A/N: Check it out lol :P
Chapter 5 – Meeting the parents
"So, you know Justin?" Troy asked, squeezing Gabriella's shoulders that little bit more. After Troy, Gabriella and Allie had gone downstairs, everyone had decided to leave – each with their own lame excuses but, Troy and Gabriella both knew that everyone wanted them to get together. After Allie had had her medicine and ice cream sundae, she had fallen asleep and when Gabriella had gone downstairs, she had found Troy making two more sundaes.
"More sundaes?" She'd asked, smiling in amusement.
"Don't you want to try what your daughter just had?" He'd feigned shock.
She had poked her tongue out rather childishly and stood beside him, squirting some whipped cream into her mouth. "If ice cream is involved? Definitely."
"So that's where her obsession comes from." He had said sarcastically, kissing her forehead sweetly.
Her giggles had erupted at the comment and she had shrugged nonchalantly. "Hey, my brother makes the best sundaes!"
"Are you sure? Mine re pretty irresistible." He had said while he had continued scooping ice cream into two large glasses.
"That sounds like a challenge." Gabriella had poked his chest which ended up with him yelping and Gabriella giggling again. They had both eaten their ice cream and were now sat on the couch, Troy's arm around her shoulders. His feet were propped up on the coffee table and Gabriella's were tucked under her body.
"What about him?" She replied.
"How did he happen? Or doesn't Chad and Taylor want me to know?" He asked, rushing to get the last part out.
She shook her head gently. "No. Theirs is kind of romantic." She whispered. "Something my story isn't."
"Wait a minute." Troy exclaimed. "Chad was twenty. And so was Tay, weren't they?"
She nodded. "That's right. They weren't even married then. But, don't you know this story? I thought you and Chad went to college together?"
"We did. And he talked non-stop about Taylor and Justin after he was born. But not how he happened." He said quietly, furrowing his brow.
Gabriella looked up into his eyes and smiled slightly. "Like you said, they were twenty. It was their two year anniversary as a couple and Chad drove all the way from L.A. to New York to see her. She thought that they were going to celebrate during the summer break which was three weeks after their anniversary."
Troy smiled softly. "Oh yeah. I remember that. He missed a game to go and see her."
Gabriella nodded. "That's right. She knew how much the game meant to him and she begged for him to stay in L.A. but he knew what she was really saying so he drove to New York where Tay and I were attending college. You should know how she would drive to L.A. and all around the country for his games. I would've gone but a medical degree takes up more time than a teaching one." She explained.
"I know. My mom's a doctor and my dad's a teacher." He chuckled slightly.
She smiled and nodded. "So, Chad came to New York and surprised her. Basically, they kicked me out of our apartment and I had to stay at Zeke's and Shar's. They shared an apartment. He was at NYU with Tay and I and Shar was at Julliard."
"Where?" Troy asked.
"Another college in New York but it concentrates on theatre." She explained. "And that's it. I mean, you're older than me, you can fill in the blanks."
He chuckled and nodded. "Yeah. I can."
She looked away slightly and sighed. "We all just pitched in to help. Tay struggled a bit with Chad being so far away but we all helped. Chad came when he could which was almost every weekend. The college was great about it and we all graduated."
"And you?" He asked softly, placing two fingers under her chin to face him. "Where did Allie come into it?"
"You really want to know, don't you?" She smiled slightly.
He nodded, softly caressing her cheek with his thumb. "Yeah. I do. You're so hard to figure out. I've always been able to read people but…not you."
She giggled softly and kissed his cheek. "My friends can't understand me. They say I'm like a rubix cube with a chest."
He raised his eyebrows. "But, I want to understand you. So much." He whispered as he started to lean in.
Gabriella suddenly stood up and smoothed her dressing gown out. "I should probably wash these up." She said, gesturing towards the empty ice cream glasses.
Troy nodded and got to his feet. "I'll help. Do you prefer washing or drying?"
"You don't have to help!" She protested, picking the glasses up. "And speaking of helping me, you've been here all morning. Why aren't you at work?"
He shrugged, prying the glasses from her hands. "Let me think: coop myself up in a stuffy office all day doing paperwork that doesn't have to be done until next month or come and visit a cute little girl who isn't very well and her mother. Tough choice."
She nodded and pushed past him, going into the kitchen. "I'll take drying." She grabbed a tea towel from the counter and smirked slightly.
He placed the glasses on the side and started running water into the sink. "Then I guess I'm stuck with the washing. You do realise that I'll be back tomorrow, don't you?"
Gabriella leaned against the island as he added Fairy washing up liquid and she watched as white bubbles erupted from the pouring water. "No. I did not realise that. But, I'm sure Allie will be happy to hear it."
"What about you?" Troy mumbled, grabbing the cloth and soaking it in the warm, soapy water.
"What about me?" She asked in confusion.
He looked over his shoulder at her and smiled coyly. "Are you happy about it?"
Gabriella reached for the spoon he had just washed and started to dry it off. She looked him directly in his eyes and she breathed out gently. "Maybe."
Troy raised an eyebrow as his hands stilled his movements. "Not even a 'very maybe'?"
"How can you have 'very maybe'?" She exclaimed, placing the spoon to side and reaching for the one left on the draining board.
He chuckled and shrugged. "Hey, I only just passed English."
"I can tell." She muttered. She placed the second spoon on the counter and reached for the first of the glasses.
He rinsed out the final glass and reached for a second tea towel, turning to face her. "You know, you really shouldn't insult your boss like that."
"And what are you going to do about it?" She reached for the second glass and started to dry it.
His eyes softened and a sigh escaped his lips. "Nothing." He whispered.
"So, you'd let me insult you?" She asked unsurely.
He nodded. "If it meant I got to see you and Allie, you could insult me like crazy."
She met his eyes and looked to the side. "Troy, don't do this."
"What did I do?" He exclaimed, folding the tea towel neatly and placing it on the counter.
Gabriella placed the glass down on the island and tossed the tea towel next to it. She gripped the island tightly and felt her knuckles click as she squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head. "Nothing. But, you're going to do something."
"What?" Troy asked in confusion. "Gabby, you're scaring me."
"That's it!" She cried, lifting her head to reveal her teary eyes. "No one has called me Gabby since I was seven. I haven't let anyone call me it. Not even Zeke. And when you did… I didn't know what to do. So, I left it and I liked it."
He smiled slightly. "But, what do you think I'm going to do?"
"If I have to tell you, it kind of ruins it." She whispered, wiping her eyes.
He nodded and a silence enveloped them as her words sank in. "Then I guess I'll have to figure it out."
She nodded and fiddled with her fingers before looking him in the eyes. "Troy?"
He stepped forward and brushed a curl behind her ear. "Yeah?"
"If I find a job as a doctor and I leave Lava Springs, will you keep me on the listings like Sharpay did?" She asked innocently.
He nodded, pressing his lips to her forehead. "If you want me to."
"And will you want to stay friend if I leave?" She whispered. "Because Allie will miss you even though she's known you just a couple of days. And I might as well."
He smiled and wrapped his arms around her in a tender hug. "I'd be honoured to stay friends."
* * *
"Hey, Parents!" Troy yelled as he entered the Bolton's house. He didn't live there, he lived a little closer to Lava Springs, but he went there nearly everyday while he had been living in Albuquerque.
"Hey, Troy." A feminine voice called. "We're in the lounge."
Troy slipped his shoes off and jogged into the lounge, flopping into one of the armchairs in the room. "Where are Jenna and Cody?"
Lucille Bolton looked up from her magazine and smiled at her oldest son's concern. "Jenna went to a friend's and Cody went to one of his friend's."
"Right." Troy muttered. "You know when you guys came down to Albuquerque because of your job?"
Jack walked in, eating an apple and he sat next to his wife. "What about your Mom's job?"
"Dad, why do you always interrupt the talks Mom and I have?" Troy exclaimed before shaking his head. "That doesn't matter. Mom, are there any vacancies at the hospital?"
Lucille frowned. "What? Why do you want to know?"
Troy sighed and ran his hands over his face. "I have an employee. On her records it said her last job was at Albuquerque infirmary. I don't know the full details but she got fired and she's best friends with Sharpay. The point I'm getting at is that she needs a job that pays well."
"Why? And I hate to sound like a jerk but why do you care so much?" Jack asked, biting into his apple.
Lucille smacked him in the face with her magazine. "Jack!"
"Ow! What is with the violence, Lucy?" He exclaimed in disbelief.
Troy laughed. "Guys!"
"He's saying he's in love with her." Lucille said in exasperation.
"I am not in love with her!" Troy protested.
Lucille raised her eyebrows. "Troy, I'm your mother."
"I know who you are!" He exclaimed. He sighed and leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling. "I like her a little more than a friend should like another friend. Or at least how a boss should like an employee. Which is another reason why she needs a job."
Lucille shrugged. "I don't know, Troy. I mean, I can try to find out if there is but, I doubt it. This is Albuquerque private hospital we're talking about, Honey. The only reason I got a job there was because the one in L.A. sent me here." She said softly.
He nodded. "I know."
"Who is this girl?" Jack asked, wrapping his arm around Lucille.
"This girl is named Gabriella Montez." Troy whispered.
"Wait!" Lucille exclaimed, sitting up suddenly which made Jack jump slightly. "Gabriella Montez? She's twenty three?"
Troy nodded. "Yeah. How do you know?"
"She's the best doctor at Albuquerque infirmary." Lucille yelled excitedly. "She's the best known doctor in Albuquerque."
"I thought you were?" Jack asked in confusion.
Lucille slapped his arm. "I was trying to be modest."
"Sorry." Jack muttered, slouching further into the couch.
Troy laughed. "Dad, why don't you just shut up?"
"Your mom would miss my voice." Jack said confidently.
Lucille smiled and kissed his cheek. "Yeah, I would."
"Guys, can we please focus?" Troy asked, making his parents look at him. "Does that mean she's likely to get a job?" He asked excitedly.
Lucille nodded. "I mean, I'm on the night shift tonight so I most likely won't be able to find my boss but, I can try on my next shift."
Troy breathed a sigh of relief. "You would?"
She nodded. "Sure I can. And you seem to like her as well. That's never happened before. Except for a certain girl named Carly…"
Troy groaned. "Don't go there. Gabriella isn't like her."
"No?" Jack asked with interest. "Tell us about her."
"Would you like to meet her?" Troy asked suddenly, sitting up straighter.
Lucille nodded. "That might be a good idea. I mean, I'm high up so they'll consider my opinion of her."
"Yeah. But, don't make it obvious. I don't want to get her hopes up too high." Troy whispered. "So, I'm not going to tell her unless she gets the job and I have to be the one who tells her." He said sternly.
Jack and Lucille nodded. "How about she comes around for dinner?" Lucille asked.
"That would be…" His voice trailed off and he cringed slightly. "That's not a good idea."
"How so?" Jack asked.
"She has a daughter." Troy whispered. "She's got tonsillitis."
"Gabriella or her daughter?" Lucille questioned softly.
"Her daughter. Hey, let me call her okay?" Troy asked, leaping to his feet. He walked through to the kitchen and grabbed the cordless phone off of the counter. He dialled the number he had learnt off by heart and pressed 'call'.
"Hello?" Gabriella's voice asked.
"Hey, Gabby. It's me, Troy." He said softly.
"Oh, Troy. What's up? You left about an hour ago." She giggled slightly.
"Well, you see, I'm at my parents' house and I was talking about today and they really want to meet you." He said gently, sitting on one of the island stools.
"You were talking about me?" She asked slyly and Troy could hear her smirk over the phone.
"Stop smirking and tell me if it's okay." He said, trying to avoid the subject.
"Well, I guess its okay but, I mean, Allie's sick." She said apologetically.
"I know. I've been helping you look after her all day." He pointed out. "They know. I told them. So, what do you say?"
Gabriella sighed over the phone. "Troy, I'd love to but I'm not good with meeting a guy's parents. I mean, the last time I met a guy's parents was…never."
"You've never met a guy's parents?" He asked in disbelief.
"No." She muttered.
"Listen," He started softly, "I'm going to be there and they'll love you. I promise."
"How can you promise me that?" She asked quietly and Troy knew she had tears in her eyes.
"Gabby, don't cry." Troy pleaded. "Remember what I said? I don't make promises I can't keep."
"I don't know, Troy." She whispered.
"Hey, I'm going to be there right beside you and Allie. But, I guarantee that parents will love you." He said encouragingly.
"Well, I don't have that much food or anything." She muttered.
"We'll pick up some Chinese on the way." He compromised. "But, hey, you're going to be having dinner with the handsome me."
She giggled slightly. "Well, okay. If you insist…"
"Well, as it is, you're only coping with my parents. You could be suffering the company of my little brother and sister." He chuckled.
"You're an older brother?" She whispered.
"Why do you sound so shocked?" He exclaimed in disbelief.
"Well, you seemed like an only child." She admitted.
"Well, me and my parents will be over in about half an hour." Troy said.
* * *
"Gabriella, this is my mom and dad." Troy introduced.
Gabriella – who had finally changed out of her dressing gown into a knee length denim skirt and a pink t-shirt and a thick, dark blue jumper – smiled at the older man and woman. "It's nice to meet you, Mr and Mrs Bolton."
Lucille stepped forward and laughed, wrapping her in a friendly hug. "Oh, Honey, I'm Lucille and this is my husband, Jack." She pulled back and motioned to the older version of Troy carrying a brown paper bag of Chinese food.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, too, Gabriella." Jack said sincerely. "Troy hasn't stopped talking about you since he came into our house."
Troy elbowed his father and growled a deep, "Dad!" making Gabriella giggle.
"I know a girl who hasn't stopped talking about him, either." She said softly, smiling at Troy. She saw his blush and gentle smile and decided to have a little fun as she turned to Lucille. "Yeah, Allie won't stop talking about her Uncle Troy."
"What?!" Troy exclaimed and his parents and Gabriella turned to look at him. "I mean, I'm hungry. Let's eat." He grabbed the bag off of Jack and rushed into the kitchen.
"Good one, Gabriella. You know, I have always been the best at torturing my son but, heck, you're a close second." Jack complimented her as they all went to the kitchen to find Troy emptying the plastic tubs from the bag.
"Will you guys excuse for a minute? Allie is due her medicine and she's asleep so I need to wake her." Gabriella said softly, pointing to the hall.
"Can I help?" Troy asked immediately.
"She'd like that." Gabriella smiled. "But, I don't want to leave your parents alone. I mean, they're my guests."
Lucille chuckled slightly. "Calm down. We'll dish everything up here. You go and sort your daughter out. By the way, Troy has already gone."
Gabriella turned to see that the hallway was, indeed, empty. She sighed gently and turned to Jack and Lucille. "Well, I might as well stay here. He'll have to bring her down for the ice cream, anyway. He'll be down soon."