Chapter 8: Shopping
One word is stuck to Troy's brain. And as weird it may sound for most people who weren't there that day, it's his very own way that has taken the place of all other thoughts. Even the names of his students are gone, which can be very inconvenient when he is supposed to give them all tasks. But whatever he does, on his mission to get his name out of his brain, it does not disappear. And this day is no exception.
"Troy.."
That was her only words before she strangely had to go. Probably the boyfriend wanting her to come home. Wonder what they did. 'Eww, Troy, get those thoughts out of you stupid little head! Wait.. that was a new thought!'
"This is just crazy" he says to himself. He doesn't even know what she was going to say. Probably something like 'do you know when the stores closes here? Is it still as early as it was then?' which he would say yes too and they would laugh, thinking back on the days they spent together, supposedly shopping but always ending up at the café without one single bought thing because the stores closed so ridiculously early. Troy smiles at the thought.
But he is quickly brought out of the thoughts again when the phone rings. It's load and annoying and as much as he wants to ignore it, he can't. It's a very bad habit of him. Most people manage to shut the sound out when they feel too crapy to answer, but for Troy, that is absolutely impossible.
He crawls out of bed and runs to the phone that is stupidly placed in the hallway, miles – it feels – away from the bedroom. "Hello?"
"Hi!"
"Gabriella?" He's confused. Either, he is really bad at remembering how voices sound, or he is very tired.
"Yes silly," Gabriella laughs. "Did I wake you?"
"Mhmmmm…" Troy groans and rubs his eyes to fully wake up. "I was awake, just not really up. Tired."
"Oh Troy you haven't changed a bit." Gabriella is still laughing. "So.. got any plans for the day? Or did you plan to stay in that bed of yours?"
Troy would very much like to stay in that bed of his all day, but the refrigerator was practically empty and he was desperate for some clean clothes. "Well, you know. I can't."
"Can't what? Answer me?" Troy can actually hear her smiling as she's kidding around with him. 'Cruel. She knows I'm tired.'
"Nooo… Stay in bed. I would very much like that, but like as a single man living alone I have to shop. The refrigerator is empty and I have nothing clean clothes to where. I'm actually wondering how I'm gonna get to the store without looking like a vagrant."
"Troy Troy Troy, what can I do about you?" 'Gabriella is certainly enjoying this' "Look, find the cleanest clothes you have, put the rest in the washing machine and come meet me at the super market. I have some shopping to do to."
"Fine. But don't be surprised if I do look like a vagrant."
"No no, I won't!"
Troy is happy. Not only did the phone call wake him up, it was a funny conversation. Gabriella hasn't changed either. She's still the same funny, cute girl she was all those years ago. Just a little older. 'It's good to know, I guess. We haven't changed together either.'
A while after they meet at the super market where they do their shopping. It doesn't surprise Gabriella when Troy goes to the frozen pizza section. But when Gabriella follows him and put 3 pizzas in her own shopping cart, it surprises Troy. The Gabriella he knows likes to have home cooked meals, preferably healthy, certainly not frozen pizza, one of the most unhealthy things you can eat, according to herself. So yes, it does surprise him. When he looks at her with a weird look to say that he thinks this is weird she replies "What? I just need a break from the cooking. I make a lot of dinners and sometimes I just need to be able to put a pizza in the oven and be done with dinner."
Troy only nods, doesn't want to argue, before they continue their shopping. They talk like they haven't been away from each other at all and they have a lovely time. Even at the super market.
When they are done and standing at the parking lot, ready to go off to their homes, Troy get a phone call from a very excited mother.
"Troy dear, did you know that Mrs. Montez is in town? You should go see her! She'd be so pleased!"
"Hey Mom! Who's in town?"
"Sara Montez. Gabriell-"
"Yeah I know who Sara Montez is Mom." Troy smiles and rolls his eyes towards Gabriella who laughs. "Did you say I should go see her?"
"Yes! Who's with you? I heard someone laughing."
"It's Gabriella Mom."
Troy can hear his mother smiling on the other end now and knows exactly what she's gonna say. "Oh, so you already knew she was here?"
"Nope, I didn't."
"How is Gabriella? Where are you? You having fun? Say hallo to her from me and you father." He knew it would come.
"Mom, I will tell her you said that, and she's fine." He takes the phone away from his ear to tell Gabriella that his parents say hallo and she smiles and tell him to tell them hallo from her too." And Mom, she says hallo back. I have to go now, ok?"
"Wait honey, I was going to tell you that I invited Sara and Gabriella over here for dinner. And Peter of course. You'll be there too?"
"Sure Mom. Got to go. Bye!" He hangs up before his mother can say anything more. "Why did she call to tell me that I should go see you mother when she invited her over for dinner tomorrow so we all can catch up?"
"I don't know, but I do know your mother and she's always crazy when she's excited!" She smiles at Troy. "And I totally forgot to tell you that my Mom is here. That's why I had to go so quickly."
"Oh yeah, I thought it was something like that," Troy says nonchalantly. "I never really thought about it."
"Oh." 'Is she disappointed?' Troy thinks, light minded. "Well, I guess I have to get the food home. It's so warm these days. See you later though, at dinner?"
"Yup," Troy nods. "It'll be fun. Those dinners usually were!"
