Chapter 16
When Gabriella woke up the next morning, Troy's arm was wrapped around her. She sat up on the bed and remembered what had happened the night before. Troy woke up when she sat up. Before, Troy could say a word, Gabriella started talking.
"Troy, last night was a mistake," she said and Troy's mouth dropped open. "I can't just forgive you for what you did to me. It really hurt me. So, just forget that this ever happened, alright?"
Troy looked at her in the eyes and knew that she meant what she said. He sighed and pulled himself off the bed and put his clothes on, quickly.
"Bye, Gabriella," he said and walked to the door. "And, just so you know, even if you regretted last night, I didn't."
"Just go, Troy," Gabriella pleaded.
Troy nodded and left. Gabriella got up from the bed and went to the bathroom and took a shower.
After she got dressed, she called Taylor and asked her whether she could come over. Taylor arrived within a few minutes and when she saw Gabriella, she immediately knew that something was wrong.
"Gabi, what's wrong?" she asked.
"I don't know, Tay," Gabriella cried as her eyes filled with tears. "Troy and I did it last night and today I just pushed him out."
"Why, Gabs?" Taylor asked. "We both know you still love him."
"I don't love him," Gabriella said.
"Gabi, don't deny it," Taylor said. "You know that you love him. You never stopped."
"Okay, okay," Gabriella exclaimed. "I love him, alright? I don't want to love him. I want to hate him, but, I still love him. Damn it! Taylor, I still love him!"
"Why are you telling me this?" Taylor asked. "Tell Troy that you love him. Don't tell me."
"But, I don't want to tell him, that I love him," Gabriella said. "He hurt me really bad, Tay."
"I know, Gabs," Taylor said. "And, he hurt himself really bad, because he hurt you."
"What do you mean?" Gabriella asked.
"Troy, Chad and I went to the same university," Taylor explained. "And, every night, he would stay out late, drinking. He wouldn't eat properly. He skipped classes. This went on for about two months, until the basketball coach there had a word with him. Chad asked him what was wrong, and he actually started crying. He said it was because you hated him. It was because he had hurt you, and he wanted to hurt himself. He was really upset, Gabs. It got better after a couple of months and gradually he got everything he had in East High back, except for one thing. He got the popularity, basketball captain and everything, but, he didn't get a girlfriend. Girls ran after him, the same way they did in East High, but, Troy just ignored them. And finally the head cheerleader asked him why, and he said that he was already in love with someone. When she asked him who the girl was, he yelled at her saying that it was a girl named Gabriella Montez. He loves you, Gabi. He still loves you. He never loved anyone other than you. He didn't date a single girl when he was in college. It was all because he loved you."
Gabriella was speechless. Taylor gave her a hug.
"Think about what I just told you," she whispered. "And then, decide whether you want to tell him if you love him or not."
Then, Taylor left and Gabriella started crying. She lay on the bed. It was almost noon when she decided to go out.
As soon as she was out of the hotel, the paparazzi surrounded her. She tried to walk past them, but, it was useless. One of the photographers grabbed her shirt and Gabriella tried to push him away.
"HEY!" a voice yelled.
Gabriella and the paparazzi turned and saw Troy walking towards them, furiously. He pulled Gabriella away from the photographer.
"Stay away from her," he told the photographer. "Do not touch her. And, that goes to all of you. If you do, I'll make sure your career is as good as over. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," the photographer said.
"Good," Troy said. He grabbed Gabriella's hand. "Come on, Gabriella. Let's go."
Troy led Gabriella to his car. The paparazzi took the pictures.
"You know that the headlines tomorrow are going to be 'Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez: DATING', right?" Gabriella asked Troy.
"Yes, but, I don't care," Troy said. "You don't want us to be dating, so, we're not. And, if I had cared about the headlines tomorrow, I wouldn't have gone and pulled you out of there."
"Thank you," Gabriella smiled.
"You're welcome," Troy replied. "So, where were you going? Need a lift?"
"Thanks," Gabriella said. "Drop me off of at Taylor's house."
"I'm going there myself," Troy said as he started the car. "Chad, Zeke, Jason and I are going to play basketball, and if Ryan comes, some baseball later on."
Gabriella nodded. Troy glanced at her.
"Gabs, are you okay?" he asked. "You're not mad at me about last night, are you?"
"No, I'm not," Gabriella said. "Why would I be? I was as much as in it as you were."
"Yeah, but, you kind of did push me out, too," Troy said.
"I know, and I'm sorry about that," Gabriella said. "But, I need to think."
"I know, Gabi, I know," Troy whispered. "I'm really sorry."
"I know, Troy," Gabriella sighed. "I just need to think, alright?"
"Okay," Troy said, softly as they pulled up by Taylor's house. "Umm…tell the guys that I'm sorry, but, I'm not coming, alright?"
"Why aren't you coming?" Gabriella asked.
"Like you said before," Troy smiled. "I need to think."
"Okay," Gabriella nodded, before going into Taylor's house.
"Hey, Gabs," Taylor smiled.
"Hey," Gabriella smiled back. "Uh...can I use your bathroom?"
"Sure," Taylor shrugged. "Are you okay?"
"I think I'm going to be sick," Gabriella said and rushed to the bathroom.
After a couple of minutes, Gabriella walked out, looking completely wiped out.
"Are you okay?" Taylor asked again.
"Yeah, I think I got food poisoning," Gabriella answered as she sat down. "Uh…Troy said he wouldn't be coming."
"When? You talked to him again?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah," Gabriella shrugged. "He pulled me out of some crazy paparazzi."
"Ohh," Taylor nodded. "Right! That's all he did."
"I'm serious," Gabriella protested.
"Okay," Taylor said. "I believe you. Anyway, how long are you staying here for?"
"About a month or so," Gabriella said. "I'll have to go back in time for the tour."
"Troy's staying for two months," Taylor said. "You'll be gone before he does, right?"
"Probably, yeah," Gabriella nodded.
"Why don't you just move back here?" Taylor asked.
"I don't know, Tay," Gabriella said. "I mean, with my career and all…I just don't know. It's going to be tough."
"I guess so," Taylor said. "But, I'm just going to miss you so much when you go back again."
"I'll miss you, too, Tay," Gabriella smiled. "And, I'll visit and everything."
"Good," Taylor smiled. "Or else, I'd kill you."
The two girls laughed. They spent the day talking together and having fun.
A/N So, you guys probably hate me for not gettin Troy and Gabriella together, right? But, HAKUNA MATATA. That will happen. After all, this is a Troyella fanfic. Anyways, review.