A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay in that update, guys…but I can assure you a have a very valid reason for that! my sister had a baby last Monday and I've been helping her until that moment with preparing everything for the baby…and when he was born…weeeeeeeeeeeell, I guess you can say I've taken my role as an "aunt" quite seriously! LOL add here I have a job and also friends and people I care about and you'll understand, I hope, fanfiction hasn't been in my priorities' list. But I'm back! ;)
I hope you'll like this chapter…I'm thinking about the next one being the last one but if not…well, the story will be finished with two more chapters. I have to think about it…what would you like it better? One chapter more or two chapters more? Tell me what you think! :D
Thanks so much for your reviews of last chapter; you're really the best out there and I'm super proud, more with each new chapter I post, of having you as a readers. You really know how to make me feel supported and happy with what I write…so a huge thank you to all of you! *hug*
Here's chapter 29; enjoy! :)
It'd been one year since she left the building…yet everything was still the same: the big fountain welcoming the students, the wildcat engraved in the main wall of the main building, the red flags hanging from the windows, the huge "E" above the old ironed red doors…and also the butterflies running wildly in her stomach in anticipation of seeing Troy, the mysterious man with who she would lock eyes, bump "accidentally" and also ignite the most powerful invisible connection she'd ever felt with anyone.
She closed her eyes, sighed tiredly and leaned her head back into the headrest of her car. Troy. Her thoughts went to him like everyday…but this time, however, also accompanied with worry and preoccupation for what he would be doing, how he would feeling and what he would be thinking about. He'd wanted to be left alone, and she understood him completely, but there was another part of her, a tiny part hided in the deepest corner of her heart, which wanted to be there for him the same way he'd been for her every time she'd needed him. Just knowing that he was having a hard time, just knowing that he was feeling like shit because of the drama with Chad, made her to want to run to him, wrap her arms around his torso and just try to give him the peace he didn't have at the moment, comforting him and making him feel better.
But she couldn't do that because he'd asked her for some time just with himself so he could figure out the mess he was in.
She sighed tiredly again. The night had been short; she felt her body really sore and mentally exhausted, yet she needed to be really awake for what she was about to do. She didn't know, yet, where she'd found the courage to just call Chad and ask him to meet with her so they could talk; she didn't know, either, what to say or how to phrase the confusion that was plaguing her mind; she didn't know, either, how he would react…but, most of all, she didn't know if she was doing the right thing or not with wanting for that talk to happen. She knew that was to put her nose in a business that wasn't hers…of course she knew that, but she also needed to help them to sort the mess out, to arrange things…to make everything better. In a way she felt responsible for the breakdown of their friendship and so she needed that, at least, she had to do whatever was in her power so things were okay between the two best friends again.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket breaking her train of thought. Reaching down, she retrieved the item from her pocket and looked at the screen, a huge smile finding its place in her face when she saw the brownish face of her brother laughing directly at her and his name flashing in the dim light of her car.
"Bobby!" She squealed with pure delight into the phone. Her brother chuckled and she couldn't help but smile. "I miss you!"
"Good to know, I wouldn't have expected anything less coming from you," he answered amusedly, laughing when Gabriella gasped offended.
"You're an ass, you know that?" She said bitterly. "At least you could pretend you miss me too…"
"You know I do," he answered softly, still smiling but his voice turning more serious. "Very much…"
Gabriella smiled softly – it still amazed her that they two, being boy and girl, had that close relationship. She knew a lot of girls that had bitter and bad relationships with their older brothers but this wasn't her case at all. On the contrary, Gabriella had a special spot in her heart for Bobby; he was one of his best friends, his confident, the boy who helped her the most – though unconsciously at that time – through the Sharon ordeal, the one who protected her from monsters, dragons and other mystical creatures that were hiding in her closet or under her bed ready to attack her when she turned off the lights of her room when she was little…he was just the one who knew about her self confidence and gave her the courage she needed, the push she needed, in order to just accept them and learn to live with them.
"When are you coming home?" She asked in a low voice, missing him more than ever with all the drama that was surrounding she and Troy those days; she needed his advice, his point of view, she just needed to talk to him in order to calm herself and just see things more clearly. He had this ability – to put the confusion far away from her mind so she could think things straight.
"How would it sound if I told you that I'm coming home in three days…to stay there for two whole weeks?"
Though Gabriella couldn't see him, she knew he was smirking…and she also knew he'd placed the phone far from his ear once he said that because he knew, as well as she, that the squeal that would leave her mouth would be loud.
"Seriously?"
He laughed. "I wouldn't lie with something like that, sis, so you can warn your boy now: I'm going to kidnap you for, at least, a couple of days. You won't see anyone but me…and you won't talk to anyone but me."
Gabriella giggled. "Sure," she answered good-naturedly. "I'm sure mom and dad will be pleased with me not leaving my room and not talking to them for a couple of days…"
"Mom would throw a fit," the young man chuckled imagining how their mother would react. "Okay, I'm going to let you see and talk to the rest of the world…and move around the house as you please, but you won't be living the building if not with me. Got it?"
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Bobby, whatever you say…"
"Good, glad we could understand each other," Bobby answered mockingly making Gabriella dissolve in a fit of giggles, being joined by him with his chuckles after a while.
When Gabriella sobered, she bit her lip. Should she ask him what he would do if he was the one in her situation? She could use some kind of help there because she felt somehow lost. "Hey Bobby," she began tentatively.
"What's up?" He answered picking her hesitant tone of voice at once.
"Troy and I are…public, now," she said in a tone she hoped sounded nonchalant.
"That's great, Gabi!" Bobby said excitedly into the phone. "About time you two faced the whole world with what you have…"
"Things are not this easy, bro…" Gabriella bit her lip with so much force she was sure she would taste blood at any moment now.
Bobby narrowed his eyes. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Mom and dad don't know that, okay? So you have to promise me you won't say a word about it to them," Gabriella demanded in a panicked voice.
"You're worrying me," Bobby accused.
She sighed. "I had a problem with a guy of my uni. He wanted…something with me and I refused…but he didn't accept it…"
"What?" Bobby shouted angered interrupting her. "What the fuck, Gabi? Are you really saying some fucking son of a bitch has forced you and you haven't said anything to anyone?"
"NO!" Gabriella said. "He didn't do anything but kissed me though I tried to push him away…because a friend of Troy, whose cousin goes to class with me, happened to be there…"
"Gabriella, explain the whole fucking story now," Bobby hissed. "Tell me exactly what the hell happened, who that guy was and how come he's not in jail for what he did to you."
She rolled her eyes – he could really be a drama queen sometimes. "Stop that attitude now," she ordered. "Nothing happened, okay? Chad and Meredith came just in time and he pushed him away from me."
"Who the hell is Chad?" Bobby asked, feeling how his patience was leaving his body with each second went by.
"Troy's best friend," she explained. "Now, tell me explain the story in my way; you're interrupting me all the time jumping into wrong conclusions."
"Then explain to me the whole story in a row, paying special attention to the details and telling me who is who, and I promise you I'll wait until you finish," he hissed into the phone, his voice bitter and full of what Gabriella knew was contained angriness.
"Chad is Troy's best friend, Meredith is his cousin and the girl who goes to class with me, Ben is the idiot and you already know Troy," she said, her patience also at the minimum. "He tried something with me one afternoon…but luckily Mer and Chad were there, Chad stopped him. I was a mess and I began to babble Troy's name, Meredith looked for my phone and called Troy – at that time Chad didn't know that Troy was his Troy, by the way – and she told Troy to come because I needed him. He came and…well, he acted not caring about who was there or not…so both Chad and Mer saw that there was something between us; then he and Chad saw each other…and then they met to talk, one because he wanted some answers and the other because he wanted to come clean and tell everything. Troy called me when they were together because he didn't know how to explain our relationship…I helped him…but then…"
True to his word, Bobby had remained silent all this time Gabriella had been speaking, but the hesitation he'd noticed in her sister made his curiosity to pick up. "Then what?"
Gabriella sighed. "One day, I was in the old station court with Zeke and the others and…well, Chad, Troy and some of their friends went there. Without knowing the one who was missing each one of the shots she tried, Chad and the others began to mock me and…my lack of skills with basketball...and so did Troy when the others told him to kick us out of there because they wanted to play…"
Her voice had been lower with each spoken word and Bobby cleared his throat, probably fighting the urge to insult everyone, Troy included. "Then what?"
His voice was constrained and Gabriella winced. "I've already talked to Troy about it…and also with Chad, both have apologized and I've accepted the apologies, so forget that part, okay?"
"Okay," Bobby grunted, really not happy with where their conversation was going.
"Well then, Troy met with Zeke and…apologized and since then…Troy has been also hanging with Zeke, Peter and the others…without Chad and his friends knowing," Gabriella said, sighing when she ended.
"You say that as if that was bad; where is the problem with that?" Bobby asked confusedly. "Is there a law that forbids Troy to hang out with other people that are not Chad, or what?"
"Not exactly," Gabriella bit her lip again. "But after we told Chad we were together and how we met…well, Troy explained to him this thing about Zeke. Chad got mad…which I also can understand…well, to a certain point, and since then their friendship is a mess. Chad is a mess, Troy is a mess…and I'm in the middle. I feel responsible…"
Bobby sighed – trust Gabriella to feel guilty for something that had nothing to do with her. "Gabi," he said softly knowing the real root of the problem was what happened with Sharon, "you can't feel responsible because Troy has fought with his friends."
"But in a way I'm the one to blame," Gabriella said exasperated, her guiltiness surfacing now that she wasn't holding it back thanks to the influence of her brother. "Troy met Zeke because of me…and…"
"And nothing," Bobby said interrupting her speech. "He decided to keep from Chad his friendship with Zeke, and though I can understand why Chad is mad, the truth is that Troy is free to befriend whoever he wants. He doesn't need Chad's permission to just have a life. What if he had more friends? Chad should be happy for Troy instead of mad."
"I don't think Chad is mad with Troy because he's made new friends but because he's been hanging out with Zeke and a guy from his university instead of doing so with Chad and the others," Gabriella closed her eyes. "I guess Chad feels like being left out…"
"And I repeat you, I can understand why Chad is mad…but to a certain point," Bobby refuted. "But he's no one to judge, opine or just speak his mind when it comes to Troy's personal life because that's Troy's business."
Gabriella groaned. "See? I think the same but then…Troy feels like he owes to Chad some kind of…loyalty or something like that, and the other one is hurt because he's been missing a lot of Troy's life…"
"Hey," Bobby cooed, "don't stress over it now…"
"Too late," Gabriella answered in a soft and pained voice. "I'm going to meet with Chad in fifteen minutes and I'm going to try and put some sense into him…see if I can arrange things…"
Knowing that Gabriella was aware that it wasn't her place to do so, but also knowing that Gabriella wouldn't hear anything against it due to her guiltiness, Bobby decided to drop the subject. "Look, I can't help you there but…maybe you should…I don't know…do you know why Troy has kept everything away from Chad?"
"I think so," Gabriella answered vaguely. "Chad and the others…well, are friends from school; there, I remind you, Troy was like a god, the popular one, the coolest one and…I guess you can say they thought the world was kneeled in front of them, you know? Troy realized things weren't like that and…that he was a normal human being like the rest of us, a simple mortal with good things and with bad things. I suppose Chad and the others haven't…gotten there yet, and so Troy simply decided to put some distance and break the barriers that their stupid little mind built around them…but just him doing so."
"I get what you mean," Bobby murmured. "Usually it's better to just leave the others alone and live the way you want to live than to be kept behind being miserable. However, he should have come clean with Chad and the others if they were, really, his friends."
"I know that," Gabriella sighed. "But I also understand why he just kept being himself with the people that didn't judge him nor expect from him to be 'the coolest guy', you know? I think he just wanted to break free and forget all the crap about who he had to be…"
Bobby kept silent and Gabriella continued.
"And I think I should tell Chad that but…" She stopped herself not really knowing how to phrase what was bugging her.
"You don't want to impose the way you think and you're not sure about how Chad's going to react to you telling him that Troy just was in a different level of his life without that coming out as if Troy was superior than him?" Bobby supplied in a knowing voice.
"Yeah," Gabriella groaned. "Shit, I don't think that this talk with Chad is a good idea anymore…"
Bobby chuckled. "I think it is…but I also think that you have to be careful with the way you talk to him, I mean, you can't drop to him something that sounds like 'Troy just felt he was different than you' as if he was better than Chad."
"I don't want to ever imply that because that's not what I think," Gabriella rushed in explain herself. "I don't think Troy is better than Chad at all; on the contrary, both are great guys…but are guys that have been surrounded by prejudices and high expectations that messed up their minds."
"Look Gabi," Bobby cleared his throat. "I get you're in a difficult position now…but…like what happened with Troy, just be yourself and speak your mind – better or worse, is what this boy needs to hear. This talk may be good for him, I mean, he's been hearing all the time how cool he is, right? Then he needs to hear that he's not that cool, he needs to hear the truth…and the truth, sadly, is that he's been a jerk."
Gabriella giggled. "I can't tell him that!"
"Not with this words," Bobby nodded though Gabriella couldn't see him, "but you have to make your point. He needs to see that if Troy has befriended other people…first, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but then…that he may be responsible for that too…although he's been unconscious about it all this time. To push someone to the person you want for him to be…well, in the end can come back to you doubly and worse. He's seeing now how the things he's taken for granted…well, aren't; and it seems the one who's going to open his eyes is you…the person he would have less expected – the one he mocked some time ago. Hey, people say it all the time: 'payback is a bitch'."
Gabriella giggled. "I wouldn't say it that way…but I get your point."
"Just be who you really are, tell him what you really think…and…well, try to be careful with how you phrase what you want to say, okay?" Bobby encouraged softly. "Everything is going to be okay…trust yourself and you'll see how I'm right."
"You're the best, you know that?" Gabriella asked with a smile on her face. "You always know what to say so I feel better."
"It's a gift," Bobby mocked. "A gift I have because I've been living with you and knowing you for 20 years."
Gabriella giggled. "I'm happy you're coming back," she said still smiling, "I want you to meet Troy."
"Uh, things are this serious already?" Bobby asked.
She cleared her throat. "Well, mom and dad already know him, you know that, so now I want you to meet him."
"No worries, lil'sis, I want to meet the guy who's making my sister this happy," Bobby smiled. "You're so different now…more carefree, happy…I don't know, I'm just glad you're leaving behind all the crap and just focusing in the present…"
"Me too," Gabriella said, her voice even softer. "Me too."
"Gotta go now, sis," Bobby said. "My boss is calling me."
"I should go and meet Chad anyway," Gabriella sighed. "I'll call you later?"
"No," the older Montez answered. "I'll be in the hospital. I'll call home tomorrow or so, okay?"
Gabriella smiled. "Okay then, love you…"
"Love you too, Gabi…"
TWOFTWOF
When she closed her phone, Gabriella looked at her watch and realized that she still had ten minutes or so until the time when she had to meet Chad arrived. Leaving the phone in her bag beside her, she decided to just wait there instead of going to the outside court…and she couldn't help but remember what had happened that same morning when she'd arrived at her house after spending the night at Troy's.
She knew her mother was okay with her decision and that she had her support, but it was her father's reaction what, in a way, scared her. However, her fears hadn't been justified for once she'd stepped inside the Montez's home, it'd been her father the one who'd gone to the hall to welcome her, hugging her tight into his chest…
"I'm home!"
Loud footsteps arrived at her ears and Gabriella knew just by the kind of sound that it wasn't her mother but her father the one who was walking into her direction. Preparing herself for the wrath she knew was coming right to her, she winced when she saw appear her father's big figure, with a determined and serious look on his face, walking decidedly towards her.
"Daddy," Gabriella whimpered embracing herself when he was a couple of feet away from her. "I…" But she couldn't end what she was saying because Robert wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her into his chest, tightly, trapping her own arms between the two bodies. Too shocked at first to move, Gabriella needed some seconds to realize that her father wasn't mad and, when she did, she fought so her arms were free from its cage and wrapped them around him.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Her father asked still with his face pressed into Gabriella's curls.
Gabriella tightened her arms around his father feeling her own tears forming in her eyes relishing the tension she'd been suffering all night. "Yeah…"
Robert pulled away then; looking at his daughter's face, he moved his thumbs along her cheeks. His face talked about concern, about care, about love, and the worry she could read in his face made her lips tremble in what she knew were her useless efforts of not cry, of not let the tears plaguing her eyes spill and soak her face. "You sure?" He pressed tenderly.
"Yes," she croaked. "I am okay…but Troy…"
"Shhh," he cooed kissing her forehead. "Your mom is in the living room, let's go there…"
Both father and daughter walked the steps to the living room still with their bodies intertwined. Maria, when she stood up from the sofa for she'd been waiting until their appearance – her husband asked her a couple of minutes alone with Gabriella – looked at them frantically. She could read the distress in Gabriella's face…and the deep worry in her husband's, which made her heart constrict. "Gabi…"
It was so soft, so low and so full of emotion, Gabriella couldn't help but rush to her mother, embracing her tightly and letting out the sobs she'd been fighting until that moment. Maria welcomed her daughter, hugging her with all her might and just letting her those moments in peace she so desperately needed. "Is going to be okay, Gabi…"
The three sat in the sofa, Gabriella tightly enveloped by her parents' bodies, and when she calmed down and only silent tears were falling from her eyes, she spoke. "I'm sorry I've spent the night at Troy's without saying anything to you but…he was a mess and…and…and he needed me. I couldn't let him there alone…"
"It's okay," Robert assured wrapping one of his arms around Gabriella's shoulders. "Your mom has told me what happened and it's okay. We know you're responsible…and also an adult, so we know you've done the right thing."
Gabriella gave them a sad smile. "Thank you."
"How is Troy?" Maria asked, concern written in her features for the boy she knew had changed her daughter's life in the best possible way.
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "He feels better; we've talked with his parents this morning…and they have understood why I was there. He's explained to them the mess with Chad, at least some bits of the story, and I guess they are talking now. They have known Chad all his life and I guess that to see their son so…broken…" Gabriella closed her eyes tightly remembering the tears Troy had shed into her shoulder for the friend's lost, "it's been a shock."
Robert nodded his head. "Gabriella," he began in a soft but tense voice as well, "you've done the right thing keeping Troy some company when he needed you, but just…promise me you're being careful."
She rolled her eyes. "Dad!"
"I know you're an adult and also a very responsible one," he defended himself, "but I'm just worried. You're by baby daughter and…"
"I understand you're worried about it," Gabriella cut him, "but you have to trust me, okay? I know what I'm doing…and yeah, the beginning of this relationship may seem…difficult and full of obstacles but…we both know what we have, where we stand and what we want, so don't worry."
"Okay, okay," Robert kissed her temple again and sighed, hugging her. "I trust you…"
"I do too," Maria interjected in a timid voice after some seconds, making the other two occupants of the room smile and open their arms so she could join them in the family hug full of love.
After those moments, both Robert and Maria had allowed Gabriella to go to her room knowing she needed some time to herself. Gabriella used that time to shower again, feeling how the warm water washed the worry away, at least for a while, and then got dressed in a pair of sweats and a simple tank top, needing to feel comfortable. She'd been looking at her phone debating whether she should call Troy or not; in the end, she decided to not call him respecting his desire of be left alone – and also supposing he would be talking with his parents by then – and so she decided to just write a text message so he knew she was at home and okay.
'Already at home. Everything is okay. Hope you're feeling better :) we don't have to meet later if you don't feel like it, don't feel pressured, okay? Love you…so much… Ella xxxxxxx'
Once she sent the message, she bit her lip; she needed to talk to someone…the thing was who that someone was. She could call Meredith knowing she was in the mess like her, but in the end she decided to not to…precisely because of that. Then, she had her friends: Taylor and Sharpay were too far away and their friendship had noticed the lack of daily contact. They would interchange some emails but those were less frequent with each week went by; they didn't know about her relationship with Troy and though a part of her wanted to share those news with them, she didn't see the point. While being at school, they had been friends, the best of friends, but their interests and their different ways of seeing and understanding life had drifted them apart. It may hurt, a little at least, but Gabriella was sure neither of them was suffering from the others' absence – their lives had changed drastically once they had left high school and each one of them had just met new people and new things with which they could fill their lives. Kelsi and Anna were her best options; both knew about her life at the present time, about Troy and also both knew him. It was refreshing to know they had kept their friendships intact; Anna was her cousin, so maybe things were kinda different with her, but Kelsi, the girl that had been like her sister since she was little was still there. They may not talk every week, but when the did it was as if time hadn't passed, as if they had seen each other just five minutes ago. Whenever she thought about Kelsi, Gabriella realized that what they two had was real friendship, not just friendship; they were the best of friends and both knew that whenever they needed the other, that said other would be there unconditionally, no questions asked, just offering support, company, friendship and friendly love.
That thought brought Zeke to her memory. He didn't know anything about her relationship with Troy, and just knowing how everything between Chad and Troy was at the moment, she decided she had to take the step to call him and update him with everything as soon as possible so, if a mess was the result of that conversation, the damage was less than the one it would surely result of that conversation being later…or Zeke knowing everything from someone who was not her.
Biting her lip nervously, Gabriella dialled his number and pressed the phone closer to her ear. Her knuckles were white, and she gasped when his deep voice arrived at her ears.
"Gabi!"
"Hey Zeke," she greeted him quietly. "How are you?"
"Good, good!" The excitement in his voice put a smile on her face. "Why do you sound so down?"
She groaned – why everyone knew her this well? – and then sighed. "I need to explain to you some things…but I want you to hear me, let me finish and then…well, and then talk, okay?"
"Okay," he answered confusedly. "Are you okay, though?"
"More or less," Gabriella answered vaguely. "But that's not the reason why I'm calling."
"Go ahead, then," Zeke encouraged her.
"Okay, you remember…those months ago when we were playing basketball with the guys at the court beside the old station? That time when some guys…mocked me and just…" Not knowing how to continue, Gabriella let her voice got lower.
"Troy and the others, I remember," Zeke interjected sensing her discomfort. "What about that?"
Gabriella kept silent. She didn't have to tell him she just was in a relationship with Troy but also that she knew him then, that she'd known him for a while and that he was, at that time, one of her best friends.
Swallowing aloud, Gabriella sighed then. "Zeke, Troy and those others went to school with me. They are a year older than me but…they studied at East High too."
"Seriously?" He asked surprised. "How come you didn't say anything?"
"There's more," she cut him off. "While being there…well, Troy and I had a…special connection, I guess you can say; we bumped into each other "accidentally" though no one was around, we would lock eyes every time we saw each other…I don't know, it was as if a magical rope was between us, though we never talked more than the consequent 'sorry' and 'are you okay?' each time we bumped into each other."
Zeke didn't say anything and Gabriella took a deep breath. "Some months ago, I discovered Troy lives in the apartment above Kelsi's new apartment…and that triggered something in my mind. We haven't seen each other since he left high school…but…seeing him there…well, I guess you can say my mind went crazy. That night…I dreamed about him and I awoke in the middle of the night with five possible email addresses of his in my head; I wrote them down in a paper and…well, the next day I sent a mail to each one of this addresses asking the receiver to meet me at the park."
"You what?" Zeke asked, shock running wildly in his body at what Gabriella was explaining to him.
"Let me finish!" Gabriella defended herself. "I explained everything to Bobby and he encouraged me to go there…in fact, he came with me and hided in the brushes beside the lake with me until we saw…Troy appearing there. He pushed me away from the bush and…well, Troy's back was the only thing I could see but…I'm sure he heard my steps. With a sudden confidence in me I don't know where it came from, I went to stand beside him and just told him 'hello Troy'. He turned around…recognized me and…well, I guess you can say a friendship was made."
"Wow," Zeke breathed. "But how…"
"No, no," Gabriella interrupted him again, "there's more…" Zeke silenced himself again, though Gabriella could hear his laboured breathing and so she rushed to continue with the story. "Since that day, we talked to each other almost everyday, we met – usually at that park where we found the other again – and…well, he was one of my best friends. The trust between us was immense since the very beginning; I knew everything about him and he knew everything about me…and that brought us to the fateful day at the old station. He mocked me, he hurt me…and then he came to find me to apologize. We talked a lot and…and I know that later he went to find you and that he apologized."
"He did," Zeke's voice was strained and Gabriella winced. "Are you really telling me you've known each other all those months and neither of you has told me that? I've talked to you about him…and to him about you; neither of you has said or done something that clued me about you two knowing each other…"
"We wanted to keep everything…for us," Gabriella said in a tiny voice. "The friendship was so…special, I don't know, it was as if the highest number of people knowing about it…the highest chance of the friendship dying."
"A little bit dramatic, don't you think?" He asked bitterly.
"Zeke," Gabriella said, her voice pleading and begging, "don't get mad…I know I should have told you what happened since the moment 0 but…"
"I'm not mad," Zeke interrupted, "I would have liked to know you two knew each other, and I'm kinda…disappointed you didn't trust me with that, but I'm not mad. Plus, if you decided to keep it just for yourself, I have to respect that. You're my best friend, Gabi, so I trust what you decide to do and say; if you think that what was better for your friendship with Troy was to just keep everything as a secret, then I respect that."
A soft smile appeared on Gabriella's face. "You're the best, Zeke…and I'm sorry I've kept that from you…"
"No harm done," Zeke said with a smile on his face. "He's a great guy…and…and I'm happy he's your friend too."
Gabriella bit her lip nervously again. "Actually…he's more than just my friend, Zeke…"
"I beg you pardon?" Zeke gasped. "Have I heard you correctly?"
"We may be…dating?" Gabriella said biting her lip forcefully. "It's super recent, I swear…but…I guess you can say the connection we felt while being at high school…was there because of a reason…"
"What am I supposed to say?" Zeke said, his voice low. "I'm not mad…again, I would have liked it better if you had told me what was happening…from the very beginning, but I'm just surprised. I mean…I've known you all my life and…I guess it's a shock to know that you now have a boyfriend, that this said boyfriend is one of my friends…I mean, I guess what I'm trying to say is that…this is a change, a huge change…and I still have to get used to it…"
Gabriella let out a breath she'd been holding in relieve. "So you're not mad at me…well, us, for having been keeping this from you?"
"Mad no, shocked yes," Zeke answered. "But…you know what? I'm also happy…because…well, I've seen you happier lately, and I guess it has to do with Troy, so…if he makes you happy, then I'm okay with it."
Gabriella giggled. "I guess you can say he's the reason why I'm this happy lately, yeah…"
"Then nothing to say," Zeke chuckled. "Just tell him…well, I'll tell him too, that if he hurts you…he's dead."
The girl laughed. "Don't go all protective now! You've already said he's a good guy!"
"And he is," Zeke conceded. "Buthe's also a guy…and…you're like my little sister, so he better behave."
Gabriella couldn't help the smile that found its way through her face – she felt blessed with the amazing friends she had, with the supporting and loving family, with the gorgeous, inwardly and outwardly, boy that had caught her heart…and though Sharon was still present in her life, the truth was that her memory wasn't bitter anymore. She'd come far…and she was glad for having done so; the misery she'd felt all those years wasn't there anymore and happiness was a constant in her life. Of course there were moments when she felt guilty for feeling happy when Sharon wasn't there, but the truth was that she'd begun to accept that Sharon's fate was to leave the world early in her life, showing her an important lesson that had made her be a better person.
"I'll tell him that," Gabriella assured. "No worries."
He chuckled again. "I think I'm going to call him now…"
"No!" Gabriella panicked. "He has some things going on now…could you wait until tomorrow or so?"
"Is he okay?" Zeke asked worriedly.
Gabriella sighed. "He's had some problems with one of his friends and…well, things are kinda messed up now…"
Zeke hummed an agreement. "Okay then, I'll leave him for now. What about if we meet tomorrow? The four of us?"
She scrunched her nose in confusion. "The four of us?"
"Oh right! You don't know that…" Zeke mumbled sheepishly. "I may have a girlfriend…"
Gabriella couldn't help but laugh. "Don't tell me anything more. I'll call you tomorrow morning and we'll set the details, okay?"
"Okay," Zeke agreed. "You're going to love her…I've talked to her a lot about you and if not because we're kinda serious I'd think she's only going out with me because I know you so excited she is to meet you…"
Gabriella laughed and soon he joined her. "I can't wait to meet her too."
"Gotta go now, Gab," he said sadly. "Mom is making me go to the bakery to help her with some cakes…"
"No problem," the girl smiled. "Love you big bro!"
"Love you too, lil'sis," Zeke said softly before hanging up the phone, leaving Gabriella alone with her own thoughts.
She didn't feel the need to talk to Anna or Kelsi now that she'd talked to Zeke; she'd been an idiot not thinking about him when she'd realized she needed to talk to one of her friends because he'd been there all her life…he still was and he would be, forever, if that depended on her. She felt stronger now, stronger and more prepared to face the conversation with Chad; she still felt some fear because she knew that the conversation would be kinda awkward and also difficult, but she knew she had to try and make Chad see the other part of what had happened with Troy.
She only hoped she would be enough to do so…
The beep coming from her phone startled her. Cautiously, not really knowing what she would see on the screen, Gabriella saw she had an incoming message and she pressed the 'read' button with shaky fingers. However, her fear was silly and a smile appeared on her face when she read the message.
'Mom and dad have been amazing…but I'd like to be with you now. Well, a part of me wants that…the other wants some time to let my mind settle down and process everything that has happened. Of course I want to meet you later…I'm already missing you… :( I love you so much, baby…so so much it almost hurts… Troy xxxxxxxx'
Smiling, Gabriella placed the phone on her nightstand and laid back on her bed, closing her eyes and just letting her body rest, feeling, finally, hopeful that, after her talk with Chad, things would get better for everyone.
A tap in her window awoke Gabriella's daydreaming state. Turning her head to her left, she saw Chad standing there and she rushed in to roll down the window. "Hey…"
"I'm sorry I've scared you," he apologized quietly, "but I've seen you here when I've parked my car and I've thought that…"
"No worries," Gabriella said opening the driver's door, "it's okay."
In silence, Gabriella stepped out of her car and locked it, all the while being silently observed by Chad. The silence was full of tension, awkward…but soon she found herself with nothing to do but to stay in front of him for her car was already locked and she had her things with her.
Neither of them knew what to say; it was the first time they saw each other since the incident with Ben and since that moment Gabriella had only talked to Chad by the phone, the time she and him confessed everything to Chad, and that was it. Deciding that, being she the one who'd asked for the meeting, she was the one that had to start the conversation, Gabriella took a deep breath. "Thanks for coming…"
"Oh, no worries," Chad assured her. "You feeling…you feeling better?"
"Yeah," Gabriella sighed. "Thank you so much for what you did back then, Chad, I…things would have been way more worse if not because you and Mer appeared…"
"No need to even mention it," Chad shook his head. "What that guy was doing…well, maybe I'm a jerk with girls but…a 'no' is a 'no'."
Gabriella smiled. "I know, but still I want to thank you what you did."
Chad returned the smile lightening the tension between them. "Then you're welcome."
First step taken.
TWOFTWOF
The movement of the ball was like hypnotic for Gabriella. Up and down, up and down, up and down…net. To see Chad playing with the ball, with his sureness, with his decision, amazed her; she'd seen Zeke and the others playing, but there was no way that they had the "something" she could observe in Chad. He really breathed basketball.
He realized she was silent and just looking at him and then he couldn't stand the situation anymore. It was not as if he felt threatened by her or that he was mad with her; on the contrary, only good things came to his mind whenever he thought about the girl sitting on the bleachers while looking at him. However, knowing that she was Troy's girlfriend and that she wanted to talk to him about his former friend, Chad decided that he'd had enough. "Gabriella, I don't want to sound rude but…what did you want?"
Gabriella's eyes snapped up to meet Chad's face. She saw how his jaw was tense and how his back was stiff, how his whole body was under deep tension and also how his eyes were troubled; his whole him talked about pain, about betrayal, about sadness…and soon Gabriella felt her insides clench. She really needed to make everything better.
"Like I've told you," she cleared her throat, "I wanted to talk to you about Troy…"
He sighed and went to sit beside her. "What's there to talk, Gabriella? He…betrayed me; he failed me and he just lied to me. He turned his back on me and just…found other friends, better friends and…"
"That's not how things went, Chad," Gabriella interrupting him, swallowing aloud when his glare went directly to her eyes. "I know you think he just forgot about you…but that's not what happened."
Chad's jaw clenched again. "Then what the hell happened? Because from where I am, to ditch your friends because you find new friends is precisely that."
His voice was deep, his tone, sever and tense, but Gabriella decided to forget about it and keep going. "I know you're probably going to hate me when I say you that but…I think you need to hear it."
Chad's eyes bulged. "Why should I hate you?"
"We'll see…" Gabriella said vaguely, taking another deep breath and then turning her head so she was looking directly into Chad's troubled eyes. "Look, Troy…did you ask him why he kept everything as a secret?"
Chad shook his head silently and Gabriella sighed.
"He thought you wouldn't understand him," she said lowly. "You and your friends…already in high school you thought you were better than everyone, you thought the world was at your feet, that every girl would want to be with you and that every guy would want to be you but…that's not real life. High school is not real life, Chad…and…maybe you don't think that now, or at least in a so adamant way, but you still think you're better than a lot of people…where you are not."
"I don't think that," Chad hissed defensively.
Gabriella shook her head. "But you do…if not…if not why you mocked me and my lack of basketball skills that night?"
Chad's eyes widened when he realized that she was right…and Gabriella saw how his brain clicked and he understood what she was trying to say. "See? Troy…well, since the day we met…I guess I've showed him another part of what life is, what life has to be…or…or just another perspective of how a person can understand what life is. I've had some…problems, and…Troy knows them so…well, I guess that my problems have helped him in understand that life is not what you have or who you are…or pretend to be…and that…that what is really important is to have people around you that care about you."
"But I care…cared about him," Chad said, his tone of voice way different from the one he'd been using until then.
"Of course you do," Gabriella nodded her head, "but you also care maybe too much about yourself. I know that…well, if we don't care about ourselves…no one is going to do so but, sometimes, you need to put the others first."
Again, Gabriella was met with silence. "Have you ever thought about apologizing to Zeke for what you did that day?"
"No," Chad breathed closing his eyes. "That's never crossed my mind."
"See what I mean?" Gabriella asked quietly. "You think he doesn't deserve an apology but…Troy realized he actually did. And he apologized…and he's met incredible guys who don't expect from him to be popular, to fuck the major number of girls, to snap his fingers and found a legion kneeling in front of him at his mercy…I mean, Zeke and the others have just accepted Troy for who he actually is; he doesn't need to pretend he's someone who he is not so the others accept him…but with you and your friends…he's had to do precisely that all this time."
"Then why didn't he tell me?" Chad pressed, his angriness and his regret fighting wildly in his heart. "He should have told me that so we…"
"Would that have helped, Chad?" Gabriella interrupted him. "Be sincere…at least with yourself. You would have thought he was right? You would have agreed with him? Or you would have fought with him and told him he was being an idiot for thinking he was just another human being?"
Too speechless to say anything against what Gabriella was saying, Chad simply kept silent.
"Of course he would have told you what was happening," Gabriella continued, encouraged when she saw that Chad was really understanding what she was trying to say, "of course he would have told you that he was not the person you thought but just a simple guy, of course he would have come to you with the whole truth but…he was afraid, Chad, he didn't want to lose your friendship. I know you think you don't need him or that your friendship with him is not important but…it is! It really is! He knows that and he's a mess because he thinks you can't, and won't, forgive him ever…but…I don't know, think about it for a while…don't give up on Troy or your friendship for a misunderstanding…please…"
Her voice broke and Chad bit his lip nervously. The truth was that he hadn't ever looked at the situation at hands since that perspective; he'd just assumed Troy had thought he was better than him and that he'd preferred to befriend new people because he felt tired or ashamed of him but…not once he'd thought Troy may had a valid reason to behave the way he did. Gabriella was right; Troy would have talked to him from the very beginning but…he couldn't blame him for not doing so because he hadn't been any better. He'd taken for granted Troy was still the same person he was in high school…he hadn't paid attention nor heard what Troy had to say…and that had turned out in the mess they were in.
"You're right," he whispered.
Gabriella felt relief ran through her veins when she heard those words coming from Chad. "I get you're mad, and I understand why you're mad, Chad, I promise you I do…and even Troy understands you, but just…just don't blame him completely for a problem…for a problem that involves you two, for something you've also put yourself into, for something that…that you're also pushed him to do."
Even though Chad knew Gabriella was telling him bad things about him, the truth was that he couldn't get mad at her for doing so…because he saw she was right. Guiltiness and humbleness enclosed his heart; how come he'd been so stupid all this time? With a pang of sadness his current life ran in front of his eyes; no friends at the university because he'd never thought they were worth his time, no girlfriend because he'd been too busy just playing around and making the girls feel like shit…no best friend because he'd taken him for granted.
"Could you leave me by myself now?"
The question coming from Chad's mouth didn't surprise Gabriella, who nodded her head and stood up. "Think about what I've told you and…just…Chad, please, give Troy another chance…and give that same new chance to your friendship. A real friend is difficult to find and…even harder to keep but…you already have him…"
"I know," he said in a strangled voice.
Nodding silently, Gabriella climbed down the bleachers, just to stop and turn around when Chad called her name. "What?" She asked in a low voice.
Chad stood up silently and followed her until he was standing right in front of her petite body. "Thank you…" he hesitated for a moment and then took a deep breath, "thank you, Bribs."
Leaning down he placed a soft kiss in her cheek and then turned around, going to the opposite direction Gabriella had to go to go to her car. A soft smile appeared on her face at the nickname that had abandoned his mouth; Chad was just not closing the door for Troy…but was also opening the door for her.
With the last turn of events, Gabriella felt exhausted but actually very happy. She felt relieved not just because she was sure Chad and Troy would be friends again but also because she'd talked to Zeke and everything was okay with him…and also because Bobby was coming home next week. Her heart was soaring in happiness and soon the excitement she was feeling in her heart overcame her, making her giddy and full of adrenaline. Deciding that it was time for everyone in her life to meet each other, Gabriella's mind began to trace a plan for that to happen…and soon a wide smile appeared on her face when that plan was finally formed.
Looking for her phone, Gabriella typed a few buttons and, biting her lip nervously, she waited for the answers she hoped would arrive soon. Sure, not even two minutes had passed and then the phone beeped once, twice and even three times in a row, alerting her about incoming messages she prayed would contain the answer she so desperately wanted.
'I'm in :) love, Anna xx'
'That's a great idea! I'll talk to you later so we can fix the details… ;) Kels xoxo'
'I knew you could do it! You're the best! :D Mer xxx'
"Great!" She shouted victoriously inside of the safe confines of her car with the widest smile a person could wear and with the highest level of happiness a person could feel.
