Chapter 8: A Little Too Late Part One
Troy was in the indoor gym of the house he used to share with Gabriella before she moved in with Sharpay and Zeke.
"Hoops, don't get me wrong I love your wife like she's my sister and the kids are great, but you gotta get them out my house. It' crazy having five kids in the house."
"Those aren't my kids."
"You know what now I see why Gabi came to our house."
"What did you say Baylor?" Troy and Zeke started walking toward each other and Chad quickly got in between the two
"Hey, hey chill out Hoops!"
"You need to tell Baker Boy here to mind his damn business."
"Well it's pretty hard not too when Mr. Asshole's business is living in my house."
"What did you say?!" Chad pushed Troy back
"Hoops chill out!" Chad then turned to Zeke
"Zeke calm down!"
"Naw man, he always acts like…"
"I said calm the hell down! Come on now, you supposed to be friends! Now what Zeke said was rude but it's right."
"Come on now Chad, he was just being an asshole!"
"No he wasn't! Now you need to get your shit together because ever since you and Gabi started fighting I haven't been getting sex because all Tay can talk about now is what's happening between you and Gabi."
"You guys have to understand, I just can't be a dad to kids that aren't mine."
"Troy, I thought you of all people would understand. Your dad walked out on you."
It was true, when Troy was just seven his dad, Jack Bolton, left him with his mom to go buy some milk and he never came back. Troy should understand the effects of not growing up with his father. It wasn't until he was in high school when his mom remarried, so you would think that he would be more than willing to be a father to the twins.
"That was different, my dad didn't want me. Antonio died in a car accident. It's different."
"What's so different Troy? To me you're acting just like your father." When Zeke said that Troy's patience finally broke and he punched Zeke in the face.
"What the fuck man?"
"I am nothing like that man. Don't you ever compare me to him!"
"I'm just saying man, you're gonna sit back and let some other man play Daddy to your kids."
"What the hell are you talking about Zeke?"
"I've heard Shar and Gabi talking and it seems like Dr. Antoine and your wife are getting pretty close."
"Excuse me?"
"That's right while you stay here and bask in your bull shit Gabi is playing house with a doctor."
"You know what get the fuck out of my house Zeke and don't come back."
"Gladly."
"Wait a minute now, Zeke you guys have been friends since pre-school man."
"I don't care man, I'm not gonna sit here and let him disrespect me." Zeke grabbed his basketball bag and left the gym.
"What the hell was that Troy?"
"He was being a fucking asshole man."
"No Troy he was being a friend. You gotta talk to Gabi man before it's too late."
"Why should I? She never talks to me! I'm hurt too Chad, that was my baby too. You know Gabriella…we never told you guys this but she tried to kill herself after Michael died."
"What?"
"I always had to be strong for her. I was always the one who couldn't show emotion because I didn't want her to go back to the place she was at."
"Troy, it's ok to show emotion. You guys have been through a lot. You didn't have to hide them, to be honest I don't know how you did it. I know that I personally couldn't."
"You know Chad I think it's best if we call this a day."
"Alright Hoops, I'll call you later." The two friends shared a hug
"Love you man."
"Love you too Hoops." Chad grabbed his basketball and left Troy's house.
Troy then left the gym to go to the workout room, he figured a good workout will get some steam out of his head.
Troy worked out for about an hour and he still didn't feel any better. He knew that Chad and Zeke were right, it was just his pride that was hurt more than anything. All he wanted was to have a child with his wife, just to have a child that was made from the love he has for his wife. He longed for the day he would have a daughter that looked exactly like Gabriella. He couldn't give that to her he knew how much she wanted to have children of her own. It just hurts him that he can't give that to her. Troy sat down on the bench and pulled his phone. He decided to call Gabriella and see if she would consider talking to him over dinner. Troy dialed the number and then put the call on speaker phone
"Hello, you've reached Dr. Gabriella Montez I'm sorry I can't reach the phone right now. Please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
"Hey Gabs, I know we haven't talked in a few weeks but I just wanted to say I'm sorry. Please call me back maybe we can have dinner. I'll take you anywhere you want to go. Just please call me back. I love you Gabs."
Flashback
When I woke up in my bed I saw Troy staring back at me which he usually does when we sleep in the same bed.
"How do you feel Mama?"
"Better now that I got some rest."
"I'll go check on Michael." Troy got out of the bed and walked over to the crib then I saw him stop.
"What's wrong?"
"Gabriella…"
"Troy, what's wrong?" I asked sitting up
"Call 911."
"What's wrong!"
"Gabriella she's not breathing!"
"Oh my God!" I frantically grabbed my phone and hastily dialed 911
"Hello, 911? My baby's not breathing!"
End Flashback
I was laying down on a bed in the on-call room waiting for my board exams results to be uploaded. I heard the door open but I didn't look up and assumed it was Taylor or Sharpay.
"Did you guys pass?"
"Well, yeah I passed but that was a couple years ago." I playfully rolled my eyes as I sat up. I smiled when I saw it was Xavier, he insisted that I call him by his first name since we're now friends.
"Hello Dr. Antoine." I smiled
"Didn't I tell you to call me Xavier?" He shut the door behind him and then made his way over to the bed before sitting down next to me.
"I know but at work we have to remain professional."
"Did you get your results yet?"
"No, they haven't been…"
"What?"
"They just posted." I sighed heavily before opening my test results. As I looked at my results a huge smile was forming on my lips. I squealed happily which I could tell startled Xavier
"I passed, I passed, I passed!" I hugged Xavier in the midst of my excitement.
"Congratulations you are now a fellow."
"Oh my gosh I'm so happy, I thought that I wouldn't pass because of everything that's going on with Natanya and then Troy…" I sighed heavily. I then felt Xavier grab my hand.
"I'm happy you I'm really am." There was brief silence between the two of us as we looked into each other's eyes. Our faces slowly inching toward each other. As is completely out of nowhere it felt like the room got hotter.
"Xavier…" I wanted to tell him to stop but my body kept moving closer and closer to him. Then finally our lips touched. My brain was telling me to pull him away but my body was pulling him closer to me as if we could get any closer than we already were. I felt his tongue dance against my lips asking for access which I gladly permitted. I felt his hands move to take my scrub shirt off and I moved to undo the strings on his pants. Moments later clothes were scattered and we were only left in our underwear.
"You sure you wanna do this?" Xavier breathed heavily
"Yes I'm sure." I rolled over so I was on top and we continued our lip lock session. I know I'm still married and I'm technically cheating on my husband but Troy hasn't been supportive of me and Xavier has been there when my husband wasn't. We were so caught up that we didn't even hear the door open.
"Dr. Montez did you get…" My heart dropped as I looked up and saw Chief Brooks standing in the doorway.
"Oh my god Chief." I quickly got off Xavier and started to get dressed.
"It's ok Dr. Montez you don't have to rush just come see me after you're done doing whatever is you were doing." The door shut and I was still trying to catch my breath.
"Gabi, I'm so…"
"Dr. Antoine it's ok. I think we need to keep this relationship strictly professional."
"Gabi…"
"Dr. Antoine I would appreciate it if you would call me Dr. Montez from now on." Once I was fully dressed I quickly left the room I started walking down the hallway and I bumped into Taylor and Sharpay.
"Hey Gabi did you get your results back?" Sharpay asked
"Yeah I did."
"Are you ok sweetie? Did you pass?" Taylor questioned
"Gabi why are you wearing Dr. Antoine's lab coat?"
"Um…he…we were…well I was…" Then Dr. Antoine walked out of the on-call room.
"Hello Ladies."
"Um, Dr. Antoine you're wearing Dr. Montez's lab coat?"
"Oh, um we were both taking a nap and must've mixed up our coats."
"Yeah, that's right." We exchanged our coats and Dr. Antoine was on he was on his way. I looked at my two friends and just knew that there just a million questions running through their minds.
"On-call room now!"
