I'm gonna have to say that personally, I like this story better than all my other ones. And I'm glad to hear that you guys like it! But I have a question I want you to answer if you don't mind…..When should Troy ask Gabbi to be his girl? I'm talking about like soon, as in, the next chapter, or not soon but before the game. Either way, I'm going to make it happen before the basketball game, but the exact time is up to you! Oh, and this has more Taylor and Gabbi time in it than Troy and Gabbi...
Disclaimer- I do not own High School Musical.
Feelings of the Heart
Chapter 4- Cry
Gabbi's P.O.V-
"So, are you up for shopping tomorrow?" Taylor asked me as we sat down in gym class. It has been a week since I came to East High, and things were going perfectly.
"Sure! I just have to ask Terri if we're doing anything first though." I said.
"Ok." She said.
We walked into the locker room and changed; I waited for Troy as I watched Chad and Taylor walk to their class. I waited for a minute and he didn't come out. I opened the gym door a crack and heard people yelling.
"I'm just trying to get you ready for state championships!" someone yelled. Mr. Bolton.
"Dad! Can't you just lay off a little?! I mean, making the team run, teaching us a new play once and expecting us to know it immediately, and making us run suicides during practices isn't gonna help! The team is exhausted beyond belief! And for the first time in my life..I actually dread going to practice!" Troy yelled. I winced at the tone of his voice.
"I know how to do my job! Now leave before you're late for class!" Mr. Bolton said. I heard Troy let out a frustrated sigh as I heard footsteps coming towards the door. I quickly shut it and ran to my normal spot pretending like I didn't hear anything.
"Hey!" I said as he walked over.
He let out a sigh. "You okay?" I asked softly. He looked at me and his eyes softened.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said. I bit my lip from saying that he wasn't fine. We were walking down the hallway in silence as we watched the busy students make their way to their last few classes of the day.
Troy and I didn't talk much between classes as we normally did, I knew something was up, and I knew what.
"Ok, Troy, I know that you and your dad had a 'moment' this morning, and I know that you're probably mad at me for eavesdropping, but I just can't stand seeing you mope around all day like you have." I said taking a deep breath afterwards.
He looked at me for a few moments..."Gabbi, I would never hate you, it's just that I don't like getting into a fight with my dad." He admitted as I put my books in my locker.
"Newsflash Troy, no-one does. But I think that you're right if it helps." I said.
He smiled. "It does. But I don't know how to make my dad lighten up a bit." He said.
"Well, maybe he did." I said.
"Maybe, well, I have to go to practice, I'll see you tomorrow." He said.
"Bye." I said. I met up with Taylor and we walked out to the parking lot to her car.
"So, I saw you and Troy talking, what about?" Taylor asked me as we climbed into her 2006 Dodge Charger.
"Just stuff." I said normally. I could feel her eyes on me, but I just continued looking out the window as we pulled out of the school parking lot.
"I'll call you later Gabs!" Taylor called after me as she backed out of my driveway. I nodded and walked inside.
"Hi Gabbi." Terri greeted me in her not so usual happy and cheery tone.
"Terri, what's wrong?" I asked setting my bag down.
"I was just sorting some things out for your mom's funeral." She started. I sat down quietly in the seat across from her in the living room.
"And…" I said motioning for her to go on.
"And she wants you to sing." She added looking up at me.
"Anything for my mom." I said. "So…when is it?" I asked.
"Next week, at the nice little cemetery not too far down the road from your school, for some reason she already knew about it and wanted to be buried there. Strange." She said.
"You know, I think it will be more meaningful if I write a song rather than just pick a song and sing it." I said after a silence.
"That's a grand idea! You've always enjoyed doing that!" Terri said.
I ran up the stairs and threw my bag on my bed and grabbed my song book as I sat out on my balcony.
(This song is really 'Cry' by 'Hilary Duff')
Cry love
Cry war
Cry innocence
That is lost forever more
Cry joy
Cry thief
Cry beautiful
That is just beyond belief somewhere
I sighed as I wrote the last line. I gently closed my book and buried my head in my arms as I pulled my legs up to my chest. I let the tears fall freely. I felt her pocket rumble and took her phone out.
"Hello." I said.
"Hey Gabbi, are you okay? You sound upset." Taylor answered.
"I'm fine..." Sniffle. "Really…" I said.
"Are you sure?" Taylor asked me. She and I have become inseparable over this past week.
"No." I choked out. Fresh tears streaming down my face.
"I'll be right over, okay?" she asked. Without waiting for an answer, she hung up and hopped in her car. She drove to my house and knocked on the door.
"Hi Taylor! Here to see Gabs?" Terri asked as she answered the door.
"Yea, she's up in her room right?" Taylor asked stepping in.
"Yes, is something wrong?" Terri asked.
"I'm intending to find out." She said as she ran up the stairs.
"Gabbi?" she called out.
"Out here!" I called through my tears as I heard my balcony doors open.
"Oh Gabbi!" she said rushing over to me and wrapping me in a hug.
"I miss her so much Tay." I said as she let me cry on her shoulder. I felt her rub my back and sit down in front of me.
"I'd love to say that I understand, but I haven't been through what you have." She whispered. We sat in silence, well, besides my sobs, for a while. I eventually pulled back from the hug and leaned up against the wall.
"I'm singing at her funeral." I said quietly.
"I'm sure you'll do great." She said. She's only heard me sing once and it was by accident.
Flashback
"Hi Terri! Where's Gabbi? We're going to work on homework." Taylor greeted as she stepped inside the Montez home.
"She's up in her room. Go on up." Terri said smiling. Taylor nodded and started to climb the stairs.
She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It'd been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
she was going way too fast
Taylor's mouth dropped as she reached Gabbi's door. She's never heard anyone sing like that. It was beautiful.
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was so scared
She threw her hands up in the air
She listened as Gabbi sang that particular part with feeling. Obviously remembering how her mother died because she could hear Gabbi's beautiful singing voice crack a little.
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel
Taylor actually had a tear slip down her face as she heard Gabbi's voice crack twice during the chorus. She felt really bad for her, but knew that she shouldn't show it since Gabbi doesn't like people to pity her.
It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Oh I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
From this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel
Oh take it take it from me
Oh
Taylor waited a few moments to re-collect herself and knocked on the door.
"Hey! You ready?" Gabbi asked.
"Well, after hearing a refreshing voice like that, I sure am!" Taylor exclaimed sitting on her bed.
"Oh god." Gabbi said as she blushed. Taylor giggled a little.
"Gabbi chill! You're wonderful! No, fantastic, no, superb, no…well, better than superb!" Taylor rambled on.
"Really?" asked a now some-what shy Gabbi.
Taylor looked in her eyes. "Yes." She said. Gabbi smiled.
"So I was thinking we could start with Drama……" Gabbi started.
End Flashback
We sat there in another comfortable silence as we watched the sun go down.
"Thank god we have no homework tonight!" Taylor exclaimed. I laughed at the much relieved look on her face.
"THAT'S THE GABBI I KNOW!" she yelled to the world.
"Taylor! Shush!" I said.
I few moments later, Taylor's mom called and wanted her home. I walked her downstairs and waved goodbye and mouthed 'thank you' to her from the door. SHe nodded and pulled out of my driveway.
"Are you okay?" Terri asked me as we sat down on our deck.
"I am now. I just needed to talk to Taylor about mum." I said.
"You know you can talk to me anytime." Terri said looking over at me.
"I know, I'm sorry, it's just that, ugh! I don't know, there's this air around Taylor that can make me open up to her easily. Not that I don't think you're no good to open up to…but…erm…well…you see…." I babbled.
"Gabbi, I get it." She said with a slight chuckle.
"Phew." I whispered. She laughed again. We were gazing up at the stars in our long chairs and my eyelids became heavier and heavier every time I blinked. Before I knew it, I was fast asleep and dreaming about mom.