Hey, so here's the next chapter. In this chapter it's basically more Troy and Gabriella, bickering as per usual and exploring and developing this strange relationship between the two. Please review and hope you enjoy!
Grace xxx
Her heart stopped, cold blood ran through her veins tediously, motionless, dead. Everything around her was black, dark, gone. She tore her feeble eyes away from the grimy checkered floor beneath the soles of her black shoes. She looked up for a split second and saw the one thing she feared the most. The flat steady line, the constant bleep beating, drowning her ears, his heart was no longer beating.
He was dead.
The panic followed, the aftermath resulting in the staff closing the blinds, snatching him from Gabriella's view, they were taking him away from her. She wanted to go inside, she needed to say goodbye, her fists pounding on the door, failing unsuccessfully as she was pulled away by the one person she blamed.
"Gabriella, you can't go in there, they're saving him." Maria Montez repeated over and over as she tugged Gabriella away.
"THEY'RE NOT SAVING HIM; GET OFF ME I NEED TO SEE HIM…NEED TO!" Gabriella cried hysterically into her Mother's shoulder, as her fists struck the wall over and over.
Time came to a halt, every second being dragged out as long as possible, piercing her heart, stabbing over and over. Everything was played in slow motion, taunting her; the nurse's furiously running across the corridors, the small girl on reception chewing her nails, the doctor's resuscitating the numb carcass lying on the sickening bed opposite her.
They weren't saving him fast enough. Time had been fractured, silence was among them. A tall man with jet black hair exited the room, his gaze fixed to the floor as if by glue. He looked up and she knew what was coming.
"I'm sorry."
,
"Hey Gabriella" A desperate growl attempted to occupy her attention for the second time in a row, but she didn't hear, her interest was elsewhere, how could a year have gone by this quickly, how was she already approaching the one time every year she feared the most.
"MONTEZ!" Troy roared for a third and final time, snapping Gabriella from her thoughts. Earlier that day the gang had decided to depart separate ways for 'purpose of the project', but Gabriella and Troy had suspected differently. The others wanted to make-out and Troy and Gabriella would just get in the way, they always did when it came to relationships.
"Huh" Gabriella replied in a daze. Her light blue dress blew in the wind along with her soft brunette curls; she looked like she'd just stepped out of a dream. Ironic she had just been pulled from a nightmare.
"You were out of it for a bit there, come on we need to go left." Troy replied as he began to trudge up the steps on the cliff-side they had begun climbing 56 minutes ago.
"Right" Gabriella replied before following Troy in the trail of steps that led to the very top of the cliff Sharpay and Taylor had practically begged Gabriella and Troy to spend the day visiting.
"No, I said left." Troy replied as his patience began to fall and his feet began to climb up towards the concrete slabs.
"Yes, I heard you the first time, I was just saying right, as in to clarify what you just said." Gabriella muttered mockingly as the slow bickering began. Neither one could say anything without it turning into a witty banter fighting for so much more than pride.
Gabriella's pace quickened, altering the tapping rhythm Gabriella's white pumps had created. So far they had been taking the pace slow, neither breaking the boundaries set mutually at the beginning as Troy had begun to casually stroll up the small pathway leading to the cliff.
The sun radiating off their backs, bouncing off Gabriella's glossy hair, it was a hot day in Kalokairi, though the nearer Gabriella and Troy got to the approaching cliff side, the windier it became. A breath of fresh air ran chills down Gabriella's spine as she crossed her arms, clasping onto the remaining warmth of the sun.
"How many more steps we got?" Gabriella moaned as she kept her distance close to Troy's ahead of her own. He always had to lead, the first to get everywhere, the champion, the protector. But trust is a two-way street, he wouldn't be able to get their alone, he needed her help.
He always would.
"Hundred and seventy six" Troy replied instantly, letting no emotion slip through his carefully constructed walls. His pace always on cue, marching ahead, it was a surprise Gabriella could keep up.
But she always would, she had his back even when he least needed her strength.
"You've been keeping count?" Gabriella asked with a hint of curiously, observing Troy's body movement, the language of his actions.
"You haven't?" Troy replied rhetorically never missing a beat, he was focused, she could tell. His eyes, a deep shade of blue, not letting another shade slip edgeways, his motivation was fixed.
"Well no, I kinda have better things to do than count each step I walk past." Gabriella replied scornfully, appealing to his more casual sense of humour, oblivious to her inner motive being to break that focus.
"What, like walk over them." Troy replied contemptuously as he adjusted his tone, trickling a small amount of humour but never betraying that steady need, his aim; he had to get to the top of that cliff. It was a challenge and Troy Bolton never lost a challenged especially to himself.
A light smile found refuge from the corners of Gabriella's lips before returning her gaze confidently. "No…well I've got better things to worry about, rather than 'was that hundred and seventy three or a hundred and seventy-"
"One…it was a hundred and seventy one." Troy replied sternly cutting Gabriella off mid sentence. "It takes your mind off things, drowns every other stupid thought in your head at the minute, it's…kinda peaceful." Troy replied tenderly.
"Yeah well...maybe I'll try it sometime." Gabriella replied humorously, it was around lunchtime; she and Troy had now been walking up towards the cliff for around an hour, 30 minutes. 'Not long now Gabriella, not long now', she thought to herself before securing her stable balance.
She looked up at Troy, whose sandy hair was blowing in the wind, unlike her he wasn't affected by the soft breeze. He had on one of the few sweatshirts Chad had actually managed to pack him, along with a pair of dark blue jeans.
He gently slowed down, his focus dropping slightly, though never taking his eyes of the prize. "Maybe you will Gabriella…maybe you will." Troy replied softly before continuing the fixed action of left over right foot, pushing his body forwards, climbing up the steps.
'This better be one hell of a view' Gabriella thought to herself as she followed Troy as they began to climb the remaining steps, always in sync with each other, never a step out of line.
"Do you think they're okay?" Taylor asked curiously at Chad before glancing up to remove Chad's sun glasses from her head. Taylor and Chad had decided to go to the local beaches, consisting of a five minute walk from their hotel.
"I'm sure they're fine baby…now where were we?" Chad ushered quickly before grabbing Taylor's waist and pulling her back on the beach towel they had been lying on for the past 20 minutes.
"You sure, it's just well they didn't seem very happy this morning, you should have seen Gabriella's face when I told her that she and Troy was going up the cliff today." Taylor finished as she pulled herself up again from Chad's tight grasp.
"Listen, they were going to have to work alone together sometime, its better they get all the awkwardness between them out their system now so they can actually do this project without fighting and maybe they might…you know resolve their differences. Besides it gives me and you more time to…spend alone together." Chad finished suggestively before raising his eyebrows at Taylor who lightly punched his arm.
"I don't know, it's just I wish there was just a way to make them understand they belong together, get it all out in the open." Taylor moaned at Chad before unscrewing the lid of sun tan lotion currently occupied next to the camera.
"Tay come on, we both know that's never going to happen, all we can hope for is that someday they'll be able to pass each other in the corridors without a single snide comment coming out, if they ever get to that stage, then that's an achievement within itself." Chad finished before opening his palms and receiving a large dose of sun cream in the center of his broad hands.
"Anyway where did Sharpay and Zeke say they were off to today?" Chad questioned before watching Taylor lie on the towel as he began to massage her shoulders with the sun cream.
"I think Sharpay said Zeke wanted to ask around the village, take in some of the culture, like how they cook, specialities, stuff like that. And I know Sharpay said she needed a long chat with Kelsi over the phone." Taylor finished as her skin began to melt like soft clay under Chad's warm embrace.
"Ouch that's going to cost, why does she need to speak to Kelsi anyway, she's coming up here next week?" Chad asked as his warm hands began to apply and alternate pressure between Taylor's shoulders and long neck.
"Oh, baby that feels…really, really good!" Taylor moaned as Chad's hands began to explore lower and lower. "Erm…I think Sharpay wants Kelsi to write some songs for the project, you know the 'Kalokairi Musicale…featuring Sharpay Evans', I feel sorry for Kelsi."Taylor whimpered as Chad removed his skilled hands from Taylor's shoulders.
"My turn" Chad replied enthusiastically as he began to stretch out his form along the red and white towel currently placed against the soft sand.
"In your dreams baby, besides we've got work to do!" Taylor replied as she leapt off the towel before brushing off the small grains of sand stuck to her leopard print bikini. Taylor quickly folded the towel before snatching the small digital camera from the sand, ignoring Chad's groan as the realisation hit him that he wouldn't be getting his massage any time soon.
"Hey I'll make it worth your while…we get some good footage and maybe we'll go visit that spot behind those trees over there…" Taylor whispered suggestively before pointing out the small island of trees in the distance.
"So where shall we start?" Chad practically screamed before he jumped off the towel enthusiastically, grabbing the camera besides Taylor.
"Oh...my" Gabriella gasped as she looked at the spectacular view beneath her. This view was most definitely worth the ridiculous amount of steps Troy and Gabriella had climbed prior.
"It's…amazing" Troy panted as the began to regain his breath, Gabriella and Troy had raced up the last 50 steps leaving the two of them both out of breath, blood pumping faster than the speed of light itself. Below Troy and Gabriella stood the most remarkable view neither had ever seen
The turquoise ocean lay beneath them, glistening away as the sun shone brightly, glowing. It just rest there, like jelly, a tiny tilt, the slightest movement causing a ripple in the peace pleasantly received from the reverie they found themselves in. The beaches, a sandy gold coastline of amazement, the tiny dots of colour scattered around the golden beach as the people below lay their relaxing, absorbing the atmosphere.
The ancient rocks rest spread among the beaches, highlighting the history of the island, how an island so small compared to other countries could contain such breathtaking stories, every grain of sand was a part of history, every rock, every shell, every person had a story to share. The height at which Gabriella and Troy were stood was beyond outstanding. The wind blew full force at their small figures, hardly noticeable from the people stood far below them. This is an experience neither would ever forget.
Troy didn't know how long he and Gabriella stood, frozen to the spot, neither daring to, as if by moving they would be shattering the sweet tranquillity both found themselves in, absorbing the view beneath their very eyes. "It's so…" Troy began, as his brain began to find the right word for the scene among them. It could have easily just been ripped from a magazine, it was perfect.
"Peaceful" Gabriella replied softly, finishing the sentence he couldn't. Troy watched Gabriella move soothingly against the hard surface of the cliff. Gabriella took a few steps forward, before sitting down on the very edge of the cliff, her small bronzed calves dangling off the verge.
"Yeah" Troy replied before strolling over towards the boundary of the cliff, sitting himself down beside Gabriella. Suddenly everything that had been clouding Troy's judgement over the past few days was forgotten, all the stupid thoughts, feelings, emotions were disregarded, blocked. All that mattered at that current moment was him and the petite girl sat beside him.
It was as if he had gone back in time, to a time when him and Gabriella cherished each other, held each other, and just for a few moments…he felt himself again. A person he hadn't felt since the day him and Gabriella had parted ways, left each other, despised each other.
It was a moment like this that brought two people together, that took away their disparity for each other, the bitterness, resentment and brought back something so much more.
,
"So Mr Bolton, what is this big surprise you've been talking about?" Gabriella buzzed in curiosity as Troy's strong hands' intertwined with Gabriella's own small ones. It was 8:00pm on a school night but Gabriella's mother was away for the week, as per usual. Troy's parents had instructed he return by 10:30pm the latest, but Troy wasn't really too bothered. Time didn't exist in the place they were, only one thing did and that was each other.
"Gabriella if I tell you, it won't be a surprise" Troy replied humorously before leading Gabriella towards a small pathway, the street lights' illuminating the full moon peacefully resting above the two teenagers.
"Whatever" Gabriella huffed before pouting her rosy lips together, making sure she had Troy's full attention.
"You only say that because you know I'm right." Troy replied before stopping and turning around, meeting Gabriella's lips in a small kiss. Okay so he might have stolen a small kiss from her, but it was only because she looked so cute when she was annoyed.
"Keep telling yourself that Wildcat." Gabriella replied before following Troy as he entered a small iron gate Gabriella recognized to be the entrance to the local park.
"I don't have to; I've got you to do it for me." Troy replied huskily before flashing Gabriella one of his award winning smiles, his charm.
"Why are we in the park anyway?" Gabriella replied before eyeing the small picnic basket she had only just realized Troy had been carrying for the whole duration of the journey.
Troy didn't reply but instead grabbed a small red and white chequered blanket from the wooden basket, spreading it over the grass. It wasn't a cold evening; it was more of a lazy summer's evening. Troy sat down on the blanket before patting the small spot next to him, ushering Gabriella to join beside him.
"I know we don't get a chance to go out together that often…alone, it's always someone else like Chad interrupting or something, boy he has the worst timings. And I could have taken you out to a really nice restaurant, if that's what you would have wanted…or still want. But yesterday you shared something with me and now I want to share something with you." Troy began as Gabriella gazed into his eyes, blue fireworks shooting off inside, declaring his love for her.
"Troy you didn't have-" Gabriella began, cutting Troy off. But he wouldn't let her, he was determined to say this.
"No Gabriella I did, I really did. I come here sometimes to think, just look at the stars, you know watch the world past…corny I know. But it's peaceful, relaxing, but recently every time I've come up here I've felt like there's been something missing, that it's not as perfect as it used to be. And then I realized it was because you weren't here with me, you complete my life Gabriella. You make it perfect." Troy finished before slowly resting on his back, hands underneath his head as he began to watch the stars shine in the dark sky.
"Well if it's any consolation Wildcat" Gabriella begun as she followed Troy, only leaning on one arm so she could face him. "You complete my life as well." Gabriella finished before leaning in, as the two of them met in the middle.
It wasn't a heavy kiss, nowhere near what they could get up to given fifteen minutes alone in an empty classroom but it meant so much more. It was as if they only had a few seconds, so they had to make them last, make them count as much as they could.
Gabriella gently pulled away before gently resting her head on Troy's chest, though there was still something on her mind, one more secret left to be revealed. "Troy, promise me one thing." Gabriella whispered softly into the crook of Troy's neck, the look of anticipation apparent in her chocolate orbs.
Troy could sense there was a hint of nervousness in her voice, something troubling her. "Anything" he whispered before stroking the small curls of her hair, gently, lovingly, protectively.
"Promise…" Gabriella began struggling to find the right words. "Promise you'll never leave me." Gabriella whispered softly, as a tiny tear found its way out the corners of her eyes'.
"I promise" Troy whispered without a second of hesitation, as he lifted a small finger under her chin, lifting it up to meet his own. "I love you"
,
But as quick as it began, it was snatched away, stolen, the moment was over. "Come on, we should probably get the footage and head back." Troy replied remorsefully as he pushed himself off the rough ground and grabbed the camera that had earlier been dispatched on the hard concrete, near they were seated.
He didn't know whether he had suggested that because he honestly thought it was time to head back, or whether it was because of a reason so much more than that.
Fear
Fear of falling, slipping back into past mistakes, letting himself become vulnerable and getting hurt. He couldn't forget that easily, he didn't show it often but when he saw her with Billy; his heart was torn, shred to pieces, he was more than hurt, he was broken. He couldn't let that happen again.
He wouldn't
"Yeah, guess you're right." Gabriella replied before reflecting Troy's actions, turning around to find Troy's palm outstretched before her. He was offering his hand, helping her up, a passed action Gabriella would have once greedily accepted without a seconds' thought. But things were different now.
He had just wanted to know how different.
He watched Gabriella place her soft palms on the sharp gravel beneath her feet as she pushed herself up, he watched her stand on her own two feet, it was something he knew she had to do, especially today. He returned his hand before switching the camera on, and taking a wide-shot of the stunning view that had struck them, to what had seemed like hours ago.
In a swift motion, Troy's steady hand guided the camera along the horizon, zooming in on the beach. "HOLY FUCK!" Troy growled as the camera slid from his sweaty palms, choking him as it stopped short, pulling the strap he had placed around his neck earlier.
"WHAT!" Gabriella replied almost jumping from her current position as she joined herself beside Troy, trying to gain some sort of insight as to why Troy had just screamed out and dropped the camera, until it hit her as well. "Is that?" Gabriella answered as her eyes zoomed from the current position occupied by Taylor and Chad under a small island of trees…pretty much naked.
"Yes" Troy gulped, before returning the same horrified expression currently occupied on Gabriella's face.
"And are they?" Gabriella replied back, almost cringing with anticipation.
"Yes" Troy flushed before picking up the camera which had slipped from the grasp around his neck.
And are you?" Gabriella asked as she watched Troy pick up the camera and begin recording the two behind the tree's doing what must have been considered illegal in America let alone Kalokairi…especially in public.
"Yes…what don't look at me like that. Do you know how long Chad teased me about my Superman PJ's in seventh grade…too long Gabriella, too long." Troy finished as he switched the camera off after gaining at least a minute's worth of footage from Chad and Taylor.
"So what you're just going to show everyone this footage?" Gabriella asked curiously as the wind began to pick up.
"NO, well not necessarily, there's nothing wrong with a bit of blackmail Gabriella." Troy replied cockily as they begun to make their way down the steps.
"A bit of blackmail…or a lot" Gabriella replied casually .
"A lot" Troy replied, flashing Gabriella one of his award winning smiles, a small hint of his charm showing through.
"My thoughts entirely" Gabriella replied as she began to follow Troy, altering to the steady rhythm, trotting down the steps one by one. This project just got a hell of a lot easier
A/N: So hope you enjoyed that chapter, I understand not loads happened but I've got some important stuff coming up next chapter, which if you got the hints at the beginning you know what it is.
Also I have got mock exams coming up in December and as much as it pains me to say this, I'm going to have to take a step back from fanfiction. I spend like every second of my free time on hear, either writing or checking out new stories etc, but I realized I can't do that anymore, as that time I could be spent doing coursework-which I am serious behind in and revising…so updates may not be as frequent. But I have still got weekends, and I'll try and update at least every Sunday, but don't hold your breath.
Please review, it really does mean the world when someone takes the time to review the chapter and definitely gives me inspiration!
Grace xxx
