FYI I'm updating as I stand outside Wrigley Field! Waiting for parade! Congrats Cubbies! (Sorry posting from my phone took away the italicized word font. going in and putting back now.)
A new review has been posted to your story.
Story: Crashing Into You
Chapter: 6. Chapter 6
From: Nancy
Wow...in one chapter you go from "potentially intriguing, original story" to "10 Things I Hate About You rip-off". Don't get me wrong it's one of my favorite movies but everything here has been said and done before. Yawn.
A new review has been posted to your story.
Story: Crashing Into You
Chapter: 6. Chapter 6
From: LaurenLover74
Is this even the same story? So this is going to be one of "those" typical stories. Fake relationship, pretend to like a person and then drop them for some reason or another...? This is so old! I thought this was going to be a really good story but I guess not.
"Mittens." She looked at the shattered shards of glass on the floor. Nothing she did today went well. From posting chapter six last night way until now. She was going to be late for ASL. Her hands were shaking as she began picking up the pieces of glass. She lifted the framed pictures of her and Jenny.
She had it on her desk and then forgetting she placed it there when she carelessly swung her bag right into it. Now she'd have to replace the frame.
"Dang it!" she yelped and lifted her finger to stop the bleeding. She felt the sting of tears begin to from. There was no time for this. She had to get to class. Quickly she picked up what she could and put the broken frame on her desk.
She began making her way to class. Shaking her hand a few times trying to numb the sharp sting on her index finger.
She should retract the chapter she posted last night.
She shouldn't have posted it. Why had she? They were right the story was so typical. It was shit. Everything she'd written was shit. She was ousted. They knew she wasn't Jenny. The jig was up. She been idiot to write anything at all.
She stumbled as she climbed the steps up two at a time to make it to class. Just as she crossed the threshold Mr. Stevens was in the middle of lecture about pronouns.
"Good afternoon Miss Montez. So happy you can grace us with your presence."
Everyone was staring at her as she made a beeline to her seat were Troy was staring at her with a raised brow.
"You alright?" he muttered.
"Great," she said sinking into her seat and hoping for humiliation to sallow her whole. She could feel people staring at her. She hated being late. She hated being disruptive. She sat through the next twenty minutes of lecture with her arms folded. When the silent part of class began Troy shifted so he was facing her.
Bad morning?
She didn't want to talk about. Yea.
Troy nodded seeming to get the hint. You going to be alright forward helping out with my mom?
Gabriella grabbed his hands and let out a long breath as pulled back and shaped her hands. For. For helping.
Oh. Troy looked down for a moment. Are you? He raised his eyes to meet hers.
Should be fine.
Troy sat up a little. I read that chapter last night.
Gabriella's eyes widen as she furiously signed. You're still reading it.
Did you expect me to understand that?
Gabriella narrowed her eyes. Why are you still reading it? She signed much slower.
Troy shrugged. I figured, I should since we talk about it.
Your overly-aggressive "supportiveness" for my hobby is one faint shade away from mockery. She signed slowly making sure he got every word.
"What the hell did I do?" he furrowed his brow.
"Mr. Bolton." They both turned to see Mr. Stevens frowning at them.
My bad. Troy signed ducking his head as he turned back to Gabriella. What did I do?
Gabriella sat up straighter as she took a much needed deep breath. Nothing. The story just … it flopped.
How?
They don't like it. I was worried that no matter how much confidence I'd shown on the outside that deep down they still wouldn't like me. And I was right. I'm not her, I can't do-
Troy grabbed her hands. He seemed frustrated then he let out a breath and released her hands. He motioned for her to slow down. Stop freaking out. I can't keep up.
She couldn't do anything right today. Maybe she should just pass on lunch. Save Troy the embarrassment of having to introduce her to his mom. She knew he wasn't looking forward to it. He was quiet for so long that she looked up to see if he was signing and she missed it. His eyes were on her, searching for something she wasn't sure she possessed.
Tell me why you think it's a flop.
They called it typical.
He smiled a little as he tilted his head to the right. And is it?
The question caught her off guard. Well, it wasn't my intention. There's just a lot of pressure for it to be something great and I don't think I can deliver it.
So, what was your intention?
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. I just wanted it to be romantic.
He nodded and shifted back in his chair. Do you think what you wrote was romantic?
Gabriella's smile dipped a bit. She thought what she wrote was a cop out. She just had no idea what to do. This wasn't her story. It was like she was sitting in a theater looking up at the screen and trying to guess what happens next only the movie had paused with no indication of picking up again. I thought it was.
That earned a smirk from him. His smile was inviting and friendly. It was odd how she felt so safe to talk to him. Even though her gut seemed cautious.
You don't think it's romantic.
Gabriella bit her lip as she stared at him. She thought it was. Now she wasn't so sure.
So fix it.
Gabriella tossed her head back in annoyance. It's not that easy, half the story is already written and posted, if I change the plot now I might just be hunted down and killed.
His eyebrows pulled together, and he gets a cute little wrinkle just above his nose. Whoa, did she just think he was cute? He was, but she shouldn't be thinking it. So what I'm hearing is… you're in need of a bodyguard? Why do you care so much about what other people think about your story?
They're my readers. I care what they think.
Troy raised a brow. Remember when you told me this you have always been a writer.
That. That you have always been a writer.
Troy rolled his eyes and corrected himself. Then after a moment he continued. Ultimately, you are not writing for your readers. Your just writing what comes to you. Isn't the reader the one taking a risk that they might like it or might not?
Gabriella opened her mouth then shut. She lifted her hands and then paused.
Have you liked every single book you have ever read? Every movie you saw? Do you like everyone you meet?
No. Gabriella shoulders slumped as she looked away from him for a moment.
So then it's stupid to think everyone going to like everything you write.
That made her vision blur. She didn't like being called stupid. He must of sensed it because he immediately held his hands up in surrender.
Okay, then why do you write fan fiction?
Gabriella inhaled slowly as she tried to come up with a profound answer, something inspiring and defining. She exhaled. She imagined herself at her laptop, trying to find the words for how it felt. What happened when it was good, when it was flawless, when the words were coming out of her before she knew what they were, bubbling up from inside her, satisfying her with each word on the page. Like play softball, feeling the overwhelming satisfaction of hitting the ball with bat. The heart thrusting beat of your foot as you run around the bases, the joy of someone hoisting you up on their shoulders when you've won the game.
Troy hand waved in front of her face catching her attention.
I write to be somewhere else. To stop hearing the voices in my head. To disappear. To stop. To just be still and not be anything or anywhere at all.
Then who cares about two shitty reviews.
Gabriella eyes jerked up as she caught him smiling.
Yeah, I read them too. Guess what? There were seven good ones right after them.
Gabriella smiled. A flush bringing heat straight to her face. They smiled at each other.
"Alright class, time for your assignment this week. It's an easy one. Everyone needs to prepare a 2 minute speech, on anything they like, but it must be completely done in sign."
The announcement was met with a few groans and Gabriella watched as Troy tossed his head back with a sign.
"We can practice," she said nudging his arm softly.
If he brought Gabriella to the banquet, would that quiet the rumors or inflate them? How would his father feel about it? He ran a hand through his hair. He wasn't entirely comfortable with bringing Gabriella around his father. He would disapprove.
He was sure of it.
"Troy darling!" his mother was genuinely excited to see him. For that he was grateful. She was standing in the middle of the large banquet room. In all her take charge glory.
"Hi mom," he said as he approached her and leaned into her open arms for a hug. He loved his mother dearly. She was always there for him when his father got to be too much. He didn't want to lie to her, he felt guilty knowing he was about to.
"Who is this?" His mom whispered in his ear as she looked over his shoulder at Gabriella. "She's adorable."
Troy smiled, unable to help himself. Adorable suited Gabriella. She suited him. He inhaled deeply at the thought. "I'd like you to meet Gabriella, she's my girlfriend." It felt good introducing her as his girlfriend. Too good.
"Hi," Gabriella lifted her hand for a handshake.
"Oh honey, handshakes are for business deals. In this family we hug."
He held back a laugh as he watched his mother arms wrap around Gabriella. He wondered if Gabriella had ever been embraced so tightly. By the looks of it this was a first.
When his mother released her she turned towards him. "Your sister's here. She in the back with Alex."
"Sweet!" Troy tapped his thighs. More lies.
"So Gabriella, I assume you're here to help us out?" his mother said with a big smile as she guided Gabriella further into the center of the room. "We have much to do."
"Be careful mother, don't scare her off. I actually like this one." He sent a wink in Gabriella's direction earning one of those nervous smiles he was actually beginning to find adorable.
He watched as the two began talking about centerpieces. He couldn't deny that watching her did something to him. And watching her type did something even stronger. The way she stuck her tongue out or looked so completely focused and peaceful at the same time.
Things were getting complicated. He couldn't tell if it was a façade or not.
Why should he even care?
But more than all that, he hated that they had to lie. Lying was not his thing. His father did it all the time. It was a horrible habit.
"Troy!"
Troy spun around to see Alex running his way with a red superman cape rippling behind him. Quickly predicting Alex's next move Troy held his arms out just in time to catch his nephew.
"He's having a good day." Megan said as she followed behind with a tote back slung over her shoulder. "Yesterday was a different story," she lifted her sleeve to reveal bite marks.
"Tantrum or Sensory Meltdown?" Troy asked. Many people think the words "tantrum" and "meltdown" mean the same thing. And they can look very similar when you see a child in the middle of having one. But for kids who have sensory processing issues or who lack self-control, a meltdown is very different from a tantrum.
A tantrum is an outburst that happens when Alex is trying to get something he wants or needs. Some kids with learning and attention issues are more prone to tantrums.
For Alex a meltdown is a reaction to feeling overwhelmed. It happened when there was too much sensory information to process. The commotion of an amusement park might set him off, for instance. Unfortunately Alex sometimes needs to be restrained for his own safety, and it doesn't always end well for his sister.
"Meltdown," Megan said coming to stand beside them. "The grocery store was crowded, I tried to be quick but …" she shrugged and Troy nodded as he looked back at Alex who was staring at Troy's hair and lifting piece of it so it looked spiked up.
"How you doing buddy?" Troy smiled.
Hands to self. He signed.
Troy smiled as he looked back a Megan. "Lesson of the week?"
Megan nodded as she let out a long breath. His stomach twisted, because Megan's face looked worried. He could see himself in Megan, the same blue eyes, strong nose, the same wide mouth, but somehow on his sister it looked elegant.
"You guys doing alright?" Troy asked.
"Yeah, everything's fine. It's just a little overwhelming sometimes." Megan tilted her head slightly before giving a gentle smile. "Who's she?"
Troy shifted Alex in his arms and follow Megan's eyes out to where Gabriella was. "That," he thought about it for a moment. "Is my girlfriend. Her name is Gabriella."
"Wow," Megan placed her index finger against her bottom lip as she tried to hide a smile. "She's not blond."
Troy expected a lot of question. How they met and how long they had been together. He hadn't been expecting that. Troy shook his head, "I don't only date blonds."
"Ha," his sister chuckled. "You sound like dad when he's guilty."
Troy hated that. He hated being compared to him. "I'm not like him."
"Relax, I didn't mean it like that." Megan comforted as she looked back at him with concern. "How long have you been seeing her?"
"Two weeks," he caught himself frowning. The weeks had gone faster than the usual drag, and it worried him.
What would he do after they broke up? After their specified time was through?
He also couldn't deny feeling the pressure he sensed coming off everyone around them. around campus the whispers where that Gabriella wasn't just his girlfriend, she was the love of his life.
He liked Gabriella, a lot, but what they were saying was crazy. This whole thing was crazy. He'd never really been in a serious relationship with a girl, never wanted to get that close.
"Alex. Eyes on eyes."
Alex shifted from Troy's hair to Megan, meeting her eyes.
"What do we call Uncle Troy's girlfriends?"
"Barbie!" Alex shouted enthusiastically.
Troy made a face as she looked at his sister who was staring back at him with a joking smile. Gasping with a fake pained expression he looked down at Alex. "You gossip about my love life?"
"Keep hands to self." Alex shrugged.
"You rascal," Troy chuckled as he set Alex down on the ground and watched him take off running so he could make his superman cape fly.
"I'm not sure I buy it," Megan smirked. "Unless she can grow six inches and get a boob job on command."
Troy rolled his eyes. "I am not that shallow."
"Yes you are," Megan nudged him playfully. Although at the moment he wasn't feeling very playful. "You don't date smart girls. You never have."
"Well now I am." Troy said a bit more aggressively then he intended.
"Alright," Megan's smile faltered. "Jeez I'm only kidding. I've never seen you so serious before."
"I just… I like her." Troy crossed his arms over his chest. "I like her a lot."
"So…" Megan shrugged her shoulders as she motioned towards their mother. "You trust mom not to scare her?"
"I trust no one."
"Now you sound like dad." Megan let out a laugh as she began walking towards their mother and Gabriella. Leaving Troy standing off to the side with a scowl on his face.
By the time dinner rolled around, the gloomy feelings from earlier in the day had worn off. In their place as a hungry rumble. Troy had been a bit distant for a while. Almost like he was mad at her for something, only she couldn't recall doing anything wrong.
He still seemed a little bothered even after his sister Megan ruffled his hair and kissed him good night on the cheek. She could see his features soften when she whispered in his ear. They exchanged words and he his mood shifted. She wondered what that was about. Not that she'd ever ask. It was probably personal. And they didn't really talk about the personal things unless he willingly brought it up.
She could also tell he adored his sister. Admired her even. To be honest so did she. Megan seemed so strong and yet elegant at the same time. She was the perfect blend of his mother and himself. It left her wondering exactly what Mr. Bolton was like.
She felt a tug on her skirt and she shifted to meet Alex. His light blue eyes looking up at her with a smile. I had fun.
Me too.
He was very good at signing. And as much as she was going to hate admitting it, Alex was funny. He took everything so literal, and he loved superheroes. Had a cape for every day of the week apparently. And he loved to talk with his hands.
She suddenly understood why Troy was taking ASL. Why it was important for him to understand and get better with his signing. She made a note to work on it with him more.
"So, any thoughts of running yet?" Troy whispered appearing at her side. That was another thing. She liked when he did that. When he was just there. It made her feel like he was really there. There for her whenever she needed him.
"No, I like your mom. She's inspiring."
Troy raised a brow. "Really? Shar always called her exhausting." He brushed a piece of lint off her shirt and she smiled at the gesture.
"Sharpay isn't the kind of girl who would tie twine around 150 Mason jars." To be honest the more she got to know Troy, someone like Sharpay didn't seem like the right match. But who was she to say that. This entire arrangement was only temporary.
Troy laughed as he picked up the Mason jar she'd just finished. "But you are?"
"My cousin had a sweet 16 last year. I hot glued a 150 mini mad hatter hats." She shrugged, "It was Alice in Wonderland themed."
"That's impressive." Troy smiled at her with an impressed expression.
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "So are we coming to this thing?"
Troy let out a sigh, "If you're up for it."
"Will Sharpay be there?"
"Likely."
Gabriella thought about for a moment. "Maybe we can double with Taylor and Chad. We do owe her that."
"Right," Troy chuckled. "I almost forgot about that. I'm sure Chad's going to be thrilled."
"He'll be nice to her, won't he?" Gabriella asked a little worried. She knew they were friends, but that was really all she knew about Chad. Other than the common fact that he too lived the country club member life like Troy.
Troy nodded as if reading her mind, "He's not like me."
Gabriella eyes widen, "I didn't mean that-"
"Yeah you did," he laughed.
"Sorry," she winced.
Troy wrapped his arms around her in a hug and buried his face into her hair. "Thanks for today. I know I was a little moody."
Gabriella closed her eyes. "I was distracted. Besides it was fun." And she was surprised to realize that she meant that. Troy and his family were easy to be around.
He tightened one arm around her waist and his other hand moved up her back. Maybe he wanted to take advantage of the last few moments of physical contact they'd have.
"I had fun too. Let's get you back home."
He let her go and reached for her hand. She smiled and took it turning around to see his mom and sister standing off to the side staring at them. She should have known his reason for physical contact was all just part of the lie.
When they pulled up in front of her dorm she let out a breath and reached for the handle. "Thanks for earlier. Bad reviews sucks."
"Are you hungry?"
She looked up at her dorm than back at him. "I should really write something tonight. People are upset Jabriella hasn't posted in a while."
"Ouch," he placed a hand on his chest. "You did not just turn me down so you could sit alone in your room and write."
Gabriella couldn't help but smile. "I did."
Troy chuckled and turned off the car.
She had one foot on the pavement. "What are you doing?"
He was out of the car and coming around the other side. "You type, I'll read."
"Read?"
"I'll even order a pizza."
Gabriella sat in his passenger seat staring up at him. "Don't you have things to do?"
"I owe you dinner, and some proof reading," he shrugged his shoulders. "Lest I can do for 150 Mason jars."
If her heart hadn't already been free falling for Troy Bolton. It certainly stumbled around in her chest at the sight of him now. He walked behind her up to her room. Her heart hammered in her chest with each step.
She practically jumped out of her skin when his cell phone went off.
"Hey," his tone was different. As if he was annoyed. She didn't look back, just kept walking. "Nothing just chilling with Gabi."
Gabi. Jenny use to call her that. The thought made her frown a little.
"I was going to order pizza, Netflix and chill, you know what mean."
That made her spin around as she stopped at her door. Gabriella bit her lip. Her heart felt like it was exploding and sending tissue flying into her limbs. Apparently pretending to be Troy's girlfriend also meant pretending to have sex with him. Considering she'd never even kissed a guy before, she definitely didn't know how to process that. Her expression must have given her away because Troy shook his head.
"I'm on speaker phone," he whispered pulling the phone from his ear.
"I still don't see how that was justified."
He smiled for a moment then brought the phone back to his ear. "Yeah let me know what the plans are. Talk you guys later."
She could hear booing on the other end of the phone.
"Are you kidding me right now?"
Troy hung up the phone. "It's just the guys?"
"I don't want people talking about me like that."
Troy made a face, "I told you we need to sell this, Gabriella." He smirked. "Pretty sure I just did."
"Who were you trying to sell? Them? Sharpay? Or me?"
His eyes widened and she watched his Adam's apple as he swallowed.
Gabriella cringed. "Telling people about our sex life was not part of the deal."
"Our sex life is how all this started."
"Your sex life." Gabriella spit out. "Your blunt disregard for others got us into this."
"Alright, alright." He held up his hands in surrender. "I see where you're coming from. Sorry I didn't know you were a that kind of girl."
Gabriella stood in front of her door. "I not a kind girl. I'm a person. A person who doesn't want the next guy she dates to think she's a twat." She didn't want him to think it.
Troy eyes widen. "Right."
"I know you have a reputation but before all this so did I."
"Right." He looked down at his phone again. "You know what, maybe it's better if I just go."
That made her heart sink. She didn't want to leave. A part of her was actually looking forwards to hanging out with him. Then it dawned on her that baby he wasn't feeling the same way. That maybe he'd just wanted to hang out to keep this façade going. "Oh."
They stood there quietly as a two girls walked by them in their pajamas, giggling and whispering about bonfires. She felt the heat in her cheeks. Was everyone talking about her. Not only had she disappointed her readers, but now she was disappointed in herself. How could she have let any of this happen.
"Good night."
She nodded and watched as he walked down the hall the way they came.
"Mitch isn't a dork." She whispered, but for a second, she couldn't see Mitch's sweet face in her mind's eye. Instead all she saw was the stony face badass drumming his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel. She swallowed. "Mitch is a sweetheart."
Michael shrugged his shoulders and he let his hands settle on the wheel, "Dork. Sweetheart. Semantics." His lips curved in a mocking smile that did something to her stomach.
"I-I don't think anyone would ever believe this," she stammered. "That you and I would…" she blushed, unable to finish the sentence.
"That we'd what Lauren?" He unbuckled his seat belt and turned towards her. Her breath caught in her throat as he reached out and touched her hair, twirling a long strand around his finger. He leaned in so close she could see a fain shadow of stubble on his jaw. "Go to a dance together?" He shifted even closer, moving in so that his lips barely brushed her cheek as he whispered in her ear. "Or just hook up?"
This wasn't … he wasn't … but she didn't… not with him. Her thoughts spun out of control, just like her hormones. God what was he-
He dropped her lock of hair and leaned back against his seat, smirking. "I think everyone would believe that. You did, didn't you? Just for a second?"
Her hand flew up to slap him, but he grabbed it like he'd been expecting it. "Two more weeks. It won't even take that long. Lover boy Mitch only needs to see you and me do that once, and he's yours. All yours."
"You're such a-" he was still hold her hand though he'd loosened his grip.
"Jackass. I know. But let me pretend to be your jackass boyfriend and we'll both get what we want."
Everything in her screamed no, but when she finally opened her mouth, the world that fell out was "Okay."
Heaven help her, even after everything that happened in the last week. She was going to let this continue. Only now she wasn't so sure she wanted Mitch to care anymore. Secretly she just wanted more time with Michael.
-Chapter 7, Crashing Into You by Jabriella
