Chapter 10:
Gabriella and I hopped in the car and headed to Chad's house. By the time we got there, we saw all of the old high school gang were waiting. Chad, Zeke, and Ryan were playing basketball, well Chad and Zeke were playing basketball and Ryan was attempting. Sharpee, Taylor, and Kelsi were sitting on the side and talking. Gabriella hopped out of the car out ran to Taylor, Kelsi, and Sharpee. All the girls were squealing and started chatting like they never had been apart. I then got out of the car and greeted the guys. I immediately was drawn into a game, and we were playing for another half hour until the girls decided to take matters into their own hands and all started distracting us in order to get us ready to go to the lake. Gabriella snuck up behind me and jumped on my back, which caused me to nearly jump out of my skin, and almost drop her. And the others were surprised in similar ways by their respective partners. Since we were disrupted from the game, we all prepared to leave and soon we were on the road. The guys all launched the boat and we were off. We started off doing tube wars. A game that Chad and I had been playing since we were little. It consisted of two tubes being pulled behind the boat, one was a donut tube and the other was a flat tube. We moved around until we could knock the other people on the other tube off. It was our favorite thing to do. Gabby and I were on the donut. We started off at a relatively slow pace, but soon we were bouncing into each other. Then in one fail swoop, we rammed into each other especially hard and Gabby went flying from my lap and into the water. Zeke slowed the boat and we circled around to get her, but she hadn't surfaced yet. We waited another couple seconds and I was starting to get nervous.
"Gabby!" I called. I looked and she still didn't surface. I then felt hands on my back that pulled me into the water. I surfaced and spluttered. Gabriella was smiling wickedly at me and laughed, a little out of breath.
"Your heavier than I thought you were!" She said panting.
I ignore her and say, " Don't' scare me like that! You had me worried for a sec!"
"Troy, I was a lifeguard. I had to go through extensive training to qualify! I can hold my breath!"
We swam back to the boat, and I was still pouting. After a while, it was lunch time and we headed back to Chad's lake house to eat. We quickly ate, and then went back on the boat for a couple hours. After a few more tube wars, we wrapped up the day and headed back to the house to clean up and play a few yard games. After the girls cleaned up they went to the grocery store to pick up some things for dinner, and the guys decided to play a quick game of basketball and then start grilling.
(Gabriella's POV)
Taylor, Kelsi, Sharpay, and I arrived at the grocery store, and we all set out to get the food for dinner. We split into groups of two, and Taylor and I finally got to talk.
"SO Gabs, how have you actually been. Don't give me the watered down version."
"IS it really that obvious?"
"ONly to me."
"Tay, it has been a hard semester."
"Is everything good between you and Troy?"
"Of course! Troy is such a sweetheart. I don't know what I did to deserve him."
"Then, what is it?"
"Don't get me wrong, I love so much about college, but there has been this guy who has consistently tried to seduce me. He has come up to me twice to try to get me to be with him."
"What did he do?"
"Umm, one time he grabbed my shirt, and ripped it, the other time he backed me into a corner and tried to kiss me. Luckily, he hasn't done anything in a while, so I hope he has completely forgotten me, but I can't escape this nagging feeling that something is going to happen."
"I'm sorry, honey. That is hard. How has Troy been with all of this?"
"He has done his best, but I can tell that it bothers him."
Before Taylor could say anything else, Sharpay and Kelsi came back with the food, and we all headed to the checkout. As I pulled out the money to pay, I noticed a piece of paper at the bottom of the cart. I grabbed it, quickly paid then started walking. Haphazardly I opened the folded piece of paper, and then fear filled me as I read what it said.
"I'M WATCHING YOU."
I tried to act nonchalant as we walked out of the store, and started to reason with myself that it couldn't possibly be serious. It was probably just a practical joke. I do my best to put the note out of my mind and enjoy the rest of the evening. I almost forget about it, and we had a great time playing games and eating dinner with our friends. It was just like high school. Troy and I left when it was near midnight, and by then I had completely forgotten about the note. Troy opened the car door for me, and I git in. He came around to the other side and I remembered the note, realizing that I needed to tell him about it. Before he started driving, I start talking.
"Troy?" I realized how uncertain I sounded.
"Yes, Sweetheart?"
"There is something I need to tell you." I rush on without letting him speak. "As we were checking out today at the store, I found a note at the bottom of the cart… it said 'I'm watching you.'" I pause, worried about Troy's reaction. I look up.
I see Troy's face looking towards me with a combination of concern, anger, and love. He then questioned,"Did you see anything or anyone near your cart? Anything suspicious?"
"To be honest I was so busy talking with Taylor that I didn't notice anything."
Before I had finished speaking, Troy pulled me into his lap and held me close, I think more for his own comfort than for mine.
(Troy's POV)
As I pulled Gabi into my lap, I couldn't help but hold her tight. What did my sweet Ella do to deserve this? I can't help but want to protect her, but how could I if someone could reach her at the grocery store. I held onto her tighter, never wanting to let go.
After a short while, Gabi had fallen asleep as I stroked her hair. I gently shifted her to the passenger's seat, and kept my hand on her knee, pulling out of the drive. As I drove down the dark streets on the way home, I still couldn't stop thinking about the note. I love her so much, how could I live with myself if something happened to her, or worse, something happened to her because I couldn't protect her. I turned on the radio to drown out my thoughts.
Come home early after class
Don't be hanging 'round the back of the schoolyard
I've been called up by a teacher
She says she can't even reach you 'cause you're so far
You've been talking with your fist
We didn't raise you up like this, now did we
There have been changes in this house
Things that you don't know about in this family
It don't make sense, but nevertheless
You gotta believe us, it's all for the best
It don't make sense
The way things go
Son you should know
Sometimes moms and dads fall out of love
Sometimes two homes are better than one
Some things you can't tell your sister 'cause she's still too young
Yeah you'll understand
When you love someone
There ain't no one here to blame
Nothing's going to change with your old friends
Your room will stay the same
'Cause you'll only be away on the weekends
It don't make sense, but nevertheless
You gotta believe us, it's all for the best
It don't make sense
The way things go
Son you should know
Sometimes moms and dads fall out of love
Sometimes two homes are better than one
Some things you can't tell your sister 'cause she's still too young
Yeah you'll understand
When you love someone
I sang along, and somehow I relaxed, we arrived home before the song ended, so I hopped out of the car, and walked to the other side. I opened Gabby's door and gently lifted her. She moved around a bit and then nestled further into me. I carried her into the house. I slowly walked up the stairs and carried her into her room, laid her on the bed, and tucked her in. I kissed her forehead, and she smiled in her sleep. I quietly walked out of the room and shut the door. I went to my room, hopped into bed, and immediately fell asleep.
The rest of the week flew by, and soon Gabby and I were at the airport, preparing to depart. I said goodbye to Mom and Dad. My Mom was crying.
"Oh, Honey! I'll miss you so much!"
"Don't worry, Mom. We'll be back for Christmas before you know it!"
"Troy! I wasn't talking to you! I was talking to Gabby!" I roll my eyes as Gabby giggles. Before I knew it. We were finally on the plane heading back to school.