Chapter 12 – Siblings

AN: Hey guys! How are you all? OMG I have practically 200 reviews (like, two off), that is just FANTASTIC!!! I am seriously in love with all of you guys! That is just fantastic that I could get so many reviews!!! Thank you all so much!! It really puts a smile on my face, and i am working so hard to get chapters out to you guys as fast as i can! I have really sped up, i noticed, since it has been the holidays, and i will try very hard to keep up the pace that i have!

Anyway, here's the next chapter! Love you guys!

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"You're just being silly, aren't you baby girl?" I asked as I lightly tossed Isabella in the air, who responded with kicking legs and high-pitched squeals. Gabriella was sitting on her bed with an amused smile.

"Dada!" she said giggling. I caught her in my arms and held her in my arms. Her head naturally fell into the croon of my neck. Subconsciously, I began to rock gently back and forth in a soothing motion.

"How do you do that?" she asked. I spun around to face her, Isabella resting delicately in my arms.

"What?" I asked.

"You act like a natural father with her. If people didn't know better, they would think you were her dad." Isabella reached up and pulled the hair on the back of my neck, a slight hiss emitting from my lips.

"Well, I guess because I have taken care of her for a long time, it just came naturally." I delicately removed her tiny hand from my hair, and she instantly clamped her fingers tightly around my index finger. I poked her in the nose, and another round of giggled came as a result.

"You have no kids?"

"Nope."

"Siblings?"

"Yes. That I do have. I have an incredibly annoying little sister. Well, not so little now, I guess. She's nineteen, but acts like a three year old."

"Sounds like she's fun." I smiled. No matter how much of a pain my sister was, I knew I wouldn't be able to survive without her.

"She's the best little sister ever. I don't know what I would do without her." Gabriella smiled at me as I walked over to the bed and sat down, placing Isabella in her lap. Gabriella's arms help on to each of her daughter's arms as she bounced her lightly on her lap.

"That's nice. I wish I had a sister."

"You an only child?" she nodded.

"All my friends had a sibling, and they were always telling me how annoying they were and how they wished that they were only children. They just didn't understand how big of an impact their siblings were. I always wished to have someone I could always talk to, someone who would protect me and help me with any problem." She looked up at me. "It's really nice to see somebody who actually appreciates their sister."

"Yeah, I guess people do underestimate how important siblings are in a person's life." Gabriella looked back down at Isabella, making silly faces, and then sighing.

"I hope one day Isabella get's a little sister. Or a brother, but preferably a little sister."

"You never know, that could happen one day." I said. Gabriella looked up at me, and then blushed.

"Maybe." An awkward silence followed.

"Knock, knock." I turned to see Sharpay entering the room.

"Isn't the point of knocking to see if the person has time for you, or isn't busy?" I asked.

"Shush it Bolton. You wouldn't want to get on my bad side."

"And on that note, I'm going." I said, standing up. Gabriella looked up at me.

"You don't have to go, you know. Sharpay can behave, right?" she said, looking around me to give her best friend a look.

"I'll be an angel." Sharpay replied, throwing in a fake smile.

"See?" Gabriella said.

"As much fun as it would be being locked in a room with two women, one of which has a secret hatred for me, I have to go make a couple of phone calls. You girls have fun without me!" I leaned forward, kissing Gabriella on the forehead, and then ruffling Isabella's hair playfully. "You be good for you mommy Bella."

"Ya." She replied happily, clapping.

"Bye ladies." I said, and walked out of the room. I headed down the hallway to a more private area, and pulled out my blackberry phone. I dialed the familiar number, and pressed talk.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring,

"Hello?"

"Hey, April. Listen, I was wondering if you could do me a favour?"

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Gabriella's P.O.V

"… And then, while I was at the grocery store with Zeke, I just happened to bump into Danforth. I swear, the man is exists just to torture me." Sharpay sighed, running her hand through her sun-bleached blonde hair. "I have just had the worst day."

"What is so bad about him anyway?" I asked. Sharpay told me everyday about the 'famous' Chad Danforth, and how he intended to annoy her as much as possible. Yet, when he came in to visit me, he seemed to be sweet and the complete opposite of how Sharpay described him. Almost like a big teddy bear that was there to protect you no matter what. And, his wife was a very sweet person, and someone I could see myself becoming friends with.

"He's just repulsive. The first time I met him, he was just so cocky and egotistical, and he was just really annoying!!!"

"Well, just stay clear of him, and then it will be okay."

"Ha! He's everywhere." I looked down at my little girl, who was giggling on my lap, tugging gently at one of my curls.

"Aunt Sharpay's being silly, isn't she?" I said, ticking her in the stomach. Isabella screeched and kicked her legs wildly, accidentally striking me in the process. I groaned.

"Calm down baby girl, mommy's still a bit sore from therapy."

"Therapy, eh?" Sharpay asked. I lifted Isabella into my arms, safely away from my aching legs, and rocked her in my arms.

"Yeah. It's torture, I tell you. I would have never thought of myself as the person to forget walking."

"That's what coma's do. Beside's, at least you have something decent to look at while you have to go through torture." I looked up at her confused.

"Huh?"

"Troy Bolton is attending all of you therapy sessions, isn't he?"

"Yeah, but he doesn't just sit there. He actually helps, so the doctor only has to focus on telling me what to do. And the rest of the time he is occupying Isabella so she doesn't get to restless sitting in her playpen."

"He holds you? This is huge!" I rolled my eyes.

"Right Pay. He's just helping."

"But you like it." I blushed.

"Maybe."

"Gabriella, admit it. Bolton's charms are starting to have an affect on you."

"Okay, I admit it. It's just easy to get along with him, he's so sweet, and gentle, and he's brilliant with Isabella."

"Like good future-husband material?"

"Pay, it's nothing like that."

"Don't tell me you didn't consider it before. I mean come on, how many people have fanaticized about being Mrs. Bolton. It's only natural." I rolled my eyes again.

"Pay, you're just silly." Then I laughed. "Wait, if it's natural, does that mean you've done it?" It was now Sharpay's turn for her face to flush scarlet.

"Well…I mean he is good looking… and… uh – "

"I wonder what Zeke would think."

"He would be happy. He absolutely idolizes Hotshot Bolton."

We both burst out laughing, and continued talking and playing with Isabella. A knock was heard at the door.

"Boy you're popular." Sharpay whispered to me. "Come in." She called to the door.

In burst a perky brown-haired girl. She had a petite frame, cerulean blue eyes that sparkled with excitement, and was wearing a knee long, baby blue halter dress with silver ballet flats. Her hair was a light brown colour, shoulder length, with side swept bangs and layers.

"Oh Bella you're so big!" the strange girl exclaimed, running towards the bed. I looked down to see a grin on Isabella's face, and her tiny hands extended towards the stranger. The girl took Isabella in her arms, hugging her tightly, before poking her on the nose and blowing a kiss onto Isabella's forehead.

"Apil!" Isabella cried.

"Hey sweetie!" She continued rocking the girl in her arms, and turned to face Sharpay and me. She must have noticed our dumbfounded faces. "Uh, hi." Sharpay was staring at the girl's outfit, particularly her shoes.

"Hello." I said. "Umm, well, who are you exactly?" I asked. The brunette cocked her head to the side, before Isabella pulled on her hair and brought her back to reality. Then, the brunette rolled her eyes.

"Oh my gosh! I knew my brother was stupid but come on, that stupid?" She groaned, before walking up to me, Isabella balancing on her hip. "I am terribly sorry for confusing you, but it seems that my dimwit brother forgot to inform you I was coming." The mysterious girl extended her hand towards me. "My name is April Bolton."

"Bolton, as in?" Sharpay said.

"Yup. I am the dear younger sister of the famous Troy Bolton himself." Now that I knew that, I could definitely pick out the similarities between the two siblings. The same blue eyes, the same colour hair, and the same smile.

"I just love your shoes." Sharpay blurted out. I smacked myself on the forehead. What a way to make an impression on somebody.

"Really? I was just about to buy this adorable purse that goes with it, but then my stupid brother called and ruined my shopping trip. And he knows that I have to get at least four solid hours on my shopping trips or else I get cranky! Oh, and poor Carl… I had to cancel a date with him." Sharpay's eyes lit up, and I knew that she was already impressed with the girl and her Sharpay-like shopping addiction.

"Carl?" I asked.

"My boyfriend. He's sweet, but Troy doesn't like him because he says he's not good enough for me." Just then a set of footsteps was heard running down the hallway. "Speaking of the devil."

"What are you – " just before I finished my sentence, Troy burst through the door, chest heaving. He evidently had been running.

"You." He said, pointing a finger straight at April.

"Hello to you too brother." She replied with a smirk on her face.

"You said that you would meet me at the elevators!"

"Well, I decided I wanted to take the stairs today." Troy glared at her.

"You probably gave Brie a heart attack! I mean, just showing up unannounced." April playfully skipped over to him.

"No heart attack. Bella introduced us." She said giggling, before coming back and settling herself down on the end of my bed. Troy continued to glare daggers at her.

"I…you…Uhh APRIL!" Sharpay was laughing.

"Bolton face it… you were played." She turned to April and the two high fived. It seemed they already had another thing in common… they both loved torturing Troy.

"Brie, sorry about her. She has no manners."

"Learned it from my older brother." April shot back. I giggled.

"It's no problem. April's cool, and after we introduced ourselves we talked." Troy continued to glare at April, but I knew it had now turned into a playful glare.

"Daddy!" Isabella called from April's arms. Troy walked towards her and lifted Isabella out of her arms and into his own.

"Hey baby girl." He rubbed noses with her.

The afternoon continued with a playful, fun atmosphere. April Bolton was surely a character, but I could already see myself growing close friends with her. She treated me like I was family, even jokingly calling me 'big sis'. I smiled at this, and then looked at Troy who was still playing with Isabella on the floor.

Never had Derek done something so thoughtful for me. Sure Derek was special to me, but he was mainly there for support and was more into the big flashy gifts that the little things.

Troy was different.

He heard my longing for a sister, and immediately came up with a solution.

Brought in his sister, whom he knew I would bond with quickly.

He tried to find a substitute… somebody that I could talk to about anything.

I smiled to myself, thinking of how sweet Troy was.

But he was only doing this for show and because he felt bad, right?

I had convinced my head that, but my heart was having a hard time agreeing.

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AN: Hey people! I really wanted April to have a larger part in the story because she is just so cool and I really like her character. Besides, Sharpay needs somebody to help her torture Troy!

Please, tell me what you think of my story! Do you like it? Hate it?

Review if you want the next chapter!!!

Xoxo,

Lar