Chapter 29
True Friends Indeed
Troy was cuddling the baby while Gabriella was on her laptop helping Troy with his assignments "Babe….I already told Chad about us and the baby!" her eyes grew big as she gasps "Don't worry he won't tell a soul!"
"Are you sure....well you know Chad....he and his big mouth..... don't you think he wouldn't tell the gang?" she draws a long worried breath
"I told him about your reluctance to meet them again. They might be mad at you or something….maybe it'll just the same as my first reaction but after I knew everything I felt so ashamed of blaming you for my desolation." sitting beside her on the bed as she pecks him on the lips "He's anxious to meet you and I think same goes with the guys if they knew you're back and I know how you feel!" his tone reassuring
"Yeah I miss them and definitely excited to talk to them again….maybe….I have to do it soon!" she timidly smile at him as he wraps an arm around her waist
Don't worry I'll go with you!" she nodded "So would you like to meet them tomorrow afternoon at the gym before our practice….I can easily convince them that I have something important to tell them….and you can also meet our teammates….how about that?"
"Okay….pick us up 'coz I don't wanna drive to your school alone!" he lifts her chin planting a gentle kiss on her lips.
Troy whips out his phone and calls up Chad tasking him to herd the wildcats tomorrow at the gym 30 minutes before practice as he's got something important to say to their friends. Chad didn't question more having an idea what it was all about. After they hung up he immediately phoned them one by one.
"Ok Chad….what's this all about….you're scaring the hell out of me…..is something's wrong with Troy?" Chad smirks as he imagines Sharpay's expression while she paces back and forth in her room
"Just meet us there Shar….Troy will be the one to tell you!" sounding a little depressed
"Chaad….please!" whining unsuccessfully
"Bye Shar….see you at the gym!" he smile to himself as he hit Taylor's number next
"Hi baby….would you mind meeting us tomorrow at the gym…..Troy has something important to say to us!" he heard her exhale nervously
"Ok Chad….you're my boyfriend and love of my life….could you tell me what's this all about?" she anxiously balling with the edge of her comforter she only hears his labored breathing "Please….baby….you're killing me….I can't wait till tomorrow!" she pleaded Chad just grin at the device. Loving the effects of torturing his friends to himself
"No Taylor….Troy will be the one tell you about it….Good night baby….love yah!" she hears a smack on the other end but she pouted
"Chaaad I promise baby…..I'll make you happy tomorrow night…..just please tell me!!!!" she almost screams on the phone pleadingly
"Yeah baby….in as much as your offer's so tempting….I'm sorry Tay I don't have the courage to do so….so please be there…ok baby!" he hung up Taylor's jaw drops
"Whaaat he just hung up on me!!!!" staring angrily at the phone
Sharpay, Taylor, Chad and Zeke even called up Ryan and Kelsi that they needed to see them at the gym after class. As the guys restlessly waits for the appointed meeting Sharpay blurted "What do you think he's gonna tell us?" they stare at her blankly as Chad made sure to hide his smile knowing what's about to happen
"If I had any idea about it I should've told you…..but you know how Troy's acting strangely this past week!" Chad said nonchalantly
Gabriella paces nervously at the floor in the living room glancing every now and then at the bassinet where the infant lays down earning a quizzical look at Greg who was busy tinkering some gadget on the floor
"What's wrong baby sis….you seem anxious are you ok?" giving her a puzzled look. She stop pacing and now starts rubbing her hands Greg stood up and came over her "Ok now we need to talk….c'mon sit down…" wrapping his arm around her shoulders as they sit on the couch "Now tell me what's bothering you….is it about Troy?" she shook her head vigorously
"We're gonna go and meet with our friends at the gym….I'm afraid what if they don't forgive me….they're my close friends Greg….I don't wanna leave Albuquerque with a heavy heart......I know they're mad at me?" she starts to tear up Greg draws her closer to his chest being the loving and over protective big brother
"If they're you're true friends like you said they were…they will understand our predicament not that I'm judgmental of them but they must figure it out…." he kisses the top of her head "Are you sure…..you're ready to leave Albuquerque behind?" just as Troy came into view. He looks at Greg perplex "Ok there's Troy now c'mon baby sis I have to finish my work.....you can do it you're a brave girl!" Gabriella looks up to Troy helplessly
"Hey baby…..is something wrong?" he sits where Greg just vacated enfolding her into a tight hug as she buries her head on his chest "Greg…what happened….why is she crying?" glancing at her brother questioningly
"She was saying about her close friends might not forgive her….she said that she doesn't want to leave Albuquerque with a heavy heart!" the last words made Troy cringes. He needs to do something to convince her that they must stay together as a family
"Gabie….the last time I heard from Chad was they're all heading to the gym anxiously……he said that Taylor and Sharpay were both screaming at him last night about not telling them what's this all about……Sharpay nearly had a heart attack….threatening him with all sorts of things!" Troy tries to sound cheerful but deep inside he was afraid he might lose them "C'mon baby…we've got to go!" she gaze up at his piercing blue as he gently wipes away the small tears. Gabriella kisses him on the lips lightly then she saw sadness in his eyes. Maybe they could talk about it later considering the fact that there are a lot of things to be settled upon
Troy pulls her up the couch picking up the infant and strapping him on the carrier as they were about to exit the door they heard Paul's voice "Be sure to get back before dinner and take care of my grandson!" they look at each other and smile
"We don't think we will make it on time dad….just go ahead without us…thanks! And don't worry were his parents we will take good care of him!" Paul appears on the doorway Gabriella pecks him on the cheek as he nods at Troy
The drive to the university made her relaxes a little while Troy's mind was racing to Greg's revelation. Gabriella looks back at their son who was safely strap to his car seat. She was happy this was their first outing together as a family. She glances at Troy as their eyes met he reaches for her hand and gave it a kiss. "I love you…..so much!" pressing her warm hand on his cheek
"I love you too!" she gazes at the window to the beautiful late afternoon scenery of Albuquerque. Heaving a long sigh did she really have the strength to leave Troy again and this wonderful place? Uncertainties haunts her….if she goes they might not see each other again and she knew how devastated he was alone. She herself was nearly making it each day thankful for the strength she draws from her son. The rest of the ride was smooth as traffic wasn't that heavy yet. Troy parks his car to the nearest parking space available. He went out to open her door before he unbuckles the carrier from the back seat
Gabriella pulls her jacket closer "Are you cold?" Troy inquires anxiously she shook her head. She was dressed in denim short skirts showing her long muscular legs on a below the knee leather boots and a simple sleeveless buttoned pink blouse. She was wearing her own maroon and yellow university jacket from Germany with its bright yellow emblem on the left breast and a blazing university cryptogram at the back with Germany embossed at the bottom. She was proud to wear it now that her tummy's nearly back to its normal size
He was already dress in his basketball shorts and a muscled sleeve shirt showing off his bulging biceps. He grabs the baby's carrier lugging his gym bag on his shoulder while their fingers were intertwined as they leisurely strode towards the entrance to the gym. Gabriella freezes as she hears voices coming from inside Troy gently prods her to go on "C'mon baby its ok…..they're waiting for us!" he said softly while carefully reversing the carrier so that the baby now faces their back
Chad caught a glimpse of the couple as they were entering the gym. Troy immediately saw him approaching "Hey guys….Gabriella!!" Grinning at her madly engulfing her in a bear hug lifting her up
"Chad…Chad put me down!" she squealed as he puts her gently on the ground
"Well…what do we have here?!" curiously peeking over the baby carrier smiling at the sleeping rider "Troy his undeniably yours dude!!!" Gabriella slaps him upside of the head "I mean….with the killer looks….man this boy is gorgeous!"
Troy then turns the carrier facing front beaming proudly as Zeke and Jason joins them "Hey Gabriella…welcome back!" they each gave her a big hug "Longtime no see…where've you been?!" she shrugs her shoulders as Troy and Chad smiles at the warm reception they're giving her which put her mind at ease with the guys again. Chad volunteered to carry the carrier on his massive arms as they strode towards the bleachers chatting happily catching up
The noise from their excitement attracted attention from the players, cheerleaders and from the group of uneasy wildcats who looks bored while waiting for their friend's announcement. The players temporarily stop warming up realizing that it was their teammates huddling around a girl which they often see so they just shrug their shoulders and shoot some more hoops while the cheerleaders looks intently at Troy's and back to Sheila for her reaction. Just then Troy emerges from the group with his arms protectively around Gabriella. Sheila made a guttural sound seeing her guy had his arm around a petite girl she just saw the first time.
"I'm intrigue….who's that girl with Bolton….I haven't seen her before?!" Karen another cheerleader blurted sensing the jealousy on the cheerleaders face
"Yeah….why is Bolton's arm around her…..and the guys they seem to know her too?!" Michelle the youngest cheerleader utters a little louder "It looks like she's comfortable talking to them.....hhmmm I wonder who she is?"
"She's beautiful….hhmm Troy Bolton has a good sense of taste!! But I wonder what's Danforth's carrying….it looks like a baby carrier to me???" squinting their eyes at the opposite side as they huddled together beside Sheila who was breathing fire watching the scene
"Oh yeah….I think that's a carrier alright…..Bolton was the one holding it before Chad…..are you thinking what I'm thinking????" Karen side glances at Sheila who was about to burst into flames with fury Sheila death stares them
"Oh yeah.....I think that's Bolton's kid….with that girl!!!" Karen whispers a little louder as Sheila grunted "Look how tight he was holding her.....oh wow lucky gal!"
"Ok girls…..enough….let's start the routine!!!!" she yells angrily
Ryan was the one who first saw Gabriella hurriedly as he bounces down the bleachers jogging towards them "Hi….Ryan!" she said shyly Troy lets go of her as Ryan enfolds her in a hug
"Hi Gabriella…..we miss you around here!!!" Sharpay screams as she rushes down to the guys just then a piercing baby's cry was heard. Taylor whips her head to the carrier her boyfriend was holding
Troy unbuckles the infant as he tenderly lifts him to his muscular arms "Seriously Shar…your shrill voice can definitely shatter my son's ear drums!!!" glaring at the shocked looking blond girl who was frozen holding a hand to her mouth as Taylor stood beside her wide eyed
"Gabriella….Gabie….is that really you…my God!!!" Sharpay and Taylor charges towards her but stop a foot away as she looks at them uncertainly
"Are you mad at me???" slightly shaking their heads "I'm so sorry….." Troy nudges her to go on as she timidly closes the gap between her two best friends. They tightly hugged together silent tears drips though their eyes. The baby's whimpering pulls Gabriella away from them smiling gratefully as she receives her son from Troy
He gives her a soft passionate kiss earning a wolf whistles from their friends as Gabriella blushes beet red giggling. Troy enfolds his girlfriend and son in his arms protectively. So this was the reason Troy Bolton's positive change their friends nods their heads in delight knowing that everything will be just as it was used to be
"I love you Gabie!" drawing them close kissing her on top of the head this time as their friends grins at the couple
"Thank you Troy…I love you too!" giving him a sincere smile as the blue eyed infant stares at his parents innocently
The girls now joined by Kelsi warms up with each other again "My God Troy….this is truly important….where'd you get them?!" Sharpay stutters with excitement as Troy get's the infant from Gabie beaming proudly he raise him a little as his small hands and feet kicks in the air happily
"My present from Germany…..my son Kristoffer Alexander Montez!!!" planting a soft kiss on his forehead as their friend's huddles around them gaping at the baby all in awe
"He's adorable….I can't believe you two had a baby…oohh that's wonderful!!" Taylor muses
"So Troy…now that Gabriella's back….we hope that everything will be alright with you…..no more miserable life?" Sharpay blurted as Troy face saddens
"I don't know Shar…..it's up to Gabie if they're gonna stay or return to Germany…..with her parents and brother!" he hung his head low as their friends looks at Gabie questioningly
Just then the whistle blows signaling the start of practice "Stay here and take care of our son…..I love you!" he pecks her on the lips before strutting to the court
"So Gabs….where the hell have you been…..why all of a sudden you just disappear….and when you came back you're with a son?" Sharpay randomly inquires as they sit on the upper bleachers
"I'm sorry guy's…I know I should've told you everything but it was a family emergency involving my dad's life that brought us to Germany. Well anyway we got him back and we're here…." her eyes tearing up gazing at her boyfriend on the court
"It's ok Gabs there's nothing to be forgiven….it was a painful choice and the right one the only thing is we missed you a lot!" Taylor hugs her tightly Gabriella slowly relaxes with her friends as they began to share talks and laughter together just like the old times
