Enter the Theater Sub - Chapter 10 – Mean What You Say

It was Friday already. Somehow the week and flown by and everyone had gotten very wrapped up in their day-to-day activities. The four friends had exchanged pleasantries and each couple had managed at least a dinner or two with their respective partners, but no real time had been managed. That was how Troy found himself at Chad and Taylor's townhouse going through various film of an upcoming opponent. He and Chad had major concerns about the team they'd be facing in regionals next week and frankly, they'd taken over Taylor's living room with charts and strategies and even tonight they were arguing over the best approach to the other team's mammoth center.

Taylor after an hour of not being able to think over their acclamations had called Gabriella and begged admittance to her apartment. Gabriella had agreed and now Taylor sat in the relative peace and quiet of a woman's apartment. It was so drastically different from her place with Chad that she couldn't even figure out how she had gone from living like this with Gabriella to living like she did now with Chad, and sometimes Troy. She chuckled, "Gabi, don't ever let Troy move in here. Keep your own place forever! I'm telling you, they're both pigs!"

Gabriella chuckled as she sipped her hot tea while sitting at the kitchen bar on a nicely cushioned stool while grading papers. "I'll have to keep that in mind. Actually, that was something I wanted to talk about. Troy stayed over earlier this week. Nothing happened, I mean other than him just holding me. But, Tay, it felt so normal, so natural for me to wake up with him and see him rush out to meet with Chad as he does every morning. Then it seems like I haven't really gotten to see him all week. I'm concerned. You don't think he's avoiding me now, do you?"

Taylor laughed, "Here, we'll call my husband, he'll know. You want to know why? Because he and Troy have spent every waking moment bickering like an old married couple over the team's strategy for the game with West High."

Gabriella looked at her apprehensively, "You don't think he's just burying himself in coaching because he's avoiding me, do you?"

Taylor smiled and rubbed Gabriella's forearm. "Sweetheart, that man has it bad for you. Why are you worrying so much?"

Gabriella sighed heavily. "I haven't let anyone in this close is so long, Taylor. I'm afraid I don't know how to do it anymore. I'm afraid at every turn that I'm going to do something foolish and ruin everything. It's all too good to be true! We both have scars in the same area of life. We both love Shakespeare and teaching. We both have the same couple as our best friends. And that's another thing! Why didn't you introduce me to him sooner?"

Taylor laughed, "Truthfully, until maybe six months ago, I wouldn't have trusted him with you."

Gabriella looked at her quizzically. "What changed?"

Taylor sighed, "I don't know really. He just—" She looked off to the corner of the room as though staring into the past. "There was one afternoon when he was supposed to meet Chad at the park on the basketball courts. But, he never showed. That weekend he came over to grill with Chad and they talked for a long time outside. Chad wouldn't tell me everything, but he said that he hoped that maybe Troy could find some sense of peace now. After that, he stopped picking up the women who were WAY beneath his standards and starting just living again."

Gabriella wondered inside what could have happened that afternoon. She wondered if she should bring it up with him, or if it was still too soon for questions like that between them. She smiled at Taylor, "Well, thanks for bringing him in for Darbus. I don't even want to think about what my life would have been like without him, if only for the play!"

Taylor laughed, "Yeah, you got lucky on that one. When I offered the interim position to him, I said that I'd have you take over the play because he would have basketball coaching to do in the afternoons. He insisted that he be allowed to be the faculty sponsor for the play. He said he couldn't wait and that Chad ran practice without him all the time."

Gabriella laughed, "Wow in that case, REALLY thank you for bringing him in and not someone else."

Troy ran his hand through his hair. "But Chad, if we move Marcus to forward and Jameson to center, you're gonna loose 1/3 of the plays in our book! We can't cut that many options on the off chance that we throw the opposing coach for a loop!"

Chad eyed him, "Come on, man, this is basketball! We can switch back at any time!"

Troy sighed, "This just seems like a good way to confuse the boys right before a big game when they're gonna be dealing with big nerves as it is!"

Chad rolled his head down and around. His neck was killing him and Taylor had left, so he was without his favorite masseuse. "Alright, let's call it a night. I'm dying here."

Troy nodded, "Me too. Hey, what happened to Taylor earlier. I thought she was just running out to get something from the store or something."

Chad shook his head, "No idea. I'll check the fridge for a note. You want a beer or something?"

Troy shook his head, "Na, thanks anyway."

Chad walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He pulled a pepsi out for himself and saw the note on the notepad. He read it out loud on his way back into the living room. "Heading to Gabi's. Call me when you're done. Love you, Tay."

Troy smiled, "Gabi's. God, that's exactly where I want to be right now."

Chad laughed, "Well then get the hell out of here, man. You obviously miss her."

Troy shook his head. "I don't know, dude. I screwed up earlier this week. That night I stayed over at her place. I was in a hurry to get out the door 'cause I slept too damn well with her right in that perfect spot. You know what I mean, when your girl just fits perfectly in your arms and you're both warm and…God, anyway, I said a couple of things and 'I love you' popped out of my mouth. I didn't even realize it until I got to her front door, but by then it would have been insane for me to go try to take it back, so I just left and came to meet up with you. But, she asked me about it later and I couldn't lie to her. So, I told her I didn't know if I meant it or not yet, but that I am definitely starting to fall in love with her. She got all disappointed, you know. Not the disappointed that she'll tell me or admit it. She just won't quite look me in the eye. She's been quiet all week. I think I really screwed up."

Chad laughed, "Man you should see yourself. You're all weepy like, 'oh no, I hurt my girl. Oh God, what do I do?'"

Troy rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the support, man."

Chad laughed some more. "Shit! She really has turned you into a girl!"

Troy shook his head, but laughed a little too. "I gotta get out of here." He grabbed his bag. "How the hell did you end up keeping Taylor all these years?"

Chad shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine, dude."

Troy sighed, "I'm out. See ya."

Chad waved and Troy headed out through the front door to his old, beat up truck. He drove past his apartment, but couldn't bring himself to stop. He needed a shower and a change of clothes desperately. Still, he just couldn't stand the idea of being there alone. He circled the building and turned right so that he could get to Gabriella's. He pulled up and stopped his truck in the lot. He walked up the flight of stairs to her second floor apartment and smiled. This was where he wanted to be. He knocked on the door and heard her yell, "Just a second." Just the sound of her voice was easing his shoulders. When she opened the door, the look on her face melted away any thought he'd had of just getting a quick kiss and leaving her to her evening.

She grinned at the sight of him. "Hey."

He smiled, "Hi. I know we didn't have plans tonight, but I was just, uh, I was just—" He heard someone else moving in the apartment. His first thought was that she had another date there, then he remembered Taylor's note. He felt his stomach drop out when he saw Taylor followed into the room by a tall, thin, blonde haired man he didn't know.

Gabriella smiled and looked back at him. After he grew quiet, she waited a moment for him to continue. When he didn't, she said, "You were just in the neighborhood?"

Troy looked at her confused. "Huh?"

She smiled, "You just stopped speaking, Troy. I was guessing the end of your sentence."

He looked at her and then to the man he didn't know. He saw the guy walk up and whisper something into Gabriella's ear. She didn't back away from him at all and that bothered Troy on a level he couldn't express. She'd agreed earlier this week that they were exclusive. Who the hell was this? And what right did this guy have to whisper to his lover? Troy turned to leave.

Gabriella stepped through the doorway, "Troy? Why are you leaving?"

He turned and with a little too much anger said, "I obviously interrupted something. I'll be sure to call if I ever need to come by again."

Gabriella's eyes widened. "What?"

Troy looked back at the blonde guy who was now in the doorway asking Gabriella if everything was alright. Troy watched as Gabriella dismissed him without breaking her visual contact with Troy. "No, I'm fine. Go back inside, Ryan."

Troy couldn't help himself. "Yeah, Ryan, I think she's perfectly safe with her boyfriend."

Ryan stepped back out into the landing, "Boyfriend or not, it looks like you've got a temper and I won't let Gabriella get pushed around."

Troy stepped back up to the landing. "Well isn't that nice of you."

Ryan looked at Gabriella with obvious disapproval. "I thought you told me he was a great guy? This is your idea of 'too good to be true'?" He shook his head and looked Troy over again.

Gabriella stepped up to Troy and put one hand flat against his chest. "I think someone has the wrong idea here. Come with me, Troy."

Troy looked down at her hand. Her touch hurt right now. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and make sure this bastard knew who she was with. He wanted to make it obvious that they were serious. He was furious. How dare this guy think he has the right to 'defend' Gabriella against him, her boyfriend, her lover. "Alright." He let Gabriella take his hand and lead him out of the building.

They walked to the truck and she leaned against it. "Troy, Ryan is a very old friend of mine. We went to high school together for about a year and half. Before Taylor, Ryan was my first best friend. Then there was his sister too."

Troy stood there. "No offense, Gabriella, but that doesn't really explain anything. Why shouldn't I be upset that I stopped by to tell you how much I've missed you this week only to find some guy in your apartment?"

She shook her head, "You're treading on dangerous ground now. Be very careful what you say next."

He looked at her with more anger than he'd felt in a long time. "What?"

She looked at him, "Ryan is gay, Troy. He'd no more hit on me than Taylor would. Not that that is ANY of your business!"

Troy looked at her. "How am I on dangerous ground? Maybe if you'd just introduced him instead of just laughing as he whispered into your ear I wouldn't have had time to jump to the wrong conclusion!"

Gabriella leaned up off of the truck. "Well if you'd ask me, or bothered to trust me, it wouldn't have mattered when I introduced you!"

Troy sputtered. He wanted to be angry. He wanted to be right. "I have to go." He turned and started digging his keys out of his pocket.

"So, this is what you do when you don't like a situation, isn't it? You walk away."

Troy stopped dead cold right where he was. He took two deep, steady breaths and then turned back around to face her. His eyes were wet with tears. "Don't you ever say that to me again." His voice was cold and angry.

She looked at him. "The truth hurts, Troy."

He let the tears fall. "I'm not leaving because I don't like the situation. I'm leaving, because if I stay here, more things are going to be said that will hurt. And by the end of this, we'll have succeeded at nothing but hurting each other worse than anyone else could have. I won't do that to you and I won't let you do that to me." He looked at her through narrowed eyes. "I do love you, Gabriella and I won't let this happen if I have the chance to keep it from happening."

She looked at him, "Right now, I don't think you know how to do anything, but walk away." She had some tears falling down her face now as well.

Troy walked back up to her. He grasped her upper arms with his hands. He looked her dead in the eye. "Fine! You want me to argue with you? Then, let's go! Out with it! Bring it on, little girl!"

Gabriella glared at him. She was speechless now.

He looked at her. "I'm mean when I'm angry. I say things I don't mean. I hurt people who have no right to be hurt, just because I want to be right! I don't like the way I treat people when I'm angry and I refuse to do that to you! At least, I'm trying to refuse! But, you call me a coward! I love you!" His tears were flowing steadily now. "I love you and I don't like the sight of any guy being that comfortable with being in your personal space! I wanted to rip that smirk off of his face! I wanted to pull you up to me and make sure he knew exactly who you belong to! But, you don't belong to me, Gabriella! I know that! I know that you decide who you want to be with! I know that you don't allow anyone to make choices for you! So, I didn't. I tried to walk away!"

She just stood and stared at him. "You say you love me, while you're screaming at me and angry with me. You say you love me, when you're not really thinking about it. You know when you don't say you love me, Troy?"

He looked at her. "When?"

"Any other time when you mean what you say." She turned around and walked to her apartment building door.

He stood there dumbfounded. He felt tears pouring down his face and he couldn't care less who saw him this way. She was right. His mind was screaming at him that she was right. He wouldn't tell her he loved her when he was in his right mind, but take away some of his inhibitions and it was quick to roll of his tongue. He ran his hand through his hair. If he was her, he wouldn't believe him either. He got in his truck and drove away. He needed to clear his head. He could feel his heart beating forcefully in his chest.