"Are you going to answer my question or not?" Gabriella asks, following the man through the woods; in truth she had the suspicious feeling to trust him but she listened to her common sense which is screaming at her 'Don't trust the tall, dark mysterious handsome stranger!' Handsome? Sometimes she wished her common sense would just shut up and leave her mentally incapable of thinking for acting.
That way she wouldn't be held responsible for what is bound to happen...especially since he wasn't wearing a shirt. Oh Lord. "What question?" he asks, oh the nerve of him! He knows very well what question! He's just avoiding the subject! He steps on a fallen log, stopping to turn and hold his hand out for hers. She eyes it like a deadly insect, he rolls his eyes. "It's just a hand..."
"I don't know where..."
"...it's been, yeah yeah yeah-"
"Yes." He smirks, and continues holding his hand out for her to take. She sighs, and grasps it tight, he pulls it tight, "Why won't you answer me?"
"For me to answer, you have ask something." he says, ah! She feels like slapping his head off his shoulders.
"I did ask you something!" She yells, running a hand through her long hair that had come undone from it's bindings. The man chuckles, stepping over the log and then settling his hands on her waist so he can help her down. She didn't protest. "You can at least answer..it's polite."
"I didn't catch it." she wants so bad to slap him silly and pulls his hair. Maybe just slap him. "Try to slap me, I'll pin you." she covers her mouth quickly when she realizes she said that out loud. Her eyes widened. He chuckles again, letting go of her once she was firmly on the ground.
"Just answer me."
"Ask me."
"I hate you."
"The feeling's mutual, believe me...now if you want to know whatever it is you want to know; ask me, or else you being here is a wasted effort and ...I can just leave you here." Gabriella squares her shoulders, lifting her chin high in the air.
"I want to know how you know my name, and while your at it...tell me yours." The man stops, nay, almost freezes as he stares at her with an aghast look in his eyes. She hit a nerve. Gabriella squares her shoulders, her chin high and her eyes set to staring at him however long she must need to to get what she so desires.
"Lucky guess." He says after a while.
That caught her off guard, "what?"
"Lucky guess. My name? Not gonna happen." he grabs her by the wrist and starts tugging her the direction of the cottage; she assumed cause she had no idea where she was going in the first place.
"You're my rescuer, it's polite that I-"
"Know my name? For what?" He rolls his eyes, picking up the pace and nearly dragging her through the forest, it wasn't long till they came across a clearing with a small, rustic looking, aged cottage in the middle of it. It looks like it's seen better days. "It has seen better days." Gabriella clamps her mouth shut, cursing herself mentally for speaking her thoughts aloud.
"I should just keep my mouth shut." The man laughs, "I'd miss your voice too much...it's refreshing." Is that a compliment? If it is a compliment, then Gabriella bows her head to hide behind her hair to cover the slight dusting that heats her face. She pulls her wrist away, looking at the cottage again.
"My mother's in there?" The man nods, "just go in...I'll be getting firewood and be in a second." Gabriella bites her lip and nods as she walks to the porch of the small cottage; she notices that widdled knives and gulps. Best not make whoever makes those angry.
"Momma..." she says, knocking on the door, not too long after it's opened by a short, sort of stout dark skinned woman with aging gray hair and dark eyes. Her smile counteracting the crow's feet that rimmed her eyes. Gabriella looks down, "My..my mother was brought-" the woman nods quickly, opening the door all the way and gesturing for her to come on in.
"She's in the back room, see? Weak she is...rest she needs." Gabriella looks at her, "may I see her?" the darkskinned woman shakes her head as she moves around the small space that combined a living space, a kitchen, and dining area. Quaint.
"Rest. See her come mornin'." Uneducated. Gabriella can tell.
"Well, me and her have to get to the castle-" The woman didn't seem to hear her, "CHAD!" she yells up a ladder that leads to a loft, "Chad! Get yer arse down here!" Thundering footsteps later, a man about the same age as the one who lead her here. Maybe a bit older at least.
"Yeah, Ma?" his mouth was full, Gabriella looks away to prevent from getting sick. Her action must not have gone unnoticed, because 'Chad's' mother groans, "Oh land's sakes boy, chew with yer mouth closed, and you and Troy will be sleeping in the barn t'night..." Troy? Did she say Troy? As in Troy B...it was impossible, Troy had died but still, Gabriella never believed for a second that he was dead. If he is ...
"Aw, Ma...why-ow!" She slaps him over the head with a rolling pin, looking back at Gabriella, "I'm Mara Danforth. Nice to meet ya." Gabriella couldn't help but smile at this woman. She takes her hand, and shakes it, "Gabriella-"
"Montez."
"Sorry?"
"Oh no need to apologize deary, you're just...well known in this house." Mara explains, Gabriella purses her lips, ready to ask a question. Until...
"Yeah, Troy still hasn't quit on those dreams...moanin' in his sleep...ow! Ma, stop hittin' me!" Chad exclaims.
"He uh...he dreams about me..?" It must be the Troy she's thinking of then. Who else would...? Gabriella begins to look around to catch a glimpse of Troy from a window, Chad nods.
"Yeah, loud...ever since he was-" Mara lifts up the rolling pin and Chad flinches, turning away and going behind Gabriella for protection. What a man. Not.
"Do you know where he is?" She has to confront him, prove her theories correct. Mara points out the front door, "choppin' wood. Supper will be soon"-she turns to Chad-"You and Troy will sleep in the barn t'night, Mike shares room with me and Gabriella's mother sleeps in my bed, Gabriella sleeps in yer's and Troy's room." Chad opens his mouth to protest, but with Mara holding up the rolling pin, he quickly nods and runs out the door to the barn. Gabriella fights back a giggle as she walks to the table where Mara is rolling dough.
"I'm going to...see Troy." See if he's Troy BOLTON. Mara nods. Gabriella small nods back, walking out the door and walking around the back; there he is. Chopping wood, his bare back sweaty with the effort, the muscles in his shoulders rolling as he lifts the axe above himself and then swings it down. Gabriella bites her lip, walking slowly over to him as she remembers while looking at his incredible physique...
She was still wearing his shirt...
"Bolton." He halts, the axe freezing in the awkward position above his head. He doesn't turn. He's breathing hard. Gabriella breathes slowly, taking a slow, brave step forward, but she halts quickly when he swings the axe down with a thundering blow against a log. She jumps.
"I don't go by that name." Bingo!
"So you are him!" Gabriella yells, a little louder than necessary, he turns and covers her mouth with a sweaty, calloused hand. "Sh!" She looks at him with wide eyes, his are even bluer than when they children. Troy removes his hand slowly, peeking over her shoulder to make sure no one came running.
He's safe.
"What are you...oh my Lord...you're alive!" Gabriella whisper-yells, jumping up and down in place. Troy rolls his eyes, wiping a hand over his brow. Then she suddenly stops and bores her eyes to him, "wait til everyone at the castle hear's about this"-Troy's eyes widen and his body recoils at her words-"and your mother...what will she think? Oh, she ...I have to tell her-" Troy bites his lip, acting quickly, he grabs her shoulders and crashes his lips on hers. She squirms, but relaxes when she feels a warmth spreads through her veins like a wildfire.
He pulls away too soon it seems, leaning his forehead on hers, his breathing shallow, "she doesn't have to know..."
Her eyes fly open; strange, she was unaware that she had closed them, "Your mother-everyone thought you were dead-"
"I know that.." he pulls away, turning toward the unfinished chopped wood and picking up the axe again. Gabriella steps closer, resting a timid hand on his sweaty back, but he recoils and shuffles away.
"Troy-"
"I'm busy, go inside."
"But-"
"GO INSIDE GABRIELLA!" That sure as hell isn't quiet enough to keep their attention to themselves and not drawn to the people in the cottage, why? Because Mara and everyone else is now running out to the scene. Troy rolls his eyes, turning to the pile of wood and then to the block he was chopping earlier.
"What is going on here?" Mara questions, Chad stands behind his mother while Michael stands behind him, leaning on the corner of the cottage. Gabriella looks at Troy's back as his shoulders roll when he lifts the axe over his head and then brings it down to split the wood. Gabriella crosses her arms and juts out her jaw, "Aren't you going to tell them? Or are you just going to keep the lie going?" Troy says nothing. Chad looks between them, then at Troy, "Tell us what?"
Silence. Gabriella bites her lip, shaking her head, "Come on, is the truth really that hard for you to admit? Tell them!" Troy does or says nothing.
"What are you keeping from us Troy?" Mara says, walking closer, Troy stops the axe and turns quickly around after dropping it. "Nothing! All right!" his blue eyes are flaring.
"Liar!" Gabriella yells, pointing her finger at him. "Your lying a prince isn't supposed to-"
"Prince?" Chad and Michael say at the same time, the same bewildered look on their faces, Troy looks away his eyes fogging up. Gabriella nods, looking at the Danforths to explain, "10 years ago, king Jack died...accident with a horse or something, it was said that Troy had died with him"-Troy grinds his teeth together, he glares at Gabriella, sending her a glare that would be screaming 'be silent!' but she ignores it and continues"-but I never believed it...his uncle has ruined the whole-"
"Shut up!" Troy yells, causing everyone to look at him with wide eyes. Troy rarely blew up.
"Troy..." Gabriella starts, he shakes his head, backing away.
"No, I'm...I..." he lets in a breath and exhales, "I'm not a prince...anymore, I gave that up ...I'm just Troy." No! He can't! Gabriella narrows her eyes, "You're the rightful king Troy! It's your duty!"
"Sebastian is king! It's not my duty!"
"He's ruining everything!" Troy and her are now standing mere inches apart, their eyes heated glaring into the other's. Until...
"Woah!" they didn't break their heated glares to see who had spoken, but Troy knew it was Chad. "Troy...you..you're the prince-"
"No." Troy answered immediately, Gabriella's eyes finally broke and widened. "Troy, ye-"
"No." He repeats. "I'm not...now, if you all don't mind..I have wood to chop. I won't be in for supper."
"Eugh..." Willie says, looking at the scraps that lie before him on the plate. It's like what he and his brother and sister used to eat before they moved into the castle with Sebastian. The new king.
A lousy king while he's in Willie's thoughts right now. "This...this sucks. Where's the grub?" Sharpay rolls hers eyes, cleaning up Rion's mouth after he has finished eating the grubbing chicken that was in front him.
"Willie just be grateful it's a meal-"
"I won't be grateful," he interrupts her, "Sebastian has promised us FOOD when he came on as king, and what do we get? Trash."
"Trash!" Rion yells, for once Willie smirks, "Hey, Rion agrees with me-"
"Willie, Rion does that; shouting randomly because he imitates what he hears."
"Like a parrot." Sharpay looks at her brother, "that's not funny...he'll get better." Willie shakes his head, standing up from the table in the castle. It's a step up from where they were living previously.
"He's not going to get better Shar," he says plainly.
"DON'T SAY THAT!" She yells, leaning over Rion in protection. Her brother chuckles, "relax I'm not going to hurt him yet...just wait for him to screw up, then his hide will be mine."
"You're not TOUCHING our brother William Evans." Willie's face pales, he hates his name. He hates that he's named after their mentally ill father; the one who deserted them at only 3 years old and their mother had died in child birth.
"What are you going to do about it?" Sharpay grabs a knife from the table, standing up and thrusting it blade first toward him, but not hitting him; her lips curl in a feral snarl as her green eyes blaze. Rion cowers behind her, holding on to her dress. Innocent and childlike.
Sharpay is his mother practically. "I'll kill you first." Willie smirks, shaking his head as a hollow chuckle escapes his lip when he grabs her by the throat and presses her to the table, and leans to whisper in her ear.
"I'd just LOVE to see you try...and fail."