The next day, Mr. Montez stayed home hoping to keep an eye on Gabriella and Troy. Gabriella wanted to scream because he kept barging in when the foursome was only watching television or playing games or talking. She was getting very frustrated and was about to freak out on him.
"What is up with your dad?" Taylor asked at noon. He had just left her bedroom and they were all hanging out on her bed. Chad was watching the plasma television on the wall with great interest.
"He's always this weird." Gabriella said. "Probably because-" Troy gave her a look that said 'do not tell them'.
"Because…" Taylor said slowly.
"The boys are here." Gabriella said shrugging. "You guys still want to go out at one? We can walk around in the snow!"
"Sure," Chad said. "Then I can check out the New York hotties!"
"If you were single!" Taylor said kicking him off the bed. Chad groaned in pain and mumbled something.
"What was that?" Taylor asked sarcastically.
"Uh, nothing, Tay," Chad said with a groan.
"Whipped," Troy coughed into his hand. Gabriella laughed and Taylor pushed Gabriella on top of him. "Ooh, I like this position."
"Ew, you perv." Gabriella said rising off him. Troy raised his eyebrows flirtatiously.
"Don't fight it, Gabby." Troy said sitting up.
"Um, do you want us to leave?" Taylor asked.
"No," Gabriella said. Troy was nodding his head
"See you guys," Taylor said quickly taking Chad by the hand and leading him out the room.
"We'll knock before we come in." Chad added before closing the door with a wink.
"He's totally gonna bone Taylor." Troy said with a smile.
"How do you know that? Taylor never slept with him." Gabriella said. Troy laughed.
"Yeah, like last…week." Troy said. Gabriella scoffed and thought, boys can't keep secrets.
"But remember that night when you were drunk?" Troy asked.
"Vaguely." She answered leaning on her pillows. "But what I know or think for sure is that we didn't sleep together."
"Almost," Troy pointed out. He leaned back and stretched saying, "You wanted me so badly."
"Yeah, I did." Gabriella said. "But I have something important to talk to you about."
"Is this about last night?" He asked immediately. She nodded. "Look, can we not-"
"Troy, you don't have to tell me why you did it just…please stop. I care about you a lot and I don't want you to hurt yourself." Gabriella said.
"Okay…I promise." He said. Gabriella smiled and then hugged him.
"Is it okay if I see your arm?" Gabriella asked. Troy stretched his arm towards her and allowed her to lift the sleeve up. "Ah," Gabriella said once she saw the cuts better in the light. There were many red lines up and down his arm. Gabriella touched them softly muttering to herself.
"Didn't this hurt, Troy?" Gabriella asked examining his arm still.
"Yeah but I guess that's why I did it." Troy said.
"Why would you do that to yourself?" Gabriella asked feeling worried.
"I just really, really missed you." Troy said. "I've been depressed out of my mind."
"Oh," Gabriella said. "I don't want you to be sad or anything."
"I'm better now." Troy said. "Because I got to see you again."
Gabriella blushed and then leaned to kiss him. Before she could actually signal that she was going to kiss him her bedroom door opened.
"Jennifer!" Gabriella screamed. Jennifer was standing there looking over dressed for a Friday with no school.
"Hey, Gabriella," Jennifer said, "Hi, Troy," she added flirtatiously. Troy waved and then Jennifer's eyes darted from Gabriella to Troy who was sitting very close to each other. Gabriella let go of Troy's arm and he pulled his sleeve down.
"Was I interrupting?"
"No," Troy said quickly. Gabriella rolled her eyes discretely pretending to look down at her bedspread.
"Are you guys still going shopping?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes," Gabriella said through gritted teeth.
"Great. Oh, I was talking to Matt last night, oh, Troy, Matt's the guy Gabriella went out with last night. They are so in love." Madison added sitting on the bed next to Troy. "Anyway, he said he had a great time and said you were a great kisser."
"Uh huh," Gabriella said blushing. Thank you, Jennifer.
"You guys kissed?" Troy asked. Before Gabriella could answer Jennifer butted in.
"Matt's liked her since she came. He was so happy you went out with him." Jennifer said looking at Troy. He half smiled but the smile disappeared quickly when he looked at Gabriella. She looked away.
"Thank you, Jennifer." Gabriella said out loud by mistake.
"Oh, you're welcome." Jennifer said thinking she was talking about delivering the message. "Troy, do you have a girlfriend?"
"No," Troy said quickly. Jennifer smiled and surprisingly he smiled back very warmly. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No," Jennifer said with a dramatic sigh.
"You're too gorgeous not to have a boyfriend." Troy said sweetly. Gabriella crossed her arms wondering what was going on all of a sudden.
"You're too sweet." Jennifer said laughing as she flipped her blonde hair back.
"Um, Jennifer!" Gabriella said loudly. "Where is Madison?"
"She got stuck babysitting." Jennifer said as Troy smiled at her again. She blushed and smiled back. Gabriella stood up and walked towards her door. She slammed the door shut saying, "Bitch!" under her breath. Gabriella stormed angrily to Chad's room and barged in without knocking. Chad and Taylor were in a heavy make out and quickly pulled away from each other.
"Sorry for barging in but we're going." Gabriella said. They didn't argue with her and in a few minutes they were dressed and standing outside her bedroom door. Gabriella opened the door swiftly and announced as she walked in, "I have to get my boots. I hope I didn't disturb you." She didn't sound sorry at all.
"It's okay," Troy said. "Like I was saying Jennifer, you should really be a cheerleader."
"You think, Troy?" She asked smiling.
"Yeah, you have the looks and the body. Some people can't handle it all but people like you definitely can. Oh, are we leaving now, Gabriella?"
"Yes, Troy, we are." She said smiling very fake. Troy gave her a fake smile and then stood up. Jennifer followed him to his room.
"Okay…" Chad said looking very confused. "What the hell is that all about?"
"Nothing," Gabriella said immerging from her closet in her snow boots and jacket on. "Let's go and wait for them in the hallway."
"You and Troy have a lot of secrets." Chad pointed out. Taylor nodded in agreement. Gabriella shrugged just as Troy and Jennifer came out of the bedroom hallway.
"Let's go, Gabriella." Troy said.
"Okay, let us go." Gabriella said looking angrily at Jennifer who looked overly excited with her arm in Troy's arm. "Oh, BTW, Troy, please don't cut yourself on anything. I don't carry around first aid kits."
Troy glared at her but all she did was smile back sweetly. Taylor and Chad exchanged looks of confusion as they stepped onto the crowded elevator. Gabriella pulled out her cell phone and called Matt.
"Hey, Matt," Gabriella said looking at Troy. He was looking right at her. Perfect, she thought. "I had a great time on our date last night and I was wondering if you want to meet up like in fifteen minutes at that pizza place by my house…okay, cool…bye, can't wait to see you."
Gabriella pressed the End button looking at Troy's expression. He looked furious and she simply smiled.
