Gabriella walked right into the Bolton household without knocking as she heard laughter from around the side of the house leading to the back. It was slightly chilly out as it was only two more days until Christmas break. Gabriella could smell food cooking, various vegetables, appetizers, and meats as she walked through the long and dark narrow hallway that was only lit up by the slowly setting sun through the windows.
She felt a smile take over her face as she only saw Mrs. Bolton in the kitchen stirring something on the stove with a wooden spoon. She looked out through the kitchen window which lead to the back yard and saw about seventy parents and what she saw next surprised her, or what she didn't would be more accurate. She knew the flu was going around for the past week and it was freaking Troy out because it seemed like it was hitting the three basketball teams more than anything, but this was just kind of scary. She only saw about half of the 36 basketball players.
Most of the freshman team was there except what looked to be about probably two so that brought them down to ten players, and then jv had only about seven people here, and then the varsity. Gabriella winced as she looked out over the sea of people and tried to do a second head count to see if she counted right.
Gabriella was straining her neck trying to see in the very back to maybe see Zeke or another basketball player that she might of missed, but had no such luck. "There's only six counting Troy himself that doesn't have the flu." Mrs. Bolton's pitied voice said on the other side of Gabriella as she turned and Mrs. Bolton offered her a smile.
Gabriella sighed, "Does Troy know? I don't see him out there." Gabriella said as Mrs. Bolton shook her head no and gave her a welcoming hug.
"I'm glad to see that you haven't caught this God awful flu going around, and it's right before the holidays." Mrs. Bolton said as they pulled back as Gabriella had a smile on her face.
Whenever she came over to the Bolton's Mrs. Bolton always welcomed her with a hug. Gabriella looked through the window again, this was not good. The next day they had one of their biggest games. They were playing West High in their own home court right before Christmas and half the team was sick.
"Where is Troy?" Gabriella asked as Mrs. Bolton sighed and a roll of the eyes.
"He's upstairs trying to get his tie on, and he won't let anyone in just incase they are carrying germs." Mrs. Bolton said as Gabriella could tell that she was getting irritated at her only son. "And he still insists on carrying those rubber gloves so he doesn't have to touch anything."
Gabriella let out a laugh, "I told him to at least change the gloves everyday, so at least we know that they aren't getting moldy on him or anything." Gabriella said as Mrs. Bolton turned around and turned the stove top off as she smiled at Gabriella.
"I'm glad he has you. It seems you're the one that he only listens too."
Gabriella nodded, "It isn't easy." She jokes and Mrs. Bolton laughs. "I mean, if you don't mind the stares, and the pointing, and the mocking of you and your boyfriend who makes you carry around cleaning spray in your purse then it's okay."
Mrs. Bolton bit back a laugh as Gabriella remembered the previous day and how Troy had learned Zeke came down with the flu, he insisted that the only way Gabriella could come near him was if she was wearing her own set of gloves, and carried this cleaning spray so that they both could spray their desks and lockers down every time they used them.
"I think that boy is self destructing." Mrs. Bolton joked.
"I think I should go pull him out of his room right now. Try to get him to come down, after all he is the Captain." Gabriella said starting to leave the kitchen and saw that Mrs. Bolton nodded at her as she turned back around and started to cook again for the whole group outside that consisted of parents, basketball growing boys, and the cheerleaders and dancers. "Mrs. Bolton, do you need help?" Gabriella asked in the archway leading out to the hallway again.
"No dear, and it's Lucille. I just want my son to be sane again." She joked as Gabriella nodded with her own laugh and made her way up to Troy's room.
Gabriella walked towards Troy's room at the end of the hallway and looked at his door in surprise. She couldn't believe her boyfriend. Maybe he was going crazy?
Gabriella knocked on his wooden door that was covered in plastic wrap probably so that whoever touches his door wouldn't leave their germs on it so they could move under the door or something which Gabriella found ridiculous.
"Go away unless you brought me dinner!" Troy's frustrated voice came from the other side of the door.
Gabriella felt her heart sink deep as she heard the disappointment in his voice along with the stress. "Wildcat, it's me!" Gabriella said softly as she heard shuffling feet in his room and a loud bang.
Gabriella winced and then straightened up as she heard his voice, "Did you bring your gloves Gabi?!" Troy asked as Gabriella rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's first question. "And bring that spray I gave you. I don't want you to get sick, or me!"
Gabriella smirked at her boyfriend's funny selfish behavior. She was the only one he was making carry spray around with, but that just showed that he only wanted her near him even more which Gabriella could live with.
"I washed my hands." Gabriella said not knowing if that was good enough for Troy or not. "And…" Gabriella stalled thinking of what else she did to sickproof herself. "I…I took a shower in steaming hot water…dried myself off with newly washed towels…I even am wearing a new dress." Gabriella tempted. "And I have Kleenex in my purse if you really want it." Gabriella added.
Gabriella heard the door unlocking as the door handle twisted and the door slowly opened less than a foot. "Hey Gabi." Troy said as Gabriella looked at him through the crack in the door.
"Hey Wildcat, are you okay? Your mom said you haven't come down yet and you kind of have to so you can give your Captain speech." Gabriella said with an encouraging smile.
Troy let out a laugh, "And spend all evening downstairs with the parents that have sick kids at home. Fat chance."
Gabriella rolled her eyes and smirked at her boyfriend of three months, "Will you at least let me in. I promise I don't bite."
Troy looked her up and down and took in her red spaghetti strap dress that showed off some cleavage to his liking, and went just above the knee as it fit her curves perfectly. "Did you talk to anyone on your way up?" Troy asked cautiously.
"Yeah, your mom." Gabriella said as Troy sighed and opened the door wider so Gabriella could barely slip through as if he was afraid something else would get in and that's when Gabriella saw his room.
He had plastic coverings on his bed sheets, pillows, computer chairs, posters, desk, computer, and mattress. "Wow…Wildcat." Gabriella said slowly as Troy went back over to the tie that he was trying to put around his neck and get perfect. "This is probably the first time I did not see any dirty clothes on the floor."
Gabriella smiled at Troy as she could see the nerves, frustration, worry, and disappointment as if he already knew that they didn't have a chance against West High. "Here…let me help." Gabriella said walking over to Troy who backed away quickly and put his hands up in defense. "What?" Gabriella asked confused.
"Are you sure you didn't talk to anyone that could possible relate you to being sick. Like maybe Sharpay who is probably at Zeke's house taking care of him now? Or that one girl in cooking that is Jason's girlfriend? Or what about--"
"Wildcat, I used hand sanitizer on my hands after I got out of my car. I'm pretty sure that my skin in peeling because of scrubbing so hard. And my purse smells like the sickening orange bleach scent. I don't think I could possible get you sick now of all weeks." Gabriella said as she stepped closer towards Troy who didn't move from his spot.
Troy sighed as Gabriella worked on his tie and their eyes stayed connected. Troy leaned his forehead down on hers as he shut his eyes and taking in Gabriella's vanilla smell from the perfume he bought her a month ago. "I'm sorry." He murmured. "I know I've been a little different this week…"
"A little?" Gabriella laughed as Troy cracked a smile as Gabriella could see the light bags underneath his eyes and could tell now just how stressed he was.
"Okay, I was completely weird, but…I've never been in this situation before. Half of my team is gone when we have our second most important game going on tomorrow." Troy explained.
Gabriella brought her hands up and put them on the back of his neck and played with the little hairs as she knew that he loved that. "What's your first important game?" Gabriella whispered as they found no need to talk in a normal voice since they were less then an inch apart from each other.
"The state championships." Troy said as he leaned in more and connected their lips for a brief but yet sensual kiss that seemed to calm him a little. "Mmm…minty." Troy said with a smile as Gabriella lightly smacked his chest.
"Well I had to brush my mouth triple the amount of times as usual for you Wildcat. I didn't want you to cut me out of your life forever now."
"I could never do that. I would only last a week." Troy joked as Gabriella smacked him on the chest and they both laughed.
"I've missed that." Gabriella murmured as Troy sat down on his bed and it made a squishy noise from the plastic wrap.
"Missed what?" Troy asked as Gabriella came over by him and sat down next to him as her hand rested on the inside of his clad covered khaki pants knee.
"Missed your smile." Gabriella said as Troy sighed and brought both of his hands up and rubbed his temples.
"I'm sorry, it's just…I've been so stressed and I just don't want to lose that game tomorrow." Troy said as he shut his eyes with a deep breath trying to calm himself down.
Gabriella moved on the bed so she was kneeling behind Troy and her two hands were on his shoulders massaging them. Troy bit back a moan as Gabriella's hands continued to rub through his dress shirt.
"People are waiting for you out there Wildcat. I think your mom was almost ready to put the food out too." Gabriella whispered in his ear as Troy kept his eyes shut calming down a little.
"Yeah, but…half of them have sick kids." Troy said as Gabriella pressed a kiss to the back of his neck and continued moving her hands.
"But Chad's here, and he's downstairs. Tay's also here and we haven't really done that much with them lately." Gabriella tempted as Troy nodded his head slowly.
"One condition…" Troy said as he didn't wait for Gabriella to say anything. "I'm not touching anyone besides you." Troy said in a serious voice as Gabriella let out a laugh.
"If that gets you out of this room then I'm willing to accept that." Gabriella giggled as Troy stood up and looked at himself in the mirror.
Gabriella came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind and smiled. "You look handsome." Gabriella reassured him as Troy nodded.
"Come on Wildcat, you're gonna make a great speech and I'll be watching you every second." Gabriella said in a sturdy voice as she smiled at him proudly and he turned around.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Troy joked as Gabriella rolled her eyes.
"I promise I'll be your look-out too, but I'm not sure if you deserve it or not." Gabriella said back as Troy smirked and pulled her closer by the hips.
"You look gorgeous tonight Gabi." Troy said as Gabriella beamed up at him glad to see that he was slightly not worrying about the game the next day.
"And here I thought I look sexy." Gabriella said as Troy's nose rubbed up against hers and their foreheads leaned up against each other as his mouth delicately rubbed over hers.
"You always look sexy to me, but you look gorgeous for everyone because if someone else said that you're sexy I'd have to break their face." Troy said in a serious tone as his lips pressed against Gabriella's to keep her from talking and then took her hand in his. "Let's get this over with and then maybe we can spend the rest of the time up here."
Troy found himself at the back of his huge yard that was infested with people who were carrying their kids germs. He was at a table that sat eight with a red and white table cloth blowing with the light breeze as Gabriella was busy trying to find Chad and Taylor.
He took in the parents who were talking animatedly while flinging one of their arms around for emphasis as their other hands held most likely an alcohol beverage as his parents had a person come to bar tend in Troy's basement where they had glass double doors leading out right into Troy's backyard where the fully stocked bar was inside.
Troy had been keeping his distance so far from his teammates who all tried talking to him as he made his first appearance with Gabriella ten minutes ago, but Troy just simple nodded at them while gripping Gabriella tighter as she would say that they would talk later even though they both knew that they never planned on doing that.
"Chad, I think you should just go." Troy heard Gabriella's frantic voice say as he stood up and looked around curiously to see where they were coming from and then he saw to his left the afro making his way towards him with Gabriella trailing very close behind and Taylor in the back looking just as frantic as Gabriella.
"Gabster, stop worrying." Chad's voice sounded raspy as he tried to sound light-hearted but Troy was sure there was something off about it. He didn't sound so happy and excited as he usual did.
"Chad, he doesn't want to get sick and he's already worrying and--" Gabriella stopped abruptly as she rushed over to Troy's side and Chad just stood there across from Troy with just the table in between them.
"Chad, you're sick. You really shouldn't be here." Taylor said as Troy took in his best friend's appearance and saw that he looked a little sweaty as he had goose bumps on his arms, his eyes were looking tired, and he looked like he was swaying a little.
"Dude, stay away from me." Troy said. "You really don't look good." Troy said with all honesty.
"See Chad, I told you." Gabriella stepped in front of Troy. Somewhere in all the middle of this crazy event of Troy freaking out about germs, Gabriella got caught up too and acted as if this was some killing disease.
"If I go then my parents aren't gonna let me come tomorrow and that means no game which means you're down to five men dude." Chad said in an even raspier voice.
Troy shook his head, "Chad, you have to go and get some rest. Christmas is in a week and…it's…just a game." Troy admitted finally as he stepped out from behind Gabriella. In this whole week he was so concentrated on the game and how he had to keep from all these germs, but…now seeing Chad standing there obviously looking like he could barely hold himself up as Taylor was now supporting him a little, made Troy realize just how much pressure he was putting on himself and his friends about staying healthy over something that was spreading like wildfire and would affect you if you were some of the unlucky people.
"But what about the Knights?…and Lund?" Chad asked referring to the West High's Captain, Nick Lund who everyone called Lundy or Nicky if you were a cheerleader and dancer or rather all of the female population.
"Chad," Troy sighed, "You have to go. Just think about all the people here who aren't sick and now your spreading. What if you get some of the basketball players sick?" Troy countered as Chad's eye sunk more as he had been looking forward to this game along with Troy since the beginning of the year.
"Come on Chad." Taylor cooed as she still had her hand rubbing up and down Chad's back. Chad weakly nodded as he offered Troy a small smile and Troy's face immediately dropped as Chad's back turned away from him and Tay started leading him towards his talking parents.
"Shit." Troy bellowed slumping down in a chair as Gabriella sat next to him.
"What happened to the Troy that was just here telling his best friend not to worry about the game?" Gabriella asked as Troy felt her put one of her hands on his shoulders in a comforting way as she gave a little squeeze.
Troy glared at the table. "He left along with Chad. I can't believe we're down to five players. Now my dad has no choice but to cancel the freshman game, pull the players up to JV and then pull the JV players up to Varsity." Troy grumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest like a pouting five year old.
He didn't blame his teammates for getting sick since it was going all around the school, but he really wanted to beat Lundy. Gabriella didn't know about his and Lundy's fighting as it seemed that whenever Troy was out with his guy friends just playing a two-on-two game in the park or just hanging out around the mall Lundy would always be there, but when he was with Gabriella then he was nowhere to be seen which Troy thanked because he didn't need to worry about Gabriella and how Lundy would try to mess with her.
"You're gonna do great, and I'm gonna be there, and I think Jake was gonna go." Gabriella said as Troy turned to look at her.
He gave her a small smile. Things with Jake seemed to be doing a little bit better. They held small talk in the halls if neither one of them were busy and he even came up to the library with Troy and Gabriella one time at lunch when his friends all got a meeting with the principal for doing something stupid.
"Even if we don't win, I still don't want to lose by a landslide." Troy said as his face lit up. "Hey, do you still have those rubber gloves?"
Gabriella inwardly groaned as she thought her boyfriend was over his one week fear of germs, but then again Troy was a very persistent determined guy. "Yeah, right here." Gabriella replied as she dug through her purse and saw packages of Kleenexes, hand sanitizer, and a small spray bottle of cleaning solution.
"At least now I don't have to worry about touching the microphone for the Captain speech." Troy said triumphantly.
"Troy." Gabriella said as Troy whipped his head to the side as he never heard Gabriella call him by his name unless it was really important. "You." Gabriella spoke every syllable crystal clear as she clasped his clad covered hands. "Are. Gonna. Do." Gabriella's eyes never looked away from Troy's as if hoping he would get it through his mind. "Great."
Troy nodded as he let that sentence run through his mind.
"Even if the team doesn't win, you're gonna do great as a player. You're just psyching yourself out, you actually remind me of myself when I have to dance."
Troy looked at her skeptically with a shocked smile, "You don't get this bad when you have to dance. You do awesome at all the games."
"I'm gonna tell you something that I've never told anyone else." Gabriella said in a low whisper. "I get terrified that I'm not gonna live up to my mom's expectations of what she wants from me." Troy looked at his girlfriend as he let her confession mull through him. He never knew that about her, as he thought back to the one time that he saw her completely freaking out which was in the Octobers dance recital, but he thought it was just because her mom wasn't coaching her?
"But…all the fright goes away when I'm in that spot light and I hear the music. And if you love basketball as much as I think you do, then…you're gonna play your heart out tomorrow whether you have Chad and Zeke by your side or not because you're always gonna have me." Gabriella said as Troy blocked out the light classy music playing in the background, the talking and cheering parents and kids, and the feeling of nerves out of his body as he concentrated on his girlfriend.
They were having a moment and if Zeke and Chad were here they would tell him that he's whipped, but Troy didn't care. Somehow Gabriella always knew what to say and it absolutely made him calm down as he heard her sincerity, honesty, and encouragement in her voice as she looked him in the eyes waiting for his response.
"Promise?" Troy croaked out.
Gabriella nodded with a straight face as all seriousness in the conversation stayed in place as they rarely had these. Sure they had moments left and right, but usually one of them would lighten the mood since they both weren't ones for pouring their hearts out dramatically.
"I promise Troy." Gabriella said and Troy found that her saying his name sounded better than ever, although he still loved the nickname she had for him, but it wasn't the time to call him that. "I promise." Gabriella whispered as they both leaned in and connected lips as they moved against each other slowly as if savoring a new bond that they created between each other.
Author's note-So what did you think? This is yet another filler chapter and you're probably all kind of getting bored of them, but I felt like I had to do a little bit more with their relationship and show just how much Gabriella means to Troy and to show that they care for each other even more. So I hope you understand and you aren't getting bored, please review. Thanks--
