Author's Note:This chapter is dedicated to one of my closest friends Steph. (Cena130) Merry Christmas and you rock Steph! I know it's kind of (well it is a depressing chapter.), but I just wanted this to be part one of your Christmas gift from me to you…
Previously in 'Looks are Deceiving'…
"I'm calling on behalf of the police department. We have found the victim of the shooting yesterday and we thought you should be one of the first to know…" the man began.
Looks are Deceiving
Chapter 13- Jogging
"Yes…" he said. Giving one last glance over to Gabriella, seeing her still sleeping heavily, she clearly had lost sleep.
He walked into the other room. "Who was it?" he asked the man on the other line.
"His name is Samuel Wensing." He said. (A/N: Shut it Steph…I ran out of ideas for a last name. XD)
"He was not an East High student, he graduated years ago, and from contacting family, was visiting his cousin." He explained.
"Thank you for calling, and please tell the family that I'm deeply sorry." He answered.
"I will, sir. Have a good evening son." The officer said.
"You too." Troy answered before he hung up.
He sighed, he knew no-one by that name.
"Mmmmm….Troy?" Gabriella called quietly, just loud enough for him to hear from the room he was currently standing in.
He walked into the living room.
"Yeah babe?" he asked her softly.
"When you were talking on the phone…you said my cousin's name." she said, slowly waking up. "Why?" she asked.
Troy felt his heart break.
-
"Thank you for calling sir." Chad said as he hung up his phone. He sat back down on the couch where he and Taylor were sitting watching a movie, which was now clearly forgotten.
"So who was the victim?" Taylor asked lowly.
"Samuel Wensing." He said. "Have you ever heard of him?" Chad asked her.
"No." she answered, snuggling into Chad's side.
-
"I'm sorry Brie." Troy said before he even began to explain.
"Why? What's wrong?" she asked him worriedly. Something wasn't right.
"Your cousin was the victim of the shooting." He said.
She bit her lip, shaking her head, clearly not coming to terms with it.
"No." She said.
"I'm sorry babe." He said softly.
"No…it's not true, they must have him confused for someone else." She said, looking into his eyes to find nothing but sorrow for her.
"No!" she yelled.
"I'm so sorry Brie." He said, his own voice cracking at the sight of her now distraught looking face with tears flowing down it at a steady pace.
"NO!" she yelled, nearly collapsing on the ground as she tried to stand. Troy caught her and held her close.
"No…no…no…no…" she murmured as she cried hysterically.
Troy sat down on the couch, pulling her down with him. He began to rock her back and fore, like a mother would with a small child.
He tried to calm her, but came to no avail. She was now just hiccupping, due to no more tears left to shed.
"Why don't you go take a shower, and change into something comfy?" he whispered to her. She nodded into his chest and stood up after one kiss from Troy.
She padded her way up the stairs and ventured her way into his room, grabbing his warm up sweats from the year prior to this current year, along with a Wildcat tee and a hoodie.
Stepping in Troy's bathroom, she yawned as she climbed into the shower…
-
"Hey dude." Chad said as he answered his cell, Troy called.
"Hey…I take it that the officer called you too?" Troy asked him.
"Yeah…I don't even know the guy." He said.
"It's Gabriella's cousin. He was coming to surprise her with a visit. Her mom told me. She's the one who arranged the whole thing." He said sadly.
"Oh my g-d." Chad mumbled….speechless.
"What is it Chad?" Taylor asked him. Troy listened as he told Taylor.
"Oh no…" she said, on the verge of tears. She ripped the phone away from Chad. "We're on our way over." She said, she hung up.
"Come on…let's go." Chad said, they walked quickly outside and began to jog to Troy's house which was only three houses down.
-
Troy, Taylor, and Chad were all seated in Troy's living room. His parents still haven't arrived home but they were surly on their way after Troy has called them.
After sitting in a silence for a little while, Troy's parents walked through the door.
"Where is she?" Mr. Bolton asked as he shut the front door after his wife.
"She's upstairs, let me go check on her." He said. Mr. Bolton nodded, offering a small smile which Troy returned.
Taylor was just staring straight ahead…and Chad was silent. No words needed to be said. Neither of them had ever met her cousin, but Gabriella losing someone hit them all hard.
-
Troy entered his room to find Gabriella sleeping very peacefully on his bed. As he neared her quietly, he saw the tear stains down her face.
He kneeled beside the bed, his face looking intently at hers.
"Hey there." He said softly as her eyes fluttered open.
"Sorry." She apologized.
"Hey…it's fine. Stay up here as long as you want. Come downstairs when you're ready. My parents, Chad, Taylor, and soon your mom are down there." He said.
She nodded tiredly, closing her eyes again. She really did just need to be left alone.
He kissed her forehead before leaving her to let it really sink in.
-
"Hello?" he asked into his cell phone as it rang.
"Troy! Thank goodness. I need you to come over here for me. And I mean you. I need to speak to you." She said.
"Okay…I'll be right over." He said, puzzledly.
"Guys. Mrs. Montez needs me. She specifically asked for me too." He said, putting his denim jacket on. "She sounded worried too. So I'm going. Gabriella's upstairs napping. She'll probably come down while I'm gone." He explained.
"Hey Troy…can I talk to you?" Chad asked him.
"Yeah." He said. Today really was a bad day. Chad's tone of voice was really….not Chadish.
Once outside, Chad spoke up.
"I just wanted to let you know, that I'm always there for Gabriella. I know that this is random and all, but she obviously really needs someone right now, and if for some reason you can't be there for her…I will." He said, looking his best mate in the eye.
"I wouldn't trust my girl with anyone else Chad." He stated.
They shared one of those manly hugs before Troy was off to the Montez residence.
-
Gabriella walked down the stairs exactly fifteen minutes after Troy left. Chad noticed her first and was instantly up, walking over to her.
I'm so sorry Elle." He whispered.
She nodded tearfully. "Me too." She said. She ran into his open and waiting arms as she sobbed uncontrollably. (A/N: Eek…I'm getting all teary eyed.)
It broke everyone'shearts to see her sob heartbreaking sobs like that.
"W-where's Troy?" she asked.
"Your mom asked specifically for him. He'll be coming back with her." Mr. Bolton said.
Gabriella sat down on the couch where Taylor currently was. Taylor took her hand and squeezed it. Gabriella squeezed her hand back.
Aw!!! I'm almost crying! So Gabriella's cousin was shot. It's a shock to everyone I bet. But why did MRs. Montez specifically ask for Troy and who's the gunman?