What is Troy up to?

The next morning, Troy walked into the school feeling proud and confident. He walked towards Gabriella's locker and waited for her. After a couple minutes, he sat down, wondering where she was.

"That's funny. She's usually here by now."

Just as he thought this, Gabriella walked around the corner, surprised to see Troy sitting against her locker.

"Good morning, Gabi."

"Hey, Troy."

"How are you today?"

Gabriella looked questioningly at Troy.

"Good... Why?"

Troy shrugged.

"Just wondering."

"Oh."

Troy watched as Gabriella opened her locker and placed her things neatly inside.

"It's now or never, Bolton."

"Uh, Gabriella, can you meet me up in the garden during free?"

"Um, sure. What's up, Troy?"

"Oh, nothing. Just meet me up there, okay?"

"Okay."

♪

Troy waited patiently for Gabriella to appear at the top of the stairs. He played with his hands nervously as he sat on his usual stool. He looked around and made sure he had everything. The flowers were on the bench and the little note was attached to them. Troy heard footsteps coming up the stairs and looked up to see Gabriella. He smiled and pointed towards the bench.

"What is it, Troy?"

Troy shrugged, trying to keep the grin off his face.

"Open it and see."

Gabriella eyed the note, wondering what was in it. Curiosity won out and she took the note in her hands, carefully opening it. Her eyes skimmed the note that Troy had obviously handwritten.

Gabi,

Please accompany me to dinner this Friday at 5:30.

Troy

Troy watched Gabriella intently, getting nervous when she didn't say anything. He looked at her face, trying to read her expression, but found it emotionless. Troy felt his palms sweat as his heart sunk lower and lower. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, Gabriella looked up at Troy.

"I'm sorry, Troy."

Troy felt his heart reach the bottom of the pit. Sorry? What does sorry mean?

"I can't go."

Troy looked at the ground.

"Oh."

Gabriella noticed his downcast look and put the note back on the bench, walking closer to where Troy sat. She placed her hand on his arm, causing him to look up.

"I want to, Troy. But I can't."

Troy's hopes were brought back up. She had said that she wanted to.

"Then why can't you?"

Gabriella sighed.

"My dad has specific rules when it comes to guys. He already told me that I wasn't allowed to date you."

Troy looked back down.

"Oh."

"I'm sorry, Troy. I really am."

Troy looked into Gabriella's eyes and forced out a small smile.

"It's okay, Gabriella. It's not your fault."

Gabriella winced when he called her "Gabriella". She knew he was upset and hurt.

♪

During lunch, Troy walked out to his truck, driving towards Gabriella's house, hoping to find Mr. Montez. Troy sighed with relief when he saw Mr. Montez's car in the driveway. Troy parked across the street and ran across the road, and up to the front porch. He quickly knocked on the door, feeling more nervous than before. Mr. Montez was very intimidating and he was very protective of his only daughter.

The door swung open and Troy was faced with Greg Montez.

"Hello, Troy. What brings you here... during school?"

"Hi, Mr. Montez. Um, it's lunch right now so I was hoping I could talk to you."

"Well, come in."

Troy followed Mr. Montez into the living room and saw Mrs. Montez on the couch.

"Hello, Mrs. Montez."

"Oh! Hi, Troy. How are you?"

"I'm good. Thank you."

Troy took a seat in a rocking chair while Mr. Montez sat beside his wife on the couch. Gabriella's parents looked at Troy, waiting for him to speak.

"Um, Mr. and Mrs. Montez, I asked Gabriella out to dinner on Friday."

Mr. Montez looked shocked while Mrs. Montez was beaming. Mr. Montez looked slightly angry, remembering that he had specifically told Gabriella that she couldn't date Troy. She usually never disobeyed him. Mrs. Montez was almost jumping on the couch, trying to contain her excitement.

"Well, what did she say?"

Troy sighed.

"She said no."

Mrs. Montez's face fell.

"Oh."

"She said that she wasn't allowed. I understand, Mr. Montez, that you are worried about Gabriella, but... I really like her and would like to take her to dinner. Please reconsider."

Gina turned to her husband, waiting for him to allow Troy to take their daughter out. His face remained expressionless.

"Come on, Greg. You know that Troy is a good guy. Gabriella likes him, you know."

Mrs. Montez had whispered these things to her husband, so Troy wouldn't hear, but he had heard anyway and was blushing.

"Greg... You need to give our daughter more freedom. She's seventeen and she knows what's right and wrong. Trust her."

"I do trust her. It's him I don't trust."

"Greg! That was uncalled for."

Troy watched uncomfortably as Gabriella's parents argued in front of him.

"With all due respect, Sir, my only intention is taking Gabriella out for a nice, quiet dinner. I wouldn't do anything that she, or you, would disapprove of."

Mrs. Montez smiled at Troy.

"You're a good guy, Troy."

Troy smiled his thanks to Mrs. Montez and turned to look at Mr. Montez.

"Fine. She can go. But if you hurt her..."

"I wouldn't even think of it, Sir. Thank you."

♪

I am a diehard, extreme Troyella fan. I absolutely hate Troypay!

Jay