CHAPTER 38: IT'S NOT LIKE LAST TIME
"Be careful what you wish for cause you just might get it…" Ashley, Sharpay, and Gabriella drunkenly sang in the back of the car. Their girls night in had quickly turned into a girls night out when Ashley's sister had called and invited her to a party at U of A. Considering they were all drinking, Sharpay called her driver. Just then he stopped the car.
"14233 Pinewood," he informed the girls.
"That's me!" Gabriella exclaimed. "Love you girls!" They said their goodbyes and Gabriella got out of the car, stumbling in the process, making the girls laugh.
"You okay Gabs?" Ashley laughed.
"Perfect!" she exclaimed and the girls laughed. Gabriella stumbled up her driveway and finally got to the front door. It took her a few tries to get the key into the lock, but she eventually succeeded. She opened the door and stumbled in, and dramatically closed the door behind her.
"Gabriella!" she turned her head to see her mom, dad and Troy. They all got up from the couches and walked towards her.
"Hey everybody!!" she slurred.
"Where have you been? We've been worried sick," Robert exclaimed and she rolled her eyes.
"Like you care," she mumbled under her breath.
"Excuse me?" Robert asked in shock. Before she could respond Maria spoke up.
"Gabriella. Have you been drinking?" she asked her daughter in shock and confusion.
"Well you see mother," she said in a drunken tone. "I figured since Dad over here has designated Troy as the golden child, I no longer had to be." Maria sighed and Troy and Robert just looked at Gabriella in shock. Gabriella smiled at her dad and saw the fire in his eyes. "Aww Dad are you upset?"
"Of course I'm upset! You have some serious explaining to do!" he screamed.
"You know what I find interesting Dad. You don't notice me when I do good things, but when I do something you don't accept, you get upset. I'm confused," she said casually. Robert was speechless. He could not believe the words coming out of his daughters mouth and the attitude she was giving him.
"Ella…" Troy started, trying to stop her from saying anything more.
"Troy!" she exclaimed in a cheery tone. "Or should I call you Mr. Number 17 point guard in the country and MVP of the championship game? I mean after hearing it a thousand times today from Dad it practically became your name." Troy sighed, now completely aware as to what was going on. However, Robert was still standing there furious. "I realized I'm pretty lucky, for I rather be called Gabriella over Ms. 4.0 GPA and 2200 on her SATS, and since Dad clearly forgot about that or doesn't care, I have nothing to worry about!"
"Come on Gabi, why don't you get to bed and we'll talk about this tomorrow," Maria said calmly.
"Talk about what? The fact that my father doesn't give a shit about me or that I'm no longer his good little Bella?" she asked casually.
"Come on baby, lets get you to bed, " Troy said taking her hand and beginning to lead her upstairs.
"Only if you join me," she giggled.
"Gabi," he said sternly.
"What?" she asked innocently. He shook his head before lifting her up and throwing her over his shoulder. "Troy!!" Without saying another word he carried her up to her room. He got her ready for bed and before he knew it she was completely passed out.
Meanwhile Maria sighed and looked at Robert.
"Who the hell does she think she is?" he exclaimed.
"A girl that is being neglected by her father," Maria replied.
"In what way am I neglecting her?" he asked back in the same tone.
"Did you not hear one word she just said Robert?" she asked looking at him like he was crazy.
"Yes! And it was all absurd!" he exclaimed.
"Is it really? I think you need to do some serious thinking Robert," she replied, before walking up to her room.
THE NEXT MORNING
Gabriella woke up the next morning to the Albuquerque sunlight and groaned. Her head felt like it weight a thousand pounds. All of a sudden memories from the night before rushed back to her. She couldn't believe she had said those things to her father, but couldn't help but be happy that she had finally got them off her chest. If there was one thing she knew it was that she didn't regret any of it. She just hoped Troy wasn't mad at her. Therefore, she slowly got out of bed and walked to his room.
"Hey," she mumbled, all of a sudden turning shy, so worried that he would hate her. He looked up from where he was sitting on his bed and removed the computer from his lap.
"Hey," he replied.
"Are you mad at me?" she mumbled.
"No, of course not," he replied and she let out a sigh of relief. He patted the bed and she walked over and sat next to him. He immediately pulled her into his arms. "I was going to ask you the same question." She shook her head, which was now placed on his chest.
"It's not your fault Troy. I'm so happy you came here, and proud of all your accomplishments," she replied.
"But if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be fighting with your Dad," he replied sadly.
"Don't blame this on yourself. I know you don't purposely seek attention from my Dad," she reassured him and he nodded.
"What are you going to do now?" he asked and she shrugged.
"I dunno. I don't regret anything I said last night," she replied.
"And you shouldn't. But you know you will probably get grounded for coming home drunk," he replied, chuckling a little bit, for she was pretty funny.
"I know. But it was worth it," she laughed. "Plus, I don't think my mom is mad. She understands."
"Yeah," he agreed. They sat there in a comfortable silence, Troy stroking her hair softly, until Gabriella spoke up again.
"I don't think I'll be able to forgive him as quickly as I did last time. I mean including dinner the other night this is the third time it has happened," she said sadly and he sighed.
"I know baby, I know," he said sadly and kissed the top of her head. "Come on let's get some breakfast."
"Ok," she replied. Hand in hand they walked downstairs into the kitchen to see Robert and Maria sitting at the kitchen table eating their breakfast in silence. They both looked up as the two walked in.
"Good morning," Troy said as Gabriella went to get some cereal.
"Good morning," Robert and Maria replied in unison. Without saying a word Gabriella poured cereal and milk in a bowl and sat down at the kitchen table, not even glancing at her father. You could cut the tension with a knife. Troy gave Maria a worried look as he sat down at the table as well. There were a few minutes of awkward silence until Robert spoke up.
"So are you going to apologize?" Robert asked, putting the newspaper down and turning to his daughter. Maria and Troy tensed up and looked between Robert and Gabriella.
"No," she replied, not looking at him, but just taking another bite of cereal.
"May I ask why not?" he asked back, clearly getting upset. Gabriella dropped her spoon into the bowl and turned to her father.
"Because I'm not sorry," she said straight forward, and Troy and Maria gave each other a scared look.
"Excuse me?" he asked in shock.
"You heard me. I meant every word. I don't regret saying anything, you know why? Cause it's true." Robert looked at her in shock.
"How dare you say that! I have given you the world, and this is the kind of respect you give me?" he exclaimed. "I could take it all away from you. Your car…everything."
"Don't you get it?! I rather have my Dad back than a nice car," she shot back.
"I didn't go anywhere!" he defended.
"Yes you did Dad," she said sadly. "And I don't know if I'll be able to forgive you like I did last time." With that she got up and walked out of the room.
Please Review!! I know it's short but I figured something is better than nothing. I don't know how I feel about this chapter but whatever, not every one can be great.