Disclaimer: I have no affiliation to anything, anybody, or anyplace in the High School Musical series. This is purely for fictional and entertainment purposes.
Summary: Troy Bolton is the captain of the Los Angeles Lakers. When he suddenly sets his eyes on a cheerleader from a rival team, he is unprepared for the love and rejection he receives throughout his relationship.
For The Love of Rivalry
Chapter Nine
Troy walked off the platform, ignoring the shouting from the reporters and their camera clicks. He had just defied his coach and his team. He had told the truth when they wanted him to lie about everything. He had followed his heart. And hopefully, Gabriella had been watching. He felt so bad about how they left things earlier. He wanted her to know that he still did love her and that he didn't want to lose her. He just hoped she was watching.
His coach grabbed his arm once Troy was out of view from the photographers. He was glaring at Troy. "What the hell did you just do? You didn't do anything that I said! Do you want your career to go down the toilet?"
"It won't," said Troy, shrugging. "What makes you think that this will affect my career?"
His coach sighed softly, shaking his head. "Troy, the world will not like this."
"I know they won't. But, it's my life. I mean, you don't know Gabriella like I do," said Troy. He started smiling. "She is so beautiful, smart, funny, and kind. She is everything that I could ever hope for. I mean, it's about the person. Not about their career."
The coach couldn't help but chuckle at Troy's explanation. "Never thought you would be the one to bare his soul to me."
Troy chuckled. "Coach, you're married. Right?"
"It's been over 25 years," said the coach.
"You would always do anything for her, right? You'd always defend her?" asked Troy.
Coach nodded, smiling. "Every day for the rest of my life. Maybe even after."
"Coach, I promise that I will keep defending our team too. I won't do anything to jeopardize our chances of winning that championship," promised Troy.
"Wouldn't Gabriella be upset if her team loses?" chuckled coach.
Troy chuckled as well. "No. In fact, she hopes we win. But, don't tell anybody that. I don't think she wants the team to hate her."
Gabriella paced back and forth in her living room, staring at her cell phone. It had been silent for way too long. She wanted Troy to call her. She should have called him, though. But she was afraid. She didn't want to get his voice mail. She didn't want to get forwarded to an automated messaging system.
Maybe hope for them was lost.
It began to ring. She rushed for it and answered it without looking at the caller ID. "Troy, I am so so sorry. I am not ashamed of your name, okay? I love you so much. I can't believe we had to talk like that. We should never argue."
Troy was silent for a moment, secretly smiling at Gabriella's attempt for an apology. "Did you see my press conference?"
Gabriella furrowed her brows. "What? No, I'm sorry. I was waiting for you to call this entire time. I wasn't even thinking about it. I didn't even know about the press conference."
Troy sighed softly. "Well, the team and the coach arranged it so I could deny that I was in Boston with you. Like, I wasn't dating you."
Gabriella frowned. "Oh. I see."
"But, I didn't deny it. I couldn't lie to myself, my heart, or you. I couldn't tell a crowd of people and the entire world that I wasn't dating you." Troy smiled. "I told everybody that I was dating you and that I am in love with you."
Gabriella tried to keep her tears at bay, but she failed. She cracked through a giggle. "Troy, I can't believe you did that."
"I did it for us, Gabriella. I really do love you," said Troy.
"I love you too," whispered Gabriella. She paused. "I want to see you."
Troy smiled, rubbing his scruffy chin. "Well, we still have a while until the playoffs or training begin. Why don't you come here? Right now. It's still early."
"What? But, it'll be late when I get there," said Gabriella, shaking her head.
"So? I'll be there when you land."
Gabriella suddenly had a thought and frowned. "Troy, the whole world knows about us. I've never had photographers around me."
"Hey, don't worry. They will be annoying and I won't lie. They are going to be there when you least expect it," said Troy. "But I promise, I will protect you. I make sure you don't get hurt. Especially by me."
Gabriella couldn't believe this. She was dating a guy that should be her rival. She was going to be thrown into a world that would be pure chaos with strange men and flashing lights. She would be in magazines, on the news, and around the world. People would see her at her worst and her best.
But, she had Troy. Troy would protect her.
She believed him.
Troy could see them. Who couldn't? They were parked outside, inside, and around him. They were flashing their lights, clicking their cameras, and asking their questions left and right. They were asking him quite an array of questions, too.
"Troy, where is your girlfriend?"
"Who are you waiting for?"
"Is she pregnant?"
"Are you guys going to get married?"
"When are you two going to have a reality show?"
"How will this affect your career?"
All Troy did was roll his eyes. He laughed to himself at the questions as he adjusted his sunglasses and put his hands in his pockets. He looked around the terminal, seeing the blinking lights outside of a plane landing. It was nearing midnight in about an hour or so. He knew it was late, but he was here for Gabriella. He was just lucky that she agreed to seeing him and leaving to see him this soon.
And she was here now.
He smiled when he saw that she was the first person walking out of the doors with her duffel bag and her beautiful smile when she spotted him. She waved childishly and rushed over to him. It was amazing, too. It was like she didn't even notice as the cameras began clicking when she jumped into his arms.
He hugged her tightly and moaned in appreciation at the feel of her skin and the smell of her body. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too," she murmured into his neck. She was still smiling. "Thank you so much for being here."
"Always," said Troy, looking into her eyes. He smiled and kissed her, not giving a damn about the photographers. He didn't give a damn about their shouting or their questions. And, he didn't give a damn that they were even there.
He finally had Gabriella back in his arms.
Reluctantly, he put her back down on the ground and picked up her bag. He held her hand and smiled. "You ready?"
"I've been ready," she said, smiling up at him.
Troy glanced at the photographers as they slowly began to walk towards the exit. He leaned down towards her ear. "I promise to always protect you, okay?"
Gabriella simply nodded and exhaled heavily, her heart pounding. She clung on to him as they were suddenly a two person parade. She felt scared and nervous. There were these strange men poking cameras at her and they were firing questions at them that she had no clue about. Troy wasn't kidding. It was scary.
Troy kept a hold of Gabriella, keeping his head down. He could feel her shaking and he could practically hear her heart beating hard. She was scared. He knew that. He would do anything to protect her. She was his life now.
"Troy, Gabriella!"
"Over here! Give us a smooch!"
"Don't be camera shy!"
"Are you guys getting married soon?"
Gabriella giggled when they were finally outside and near the vehicle. "Marriage? Really?"
Troy chuckled as he put her duffel bag in the trunk. He opened up her door and smiled. "In you go."
Gabriella smiled and got in, shutting the door once she got inside. She ducked her head from the photographers as they crowded around the vehicle. She heard Troy get inside and sighed heavily, glad they could have privacy to talk.
"Wow."
Troy smiled as they pulled away, leaving the jungle behind them. "I told you."
"Thanks for protecting me," said Gabriella, smiling at him.
Troy held her hand. "Always."
Troy took a few turns on some interstates and highways before they finally reached his apartment. Troy helped her with her bag again and went up the steps, opening the door for her. He watched as she walked in slowly, admiring the apartment.
"Well?" he asked, shutting the door behind him.
Gabriella smiled at him. "Surprisingly, it's lovely."
Troy smiled at her, setting her duffel bag down. He walked over to her and gripped her waist. "You're lovely."
"Mhm," sighed Gabriella, allowing him to kiss her.
Their lips moved together, growing more passionate as they realized how much they missed each other. Hands roamed and buttons began to fly as they maneuvered towards the bedroom. Troy kicked the door shut behind him and kissed Gabriella's neck, moving his hands down her bare arms. He loved the feel of her skin.
"So soft," he murmured, voicing his thoughts.
Gabriella smiled, running her hands over his bare chest. He was so muscular. She had missed his body so much. And, she didn't want to wait for it. "I want you."
"Good. Because I want you too," smiled Troy, reaching for her bra clasp around her bare skin.
All it took was Gabriella's giggle for Troy to drop their bodies on the bed in a fuss of love, kisses, touching, and so much time to make up.
