Troy was completely caught off guard. Gabriella's mother was one of the most caring people he knew. Even after what happened between Gabriella and him, Maria Montez was still there to wish him a happy birthday, stop by with a Christmas present, and even bring a pie over to the Bolton's residence during Thanksgiving. However, the number of times he has invited Maria to come inside, she never did. He wondered if it was because of her disdain towards him, but she kept stopping by regardless.
He had been terrified to ask Ms. Montez if she knew how Gabriella was; part of him didn't want to know how she was doing. Was she okay with the breakup? had she moved on? Or had she been so heartbroken she one day decided to leave to forget him? But she surely had to know she had a grandchild.
"What do you mean?" Troy asked carefully.
Gabriella looked up to the tile ceiling and took a deep breath, which seemed she needed before answering him.
But that was the thing; she didn't.
"It's a long story. One that I don't want to get into Troy," she sighed, still looking up at the ceiling. She was tired of hard questions, especially from the blue eyed man she loved so much.
Troy knew he had to take caution for what he was going to say. He didn't want to start something with Gabriella that could escalate even further, much less at a police station.
But she needed to talk and to answer him. She needed help, and not the kind that is overbearing but the kind where you let the people you love help you.
"You remember the time where I was pet-sitting for Taylor's fish?"
Gabriella finally turned and looked at him. Maybe he was done asking those hard questions. Gabriella smirked as she realized the shit show that whole situation was.
"The one you killed?" Gabriella replied.
"Okay, I did not kill it. A stupid, tiny fly landed on top of that water." Troy looked over at Gabriella and found himself smiling. God, there was something about her smile that he wanted to see for the rest of his life, mostly if it was one that he was the one who put it on her face. She kept looking at him and raised her eyebrows, urging him to continue his story.
"God knows, that woman scares the shit out of me, till this day." And that was the first time he ever tried to show her that he was one of the good guys and not just a stupid jock. At that time, he wanted Taylor to know that he had the best intentions for her best friend.
Gabriella smiled harder and agreed with Troy. "She is definitely...intense. But go on."
"I remember I was freaking out. I had something as simple as taking care of a stupid goldfish." He shocked himself and quickly looked up at heaven, more so, the ceiling. "Ahh, sorry, God. Todd was not stupid. Rest in peace, Todd." He crossed his fingers across and up and down his chest before kissing his knuckles.
Gabriella couldn't help but let out the loudest laugh, which turned into a silent one quickly, one where she couldn't speak, and clutched her stomach. Then, Troy couldn't help but let out a small giggle, realizing his joke was funny (but in all seriousness, rest in peace, Todd); it meant everything to see Gabriella's unstoppable laugh.
"ANYWAYS, I was petrified because that woman could raise hell. I didn't know how to act. I thought you would be mad at me because I killed your best friend's fish. Damn Gab, I remember I took a picture of him so I could head to see if I could find a replacement. Didn't have any luck, unfortunately." Here Troy goes, "Remember when I was fidgeting and just scared for my life and was trying to act normal. You, Gabriella Montez, caught on to my facade and asked me what the problem was. I did not want to tell you, but you kept insisting. After a while, I just blurted out what happened. Instead of getting on my case, we drove to five different pet stores until we found one that looked exactly like Todd." Troy breathed in relief. His heart still races when he knows what he and Gabriella did.
"Montez, you damn well saved my life."
Gabriella rested her cheek on her hand. This was one of the lightest and refreshing conversations she has had with someone, well, months. Leave it to Troy Bolton to bring it back.
"You're right. I did save your life." Gabriella jokingly stated.
"Yeah, well, that wouldn't have happened if I didn't tell you." Troy hoped Gabriella could connect to what he wanted to ask her right now. He took a big breath and gained the courage to look at Gabriella thoroughly.
"I know it's nowhere near to why your mom doesn't know. But please, Gabriella tell me, what happened." Troy chided, and before Gabriella could refuse, "And I know you think this isn't the best time or place to talk but remember what we used to say? Right here, right now, is always the best time. Please, tell me. I want to help." Troy begged.
Gabriella closed her eyes and thought about Troy's retelling. He was right when he said his story was nowhere close to the seriousness of Gabriella's situation with her mother. She also knew that "Right here, right now" held a lot of meaning between them. It was her who started saying it first. There was no other time but the present, whether it'd be to overcome the hardships or revel in the happiness. She'd be a hypocrite if she didn't follow their promise, and so she began to talk, explaining, hoping, and letting herself depend on someone else.
"We-We got into a huge fight one day. She started dating a new guy, and Troy, it devastated me. She knew how hard I took it when my father died. It was selfish, but how could she move on so fast and without telling me. It was like she was hiding this secret behind my back. I confronted her about it. I was angry, furious.
"Dad just died, and not even a year later, you're trying to replace him? He'd be so upset with how you're acting." Gabriella truly couldn't understand the disrespect she had for her husband. Her husband of well, since they were in high school, the way Gabriella and Troy were.
"Gabriella Anne! Never bring your father's name into this. He would want me to be happy; he'd want me to move on."
"BUT YOU'RE MOVING SO FAST. IT'S LIKE YOU WERE READY FOR HIM TO LEAVE SO YOU CAN GET TOGETHER WITH SOME INSENSITIVE ASS WHO CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND OR CARE THAT YOUR HUSBAND, MY DAD IS DEAD."
Before Gabriella could see it, she felt a sharp slap whip her face in the other direction. Gabriella had to lean against the kitchen's doorknob. Her mother hit her. She raised her hand, not caring what that small yet quick action would be the very thing that changed their lives from then on.
"Pack your bag, Gabriella. Get out of this house. You think I'm the one disrespecting your father. Look at your actions, your selfishness. At this point, maybe I moved on because I couldn't deal with you and how you're holding on to this idea that he's going to come back. He is NEVER going to come back!" Maria released what seemed the pent up anger and frustration she's held towards Gabriella.
All Gabriella could do was stare at her mother in shock. Gabriella was appalled that her mother seriously told her to leave. Gabriella's tears ran down her face from the moment her mother slapped her. Her mother has never been like this. She couldn't be serious, could she?
"I mean it, Gabriella. Get out!" Maria quickly ran up the stairs and came back with a bag already packed. She wanted me to leave. My mother, who was supposed to love me and help me, was throwing me to the streets.
"But where, where am I going? Mom, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Gabriella pleaded.
"You're going to your grandmother's. Take this bag, go to your car, and move. Leave this house. I can't even look at you right now."
Gabriella was numb; she couldn't process anything that happened. But if her mother wanted her to leave, to send me away. She'd go, but not to her grandmother's. She'd go anywhere that is not Alberquerque. First, her father left her, then the man she loved with everything she had, so much that it hurt, and now her mother. She doesn't want to be anywhere near here. Where would she go? No idea at all. Did she have enough money? Some, but never enough to settle. Her stubbornness left her on autopilot. No more, not here.
Not only was Troy perplexed on the fact that why her mother never cared to tell him that Gabriella was essentially missing, and why no one knew at all about it. Troy couldn't help the guilt that had built up, word after word of what happened to Gabriella. He dismissed his view of her strength. Not only was she struggling with the death of her father, but her mother's actions led Gabriella to leave. Not to mention how he had left her. She needed a rock; he was supposed to be the rock.
"Damn, Gab. I'm so sorry." Now Troy was the one who couldn't look at Gabriella.
"I don't need your pity, Troy." Gabriella bit out, already rebuilding her walls.
"No, Gabriella. That's not why I'm sorry."
Gabriella slowly turned her stare back to Troy. "What for then?"
Troy held his gaze for a moment, regret and sympathy burning. "You needed me, but I wasn't there."
"Troy, honestly, you were where you needed to be. This was a situation that I needed to handle, and I messed it up." Gabriella replied, feeling ashamed and way too vulnerable. She didn't want Troy to think that she was weak or reckless, but she felt like she was, and the beautiful man sitting next to her in a dreary police station would be ashamed of her actions, the way her mother was.
"But see Gabriella, that's the thing. I don't think any of us were here for you the way you needed, and that's what made you leave."
Gabriella winced as he confessed the part of the equation that made her want to leave.
"And Gabriella, that does not sound like your mom at all to do and say something like that, even given the circumstances." Troy was confused as ever. How can the woman she's known for so long and showed so much kindness to everyone, said these cruel words to the daughter she adored or thought she adored.
"Honestly, I wish I could've seen how she was after I left. Troy, I've never seen her so angry, and the words that were coming out of her mouth caught me so off guard. I think that's why a part of me said what I said because I didn't know how to deal with her and everything that happened." Gabriella's eyes started to tear up; it still hurt so damn much. She'd done everything she could to forget that day, but how could she when that night changed everything and turned Gabriella's world around?
"Do you think you'd ever want to get in touch again?" Troy asked, hoping again to listen to him and do what it took to keep her and Rosie safe.
"I don't even know her life anymore, Troy. I mean, what if she got married to that guy and had kids with them, or anything else. I don't know how I could ever face her, especially now that her daughter has one of her own."
"You won't know Gab until you ask. Please, Gabriella, all that matters right now is making sure you and Rosie are safe. And for what it's worth, Gabriella, from what I know, nothing has changed about her life."
Gabriella reeled back in shock. "How do you know that?"
Ah, shit, Troy thought, he hadn't meant to insinuate that her mother still kept in touch with him.
"Sorry, um, she actually kept coming to any gatherings my family had. She'd still make me brownies for my birthday, but she'd never come inside the house." Troy replied shyly. His mind went through a thousand thoughts about the questions Gabriella must-have.
"But, that's not the main point, Gabriella. I'm positive she'd be so relieved and happy to see, not just you, but Rosie, too. And you can finally get answers to all the questions you have for her. You deserve those answers, Gab. I want you to be safe." Troy hoped his convincing would finally get through to her and that for once.
"We want you to be safe too." Troy's heart jumped when he heard the vulnerability and sincerity in her voice. She meant her, Rosie, and Troy. Troy's heart swelled at the thought that there were three of them, now. Together.
Troy let out a breath of relief. "Alright then, let's make some calls." He then planted a soft kiss on her temple and held her until it was time to leave the station and do what they needed to be safe and sound.
