More Than Meets The Eye—
Chapter 7
A/N: Didn't get too many reviews, only 4, but that's okay. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Gabriella leaned closely into the warmth that lay beside her. Her hand was sprawled across his hard chest and her leg was entwined with his. She breathed in his smell deeply before lifting herself up from lying down to a sitting position. The soft snores vibrated out of Troy and Gabriella couldn't help but giggle. She picked up her phone on her nightstand and pressed a button. "Three thirty-one a.m.," it said in a robotic voice. Gabriella cursed. "Troy, Troy, wake up," she whispered. He muttered something, but he remained sleep. Gabriella nudged him again.
Nothing.
"You asked for it," she muttered before kicking him off the bed. The sheets that she was all tangled in swooped her up and she tumbled off the bed, Troy in tow, but falling off the other side.
"Ow!" She heard him grunt. "What the hell?"
Gabriella then bust out laughing, covering her mouth. "Oh, my God! That was so funny."
"Gabriella?" Troy lifted himself up and he stood. His eyes adjusted to the dark light and he peered over the bed. Gabriella was still laughing, her hair covering her face like a waterfall. "Gabriella, you okay? What happened?"
"I t-t-tried t-to—kick you o-off the b-b-bed and—and—we both fell." She had no idea why it was this funny, but she couldn't stop laughing. Troy's concerned face creased and hips lips curled into a goofy smile. He went down and picked Gabriella up. Her legs dangled over his left arm while her head lolled over his right. He carried her to the bed and laid her down gently in it.
"Gabriella, you're crying."
"It's j-just funny!" She wiped at her eyes before digging her nails into the sheets and thrusting her head into her pillow. A minute passed and her laughter faded. "Okay, I'm fine now. I'm good."
"Good because you might have—"
There was a hard knock at the door. "Gabriella, you okay in there?"
"Woken up your dad," Troy finished, letting out a breath. Gabriella sat up slowly and wiped at her eyes once more. She sniffled then got out of bed. "Hide under the bed," she whispered. Troy did as he was told and once he was settled under there, Gabriella went to open the door. Mario stood there, eyes drooping. "Sorry to wake you, dad. Troy was being stupid though and called me and told me something really funny. So, you can go back to sleep."
"Okay, get some sleep, Gabriella. See you in the morning."
"Yeah, bye." Gabriella quickly closed the door and leaned up against it. Troy came from under the bed, smirking. "So, I'm stupid now?" She jumped at the touch of his finger tips coming in tact with her skin.
"Well, I wasn't going to say 'I tried to kick Troy off my bed to wake him and ended up falling as well and I broke out laughing'. I would be the stupid one."
"Well, what did I say?"
Gabriella shrugged and pushed him away from her. "How should I know? Now, go home. You can climb down my balcony."
"But I wanna stay," he whined, sitting on her bed.
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"No."
"Well, I'm gonna stay anyway." Troy lay down on the bed again and snuggled into a pillow. Gabriella sighed and trudged to her bed as well. "If we get in trouble, I am so kicking your ass."
"You love my ass," he said, smirking. "Just like I love your ass, as well."
"I don't even know what your ass looks like," Gabriella reminded him, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, go to sleep; we have school tomorrow."
"Yes, mother."
"Don't compare me to your mother. That's disgusting. That would mean that you'd be dating your mom." Gabriella made a face as did Troy. He turned over in the bed and sprawled an arm over her small torso. Gabriella grinned and moved closer into Troy, laying her hand over his torso, too. When Troy heard Gabriella's breath even he smiled and stroked her hair. "You're beautiful," he whispered and bent his head down to kiss her forehead. Soon he fell asleep as well, smiling wildly.
MTMTE
The morning sun rolled into Gabriella's room making it bright and heated. Troy groaned loudly and turned over on his back. His right arm was laid over Gabriella while his left was dangling lazily over the edge of the bed.
"Well, it's about time you woke up," a voice said, angry.
Troy nearly fell out the bed.
He sat up straight and stared at Mr. Montez who was leaning angrily against the door jab. His arms were crossed across his chest and he had a frown on his face. "Mr. Montez, I can explain—"
"No need to," Mario said, holding his hand up. "Why were you here last night and didn't go home? Gabriella had said..." His face because even more angry. Next to Troy, Gabriella grunted and moved into Troy's thigh, muttering words. "Go...back...to...sleep," she said softly.
"How about you wake up," Mario boomed and Gabriella bolted upright. She grabbed the covers and clutched them tightly to her as if she were naked. "Dad?" she gasped.
"Young lady, you better get your butt up out of that bed and get ready for school. When you come home we'll talk. And don't bring Troy over."
"Wait," Gabriella pleaded. "Dad, we fell asleep. I know, I lied and said he had left, but we just...dad, Troy and me are dating."
Mario made a sound like a grunt. "I don't approve," he said bluntly. "Now get up and get ready for school."
"You don't approve?" Gabriella questioned with disbelief. "You don't approve? Who the hell do you think you are?"
"I'm your father and don't you dare talk to me like that."
"Oh, so now you care," Gabriella said, getting up. "Now you care who comes in my life and that you're my father? You never were there, dad."
"I was," he said, defending himself. Then added softly, "I just don't want you to get hurt."
Gabriella's face softened and she sat down again, grabbing Troy's hand. "I won't get hurt," she promised. "I trust Troy, you should too."
Mario put on a thoughtful face before nodding. "Okay," he said. "I trust him, but if you hurt her or if she comes home crying once." Mario pointed to Troy with a warning finger. Troy's eyebrows lifted as he nodded. "I would never hurt her, sir," Troy said. "Your daughter is the most fun to hang around with. The most beautiful girl." Troy turned to Gabriella and Gabriella smiled. "And if she doesn't believe me, I'll tell her every second of the day. I'll tell her until she agrees. Until she blocks out hateful comments."
"Well," Mario said, smiling. "Well, I guess you two better get ready. But if you ever stay over inform me. And the door stays open a crack at least."
"Yes, dad," Gabriella said, rolling her eyes. "I know."
"You better. And you better get ready for school. Chop, chop! Date prisa!" Mario said, saying the last part in Spanish. Troy helped Gabriella get out of the bed and as soon as Mario was out of the doorway, he dragged her into a hug. "Gabriella," he breathed.
"Huh?"
"You're beautiful."
Gabriella grinned up at him and bit her lip. "I don't believe it," she said. Her arms tightened around his torso and she laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart beats. "But tell me everyday and I just might."
"That was the plan," Troy said, kissing her temple. He then brought her face between his two big hands and pulled her face to his, fusing their lips. Gabriella's muscles tensed then eased with pleasure. Her arms snaked around his neck and her fingers clasped together. When they pulled apart, her chest was slightly rising and lowering quickly. "That's my new favorite thing to do," she said lowly to him and licked her lips. Troy grinned and stepped away from her, but only slightly. "Good, because I'll be doing that a lot, now let's get ready before your dad gets suspicious."
MTMTE
The staring eyes seemed to bore into her back. She was shaking nervously as her sweaty palm was placed neatly into Troy's big palm. She could feel everyone staring and knew it was a moment of time before Gracie and her posse would be trotting up to her and calling out hurtful things. But Gabriella refused to let it get to her. Troy had told her about ten times this morning that she was the most beautiful girl in the world. And for once in her life, she felt beautiful.
But she was still beyond nervous.
"Troy, are they staring?" she asked quietly, leaning into his side.
"Just ignore them and be glad you can't see them. They're looking at us as if we don't belong."
"We don't," Gabriella said. "It's not how this school works."
"Well too bad, because you're my girlfriend and I'm proud. Even if they don't—" Troy stopped walking and talking and Gabriella jerked forward, about to trip, and she squealed. Troy's hands reached out to grab her before she hit the floor. "Troy," she breathed, standing straight up. "What happened?"
"So, look what the sea brought in," an annoying high pitched voice said. Gabriella crossed her arms over her chest and groaned. "Well, look what the devil brought in."
"At least I'm hot," Gracie snapped and Gabriella narrowed her eyes at the girl. "At least I'm not an ugly bitch with gray eyes—"
"Is that the only thing you can say," Gabriella questioned before Troy could say anything. "That I'm an ugly bitch with gray eyes? Because that's the lamest come back I've ever heard. Is that really the only thing ugly about me, Gracie? Or is it my face or hair or body?"
"It's all of that," Gracie said, frowning.
"Well, it could be all of that. I wouldn't know. But guess what. At least I don't have an ugly personality. You're a bitch to extreme levels and you laugh when you bring other people's feelings down. Well it's getting tiring, Gracie. It's getting old and newsflash; we aren't in middle school anymore. So, why don't you stop being so immature about this and just leave me alone." Gasp of shock were heard around her and some snickers as well.
"Wow," Troy whispered, grinning.
"Let's just go," Gabriella said, pulling Troy along the halls. Troy walked beside her and gripped her hand. "You okay?"
"Do I look okay?"
Troy pulled her in for a hug. "Gabriella, she's a bitch. Don't let her get to you."
"I didn't," she said, frowning. "I just told my mind. I'm sure everyone who get's bothered by Gracie would want to do the same."
Troy looked down at her for a moment before looking around. People were gazing at them, frowning and whispering. "You want a scene?" he asked them all. He stopped walking and turned a taken aback Gabriella in his arms. "Troy, what the hell—" Her eyes opened wide as his lips found hers, kissing her roughly yet softly. Her arms wounded around his neck unthinkingly as she sunk into the kiss, her eyes closing.
The whispers around them were building up to the point where they could hear the comments.
"That's disgusting—"
"Who would kiss her?—"
"Ugh, who does she think she is?—"
"He's probably just using her, but I don't know why he would stoop so low—"
Gabriella swallowed painfully and jerked back from the kiss. She had so badly tried to ignore it all, but it was all too much. Tears were slowly falling from her eyes. Since Troy came here, she's been crying so much. The last comment she had heard hurt the most. Was he just using her? Was this all an act?
"Gabriella?"
"I have to go,' she whispered before walking off. She stumbled blindly—literally, of course—into the library. The librarian, Miss Lee, wasn't in here during the first hour of school. so, she was alone and she was glad.
Except, she thought she was alone.
"Gabriella?"
The sweet sing-song voice of Amanda Sher sounded through Gabriella's good hearing senses and she looked up, wiping her eyes. "Gabriella, what happened?" Amanda placed a hand on Gabriela's shoulder and Gabriella gave in, throwing her arms around Amanda. "I don't know why they hate me so much," she cried. "I never did anything to them. And since Troy came, it's gotten so much worse. They talk about him now, too. I just can't take it anymore. It just makes me want to—to kill myself!"
Amanda pulled back, shocked. 'don't you dare say that! You are beautiful and talented and amazing and you can't let them take that away from you with a few hurtful words! They envy you, you know. You can't see it obviously, but how they look at you—especially Gracie—, they're jealous. Gabriella, you're so beautiful and you don't even try. Gracie wants nothing but beauty and you have it. So to tear you down, she wants to hurt you so badly. Gabriella." Amanda stroked Gabriella's cheeks. "don't listen to them. You're stronger than that."
Gabriella smiled slightly then took a breath. "You're right, but it's not just Gracie. It's Troy, too. We're dating, but how do I know it won't end bad?"
"Exactly. Gabriella, many people face tragic events like car crashes or murder, but that doesn't mean it happens over and over again. Trust your heart, Gabriella. And obviously it wants Troy. I know it'll be hard, but your mom wants you to live your life without oushing away people, saying they'll leave as well. Trust me, I know this?"
"How?" Gabriella whispered in a voice that mimicked a sweet little girl.
"My brother died by drowning. It was five years ago and we were celebrating his fourth birthday. My parents were fighting and it was really bad. I was sat, crying. Daniel, my brother, wandered off and he just landed in the water. He went in deeper and deeper and that was when we noticed he was missing. My parents called for him and after a while, we heard screams. And it was Daniel. He was drowning. All we could see was his little arms waving in the air. My parents were so fast to get him, but it was too late. He had drowned. A week later, they had found his body. It was crashed near a rock far away from the shore and his leg was eaten off. A shark had gotten to him. It was so sad, we were just lucky the shark hadn't eaten all of Daniel. I try and move on with my life, and it's hard, but Daniel wants me to. He wants me to be happy even without him. And I learned to accept his absence. That's what you need to do, Gabriella. Accept her absence."
Gabriella smiled.
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