Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from HSM!
Chapter 13 - Back To School
Gabriella smiled as she looked at her appearance. She never thought she'd say this but she was so happy to be going back to school today. It was the beginning of the new 'academic' year and she was glad of the distraction.
It was now September and Troy had been gone for nearly two months. He hadn't been home to visit yet as settling into college was a lot harder with the new work load and all that stuff.
Chad was still living with her and making her laugh. He left for college at like 7am so he could get there with time to spare which meant she only saw him in the evenings.
As Kyle said, Maria hadn't been home for ages. She must be happy enough with Tony to not need her children anymore. Gabriella would be lying if she said it didn't hurt but she still didn't let it get to her.
Just as she grabbed her bag her cell phone rang. She smiled as she answered.
"Hey baby" she answered. (Gabriella/Troy)
"Morning beautiful" came Troy's husky voice. "You ready to go back to school?" He asked.
"I actually cannot wait to go back" she giggled. "I have just finished getting dressed" she informed him.
"Wish I was there to see that" he murmured and she blushed.
"Troy...." she whined.
"Sorry baby" he chuckled.
"It's ok, so what time do you start classes today?" She asked as she walked downstairs.
"I have a late start, first class is half 12" he told her.
"And you are up because...?" She trailed off.
"I wanted to speak to you, make sure you were ok" he answered.
"Why wouldn't I be?" She smiled.
"No reason" she imagined him shrugging and laughed.
"Ok, crazy" she teased.
"Ha ha" he said sarcastically.
"Kidding baby, look I better go, Tay will be here soon and I'll need to leave" she said softly.
"Ok, I'll call you tonight?" She smiled.
"Ok Troy" she answered.
"I love you baby girl" he whispered.
"I love you too Wildcat" she replied.
"Bye beautiful" he finished.
"Bye handsome" she whispered before hanging up.
Gabriella pulled up at East High at around 8:30am. She smiled at Taylor as they got out of the car and after locking it they linked arms and headed for the doors.
They entered and were immediately hit by the sound of the students. They headed to their lockers, which were by each others, and took out books they'd need. They then linked arms again and headed to their homeroom.
Gabriella sat in her seat and Taylor perched herself on Gabriella's desk. They talked, as did many others, until the bell rang, indicating they should be in their seats.
Taylor went to her seat at the other side of the class and Gabriella gasped when someone she didn't expect to see entered the room. She looked towards Taylor who looked just as shocked.
There, standing at the front of the class with their teacher, was Justin. What the hell was he doing here? He went to West High, not East High!
"Quiet everyone!" Their teacher announced. "I would like you all to meet your new classmate, Justin" she smiled. Justin caught Gabriella's eye and she glared before looking at her desk.
The rest of homeroom Gabriella could feel Justin's eyes on her. She felt like telling him where to go but knew she'd get it big time of their teacher so she gritted her teeth and bared it.
When the bell rang she jumped up and started to collect her things. Just as she met Taylor at the front of the class, ready to leave, the teacher called her name.
"Yes?" Gabriella smiled.
"I would like you to be Justin's buddy for the week, you know show him around, help him work out the best route for his schedule..." Gabriella's eyes widened.
"I can't..." she shook her head.
"Miss Montez, your name is on the buddy system list" she told her.
"I know, but..." the teacher cut her off.
"No buts', now Justin..." she turned to him."This is Gabriella and if you have any problems just go to her" he nodded and then the teacher left.
Gabriella glared at Justin who looked petrified.
"Look, Gabriella I..." she held her hand up.
"Don't even go there, I am doing this because I have to, not because I want to, where is your first class?" She asked.
"Ummm, room 312" he showed her.
"English Lit, same as me, well come on then" she and Taylor walked ahead of him.
"What the hell?" Taylor whispered.
"I know, what are the odds!" Gabriella exclaimed quietly.
"Maybe he is sorry Hun..." Taylor glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him.
"I don't care, what he did was horrible!" Gabriella whispered.
"But..." Gabriella stopped walking.
"Taylor, please don't..." she pleaded and her friend nodded.
They then entered the class and after telling the teacher who Justin was Gabriella went to her seat. After a quick introduction to the class he was shown to his seat, which was by Gabriella's, typical, and then the class began.
It was now lunch and Gabriella went up to a quiet place by herself. She needed thinking space. How the hell could this happen? She knew Troy would freak if he found out about this, but she couldn't keep it from him. She'd just have to reassure him she was fine and Justin hadn't tried anything. Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone. She smiled and answered.
"Hey babe" she said. (Gabriella/Troy)
"Hey Ella, how was your morning?" Troy asked.
"Boring" she giggled. "First I had English Lit, then double algebra" she sighed. "Rubbish first day back so far" she giggled.
"Awww gutted baby" he laughed.
"Yeah, and something else happened too..." she started.
"What? Are you ok?" He panicked.
"Yeah, don't worry, but before I tell you don't worry ok?"
"Oh...Kay" he said slowly.
"Justin has been transferred to East High" she announced.
"What?!" He yelled.
"Babe, chill, its ok" she tried to calm him.
"Ok?! How is it?! After what he did!" He exclaimed.
"Baby, I know but I seriously don't want you stressing, I have told him not to talk to me unless necessary and that we are not friends" she stated.
"You mean you've spoken to him?"
"Yeah, that's another thing, I have been assigned as his buddy, you know to like show him around..." she trailed off when she heard him inhale deeply.
"Oh shit" he said simply.
"Troy, its ok" she reassured him.
"As long as you're sure..." he said quietly.
"I'm sure, babe you know I can handle myself" she heard him let out a laugh. "What? I can" she pouted.
"Babe, you forgetting I've seen you try and fight in the boxing ring" he chuckled.
"Hey! In my defense when we had that date I wasn't in suitable clothing" she stated.
"Ok, ok, you're a rock babe" he teased.
"Shut it, idiot" she mumbled.
"Jeez, thanks, is that how much you miss me?" He laughed.
"You know I miss you" she defended.
"How much?" He tried.
"Loads, heaps, millions" she giggled.
"Good, I miss you that much too beautiful" he stated.
"Glad to hear it" she giggled.
"Look, baby I hate to cut this short but..." Gabriella cut him off.
"You have to go" she sighed.
"I'll call you back later" he assured her.
"You better" she warned.
"I will, I'll be on IM later too" she smiled.
"I'll make sure I am then as well" she told him.
"Alright, speak later beautiful" he whispered.
"Bye Troy Boy" they hung up and she sighed.
After hanging up from Troy Gabriella stayed where she was for a few minutes then went to find Taylor. She wondered around the halls, making her way to the cafeteria when she bumped into someone.
"Oh, sorry" she then saw who it was and frowned.
"Sorry" Justin smiled.
Gabriella made to go past him but he stopped her.
"Please Gabriella, just listen to me" he begged.
"Why should I? After what you did" she said coldly.
"Because I am really sorry and I want to make it up to you" he insisted.
"Look, just forget about it, but it doesn't mean we are friends" she sighed.
"Why can't we be?" He asked.
"Because... what you did... I was really hurt" she told him as they sat on some seats.
"And, if you give me the chance I would like to prove I am not a jerk, I really didn't know what I was thinking" he told her.
"Well... I guess I could see what happens... I mean you have a lot of ground to make up..." she warned. "But..." they both smiled."You're new here and I do feel a little bad that you don't really know anyone" she told him.
"Thank you" he hugged her and Gabriella was shocked.
"Urm... you're welcome" she said, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"Sorry..." he pulled back.
"No worries" she smiled.
"So, cheating on Troy already..." Brooke said from behind Gabriella.
Gabriella stood up and turned to face her.
"Shut up Brooke, just because you can't be friends with a member of the opposite sex doesn't mean every other girl can't" she stated.
"Humph" Brooke huffed before tossing her hair over her shoulder and stomping off.
"Nice one" Justin laughed as he stood up.
"Thank you" Gabriella bowed and they both laughed. "Let's go" she motioned for him to follow her.
"So... Boyfriend huh?" He started.
"Yeah" Gabriella smiled. "It's kinda complicated and a long story" she giggled.
"I have time" he shrugged.
"Short version?" He nodded. "Well... I have known him my whole life, he is my big brother's best friend and when people first found out about us it was kinda hard as some people couldn't accept it, we've been dating for about 4 months now and there is just one person who won't accept us but her opinion doesn't mean anything" she smiled.
"That's the short version? Phew, glad I didn't ask for the long one" he joked and she giggled. "Who hasn't accepted you?" He wondered as they entered the cafeteria.
"My mother" she sighed. "She's a bitch though so I really don't care" she giggled.
"Where is he now?" He asked.
"College and LA" she smiled then they reached her friends' table. "Hey all" she giggled.
"Gabs, where have you been?" Taylor asked.
"Just went somewhere to talk to Troy" she smiled. "Then bumped into Justin" she motioned behind her.
"Oh... right" Taylor smiled at Justin.
"Justin this is Taylor, Kelsi, Louise and Jamie" she introduced. "Jamie is on the basketball team, and I bet he's glad there is finally a guy to talk to" she smiled and Justin nodded.
Justin went to sit with Jamie whilst Gabriella sat with the girls. Once they saw that the two guys were talking the girls turned on Gabriella.
"What happened to I cannot forgive him for what he did?" Taylor whispered.
"He apologized, and I felt sorry for him, so I have given him a chance" she explained.
"Is that a good idea?" Kelsi wondered.
"What do you mean?" Gabriella frowned.
"What if he still likes you?" Louise asked.
"He doesn't, he knows I am with Troy" she shrugged.
"That doesn't normally stop a teenage boy Gabs" Kelsi whispered as they all glanced at him.
"Well, if it gets to a point where I find out he likes me I'll deal with it then" she told them.
"Well, just be careful" Taylor warned.
"Seriously, chill out" Gabriella said before going to sit with the guys.
The girls watched her and frowned. She was smiling and laughing as always but that wasn't what confused them. What confused them was the look on Justin's face as he watched her.
It was now 4:00pm and Gabriella had just got home from school. She heard someone in the kitchen and frowned. Chad couldn't be home yet, he didn't normally get back until around 6:00pm.
She quietly crept towards the kitchen, trying her best not to be heard. She peaked around the corner and sighed in relief.
"Mom, what the hell are you doing?" She breathed.
"Gabriella, Jesus don't creep up on people" she scolded.
"Me? You come to the house without being invited and I'm in the wrong? Pfft typical" she shook her head and laughed.
"This is my house..." Maria stated.
"I thought you lived with Tony" Gabriella said. Maria looked down and Gabriella laughed. "He kicked you out, didn't he?"
"No, we agreed it wasn't working at his house" she mumbled.
"So now you want to come back?" Gabriella asked in disbelief.
"I am back, this is my house, so deal with it" she said.
"Well, I am going to move out then" Gabriella said.
"What? Where will you go?" Maria laughed.
"I don't know, The Bolton's, maybe Chad and I could get an apartment..." Maria stopped her.
"Chad? Another older boy you're having relations with?" Gabriella frowned.
"No! I am not you mother, I can hold a relationship, so much to your dismay Troy and I are still happy" she smirked.
"Watch your mouth" Maria warned.
"Oh my god you are so frustrating" Gabriella groaned, going up to her room.
She flopped on her bed and screamed into her pillow. She stopped screaming when she felt a presence in her room. She looked up and frowned, leaning up on her elbows to look at her mother.
"If you want to stay living here we need ground rules... Number 1... Chad goes" Maria said.
"No way!" Gabriella laughed. "He was here to look after me when you were busy with that asshole of a boyfriend" Gabriella announced.
"Watch what you say about him..." Maria said lowly.
"Why should I? What is he to me?" Gabriella stood up.
"He is your new father!" Maria yelled.
"Pfft, yeah right, he is your boyfriend" Gabriella informed her.
"No, he is my husband" Maria corrected making Gabriella gasp.
"Wh-what?"
"Yeah, we got married last weekend" she smirked. "I am back, because Tony and I are moving in here, it is a bigger and better house" she said.
"Like hell you are!" Gabriella yelled.
"Excuse me?" Maria raised her eyebrows.
"This is my daddy's house!" She shouted tearfully.
"Was his house, and how old are you Gabriella? He is your dad not daddy" Maria stated.
"Who are you?" Gabriella whispered shaking her head.
"I am still your mom" she reached out smiling but Gabriella moved back.
"No you're not, the mom I remember would never do this, she would never move on as quickly as you did, she would never put some sleaze before her children" Maria's smile dropped and her hand moved back to her side.
"Gabriella, sweetie..." Gabriella cut her off.
"No! I am not your sweetie!" She shouted running past her crying.
She ran right out the front door and slammed it shut. She continued to run, down the street, around the block and found herself standing outside a familiar house. She walked around the back and up into the tree house in the garden.
She took out her cell from her pocket and dialed her speed dial one. It rang and rang and rang then went to voicemail. She tried to clear her throat then left a message.
"Troy..." she sobbed. "Baby are you there? If you are please pick up, I need you... I love you" she sobbed before hanging up.
She then text Chad, telling him to go to his parents for tonight as her mother was back and it was probably best he stay away for the night. She explained in the text that she didn't know what was happening but she would call him tomorrow. She got a text back saying ok and that he would just stay on campus with a friend for the night.
Gabriella then sat in the corner of the tree house, wrapped herself in the blanket that smelt just like Troy and she sobbed harder, needing his touch more than ever.
She couldn't believe what that woman had turned into! She didn't even want her to be her mother anymore, she didn't care about her children, she didn't miss her husband who worshiped her, and all she could about was herself and her precious Tony. Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell ringing. She saw it was Troy and immediately picked up.
"Troy?" She cried. (Gabriella/Troy)
"Ella? Oh god baby what's wrong?" He sounded panicked.
"My mom.... she and Tony... they... they're...." she shook her head.
"Baby, calm down, I can't understand you" he said softly. Gabriella took a breath and tried to compose herself. "Alright princess, tell me what's happened?" Troy said when she had calmed.
"Mom, she was at the house when I got home from school, she announced that she and Tony were married" she whispered.
"They're what?!" He exclaimed.
"Yeah! And then we got into a fight, I told her she had changed and that she didn't even miss my daddy then she told me to grow up basically" she then started to cry.
"Oh baby, please don't cry, I'm going to come back" Gabriella wiped her eyes.
"N-no, you can't, you have college, I am ok" she tried to reassure him.
"Baby girl, you are not ok, and where are you? Why can I here wind in the background?" He sounded confused.
"I'm in the tree house" she whispered. "I just needed to get out of that house" she stated.
"How long have you been there?!" He asked.
"Urm... I got here just before I left you that voicemail" she sniffled.
"Baby! It is freezing, go inside!" He told her.
"Troy, I can't go home" she mumbled.
"Go in my house! You know my parents won't mind" he insisted.
"I... I just want to be alone" she mumbled again. "And you know Lucie won't let me be alone, she'll want to 'talk' and I just can't right now, I am.... I just don't know what I am feeling" she whispered.
"Feeling about what baby? Your mom?"
"Everything, you and me, my mom and Tony, school, just everything" she sighed.
"Well, tell me about it, maybe I can help" he suggested.
"I can't, you're busy, I'll let you go..." he cut her off.
"No, I am never too busy to talk to you, I have time to talk" he insisted.
"Well, start with the easiest which you might not be happy about..." shetrailed off.
"Why...?" He said slowly.
"Well, today I talked to Justin and I decided to give him a chance, to be friends" she said.
"Friends?" He repeated.
"Yeah, I felt sorry for him, he didn't know a lot of people and..." Troy cut her off.
"Baby, as long as you're ok with it and you're careful around him I am not mad" he laughed slightly. "You're too nice" he stated.
"Thanks, I so thought you were going to hate me..." she trailed off.
"I could never hate you beautiful" he murmured.
"I miss you" she said tearfully.
"I miss you too" he repeated. "What else is bothering you baby?" He asked.
"I don't know, I just miss you so much and it seems just as I am getting used to you not being here every day something else happens to get me down and I just don't know how much I can take before..." she trailed off.
"Before what?" Troy said, sounding worried/scared/anxious.
"Before I want it all to end" she mumbled.
"Oh god... Gabriella please don't talk about things like that..." he pleaded.
"I just... Why do these things happen to me?" She cried.
"I don't know baby, you are due some good news soon though, and I promise I will be home ASAP" he told her.
"I know you will" she smiled softly.
"Will you be ok?" He checked.
"I will, you know I will" she whispered.
"And you'll call me whenever you need me?" He questioned.
"Of course, do you have to go?" She asked.
"Not if you need me" she heard him say.
"So that is a yes but you're not going until I say?" She laughed softly.
"No, that is an I will talk and can talk until you are ready to go in to my house" he stated.
"Troy..." she groaned.
"No, you don't want to go home and I get that, but I am not having you sleep in a tree house" he scolded.
"I was going to call Taylor or something" she stated.
"Well, I will not have that, I want you to promise me you will go inside and stay with mom and dad..." he told her.
"Troy..." she groaned again.
"Promise me?" He demanded.
"Right, fine, I promise" she giggled.
"Good girl" he chuckled.
"So how was your day?" She asked.
"Interesting" he laughed.
"How?" She was curious.
"Well, a group of girls took a liking to me" he chuckled.
"Oh..." she went quiet.
"Now, don't go quiet, I haven't finished my story" he warned.
"Go on..." she mumbled.
"They were flirting, and asking if I was single and you want to know what I said?" Gabriella listened.
"Hmmm..." she mumbled.
"I told them, no I wasn't single, and I had the most beautiful and amazing girlfriend back home waiting for me" Gabriella smiled.
"Then what happened?" She asked.
"They looked totally gutted and embarrassed and rushed away." He chuckled.
"Poor them" she giggled.
"Poor me, you should have seen them..." she could picture him shuddering.
"Why?" She giggled.
"They were... let's say your Brooke Evans type" he chuckled as she laughed.
"Poor you then baby" she giggled. "Which reminds me, Brooke came up to me today, accused me of cheating on you with Justin" she laughed.
"How ironic" he chuckled.
"Hmmm..." she giggled.
"So... are you feeling better?" He wondered.
"Much, talking to you always helps me babe" she smiled.
"Well I'm glad to be of a help beautiful" he murmured.
"I'll let you go" she said softly.
"You sure you're going to be ok?"
"Yeah babe" she smiled.
"And you promise to go and stay with mom and dad?" Gabriella sighed.
"I promise..." she trailed off. "Not right now, I want to be alone but I will go down" she stated.
"Ok, when you get cold you go" he demanded. "I am not having you get sick" he stated.
"Alright, alright, I'll go in half an hour... deal?"
"Deal" they both laughed.
"I love you Wildcat" she whispered smiling.
"I love you too angel" he whispered back, you could hear the smile on his face.
Gabriella hung up and sighed as she held the blanket closer. She smelt in Troy's scent and smiled. She knew talking to him would make it all better. He was her sunshine on a rainy day, her calm after the storm, her rainbow on a mixed up day. He was her savior.
Gabriella jumped when she heard someone climbing the tree house steps. She peered over the edge and saw Jack smiling. She sat back and saw his head pop up.
"Hey you" he grinned.
"Jack? What are you doing here?" She giggled.
"Well, this boy named Troy called..." she rolled her eyes.
"Let me guess, he told you if I wasn't there in ten minutes to come get me?" Jack laughed.
"Those were actually his exact words" she giggled. "It's scary how well you know him" he smiled.
"We had a deal on Half an hour" she frowned.
"He was worried you'd get cold" he told her.
"Worry wart" she mumbled as Jack laughed.
"Yes he is, but for good reason, it is getting really cold outside so come on, inside" he told her and she laughed.
Gabriella followed Jack down the steps and after he helped her jump from the bottom step they walked inside. She immediately met by a bone crushing hug from her boyfriend's mother. Gabriella smiled, but couldn't help think this is what her mother should be doing, comforting her.
"Oh dear, you are freezing" Lucille exclaimed.
"I'm ok" Gabriella smiled as she pulled away from the hug. "What am I going to do about my things?" She asked.
"Would you like Jack to run you home?" Lucille asked.
"That would be good" Gabriella smiled at Jack.
"Ok then, let's go" he smiled.
They pulled up outside Gabriella's house and she sighed as she looked at it. Jack turned the car off and she glanced at him. She smiled slightly and he smiled back.
"Could you... maybe... come with me?" She asked.
"Of course honey" he smiled.
They both got out of the car and walked up to the house. Gabriella took a breath as she entered and Jack followed her. Maria ran out of the lounge and hugged Gabriella.
"Baby girl, where have you been? I was so worried" Gabriella pushed her away.
"Don't pretend because Jack's here mom, I am just getting some things and then going to the Bolton's" she said coldly before going upstairs.
Maria looked towards Jack who shook his head at her.
"Got something to say?"
"Actually yes, you need to take a look in the mirror Maria" he said.
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"Have you seen what you have become? Your own daughter would rather live with her boyfriend's parents than her own mother, Carlos would be turning in his grave" he spat out.
"How dare you speak to me like this in my own home?" She yelled.
"I speak to you like this because you have become nothing more than a heartless, cold, selfish bitch that would rather be with her latest fling than her own children!" He exclaimed.
"Fling? Tony is my husband!" She yelled.
"For how long?" He asked. Gabriella came downstairs and looked between the two.
"Jack, is everything ok?" She asked.
"Yeah sweetheart, are you ready?" He asked. Gabriella nodded and Jack took her bag.
"Gabriella..." she glared at Maria.
"No, we are through, I will pick up the rest of my things when I have decided what I am going to do" she said before leaving with Jack.
Later that night Gabriella was curled up in Troy's bedroom, wearing his T-Shirt, hugging the blanket that smelt like him and actually feeling content since the first time he left.
She had spoken to Justin since she returned back to the Bolton's, and he said he would call Chad and explain what happened. Gabriella told him to do that then call her back.
So a few minutes later Justin called her back and told her Chad said he would go and pick his things up tomorrow. She had told him she'd go with Chad incase Maria was there so he didn't get any of her stick.
Now, as she got ready to settle down to sleep, she thought about her boyfriend. She wondered what he would be doing. Would he be alone? Was he thinking of her too?
As if on cue her cell rang and she answered it immediately.
"Hey baby" she smiled. (Gabriella/Troy)
"Hey beautiful" she heard his husky voice say.
"I was just thinking about you" she informed him.
"I was just thinking of you too, looking at the photo's in this frame" he told her.
"Awww, you're so sweet" she giggled.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Just lying in your bed" she smiled.
"I wish I was laying there with you" she heard him sigh.
"I wish you were too baby" she smiled. "But you will be soon" she reassured him.
"I can't wait" she heard him say.
"Me neither" she smiled.
"How long are you staying there for?" He wondered.
"I don't know, I am going to have to think about a more permanent place to live though" she sighed.
"Why? Mom and dad love you, you know that" she could hear his smile.
"I know, but I just don't want to burdon them" she sighed.
"You're not babe" he insisted.
"I know they won't say that but... I don't know I just wish I was old enough to get my own place" she admitted.
"I wish I was closer, you could have moved in with me at the halls" he told her.
"I know, I'll figure something out" she smiled.
"I know you will, my clever princess" Gabriella smiled again at his words.
"Look, I am tired and have school tomorrow, so I better try and get some sleep" she said hesitantly.
"Ok gorgeous, I'll text you tomorrow" he told her.
"Alright babe" she smiled.
"I'll dream of you" he announced.
"I'll dream of you too" she whispered.
"See you there then" he chuckled as she giggled.
"Alright handsome, night" she said.
"Night, Love you Ella" he pronounced.
"Love you wildcat" she whispered lovingly before hanging up.
As she snuggled up to the blanket, and settled into his covers, Gabriella closed her eyes and smiled. Tonight she felt safe, she felt calm, and she felt like she belonged. That is all because she felt like she was in Troy's arms. His scent was surrounding her; like his embrace would and as she drifted into unconsciousness she felt his kiss to her head and heard his loving words.
How was that? I added a little drama for you :P So Maria is married :O Bet you didn't see that one coming :P
Please Review!
xxx Paige xxx