AN: Tardiness is my specialty this update. Within the time of posting Chapter 3 to right now, my husband got promoted (yay!), I found out that we are pregnant (double yay!), and we will be moving to a new state for his job (stressful triple yay!). So I'm holding on tight to smiles and sanity, so your continued patience, readership, and reviews are even more special right now.
Onto the next!
Gabriella found a spot at a table between Kelsi and Taylor. She caught up with Taylor quickly, slipping back into old habits. Chad and Ryan joined them as well. Between bites, Kelsi told the group about her latest compositions. She was writing music for Broadway shows and living in the big apple. Gabriella had never been to New York, but from what she had always heard, that town could eat someone alive. Kelsi was far from death. She was glowing with excitement, and had even gotten engaged in February. She showed off the ring and gushed to Taylor and Gabriella about the upcoming nuptials.
Gabriella tried to focus on the conversation, but her thoughts and her eyes kept drifting towards Troy. He was making his way towards her, but kept getting stopped by classmates. He balanced his plate and spoke politely before extracting himself each time.
When Troy finally made it to the table, he sat across from Gabriella. He smiled and blood rushed to her cheeks, heating them as she smiled back. She was saved from an attempt at conversation by everyone else at the table who immediately pulled Troy's attention. Chad fist bumped him from the opposite end of the table, stretching over the table and dangerously close to everyone's food.
After all of the reintroductions, there was an awkward silence. Gabriella kept looking at Troy before darting her eyes in another direction. He knew that now was not the time for that conversation. "So, I heard your name in LA the other day. You're killing it," Troy said to Kelsi, breaking the stalemate.
"Our last production had some great scenes that were perfect for some of the scores I've had stuck in my head," Kelsi deflected the compliment.
"Several directors I know are talking about trying to steal you from Broadway. We need some fresh talent behind the keys in L.A. Background music for scenes is sounding a little too background if you know what I mean."
Kelsi nodded. "No way. I couldn't even imagine leaving!" She grinned from ear to ear. There was no doubt that she had found her place in the world. "What are you doing hanging around directors?"
"I'm an assistant location manager for Paramount. I help the directors and producers find locations to film that match their ideas for the scene."
This was news to most of the table. Ryan had told Gabriella that Troy was working in Los Angeles, but she didn't know details. Gabriella swallowed hard, forcing the lump out of her throat before speaking. "That sounds like fun."
Troy grinned, realizing how long it had been since he heard her voice. He still loved the sound of it. "It is. I get to travel and see a lot of SoCal that I didn't even know existed before," Troy answered.
"I just moved to Willowbrook for my new job. There's so much to do around there that I'm overwhelmed." Gabriella didn't mention that she had scarcely been out of her apartment to try.
"We haven't filmed much around there, but there are several locations we use regularly down at Manhattan Beach. It's a favorite among the romance movies," Troy smiled crookedly and shrugged his shoulders.
"All of this makes my life seem incredibly boring," Taylor sighed.
Gabriella elbowed her in disagreement. "Bring out the pictures. You know you want to." She smiled knowingly as Taylor pulled out her phone. She flipped through a few pictures before passing it around to show off her daughter.
Chad looked like he hadn't aged at all as soon as Gabriella saw him with a basketball tucked underneath his arm. He pointed back and forth, dividing the portion of their group that was playing into two teams. Gabriella preferred to be part of the audience to the action, so she found a bench near the court to watch.
The sound of the ball hitting the pavement echoed as they started to play. Taylor kept pace with Chad as he dribbled, playing defense.
Troy wasn't on the court. When Chad suggested the game after everyone finished and cleared their plates, he had ducked away quickly and quietly. Gabriella watched as disappointment showed on Chad's face, but none of them really expected him to play. Still, they had hoped and Troy not wanting to play was a reminder of the time that had passed and the rifts that had been created in the group.
Back on the court, Taylor managed to steal the ball away from Chad as he was attempting to pass. Taylor turned quickly, tossing the ball to Jason. Jason then sent the ball towards Ryan. With three steps, Ryan made a basket with a solid left-handed layup. His team cheered and offered high fives.
Chad yelled across the court to his teammate. "Get'cha head in the game, Zeke!"
"Hold the phone," Zeke said, spreading his arms wide to stop the celebration, "Where did you learn how to do that?"
Ryan laughed and batted away his question with a flick of his wrist. "You know, a lifetime of dance lessons makes that little number a piece of cake."'
Zeke mumbled in response as Chad assured Ryan he wouldn't have the opportunity to repeat his skill. They passed the ball in and kept playing.
Gabriella kept watching, noticing how well the boys played together even after years of not playing on the same team. They were the staples of the operation, but Ryan, Kelsi, and Taylor were holding their own. Kelsi tried for a three pointer, laughing as the ball ricocheted off of the far corner of the backboard. Jason caught the rebound as it was headed straight for his face with significant speed.
The bench shifted as Troy sat beside her. He sat quietly, inches separating their knees from each other. Gabriella resisted the urge to hold her breath, reminding herself that fainting would not be a good start to this weekend. After a few moments, Troy sighed heavily. "You know, I've never liked to watch basketball."
Gabriella turned to him and raised an eyebrow in question. "So no March Madness?"
He laughed. It didn't sound right to her ears, too tense. "I'm surprised you know what that is," he said. "Watching it makes me so nervous. I feel like I'm on the bench, waiting to go in. I see which players are weak on the other team, or who would be the best pass option."
"You definitely couldn't coach then," she said, thinking of Troy's father and Chad.
"Oh, God no." Troy shook his head vigorously. "I'd be running out onto the court to just do it myself."
Gabriella watched as he gripped his knee as he spoke. She wondered if he even realized he was doing it. "How long did you have to do physical therapy?" she asked. He had the knee surgery about a month before their split.
Troy looked down at his hand and brought it to rub the back of his neck instead. "Too long," he said. His blue eyes stayed on the court in front of them as he spoke. A beat later, he continued "I was a bad patient. I never did the stretches or exercises like I should have."
"I'm sorry it took so long," Gabriella said. She angled her body towards his in an effort for him to feel the sincerity of her words. The injury itself was the least of the pain for him. She knew that it hurt him most to leave the team and lose the sport that had defined him.
"Thank you, but it was my fault." Troy met her eyes intently. "I didn't put in the effort. I didn't try hard enough."
Gabriella's breath caught. The way he was looking at her, his eyes sorrowful, drawing her in like they always had, made her feel like he was talking about more than his recovery. "Troy," she said, not daring to break eye contact.
"Bolton!" Chad yelled, causing them to both startle and spring apart. The basketball came flying towards them. Troy caught it quickly with both hands. "Think you can still beat us in Knockout?"
Troy stood from the bench and passed the ball to Chad. "I know I can," he teased. He looked back at Gabriella and smiled before extending his hand and dragging her onto the court as well.
Martha watched as her husband played basketball with his former team. She knew it had been years since he had been on a court, and it showed. Jason missed two shots in a row, giving Troy a chance to make his first shot and knock Jason out of the game. When he walked away from the action, he spotted his family across the grass and waved.
From this distance, it almost looked like it could have been an afternoon from a decade ago. It had always been easy for her to imagine that this is exactly how things would have ended up. High school doesn't last forever, but she always thought that these friendships would. It was even more shocking that the married couple within the group was herself and Jason rather than the power couples of the halls. Chad and Taylor at least looked to be friendly compared to the awkward energy that pulsed between Troy and Gabriella.
Ryan was knocked out of the game next, followed by Gabriella and Zeke. Kelsi and Taylor were doing surprisingly well, focusing and making their first shots with careful calculation. Neither of the girls could keep it up long enough to compete with Chad and Troy.
With two little ones, Martha made her way over to the court. Troy finally missed a basket, the ball bouncing off of the rim. As he hustled to go get his rebound, Chad capitalized on the opportunity and made his next shot. The previously knocked out players erupted in cheers. Troy made a dramatic show of throwing his basketball into the grass, making everyone laugh.
A toddler interrupted the celebrations when she ran to Jason. He scooped her up, holding her with one arm onto his hip. When she noticed how sweaty he was, she struggled to get free. The group watched, amused, as the little girl ran back to Martha and the baby.
"Well, I guess we better get these two home," Jason said, gesturing to the kids. He started telling everyone goodbye.
Martha hugged Kelsi, Taylor, and Gabriella in turn. "Don't worry, we have a babysitter for tomorrow night!" Jason and Martha broke off from the group as everyone parted ways.