Multiple Bonding
It was Saturday afternoon and Troy was going on an early run. He was making his way around a corner when he suddenly collided into someone.
"Oh I'm really sorry," he said as he looked up to see whom he had run into. "Zeke?"
"Don't worry about it." Zeke replied "Uhh…so where were you yesterday?"
"I was busy." Troy answered hastily
"With Gabriella Montez?" Zeke said with a grin
Troy looked up shocked. "How'd you know?"
"The guys and I were driving by and we saw you two walking together. Why didn't you tell us?"
"It's not what you think."
"Then what is it?" Zeke asked
"I'm close to failing Chemistry. If I don't raise my grade, I'll get kicked off the team and I'll lose credit. She's just tutoring me."
"You lied to us about that?"
"Dude, you don't think that's the least bit embarrassing? Even Chad has a better science grade then me."
"We warned you man." Zeke said now laughing. "Does Emma Heaton, Amanda Lewis, Abby Jackson, Johanna Bales…" he was cut off by Troy
"Are you going to get to the point anytime soon?" he said frustrated
"All I'm saying is you're notorious for being the school's prime serial dater, you probably don't even know how many girls you dated last semester."
"Yes I do." He began to think hard and count with his fingers. "…Sarah Stevens, Julia Doffs, LeAnn Kelly…did you say Jessica Taylor?"
"See!" Zeke stated
"Okay I get you're saying, but I'm not even like that anymore. I'm not dating anyone right now am I?"
"No. But you are crushing hard."
"What?" Troy said trying to deny it but failing miserably
"Don't give me that crap Troy. I saw the way you were looking at her, and the fact that you were actually walking her home just made it easier to confirm."
"Do the guys think the same?" Troy asked
"No, not that I know of, but they'll probably figure it out."
"Don't tell them."
"Then don't lie! It will only make things harder."
"Alight, I won't lie. So what do I do now?" Troy asked
"About the guys?" Zeke replied unsure
"No. About Gabriella."
"What do you mean what do you do? Why are you asking me about advice on asking her out? I thought we already established the fact that you're the reigning champ in that department."
"Yeah but you know her, and are actually friends with her."
"Well…get to know her first, because obviously you know nothing about her, then be her friend and gain her trust, girls like her I kind of big on things like that, and more than anything…treat her right." Zeke said sincerely
"Thanks man."
With that Troy continued his run, and Zeke made his way to his mom's bakery.
Troy eventually made his way to a nearby park. He sat on a bench near a fishpond and thought about what Zeke had previously said. He was lost in his thoughts until a loud barking and a high-pitched shriek had broken his trance. Troy looked up and saw Gabriella. She was desperately trying to hold on to what looked like five leashes, as the dogs she was walking were craving for some hotdogs from a kiosk in sight. Troy rose up and made his way over to the brown-eyed beauty in an attempt to help her in her current situation.
"Gabi!" he called out running towards her
"Tro-oooy"she squealed in a elevated tone as the dogs were now pulling her.
Troy had grabbed hold of some of the dogs before Gabriella was completely pulled over.
"Thanks" she said as she looked to him
"Yeah, well you've helped me, I guess this is just one way of returning the favor." He said with a smile.
"So what are you doing here?" she asked, changing the subject.
"I was going for a run, but I needed to stop and think." He responded
"Is something wrong?" she questioned
"No, I just have a lot on my mind."
"Anything I can help you out with?" she asked
"I don't know, can you handle anymore of my problems?"
"Good point." She replied as they both began to laugh
"So…what's with all the dogs?" he asked noticeably confused
"My neighbor is out of town and…"
"And Miss Perfect decided to do the 'right' thing and chime in to lend a helping hand." He said cutting her off
"I thought we said we wouldn't judge each other based on the stereotypes that surround us."
"Okay sorry. So your neighbor went out of town and…"
"I decided to be Miss Perfect and did the 'right' thing by chiming in and lending a helping hand."
Troy looked at her confusedly.
"That was kind of pointless, all that crap you gave me about stereotypes and…"
"Troy! I was kidding. My mom made me do it." She said laughing
"Then what was all that?"
"I just wanted you to talk to me like…like…" she was at a loss for words
"Like we were friends…" he finished
"Exactly. I know we haven't really talked much or gotten to know each other, but if we're going to be studying together for a month or so, we're going to have to find some sort of middle ground."
"I don't want to find a middle ground Gabriella…"
"Oh I…" she spoke in somewhat of a disappointed tone
"Let me finish" he said with a smile. "I want to be your friend."
"I'm sorry, I guess if we're going to be friends we're going to have to learn to stop cutting off each others sentences." She said slightly embarrassed
"Don't worry about it." He said.
There was a short silence.
"So, can I help you get these guys home?"
"Sure, I think they would love that."
"And you?" he asked
"The feeling would be mutual." She said with a bright smile spread across her face.
The feeling was mutual, but not between Gabriella and the dogs, but between her and Troy. They were friends, for the moment, but like a lot of things, it takes time to progress. First Gabriella taught Troy the basics, but now she is about to educate Troy on another very important component of Chemistry. Bonds.