A/N--- I still need to decide what I'm going to do with the end of the story haha the grand finale I had on my mind is gone, oficially. I didn't like the way I would end things for Troy and Gabriella... Anyways, thanks for the reviews, and keep telling me what you think of the story. Your opinion is so important to me, seriously.
I hope you guys had a nice weekend, and hope you enjoy the chapter, too. I liked it a lot --- you girls that sent me PM's complaining about Troy will feel bad now, lol. He isn't a bad person like you all thought, ha. ENJOY!! =]
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Feel It
Chapter 11:
"I guess I was waiting for him to stop me when Payton arrived home" she touched her phone tightly to her ear, "I was waiting for him to tell me he changed his mind, that he loved me more than anything and wanted to be with me instead of Molly" Gabriella sighed, playing with a lock of hair, "We girls tend to think about relationships like it was something sent from above, you know?" she looked down, "I made that mistake with Troy"
"I mean, I looked at him after he chose Molly over me, and I still liked him, I still wanted to kiss him and be with him!" Gabriella said, disappointment in her voice, "Sometimes I just think I like other people more than I like myself" she tilted her head to the side and saw that a guy was watching her intently, "Uhm—Chad, can I talk to you later? Yeah, I'm better now, thanks for calling" she smiled and nodded her head, "I will, bye"
Gabriella pierced the guy that was sitting beside her with her eyes, and he only smiled at her, blushing, probably ashamed he was caught staring.
"I'm sorry" he said politely, "I didn't want to pay attention, it's just your story is really sad"
"I know" she sighed, putting her phone back in her purse, "Don't worry, I'm not mad"
He smiled, "I'm William Rhodes" he offered his hand and Gabriella shook it, "I'm Gabriella, nice meeting you William"
"If you allow me to tell you something, Gabriella… I would like to add that if the guy you were talking about is not with you, you are better off without him, then" William concluded.
She lifted her eyebrows and studied the stranger that was sitting right next to her, on a Monday morning, when the mall was supposed to be really empty. He was kind of attractive, reddish hair, green eyes and he was smiling to her so sincerely that it almost made her feel good.
"Maybe I was born to be single"
William laughed, "That's bullshit, Gabriella. Everybody has a pair, perhaps yours was not him"
Gabriella smiled a bit, "I have no idea why I'm sitting here, telling you my life like we were good friends" she rolled her eyes, "I don't even know you"
"Well" he narrowed his eyes playfully, "My friends call me Liam, because there are just so many William's in the world. I like long walks on the beach and I don't drink beer, it taste like pee to me" William grimaced and continued, "I don't like cats and I'm really, really afraid of spiders"
She giggled, "I guess it's a pleasure to meet you then, Liam"
"Call me Will" he smiled at her, "What about you, Gabriella? What should I expect about you?"
"Uh, probably nothing" she smiled and then sighed, "My brother's coming, I should go"
Will nodded, "It was a pleasure Gabriella…?"
"Montez, Gabriella Montez"
"Thanks for paying attention, Will. Even though I had no idea you were listening to my conversation" she giggled and they shook hands, "Bye"
Gabriella waved to him and walked to where Charlie was waiting for her, his arms crossed in front of his body and his sunglasses still on, even though he was inside the mall now.
"Hey, sorry I'm late" Charlie hugged her and kissed her cheek, "Did you get everything you need?"
"Yeah, let's go home"
"Okay" Charlie smiled, "Jen said I should talk to you about Ben, our neighbor in Los Angeles. He is awesome with the boys, really patient… will probably be a good father"
Gabriella giggled, "I don't need you to find me a boyfriend. I'm fine" she ignored the look he gave her, "Really"
"I don't wanna see you depressed, you know that"
"I know Charles, I won't be, I promise" she raised her hand, promising and he smiled sweetly, Okay, if you say so"
"Let's get your nephews at mom's house then" he pulled her by the arm, "They must have being driving her crazy"
"Probably" she giggled again. "Or mom drove them crazy"
"That's a possibility too" Charlie smirked, "At least dad is there"
Gabriella laughed again and let her brother pull her out of the mall by the hand.
"Girls and malls, I need to take you out of here while I still have the chance, you know---Oh shit" Charlie cried out and turned around, hiding something from Gabriella with his back, "I'm hungry, are you hungry?"
She looked at him, confused, "What's the problem with you?"
"I'm just hungry, let's go eat?"
"Charlie…"
He sighed and moved to the side, looking back quickly, and pointing straight ahead. Troy and Molly were standing next to a car, probably hers since Troy still couldn't drive, and they were putting a few bags from the grocery store inside her truck, along with new pillows and a bag full of sheets.
Gabriella bit her lip at the same time her tears started running down her cheeks; Troy and Molly shared a hug and he caressed her cheek for a few seconds before they hopped into the car and drove off.
"Are you okay, sugar?" Charlie asked.
"I---I'm fine" she lied, quickly wiping her tears with the back of her hand, "I told him to go for her, right? I can't be sad he moved on"
"Of course you can" he hugged her, kissing her forehead, "I can't believe how stupid he is, and I thought he was a nice guy"
She shrugged her shoulders, "The worst part is that he is a nice guy, Charlie" they started walking to his car, "And guys always end up doing that, I should get used to it"
Charlie pulled her abruptly by the arm, "Don't you ever say that again, alright?" he cupped her face with both hands and stared into her eyes, "You are freaking amazing and there isn't anyone better than you in the world, agreed?"
Gabriella sniffed, "Agreed"
"Excellent" they stepped inside their car and Charlie drove off, as well.
On the long drive back home Gabriella couldn't help but think about Troy's words on their first date – I won't ever disappoint you.
Phew! If she could see the future. Two weeks ago she was having the best time of her life; Gabriella had someone she was in love with, she had an awesome job that she really enjoyed, her heart had all pieces together… but now things were complete different. Troy only tried to talk to her twice, and then he gave up and went out with Molly.
She couldn't be mad at him, only with herself. There was nothing more in the world she wanted to be now than selfish. She wanted to ask him to be with her, to forget about his happiness and Molly's.
Gabriella wanted him to choose her, but you can't tell your heart who you're gonna love. It's not your decision. The only thing she could decide was that she wasn't going to be like Molly, and mess up with the other's feelings, screw up somebody else relationship. That, she would never be.
But the problem when you fall in love with someone and you can't see the future, is that you give yourself completely to one person, not really knowing if the relationship is going to work out or not. You just pray it will… Gabriella prayed she wouldn't get hurt this time, but she was. But at least she was happy she didn't get as hurt as she got with Ty, because Troy was always so sincere about his feelings towards Molly that she knew where she was getting into this time.
Gabriella rolled down her window and felt the breeze hit her face; she sighed deeply still thinking of Troy. Thinking of the first time she took him out, how happy he looked on that day. She ran her hands through her curly hair, biting her lower lip.
Being away from his was so difficult, even worse when she was kicked out of his life because of Molly, because of her feelings. Her feelings had betrayed her again. She thought that maybe she was strong enough to see him with Molly, to be in his life as a friend, as somebody that cared about him, but it was too much see him, the guy she loved, with someone else. It was too painful for her little heart.
The one thing she was happy about getting into this mess, was still being in contact with Payton and Chad. That was the only way she knew he was having his surgery earlier.
Payton had called her the day after she left the house, to express her feelings and thoughts – she hated Molly and wasn't talking to Troy since he left to go after her. Chad would always call her too, telling everything about Troy's condition, but everytime he tried to tell her something about Troy and Molly she didn't let him finish – sit there and listen to how Troy's life was perfect with the love of his life was not a great solution to her problems; she didn't want to end up depressed.
Now Gabriella was counting the days till he operated his eyes, because a few days after it, she would go travel a bit, maybe she would stay with her friend Sharpay that lived in Florida, or go to NYC. It wouldn't be forever, she loved living in Albuquerque to be in another state for the rest of her life, it would be just till she could manage the Troy situation inside of her and then, they could be friends again. Or not, maybe she would not care about Troy anymore. Gabriella smiled, that was what she was going to do, forget him.
But when Payton called her a month later, asking her to stop by at the hospital a day after Troy's operation, she couldn't help but feel worried that something might gone wrong and she was being called as psychologist to help him out. Troy's sister said she was too busy to chat by phone, that if she wanted to know what really happened to Troy, she had to come to the hospital.
So there she was, being unfaithful to her own words, stepping inside Albuquerque Grand Hospital, her hands shaking like a teenager, her heart beating madly inside her chest, and if she didn't breathe right now, she would probably faint in the middle of the hospital.
"How are you feeling?" Payton asked, hugging her tightly, "Thanks so much for being here"
"I'm fine… nervous" Gabriella admitted, smiling at her. Her stomach was twisting and her legs were really weak, it got even worse when she saw Molly sitting in the waiting room, too.
"Listen Gabriella, I have to tell you something about Molly" Payton looked back from Molly to Gabriella, "I was not talking to him, you know that—"
"Don't do that, please" Gabriella shook her head, "It's been a long month for me, but I'm finally feeling better" she said softly, almost begging "don't screw up everything for me"
Payton nodded, "Okay, sure, I won't say a thing, but I'm still on your side, my brother was and is a jerk"
"It's okay"
Chad walked to the girls and gave Gabriella a quick hug, "We knew you'd come"
"I still care very much about him" she said hopelessly, "How is he?"
"Fine, he is sleeping now. My mom is there with him" Payton informed as they walked out of the hospital and far away from Molly, "The doctor said he will need to wait a week to know if he recovered his sight"
"His eyes need to adjust, something like this" Chad shrugged.
"Does Troy know I'm here?" she asked; Chad and Payton shook their heads negatively, "We were hoping you'd come, but we were not sure"
Gabriella nodded quietly, "Don't tell him I was here, please"
"Why not?" Payton cried out, "He'll like it very much, Gabriella"
"Just don't… please" Gabriella swallowed, looking down, "I'm going to Florida in a few days"
"When you'll come back?"
"I…don't… know"
"Don't go, there's so much you can do here" Payton begged.
Gabriella stared at her incredulously, "I can't stay, can't you understand? It's too much walking in and seeing Molly---"
Chad interrupted her, "Gabriella, I know you don't like Molly, but listen up, we need to talk to you"
"No!" she stepped back instinctively, "I'm done with it, I've been on the ground for too much time, it's time to stand up again"
"Gabriella--"
"It was amazing knowing you Payton" she hugged the girl, before she could start talking again, and then she hugged Chad, "Take care of him, please"
"Montez, don't go…" he pleaded softly, "Stay with us, please"
"I can't" she smiled and whispered in his ear, "You just need to fake right and break left" Chad lifted his eyebrows as she continued, "Tease the other player, make him believe in you… that's how you'll keep the ball the whole game"
Chad smirked, "Cool"
Gabriella kissed his cheek, "Take care" she looked at Payton, "You have my e-mail, if you come to Florida someday, visit me"
Before they could start begging again, Gabriella turned on her heel and disappeared through the parking lot, afraid if she stayed one more minute, she would change her mind and give up her own happiness. She gave just a last look at the place Troy was, imagining how he would be feeling right now, but she quickly remind herself that was not her job anymore;
Troy had everyone he needed right now: his mother, his sister, his best friend and his girlfriend. That's what he needed for his own happiness.
"Mom?" Troy asked, searching with his ears for any kind of sound in the room. He hated having the bandages on his eyes, they had taken the contours and the shadows away from him; he was feeling as blind as ever. Troy wanted to think positive, but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to see never again. He wanted to take the bandages off, and maybe tease his eyes, see if he tried really hard he could see, but the doctor was really firm when he said this week Troy needed to be in complete darkness.
"I'm here sweetie" Cassidy said, grabbing his hand, "How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"
"I'm scared, mom" he admitted in a whisper, squeezing her hand tight, "I'm afraid it won't work out"
"You need to wait and see, Troy" she sighed, "Do you wanna hear something nice?"
Troy shrugged, "Yeah, tell me"
"I overheard Payton talking with Gabriella; she said she'd come to see you"
Troy's heart was pounding so hard that it made him sick, "She's here?"
"Probably"
"Send her in, mom" he grinned, "Please, send her in"
Cassidy laughed, "Okay, okay" she stood up and let go of his hand, "Don't move the bandages, promise me?"
"I promise mommy, just get her… Send Gabriella in"
"Okay, behave" she kissed his forehead, "And good luck"
Troy grinned again and nodded his head. As soon as he heard the door being shut, he shifted in his bed and tried to maintain perfect posture, resting his hands uneasily on each side of his body. He took two deep breaths to regain his words; he had so much to explain.
After telling Cassidy that Chad and Payton were outside with Gabriella, Molly jumped out of the hospital's couch and made her way to Troy's room. She didn't like the idea of him alone. She pushed the door open, to see Troy in an almost sitten position. He didn't move, like he was sleeping or just playing statue.
The room was better lit now, but still the light was weak, illuminating just Troy's figure a bit, he couldn't have any kind of lights or anything that could prejudice his sight this first crucial week.
Molly stepped closer to the bed, softly, not knowing if he was awake or not. He wasn't snoring, though he still sat motionless. She took a deep breath, lifting her hand to touch his face.
"Gabriella?"
Molly flinched and stepped back, biting her lip.
"Gabi, I'm so glad you're here" Troy sounded relived and happy at the same time, which made Molly's heart flip inside her chest, "Gosh baby, I was missing you so much"
"I'm sorry I took so long to explain myself, but you didn't seem to want to talk to me… and I wanted to give you space… and--" he sighed deeply, "I'm sorry I went after Molly at first, but everything was a misunderstood, I never chose her over you, Gabi" he ran his hand through his hair, "I went to her place to tell her that after our talk, I realized you were the one I wanted"
Molly's eyes got teary and she tried to hold up a sob, unsuccessful. "Love, please don't cry" Troy continued, "Aw Gabi, I love you so much. This weeks without you were like hell to me, but Molly helped me, baby. She accepted being only my friend, that's what I realized she was… just a friend. I don't know her, I can't feel her like I feel you Gabriella. I see your soul even though I'm blind…" Troy bit the top of his lips, his fingertips pressing on his stomach as he continued his speech, with so much passion that Molly felt sick, "I missed you the moment you left me. You didn't answer my calls, you didn't hear Chad or Payton, I had no idea what I should do to get you back, baby" he raised his hand, searching for hers, waiting, begging for her forgiveness, "I'm sorry If I made you suffer, and thanks for letting me free. I needed to know she was not for me, that I was no longer in love with Molly. She's a great girl, don't get me wrong… but she's just…" he struggled for the right words, "She's just no you, Gabi"
Molly held her breath; her heart was falling into pieces as the boy in front of her was declaring himself to someone else. The boy she said she was fine being only a friend, but deep inside, she wanted nothing like this with him. She had Troy for years and when she finally fell in love with him, he fell out of love with her. Things could be so cruel sometimes.
"Gabriella, say something love" Troy sounded worried now and that killed Molly a bit more inside. She wanted to tell him she was not Gabriella; that she would get the girl he really loved for him, but it was impossible. Unfortunately, she was a selfish person, she wanted everything for her, and she wanted Troy for her. Molly hoped she could make him fall in love with her, again.
"Gabriella, please say something. If you don't say anything I'll think you don't love me" he tried to joke, but you could hear the fear in his voice. Molly wiped her tears, letting the silence pierce their hearts, and Troy nodded quietly.
"I see" he said in a whisper, holding tightly on the tip of his blanket, "It's okay, Gabriella. I get it"
And then, Molly did the only thing she was able to do, she stepped back and ran out of the room.
