A/N: Even though Valentine's Day has passed, I still want to write cute one shot about our favorite couple. Thank you for all the feedback you've sent in. Ideas are always accepted and appreciated!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own and/or am affiliated with any of the characters, the movie, music, etc.
August 24th, 2006 7:30 am
I wrapped my arms around myself while watching the cars get load down with the final suitcases. I was driving with my mom and Joe in one car, Troy and his sister in another, Chad and his family in yet another, while Taylor and her parents in the final. It was going to be a mini caravan on its way to North Carolina.
I heard nearing footsteps and turned to see who it was. I smiled realizing it was Meghan.
"You look worried." Meghan said looking at me. She had a tired smile on her face.
"A little yes but I'm excited at the same time." I said as she nodded.
"Tess felt the same way when we drove her across country the first time we took her to North Carolina." Meghan said smiling at the memory.
"I wished you guys were coming out as does Troy." I said looking at my boyfriend's mom.
"We'll be out soon enough. Troy wants us to come out for his first game and we promised him we would. You'll be seeing us and we'll still talk on the phone." Meghan promised.
"Thank you for everything you've done. I really appreciate it." I said as she smiled.
"Come here, Gabi. You're like another daughter to me." Meghan said as I smiled.
"Maybe one day I will be." I said as she laughed.
"Knowing my son, you will be." Meghan said as I we both laughed causing my nerves to calm down some.
"Gabi we're almost ready." Mom said looking at me.
"I'll be there in a minute." I said watching her walk away.
"Remember, Jack and I am always here if you need anything." Meghan said before gathering me in another hug.
"Thanks. I'll make sure Troy calls when we get there." I told her as she smiled.
"Thanks Gabi. Will you tell Troy that Jack and I wanna talk to him?" Meghan asked as Jack came up behind her.
"I sure will. I'll see you guys later." I told them walking towards Troy and Chad who were laughing about who knows what.
"Your parents want to see you." I said looking over at Troy.
"All right. I'll be back." Troy said jogging over to where they were standing.
"How's he doing?" I asked looking over at Chad who had a smile on his face.
"He's bummed that his parents are going to be able to make the trip out. But he's looking forward to his first game." Chad told me.
"He'll be all right. They'll be out for parent weekend and the basketball game." I said nodding my head.
"It's going to be fun traveling across country. Is your mom letting you keep your car on campus?" Chad asked looking at my little beat-up Camry.
"Yeah; mom's going to fly home with Joe. What about you?" I asked looking at his blue Taurus.
"Same with my parents. They're going to fly home. I'll probably leave the car here next summer and fly home." Chad said as I laughed.
"Probably the same here. You excited about the next few days?" I asked looking over at him.
"Nervous more than excited. We're leaving the only home we've ever known and moving across country. It's kind of crazy." Chad said shaking his head.
"We'll be all right." I said looking over at mine and Troy's moms talking. They were both laughing about something.
I looked up at my house and burned a picture into my mind for safekeeping. I heard Chad walk away before feeling alone in my moment.
"Gabi, it's time to go." Mom said coming up beside me.
"Thank you for driving out with me." I said giving her a quick hug.
"I wasn't about to let my only daughter go off to college without me checking out the campus with her. Besides, Joe wanted to go on a cross country trip, so I had to tag along." Mom said as we both laughed.
I watched Joe and my mom get into my car before I turned and saw Troy leaning against Tess' 4-Runner grinning. I walked over to him and took his outstretched hand in mine.
"Have a good road trip with your sister." I said looking at him.
"Oh I will; have fun with your brother and mom. I'll see you when we stop in wherever." Troy told me laughing.
"Are you and Tess going to trade off on driving?" I asked in the dirty car.
"Yeah; well that's the plan anyways. I'll have my cell phone so if you get bored, text me." Troy said looking at me before giving me a kiss.
"I'm not going to text you until I get really bored." I told him with a smile.
"We'll see about that. I'm going to start timing when you get in your car." Troy told me.
"How about we start when we get on the interstate?" I suggested with a grin.
"Nope, we're going to start as soon as you pull out of your driveway." Troy told me as I laughed.
"All right that'll work. I've gotta go but I'll see you whenever we stop. I love you." I said giving him one final kiss before letting him go and running to my car.
I got in and settled in the backseat for the longest drive of my life. I sighed and stared out of the window until I could no longer see the house I had spent the last three years in.
Closing time
Open all the doors and let you out into the world
Closing time
Turn all of the lights on over every boy and every girl
Closing time
One last call for alcohol so finish your whiskey or beer
Closing time
You don't have to go home but you can't stay here
4:07 pm Somewhere in Arkansas
"I'm bored." I said rolling my eyes after seeing miles and miles of interstate lay out in front of me.
"Wow that only took you 8 and half hours." Joe said looking in the backseat at me with a grin.
"What is there to do?" I asked looking up front at my mom and brother.
"You could play a game like you guys used to do or count the number of corn fields we pass." Mom suggested as I laughed.
"We're not in Kansas anymore mom." I said causing Joe to join in my laughter.
"You could do movie quotes and see if anyone knows the movie associated with it." Mom said looking in the rearview mirror at me.
"Joe knows every movie known to man." I said complaining.
"Then Gabi since you've thrown all my suggestions down, find something to do. How about you take a nap so you can be all refreshed when you see Troy again?" Mom said raising her eyebrows.
"Mother!" I said shaking my head before feeling my phone vibrate in my palm.
"I'm just saying." Mom said clarifying her statement which caused Joe to continue his laughter.
"Just stop while you're ahead mom." Joe said trying to save me from more embarrassment.
I flipped open my phone and saw I had a new text message. I pressed it and got a smile on my face when I saw it was from Troy.
So I was the one that was bored before you. Currently, I miss you and listening to Tess singing; not a good combination. What are you doing to keep your sanity? Love you babe.
I smiled while I read his message. I hit reply and started writing my own message back.
I'm sorry you're listening to Tess sing. It's not too pretty I imagine. I miss you too. Joe and mom are trying to keep me entertained but I'm throwing out their ideas. Love you!
I hit send and waited for the phone to vibrate in my hand again. I stared out the window and wished we were all ready in North Carolina.
"Are we there yet?" I whined looking up towards the front seat.
"Gabi, last time I checked, you weren't 6. We've got a lot more time to go. We're stopping in a little town in a few hours." Mom said looking in the rearview mirror.
"I just want to be there all ready." I said sighing loudly.
"You were the genius that had to pick a college 2,000 miles away from home." Joe said grinning at me.
"I wanted to go where Troy went and this is where he picked." I shot back looking at Joe.
"Since you wanted to go here, don't complain about the distance." Joe said still grinning.
"Shut up Joe." I said glaring at him.
"Gabi watch a DVD on your computer. Joe listen to you iPod." Mom said giving us both the evil mom glare.
I sighed in relief when my phone vibrated again in my hand. I eagerly flipped it open and saw Troy's new text message.
I'm sorry you're bored. I wish I was beside you and we could have some fun together. Tess and I are playing I Spy and currently, I'm winning. Or not. Tess just spied something red and it was the giant balloon we just passed. Anyways, what are you up to now? See you soon!
I smiled hitting the reply button and quickly texting my message back to Troy.
Mom just gave Joe and me the evil glare so it's not too pretty in this car. We were arguing about how we picked a school 2,000 miles away and it's your fault that we have to drive such a long time. Anyways, have fun playing I Spy. If you need any help, let me know! Love ya!
I hit send and relaxed back into the cushioning of the backseat and stared out the window. With each mile we cruised down the highway, I was getting more and more excited about starting this new chapter in my life.
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
Closing time
Time for you to go out to the places you will be from
Closing time
This room won't be open till your brothers or your sisters come
7:03 pm Somewhere in Tennessee
"Finally a place to relax." I said walking into the hotel we had selected for the night.
"Don't get too comfortable. We're all going out to eat." Mom said noticing me walking closer and closer to the bed.
"I'm not; I just want to claim my bed." I said throwing my overnight back on the bed.
"What are we doing for dinner?" Joe asked looking between me and mom.
"We all opted for an individual dinner. So we could spend one last night with our kids." Mom said looking at me and Joe.
"Who are Tess and Troy hanging out with?" I asked looking over at my mom.
"I don't know. Why don't you go see if they want to hang out with us?" Mom suggested as I smiled.
"Are you sure?" I asked looking over at her.
"Yeah I'm sure. They're our adopted son and daughter anyways." Mom said with a smile.
"You're the greatest mom." I said giving her a hug before heading towards the door.
I threw open our door and bounced across the hall and knocked eagerly on the door. Tess opened the door and smiled at the sight of me.
"Hey Gabi, what's up?" Tess asked as I walked into their room and flopped on the made bed.
"I have an invitation for you and Troy tonight. Since it's an individual night where all the parents are spending time with their kids, my mom, Joe, and I want you and Troy to spend the night with us hanging out." I said looking over at her.
"Are you sure, Gabi? This is one of the last times you'll see your mom until she comes out again." Tess said looking at me.
"I asked my mom the same thing and she's positive it's all right. Besides you and Troy are my mom's adoptive children." I said smiling.
"All right. Troy and I will be over as soon as he's done in the shower." Tess said watching my eyes.
"I'm not going to touch that sentence. We'll see you guys in a few minutes." I said walking towards the door.
I knocked on the bathroom door before making my way out of the door and over to the room I was sharing with mom and Joe.
"So are they coming?" Mom asked as I walked into the room.
"They'll be over as soon as Troy's outta the shower." I told them taking a seat on the bed.
"What are the five of us going to do tonight?" Mom asked looking over at me.
"To tell you the truth, I just want a low key night. Can we order pizza and hang out?" I asked looking over at her.
"If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do." Mom said picking up the phone book and flipping through it searching for a pizza place.
"What kind of pizza?" I asked looking over at Joe with a grin.
"Hawaiian." He said as I nodded.
"Troy and Tess will both eat pepperoni." I said looking at mom.
"And what will you have?" Mom asked with a knowing grin.
"I'll eat the Hawaiian and the pepperoni. Get whatever you want." I said looking at mom.
She picked up the phone to order the pizza as a soft knock knocked on the door. I watched Joe go over and opened the door. I smiled seeing a freshly showered Troy accompanied by Tess.
"Hey guys welcome to our home away from home." I said throwing my hands out, nearly missing my mom.
"Too lazy to get up and welcome us?" Troy asked bending over and placing a kiss on my lips.
"Hm . . . something like that. You weren't around when I came looking for you." I said raising an eyebrow.
"Well I had to get the 'being in the car all day' smell off of me. I stunk." Troy said as I smiled.
"Well then it's good that you were in the shower when I came by." I said grinning.
"All right, pizza will be here in twenty minutes." Mom said hanging up the phone.
"And just like that, the conversation is shot to hell." I muttered while Troy understood what I was talking about and laughed.
"Did I miss something?" Mom asked looking between me and Troy.
"Nothing at all mother." I said grinning my adorable little smile.
"If you're not careful, Gabriella you're going to be finding your own ride to North Carolina." Mom said giving me the patent motherly glare.
"But that car is mine." I said watching Troy shake his head and laughed.
"It can easily become mine." Mom said as I shook my head and grinned.
I listened to my mom and Tess talk while Joe and Troy started up a conversation. Troy held my hand and gave it squeezes every now and then just so I knew he was thinking about me. I smiled and soon joined Joe and Troy's conversation about basketball no less.
That night, the five of us just hung out. It was cool to know that my mom got along not only with my boyfriend, but his sister as well. I fell more in love that night with Troy and knew he was the one that I wanted to be with forever.
So gather up your jackets, move it to the exits
I hope you have found a friend
Closing time
Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me home
Take me home
The song is "Closing Time" by Semisonic.