The next afternoon, Troy was in the middle of basketball practice when Gabriella came into the gym and sat in the bleachers. Troy had made his decision and he didn't want to have Gabriella sit in the bleachers for three hours while he was doing drills. The wildcats were taking a water break when Jack noticed Gabriella.
"How are you feeling?" Jack asked.
"Alright. How's Troy?" Gabriella asked motioning to her boyfriend.
"He told me that you had asked to come to practice and he said no" Jack said.
Gabriella nodded.
"He's going to be upset that you didn't follow what he told you to do" Jack said.
"What am I going to do at home dad? I've slept, done my homework, and ate everything in the kitchen. What else am I supposed to do?" Gabriella asked.
Troy had taken a sip of water and dropped his water bottle when he saw Gabriella talking to Jack. He walked over to them and looked at Gabriella.
"What are you doing here? I thought we had agreed that you weren't going to come" Troy said.
"I was bored at home" Gabriella said.
"Gabs-" Troy started.
Jack looked at his son and was curious on how he was going to handle this situation.
"Troy, I'm fine. I just want to sit and watch" Gabriella said.
"We talked about this last night. I said no" Troy said.
Troy turned his back and started walking back to the wildcats when he heard Gabriella say something that broke his heart.
"Are you ashamed of me? Is that why you don't want me here?" Gabriella asked.
Troy froze. He took a deep breath and turned around and looked at Gabriella. Troy walked back to Gabriella and his dad.
"Gabriella, how can you even say that? You know that I want you here as much as you want to be here" Troy said.
"Just say it. I know you want to" Gabriella said.
Jack looked at Gabriella and then at Troy.
"Can you go home please?" Troy asked simply.
Troy walked away and Gabriella looked at Jack.
"Dad-" Gabriella started.
"Don't even worry about it sweetheart. Don't worry. I will handle this. Everything in that head of his is just exploding. Why don't you go to see Lucille and relax over there okay? I will handle Troy" Jack said.
Gabriella nodded.
"I didn't do anything wrong" Gabriella said.
"I know you didn't Gabi. Let me handle him okay?" Jack said.
Gabriella nodded and hugged her "second father".
"Thanks for being supportive throughout this pregnancy, dad. I know that it hasn't been easy" Gabriella said.
Jack smiled.
"It hasn't, but you have both grown up a lot in the last five months. I'm proud of you both. I will always be here for you, Gabi. I may not be your biological dad, but I will be the dad that you need" Jack said.
Gabriella smiled.
"I'll let you get back to practice" Gabriella said.
Jack smiled and nodded.
"Love you Gabs" Jack said.
"Love you dad" Gabriella said.
Gabriella left the gym and East High and went to the Bolton home like Jack had told her to do. A couple hours later, Jack and Troy walked into the house.
"Where's Brie?" Troy asked.
"She's in your room, taking a nap. How could you be so rude Troy? All she wanted to do was sit and watch you play" Lucille said.
Troy put his hands up, surrendering.
"When I'm at practice, that's my time to relieve my stress. I'm about to be a father at seventeen, mom. I'm sorry that I can't be empathetic every moment of the day. I'm stressed out. I can't think. I don't even know what's going to happen in a year" Troy said raising his voice.
"Troy, you owe it to Gabriella. She is the one that has to walk around, pregnant. She is the one that needs to be loved by you. You both chose to have sex. Now, you have to live with the consequences. Do not blame her for wanting to spend time with you and you should never, ever feel ashamed of her" Jack said raising his voice.
Gabriella had woken up to Troy and Jack arguing. She stood in the middle step of the staircase and listened to the two men fight. Lucille looked up at the stairs and saw Gabriella, with tears running down her face. She walked up the stairs and brought Gabriella into Troy's room.
"Gabi, you weren't supposed to hear any of that" Lucille said.
Gabriella choked out a sob. Lucille wrapped her arms around Gabriella and let her cry into her arms.
"He hates me" Gabriella said.
"He doesn't hate you, Gabriella. He loves you to death and you know it. Troy is just trying to figure things out for himself. All the stress built up inside of him and he finally exploded. Unfortunately, he exploded at you and said some hurtful things" Lucille said.
Gabriella nodded.
"I'm going to go downstairs and see what is going on okay? I'll be right back" Lucille said.
Gabriella nodded. Lucille left the room. A half an hour later, Lucille returned and smiled.
"Sweetheart, come here" Lucille said.
"I don't want to talk to him" Gabriella said.
"Listen to what he has to say okay?" Lucille said.
Gabriella nodded. The two women walked downstairs and Troy was sitting in the living room. Gabriella walked into the living room and sat across from him. Troy's eyes were bloodshot red from crying.
"I'm sorry that I blew up the way I did. It wasn't right and you didn't deserve that. I just bottled up everything and I exploded. I know that it's been hard to deal with this pregnancy. I said a lot of things that I didn't mean and that I should have never said to you. I'm really sorry baby" Troy said.
Gabriella looked at Lucille, and motioned for her to give them some privacy. Lucille left the room and Gabriella looked at Troy.
"To answer your question more in depth, I will never be ashamed of you Gabriella. I love you with all of my heart. We made a mistake. I'm just trying to figure all of this out, you know? I have been focusing on trying to calm you down and-" Troy started but was then interrupted.
"I don't want you to blame this all on me, Troy. I ruined your life. Just say that" Gabriella said with tears running down her face.
Troy looked at Gabriella, who was crying.
"I'm not blaming this on you, Gabs. I have been trying to make you feel better about this whole thing. I know that was the right thing to do. But, I also have to deal with this myself too" Troy said.
"Maybe we need to reevaluate everything" Gabriella said softly.
Troy nodded slightly.
"Just maybe we need some air and need time apart" Gabriella said.
Troy looked at Gabriella and nodded.
"It's not that I don't love you, Troy. I just think that we need to figure this whole thing out and the only way we can do that, is to do it within ourselves first. I do love you and I have tried to when we got pregnant" Gabriella said with tears running down her cheeks.
Troy looked down at his fingers and released tears of his own.
"We just need a break" Gabriella said softly.
Troy sniffled and nodded.
"Troy, please say something" Gabriella said.
"If you think that we need time apart, then I will give you your space. But, I want to still know about doctor's appointments, hospital visits if you have any, and other things of that nature. Maybe we can reevaluate in a couple days or weeks" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"I'm sorry" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled slightly.
"Don't be. You know that you can always tell me how you feel. You are still my best friend, Brie. I'm not going anywhere" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded. She stood up carefully and walked over to Troy and kissed his cheek.
"Um, I will see you soon then?" Gabriella asked shakily.
Troy nodded. Gabriella left the house and walked to hers. She opened the front door and walked into the house and closed the door. Gabriella slid down against the door and sat on the floor. She broke down. Every single emotion she felt about school, life, Troy, and the baby filled her brain. Gabriella choked out a sob. Maria heard Gabriella and dropped what she was doing and walked to where she heard Gabriella. She sat down next to her and took her into her arms and let her cry.
"I lost him" Gabriella cried repeatedly.
"You just need some time apart. Everything is going to be okay, Gabi. You will see" Maria said.
Maria kissed Gabriella's head softly. She rubbed her back as Gabriella tried to regain her composure. An hour later, Gabriella's sobs had turned into mumbled cries. Maria looked at her and smiled sympathetically.
"Why don't you go upstairs and put your pajamas on and get some rest okay? I will go talk to Lucille" Maria said.
Gabriella nodded. Maria stood up and held out her hands. Gabriella took her mother's hands and was lifted up. Maria and Gabriella walked upstairs, where Maria helped Gabriella change into her pajamas and tucked her into bed.
"Get some sleep baby" Maria said.
"Mom" Gabriella cried.
Maria looked at her daughter and smoothed her hair back.
"Tell him that I love him please" Gabriella said.
Maria nodded. She kissed Gabriella's head softly. Maria left the room and walked downstairs. She then left the house and drove to the Bolton home. Maria got out of the car and walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. Lucille opened the door and instantly hugged Maria.
"What happened?" Maria asked.
"All of the stress got to Troy during practice when Gabriella came to sit and watch. He fought with her and then it escalated. I tried to calm Troy down once he got home, but we left them to talk and that is when they broke it off" Jack explained.
"So what is the plan?" Lucille asked.
"I would like to talk to Troy, if you don't mind" Maria said.
Lucille and Jack shook their heads and Maria walked upstairs. She took a deep breath and knocked on Troy's door.
"I don't want to talk" Troy said through the door.
"Well, I do. Open the door Troy" Maria said.
Troy opened the door. His eyes were bloodshot red from crying and his body was shaking. Maria opened her arms and Troy walked into them.
"I-" Troy started.
"Troy, listen to me. You tried. That's all you could have done. I understand that it is a lot of stress to take on. I get that. I know that this is hard for you. But, this break is not going to last. You both just need time to think and that's okay" Maria said.
"I'm sorry if I hurt her" Troy said.
Maria smiled sympathetically.
"Your baby girl is what is making her stay strong. You just need to give each other some space and then maybe in a few days or weeks you can decided what you want to do" Maria said.
Troy nodded.
"She also wanted me to tell you that she loves you" Maria said.
Troy nodded and swallowed hard.
"Tell her that I love her too" Troy said.
Maria hugged her "son".
"Get some sleep okay?" Maria said.
Maria nodded. She left the room and walked downstairs and looked at Lucille and Jack.
"In a couple days, they may want to talk. We need to let them" Maria said.
The couple nodded.
"Tell Gabi that we love her" Lucille said.
"I will" Maria said.
Maria left the house and drove home. She walked into the house and smiled when she saw Gabriella lying on the couch with her shirt above her stomach and her hands on her expanding bump. Maria sat next to Gabriella and smiled.
"What did he say?" Gabriella asked.
"He wanted me to tell you that he loves you too. I told him that you both need space for a couple days and maybe for a couple weeks" Maria said.
Gabriella nodded.
"I don't want to be alone in this, mom" Gabriella cried.
"You won't be sweetheart. Troy just needs some time, that's all" Maria said.
Gabriella nodded.
"Come on, let's get you in bed" Maria said.
The rest of the night, the couple slept in their own homes for the first time in five months. A couple days later, the doorbell rang. Gabriella opened the door and smiled slightly when she saw Troy standing in front of her.
"Hi" Troy said.
"Hi" Gabriella said.
"Can we talk?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded and he walked into the house. The couple walked into the living room and sat down.
"Thanks for giving me some time to think" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"That's what you wanted right?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah. I've been thinking a lot the last couple of days and I owe you an apology" Troy said.
Gabriella shook her head.
"You don't need to apologize for that, Troy. You needed time to process that I'm pregnant with your daughter. There is no apology needed for that" Gabriella said.
"I just needed some time to think and to process everything. Now that I have a clearer head, I know that I can do this. We can do this. I love you and our baby girl so much, Gabs. You have to believe that" Troy said.
"I believe it. I know that it's been hard on you, Troy. Can you please come back?" Gabriella asked as tears ran down her face.
Troy nodded as tears ran down his own face. He opened his arms and Gabriella moved into them. The couple cried in each other's arms. Troy pulled away and looked at Gabriella.
"I love you" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"I love you too" Gabriella said.
Troy put his hand on Gabriella's bump and smiled. Gabriella put her hand on top of Troy's. A couple weeks later, Gabriella was six months pregnant. She got up one morning and had a strong urge to bake. Gabriella walked downstairs and went into the kitchen and started baking. She didn't know what exactly she was making but, she knew it would satisfy her craving. Twenty minutes into Gabriella's baking session, Troy came downstairs, shirtless and walked into the kitchen. He smiled at the sight of Gabriella with flour on her cheek.
"What are we doing?" Troy asked.
"You are going to school and I am finishing a creation" Gabriella said.
"I can't taste this baking creation that you have put so much time into?" Troy asked.
Gabriella looked at Troy blankly.
"You don't like my creations" Gabriella said with air quotes around creations.
Troy smiled.
"But I eat them anyway" Troy said kissing Gabriella's cheek quickly.
"Maybe when you get home" Gabriella said.
"Don't make me go please. I want to stay home and bake with you" Troy whined.
"I really hope our daughter doesn't whine like a seventeen year old boy" Gabriella said.
Troy raised his eyebrows.
"Mood swings are so much fun" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled and leaned in and kissed Gabriella's lips softly.
"I love you" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"I love you too" Gabriella said.
Troy leaned down and kissed Gabriella's bump.
"I love you sweetheart. Be good for mommy" Troy said putting his hand on Gabriella's bump.
"Woah" Gabriella said putting her hand on her bump.
"What? What's wrong?" Troy asked worriedly.
Gabriella held her hand on her stomach and then looked at Troy and smiled.
"She kicked" Gabriella said.
"She what?" Troy asked.
"She kicked. They are supposed to start kicking at six months" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled. He put his hand on top of Gabriella's and looked at her when he felt his daughter kick his hand.
"Now I really don't want to go to school" Troy said.
"Go to school. Maybe if I feel sorry for you, I will come during practice" Gabriella said.
Troy smiled.
"Fine" Troy said.
Troy kissed Gabriella's lips one last time and left the house. Gabriella smiled. Troy had been really good about sharing his feelings about the baby with Gabriella since their fight. Gabriella walked upstairs and took a shower. Twenty minutes later, Gabriella came downstairs and saw Maria pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"Mom, she kicked" Gabriella said.
"Really?" Maria asked.
Gabriella nodded.
"Right as Troy was leaving for school" Gabriella said.
Maria smiled and motioned for Gabriella to come closer. She put her hand on Gabriella's bump and felt the baby kick her hand. Maria smiled.
"I remember when you first kicked my hand. I cried" Maria said.
Gabriella hugged her mother and Maria wrapped her arms around her daughter. She kissed Gabriella's head softly.
"How are you feeling today?" Maria asked.
"I feel good. A little tired, but good. I might go to school and see Troy at practice" Gabriella said.
"Just be careful please, Gabi. You are six months pregnant" Maria said.
Gabriella nodded. A couple hours later, Gabriella arrived at East High earlier than she had originally planned to. She had gone to visit Jack in the gym and was going to surprise Troy in Ms. Darbus' class. Gabriella walked to Ms. Darbus' classroom and poked her head in and smiled. Ms. Darbus saw Gabriella from the corner of her eye and smile.
"Oh my goodness, Ms. Montez. You look like you are going to pop any day now" Ms. Darbus said.
Gabriella smiled. Troy looked up at Gabriella and smiled.
"I hope Mr. Bolton has been taking good care of you" Ms. Darbus said.
Troy smiled and nodded.
"She's in good hands, Ms. D. I promise" Troy said.
There were some people that were giggling and Gabriella knew that she should ignore it, but it did hurt.
"Mr. Bolton, I am assuming that Ms. Montez did not come all the way here just to visit me and her fellow classmates. You may be excused" Ms. Darbus said.
Troy smiled.
"Thanks Ms. D" Troy said getting up and picking up his backpack.
"Slut" someone in the back of the class mumbled.
That's when Troy lost it. He put down his backpack and looked at Ms. Darbus, looking at her for permission to lecture the class.
"Have you ever been pregnant at seventeen? No? Well, then let me tell you about it. Gabriella has been called various names, been laughed at, had to deal with a situation that she shouldn't of had to-" Troy started.
"Troy" Gabriella said.
Troy looked at Gabriella and held out his hand, motioning her to stop.
"Gabriella is the smartest girl I know and probably the smartest in this school. We made a mistake. Someone that is going through a hard time shouldn't have to deal with people like all of you, who continuously bother her about it. She should be able to be comfortable with going to school, after all it's her favorite place to be. So, every single person in this room should be ashamed of yourself for behaving in the way you have been towards her. She did nothing to you. So why do you need to do something to hurt her?" Troy said.
Silence filled the room. Troy took Gabriella's hand and waved goodbye to Ms. Darbus, who winked at them both. Troy knew that they were going to be okay, as long as they did it together.