Chapter 7-
Gabriella woke with a start feeling quite disoriented and out of place. Where was she? It took her several minutes for the memories of last night to return. She sighed and carefully pushed herself up, into a sitting position. A hint of movement caused her to turn her head and survey the room.
Troy was sitting in the chair to her left. His head was turned in her direction, but his eyes were closed. He mumbled something unintelligible and shifted slightly, but he remained asleep.
She shivered and drew her knees up to her chin. What was she going to do now? She had no place to go, and she couldn't stay here. James would be mad if she did. Her head ached and her throat was sore, but she had to get back before James woke up. If he knew she left he'd be terribly angry.
Slowly, she pushed the blanket, which had been covering her, off and swung her legs over the side of the couch. She silently pushed herself up off the couch. A wave of dizziness crashed through her senses and her vision began to go black. She cried out in alarm and struggled to remain standing. A moment later she felt a pair of strong arms surround her and she was gently lowered back onto the couch.
"Gabriella?" Troy asked worriedly.
She blinked several times and her vision slowly cleared of the hazy darkness. "I have to go back before he wakes up," she whispered. "He'll be angry if I don't."
Troy shook his head. "You don't have to go back to him. I can't let you."
Frowning, she struggled to sit up. "I have to."
"No, you don't. He'll just hurt you again."
The pain his eyes surprised Gabriella. She had though that he stopped caring about her many years ago. "Why, do you care?" she cried. "You didn't care that it hurt me when you just disappeared into Hollywood." Fresh tears began to fall, tears that she hated herself for. She had long ago given up her dreams and hopes of Troy Bolton, and she didn't want for her to see her cry.
Troy's heart broke as he bear witness to Gabriella's suffering. He had hurt her, emotionally, as much as James had hurt her physically. "I'm sorry," he whispered brokenly as he desperately clutched her hand. "I'm so sorry…"
"Sorry, doesn't change what happened," she replied in a cracked voice. "Sorry doesn't change that you weren't there when my mother was dying. I thought we were more than friends, but I guess we were never even that."
"No, we were," he said. Tears were beginning to fill his eyes. "I was stupid, Gabriella. I was a jerk and a fool."
"Why, Troy?" her voice was as still as night. "Why?"
His jaw clenched and he stared into her fathomless eyes. "I don't know." He finally replied. "I don't know."
A disappointed look crossed her face before she closed her eyes. Troy knew that the conversation was over, and that he had yet to redeem himself in his true love's eyes.
After several moments of complete silence, Gabriella pulled her hand from his and turned her back to him.
He sighed and silently left the room.
As Troy's footsteps faded away, Gabriella tried to hold back the sobs that threatened. Even in her darkest hours she had dreamed of the boy she loved, but now she wasn't sure if that boy even existed. Had he ever really existed at all? Or had she only seen what she wanted to see? It was all just too much for her to understand or contemplate. She was completely exhausted and every part of her ached and throbbed.
Although Troy had saved her last night, he wasn't meant to be her knight in shining armor. He couldn't even explain why he had let her go all those years ago, or why he had let her go just moments ago. She knew what she had to do. James was right. No matter how terribly he treated her, he was the only person who cared about her. She would go home, but right now she was too tired to move.
I know it's been forever! I'm terribly sorry, and I hope to start updating a little more regularly! Thanks so much for all the wonderful readers who continue to read and review:)
