A/N: Maybe you'll like...maybe you won't. Maybe you'll hate me...maybe you'll love me. I guess I'm kind of like marmite :P lol. Anyway...Don't own HSM or 'say ok' by vanessa hudgens
Chapter 7 – A promise sealed
"Hey, Mom." Gabriella called while she took Allie's coat off.
Sarah Baylor walked into the hall and smiled. "Hey, Darling. What are you doing here? I thought you were going back to work today?"
Gabriella started taking Allie's scarf and mittens off. "I am. But, I want to talk to you." She whispered, slipping her daughter's shoes off of her little feet.
"Grandma!" Allie cried, running to hug the older woman's legs.
Sarah chuckled and picked Allie up so she was resting on her hip. "Hey, Sweetie. You being a good girl for your mama?"
"Yeah she is." Gabriella said softly, setting Allie's stuff on the hooks before shrugging her thick, blue coat of which had a slight dusting of snow on the shoulders. She draped it over the hooks and slipped her leather boots off, setting them to the side. "Mom, can I talk to you? I don't have to be in work for another hour and a half and I need some advice."
Sarah nodded worriedly and set Allie on the floor. "Honey, go and play with some toys in the living room, okay?"
Allie nodded. "Okay, Grandma." She said sweetly and ran off into the lounge where there was a box of toys that Gabriella's parents kept for her when Allie slept over.
Gabriella and Sarah walked into the kitchen and Sarah turned the kettle on for some coffee. "So, what's on your mind, Honey?"
Gabriella looked up at the African-American woman and sighed. "Last week, Troy said that he's in love with me." She whispered.
"Really?" Sarah grinned. "That's great."
"No it's not." She muttered, looking away.
Sarah was silent as she stirred the coffee and sat next to Gabriella, setting one mug in front of her. "Why isn't it?"
"We only met each other last week! How can he be in love with me?" She whispered.
"It's possible. Ever heard of love at first sight?" Sarah asked quietly, sipping her coffee.
"Yeah. I've never believed in it, though." Gabriella said softly, cradling the cup in her two hands.
"What about Troy?" Sarah raised an eyebrow.
Gabriella lifted her head and frowned. "Don't give me that look." She sighed and her shoulders sagged. "I don't know. I guess I'm scared."
Sarah placed her mug on the counter and hugged her adopted daughter tightly. "Sweetie, Troy's not going anywhere." She whispered, kissing Gabriella's hair.
"How do you know?" Gabriella whimpered into her mother's shoulder.
"What was the first thing you liked about Troy?" Sarah asked softly.
Gabriella pulled back and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "He liked Allie." She finally whispered.
"And…" Sarah prompted.
"He doesn't make promises he can't keep." Gabriella sipped her coffee before pushing it away.
"Exactly. Doesn't that count for something? And didn't you tell me last week how he wanted to know you?" Sarah raised her eyebrows.
"That's my point. He doesn't know me. I was happy with having three guys in my life. Three guys that I know will never hurt me." She cried in exasperation.
"You can't hide from every guy that comes into your life." Sarah said sternly.
Gabriella stared at her in disbelief. "You've been talking to Zeke." She decided. "That's not it. I don't want to hide but what can I do?"
"Here's a thought: tell him how you feel." Sarah tried with a smirk. It slowly faded when she saw her daughter's face. "You don't know how you feel, do you?"
Gabriella shook her head and tears rolled down her cheeks. "I've tried so hard to figure it out. He's so perfect. I mean, he's honest, he's great with Allie and he makes me laugh. And the fact that he's handsome is just an extra."
Sarah giggled and rubbed Gabriella's arm. "See? You'll be fine. I'm not telling you what do to. But I'm telling you to give him a chance and not to let what could've been slip through your fingers."
"How fast did you fall in love with Dad?" Gabriella whispered, avoiding Sarah's eyes.
"About as fast as Troy fell for you." Sarah replied with a gentle smile.
"Really?" Gabriella asked unsurely.
Sarah nodded. "Yeah. I was being bullied, your father knocked them out and the rest is history. So it is possible. You just have to trust that your heart is good at making choices."
"Look what happened last time." Gabriella muttered, resting her chin in her palm.
"And without that happening, it is highly unlikely you would've met Troy. If I remember rightly, you moved back to Albuquerque because of Allie. Am I right?" Sarah asked sternly.
Gabriella groaned and closed her eyes. "Why does everyone remember everything I want them to forget?"
"Just don't lose him. He's the first guy in three years that saw Allie and not think you were a slut, right?" Sarah asked positively.
Gabriella finally nodded. "You're right."
"So, what are you going to do?" Sarah asked.
"I have no idea." Gabriella muttered in a defeated voice.
* * *
Zeke laughed as Allie gladly got stuck into her chocolate mousse. "Don't get it on your dress or your mama is going to kill me."
"Zeke, Honey?" Sharpay asked from the island in the middle of the country club kitchen.
Zeke looked over from his baking station and smiled at his wife. "Yeah?"
She bit her lip nervously and waved him over. He lifted Allie up and carried her over before appearing beside the blonde woman. "I know we haven't really talked about this and I don't think this is the place, either, but I think I want some kids." She whispered.
Zeke stared at her in disbelief. "Where did that come from?"
She shrugged, stirring her coffee with a spoon. "I don't know. I just saw how you were acting with Allie and I figured… It doesn't matter."
"No, Pay, it does. If you want kids we can start trying. I'd love them. I promise." He kissed her cheek before returning to his station and set Allie on the stool beside him.
"You sure?" Sharpay called over.
He turned to her and winked. "Definitely." He turned back to his baking and kissed Allie on the top of her head. "You enjoying that?"
She nodded, stuffing the creamy chocolate into her mouth which was slowly being obscured by a chocolate beard. "Yes, thank you Uncle Zeke." She said happily.
He chuckled and started moulding the dough once again. "You having fun today?"
Allie nodded. "Can I go and play with Uncle Chad when I'm finished?"
Zeke smiled at her innocence and nodded. "Of course."
"Zeke, there you are!" A voice said breathlessly.
Zeke turned around – with dough covering his hands – and he raised his eyebrows. "Yes. It's strange to find the head chef in the kitchen."
Troy shot him a look and he noticed how Sharpay joined her husband and niece. "Good afternoon, Sharpay."
"Hmmm… I suppose it is." She muttered.
Troy was starting to become unnerved at their coldness and he turned to Allie. "It's good to see you feeling better, Chocolate Baby."
Allie beamed and held her arms up. "Uncle Troy."
Troy picked the little girl up and reached for a tea towel to wipe her mouth. "I've missed you, Allie. So much." He whispered as he tossed the tea towel onto the silver counter and pulled Allie closer to his body, closing his eyes. He imagined Gabriella in his arms instead and he sighed softly, kissing Allie's cheek.
"I've missed you too." Allie said softly.
Troy opened his eyes and turned back to Zeke and Sharpay who both had their arms folded and stern looks on their faces. He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Guys, where's Gabriella?"
"We're not telling you." Sharpay said shortly.
"What?" Troy asked in disbelief. "This is my club."
"And you hurt my sister." Zeke shot back.
"I didn't mean to! And I want to know where she is so I can try to fix things!" He exclaimed. "All I did was tell her how I feel!"
"Then why did she knock on our door, crying?" Sharpay shot back.
"Please." Troy begged, holding Allie tightly. He turned to the little girl and raised an eyebrow. "Allie? Do you know where your mama is?"
Allie glanced at her Aunt and Uncle who were shaking their heads. "She's not in the music room."
Troy raised his eyebrows. "Okay, well I won't take you to the music room." He decided and walked out of the kitchen.
"Come back here, Bolton!" Zeke yelled.
"Not a chance." Troy muttered.
* * *
Will you say alright?
Will you say okay?
Will you try to
Gabriella's fingers stopped playing the piano as she grabbed the pencil and continued editing her song. "Will you try to make me feel better?"
Ever since talking with her mother, all she had come up with was how perfect Troy really was. Every time she thought of him, she added one more thing to his list of perfections. She knew she had hurt him and in the process of hurting him, she had hurt Allie as well. She knew how her daughter doted on Troy and how much he doted on her in return. So, why did she throw it all away? She didn't know. She figured that her fear of being hurt again had overcome her want of being loved. The last time she had given her heart away, she had been hurt. And she didn't want that to happen.
Troy's not going anywhere…
Sarah's words rang through her head and she had to agree. During the first couple of days they had known each other, he had been there, comforting, not only Allie but, her as well. The lack of sleep because of these thoughts had made her have bags under her eyes and to be unnaturally irritable and the only people who were talking to her without fear were her parents, Zeke, Sharpay, Chad, Taylor and Allie.
Her fingers pressed the keys in a gentle harmony which she had been writing for the first half hour of her lunch and she sighed gently as she sang softly under her breath.
You are fine
You are sweet
But I'm still a bit naïve with my heart
Her hands froze and she felt tears well in her eyes. Her life had been perfect. Hectic, but perfect. She had had family, friends, a job and a wonderful daughter. But, that had all changed when she met Troy Bolton because she was confused as to what she felt for him and where his loyalties lay.
While during the first few days of their friendship he had been caring and sweet but, what about the future? She mentally kicked herself for thinking like that. During high school, she had constantly worried about her future before finally learning that whatever will be, will be. But now, she was worrying about the future again and she knew Zeke, her parents and especially Sharpay would have her head if they knew of these thoughts.
And that led her to think of her brother's reaction if he knew his sister was thinking not-so-innocently every time she was snuggled in her bed attempting to drown herself in a sleep she knew she needed.
"Hey." A voice whispered.
Gabriella sighed and shut the lid of the piano. "How did you find me?" She asked, already knowing who the person was.
"Your daughter stinks at lying." Troy muttered as he leaned against the piano. "Which reminds me: one hyper-active three year old girl." He held Allie out who gladly moved into her mother's embrace.
"Have I lost my job?" Gabriella whispered, brushing Allie's hair from her eyes.
Troy placed two fingers under her chin and forced her to look at him before folding his arms. "Where did that come from?"
"I just figured… Just answer me!" She snapped.
"I'm not firing you." He concluded.
"Why not? I was a total bi-" She stopped herself and glanced at Allie, "I was a total meanie."
He smiled slightly in amusement and nodded. "Yeah. You were. But, I'm not holding it against you."
"Why not?"
He shrugged. "I find it hard to hate a person who has such a beautiful daughter."
She raised an eyebrow.
He sighed. "And who is also beautiful herself."
She smiled and giggled. "I'm sorry about last week. I didn't know what to do."
He nodded. "Don't worry about it. I'm not. I wasn't even that disappointed because I knew it was a little soon."
She nodded and rocked Allie back and fore. "So, is there any purpose for this visit?"
Troy pulled a chair up and he took a seat next to her. "Yeah, there is. I'm not sure how you're going to take this and I apologise if I over-stepped." He said sincerely, looking imploringly into her chocolate orbs.
She nodded. "Okay."
He dug into the pocket of his UCLA hoody – much like Gabriella's NYU one – and produced an envelope before handing it to Gabriella. "I wanted to help and it seemed like the right thing to do."
Allie jumped off of Gabriella's lap and straightened her navy blue dress out which was hiding the top of her bright red tights. "Mama, can I go and find Uncle Chad?"
Gabriella nodded. "Go to the kitchen and ask Auntie Shar to take you, though." She said sternly as she watched her daughter skip out of the music room. She turned back to Troy and took the envelope from him. It was slightly creased from being in his pocket which made her giggle slightly. "You need a better filing system."
He shrugged and rested his elbows on his knees in anticipation. "Maybe. You're making me nervous, just open it."
"You don't know what is says?" She asked in uncertainty.
He nodded. "Yeah. I do. I just don't know how you'll react."
She flipped it over in her hands and ripped it open, pulling out a couple of folded papers. She straightened them out – still gripping the envelope tightly – and read aloud, her voice cracking as the words passed her lips. "Dear Miss Montez, I am writing to offer you the opportunity to work at Albuquerque private hospital. You were recommended by Lucille Bolton who spoke highly of your experience and caring personality." She paused to look up to meet her boss' eyes. "What is this?"
Troy shrugged and then clasped his hands together. "I know that Christmas is coming soon. A couple of weeks. And I know how hard it is to have Christmas with hyper children. I grew up being the oldest, remember?" He smiled slightly. "I didn't want to offer a hand-out so… My mom works there and she's high up and they value her opinion." He felt the heat rise in his cheeks and he avoided her eyes. "Are you mad?"
Troy felt himself get pushed off of his seat and it only took a moment before he realised Gabriella had lunged at him with such force that they had both fallen to the floor with her hugging him tightly. "I take it you're not." He muttered, cautiously wrapping his arms around her petite body.
"No." She sighed gently. Her eyes were closed with a soft smile on her lips with her head resting on his chest. Her arms were locked around his torso and she listened to his heartbeat, noticing how it was speeding unnaturally.
"Gabby?" He whispered after a moment.
"What?" She replied just as quietly.
"I'm sorry if I came on too strong." He said seriously, running his fingers through her silky hair.
She lifted her head to look down on him and blushed at their position. "It's okay. And maybe…"
"Yeah?" He asked hopefully, holding her in a vice-like grip.
She giggled at how much he resembled an excited puppy getting teased for a treat. She leaned down slowly, her eyes flickering closed, and softly pressed her lips against his before pulling back, blushing adorably. She bit her lip and placed her head back on his chest. "Was that okay?"
"Where the hell did you learn to kiss like that?" He breathed.
She giggled and grabbed his wrist, pushed his sleeve up and glanced at his watch before jumping to his feet. "I'm sorry, Troy, I have to go. You know how strict my boss is." She rolled her eyes playfully.
He jumped to his feet and encased her in his arms as he stepped closely. He laughed sarcastically and shook his head. "Do you really think I'm going to let you work?"
She avoided his eyes and she flinched slightly. "Troy, that's sweet, but can we take it slow?"
Troy kissed her forehead and rested his head on her shoulder. "I promise that if you tell me not to do something, I won't do it until you give me the okay." He whispered gently.
She smiled against his neck and nuzzled her nose into his skin. "Good. And if you break that promise, you not only have Zeke, but Chad, my dad and Sharpay." She pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "And I'm not sure which one you should fear the most."
Troy swooped down and connected their lips, letting the kiss last longer than their first. He pulled back and chuckled. "Well, from my experience with those people, I would definitely say Sharpay."
She bit her lip in a cute smile and pecked his cheek. "Don't let her hear you say that. But, anyway, I'll go and change."
"What?" Troy gasped, tightening his hold so she couldn't escape.
"You said you weren't letting me work. Are you going to let me walk around at the beginning of December in a bathing suit, shorts and a thin jacket?"
Troy furrowed his brow before kissing her nose. "No. And, by the way, does this mean you're my girlfriend?"
Gabriella broke from his arms and picked up the long since discarded letters and turned to walk out of the music room. "Maybe…"
Troy knew he had a giddy grin on his face and he ran a hand through his hair. The most beautiful girl in the universe had kissed him! He'd kissed her. He'd gotten her a job that paid well and she had – unofficially – agreed to be his girlfriend. Well, he was twenty five so he'd much prefer to call her his partner. Although, that made it sound like they were doing a drama project together.
He momentarily shuddered at memories of his old whacky drama teacher. He shook his head slightly and pulled his hoody over his head after feeling a sudden rise in temperature and he breathed out deeply. He'd definitely need some help from Lucille if he intended on keeping Gabriella close. He knew she had standards and loyalties which were high and he had a feeling his mom had been the same.
He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and pushed the number one speed dial, listening to the ringing tone.
"Hello?" A familiar voice asked.
"Mom? I need your help…"
A/N: So, what did you think? Please review. I need opinions!
A/N 2: Okay, I have narrowed the title down to five:
1) The promise (This was suggested by ilovezacefron258)
2) A promise of love
3) I don't make promises I can't keep (Also suggested by ilovezacefron258)
4) Fight for your love (suggested by both ilovezacefron258 and HSMandChelseaFCfan
5) Love takes hard work
Please, please, please vote! Feel free to put your own twist on them and then hopefully you guys can decide which one to change it to.