Forever Loved
Chapter Eleven:

"Peyton, please talk to me." Gabriella said as her daughter entered the kitchen. Peyton had been avoiding Gabriella and not speaking to her for the past week. She was really upset about the whole Troy thing. She could barely face Brittany either knowing that they were sisters.
"I'm going to the studio. I need a ride." Peyton stated.
Gabriella nodded. "Anything. Come on."
Gabriella waited a few moments until Peyton appeared downstairs with her gym bag over her shoulder. The duo got into the red honda and drove across town to the dance studio.

Gabriella closed her laptop and bit her lip. How was she going to tell Troy about his daughter? She was currently just filling in on some celebrity news on TMZ. It was the usual news, people talking trash about The Kardashian clan all because they were rich.
Gabriella decided it was best to wait a little. Until Troy had less on his plate. The breakup with Christie and everything else. She just didn't know how Peyton was doing. She didn't know if Peyton told Brittany or if Peyton told anyone a matter of fact. She needed to know what Peyton was thinking. She let her believe all these years that her father was Michael Adams. She was sure discovering that your mother kept you away from your very famous father for over fourteen years would take a toll on her mind.

"Are you up to go to the gym with me today?" Troy asked Brittany. Brittany was currently lying down in the family room with a cucumber spread on her face and two cucumbers covering her eyes. It was her usual thing to do on Tuesday mornings.
"Um, I was just going to go to dance. Thomas will be here in a half hour," Brittany took off her cucumbers. "What time is it again?"
"Almost nine, sweetie. You might wanna wash that off and head to the studio now. Traffics pretty rough." Troy said. He had just gotten home from his usual morning jog up the trail in the park.
"Okay. I'll see you at the gym later right?" Brittany asked.
"Yeah. I'll head there after I put up that new computer desk in your bedroom." Troy said.
Brittany nodded. She got up and gave her dad a soft hug. "Thanks, Daddy."
"No problem, sweetheart. Now you get your butt to the studio now. Make me proud." Troy smiled.
Brittany smiled. "Okay. Call Tom. Tell him to come now. I just gotta wash my face and put my dance clothes on."
Brittany rushed upstairs to her large bedroom to get ready as Troy picked up the house phone to call her driver.

Troy stared at the cardboard box that was sitting on the floor of his daughter's bedroom. She had bought a new computer desk because she was going to be hooking up her new iMac computer. The iMac was a gift to her from her grandmother in Boulder. Mrs. Tanner always sent Brittany birthday gifts.
"Ugh, really wish these things came assembled." Troy complained to himself as he ripped the cardboard off. He was always good at handy stuff like that but he wasn't feeling it today.
He picked up the many black wooden pieces and the glass counter top. He began to get to work on assembling the computer desk.

"Peyton!" Brittany exclaimed as she came into the studio that Peyton was currently in.
Peyton looked up and seen the petite girl standing in the doorway wearing a pair of baggy black dance seats and a pink crop top with a lime green sports bra under. "Hi." She said softly.
"Sooo," Brittany took off her crop top and revealed the lime green sports bra she was wearing under. She then tossed her gymbag aside. "Have you been avoiding me?"
Peyton stuttered. "Um, no. I just haven't really had time to call you or anything."
Brittany did her splits flat on the ground, resting her head on her elbows in front of her. "Same. There's been a lot going on at home."
"Yeah. Same." Peyton said quietly.
Brittany then got up and did the scorpian. "So, what's been going on with you?"
"You wouldn't want to know," Peyton admitted.
"Of course I do. I'm always here for everyone of the girls on my team," she smiled.
Peyton looked at Brittany. They were sisters. They shared the same father. Brittany had no idea and Peyton wasn't sure how to tell her. "Um, actually...are you sure you want to here this?"
Brittany gave a genuine smile. "Of course!"
"Well, the thing is..." Peyton began but was later interrupted when the petite brunette stood in the doorway.
"Britt! Hey!" Kylie exclaimed. "I can't believe you didn't come tell me you were here. Come on!"
"Oops...hold that thought, Peyton." Brittany said rushing to the door to see her friend.
Peyton sighed and returned to her stretching.

Gabriella stared up at the ceiling of her home. She was currently laying on the couch wondering how she fucked up her life so bad. If she would've just came back after she found out she was pregnant...Peyton, Troy and her would have been a family. If she didn't care about herself too much, she would've had a perfect family.
Knock. Knock.
It was the door. Gabriella groaned and got up. She walked to the door and opened it.
She was shocked to see who was on her front steps. "Christie?" She asked surprised.
Christie smiled. "Hi, Gabriella. I just wanted to inform you that the get together at Troy's is cancelled."
Gabriella looked confused. "Wait, why?"
"We aren't exactly together anymore and I just feel that it would be extremely awkward for me to be there while Troy is," Christie explained. "I just think it's best cancelling it all together so people don't ask questions. Why aren't you at the studio?"
Gabriella looked at her. "I'm just busy with work. Well, actually I'm just stressed out right now."
Christie entered the house. "Well, do you want to talk about it?"
"No, it's fine. Really." Gabriella smiled.
"I have nothing else to do this afternoon. If you want to talk about it, I can listen." Christie smiled.
Gabriella looked at her. She was such a nice woman. "No, really. It's fine. I'll see you at the gym, alright?" Gabriella asked.
"Of course you will. Troy and I may have broken up but Brittany has finally warmed up to me. I'm not just going to leave that bond hanging by a thread." Christie smiled.
"I'm glad Brittany has somebody like you in her life. Now, I better get back to work now." Gabriella stated.
"Yeah, of course. I'll get out of your hair," Christie turned to walk out. "But, Gabriella, if you ever need anyone to talk to. I'm here for you."
Gabriella nodded. "Yeah. Nice to know."
Christie left Gabriella's home. Gabriella returned to her office to finish a bit of work.

Troy smiled back at the computer desk in Brittany's bedroom. He was impressed with himself. He decided to call Lauren's mother to thank her. Cassandra Tanner was Lauren's mother. She cut all ends with Lauren when Troy and Brittany did. After discovering your daughter abandoned her own family for drugs, it must've been hard. But she made all efforts to stay in Brittany's life.
Troy walked over to Brittany's bed where his cell phone was. He picked it up and dialed the number to Mrs. Tanner.

"Hello?"
"Hi, Cassandra. It's Troy."
"Oh, hi! So Troy, how did Brittany like her gift?"
"She absolutely adores it. Thank you for sending it, Cassandra."
"It was no problem, Troy. After everything we've been through...Please, call me Mom."
"Haha, alright. I'll have Brittany call you when I go pick her up from dance. Goodbye, Mom."
"Bye, bye, Troy. You have yourself a splendid afternoon."

Troy hung up his phone and put it in the pocket of his pants. He needed to drop off go get Brittany's passport renewed so she could go to New York for nationals in two weeks. He went to his bedroom and into his closet. He quickly decided on a casual pair of black jeans and a white and blue dress shirt. He styled his hair and went downstairs for a cup of coffee.
Troy heard the doorbell ring. He put his coffee down and made his way to the front door. He unlocked it and pulled open the door. He was extremely shocked to see that woman standing on his steps, or he means their steps.
Lauren took a breath before saying. "Hi, Troy."
Troy opened the door wider to let her in. "Lauren."

"What were you thinking?" Troy asked as they walked into the living room. "Do you know what would've happened if Brittany were to have been home?"
Lauren looked around. Being in this wonderful house brought back so many memories. When Brittany started walking for an example.

Flashback:
"Lauren! Baby, come here!" Troy hollered from the living room.
Lauren came rushing down the stairs. "Is something wrong?" She asked as she approached Troy.
"Our baby's going to do it. She's gonna do it. She's gonna start walking. Look." Troy signaled to the eleven-month old baby holding on to the side of the sofa and staring ahead planning to walk.
Lauren kneeled by Troy and bent back to lean on him as he rested his hands on her stomach lovingly. "It's actually happening, Troy. She's gonna walk."
"Come here, honey!" Troy smiled as the cute baby let go of the sofa.
"Sweetie, you can do it! Come to Mommy and Daddy, Britt." Lauren held her arms out.
Brittany put one foot in front of her and then began to walk.

"I was kind of hoping she would be home," Lauren admitted as she placed a white envelope on the coffee table that said "To my baby, Brittany. With all my love."
Troy glared at her. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see Brittany . You can't keep my daughter away from me." Lauren stated.
"You can't just can't come to California and expect me to just let you see Brittany." Troy said raising his voice.
"I'm done with all your terrible threats. I do have a right to see my daughter, Troy." She said softly.
"You're clearly forgetting about the restraining order that we have against you. You will be arrested if you see Brittany or even contact her at all." Troy said loudly.
"I have been sober for three years, Troy. Can I just please see my daughter? You can't do this to me." Lauren pleaded.
"You can see her when she's eighteen and wants to see you. That's only four more years." Troy said.
Lauren now had tears in her eyes. "That's four more years for her to wonder why I haven't been around. Four more years for her to start hating me. Four more years, Troy? I can't do that. I'm sorry. Can I please just see her?"
"I'm sorry," Troy said. "You have to leave now. I got to go pick up Brittany now."
Lauren began to walk herself to the door. She turned around and looked at Troy. "You're going to feel a lot of regret for keeping your daughter away from her mother, your wife. And I'd hate to see you go through that. I've felt it and it doesn't feel nice."

Brittany and Kylie were just leaving the Starbucks that was a good five minutes away from the dance studio. Brittany was still a little upset about her mother standing her up but being with Kylie was nice.
"So, anyways...enough about your mom, Britt. Let's make some plans." Kylie smiled as she held open the door for Brittany.
The duo walked out of the parking lot. "Hmm...that sounds nice. What do you have in mind?" Brittany asked.
"I was thinking you and I can go to Skyzone in Concord and then maybe some shopping afterwards." Kylie suggested.
Brittany's favorite place to go was Skyzone, everyone knew it. She loved bouncing on the trampolines and just doing flips into the foam blocks.
"That sounds nice. I'll think about it. But if I don't feel like it, we can just do dinner and a movie at my place. And a sleepover." Brittany answered.
"That sounds fun. I guess we can do that. It's better than sitting in a car for about a half hour to go to Skyzone. When's the last time we went to Skyzone?" Kylie asked.
"My dad and his ex-girlfriend took us a year ago, I believe. But my dad and I went when we were in LA a few weeks ago." Brittany said.
"Anyways, it's cold. So let's hurry."

"There's ou-" Peyton started. "Your dad."
Brittany looked up at the window that was overlooking Studio A. Troy was sitting there drinking coffee. When he seen Brittany he waved. She looked back at Peyton. "You're being so jumpy, hold on."
Brittany exited the studio to go see her dad. She opened the door leading upstairs and Troy was already coming down.
"Hey, Britt." Troy said coming down the stairs.
"Hi, Dad. Let's go discuss my routine for Nationals with Celene now. She's in her office right now." Brittany said.
Troy nodded and followed Brittany into Celene Marquez's office.

"Britt! I had no idea she pulled your routine." Troy assured his daughter.
Brittany looked at him. "You know what, Dad?"
Troy looked at her. "What?"
"I don't think I want to do this anymore." Brittany said.
"Do what?" Troy asked.
"Dance. This sport. All of this. I'm just over it." Brittany cried.
"Sweetie, this is your life. You love to do this. I remember you growing up, all you talked about was dancing. Don't give up so soon." Troy said.
"But it's just a piss off now." Brittany said.
"My dad told me growing up that I should do what I want to do. That's what I'm telling you. If you don't want to do this, we can take your name off of this team and we can go home. Is that what you want to do?" Troy asked.
"No. I'm just, I don't know," Brittany cried. "I need a break."
"You can have a break. I'll tell Celene you don't want to do this. We can number your practices until Nationals. You can start doing privates." Troy said.
"Thanks." Brittany said wiping her tears.

Lauren Bolton-Tanner sat in her car outside of Ridgeview Dance Complex. All she needed was to see her daughter. See how she looks. She had been waiting here for about an hour for Brittany to come out. She was heading straight to court when she returned back home in Dallas. She was going to march in the court room and demand to see her daughter. She needed to fight for what she wanted.
She noticed the petite girl walking out of the dance complex wearing a black and pink tracksuit and holding a pink gym bag. Her bleach dyed blonde hair was in a french braided ponytail.
Lauren smiled and cried happy tears as she seen her only baby walking out of the complex. Until she noticed tears going down Brittany's cheeks.
She wanted so badly to just get out of her car and comfort her. Hold her in her arms and tell her everything was going to be alright. But she knew she couldn't.
After watching her daughter have a small breakdown as she got into her fathers black Escalade, Lauren decided to get out and go see Lauren.
She was unbuckling her seat belt and wiping her tears and getting ready to go out there. That's when Troy came out of the studio.
Lauren watched as Troy got into the Escalade and drove away taking her daughter.
She immediately broke down and cried. All she wanted was to let Brittany know that she loved her.

Gabriella watched as Peyton walked out of the studio. Peyton got into the front seat of the car and Gabriella began driving to a restaurant to eat.
"You have a long day?" Gabriella asked.
"No. It's just so awkward between Brittany and I. I mean, we're sisters. When do you even plan on telling Troy Bolton?" Peyton asked.
"As soon as he has less on his plate." Gabriella said.
"Well, if you don't tell him soon...I will," Peyton threatened. "We play basketball together sometimes. I can tell him during that."
"You wouldn't." Gabriella said softly.
"I would." Peyton challenged.
"Fine. I'll tell him tomorrow. I will." Gabriella promised.

"I was thinking we can do a father daughter dinner. Go get ready, sweetie." Troy said as he shut off the TV in the living room.
Brittany smiled. "I know exactly what I'm wearing. Hold on, Daddy."
Troy smiled and went to go get his car keys off of the kitchen counter when his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it.

"Troy Bolton?" He said.
"This is regarding your wife, Lauren Bolton. This is the San Francisco Health Department."
"What is it?"
"She had been in an accident. I'm sorry. She didn't make it."
"Wait, what?"
"It wasn't her fault at all. She was driving down the highway and a pickup truck hit her car. It flipped over into the ditch. I'm sorry."

Troy hung up his phone. He was shocked. He sat back on the couch. His wife died?
"Daddy, I'm ready." Brittany smiled coming into the living room dressed in a white strapless dress and a pair of white flats. Her hair was in a ponytail.
Troy looked at her. "I have something to tell you. You might want to sit down."
Brittany sat down.
"Your mom, Lauren...got into an accident." Troy said.
"Was she high?" Brittany asked.
"No.." Troy said softly. "It wasn't her fault."
"Oh."
"Baby, your moms dead." Troy said softly.
Brittany looked at him. "I know. And honestly I feel nothing. She stood me up at Nationals, she never cared about me. She chose drugs over her own daughter," Brittany now sat up. Her expression was blank. "Now, can we please go to dinner now, Daddy?"
Troy looked at his daughter. He was still in shock. Now he felt nothing but grief and regret.

Okay. So wowwww, Lauren died.

You guys are probably pissed off because I barely put Gabriella and Peyton in here. I was mainly focused on Troy and Brittany for this chapter.

I thought it would be a good start to the new year by updating my story. So instead of celebrating with my friends, I stayed home and wrote this long chapter for you all.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. There will be more coming in hopefully the next week!
I'll try my best to complete this story by the end of January.
As usual, leave your reviews please! They mean the absolute world to me.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, LOVELIES3

Love you guys, Xxxxxx.
~Kyrra