Gabriella was outside in her in her dress sitting on a lawn chair a glass of wine in her hand as she watched the stars. There really was no justice in the world. There were now thirteen girls in the house, Holly, Lydia and Heidi didn't make it past the elimination.
~~~~~~~~~~Flash back.
As she hugged Heidi she wiped her eyes and smiled at Gabriella. "You better win because you're the only one I'm rooting for." She whispered in her ear.
"You should only be so lucky you don't have to deal with Jordan." Gabriella grinned a bit as she returned the hug.
"Your right." Heidi said with a smile. The two parted and Heidi hugged some of the other girls before shaking Troy's hand and leaving the house for good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of flash back.
Gabriella felt really bad about Heidi going home. In all she felt like a fraud for being here in the first place she hated reality TV and here she was dead center of it all.
"Are you upset about Heidi still." Michelle asked as she took a seat in the lawn chair beside her. Her orange dress was toned down by the darkness of the night and Gabriella smiled at Michelle. "I'm fine just not into the whole fighting for attention thing." She said pointing back at the house.
"Me either." Michelle said leaning back in the chair. "I keep thinking I'm making a connection with him and then boom he onto the next girl and almost getting a lap dance." Michelle wiped her eye again.
Gabriella looked over at her and realized that she was crying. "Michelle when you came on to the show you knew that he would be dating 19 other girls along with you right?" Gabriella asked as she looked at Michelle.
"I know but I just didn't think it would be this intense." she whispered as she wiped her eyes again. "I mean he is such a nice guy and I really, really want to be the one but I just don't think he's interested.
"Well he did keep you tonight obviously there is something about you he finds interesting." Gabriella said lifting her glass to her lips.
"Does it bother you at all that he keeps picking you last." Michelle said as she tilted her head to the side and took a deep breath. She watched as Gabriella took a long sip of her wine and then looked over at Michelle.
"No." Gabriella lied. "as long as I'm here what the use in getting all worked up." She said pulling her drink away.
Troy was in the living room dancing with Samantha as she moved her body so she was grinding on his crotch. He hard as hell and who could blame him he was in a room with a lot of attractive women and he was dancing close with each one. Esha was against his back pressing her breast against him as she danced. He was in a sandwich of the gods, he was a very lucky boy right now. However he was disappointed when Gabriella had left to go outside. He did want to follow her and have some alone time with her but he was the center of attention in here and he knew the rest of the girls would only follow and ruin the moment.
Eventually Troy was called to the backroom to do some recording in the confessional room and he was thankful for the most part for a way out. Kissing most of the girls on the cheek they said their good nights and went upstairs to bed. Troy was in the confessional room for an hour and once he was out the house was silent and all he could hear was music coming from the Living room. Deciding it would be best to just go to his room and lock the door behind him. He paused when the lyrics sounded more real and faint then the melody. Then realized it was some playing the piano and singing along to it.
Walking down the hall his curiosity got the better of him and he quietly walked along the wall pausing as he came to the living room and peeking in to see Gabriella at the piano.
Maybe I will never be
Who I was before
Maybe I don't even know her anymore
Or maybe who I am today
Aint so far from yesterday
Can I find a way to be
Every part of me
So I'll try
Try to slow things down
And find myself
Get my back on the ground
It'll take time
But I know I'll be alright
Cuz nothing much has changed
On the inside
It's hard to figure out
How it's gonna be
Cuz I don't really know now
I wanna understand
Maybe I will never be
Who I was before
Maybe I don't even know her anymore
Or maybe who I am today
Aint so far from yesterday
Can I find a way to be
Every part of me
Coming to a stop she let her shoulder fall and she looked out into the nothing in front of her.
"Never told me you could sing." He said coming around and smiling at her as she looked back at him with a mortified expression.
"I never meant to." She said quietly looking away and avoiding his eyes. "How long were you there?"
"Why not, your defiantly not bad at it." He said tucking his hands in his pockets and ignoring her question.
"I just don't do it anymore." She said getting up from the Piano. "What's it to you?"
"wait." He said pulling out her glasses from his pocket. Gabriella looked at them with worry as he held them out to her "These are yours." He said
Gabriella took them from his hand and nodded. "Thanks." As she went to turn around her foot got caught on between the stool and the leg of the piano and she flew forwarded into Troy's arms.
"You alright tenderfoot." He said looking down at her as she was still in his arms clenching on and looking away in pure and utter embarrassment.
"I promise you I am not the kind of girl who falls everywhere." She said getting her footing and pulling away.
"I'm not complaining, I shorta like catching you." He said shrugging his shoulders.
"Yeah well its not really graceful either." She said adjusting her purple dress.
Gabriella moved away as she went to make her way to her room.
"Not a big talker, huh?" he said taking a step so he was right behind her.
"Depends on the topic. My ungracefulness doesn't really whip me into a verbal frenzy." She said crossing her arms.
"Point proven" he said coming around to face. "Take a walk with me?" he asked
Gabriella was silent for a moment and then nodded her head. "fine."
Troy felt his shoulder relax as he motioned for them to walk outside. Pulling the door opened he watched as she walked ahead of him and into the night. Her skin was dark brown and her hair was loose around her shoulders there wasn't a thing about this girl that he didn't like and so far that was good enough to keep her here even against her will.
"So why did you send home Heidi?" Gabriella asked as she watched him close the door behind him.
"I didn't feel as though she was my type." He said coming to her side. "She was a bright and charming girl, however I just feel like I wasn't the kind of guy she was looking for." He said with a smile. He sent her home because she felt as though she needed someone who would take care of her and allow her to become dependent on him. Troy had no intentions of being that man he expected the woman he would marry would have a life of her own and be independent. He wanted someone strong not someone looking for security and self fulfillment in someone else.
"Who are you to make that decision?" she asked walking along side him.
"When you meet someone you know." He said with grin. "Some of us click, some of us don't" he said shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Yet we click?" She said walking along side him and shaking her head.
"No we repel." He responded with a half laugh.
"Then why am I still here?"
"Why is every other line from your mouth a question?"
Gabriella and Troy paused facing each other and staring into the others eyes. Gabriella felt a wave of intense attraction to the man in front of her but after six years she could have felt the same attraction to poorly shaped cheeto. The silence wasn't uncomfortable and no one made a move to speak until Gabriella took a breath.
"Mr. Bolton, it been a displeasure not that its surprising and I will see you tomorrow." She whispered holding out her hand for a shake.
"Why don't you call me Troy?" he said ignoring her hand.
"Because Mr. Bolton, I don't like you." She responded tilting her head. There was a moment of pause as he stared down at her with a smirk. She didn't know what was funny but she didn't like the way he was looking at her.
"Who needs affection when I have blind hatred?" He stated taking her hand.
Gabriella was about to say that for hatred to be blind one would have to have no reason to hate the hated, but before she could he tugged on her hand pulling her closer and bringing his lips down to hers. The instant their lips met Gabriella felt her body shift on its weight and in an act of betrayal her body leaned forwards into his for support. His free hand came up to the small of her back holding her in the closeness as he kissed her deeper using his tongue to please and tease her bottom lip and making her part her lips for him.
Letting a moan escape his lips he pushed to explore her mouth thoroughly, more than he had in hotel room. This time he wanted to taste her and feel the heat of her warm mouth against his. He was captivated by how willingly she crumbled and amused by how much she enjoyed it even though she was hesitant to his touch. Her lips that had mumbled words of hate moments before were now as loving and lusting as his own.
Pulling away because of oxygen deprivation he looked down into her half lidded eyes. She was a sight in the moonlight and delight against his body. It only took a moment before she was pulled from the daze and pulled herself back, jumping from him as if he were on fire. Almost tipping on the potted plant behind her she steadied herself and placed a hand over her lips.
"Whoa there tenderfoot." He said holding out his hands in case she would fall. "Relax." He said in a low voice. "I'd hate to see you fall from being weak at the knees."
"Like hell." She mumbled making her way towards the door.
"Someone has her panties in a twist." He said with a deep breath as he watched her go.
Gabriella pause in mid step and turned around coming back at him with two strides she pointed a finger. "Don't, for one minute, think that you had any effect whatsoever on my panties."
"Oh really then what did I have an effect on?" he said leaning in closer to her with a grin.
"Other than my upchuck reflex, nothing." She said turning around and making her way back into the house.
Troy smiled and chuckled to himself as he watched her leave. As far as he was concerned Gabriella was the most difficult person in the planet to understand, but that wasn't going to stop him from trying.