Chapter 27

How Am I Suppose to live without You

Artist: Laura Branigan

Gabriella pov

What to wear I thought to myself I scowled at my closet I had to be perfect tonight

Troy had been back in Albuquerque for 3 months, He was set to head back to Los Angeles in October. But until then he was in Albuquerque, Me and Troy really hadn't gotten to hang out much since his girlfriend was always around. I

clenched my teeth just thinking about him and that bubbly blonde trollop .. I really didn't know anything about the girl other then she was blonde 21 and her name was Alison. I hadn't met her that night at the club when I first saw him with her the lighting in the club was to low to really get a good look at her.. Troy was doing a good job at keeping us from meeting but all that was about to change, Troy had came by early today to ask me to go to dinner with him and his girlfriend, I wanted to say no but he looked at me and gave me that, crooked grin I loved so much and next thing I knew I was saying yes.

So here I was scowling at my closet daring it to let me down,

"What's that face for"

I jumped at the sound of Terrin's voice

"Ter you scared me" I said holding my hand to my chest

"hah not as scared as I was looking at that scowl" she said with a laugh "can you explain to me what your wardrobe did to you"

'I can't find anything to wear, nothing seems right"

"Right for what?"

I turned towards Terrin

"Troy asked me to come to dinner tonight with his girlfriend"

"Why?" she asked looking confused

"I don't know he said something about, wanting us to get know one another"

"Whoa that's something I'd love to see" Terrin said with a laugh

I smiled brightly at her "I'm glad you said that because you're coming to"

Terrin's eyes rounded "Me, why me:"

"Because you're my best friend and there is no way in hell I'm going by myself"

"Okay I'll go but I first I'm going to need a drink"

I laughed "Okay well while you get your drink help me figure out what to wear"

"Fine if I must you should definitely go with your purple and silver mini dress its perfect for all occasions so it won't look like you're trying hard"

"Oh my god you're so right I love you" I exclaimed hugging Terrin. I went into the closet and got my mini dress time to get ready.

About an hour later, I was dressed, I looked at my reflection I had to admit I looked pretty damn good, I threw my hair across my shoulders

"Ready" I asked Terrin

"Ready" she said

We left the dorm and headed to Austin's Steaks and Saloons over on the east side

We got to the restaurant Troy and Alison was already there

We made our way to the table my heart was beating fast, I felt as though I would faint.

I spotted Troy and Alison sitting at table in the corner, I stopped when I saw him reach over and caress her cheek.

I turned to Terrin, "I don't know why I thought I could do this, but I can't lets go home"

Terrin shook her head in understanding

We turned to leave

"Gabriella"

I froze when I heard his voice "damn" I muttered under my breath.

"Gabriella where are you going"

I turned to face Troy I put a smile on my face

"Hey Troy, I left my wallet in the car I was about to go back and get it"

"You don't need it this is on me" he said gesturing us towards his table"

Terrin had to literally push me to get me to start moving to the table,

We got to the table, Alison stood up

Gabriella, Terrin I want you to meet Alison, Alison this is my best friend Gabriella and her best friend Terrin"

I couldn't move I couldn't breathe the girl standing in front of me was beyond gorgeous she looked like she stepped right out of a magazine, I looked down at myself how could I even have attempted to compete with her, her face was perfectly heart shaped and her nose slightly upturned high cheekbones and hazel green eyes she was perfection in human form, from her perfectly coiffed hair down to her perfect pedicure, "Gabriella, Alison is speaking to you" Terrin said pushed me.

I snapped out of my haze

I smiled despite myself "Its nice to finally meet you"

I held out my hand.

She shook it "Yeah I was just telling Troy he took long enough, its so nice to meet the infamous Angel"

"Yeah infamous" I said questioningly

"So why don't we sit down and order some food" Troy said

I was about to sit next to Troy seeing it as it was the only available seat, when low and behold Alison jumped up and grabbed the seat before I could sit down. She smiled up at me "You don't mind do you we like to feed each other, when we eat" she smiled sweetly. I longed to smack the smile of her face but instead, I put an equally, 'sweet' on my face.

"Sure no problem" I said moving over to sit next to Terrin.

The dinner over all was awkward and weird, every time, me and Troy started talking about something Alison would interrupt, by the end of the night, there was no love loss between Alison and I, I could sense that she didn't like me and the feeling was completely mutual, to me she was snotty little bitch, someone I definitely had to keep a distance from. The only good thing about, the night was Terrin she kept me constantly entertained, from subsequently calling Alison out on interrupting me and Troy, to her brash behavior with wanting a drink,

Finally the night was over, and me and Terrin were headed home

"That was painful" Terrin said getting in the car

"Tell me about" I said "I'm just glad this whole night is over, I definitely don't want a repeat "

"You got to wonder what he sees in her" Terrin said thoughtfully.

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye

She gave me a knowing look "Come on Gabriella, its like he totally down graded, when you break up with someone you're suppose to aim higher not lower, sure she was pretty but she can't hold a candle to you girl you got the whole exotic thing working for you"

I smiled "you're definitely a confidence booster"

"No doll I'm a fact sayer and the fact is, she is a down grade he could've done better I was expecting more uh did hear that voice like nails against a chalk board if that's what LA has got to offer I'm staying in Albuquerque"

I laughed "You are crazy I'm never taking you out again you don't know how to behave"

"Whatever" she said with a pretend attitude.

We went home joking and laughing about the dinner and about Alison. It felt good to laugh and not think about Troy and how much it hurt me to see him with Alison.

A week later

I ran to my room I'd just come from a meeting with a music producer I was so excited he wanted to produce my c.d. I couldn't wait to tell everyone

I went inside my room, looking for Terrin, she wasn't in there I turned to run out the room, and collided right into her.

"Oh my god I have something to tell you"? we both said

"You first" we said again

I laughed "You first"

"Okay um you might want to sit down" she said

"Is this bad news" I asked

"All depends on, you are you sure you want me to go first?"

"Yeah go ahead at this point nothing could bother me" I said with a laugh

"Okay well uh I just ran into Chad, and he asked me what you thought of Alison and Troy so I told him you were fine with them, then he asked me if you cared that Troy proposed to Alison"

I didn't respond I was incapable of responding,

"Gabriella are you okay" Terrin asked waving her hand in my face

I snapped out of my trance

"No Troy's not engaged he would've told me, I just saw him the other night, that has to be a rumor" I rambled

"I-I have to go, I'll see you later" I said walking out the door

"What about the your news" Terrin yelled after to me.

I pretended like I didn't hear her I ran to my car. I refused to believe that Troy was engaged I had to see him, this really wouldn't be happening me not today..

I drove to the Bolton's house. I went to the door and rang the doorbell.

Alison opened the door

"Can I help you" she asked

"Is Troy here"

"Yes he's upstairs do want me to get him?"

"No I think I can find my way to his bedroom" I said pushing myself into the house. I ran up the stairs not bothering to look back to see if Alison was behind me.

I went inside Troy's room to find him throwing things all over the room

I had to dodge a couple items as I tried to make myself known.

"Troy" I yelled

He turned around finally hearing me.

"Oh hey Angel I'm sorry I didn't hear you I'm just all over the place" he said excitedly "Angel you'd never guess wants happened"

My heart gave out he didn't have to say one word I already knew the rumor was true. So much for nothing be able to ruin my day.

I plastered a smile on my face

"So what's the good news" I asked acting my butt off

"Angel I'm getting married"

"Whoa that's amazing, when did this happen"

"The other night I asked her and she said yes, I'm so happy, this is the one she is the one for me, I love her so much Angel you have no idea"

I swallowed the sob that threatened to erupt from my throat

"I'm sure I understand" I said softly I looked away from Troy I didn't want him to see my face

"Angel I have to ask you a huge favor"

"Oh yeah what's that" I asked still not looking up

"You know you're my best friend and you've always been there for me, so what I'm going to ask you is if you'd be my best man"

I felt light headed no this cold hearted son of bitch didn't just ask me to be his best man, like we weren't together a year ago as more then friends, he really had a lot of nerve but what could I do, I couldn't say no, because then I'd have to give him an explanation, but I couldn't say yes how could I stand and watch the man that I loved get married to someone else.

"Angel, will do it" he asked again

I looked into the beautiful blue eyes I melted

"Of course I'll be your best man" I finally said

"Or should I say best woman"

Troy laughed and hugged me

"Thanks Angel this really means a lot to me I knew I could count on you"

I pressed my face against his chest, why did I just say yes I thought, how was I suppose to live without Troy in my life as both my lover and my friend.

Troy pov

My days were hectic, Alison wanted to get married before we headed back to LA, which meant we had one month, I was happy about getting married but I was a little nervous, I mean who would have thought, last year you couldn't get me to say the word marriage now here I was about to get married, but I was confident that Alison was the one for me, Despite, Alison telling me the previous week of out impending parenthood, I didn't feel forced at all at least that's what I kept telling myself

"Troy have you decided on your best man yet" Alison asked me

We were at the jewelry store picking out our wedding bands.

"Ally I told you yesterday Gabriella is going to be my best man well woman as she put it"

Alison rolled her eyes

"Troy I understand that you have a best friend that's a girl but do you think its appropriate to have her as a best man"

"Alison this isn't a debate I'm not changing my mind about Gabriella being my best man she's my best friend she has been there with me through everything you wouldn't understand"

"No I don't understand, she's your ex girlfriend you use to fuck her, how do you think this makes me feel, having a girl you use to fuck standing at the alter, while we get married, how about I go call my ex fiancé and ask him to be my maid of honor"

I was really getting tired of arguing with Alison about Gabriella, I was trying to make Alison understand that, if she was going to be with me she had to get used to Gabriella.

"Alison so she was my girlfriend for what two years, she's been my best friend since I was 7 okay, the romance relationship I had with Gabriella is dead, dead and buried okay I'll admit I love her but as a friend, what me and Gabriella had when were together was purely physical okay, you have my heart you don't have to worry" I said rubbing her check

Alison smiled

"I know its just she has 15 years of knowing you all I have is 1 year, it just makes me a little jealous, but I'll be okay now lets finish picking out those wedding bands" she said going back to her normal chipper self.

I smiled at Alison I really did love her, but she had a side of her that she concealed from everyone I side I'd just recently seen a side that gave me pause. Was a making the right decision? I asked myself, I suppose only time would tell.

Author's note* Okay so Troy's getting married now everyone don't kill me, you just have to wait and see what I have for the upcoming chapters I promise you won't be disappointed so in light of the fact that this story is about to be one years old, its going to be a very special, shall I say anniversary chapter lol

I don't want to tell you guys to much about the chapter just know its probably the best one so far, so toodles for now tell me what you think about Troy getting married, I kind of want a poll. Should Troy get married or shouldn't he let me know