[A/N] due to the fact I have been sick or very busy this got pushed beyond back! Sorry!
Chapter 14 entitled 'Another Game, Another Try'.
Troy sat there watching the rain. Yes, he'd probably get sick, but that was beside the point now. This is all he'd done since she'd left, stay outside all day and most of the night, playing basketball. He'd lost count how many times he had fallen asleep in the lawn chairs on their back porch, just watching the sky, wondering if she were watching it too. It had been almost two weeks since Gabriella had packed up the babies and headed west to her cousin in California. Troy was a total mess, only eating when he felt like it, showering when he was told to by his mom, and holding his breath until at seven each night when Gabriella would call.
Gabriella lied on the couch in her Jonas Brother's tank top and cutoffs, staring out the window at the rain. It seemed to have started the day she got here, and hasn't let up since. Her cousin Molly watched quietly as she burped Caden, Gabriella had seemed to shirk her motherly duties a bit since getting there. But Molly understood Gabi missed Troy terribly, she cried herself to sleep every night. And it hurt Molly to watch it, but Gabriella needed to figure things out, even it meant letting someone else step in for the babies.
"Hello?" Gabriella answered her cell phone as she was sitting in her room nursing Capri.
"Gabriella Bolton this is Mrs. Foster from the Wildcat Boosters. We're having a special charity game next week so our '08 graduates can suit up one last time, and help the school out." the middle-aged woman on the other end spoke kindly.
"Okay, well my husband played ball. Why are you calling me?" Gabriella sighed as Capri's toothless jaw bit down a little too hard on Gabriella.
"Well, I already talked to your husband and he said 'Call my wife'. And so I did, it's an important game Mrs. Bolton." Mrs. Foster was practically begging.
"When is it?" Gabriella giggled under her breath as Capri was dozing off while eating.
"Saturday, we're having a carnival, and then the game at six." Mrs. Foster was getting excited that Gabriella was interested.
"You'll need help serving food, and running games, right?" Gabriella sighed as she knew the school had run into money problems recently.
"Yes, and it would be nice to see our players and their families." Mrs. Foster replied happily.
"Troy and I would love to come out and help the school, but we can't." Gabriella sighed, knowing she wasn't ready to face Troy just yet.
"But it's important. Without Troy we have no captain, and no MVP." Mrs. Foster was getting angry now.
Gabriella thought about it for a few moments, and then decided it would be best to help out the school. Putting aside the troubles between her and Troy were another story.
"Yeah, I'll help, and Troy will too." Gabriella winced thinking about how Troy was going to react to her signing him up without permission.
"Thank you Mrs. Bolton! We'll see you Saturday at ten!" Mrs. Foster happily exclaimed before hanging the phone up with a slam.
Gabriella put her phone down, carefully detached a sleeping Capri from her chest, and nervously bit her lip while pulling her shirt down with shaking hands.
"Molly?!" Gabriella raised her voice in frustrated agony.
Troy was shooting hoots early Saturday morning when a familiar Mercury Milan pulled up in the driveway.
"It's 7:30 am! What the hell are you doing out here so early?!" Gabriella yelled as she slammed her car door and walked onto the lawn as Troy began walking her way.
"Shooting hoots, getting ready for that game you signed me up for tonight." Troy grinned as Gabriella pulled her Chanel sunglasses up revealing puffy and sad eyes.
"Yeah, I thought another game for you and maybe another try for us." Gabriella smiled through the pain she'd been in for days.
"You mean that?" Troy furrowed his brow at the look of confusion on Gabriella's face.
"Yes, but if you hurt me again I'm walking right out that door." Gabriella threatened her voice wavering, but remaining composed throughout her broken heartedness.
"Okay, deal. Where are the babies?" Troy quire noticing Gabriella was without the kids.
"Your parents are keeping them for a little while." Gabriella replied walking towards the house.
Troy followed her like a little lost puppy; he'd missed her, big time. Gabi did also, but she wasn't about to let her guard down. The last she wanted was to collapse into Troy's arms in sobs, and let him take advantage of her weakness, clouding her vision of this important time. But that didn't mean she wouldn't mind it, although, there was no way in hell she'd admit it.
There was a thick tension in the air as Gabriella got some things together from their room, and Troy watched silently from the door. The sun was hitting Gabriella's face at just the right angle. Troy felt a lump in his throat as Gabriella bent down, causing her shirt to rise, and her pants to lower, giving Troy an excellent view. He had to turn away as the figure in front of him was causing an increased blood flow to a certain part of his anatomy. Gabriella stood back to her feet, and turned around to find Troy ten different shades of red and ducking his head embarrassed. Gabriella smiled knowing very well about the somewhat erotic thoughts crossing Troy's mind.
"You dirty boy…" Gabriella had a smile which resembled the one she had just before they would make love.
"And you naughty girl…" Troy returned the smile, his mind imagining the feel of Gabriella's body beneath his.
The tension turned from tense to sensual within a few smiles and glances. Gabriella could feel a throbbing between her legs which proceeded to work up her stomach until it rested in her heart. Troy on the other hand felt an undeniable flow of emotions and blood find its way southward; as his heart was on the verge of popping out of his chest. How can an emotion between two people be so strong when they were standing physically five feet away from each other, but over a thousand miles between their hearts and souls? True Love, is the answer.
"We have to be there at ten, it's nine now." Gabriella cleared her throat feeling suddenly uncomfortable with the way Troy was looking at her.
"Brie, can I love you for a little bit?" Troy's voice was raw, needy, and loving. His hands gripped tightly around the slim waist of the woman he loved.
"I can't, it would be too much right now Troy." Gabriella reluctantly pulled away from Troy's tempting embrace.
"Okay, I'm sorry I pushed." Troy apologized, turning his attention to the vibrating cell phone in his pocket. It was a text from Chad, asking if Gabi got there okay.
"I'm gonna shower, and then I'll make us some breakfast. How's that sound?" Gabriella smiled cradling her clothes tightly to her chest.
"Great, but there's something else…" Troy was nervous to admit what he wanted from Gabriella.
"What babe?" Gabi almost cooed as she ran her hand gently through Troy's hair.
"Can I take that shower with you?" Troy gave an awkward smile as Gabriella's eyes softened on his.
"Yeah, you can…" Gabriella took Troy by the hand and led him into their master bathroom, with want in her heart and lust in her eyes.
They took it easy and clean. Troy helped Gabi out of her clothes, and she did the same for him. Neither wanted to make love, all they wanted was to be close. Holding, touching, kissing, and loving the other. They spent about a half hour making out in the shower, their bare bodies longing to join, but they kept control. Gabriella had somewhere worked up enough courage to ask Troy to push her over that edge she was inching close to.
"Help me let go…" Gabriella asked her eyes full of tears and her heart full of pain.
"Yeah, baby I'll help…" Troy spoke breathily against Gabriella's cheek.
Troy slipped his finger into Gabriella's silky folds, his fingers knowing exactly what to do. Gabriella moaned and called out to Troy in utter passion, as his right fingers worked their magic. Troy gritted his teeth hard at the desire to become aroused at the feel of Gabriella's writhing body against him. But Troy's attempts to remain calm soon failed, he became aroused as well, and Gabriella without even being asked reached her petite hand down and gently massaged Troy's enlarged member. Soon both of them became lost in breathtaking satisfaction, but still a deep longing remained, they wanted to be closer. But sadly, neither was ready.
"Okay, one more shot honey." Gabriella was running a ring-toss game at the carnival that afternoon.
"One more try Kelly." Troy was helping Kelsi's little sister, Kelly, make her last toss.
Troy smiled up at his wife; she returned it just as happy. His eyes trailed down her red and white polka-dot dress clad body showing her Wildcat spirit, his mind replayed the morning they'd shared, and the promised she'd made him.
"Tonight we'll have a real makeup, okay?" Gabriella smiled as she blow dried her hair and Troy was dressing.
"That sounds perfect…" Troy trailed off as he kissed Gabi's neck passionately.
Their evening plans were made, and they couldn't wait for the day to be over, so they could finish what started earlier. There was a dance party set up in the practice gym, Gabriella begged Troy to take her when the shifts changed, and he reluctantly gave in. Oh, but how glad he was he'd listened to his wife.
"Are you gonna stand there or are you going to dance with me?" Gabriella flirtatiously asked as the song changed.
"Well…" Troy trailed off watching Gabriella's body move suggestively to 'Sexy Can I?' Gabriella knew the song by heart, and had on occasion danced for Troy to it.
Gabi anticipated every move, and paid close attention to how her movements affected Troy. He was about ready to explode, and it was only the first chorus. She pulled Troy in, so her moves could be exerted upon him. Grinding, writhing, bumping, and any dirty move Gabriella could think to do in that darken gym.
"You're a tease…" Troy whispered huskily against Gabriella's neck, sending a trail of chills down her body.
"And you're the reason I-" Gabriella whispered some private things into Troy's ear asshe was wrapped tightly in his embrace. Troy eyes went as wide as saucers upon hearing Gabriella's 'thoughts'.
"Okay! We need to head home now!" Troy exclaimed as the song changed to 'With You'.
"Oh no, we're not! You have a game to win!" Gabriella smiled taking Troy's hand and pulling him towards the locker room.
Troy, Chad, Jason, and Zeke played their hearts out for the game, as their loving ladies watched on proudly. They won 56 to 35, and made almost 900,000 dollars for the school. Maybe it was the love hanging in the air, or the fact they'd never get to suit up as the East High Wildcats again. But whatever the reason, Troy was beyond happy they'd won, and Gabriella was back with him. But sadly, perfection doesn't last forever.
Troy had Gabriella pinned down on the hood of his mustang, in their driveway, his hands touching and caressing every single part of her body, while they made out for all the neighborhood to see (but it was almost 10 o'clock at night).
"Inside…before…I…burst…" Gabriella hoarsely croaked out between passionate kisses.
"Already on my way!" Troy exclaimed slipping his hands under Gabriella's bottom, prompting her to wrap her legs around Troy's waist.
They laughed in unison as Troy tried to unlock the door and keep his lips attached to Gabriella's, as she tried to keep her balance from the support of Troy's hand on her rear. They stumbled into the front door, tripped over the rug, where Gabriella landed on top of Troy.
"Sorry!" Troy apologized laughing, as Gabriella did too.
"Ohh, it's okay. We can make love right here…" Gabriella laughed breathlessly as she placed a sweet kiss to Troy's cheek.
They were about to go at it when a voice cleared their throat loudly, scaring them both.
"Daddy?" Gabriella blinked a few times as she got off Troy and stood to her feet.
"Hello Mija, how's it going?" Colin Montez asked his young daughter with a broken smile.
"Oh, Daddy…" Gabriella was brought to tears as she ran into her father's arms.
"Who's this fellow Elle?" Colin asked his daughter after they hugged.
"Oh, Dad. This is my husband, Troy." Gabriella smiled introducing the two men.
"Nice to meet you son." Colin smiled shaking Troy's extended hand.
"You too, sir." Troy replied politely.
"Well, I hated to just barge in, but I needed to speak with you Mija." Colin was apologetic, looking sweetly into his daughters big brown eyes, which she had gotten from him.
"Okay, but if you don't mind me wondering how…"
"Andrea let me in, after I saw the babies. They're beautiful Nino's, all three." Colin smiled, knowing what his daughter was wondering.
"Alright, well I'll be upstairs. You two can talk." Troy politely excused himself, kissing Gabriella on the cheek before leaving.
"He's a good boy sweetie. Does he make you happy?" Colin asked as he and Gabriella took a seat on the sofa.
"Yeah, he's all I could ever ask for." Gabriella smiled thinking about her wonderful husband.
"Good, now we have some catching up to do." Colin patted Gabriella's hand as if it was going to be important.
Gabriella and her father talked for almost an hour. Getting to know each other again, and telling stories. At the end of the night they went their separate ways, with Gabriella slinking up the stairs exhausted.
"How'd it go?" Troy questioned hearing the door creak open, but not tearing his attention away from the rerun of 'One Tree Hill' he was watching.
"Good, now look at me." Gabriella was upset Troy wasn't paying attention to her as she walked into the room and then into the bathroom.
"Did you know Brooke took in a homeless foster girl?" Troy questioned as he felt the bed deflate next to him, but still didn't look.
"Yes, I'd TiVoed this on Monday, while we watched 'Dancing with the Stars'. Now look at me!" Gabriella was getting impatient by the way Troy was ignoring her.
"Wait until commercial…" Troy trailed off as he found the show to be more interesting than his wife.
"Excuse me?! I don't think a skilled fireman, such as you, would let this fire rage until a commercial!" Gabriella commented with a flirtatious tone.
"What babe?" Troy questioned as it was a commercial, but it was for the new Ipod, which Troy wanted.
"Look at me Troy Adam Bolton!" Gabriella raised her voice cupping Troy's face in her hands, forcing him to look at her.
"Wh-wow!" Troy was planning to question his wife, but that was until he saw how she was dressed.
"I bought it just for you, for tonight, for us, for this." Gabriella smiled running her fingers through Troy's hair, as he inspected the silk and lace black negligee Gabi was wearing.
"What's wrong?" Troy immediately torn his eyes from Gabriella's chest and locked onto her brown orbs.
"Nothing, what makes you think something's wrong?" Gabriella questioned putting up her invisible wall of defense, which Troy could see right through.
"Okay, well I'll take a guess. You had an affair while in California to get back at me for Tabitha?" Troy gave his first guess, which was partly a joke.
"No, I didn't have an affair." Gabriella sighed crossing her arms over her chest.
"You sick babe?" Troy raised his eyebrow at the expression of sadness in Gabriella's eyes.
"No, you'd never guess what's wrong with me." Gabriella sniffled as a single tear slipped down her cheek.
"Oh, yeah. Something happened with your Dad, right?" Troy asked as he read Gabriella's face like a book, like he often did, and it was rare he actually guessed right, sadly.
"Yeah, he said Mom's moving to Atlanta with him, and they're getting married, again." Gabriella tried to smile through her hurting.
"That's great baby! You've always wanted your folks to get back together, haven't you?" Troy asked feeling that this really hit Gabriella deep.
"Yeah, I have, except when they don't want me in their life." Gabriella held back tears, and Troy watched helplessly.
"And I assume it's your Mom's doing, right?" Troy knew exactly what was going on now.
"Yeah, she told my Dad 'I don't want anything to do with our daughter, the teenage prostitute, and he husband, the screwing little…' I don't want to repeat the rest, my Dad didn't either." Gabriella rested into Troy's embrace as he comforted her.
"Ohh, well. Just forget it, all that matters is you and me, right here and right now baby. From here on out it's just you and me, nothing else matters but our family." Troy lovingly explained to Gabriella as he held her close and kissed her forehead.
"You really mean that?" Gabriella asked Troy as he dried her tears.
"Yeah baby. We became a family the moment I got you pregnant. And I intend on staying with you until the day I die." Troy spoke so truthfully Gabriella just flew at him in a wave of love and compassion.
"Ohh, Troy…" Gabriella cooed rolling over onto Troy's lap.
They just sat there looking into each other's eyes, drinking in the presence of the other, they were happy just looking at the other. Nothing else needed, well…maybe something else.
"Can we go easy?" Gabriella sighed happily as she rested her hands on Troy's shoulders.
"We can do whatever you want Brie…" Troy smiled taking Gabriella's hand and kissing it.
"Good, 'cause it's been awhile." Gabriella giggled tracing invisible hearts on Troy's chest.
"Yeah, six months is a long time." Troy smiled as Gabriella shifted, causing her thigh to graze his length.
Their eyes locked with their hearts beating in unison. And soon, with a little bit of patience, they were falling in love with each all over again. It started with Troy rolling over onto Gabriella, and it ended with Gabi crying Troy's name in loving tears. It was exactly what they both wanted and needed how a make up should be.
Once morning rose and Troy looked around the room, his first thought was 'what the hell happened?' clothes, sheets, pillows, and their comforter had been tossed across the room during the tornado of passion which had hit their room the evening before.
"Good morning Mr. Bolton…" Gabriella greeted Troy with a sweet kiss to his bare chest.
"And same to you Mrs. Bolton…" Troy smiled grouping Gabriella's behind as they kissed tenderly.
(RING, RING)
"Nooo…" Gabriella whined as Troy reached for the ringing telephone.
"I'll get rid of them. Hello?" Troy whispered as he picked up the phone, and then answered politely.
"Whoa! Mom, slow down! Now what happened?" Troy questioned his Mother as she came through frazzled and dramatic on the other end.
"Okay, we'll be there soon." Troy hung up the phone and turned to his wife.
"What's wrong?" Gabi wondered worried by Troy's expression of fear.
"It's Capri, she was fussy all night, and then threw up blood and fainted. Mom called the ambulance; we need to get over there." Troy almost broke down as he dressed quickly.
"Oh my, ohh Troy…" Gabriella flew into Troy's arms sobbing.
"Hey, we gotta go." Troy urged a half dressed Gabriella into a pair of jeans and a hoodie, before rushing to the aid of their daughter.
The life of their precious baby girl hung in the balance. And only God could help her.
There was chapter 14, please review. It's your reviews that keep me going, so please take the time to do it for this story. Oh, and I apologize if my Spanish was bad, it's been while since I had to use it!
~Cassie…
P.S. note in profile, please read!