded again. "You don't know this, in fact the only one who does is Drew, but we got accepted to USC," he told me.
"Why didn't you guys go?" I asked with a little shock in my voice.
"Because you, and Shane, and Johnny would be here, in New Mexico," he answered. "Me and Cole talked about it, and we didn't want to leave you guys. We knew we would still see you all on breaks and the summer, but we didn't want it that way. We wanted to be around you guys full time. I know it might not seem like it sometimes because we rag on each other like normal siblings do, but we stayed here and went to UNM for you guys," he explained. "When we made our decision we never looked back because we don't regret it, at all. I'm not telling you this to make you and Shane and Johnny stay in New Mexico for college," he added. "I know your dream is to go to Stanford like Mom and Dad did, and when you get in, which I know you will, we'll all be so proud of you. Johnny is staying here to go to U of A, and Shane doesn't really know where he is going. But I just wanted you to know this because, well, I don't know. It just seemed like time to."
I stood and he did too, and I hugged him. "I'm glad you stayed," I whispered in his ear before letting go.
He was smiling when we parted. "Me, too."
-
Because me and Shane got the pull out bed slash couch thing last night, we couldn't have it tonight. The only person who kept their sleeping arrangement was Drew, because he is the oldest. Johnny moved to a recliner, and Shane did too. Noel and me went for the floor while Cole got the pull out thing to himself.
FYI sleeping on the floor is not comfortable at all. That was the reason I was sneaking upstairs with my pillow at three thirty in the morning. They all crashed around two forty five, after we had watched a couple old home videos and had our wrestling match. Johnny's ass won, damn him. I collapsed in my comfy bed and smiled, closing my eyes.
I didn't fall asleep though, I heard my cell phone vibrating on my bedside table. It was annoying so I picked it up. I saw that I had four seven calls and a couple unread texts. It started vibrating again, and I saw that it was Troy calling. I thought about it for a second or two and answered it.
"Hello?" I answered, sitting up in my bed.
"Do you know how long I have been calling you?" Troy questioned,
I rolled my eyes. "Well if you didn't notice it is three thirty in the morning, Troy, I'm sorry I didn't answer the phone fast enough for you. You're lucky I picked up at all," I told him.
"I know, I'm sorry," he replied immediately. "I hate that, you know," he added.
"I'm confused, what do you hate?" I asked, leaning over to turn my light on next to me.
There was a noise in the background before he answered. "That I have said sorry to you so many times already," he clarified. I didn't even know how many times it has been. "I've never said sorry to anyone before, and I've already said it to you three times," he told me. "We have to talk, and I need to explain myself to you, so why don't you let me in?" he suggested.
"Let you in what? My house? All my brothers are asleep downstairs, Troy, I can't," I told him.
He chuckled on the other end. "Then I guess it is a good thing I am on your balcony, huh?" he replied.
I closed my phone and went over to my balcony doors, unlocked them and opened one. He was closing his phone, grinning at me in the moonlight. "How long have you been out here?" I asked, moving aside and opened my door wider for him to come in.
"Since about one, I think. I needed to see you, I need to talk to you," he told me. "Just let me explain, and if you don't care or something like that, you won't see me ever again. You know, within reason, we do go to the same school, and have a lot of the same classes," he added.
I crossed my arms over my chest in front of him. "So why don't you start?"
The only part of this I like is the end. This chapter was harder for me to write than I thought it would be. The cemetery scene came out all wrong, and I don't know how to fix it. So sorry it sucks.
Next chapter Troy explains himself. Will Gabriella understand or tell him it is too late? Hmm? Only I know! I know for a fact I will write the next chapter faster and easier.
REVIEW!! REVIEW!! REVIEW!!
-- Kayleigh
