Chapter 4
Rollercoaster
Gabriella wasn't a fan of rollercoaster's. Anytime she stepped on one it felt like her heart was beating an extra ten times a minute. Her chest seemed to tighten and after sitting down in the hard plastic seat, her palms would get sweaty, her mouth dry and chalky tasting. When it was over a feeling of relief would sweep through her. The tightness in her arms seemed to go away, her entire body relaxing. Getting on a rollercoaster was a good comparison to how she felt when she saw Kelsey get stabbed.
To this day, Troy and her friends thought Kelsey had died in a car accident. Had no idea Gabriella was present when the tragedy happened. Had no idea Kelsey had died to give Gabriella the chance to live.
The pavement was already hot underneath Gabriella's sneakers. Okay so Chad had been right. It was almost 7:00 in the morning and already she could feel the first rays of sun leave impressions into her already tanned skin. She took out her elastic band, shaking her hair out and giving out a heavy sigh. She was alone. She didn't mean just now on the way to Taylor's. Even in Troy's arms she felt completely and hopelessly alone. She knew it was because she was carrying the secret of what really happened to Kelsey.
A police investigation had been launched but when they had turned up with no new leads a good majority of the team had to avert their attentions to more salvageable cases. Written on the medical examiners report was homicide. Written on the police report was unsolved as of 6/3. The day a lot of the people helping to gather more information had decided it was too late to find Kelsey's killer. Gabriella was still called in on occasion to look at line-ups. Taylor didn't know. Chad didn't know. Troy didn't know.
Completely and hopelessly alone.
Gabriella tried shaking the thoughts out of her head. No…no…no…no. Not now. Please not now. She could feel the familiar sting of hot tears burning in the back of her eyes. She was only a few paces away from Taylor's house now but she opted to sit down on the sidewalk instead, closing her eyes and placing her hand on either temple trying to rub away an inevitable headache. Her mom knew and had been wary to leave Gabriella alone. She said it was dangerous with 'the state she was in'.
What exactly was that supposed to mean? Was it that obvious she was still having trouble accepting this? She let out a squeak of surprise as a cold nose was shoved under her arm. She spun around and was soon staring a little dog in the face. It was probably only about two feet tall with golden, sandy colored fur that was matted from neglect and the biggest honey brown eyes speckled here and there with flecks of blue and green.
"Wow your pretty," Gabriella smiled gently, scratching the dog under its chin. It gave out a little bark, trying to nuzzle further under her arm. She giggled as the dog finally managed to rest its head in her lap, licking her hand raw. "You must belong to someone." She checked for tags but couldn't find any. She did discover a pretty white patch in the middle of her chest, also taking note it was in fact a her. Gabriella got a cold snuffle in her ear from behind and she let out another squeak of surprise.
"DOCKER! You big blockhead!" Taylor's voice reached Gabriella's ears as she bounded out of her house in a bathrobe. Her hair was up in curlers on the top of her head, bunny slips stuck shamelessly on her feet as she skidded out into the sidewalk. Docker was Taylor's Dalmatian mix. With what they didn't really know. Taylor was convinced he was the dumbest dog in the universe. Gabriella loved the dopey expression that seemed permanently stuck on his face.
"Hey boy," Gabriella pet Docker on the head and giggled as Taylor caught sight of her.
"Gabriella!" she hugged her around the neck. Docker busied himself with smelling Gabriella's stray dog. "Who's that?" Taylor pointed to the stray. Gabriella shrugged.
"I don't know. She just came up to me."
"Hmm…," Taylor pet her fur then promptly wrinkled her nose. "She's grossly in need of a makeover." Gabriella giggled.
"You're starting to sound like Sharpay you know." Taylor gave her a look of horror.
"Kidding!" Gabriella grinned. "So…nice curlers."
"Oh," Taylor's hands fluttered to her head. "Thanks." They were quiet for a minute, the dogs now happily romping in the grass. "What are you doing out here?"
"I don't know…," Gabriella sighed. "I was going to come inside in a minute. It's early I wasn't sure if you'd be up."
"Gabby! Hello! It's me! Taylor. Remember? The girl that is doomed to wake up at 6:00 from pure habit for the rest of her life?" Gabriella offered an apologetic smile.
"I know." Taylor wasn't dumb. She knew that she hadn't been the same since Kelsey's death. But it was to be expected right? She surely wasn't the same either. But for some reason she felt there was something more. Something Gabriella was in desperate need to get out.
"Why don't we go inside and eat? Chad called me last night and said he'd be over at 10-ish." Gabriella smiled.
"Yeah…he was over at Troy's this morning," she stood up from the sidewalk, brushing off her pants and giving Taylor a hand.
"Really? What was he doing there?" Gabriella linked her arm through Taylor's and gave her a mischievous smile.
"Well…he was watching us sleep."
"He what? I swear that boy has got some real issues he needs to sort out. You know he was really a mess before I got my hands on him." Gabriella laughed as Taylor pushed open the front door. She stood at the step for a couple of seconds the thoughts still trying to fight for dominance. She refused to let them take over again.
"Gabby…you coming?" The dogs hopped up and practically knocked Taylor over in an effort to get into the house. Gabriella smiled. She knew she would need to tell Taylor and Troy what she knew. What the police knew she knew. What she had been hiding.
"DOCKER! YOU BIG DUMB STUPID….SPOTTED…," Taylor looked to Gabriella.
"Um…animal?" she offered.
"ANIMAL!" Taylor finished. Gabriella only shook her head. She'd tell them.
But not today.
