When they sat down, Troy questioned her, trying to distract her from the true reason they were talking. "So how did you come up with telling them it was Lilly's birthday this weekend, their birthday isn't 'til June."
Gabriella smiled. "Back in Denver, we didn't really know our birthdays so when she was little, we picked a day that was both our birthdays, hers was April 21st and mine was September 16th. But obviously, I know her birthday's in June now, I just wasn't sure what we were gonna do about the whole sibling thing."
He sighed. "I don't know, only Chad knows that I had a sister and that she wasn't with us anymore, though he didn't know why but now I'm starting to think that he might have, given how hard Mom and Dad looked for her, they used every method possible."
"So what are we gonna do, 'cause I already told the girls that she was my sister but this was back before we got along."
"I guess we'll just have to do whatever feels right at the time, we'll have to tell them eventually though."
Gabriella nodded. "Alright, that's enough stalling Bolton." She laughed as he gaped at her. "Yes I knew what you were doing, now, do you wanna tell me what's going on?"
He shook his head. "Mean, that was just mean Montez." She shrugged and gestured for him to continue. "Alright, just... don't let this change anything. Even if you don't feel the same way, I still want us to have the same friendship as we have now."
The girl sighed, "I have a feeling I know where this is going but go ahead."
"I guess you pretty much know what I'm gonna say but I like you Brie, a lot. And I can't give you a whole speech about it, because I wouldn't really know how to explain it but I wish I could because you deserve it. And that's why it bothers me so much when guys check you out or when Ryan's being himself, because it makes me even more protective of you." Despite expecting this, she was still stunned. "Look I understand if you don't feel the same but I just wanted to tell you."
She sighed. "I do like you -"
A smile grew on his face and he leaned in but felt Gabriella's hand on his chest, pushing him back before their lips touched. "I thought you said that you felt the same."
"I did say that but you didn't let me finish, we still need to talk about this."
"What's there to discuss, if we both like each other, we can be that together."
She shook her head. "Troy, surely you know it's not that simple." She thought to herself for a second about how to continue. "I'm not saying that it couldn't be an option in the future but right now, we have to consider everything going on here, because our relationship is different to a lot of people."
"What do you mean."
She took his hand in her own. "To our friends, we're just family friends and to the rest of the school, we're friends so it wouldn't be a big deal here. But at home, your mom and dad are fostering me Troy, how are they going to react if we start seeing each other when we live in the same house. I doubt they'd ever accept it. And think of the twins. What are we teaching them if their brother and me, who your sister sees as a sister start dating."
"But we're not related." He offered hesitantly, deep down knowing the truth behind her words.
She smiled softly. "I know we're not, but they're six years old, they don't know any better."
He sighed. "You're right, you're right... just promise me in a few weeks or months or whenever, you'll reconsider."
"When everything settles down and it feels like the right time when we can explain everything to everyone, then we'll try us."
He nodded, leaning his head against her shoulder, his words muffled. "This sucks."
Gabriella ran her fingers through his hair from her position. "Tell me about it, the first guy I've actually properly liked and I can't even have a relationship with him." He looked up at her with a bright smile. "Can you promise me one thing Troy?" He nodded, gripping her hand. "Please don't be a jerk to me like you were before because of this, you've been the best friend I've had in a long time and I couldn't stand the thought of you being mean because I've hurt you."
Troy pulled her into his arms. "I promise, I can't be mean to you Brie, you mean too much to me." He placed a kiss on the top of her hair. "We'll figure it out, we'll just wait it out 'til we find the right time."