Hey Thanks for your reviews!!!
I forgot to say it's almost at the end, the next chapter is the last ;)
I have some other bits to post so start voting – one shot or long story next??
CHAPTER 17
It was dark, it was the middle of the night and Gabi wondered where Troy was because she was alone in bed.
She frowned, realising he must have brought her there and she looked over, seeing his body rise and fall with his sleeping breaths.
He must have thought she was annoyed with him after the swimming pool contest and left her alone.
She climbed from her bed, lifting his covers to snuggle in with him, smiling as he held the cover up while she got comfy, then wrapping it round her, his arm pinning it in place across her body.
"I'm sorry I did that to you." He husked.
"It's ok, Troy" she assured, her hands going to his chest. "I liked making you proud."
"Wanna tell me what's up?" He asked gently.
"Sometimes…sometimes I just like this. Just sleeping, just…just talking." She said softly.
"So do I, oh my god, the night you stayed after I got into the fight with Chad. That was like heaven for me." He assured her, holding her tightly the best he could in the small bed.
"I know it's not just physical for you, but sometimes I wonder…I wonder if I didn't look like this, if I didn't dress like this…" She let out a sigh.
"Gabi, I love you. Every part of you. No matter what you look like." He added, crushing her into his body now, wondering why she was feeling like this.
"Even if I couldn't win a bikini competition?" She tested.
"Hey, have I done something to upset you? Do you wish I hadn't taken you today?" He wondered.
"No! No, that's not it." She denied sharply. "I had fun, I really did. I just wish sometimes people could see more. That I could be more."
"You are the most beautiful, smart, funny girl I could ever hope to meet." He enthused. "And I'm not gonna let go until you believe it. Until you forgive me." He sighed out against her hair.
"I told you, there's nothing to forgive. I'm just tired. I love you." She murmured, falling asleep against him where he kicked himself for making her feel this way.
--
Cheer shorts, white vest and Troy's white hoodie.
Gabi smiled at her outfit, tying the hoodie at her waist and adding some red lipstick as she got ready for the day ahead.
They had Cheer practice for four hours and Troy's first game started at 3'oclock, leaving her time to shower and change in between.
"Hey, how's my girl?" He asked from the bed, sitting up, sleepily rubbing his eye as his hair sprang up messily.
A loud knock sounded on the door, startling them both.
"Game's up!" Someone called. "Open up, everyone is grounded."
Gabi rolled her eyes, throwing Troy a look, then trekking to the door.
"Miss. Montez." The chaperone said, she recognised them as Helen's mum.
"Yes." She smiled brightly.
"You are not permitted to sleep with the boys, remember?" She asked tiredly, taking her away from Troy as he sat in bed, dumbfounded.
He sank back down, covering his face with his arm.
--
"Go Wildcat!" Gabi shouted from the crowd, now changed into hot pants and Troy's red tee.
"Are you really gonna sit there and cheer on the Wildcats?" Brenda asked in surprise.
Gabi frowned.
"No. Just my Wildcat." She amended with a little purse of her lips.
Troy jogged out for warm up and Gabi felt like running down and hugging him, she loved him in his basketball kit. He always looked so mean and moody and when he got sweaty, his arms just stood out, reminding her of his muscles.
He threw a quick wave at her and she smiled, waving back.
"Win big." She wished quietly.
The final buzzer went and the whole crowd roared with delight, Wildcats were through!
Gabi ran down from the stands, looking for Troy, a little lost amongst a sea of tall players and cheerleader's pom poms.
"We did it!!!!!!!!!!!" He shouted, scooping her up, twirling her around.
"I'm so proud of you!" Gabi said back, smiling, laughing with him as his sweat wetted her.
"Man I must reek…" He said, letting her down.
She stroked his fringe back. "I must be crazy to date a player." She teased.
He hugged her again, pulled away by his team mates as they covered him in water and she stood, smiling from the sideline.
--
"I love it when you wear my t-shirt." Troy said, sitting next to Gabi as she leaned over her books on the sofa in the hotel lounge.
"Well, I am the ever-dutiful girlfriend." She allowed, rationing him a small kiss.
"My studying girlfriend?" He asked.
"Mm? Oh, I'm just checking out the competition." She smiled, laying her book down, facing him.
"So we're grounded tonight…" He rolled his eyes.
She placed her hand in his. "It's good to have time apart." She said lightly.
His smile dropped, trying to read her face.
"Is it?" He asked worriedly. Maybe he was crowding her, coming on too strong?
"Well you would have had three weeks away for your dance thing." She managed a fake smile, dropping her eyes from his.
"Do you wanna break up?" He feared.
Her eyes were wide. "No! Oh my god, no." She assured.
"Then I did something wrong because you've hated me ever since we went swimming…" He reasoned.
"No, not hated you. I could never hate you." She scoffed. "Just…don't know how to tell you…" she hedged.
"Tell me what?" He asked, sitting forward, seeing her frown appear.
"I promised I would help you dance, Troy and I will. But first I have to go to my dad's for a few weeks of the summer break. Apparently he wants to see me." She pressed her lips together in annoyance.
"Oh wow. Where does he live?" He wondered.
"Indianapolis." She stated, sighing. "And I was just starting to feel like I belonged, like everything was fitting into place."
He held out his other hand to her, palm up. Instead of placing her hand directly into his, she tickled the pads of his fingers with hers, smiling faintly.
"You belong with me." He said, predictably. "We fit, right?" He checked
She nodded, her eyes watering but she didn't cry.
"We do." She confirmed, taking his hands and holding them to her chest. "We fit real well."
"Then you don't have to worry. You always have me." He added, touching her ring.
A tear streaked down her cheek and he felt his heart break.
"Oh, come here, babe." He whispered, pulling her against his chest as she fought her tears, clutching his arm as he held her sideways to his body.
"I promised I wouldn't do this!" She told herself.
"What, cry?" He said, half a chuckle coming out. "It's okay, you know."
"I wasn't supposed to do this. I wasn't supposed to let anyone in." She argued and although his gut ached with her pain, he had to smile at her words.
He pressed his lips to her hair, too awed to speak at first.
"I know, it's kinda scary, huh?" He asked softly, holding her.
She nodded against his body.
"I don't like it." She sulked and he actually laughed this time, holding her tighter, wishing his arms could comfort her.
"You don't? Wow, I am sorry to hear that. I kinda hoped I made you happy." He teased, kissing her hair again.
She turned in his arms, throwing her arms around his neck where he held her once more against his chest.
"Will you miss me?" She ventured as she pulled back and looked into his eyes.
"Will I miss you?" He repeated with an amused smile, as though she were joking. "Damn, you don't know how much." He assured.
"You're just saying that 'cos you're gonna miss my ass." She said sulkily, her brown eyes lifting to his.
"I'm saying that because I'm gonna miss all of you, beautiful." He replied, touching her face. "Maybe your ass the most but…" He grinned as she slapped him playfully on the arm.
"I'm gonna miss you." He said again, seriously, his blue eyes intent and trapping her gaze.
"I'm gonna miss you too, Troyby." She returned.
More than she had ever missed anyone before, she added silently as she let him hold her for just a little longer.