A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Okay, so the poll was tied, so. I decided to make couple more chapters (one or two) then her party, then an epilogue. But don't worry the one (or two) chapter(s) will be LONG...I hope..
Story: It's Not Your Fault
Author: xoxo-becky-xoxo
Rating: T
Chapter: Six: Catching up.
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Troy stood there in utter shock. His ex girlfriend just told him that he was a father. A father. She told him that she didn't tell him, because she didn't want to get in the way of his dreams. Well, thanks. He looked into her eyes to see if there was a hint of joke in there. But none. She really has a kid. They really have a kid. After his state of shock, came anger. How could she not tell him? Then followed guilt. If only he would have made a bigger effort of finding her, she wouldn't have gone through it alone. Sighing he fell into the nearest chair, and ran his finger through his hair.
"How old?" He asked looking down.
"Turning twelve this Sunday." Gabriella sniffed.
Troy nodded, and fully began to think about all the information he was getting. And realising that his life will change.
"You don't have to do anything you know. No child support, no visits, money, nothing. I just wanted you to know." Gabriella said looking away from him.
Troy looked at her in surprise. What was she talking about?
"Gaby look," Troy sighed.
"Shut up!" They both heard someone yell.
Both Troy and Gabriella looked towards the sound and saw Jessica yelling at Joseph. When Jessica notice her parents looking at her she ducked down and cursed herself.
When Troy looked back at Gabriella, she also had her eyes closed. Jessica always had bad timing, and always seem to have little outburst like this.
"Is that?" He asked, "Jessica?"
Gabriella nodded, eyes still closed. "Jessica Lynn Montez, come here." She called.
Jessica slowly made her way to her mother, avoiding Troy's eyes.
"Yes?"
Opening her eyes, Gabriella took her by the shoulders and turned her around so she was facing Troy.
"Troy, this is Jessica." She paused and looked over at Kristen, "Your daughter."
Troy looked at Gabriella, then at Jessica. She looked mostly like Gabriella, which was probably a good thing. Knowing she'd be gorgeous when she got older. But when she smiled, Troy saw a little more of him. She had his smile. He still couldn't believe that this was his daughter. This was the same girl that came up to him the day he saw Gabriella again, the same girl that yelled back at the mall.
Troy looked down to the hand that Jessica extended, and shook it. She seem a lot more shy, compared to the day of the conference.
"Hi Jessica." He smiled.
Jessica smiled back, but said nothing. She just excused herself and ran back to the table. Gabriella looked at her with a very confused look.
"Was it something I said?" Troy asked, looking at Gabriella.
"Huh. That was weird." Gabriella paused. "I'm so sorry for just bringing this up on you."
"Gabs-"
"And for not telling you all these years, and for just leaving without an explanation."
"Gaby-"
"And not for keeping in touch with the gang. I was just too scared of being judged. And I knew that they'd treat me different, and I didn't want that." Gabriella went on, and on.
"Gabriella!" Troy said finally getting a word in, "Listen to me okay?"
Gabriella nodded.
"First off, of course everyone would've treated you differently. They really care about you, and for the judging thing, you know the guys would've beat anyone up if they said something bad about you," He paused, causing Gabriella to smirk, "The leaving thing, you already cleared it up, the not telling me thing is gone. And as for bringing this up on me; it's done, what can you do right?"
Gabriella looked at him and raised an eyebrow. He sounded, okay with it. The way he said the last part, it sounded like a laugh. But he couldn't have been that okay with it. Could he?
"So.." She stopped, "You're okay? You're not mad?"
"Mad? No," Troy said shaking his head, "A little freaked out? Yes."
He stopped to let out a laugh, "Gabs, you know me. I'd do anything for you. I would've found a way to take care of Jessica, and to the basketball thing. If worse came to worse I would have quit it all together."
"But thats why I didn't tell you, I didn't want that to happen." Gabriella cut in.
"Then we would have found a way," He said walking up to her and bending down, "We always have."
"She has your smile you know." Gabriella said looking at him.
"I saw." Troy said smiling at her, and embraced her in a hug.
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Jessica, who was watching them the whole time smiled. She knew they weren't back together, but that would all change. She'd make sure of it. But for now she was just happy that they were at lease friends again. Just then an idea popped into her head, since it was her birthday, Gabriella would want to take her somewhere. And with help of Kristen and Joseph, she'd make this birthday be the best she ever had.
"Chris." Jessica started turning her back on her parents, "Is the fair still going this weekend?"
"Yeah," Kristen paused, "It'll be up for another two weeks, why?"
"Well you said that my mom always had a hard time of letting things go right?" Jessica asked.
"Yeah." Kristen answered.
"Does that inclued old feelings?"
"Yeah, but I don't see wher-Oh no," Kristen said shaking her head, "Jess what are you thinking?"
"I'm just thinking that a girl deserves to have her parents together on her birthday."
"Why is it when you say 'together' it's like you mean together together, but when I think of 'together' I think of only in the same room?"
"Because, I'm like Frankie." Jessica smiled referring to Gabriella and Kristen's friend's daughter, that always use to but into peoples lives and try to hook them up with people.
"That's not a good thing," Kristen said when she saw Jessica's smile.
"Maybe it is, maybe it's not."
Kristen sighed as she saw her best friend talking to Troy, "What do you have in mind?"
Jessica smirked as she told Kristen and Joseph.
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Around ten minutes later, Troy had gone to a meeting he had that day, and Kristen went to return the car. So Jessica and Joseph were riding back with Gabriella. On the free way, Jessica put down her Starbucks, and turned the radio down. This was Joseph cue.
"Jess, did you get to go to the fair yet?" Joseph asked.
"Umm, no. Is that the one by the stadium?" Jessica asked, acting clueless.
"You should really go, my friends and I go every year. It's really fun."
"Yeah, well we have this thing back at home. Jenny would always take us." Jessica smiled.
"Oh, well you have to go to the 50th. I think it's really different then the one you have. You know all the food and stuff." Joseph laughed.
"Mom..." Jessica whined.
"Yes?" Gabriella mocked.
"Can we? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can we?" Jessica asked, "Instead of dinner, can we mom? Please? For my birthday?"
Gabriella sighed and glanced at her daughter, but trying to keep an eye on the road all at the same time. Sighing Gabriella said, "Okay."
"Yay! Thanks mom! I'd hug you, but yeah." Jessica smiled, and winked at Joseph.
"Joseph," Gabriella started looking in the mirror, "Would you care to join us? You know, for Jessie's birthday."
"If it's okay with you."
"Of course." Gabriella smiled, "Jess, give him my phone so he could ask his mom."
Jessica pulled her mom's bag up and onto her seat, and dug for her phone. Once found, she tossed it to Joseph.
"Oh and mom?" Jessica started, looking at Joseph.
"Hmm?"
"Can you invite dad?" Jessica asked holding her breath.
"Do you really want to?" Gabriella asked pulling into Kristen's drive way.
"Yes, I really do."
"Okay then. Joseph, what did your mom say sweetie?"
"She said it's okay, but I have to run home to shower and change first."
"Do you want a ride?" Gabriella asked.
"No thanks Ms. Montez." Joseph said getting out of the car, "I'll see you guys later."
"Aunty!" Jessica called once she entered the house.
"In the room hun." Kristen yelled, "Hey, how'd it go?"
"Perfect."
"All of it?" Kristen asked surprised.
"Mhmm, everything." Jessica said sitting on her head, "She was the one that asked Joseph if he wanted to come."
"Wow."
"Hey," Gabriella smiled once she came into Kristen's room, "I'm guessing Jessie told you. So you coming?"
"You bet." She said while Jessica left the room, "You'll need a babysitter."
"Okay," Gabriella trailed, "I'm going to call up Troy, hopefully he's done with his meeting."
"Pau!" Kristen yelled after her, "You're in Hawai'i now, say 'pau'!" (A/N: It's pronounced, 'pow')
"Whatever!"
Kristen sighed and rolled her eyes, and went to take a shower.
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Jessica entered her mom's room, just as she was calling Troy.
"Hello?" The voice answered.
"Chad? Oh, I'm sorry I thought this was Troy's phone." Gabriella apologized.
"Oh hey Gabriella. No, this is his phone. He's in the shower."
"Oh, so I'm guessing he told you." Gabriella said playing with Jessica's hair.
"Yeah. I'm really sorry we couldn't help."
"No. It's my fault, I sould've told you guys."
"Subject change, since I know you don't want to talk about it," Chad laughed, leave it to Chad to know how to change a subject, "Do you want me to take a message?"
"Uh yeah. Can you ask him if he wants to come to the fair tonight? It's for Jessie's birthday, and she really wants him to come. You can come too, my friend Kristen's coming, and I don't want her to babysit alone." Gabriella joked.
"Funny Gabster, and I'm sure Troy would like to go. I'll tell him to call you for dets."
"I still don't understand why you still don't say 'details'."
"It's faster to say dets."
"Yes, but if someone doesn't understand that, you'll just spend more time telling them."
"Well if they don't know what it means, then I don't want to talk to them." Chad said.
"Okay," Gabriella laughed, "Tell him to give me a can after okay?"
"Got it," Chad paused, "Bye Gabs."
"Bye." And with that Gabriella hung up and turn towards Jessica. "Shower, now."
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"Who was that?" Troy asked, wiping his hair.
"Gabriella," Chad said opening a bottle of water, "She said that Jessica really wanted to go to the fair tonight, and wanted you to go along. But don't feel too special, she asked me to join too." Chad said joking about the last part. "You have to call her."
Troy nodded as he got his phone from the table. He put in her number and pressed 'send' and waited.
"Hello?"
"Uh...Is this Gabriella's phone?"
"Yes. Who's this?"
"Troy." Troy answered looking at Chad.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Umm, mom is in the shower right now, but if you like I can tell her to call you back."
Troy mouth the word, 'Jessica' to Chad since he knew Chad wanted to know who it was.
"Sure, just tell her that-"
"Hold on, here she is." Jessica said.
Troy waited and heard, 'Mom phone,' and Gabriella saying to get ready.
"Hey." He heard Gabriella say.
"Hey, Chad said you called?"
"Yeah," Gabriella breathed, "Since it's Jessie's birthday on Sunday, she wanted to go to the fair instead of dinner, and she really wants you to come along. Her friend Joseph is coming, and I think she wants you to met him too."
"You mean boyfriend?" Troy asked, not really knowing Jessica, he already felt he had to know about Joseph.
"No," Gabriella laughed, "I don't think so. Uh. Yeah, so what do you say?"
"Uh," Troy said looking at Chad, who nodded, "Sure."
"Oh I'm suppose to give you the 'dets'" Gabriella laughed, "Um, I don't know how you want to do it. Because its us four, plus you two, and all of our cars only fit five. So we could either met you there, or met you somewhere else to switch people."
"Whatever is better for you."
"Umm, I don't know. Here wait, let me ask Chris. Hold on."
A couple moments later Gabriella told him to met them by the mall, and that they'll switch there, since the mall is close by. So they decided on Troy, Gabriella, Jessica and Joseph riding in one car and Chad and Kristen in one.
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Jessica was waiting in the living room, in a brown ribbon seam ruffled tank, baby phat denim shorts, and black roxy slippers (flip-flops). Her hair was up in a pony tail, and curled. Joseph was in jeans, grey local motion shirt, and white jordans. Jessica sat on the couch with her legs bent under her, while Joseph sat on the floor leaning against it, waiting for both Kristen and Gabriella. Finally Kristen came out of her room in a blue jersey cami, shorts, and black slippers. Her hair was down, and curly. Then moments later, Gabriella came out in a white and grey striped cami, shorts, and white slippers, with her curly hair cascading down her shoulders.
"Ready?" Gabriella asked getting her purse.
"Yeah." Jessica said and they all walked into the car.
Like planned they met at the mall, switched cars and were now in the parking lot.
"Hurry mom!" Jessica said when Gabriella was taking forever to get out.
"Okay, okay." Gabriella said and they made they're way to the fair grounds.
An hour later, Joseph, Jessica, Kristen, and Chad were on a ride, while Gabriella and Troy decided to sit that one out.
"It's really nice of you to come Troy." Gabriella said, "Shes really have a blast."
"Yeah." Troy said looking at Jessica. They were still in line, and Jessica was on Chad's shoulders. Not much of a twelve years old should be, but whatever. "I'm glad I came."
"Me too." Gabriella admitted and smiled.
"Mom! Can you take this?" Jessica yelled, holding out her stuff animal that she had won.
Gabriella sighed and was about to get up, when Troy told her that he'd take care of it. He came back, and set it on the table they were sitting at. They both sat there in silence just enjoying the company of the other. Every once in a while, Troy would steal glances at Gabriella and would sometimes see she was sneaking some in also. When they came back from the ride, Jessica wanted to play more games, so they all made their way to the games, Gabriella holding Jessica's bear lazily.
"Umm, the green one please." Jessica smiled, as a big bear, with a green ribbon came into her hands.
"She's good." Troy whispered to Gabriella.
They just finished a game, where you had to shoot four basketballs, in. And of course, Jessica got them all.
"Yeah," Gabriella smiled, "She must take after me."
"Oh, of course!" Troy smiled back, "I mean, you did score 39 points in a league game."
"Correction," Gabriella said holding up a finger, "41 points."
"Oh, how could I forget that?"
"Beats me." Gabriella smiled, which Troy kindly returned.
"Mom?" Jessica said handing her newly won bear to Joseph.
"What is it hunny?"
"I'm hungry."
"Umm, okay," Gabriella said looking around, "Go get Chris and we'll go."
"Okay." Jessica said and pulling Joseph to find Kristin and Chad, who, wandered away from the group.
"He's not really a talker is his?" Troy asked.
"Who? Joseph?" Troy nodded, "I like that, you know what they say about non-talkers."
"And whats that?" Troy asked.
"Their good listeners." Gabriella stated.
"Ah."
Gabriella laughed and looked into his piercing blue eyes, once again. She'd always get lost when she'd look into them. Gabriella's smiled quickly faded and Troy started to lean in. With her breathing becoming slower, and her heart beat increasing, Gabriella closed her eyes. Centimetres apart, they moved to meet the other.
"Mom! Found them." They heard Jessica call.
Pressing her lips together, Gabriella pulled apart and placed a smile on her face.
"Alright, lets go eat."
While walking to get some pizza, Gabriella could scene Troy's vibe. It was a mixture of disappointment, and something she couldn't really tell. Once seated, everyone got into full conversation; Jessica talking with Joseph, Kristen with Chad and Gabriella just sitting there, with Troy eating real slow. Gabriella sighed as she put her coke back on the table. She knew that Troy was upset about what happened, she was too. When everyone else went to get ice cream Gabriella saw this as the best time to talk to Troy.
"Umm," Gabriella started, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Gabriella, why wouldn't I be?" Troy said avoiding her eyes.
"Then why aren't you telling me the truth?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You called me 'Gabriella,' you never do that unless your serious, or somethings bothering you." Gabriella said firmly.
Troy sighed, she was right. He hardly ever called her 'Gabriella.'
"What did I do this time?" Gabriella sighed.
"Gaby, I told you I'm fine." Troy said.
"Fine," Gabriella smiled, "Look at me right in my eyes, and tell me that nothings wrong."
Gabriella smirked, knowing he couldn't do it. Troy looked into her eyes and took a deep breath in. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. Wanting to look away, Gabriella wouldn't let him. She got him locked, and no matter how hard he wanted, he couldn't look away, or blink. It was just a power Gabriella had on him.
"Troy, just for the record, Jessica has really bad timing." Gabriella smirked, causing Troy to give a small smile.
After eating their ice cream, they decided that Jessica didn't have enough prizes, and went to win her more.
"Last time Jessie." Gabriella warned, taking out another dollar bill out of her wallet.
They've been at the same station for about 20 minutes, and Gabriella was really running out of dollar bills. But Jessica was determined to win that penguin. She thought it would be easy, since it was dealing with a basketball. But she never had to shoot it from that distance before, and she realized it was really hard. She tried for, what she knew was her last time. But failed. Sighing she turned to her mom and shrugged her shoulders. Gabriella gave a sad smile and took her under her arms, to guide her out, since everyone including herself was getting tired.
Troy looked at the game, and then back at Jessica. He jogged up to catch up with Gabriella and whispered something in her ear. She turned around to see what he meant and saw Troy give the guy a dollar bill. Jessica noticed her mother stop, and looked to where she was looking, along with the rest. Once the ball was in Troy's hand, both he and Gabriella felt they were in high school once again. Troy because the courts were like his second home, while Gabriella watched on. He twirled the ball, and glanced at Gabriella, who was smiling. Troy breathed out, and flew the ball. Jessica with her mouth open, ran to him, once she saw the ball go in. She leaped into his arms and gave him a big hug. Mixed emotions ran through her. Happiness, because she finally got her penguin, but also because she was in her dad's arms. Sadness, because she knew that he couldn't be in her life all the time.
Once Troy handed her her prize, Jessica had a huge grin on her face, but was quickly replaced with a yawn.
"I think someones tired," Gabriella laughed, "I think it's time to go."
Jessica nodded in agreement, but yawn once again. Half way to the car, Jessica was having trouble keeping her eyes open, so Troy volunteered to carry her the rest of the way.
"We need to talk." Kristen whispered, pulling Gabriella ahead of them.
"About?"
"Two things." Kristen paused, "First, whats up with you and Troy? And two, whats the relation status of Chad's?"
"You and Chad?" Gabriella asked surprised.
"Maybe." Kristen questioned, "But what about you and mister over there?"
"I don't know."
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"Are they sleeping?" Gabriella asked Troy when her and Kristen reached the car.
"Mhmm," Troy answered looking at Joseph, who was struggling to keep his eyes open.
Laughing, Gabriella took Joseph, and guided him into the car, while Troy placed Jessica in.
"That was really fun." Kristen commented.
"Yes is was." Chad agreed.
Gabriella glanced at Troy, and he raised his eyebrow. Giggling, she shrugged her shoulders.
"Whats up with you two?" Troy asked.
"What-what are you talking about?" Chad asked.
"You guys were laughing all night," Troy started.
"A lot of people do that. It's called 'getting along'." Kristen butted in.
"Yes but I saw what you guys were doing before Jess got you to eat." Gabriella smirked.
"Uh." Kristen said wide-eyed, "You know it's getting late, you better get Joseph home before his dad freaks out."
And with that Kristen, followed my Chad, walked into Kristen's car and closed the door. Sighing Gabriella got into the passenger seat, and closed the door behind her.
The drive back to Joseph's was quiet, except for the moments, where Jessica started mummbling in her sleep.
"So what are you going to do for Jessie's birthday?" Troy asked.
When he didn't get an answer, he glanced at Gabriella only to find that she was asleep. Adjusting her sleeve of her jacket, Troy drove in silence, until he got to Joseph's dad's house, since he was staying there that weekend. Not wanted to wake her, he carefully woke Joseph up and walked him to the door. His dad answered the door, said a quick 'thank you' and asked to tell Gabriella also. Making his way back to the car, he noticed Jessica standing out of the car rubbing her neck. Troy smiled and gave her a little push to tell her to go back inside. Once the door closed, she instantly fell asleep.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Kristen's and notice that Kristen and Chad were already there, of course. Probably making out on the couch. At this thought, Troy couldn't help but smile. Still not wanting to wake Gabriella up, he jogged to the front door and asked Kristen to stay with Gabriella while he took Jessica inside. So they both made their way back to the car, and Troy carefully took Jessica in his arms, leaving Kristen and Gabriella alone.
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Just as Troy walked into the house, Gabriella's eyes started to flicker. Once she got them focused, she jumped back a little and started hitting Kristen. Who was standing right in her face, with a really big smile on her face.
"What is wrong with you?" Gabriella said placing her hand over a heart, "Do you want to give me a heart attack?"
All Gabriella got in response was a smile.
"Why are smiling like that?" Gabriella asked a little freaked out.
"He took Jessie up to her room."
"Congratulations?" Gabriella questioned, getting out of the car, and walking into the house.
She said hello to Chad, and went to check on Troy and Jessica. However, she stopped at the door when she heard Troy walking.
"I can't believe your my daughter Jessica," Troy paused to push a strand of hair out of her face, "You're so beautiful. You must take after you mother. That's a good thing, trust me." Troy gave a small laugh.
"Your mom told me that you like basketball, and from what I saw, you're really good." Troy stopped, feeling weird.
Here he was in the dark, looking at his daughter sleeping. Not even twenty-four hours before, he didn't even know he was a dad. But now he's talking to her. Troy looked at her, as if he was trying to make a memory. He sighed bending down to her to her level.
"I'm so sorry," He finally said, "I'm so sorry for not being there for you all these years. And please don't blame your mom, she just did what she thought was best. If there was one thing I learned about her is that she always has a reason for doing something. She really loves you, you know. I can tell. See, she has this look in her eyes when she sees you have a good time."
Troy paused once again when he saw Jessica stir, "Well I guess thats a hint to make me shut up isn't?" Troy laughed stroking her cheek.
"Good night Jessica." Troy whispered, he was about to stand up when he heard a soft, hoarse voice.
" 'Night dad." Jessica had said turning on her side.
Troy couldn't help but smile. He had this feeling, that he didn't know how to explain. Hearing that word come out of Jessica's mouth was one of the best feelings he had in a really long time. Troy started to head towards the door, when he saw a figure leaning on the door frame, arms crossed.
"How long have you been there?" Troy asked.
"I don't know, when you said how beautiful she was." Gabriella smiled, "Come on lets go to my room."
While walking the short distance to Gabriella's room, Troy couldn't stop smiling.
"So," Gabriella said closing the door, "How does it feel to officially become a dad?"
"Weird," Troy laughed inward, "I mean I thought she was mad at me-"
"She was never mad." Gabriella cut in, "She was mad at the situation."
"But I was the situation." Troy stated.
"But she was never mad at you."
Troy held their gaze, then sighed noticing that she was telling the truth. He watched her walk over to her bed and sit down. Then she got up and walked over to her suite case and took out a peach cami, shorts, and left the room. Moments later she came back fully changed, with her hair up. She took her oringal seat on the bed and looked at him. Smiling she patted the spot next to him, telling him to sit down.
"We're having a party for her, kind of." Gabriella paused, "We're going to the beach, with Joseph around ten to three. Then we'll let her just relax here for a bit, unless you want to do something with her. Then we have dinner reservations at 6:45."
"Okay, I'm guessing Kristen already filled Chad in."
"Probably, but when I left them, they were making out, so. Who knows." Gabriella smiled.
"Well I should get going."
Gabriella nodded walking him to the door.
When they got into the living room, they saw something they didn't expect. Instead of making out, like they thought Chad and Kristen were sitting on the couch watching T.V.
"Well," Kristen said once she saw the two, "Everything went okay?"
"Ready to go?" Troy said, ignoring her question.
Chad nodded and kissed Kristen on the cheek, causing Gabriella to raise her eyebrow.
"So tomorrow around nine?" Troy asked, revising a nod from Gabriella. "Well see you tomorrow."
"Bye," Gabriella smiled, as they hugged.
Once the door closed Gabriella turned around to see Kristen standing with her hands on her hip. Before she could say anything, Gabriella dashed for her room, locking the door behind her.
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A/N: Wow! This is a 13 page chapter...haha. So sorry for the lack of updates lately, just busy, busy, busy. But since this chapter is 13 page. I hope to get more then 5 reviews. Uh, yeah...REVIEW IF YOU WANT MORE CHAPTERS!! The next chapter will be her 'party'.