Okay, so after I wrote Running I, I came up with this idea for Running II. I didn't want to take Running I down, but I really wanted to put Running II up, so I'm just going to have them both, and have the whole story be 36 chapters, instead of 35…
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Hehe, I love reviews. Some would say I am a review hoarder. To those people, I would say you are probably right ;) Winter Sapphire, I'm just wondering what you meant by inside jokes? I'd run over to the forum and ask you, but I barely have time to write, let alone visit the forum. I have two hours of softball every day after school, then I get home and have to do HW.
---
Setting the Scene: Gabriella and Troy are walking home, just making small talk. They are not a couple, nor have they even mentioned their almost-kiss after the basketball game. Then…
"Um… Gabriella?"
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Troy stops walking, and gets this funny look on his face. "Gabriella?"
"Yes Troy?" I ask again.
"I have to tell you something."
I nod, signifying for him to continue. His face scans mine, obviously searching for something. For what, I do not know.
"Gabriella, I like you." Oh no. "I mean," he stutters, "I really like you." Oh no.
I gulp. I can't handle this. Not now. There are a few moments where neither of us says anything at all, and it goes on until I can't take it anymore.
"Troy, I have to go." I begin to walk away slowly, and then when I am about five feet away, I begin to run. I feel tears well up in my eyes. I don't want to run, but I have to. I know I do.
I hear fast paced footsteps behind me. He's running after me. Why is he running after me? I speed up, in hopes of shaking him off. No luck. I feel him take hold of my arm, and I slow to a walk.
"Why are you running?" He asks me, hurt evident in his voice.
"Troy," I say, my voice shaking from trying to hold back my tears. "I can't."
"Why though? Why not?" His eyes show hurt and anguish, and I'm sure mine don't look that much different.
"Troy," I say. Now unable to restrain them, the tears spill down my cheeks. "Troy, don't do this. I hurt people." My voice is shaking, and I know I must be a mess. "I can't be with you. I hurt people. I leave."
He looks at me for a second. "You're running," Is all he says. He turns and walks away, and leaving me to contemplate what he said. I am running, he tells me.
We don't talk for a few days after that. I'm miserable the whole time. But I just don't know how to face him. It's not like I don't want to be with him. It's that I can't. I hurt people. I've had two boyfriends before Troy, and just when I would start falling in love, my mom would announce that we were moving. Again.
I refuse, refuse to do that with Troy.
It would hurt us both.
So my resolution to avoid Troy at all costs is working. That's when I make a big mistake. I lose my purse.
"Taylor," I say when I see her and Chad in the hall. "Have you seen my purse?" I am frantic. I've been looking for it since lunch. It is the end of the day now.
"No, I hav—" Taylor begins, but Chad cuts her off.
"Is it black?" I nod. "And about," he motions with his hands, "this big?" I nod again.
"Troy has it."
"Troy?" I say. "Troy Bolton?"
"Well, yes, I don't really know any other Troys…"
I sigh really hard. "And where is he?"
Chad thinks for a second. "Probably on the roof."
I must look frustrated because then Chad says, "He didn't take it you know. It was on a table at the end of lunch, and Troy recognized it as yours. He was going to give it to Taylor to give to you."
"Oh, I haven't seen him all day," Taylor says. "That's probably why he didn't give it to me."
I close my eyes, and count to five slowly. I mentally prepare myself for what is about to happen.
"Thanks Chad," I hear myself say.
I make my way to our, I mean, Troy's secret spot as slow as possible. I am not looking forward to seeing him.
I finally reach the top, and Troy is leaning against the bench. His eyes are closed, like he is in deep thought.
"Troy?" I say meekly. This is not a conversation that I am looking forward to.
Troy's eyes flutter open quickly, as he suddenly becomes award of my presence.
"Gabriella," He said softly.
I will not allow him to see me hurt. I will not allow him to affect me because he is hurt. It would just hurt us both more in the end. Do I even make any sense anymore?
"Troy," I say. Not loudly, or softly, but in a stiff tone. "Chad told me you had my purse?"
He looks at me, and I can tell he's trying to read me. I will not allow myself to be weak. He can't know that I lov—that I like him.
"I, uh, yeah, I do."
"Well, can I have it?"
I will maintain my composer. I will not start crying. Suddenly though, he messes me up.
"By trying to 'protect' me, you're running. You're hurting more people by trying to save everyone. Why don't you just do what you feel for once Gabriella?"
I look at him. I feel like his eyes are boring into my soul. I don't know what to say.
"Troy, we can't do this."
"Why not Gabriella? I know you must feel something for me. Even something small. Otherwise, you wouldn't be as upset as Taylor says you've been all week."
I will kill Taylor. But he's right. I do feel something for him. Something big. And that's when the tears that I've been holding back for days, the tears that I've been telling myself aren't okay to cry, that's when they fall.
"Troy, I hurt people!" I scream. "Don't you understand! I'll leave! I always do! And then I'll be more hurt then ever!"
He looks at me, and then slowly approaches me.
"Gabriella," he says softly. "Running to protect people is still running."
I sink to the floor. He's right. I know he is.
"Troy, we can't do this."
"Gabriella, I love you."
I take my face out of my hands and I look at him. "W-what?"
"I love you," he says again. "And we can make it. Even if you move. Even if it's half-way across the country. I will find away so that we will be okay. But we can cross that bridge if we get there."
I don't know what to say, but before I can even think of anything, he's leaned in and kissed me.
He pulls away slowly, and I don't know what to say still. So I say the truth.
"I love you Troy."
---
Yay! I finally wrote one I like! Yay! I like this one more than the other running one. So I cheated a bit. I wrote two stories for the same theme. :Shrug: Oh well.
The next theme is song, so be on the lookout!
Love,
Monica