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Here's the next bit…
Ang
CHAPTER 10
Gabi sighed, curling up on the bed in her B&B back in Chicago. Luckily she still had her waitressing job and she was making good money. What wasn't so good was the increasing number of people who were recognising her, and presuming she was some sort of Playboy bunny, tried to talk her into doing a dance for them.
She'd been back four nights now. Four lonely nights without Troy. He'd promised her, as soon as his video finished filming, he would come and get her.
It didnt feel like he was coming. He'd last called her the day after their trip to the swings. She hadn't heard from him since.
When she had called him during her break at the bar, it had gone straight to voicemail.
Now, alone and afraid, she felt the tears come again. She'd staved them off for a time, but she couldn't help but think Troy wasn't going to come for her.
She showered and changed, heading out for some take-out and was surprised to have flashes in her face as she left the B&B.
"Is it true Bolton dumped you?" one called
"Is it true he went back to his girlfriend now she's pregnant?"
"How does it feel to be the mistress?"
Gabi covered her face, hoping that what they were saying was Robert's way of covering up their romance.
What she couldn't figure out was, where the hell was Troy and why was he going along with it?
---
'Bolton dumps brazen beauty to stand by girlfriend'
Troy cursed as he read the tagline of the paper, wondering where they managed to get a picture of Gabi in her lap-dancing outfit. He wouldn't mind betting the club owner got paid a handsome sum for releasing that photo.
He was between a rock and a hard place.
He wanted so badly to be with Gabi right now, but Robert was practically keeping him prisoner in his own apartment.
If he even thought about leaving he was on top of him. Now he knew why. He was keeping them apart and release this lie of a story. He had told him he'd had a threat made against him and he wasn't allowed out without a guard and him present.
Troy rubbed his face. He beckoned over his security guard, Mitchell, while Robert was on the phone in his kitchen.
"Can you get me out of here without him coming?" he asked quietly
Mitchell looked nervous
"I'll pay you. Whatever it takes, I've just got to get to my girl" he said determinedly
Gabi shouldn't have to go through this, he worried. Especially not alone. God knows what was going through her mind. And judging by the alarming regularity at which they were printing pictures, she was no doubt being hounded by the press, too.
"Yes, sir" Mitchell answered, dragging him by the arm toward the door, whilst speaking into his walkie- talkie
"We got a code 10 here, immediate evacuation" he said seriously, marching Troy down the stairs as Robert ran out, still on the phone
"Wait! He doesn't go anywhere without me" he said, chasing after them
"Sorry sir, this is a serious situation, we have to get him into protection, now" Mitchell said, pushing Troy into his huge black four by four and jumping in the driver side, locking the doors, tyres screeching as he pulled away
Troy chuckled in the passenger seat "That was brilliant! Code 10" he guffawed
Mitchell looked to him "Where to?"
"Chicago. Andy's Bar in the city" he instructed, relief washing over him that he would soon be with Gabi.
---
"Hey darlin', you gonna show us some of those sexy moves then?" a middle aged man with a beard and in Gabi's opinion, an ugly face, asked as she served his beer, his hand going to her rear to touch her ass.
"Touch me again and I'll have you thrown out" she threatened quietly, sighing as she walked away and the table of men leered after her.
"You okay, Gabi?" the bartender, Pete asked her, frowning. It could get quite rowdy on a Friday night and he didn't like seeing her out on the floor being manhandled like that
"I'm okay" she sighed again, thinking, no I'm not fucking okay. My boyfriend was supposed to come and get me and he's left me high and dry. Again.
"What's up, is it Troy?" he asked with a concerned look.
Did everyone know about her relationship with Troy? Did everyone wonder what was going on? Want a piece of gossip?
She looked at him. "I just wish I'd never worked in that damn strip joint" she closed her eyes with regret.
"But you wouldn't have met Troy then" he reasoned and she actually thought he might be sincere as he hadn't used his surname once.
It wasn't like he was saying "But you met TROY BOLTON for Christ's sake!" like some people might. He was saying he could tell she wasn't happy. And her man had something to do with it.
"I've got to take a breather" she said, heading out back to use the private phone in the kitchen.
She called her friend Karen and prayed she wasn't working.
"Yello?" Karen answered casually
"Karen, it's me, Gabi" she said nervously, not sure how her call would be received.
"Gabi! Oh hun, I have missed you! How are you?" she asked straight away
"Oh, you know…been better" she sighed
"Aw, hun, I'm so sorry, I saw the papers. I didn't know you'd fallen for him. You could have told me" she sympathised
"I didn't fall for him" Gabi said indignantly, thinking, at least I don't think I'm in love with Troy. Am I?
"Oh. Well, he's just a typical pop star, can't keep it in his pants" she excused "So where are you? Can I see you?" she asked forlornly.
"I'm in Chicago. I can't really come back yet. I'm getting enough hassle here from the paparazzi."
"Why are you sad honey?" she asked
"He let me down, Kaz." She said simply, feeling the disappointment hit her and fighting off some tears.
"Gabi! We need you out here!" the bar owner, Tim called loudly
"Oh, I have to go…" Gabi said
"Oh Gabi, no…not now…we need to talk about this. I'm sure he'll come through, just give him time" she begged
Gabi nodded silently "I have to go, I'll call soon"
"Please do. I love you, Gabi" her friend assured
"I love you too you, Kaz" she smiled, hiccupping a sob away as she thought about the fun she and Karen had working at the club.
She grabbed a tray, ready to clear up empties as she headed back into the noisy bar.