Gabriella sat on the bed, her mother came up and knocked on the door, "Sweetie, I know your upset-" Gabriella's head snapped to her, "Upset? Oh Mother, I'm not upset, I'm davasted! Troy..he..his dead momma! his dead!" Mariah sighed, kissing her daughter's forehead, "Oh baby girl, I am so sorry... I.. I just wish I could..I could bring him back but I can't..." Gabriella sighed, "I..I miss him already momma..I don't think their will ever be a guy out there who will replace him..ever..I loved him to much..he was my best friend..."
Mariah sighed, "Honey, I know how you feel, you two grew up together, and were never apart...I'm really sorry..I really wish I knew how you feel." Gabriella sighed, "no you don't... it sucks, my life sucks momma, he..he was my life."
Mariah sighed, "I'm sorry baby girl...I am so so so sorry.." Gabriella sighed, "I..I just wanna be alone right now momma.." Mariah nodded, kissing her daughter's forehead, "I'm sorry baby girl." she got up off the bed and walking out of her room.
Gabriella sighed, throwing the picture of her and Troy that sat on the nightstand by her bed against the wall, and she buried her face into her pillow hoping this was really all a dream, that reality is much better then this.
**Always Have Always Will**
2 Years Later
He carried his duffle bag around his shoulder, and walking down the street from walking from the airport. after that war 2 years ago, he wanted to stick around to fight because the fire that he was in with his good friend Logan really had an effect on him.
After the fire killed logan, Troy wanted to pay his respects to logan and stay in the army 2 more years.
He walked up to the house were he grew up with his family and friends and most importantly Gabriella. he smiled at the though, he missed her so much, she was mostly the one he missed. he really hope she still lived there, he still hoped she wasen't with anybody.
He walked up to the front porch and knocked on the door. a few moments later, a woman came to the door, "hello, how may I help you-" she looked at the man standing infront of her, 'T-Troy.." she stammered. he smiled, "Hi mom, I'm home." she gasped covering her mouth, and began sobbing.
Troy frowned, "mom, what's wrong?" she hugged him tightly, "Oh my god! Troy! They told us you were dead!" Troy sighed, "No, I didn't die.. my friend logan died though, I lived but was in the hospital for a long time." she looked at him, "why didn't you call?" Troy sighed, "I'm sorry mom, I had a lot on my mind.."
His mother sighed, cupping his cheeks, "Well I'm glad your okay.." she hugged him, "come in, your father should be home anytime now.. his going to be so happy and relieved..oh just look at you. your so grown up."
He smiled as they got in, "Thanks mom.. so um.." he bit his lip, "how's..how's Gabriella? is she doing okay? does she still live around here?" his mother smiled, "She still lives around here, her parents still live next door like always, but Gabriella is a Kindergarten teacher.. she loves kids."
Troy smiled, "Is she.. is married? have any kids? in a relationship?" His mother sighed, "Honey, she doesn't have any children, and she doesn't have a relationship.. but she's engaged." Troy just looked at his mother, hearing those words hurt like hell. he gulped, "Is..is this guy right for her?"
His mother sighed, "I really don't know.. i don't know him very well, but your father and Timothy.. don't think very highly of him.. but of course, me, Mariah, and Stella all think his as cute as can be." she said drinking her coffee.
Troy sighed, sipping his coffee, "Well..I'd like to er, see her." It was silent for a moment, Molly, his mother sighed, "Troy...you think that's a great idea?" "Why not? I haven't seen her in-" "She thought you were dead Troy? You really want to torment her by having her see your ghost?" He shook his head, "No, I don't want her to see my 'ghost' i want her to see me. Only me."
Molly his mother sighed, "Troy, Gabriella, she's getting married-" Troy nodded, "I'm aware of that mother, she has been my best friend before we were even born... I'm not going to stop being her friend cause she is getting married."
Molly sighed, "I know..I know.. but I'm just saying cause, well, you two were engaged first.. and I thought it would be kind of awkward.." Troy bit his lip, "Mom, I admit I'm hurt, but.. she's my best friend, and I love her.." Molly nodded, "Well if you want so bad to see her, I can give you her address."
Troy nodded, "Thank you..." Molly smiled gently, standing up from the counter and grabbing a pen and paper, writing down an address and a phone number on the small square before handing it to Troy. "You might want to call first.." "Won't that shock her even more?"
Molly smiled a small smile, "I think it'd lessen the shock other than you just barging in her life again..after all she thought-" "-I was dead for two years..." a lengthy silence, Troy sighed, running a hand through his hair and down his neck. "I should call her.."
Molly nodded, "I can leave you alone if you want." "Yeah, that sounds..thanks." She smiles, "It's good to have you back Troy..I missed you." Troy smiled, "I missed you too." Sighing, he leaned on the table on his elbows, staring at the tiny square with the address and phone number on it. Her address and phone number.
Troy grabbed the home phone on the table and dialed her number. It rang three times before a guy's voice spoke through the phone, "Hello.." Troy sighed, "Is umm Gabriella there?" The dude on the other line scoffed, "Who in the hell is this?"
Troy bit his lip, narrowing his eyes even though the dude couldn't see him, "This is one of her friends, who in the hell is this?" he heard the guy chuckled, "Well smart ass, this is her fiance, and she isn't taking calls at this time right now, so bye."
Troy held the phone to his ear, just listening to the dial tone. He sighed, setting the phone down on the table and resting his head in his hands. He felt...like a tired old man. Maybe he was, but he knew he wasn't. 'Pop!' he jumped at the sound, jumping up from the table as if he was expecting an attack to come out.
It came from the kitchen, "M-M..Mom are you okay?" he asked, trying to calm his excessive heart rate. "Yeah...just the lid to the pickle jar popped off and broke the blender-how does that even happen!?" Troy smiled and laughed, walking into the kitchen, "I could've helped you, you know." Molly looked over her shoulder, she was cleaning up the glass, "It's fine...just -it's nothing...get a hold of Gabriella?"
Troy swallowed, "Uhm..yeah, in fact I was going to tell you that I'm going to meet her right now. Thanks for the address-" his mother interrupted, staring at the clock, "she should be just now getting off work...but sometimes she stays late."
Troy nodded coming over to his mother and kissing her cheek, "Thanks Momma." she smiled, "No problem baby, be home for dinner, I'm making a welcome home dinner special for you." he smiled, "Thanks Mom." he cleared his throat and he walked out of the house and walked to the address his mom gave him.
**Always Have Always Will**
Troy had his hands stuffed in his pockets walking up to the front of the house and walking to the front porch to knock on the door. her car was gone, but he would wait till she got home.
5 minutes after being there, he stood there until a voice made him turn around, "Can I help you?" Troy smiled turning around to come face to face with Gabriella. "Gabi-" she smiled, "I hope your harmless." he smiled, "Brie it's me.." Gabriella's smile faded, and she squinted her eyes, then they went wide, "N-No.. they..Troy?" he smiled nodding.
She stammered, "But they..they said you were-" "Dead?" he finished for her." she shook her head, and smiled, "Troy! Oh my god!" she ran towards him jumping up and wrapping her legs around him and hugging him, and looking him in the eyes, "I've missed you so so so so much... I.. I thought I would never see you again.." she had tears rolling down her cheeks, cupping his cheek.
Troy laughed, "I missed you too.." Gabriella smiled, "want to come in? For..you know..coffee?" Troy wrinkled his nose, "Coffee? Really?" Gabriella laughed, "Oh right, macho soldier man doesn't drink coffee...well, what does he want?"
You. In my arms. He tells himself, "Uhm...water...just water is fine." Gabriella nodded, grabbing his hand. "Well come in.." she unlatched the door and opened it. "Taylor!" she called out, then a guy's voice came from the kitchen, "In here!" Gabriella turned to Troy, "Taylor's my fiance, I think you'll like him.." Troy smiled, "Yeah.." Not likely.
Gabriella led Troy into the kitchen to find Taylor eating some left over pizza. Gabriella smiled, "Taylor this is Troy." Taylor looked at them, "Nice." Gabriella rolled her eyes, and going to the fridge to get a drink of water. "So umm what's for dinner babe?" Taylor asked her. Gabriella sighed, "Your eating it." Taylor looked at her, "You have to be fucking kidding me."
Gabriella sighed, "Look I'm going to get changed, and be nice to Troy and talk to him while I do so...okay?" Taylor scoffed and rolled his eyes. Gabriella walked upstairs into the bedroom. then Taylor looked at Troy, "You have a lot of nerve cominng here." Troy looked at him, "Exscuse me?"
Taylor chuckled, "look, I know you and Gabriella had this little romance going on when you were younger, but that was then, and this is now, that's over, I'm her fiance, you were just her little playmate.. okay soldier boy? so don't even try to get with her cause she's mine.. are we clear?"
"We're just friends.." Troy said, not moving to a chair to sit. Taylor snorted, setting down his pizza and standing up. "Yeah? Not anymore..." "You can't tell her who to be friends with-" "Can't I?" Taylor jeered, walking toward him and stopping a foot away. "I'm her fiance, and what are you? A ghost...that's all you are." "Shut up..." Troy muttered, his icy and warning gaze not leaving Taylor's own gaze.
Taylor smirked, "Why? What are you going to do? Shoot me? I'd happily put your ass in jail." he shoved Troy's shoulder, making him stumble a little bit, but his gaze never wavered. Taylor laughed, giving him a shove again. "I wouldn't be surprised if she said she never wants to see you again.."
He had an unattractive laugh. Troy glared at him, not responding to him. Not giving him the response he wants. Taylor smirked evilly, "What did she ever see in you?" he picked up an apple from the fruit bowl on the table and took a bite; chewing it loudly in Troy's ears. Then he spit it at him.
Troy shut his eyes tightly, and looked at him with a stern cold look, "What's wrong soldier boy? did I make you upset?" Troy just glared at him, then Gabriella walked in, "Hey guys." Taylor smiled at her, "Hey Honey, you look beautiful." he came over to her grabbing a hold of her hands and kissing her cheeks.
She giggled, "Thanks Taylor.." she looked at him, then at Troy, "Is everything okay while I was upstairs." Taylor smiled, "They went great...right Troy?" he looked at wrapping an arm around her. Gabriella just looked at him smiling.
He nodded slowly, smiling a fake smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah...just fine." Gabriella knew he was lying but she didn't confront him about it. "Well..let's just sit and talk-since we have a lot to talk about." Troy laughed, shuffling his feet.
"Yeah that's for sure." Taylor glared at him when Gabriella wasn't looking, the guy was an actor. "It's a nice day, how about we go in the back yard?"
"That sounds great.." Taylor said, kissing her cheek again while giving Troy the snake eyes. Troy cleared his throat, "I'll help you Brie-" "No, I will." Taylor said.
Gabriella looked at Taylor confused, "Taylor, let Troy help okay? I haven't seen him in forever.." Taylor smiled, but his stomach was turning into the little green monster. "Of course." He walked into the backyard, passing Troy and glaring at him on the way.
Gabriella smiled, "Follow me." Troy nodded as they went to the fridge and she got out some soda's. "Soda?" he nodded as she gave him one. she smiled at him, "So umm Taylor, his a nice guy right?" Troy faked a smile, "Yeah, his cool." he took a sip. She smiled, "So he gets your approval?" she asked.
Like fuck he does, Troy said in his mind. "Uhm...well, I'd have to get to know him first..but my approval shouldn't matter. It's your parents right?" Gabriella sighed, "My parents? Yeah, my mom likes him..my dad? Well...not so much."
Troy laughed, "Yeah, my mom told me that." Gabriella smiled. "So ..what have you been up to the past two years-whoa!" she nearly stumbled, almost dropping a bag of chips. Luckily, Troy caught it. "Thanks.." Troy laughed, "I think you're trying to do too much." Gabriella smiled, "Like in high school right?"
Troy nodded, "Yeah.. like in high school." she smiled putting the chips on the table. "So, what have you been up to?" he smiled, "Fighting for our country... I assume you heard about the building explosion?" Gabriella nodded sighing, "Yeah, I heard." he nodded, "Well, I survived it, but my buddy Logan didn't...so I stayed an extra 2 years to pay my respects to him."
Gabriella looked at him, "But why didn't you call?' Troy sighed, "I don't know brie..I just don't know." Gabriella sighed, looking outside to see Taylor cleaning outside. "You know, Taylor isn't so bad once you get use to him.." she looked up at him, "I've really missed you Troy...can I show you something?" she grabbed his hand.
He nodded, "Yeah." she smiled leading him to her bedroom, and going to her closet and grabbing a photo album. she opened it on the bed, she smiled, "This is a album full of pictures of me and you as kids." he smiled, sitting down beside her looking at them.
She giggled, "that's our bath time together...I can honestly say you are the first guy to ever see me naked." she laughed. he chuckled, "I enjoyed our bath times.. we always pretended we were dolphins.." Gabriella smiled, looking at him, "You were the best friend I've ever had." she said getting lost in his beautiful blue eyes.
Troy looked into her big brown eyes, he didn't realize-both of them didn't realize- how close they were leaning together when all of a sudden 'Crash!' Troy jumped from the bed, grabbing Gabriella by the wrist and placing her between his back and the nearest wall. Expecting some sort of blitz attack.
His heart was beating like a hummingbird's wings, fast. "Troy...something just fell...that's it." His whole body was tense, he closed his eyes tightly; when he opened them, he swore...he wasn't in the bedroom of Gabriella Montez, he was in the infirmary in Iraq; watching soldiers dead and dying come in and out.
He shook his head, trying to clear it. "Troy..." Gabriella's voice sounded far away, like she was yelling through a canyon. "Troy...come on, it's fine.."
Troy shut his eyes closed, and turned to look at her, "I'm sorry.. just the..the sounds." Gabriella nodded, "I...I understand..." he nodded, "yeah." he looked at her, "Brie.." she smiled, "Yeah Troy?" he looked at her, "I..I missed you too."
Gabriella looked at him, focusing on his eyes, "I really wish that you came back a year ago." he looked at her, "Why?" she sighed, "Cause, maybe you could be the guy that was going to be walking down the isle with me.."
Troy wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight to him. "You're a lucky woman, Gabriella.." Troy said, breathing in her sweet and intoxicating scent."Any man is lucky to have you."
When he pulled away, she had tears in her eyes, "I just don't know if Taylor realizes it..." "Realizes what?" "What he has in you.." Troy leaned his forehead against hers, their lips only a breath apart. "You should be kissed...every hour, every minute, every second..."
Gabriella gulped, "Troy..I.." he leaned in closer about to kiss her until there was a knock on the door. "Gabriella." Gabriella jumped apart from Troy, "Yeah?" Taylor walked in, "Your mom's on the phone."
Gabriella looked at Troy, then at Taylor, "oh alright." she got up and went downstairs. Taylor watched her leave, and leaned against the doorframe. "You just don't listen do you bolton?" Troy sighed, "You really really don't deserve that girl." Taylor smirked, "And Oh you do? what makes you think your any good for her?"
"Because" Troy said, "I know her and have known her longer." "Why you son of a-" Troy held up a finger, "insult my mother and you're a dead man." Taylor narrowed his eyes, Troy continued, "you can insult me all you want, but insult any one-or hurt ANYONE-I care about...your ass is mine and nothing will stop me from killing you."
Taylor rolled his eyes, "I'd like to see how that works out for you..considering that..my father's a county judge and my brother is a cop." "I'm not scared of you." Taylor walked up to him, his eyes in a deathly glare, "you should be solider boy."
Troy narrowed his eyes, "I will never ever be afraid of you.." Taylor rolled his eyes, "Hey, you might not be afraid of me, but who's the one that has the girl?" he smirked. Troy glared at him, and shoving by him, "She don't deserve you.. she doesn't deserve a scum like you."
Troy walked downstairs to find Gabriella getting off the phone with her mother, "Alright Momma...I love you too.. bye." she hung up, and she turned to Troy. "Troy! will you be able to come to my wedding?" she held his hands.
Troy looked at her, "Gabs, I need to talk to you about-" she smiled, "Troy I really want you there.. I really do, all our high school friends, are going to be there, and so are you parents." Troy sighed, "Brie-" she smiled, "what-what is it?"
I don't want you to marry the son of a bitch, he told himself, instead he just smiled and sighed, "I'll be there..I'm really happy for you." Gabriella smiled hugely, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing tightly.
"Ah! All my friends, and my high school boyfriend, is going to be at my wedding! I'm so happy!" Glad one of us is, Troy thought miserably. Troy hugged her tightly, looking over her shoulder to see Taylor grinning like an idiot at him.
Gabriella smiled at him pulling away, "this is going to be just a perfect wedding." she kissed his cheek, "Tonight is the dinner with my parents and yours.. will you be there?" Troy sighed, "Yeah, um..I'll be there."