A/N: Okay, I'm going away for a few dyas to visit my Nan and I'll be back Tuesday I think. Anyway, this will be my last update until then. enjoy! XD
Chapter 7 - Lonely
Troy pushed the door to his room open and allowed Gabriella through first. "Go on."
Gabriella smiled and walked into the room, slowly turning around. "Like basketball much?"
Troy laughed and kicked some boxers out of the way. "How'd you guess?"
She giggled and Troy watched in amazement as she put her bag on his desk chair and peered at pictures that hung on the walls. There were large ones of basketball players and small ones in frames of his family. He knew she was still a bit weary around him but she seemed to have gained a soft spot for him when she allowed him to kiss her slightly more passionately just before the last bell rang. He knew she wasn't ready for tongues or anything too deep just yet, though. She turned around and blushed and he chuckled to himself as she continued observing his room.
"Troy?" She asked quietly, staring at a picture on the wall.
He rushed over, not liking her tone. "What is it, Brie?"
"Who's that?" She whispered, pointing to a woman hugging Troy close to her.
He chuckled. "My Mom." She had not met his mother yet, for she had still been at work when they had come home.
"She's pretty." She said truthfully, her chocolate eyes full of innocence.
Troy nodded, his gaze fixed on the young woman next to him. "Yeah, she is."
She turned her head and blushed again. "Why do you do that?"
"What?" Troy asked in confusion.
"You've given me more compliments than I've heard you give Sharpay in the full three days I've been here. And you kiss me in a way that makes me forget the Troy Bolton who yelled at me on my first day. I just want to know why you act so different around me. I'm nothing special." She muttered, sitting on his bed and avoiding his bright blue eyes.
Troy sat next to her and held her close, allowing her to rest her head on his chest. "Gabriella, you're different from the other girls at school."
She pulled back slightly and mentally rolled her eyes at the irony. "Different. The perfect word to describe me."
"Actually, you want the truth? On Monday, I heard this girl singing and it kind of reminded me of the guy I used to be. And then, you helped me yesterday and I saw how kind and sweet you are." He whispered, leaning over to sweetly kiss her neck once, twice, three times before nuzzling his against her tanned skin, making her giggle.
Gabriella giggled again and pushed him away. "So, what kind of guy did you used to be?"
"The kind that wore glasses and got bullied a lot." He mumbled.
Gabriella's eyes widened. "What?"
"But, except the bullying part, I was happy with I was. I mean, I was smart, kind, I had some friends. But, then I went to high school. Over the summer, I changed because money grew tight. And I was sick of kids bullying me about stuff that wasn't my fault. I wasn't giving them another reason to laugh at me. So I laughed at them. That's why I don't like my home. Money is almost none existent here. I get my clothes from charity shops just so Justin and Keely can have nice things. Brie, don't tell anyone." He said frantically, turning to her with desperation in his voice.
"I won't. So, you bully people because they bullied you?" She asked slowly. He nodded and she kissed his cheek, making him jump in surprise and delight. "You still are ever so smart and sweet and kind."
Troy smiled, happily taking in her praise. "You think so?"
"I think you need to direct all of that to people other than me." She whispered.
"It's…complicated." He whispered back.
"Complications." Gabriella said. "Story of my life. Hey, can I use your bathroom for a minute?"
Troy nodded, pointing to a door by his closet. "Right there."
Gabriella quickly went inside the bathroom and locked the door, getting her cell phone out. So far she had Chad, Ryan, Martha, Taylor and Kelsi's number but she selected Chad's. She held to her ear and waited impatiently to the ringing tone. She sat down on the closed toilet seat lid and looked around Troy's large bathroom.
"Gabs, what's up?" Chad asked.
"Uh, the ceiling?" She asked carefully.
He chuckled. "No, no, no. I mean, like, what's happening? Why'd you call?"
"Well, Chad, can you tell me that you are alone right now?" She asked.
"Uh, one moment Taylor." He said. There were a few moments of rustling before he spoke again. "What's wrong?"
"I felt it." She whispered. "I was attracted to Troy. And he kissed me. But, I wanted him to. Chad, what do I do?"
"Well, ask him out?" He tried.
"Sharpay?" Gabriella said in a 'duh!' tone. "He says he has to stay with her because of what people think."
"Well, maybe you can be like Romeo and Juliet." He chuckled. "Like your version. Hey, I gotta go. Just talk to him. He's softened up since yesterday. You'll be fine." He hung up and she sighed. So maybe Chad didn't know what to do.
She flushed the toilet, not wanting to raise suspicion and left the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. "So, what was this girl singing about?"
"She was singing about…how she wanted the world to know who she was and she was happy with who she was. I just wish I could be like that." Troy replied glumly.
"Why do you hurt people?" She blurted innocently, sitting back next to him.
"I already explained that." He muttered quietly as she rested her head on his chest again.
She sighed and glanced her eyes upwards to see him looking into the distance. He kissed his skin just under his chin affectionately before resting her head back on his muscular chest. "What are you thinking about?"
"Are you quite old fashioned?" He asked in reply.
"What do you mean?" She asked, sitting up straighter.
"Well, you keep going on about Sharpay, as if you're guilty about us." Troy said softly.
"Well, from where I'm from things like this don't happen. At all. Ever." She stood up and walked over to his balcony, letting the cool air engulf her.
Troy followed and cautiously wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, being careful of her scratches from earlier that day. He kissed her neck softly and breathed on her skin. "Why not? Where are you from?"
Gabriella looked longingly up at the still blue sky. "Far away."
"You always say that." He murmured.
"Because it's true." She whispered.
"How long are you here for?" Troy asked, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"I told my parents to stay until after the project. Then we're going home." She replied softly.
"I don't want you to leave." He said softly.
Gabriella turned in his arms and frowned. "What?"
"It's weird but, when I'm around you, I feel like I've got no choice but to be the geeky Troy Bolton I was in middle school." He said sincerely. "And I know what the school thinks of me. I'm just terrified that when you leave, I'll have no reason to be the old me anymore."
Gabriella sighed and looked at the ground. "But, I've got to leave. It sounds silly just coming to a new school for a month but we have to leave as soon as our project is over. I mean, I'll miss so many people, Sharpay not being one of them."
He chuckled and kissed her softly. "I want to change but…"
"Kids! Dinner's ready." A feminine voice yelled up the stairs.
Troy rolled his eyes. "Coming." He looked down on Gabriella. "Do you…Do you have faith in me?"
She leant up and brought his head down to kiss him softly. "I think I have more faith in you than I do in myself. Come on, I'm hungry." She dragged him down the stairs and saw his family sat around the dining room table: Jack and Lucille at opposite ends of the table, Keely in her high chair next to Lucille and Justin sat on the seat closest to Jack.
"Mom, this is Gabriella. Gabriella, my Mom." Troy introduced as they both sat down next to each other.
Lucille smiled broadly, attempting to feed Keely. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I am so grateful for what you did last night. That finally proves that neither my husband or sons are ever setting foot in a kitchen again."
Gabriella giggled. "It was fun. I enjoyed spending time with Justin and Keely."
"How is the project going?" Jack asked, handing Troy a bowl of new potatoes.
He accepted and gave some to Gabriella as well. "It's going good. We've already decided on a really cool storyline. It took a bit of persuasion from Gabriella but it's a really good one."
"Yeah, my parents actually inspired me." Gabriella said softly, pouring some gravy on her food.
"What do your parents do?" Lucille asked.
"Oh, well, my Dad wants to be an inventor but, trust me, that won't happen. My Mom is unemployed and my Dad's official job is actually a teacher. But, we're only here short term." Gabriella explained. "They are also interested in astrology which inspired our idea."
Jack nodded approvingly. "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Gabriella's face fell and Troy must've noticed for he rested his hand on her knee softly. "No. I'm an…I'm an only child. They can't have anymore children." She swallowed hard and suddenly stood up. "May I be excused? I don't feel very well."
Lucille nodded worriedly and Gabriella pushed past Troy's chair and made her way back upstairs to Troy's room. She softly laid down on his bed and smiled giddily, letting the familiar scent of Troy fill her up like a drink. She buried her face into Troy's pillows and muffled sobs escaped her lips. It wasn't that Lucille had upset her exactly, it was being reminded how lonely she was. Only Chad could go to her house. Everyone else was clueless and, in a way, Gabriella preferred it like that. Chad had found out by accident and she was lucky when he had been such a good friend to her. But, she was truly lonely.
She yelped softly when two arms slowly snaked around her petite body and then she realised who it was. She snuggled back further into Troy, but kept her nose buried in his pillows. "I'm sorry." She muttered.
"For what?" He whispered into her hair.
She shrugged, not knowing herself really. "I guess for running off like that. Your parents must hate me now."
"No, they don't." He whispered softly, pulling her closer. "They're worried, though."
Gabriella stood up, breaking from his arms and making her way to the balcony again. The sky had darkened slightly and she saw the first, brightest star peep through. She felt Troy's arms around her again and she intertwined their fingers together. "I'm just so lonely."
"What about Chad and Ryan and all the girls?" Troy murmured as they stared at the sky together.
"Well, its okay, I guess. But, Chad's the only one who wants me around. Everyone else is talking about drama club or the scholastic decathlon and I'm going home in a month. How can I get involved with of that? And even when Chad and I hang out or I tutor him, he talks non-stop about Taylor." She groaned and turned around to cry pathetically into Troy's chest.
Troy chuckled softly and rubbed her back soothingly, resting his head on her shoulder. "He's always done that. But, she's a bit reluctant."
"Hmmm…"
"What about me?" Troy suddenly asked.
She pulled back, a frown creasing her forehead. "What are you talking about?"
"Are you lonely when you're with me?" He whispered.
Gabriella opened her mouth before closing it again, contemplating her answer. "No. Most definitely not. It's just that Chad knows something about me and that's why he's closer to me than everyone else."
"What does he know?" Troy asked, pulling back.
"I want to tell you but I can't. Not yet anyway. Chad wasn't even supposed to find out. It was an accident!" She exclaimed.
Troy nodded. "You promise you'll tell me?" He asked sternly.
"I promise. I don't know when but, I will." She whispered.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Okay." He said softly. "I'm sorry, Brie, but you're going to have to wait until lunch and break before we see each other. I know you'll want to see me because of Blake but-"
She smiled softly and giggled. "I know."
"Where will you be during free period?" He asked, a mischievous smile gracing his handsome face.
"Probably the library." She nodded her head slightly. "Why?"
"Because if you want, I could speak to my Dad and ask to keep you company because of what happened." He said softly, stroking her cheek.
Gabriella nodded and whimpered quietly. "I'd like that."
"Yeah?" He asked.
She sniffed and her eyes shone with unshed tears. "Why would Blake do that?"
"Because he's an arse with legs." Troy muttered. "Not all guys are like that."
She smiled softly and kissed his lips. "I know."
