A/N: If you thought the last chapter put them in a messy situation, hold on tight. ;) Enjoy!
Confessions and Consequences
Chapter 8. "His Confession"
Operation Get Gabriella has proven much more difficult than I anticipated. I try to make lunch plans with her; he already brought her lunch. I ask to go to a bar with her, but it's their two monthiversary tonight. I want to take her on a run through central park; he buys her cross fit membership. Anything I try to do for her, he's already a step ahead. There's no other explanation besides he knows what I'm up to, and he's holding on tight.
This morning I tried to surprise her with coffee before work. I picked up two skinny lattes from the coffeehouse by my apartment and caught a cab to her apartment. I trotted up the stairs as carefully as I could, anxiously watching the lids for steaming hot frothy milk to come sloshing out.
I knocked on the door and it swung open to expose Sharpay standing in a long pink nightgown with fuzzy slippers. Before I could murmur a word, she gasped in surprise and slammed the door in my face. Strange. I heard some shuffling on the other side and when the door opened again, she quickly snuck out into the hallway and shut it snug behind her.
She exasperatedly questioned me, "What the hell do you think you're doing? Are you trying to get your ass kicked?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Where's Gabriella?"
"Oh honey, she's so moved on. You better stop coming around here. Shane doesn't seem into that whole cuckold kink."
"He's here?" She bit her lip, hesitating telling me. "Is he?"
"Of course he's here." I realized who I was in this situation and it repulsed me. I was standing outside her apartment with two scaling hot cups of coffee, trying anything I could to steal her away from a man she loved. Could I be any more desperate? I was ready to give up.
"Here." Defeated, I handed a cup to Sharpay just as the door opened behind us. Gabriella stepped out with Shane trailing closely behind her.
Sharpay stood on the tip of her toes, pecked me on the cheek, and said, "Thanks boo."
Everybody froze. I glanced from Gabriella's surprised face to Shane's shocked expression, down to Sharpay who was snaking her arm around my neck, looking at me like it was my turn to make a move.
I bent down to peck her on the cheek and said, "You're welcome babe." I didn't know if it worked. It felt far too forced to be convincing, but at this point, I had nothing left to try.
I headed to work and read through application after application, sent in my paperwork accompanying them, made a couple phone calls, read some emails, and scrolled through Facebook. At around noon, I got a text.
When were you going to tell me about you and Sharpay?
It was from Gabriella. I told myself to breathe and play it cool.
When it's official. We're just taking it slow atm.
When did this start?
A week ago.
Congratulations. I'm happy for you two. :)
Lol, thx.
That was completely useless. Now instead of being in a real relationship with Gabriella, now I'm in a fake one with her roommate. Could this backfire any worse?
…
I spent that weekend eating junk food and playing videogames completely unbothered. I was nursing a bad headache Sunday afternoon after a night of drinking alone when my phone wouldn't stop buzzing. I reached between the couch cushions as it screeched and freed the loud device before finding Gabriella's name on the screen. I rubbed my temples and reluctantly answered the call.
She quickly and almost excitedly said, "Troy, we need to talk."
Finally! I could taste victory already. "Come over." I hung up the phone and picked up all the wrappers and crumbs as fast as I could. I jammed the empty bottles in a trash bag and crammed that under the sink. I was wiping off the coffee table when I heard her running up the stairs.
I barely opened the door before she barged in past me yelling, "I'm freaking out! I'm absolutely freaking out, Troy!" That…was not what I expected. Maybe this wasn't what I thought it'd be about at all.
"Well, what's going on?"
She plopped down onto my couch with a defeated look and said, "Shane proposed." Mayday! Mayday! Abort mission! "Troy?"
"I…Hold on, what did you just say?"
She repeated, "Shane proposed."
I plopped down on the sofa next to her and asked more bitterly than I intended, "So what did you say?"
"I said I'd have to think about it."
"And then what did he say?"
"He got mad. He thought I should have said yes right away, but I told him I couldn't promise to be with him the rest of my life like that after only knowing him for a couple months. God, I don't know what to do."
"Has he talked about this before?"
"Yeah, but I thought he was joking, or at least meant it was something we'd talk about later on. I don't know what to do. I care about him so much and it would pain me to leave him, but I'm not ready to be his wife." Listening to her talk, I realized for the first time the depth that she cared for this man. I decided I would express the greatest love whether she realized it or not – letting her be happy – even if that meant without me.
"You should tell him that you want to take it slow and if he can't handle that, then you know he's only in it for a wife. I think you should try. He seems like a reasonable guy who genuinely cares about you. You belong with him."
I stared down sadly at my hands, waiting for her to agree. When the seconds of silence passed by, I finally looked up at her irritated face.
"What?"
She shrugged and asked, "So that's it?"
"That's what?"
"That's all you have to say?"
"Am I…Am I supposed to say something else? What did you want me to say?"
"Okay, guess I was wrong then." She stood from the sofa and began crossing toward the door.
"Wrong about what?" I rose and walked up to her to stop her. "Gabriella, what are you talking about?"
She shook her head. "I'm an idiot. All this time I thought you were competing with Shane."
"Hold up, did Shane even propose to you?"
"That's besides the point."
"Did Shane propose to you or didn't he?"
"Of course he didn't propose to me!"
"You lied!"
"You lied first!"
"How did I-?"
"You think I really believed you and Sharpay were dating? Please! She's my best friend! That girl hates your guts after what happened between us."
"So what was the point in all this? Were you just trying to test me?"
She scoffed, "Weren't you?"
I nodded. "It was all Sharpay's idea, honestly."
"Why did you go along with it?"
I rolled my eyes. "Don't play dumb. It's such a bad look on you. C'mon, you know why."
"I want to hear you say it. Out loud. I want you to say it exactly like I had to."
"Alright." I cleared my throat. "I confess! Gabriella Montez, you're my best friend and I am in love with you. And I'm sorry my timing is awful. I want you to do whatever you think would make you most happy. Obviously I'd prefer if that's being with me, but if it's Shane then I want you to go with him and I'll respectfully back off."
She slowly stepped forward, effectively closing the space between us. With a voice as soft as a whisper, she said, "Shane's gone."
I couldn't help but smile. "You broke up with him?"
She shrugged. "It was mutual. His job is moving him to Colorado in a couple months. And we agreed I should really be with you now that you're obviously interested."
"Obviously?"
"Painfully so."
"So does this mean what I hope it means?"
She grasped the front of my shirt and pulled me down to her height. Following her lead, I pressed my lips gently against hers. I kept repositioning my lips on hers again and again, desperate to keep it going. She eventually ducked her head against my chest and wrapped her arms around my torso. I held her tightly, stroking from the crown of her head down to the ends of her locks. Standing in my living room with the sun sitting beyond the skyscrapers, I realized I couldn't think of anyone else in the entire world I'd rather fall in love with than my best friend.
THE END
A/N: Thank you so, so, so much for reading! Let me know what you thought of the ending and/or the story as a whole! Remember to visit my profile for progress updates and announcements, and follow me (if you have an account) to be notified when I publish new stories.
Again, thank you very much for reading and for all the support. It means the world to me.
- S.
MORE STORIES
(in order of most recent to oldest)
Too Good: If someone seems too good to be true, it's likely because they are. Troy Bolton is a respected doctor, loving husband, and caring father with one major weakness - Gabriella Montez, the innocent preschool teacher by day and pistol-whipping dominatrix by night. (Troyella)
Leave It All Abroad: Italy was supposed to be the place to relax, reset, and help an old friend. But who else Gabriella finds there could rekindle an old flame and expose a conspiracy wilder than her imagination. This month will be anything but a vacation. (Troyella)
New Year's, 2006: Adrenaline junkie Troy Bolton is always up for the next big thing. He only intended to snowboard and play basketball on this family vacation, not sing karaoke in front a room full of people. What happens when fate puts him in the spotlight? Will he rise to the challenge, or coward away? (One-shot. Troyella.)
Where Courage Ignites: First I had to deal with yet another move, this time to Albuquerque. Then I had to transition from homeschool to a massive public high school. Just when I thought everything was finally falling into place, I was raped. Now I'm struggling to keep myself in one piece when all I want to do is disintegrate into thin air.
Catfish: Amateur investigators Nev and Max help young single mom Gabriella discover the truth behind a mysterious connection.
The Group Project: One day after school, the Wildcats pile in the Evans' home to collaborate on a group paper. When working together in such close proximity, conflict and romance is bound to emerge. (Five-shot. 10 major Wildcats!)
Long Island Medium: It has been six months since Gabriella and East High lost their beloved basketball captain in a tragic accident. In a desperate search for closure, Gabriella makes an appointment with a woman who can talk to the dead. (Troyella. One-shot.)
The Usual: Dropping out of college, moving to New York City, and finding affordable coffee were the first ways Troy Bolton tried to take his destiny into his own hands. With the help of his publishing agent, his best friend, and his barista, dreams of being a published author may actually become reality…as long as he finishes the story before the deadline. (Troyella, Zekepay.)
The Sacred Rays: Troy Bolton's life is split into two distinct parts. His past contained enough catastrophes to break him, whereas today's second chance has given him hope for the future. Will his experience with loss and self-destruction prevent him from trusting his heart again? (Troyella, Chaylor, & Chyan.)
