The first thing I need to tell you guys before you read the story is that I'm sorry I to have took so long. Every thing this year has been a bit of mess and I'm usually the one who isn't expected to be in a mess. But I had break and had time to think on my ski trip so I'll be able to write more frequently. Also I want to thank you guys for the reviews and I would like to thank desperate dreams for telling me how many players are in a basketball team. Hope you enjoy the story!
Another rose was placed upon the coffin. And another person said a few words about his dad. Many people had arrived, but most of them Troy didn't recognise and he knew they were only there so they could say they had been at Jack Bolton's funeral and could tell their friends that they had attended. But few that he did recognise were close to his dad and were actual upset and had real tears falling down their cheeks, one of them being Harry who was sobbing quietly next to him. This irritated Troy, this was his dad's funeral and he hadn't cried once. It wasn't like he didn't care, he cared and missed him more then anyone here but he just couldn't show his emotions.
Troy pulled his blazer tighter around him; autumn was definitely on its way bringing the rain and cold with it. He wiped the rain drop that roll down his cheek and took step forward. It was his turn to give a speech about his dad. He didn't understand why he had to speak in front of everyone; it was for his dad and not for them. After placing a red rose on his dad's coffin, he began.
"Dad, you were one heck of a guy. You knew what everyone wanted and how to make them happy. At times I never understood you when I made I mistake which I deserved a punishment for, you would just say, Forget it, it's the past now. But you dad I can't forgot as you are the man I have become today so you'll be always be a part of me. Dad I stand here because of you I miss you but I still know you're in me. I love you. I know I have your blessing with me and I'll make you proud of my new start. I'll achieve what you wanted most from me." Troy stepped away from the coffin and walked to his original place.
It finally hit him, his dad was gone and he was alone. He felt a hand slip into his; he didn't need to look down to see whose it was. He recognized the soft, smooth small hand that he used to hold walking around in summer, the hand he used to stroke, and the hand that play with his hair. She knew he was hurting inside even if he wasn't crying. They had always been to read each other like a book.
Gabriella looked ahead as the priest read out lines from the Bible. Unlike everyone else Gabriella didn't stand under an umbrella, so her clothes and hair were drenched with rain water. She felt Troy's hand tense in hers and slightly let go. Maybe she shouldn't have put her hand in his but he was hurting inside and she wanted to reassure him he wasn't alone even if he didn't want her. She decided it would be best to let go and stand somewhere else. Slowly letting go of his hand, Gabriella turned her body away from him but stopped when she felt Troy's hand tighten around hers. She turned back and looked at Troy who was looking ahead. She had got through to him. He wore the look he had worn many times when he didn't want her to go. Chad also came up to him and put his hand on Troy's shoulder.
"Are you okay, man?" Troy nodded stiffly. Chad removed his hand but remained by his side.
After the funeral Troy walked away from where his dad was now buried, with Chad and Gabriella at his side. She had removed her hand from Troy's when some men came up to him with Melissa.
"Are you coming back to school?" asked Chad taking his hood off. Troy sighed, only if he could. He had a board meeting so he could meet everyone and find out what was going on. Then he had to go to his apartment where people were coming to show their sympathy about his dad's death which he did not see the point to. He didn't want anyone one's sympathy. But the company insisted as it was publicity thing so he went along with it. Though he had said it was only going to last an hour and not any longer.
"No, I've got meeting which last two to three hours and then I have to go and see all my dad's friends but I should be back by two thirty the latest," explained Troy. "So please make sure the team does know practice is definitely one."
"I will," said Chad. Troy looked at Gabriella who had remained quiet since she got here. There eyes met. Gabriella knew he had been watching her. She smiled at him, just to tell him she was okay. Troy smiled at her for a moment and then turned away. "How are you guys getting to school?"
"That social worker is going to drop us off," said Chad. They stopped walking when they were outside the cemetery and back on the road.
"Okay so I'll see you guys later then," said Troy.
"Yeah are you coming Gabs?" asked Chad.
"Can I talk to Troy for a second?" she asked wringing some water out of her hair.
"Sure I'll meet you at the car," said Chad. She nodded at him and watched him walk away. She turned her body so she was in front of him and had his attention.
"Thank you," she finally said.
"What for?" asked Troy. Her hair was stuck all over her face and the piece of hair that would never stay behind her ear - which annoyed her – was at the front. He wanted to put it behind her ear but couldn't they had built up a wall to stop each other.
"Inviting me to come to your dad's funeral, I know I'm not your most favourite person but still thanks," she said. She had gotten really well with his dad and he had treated her like his daughter even after their break up.
"You were a special person to my dad even after we broke up and he would have wanted you here. And I wasn't going to allow our hatred for one another come in the way even though I stopped you talking to him before," Troy explained. She nodded; Did we still hate each other?
Gabriella took a deep breath and stepped out of the bus. He won't say anything, he won't say anything, she repeated to her self. East High was going to play against West High. They had played before but it was the first time Troy was actually going to see her after 4 months and see her from the place she was from. She had found out early that Troy had become their captain and they were unbeaten this season. The thing she was most worried about was if Troy blurted out, them being together, this would ruin everything after her building her self back to normal.
"Are you okay?" asked Nathan, wrapping his arm around her waist. This made her feel worse and more nervous. She wanted him to take his arm off her but it wasn't his fault, he just cared about her. Gabriella nodded. The atmosphere by the West High students was lively as normal or not livelier as they entered the school. Most of the students were heading towards the gym where many of their school mates had come to cheer. Nathan kissed her on her forehead before walking into the visitor changing room with the rest of the team and she left with the rest of the cheerleaders into the gym.
Gabriella took a seat on the bleachers and put her head in her hands.
"Gabi, are you okay? You look slightly pale," said Sharpay. "If you don't feel well, you should sit out." She stood up and took her jacket off and placed it on the bleacher.
"I'm fine, just tried." Gabriella lied. "We should get ready as they'll be coming soon."
"Okay, but if you feel unwell, your stopping straight away. We can't have our captain injured," said Sharpay, bumping her hip with Gabriella's. She laughed lightly and turned around to find Taylor giving her the look that they needed to talk. She waited for Sharpay to go get the rest of the team ready before she spoke.
"You're scared about seeing Troy?" said Taylor placing her hand on Gabriella's shoulder, pushing her down onto the bench so she was sitting down and sitting down herself.
"Is it that obvious?" asked Gabriella. Taylor nodded. "I...it's...just so complicated. We haven't seen each other for months and last time we did it didn't end up so great. And I'm scared how he'll react to me. He may do some to Nathan as he hates him l because I chose Nathan instead of him."
"Gabi, if he cares for you like you told me he won't do anything to hurt you," said Taylor. Gabriella sighed.
"I guess but he said he hated me and doesn't care for me." Taylor put her arm around her shoulder.
"He said he's in love with and when you're truly in love with someone it doesn't just end like that," said Taylor. Gabriella hugged Taylor. "I hope your right, Tay." By the time they had rejoined the squad the East High basketball team had come out. They had received the usually cheer from there school and usually boos from West High. When West High's team came out, the same thing happened but vice versa.
"Troy's not with them," Gabriella whispered to Taylor as they shake their pom-poms. The lights went off which confused East High but made West High louder.
"He's new; he's the best and has been working it this season. It's our one and only Troy Bolton!" yelled the commentator. The spot lights landed in on Troy. There he was clapping along with West High. But it wasn't her Troy; it was the same Troy before she had met him. The lights had come back on.
"How the heck did you fall for him? He has jerk and player written all over him," said Taylor. Troy had rejoined his team and was coming towards them.
"He's changed. That's not the real him," said Gabriella. He led the team past them smirking at them. When his eyes met her the smirk fell off his face and anger replaced it. She could see his eyes were again cold and icy. She couldn't keep her eye connect without breaking down so she lowered her head and kept her eyes away from his. After all the team had walked past, did Gabriella lift her head. When she looked over to where West High were Troy's eyes had left her and was talking to one of the coaching staff. Jack was among them but unlike Troy, he smiled at her when he saw her. She smiled back before she turned back to her team. Well at least Jack wasn't mad at her.
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During the game Gabriella had caught Troy several staring at her after doing something like saying something harsh or fouling the other team. It made her feel sick and disgusted. She wanted to get away from there before Troy did anything dangerous. But she couldn't. Gabriella moved along with the rest of the team as they cheered and encouraged their. She could feel her head becoming light and dizzy until she stumbled and bumped into Taylor then fell onto the floor. No one had noticed except the girls next to her. Taylor helped her onto the bench and passed her water from the team's water container.
"Gabi, you're sitting out for the rest of the game," said Taylor. "You've seriously over worked your self."
"Taylor I just want to get out of here and go home," said Gabriella putting her head in her hands. "I think I'm going to step outside for a while until I can clear my head."
"Do you want me to come?" said Taylor. "What if you faint again?"
"No you stay; the team needs all the cheering they can get. I'll be fine," said Gabriella getting up and leaving the gym.
After clearing her head up, Gabriella walked through the corridors as she didn't want to return to the gym quite yet.
"Gabriella!" she heard someone yell her name from behind her and saw Jack coming up to her with Troy slowly walking behind him.
"Hi Mr Bolton, Troy," she whispered the last bit and kept her eyes on Jack and not Troy but she couldn't help sneak a look at him. He hadn't changed a bit except for his hair that was longer and came slightly over his eyes. His features had become sharper which made him look much hotter than before.
"Hi Gabriella and since when do you call me Mr Bolton?" asked Jack. Gabriella rubbed her arm and looked at the ground. "You still have the right to call me Jack. So how have you been?"
"I've been good. How about yourself?" she asked, ignoring the glare she was getting from Troy.
"Good but I've been better. When you're coaching a team of teenage boys, your stress never ends," said Jack. Gabriella giggled making Troy snort at her.
"Troy why don't you join the rest of the team?" said Jack looking at his son. Gabriella hoped Troy would go away as she couldn't take pressure she was getting from him being down. Troy slightly brushed past Gabriella sending the same chills down both of them which they hadn't felt for the past 4 months. He turned around slightly to face her and she swore she saw her Troy again but it went when turned around.
"The reason why I sent Troy away is because I wanted to talk to you, Gabriella," said Jack as he took a seat on the bench outside the classroom. She sat down beside him.
"About what?"
"Well when you and Troy broke up I never got the chance to talk to you." Jack started. "Unlike Troy, I'm not angry about what you did; I'm actually quite proud and happy about what you did. You brought out the real Troy which no one had been able to do including me and Stefanie knew Troy would never had let you in so she had made you lie about you being rich. The only thing that went wrong was Troy was too stubborn not listen to why you did it or I think you two would still have been together."
"How did you know about it being Stefanie's plan?" asked Gabriella.
"Stefanie had come the next day after Troy broke up with you that it was her fault for you lying but Troy didn't listen and left but she told me and I thought what she did was right," explained Jack. "And any way I think you were far too good for those rich kids Troy hangs out with and you look like you belong with East High and your friends. Their very lucky to have you Gabriella and never you forget that. Soon enough Troy will realise what he has lost and come back too you."
"Troy won't come back to me because he knows I have a boyfriend now," said Gabriella feeling ashamed of her self.
"I'm sorry I didn't know you were over Troy," said Jack.
"I'm not I thought getting back with Nathan would but it hasn't," said Gabriella.
"You still love him?" asked Jack. "You don't have to answer that, if you don't want."
"No it's okay. I do still love him, that's why it feels strange being with Nathan," said Gabriella but she didn't tell Jack that at the same time she hated Troy.
"I've had the same feeling before but Nathan looks like a great guy who will take care of you," said Jack putting his hand on her head. At times Gabriella envied Troy. He had such a great dad but he didn't appreciate him. "We really should get back to the gym. Your team will be wondering where you are." They both stood up and started walking.
"If you ever need someone to talk to or any fatherly advice you can always call me. Just because you and Troy aren't together we can't talk," said Jack.
"I know. I'm not going back to the gym right now. I need to go to the girl's room," said Gabriella.
"Oh okay well it's straight down that corridor and to the left," said Jack. "It was good to see you again."
"You too Jack," said Gabriella as she turned onto the corridor Jack had told her to go down. She smiled to herself, it had been great to been able to talk to Jack and knowing not everyone was mad at her. Suddenly she felt a hand grab her hand and pull her into a classroom. Her body was pushed against a desk and she felt another body press against hers. She was about to scream when she recognised the familiar breath against her face. It was Troy. She could just make out his eyes and face as there was only the moonlight that lit up the classroom. His hands lent against the table either side of her, caging her as well his legs kept both sides of her.
"What the heck do you think you're playing at?" Troy whispered harshly at her.
"I'm not playing at anything." Gabriella replied in the same tone as Troy.
"I heard everything you said to my dad. It's all lies, you don't love me you never did so why are you lying to my dad?" asked Troy.
"I did love you," said Gabriella leaning closer to Troy making him groaning slightly. "I still do but I hate you as well."
"Shut your bullshit," yelled Troy. "It was all part of your game and I fell for it but my dad doesn't believe it and now you're using him." Gabriella pulled Troy's basketball shirt so his face was down to hers.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP TROY AND STOP BEING SUCH A JERK! I LOVE YOU! THERE WAS NO GAME!" Gabriella shouted knowing no one could hear them. Tears leaked out of Gabriella's eyes as she clung onto his shirt and lowering her head and leaning it against his chest. Troy's face softened at the sight of the girl he loved crying in front of him. He pulled her hands off his chest and wiped her tears from her face. Troy lifted her chin up so his eyes met her eyes even if she didn't want them to. She hesitated as she lifted her hand but relaxed as her finger touched his face and cupped the side of his face. He sighed as he leant against her hand. This was why she didn't understand him he was mad at her and hated her but acted his self again when she touched him or was upset.
Troy took her hand and kissed her palm then her fingers then wrist. He placed her onto the table she had been leaning against and kissed her. It was slow, gentle and perfect when it should that have felt wrong. It made her want to cry, she was suppose to be cheering for Nathan who cared for her and had never hurt her as much as Troy had but she was with Troy who had ruined her life and broken her heart though she didn't want to leave him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him while his other hand held her hand and stroked it. Her other hand clung onto his shirt so she knew she had him there and he wasn't going anywhere. Slowly his tongue snaked his way into his mouth without her stopping him. Her legs wrapped around his waist. She wanted to push him away but couldn't resist him. Then she thought clearly of what she was doing, she was cheating on Nathan. Her legs dropped to the side of Troy and her hand released his shirt. The other hand loosened in Troy's hand. Troy's lips pulled away from her with smirk on them.
"You seemed to have realised what you were doing?" said Troy. Gabriella nodded. He pushed the table slightly away from him and moved back. "If you don't want your precious boyfriend to find out what just happened here, don't come any where near my dad and I will find out if you have." He turned around but stopped when Gabriella's hand grabbed his.
"Did that kiss mean anything to you?" she whispered. Troy snorted.
"Of course it didn't." And he walked out of the room.
After that Gabriella didn't go back to the gym and waited for her school outside. She never told anyone that she had ran into Troy. Nathan had come out with blood nose and bruised stomach and she had found out that he had got into a fight with Troy. She knew she was the cause of this but she couldn't tell him.
"Why did you ask Chad to come?"
"Because I wanted him to, he's become an actual friend which I've never really had," said Troy. Gabriella shifted her weight onto the other foot.
"Do you actual consider Chad your friend?"
"Yes I do. What's with all the questions any way?" said Troy running his hands through his hair.
"Nothing, just making sure, anyway thanks again for inviting me," said Gabriella and tiptoed to kiss Troy on the cheek. "We'll see you later." She ran down the road looking back at Troy once. He touched his cheek where she just kissed him. Was she beginning to like him again? Had she forgotten there was a person that stood between them? Nathan.
"Troy, come on we've got an half and hour till the meeting starts," shouted Chris from behind. He stared where Melissa's car had been for a moment then went over to Chris.
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Gabriella thanked Melissa for the lift and followed Chad into East High. She sighed with relief when she left Melissa's car. She thought Melissa was going to ask how she knew Troy but she hadn't. It wasn't that she didn't trust Melissa, she was her social care worker as well but she didn't know they had dated and she didn't want any more people to know.
"Second period is nearly over so why don't we head to the library as we have free period next?" Chad suggested.
"Sure but can we go to my locker first? I need to put my coat away," said Gabriella. Chad nodded and followed her. She knew that Chad knew something was on her mind as he wouldn't quite staring at her and giving her the look that told she should tell him what's wrong. He put his arm around her shoulder as they walked into the library.
"What's wrong? Did something happen between you and Troy?"
"No nothing happened between us," said Gabriella as she took her usual seat in the library. She always came here if she wanted to be away from everybody. "Its well, something to do with what Troy said. He considers you his friend; do consider him to be your friend?"
"You're worried that he'll hurt people's feelings here like he did to you?" said Chad. Gabriella sighed and nodded. "I do consider him as my friend. I think he is changing from his old self but then again I don't know him as well as you do. When you were with him did he change just the way he is know.
"Yeah, he was more of a person to others then he was before but that didn't stop him being rude to some people. One small spark can change him back to the way he was, it happened once when I was with him before we broke up. That's why I'm worried."
Gabriella leaned to the side as Troy's lips travelled up her neck. Troy sucked in between her collarbone making her moan into his ear. She could feel him smiling against her neck. He lifted her off the couch, wrapping her legs around his waist, without removing his lips from her. By the time they were in his room, Troy's lips had returned to hers and her head was against his pillow. There was something different about the way he kissed her or just acted towards her. It was different from anyway or anyone had made her feel. She was special and amazing at the same time. Her friends made her feel special but this was total different version of special. He could sit there of hours just watching her do her own stuff without saying a word or moving. The ice glass that once covered his eyes had been broken and let her see the emotion in his eyes. He had made her forget all of the horrible things Clarissa had said to her, that used to eat her up, now were just words.
His t-shirt lay on the floor now. Gabriella's hands left Troy's hair and ran her fingers down his chest then his six-pack. Troy groaned at her gentle touch which sent chills through his body. He took both of her arms and pinned them down, either side of her and kissed her on her jaw.
"Troy this unfair," she moaned as she tried to get her hands out of his. Troy looked at her and smirked.
"Get that stupid smirk off your face." He chuckled and kissed her neck. Slowly he moved so his face was above her stomach. With his chin he lifted the hem of her shirt and kissed her midriff making her sigh. She closed her eyes feeling every kiss of his against her skin. Her released her arms and pulled her t-shirt up. Gabriella wanted his lips on hers so she pulled him by his collar and back onto her lips, wrapping her arms around his neck, bringing him closer. After several minutes of non stop kissing, Gabriella pulled away to catch her breath but he didn't stop kissing her gentle on her lips and neck.
"God... I...love ...you," he said in between in each kiss. Gabriella froze underneath him, had he really just said those words. They had been together for month but was that long enough to fall in love. She felt differently when she was with him but was it love? She needed to think about this and it was best she was away from him. Gently she pushed him away from her and got off his bed.
"Brie, where are you going?" asked Troy, grabbing her hand so didn't try to get away. " Is this about what I said cause if it is you should know I do actually mean it. I love you." Gabriella closed her eyes. How many times was he going to tell her? "I had planned on telling her in a different way but I couldn't keep it in." She pulled her strap of tank top's back up which Troy had pushed down earlier.
"I have to go," she said pulling her hand out of Troy's and running away from him picking her shoes up on the way.
"Gabriella!" Troy yelled. She could hear footsteps behind her and she knew he was following her. When she got to the elevator the door opened immediately and closed before Troy got to her. She walked back till her back touched to the wall and she slid down and sat on the floor. She winced as she heard troy punch the elevator door from above. How could she tell him she loved him when she wasn't sure? And if she did and told him then it would make it harder to tell him the truth about her.
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Gabriella placed her empty hot chocolate mug into the sink. After leaving Troy's apartment, she had decided to go to Stefanie's suite. She had told Stefanie what had happened between the two of them and that she needed time alone. Stefanie had agreed to let Gabriella spend the week with her and her family in their New Hampshire house. They talked about if she did love him and Gabriella had answered with saying she was unsure. Stefanie had said it was best she stay away from Troy and enjoy her self and see what she felt. The door bell rang and Stefanie got up.
"I'll go and see who it is." Gabriella jumped when she heard the voice from the door. She hid behind the wall and listened to Troy and Stefanie.
"Has Brie been here?" asked Troy as he walked into her suite. Gabriella could tell by his voice he was concerned an upset. He turned around so his back was to her.
"No, why?" said Stefanie.
"That's none of your business," snapped Troy.
"You don't need to be so rude. Maybe that's why Gabriella left you," Stefanie remarked.
"Fuck you and Gabriella hasn't left me. I'm still with her," growled Troy.
"Well then why are you looking for her? You must have done something for her not to be with you," said Stefanie. Gabriella slapped her forehead, What was she doing?
"Like I said it's none of your business," spat Troy. "If you see Brie, tell her we really need to talk." Troy slammed the door as he left.
"What the heck were you doing?" said Gabriella coming out from behind the wall. "You know I never left him."
"I know but he doesn't know that. If I provoke him I will keep him away from us," said Stefanie, putting her arm around Gabriella's shoulder.
"You better be right," she said.
"I'm always right," said Stefanie. "But did you notice one thing? Troy's back to his original rude self."
"I know it scares me," whispered Gabriella.
"You'll have to think about what you feel very quickly before Troy does something stupid. Gabi you've become a drug to him and he's addicted to you and longer you stay away from him the angrier he'll get," explained Stefanie. Even though she didn't want to admit this she knew it was true.
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Troy walked through the crowds of people at Stefanie's mum's party, looking around hoping to find Gabriella. He hadn't seen her since Tuesday evening. He had tried to call her but then he found her phone in his bedroom. He loved her and he knew for sure that she loved him so why couldn't she just except it and tell him. The theme for the party had been white so was the dress code. He didn't want to dress up to much but he still wanted to look good. So he had decided to wear a white t-shirt, with an unbuttoned Armani shirt on top along with white trousers. For shoes he had gone with a pair of Italian slip on.
He dug his hands in his pockets as he walked through of girls ignoring the looks he was getting from them. And then he saw her coming down the concrete stairs. Her face had her normal smile on it but her eyes were upset and he knew he was the cause of this. Her hair was kept up in a messy hair bun with sliver clips giving it a certain shape. A few curls were kept out along with her fringe. She had a white sleeveless floor length dress which trailed behind as she walked. The dress was tightened around her waist with a white ribbon with was tied at the back and flowed down. There was ruffled fabric around the neckline and small rhinestones at the front. Her dress was backless until the straps met up with the tied ribbon.(Picture of dress in profile both front and back) She looked amazing. Troy moved his gaze to the person next to her, it was Eric Waldrof, Stefanie's cousin. Gabriella's arm was linked with his. Troy clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. Why was Gabriella with that bastard?
Troy hated Eric more than any other guy. His anger took over him and pushed people to get to them. As he walked towards them he saw Eric put his arm around her waist and pull her closer to him. Gabriella tried to move away but she was struggling to get out of his grip. Troy went up to him and shoved him away from her. Troy brought his fist up to Eric's face and punched him hard on his mouth and jaw.
"Troy!" Gabriella yelled, pushing him away from Eric. Luckily for them no one was around where they stood or they would have been thrown out.
"What the heck do you think you're doing with my girlfriend?" said Troy, taking deep breaths to control his self.
"Your girlfriend! She didn't tell me she had a boyfriend," said Eric. He held his jaw and mouth to stop the blood spluttering on his clothes. A smirk appeared on his face and he said, "I think she must be bored of you and she found something in me that she could actual fun with." Troy moved Gabriella out of his way and hurled himself towards Eric. Before Troy got to Eric he punched him in his face. This didn't stop Troy from going towards him. Neither one of them stopped until Craig had come over with Stefanie and pulled Troy away from Eric.
"Do you plan on ruining my mum's party?" yelled Stefanie.
"He started it," said Eric like a five year old.
"You're the one who was touching Gabriella," said Troy. He looked around, and he noticed Gabriella was no where to be seen. "Where did Brie go?"
"After she told me what was going on, she left us to it," said Craig letting go of Troy. Troy walked past Stefanie.
"Where are you going? I haven't finished here," said Stefanie.
"Babe, let him go," said Craig.
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Gabriella walked through the rows of trees that were planted at the back of the garden away from the party. The sun was lower in the sky now. She wiped her tears away. She hadn't cried for over five years and now there she was there crying over at someone's party because of a boy. She had walked away after telling Craig. However much she wanted to stop herself and be there with Troy, she couldn't. It hurt her to see him like that. She thought he had changed and learned to control her anger but she was wrong.
Two arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer into someone's chest. She closed her eyes as she felt the familiar lips against her neck and shoulder. "I've missed you." Gabriella wanted to yell at him but couldn't as the only thing that was she could think about was being in his arms again. "You look beautiful, Brie."
"I missed you too," whispered Gabriella. Troy spun her around so she was face to face with him but she kept her eyes away from him.
"Babe have you been crying?"asked Troy pulling her closer to him and stroking her cheek. He knew that if she was crying he must have done something hurtful as she hadn't cried in years.
"What you do think, Troy? You made me think you had changed but you haven't Troy. I trusted you and I thought you weren't like others, making promises that should be kept but aren't," said Gabriella, pulling away from Troy and stepping away from him. "You may not care about me but I do care about you and it hurts to see you get into a fight." The tears had appeared again in her eyes. Troy grabbed her arm, without hurting her pulled her back towards him and pinned her against the tree. Gabriella gasped as she saw the new bruises and the cut across his face.
"Don't you ever say I don't care about you. I care about you more than any person in the world or otherwise I wouldn't have let you into my life. I was careless right then and got into the fight but that was only because I was trying to defend you. My anger took over the better part of me since I was angry at my self for losing you. I'm sorry but don't say I don't care about you. I love you!" Troy explained placing his hand on her cheek.
"Troy don't say those words," she whispered.
"Why not that is how I feel about you," said Troy.
"How do you know what loving is? You never loved any one," said Gabriella, taking Troy's hand away from her face.
"Because I know it is. When I met you the first time I thought you were beautiful but I thought you were like all the other girls but then I realised you were different when I talked to you during Chris party and I wanted to get to know you. You weren't a girl who wanted to be noticed but I noticed you. I wanted to kiss you but you didn't want cause you weren't a girl who wanted to mess around with guys. All of these things made me want to spend all my time with you and it never has to be doing anything special, it's just being with you. And being with I realised that I could tell you anything and you wouldn't think of me as some kind of loser, you would take everything I said seriously. Also you were able to trust me about things which you don't seem to tell people about either and it makes me feel like I belong as you trust which a lot of people don't do. Everything about you makes me want you more and love you more," Troy finished off with. His hands had again cupped her face. Gabriella's voice got stuck in her throat. She was amazed at what Troy had just said.
"But Troy we're sixteen, you don't fall in love when you're sixteen," said Gabriella.
"Brie I know for thing that age does not matter and neither does how long you've been with someone," said Troy. Gabriella leant her head against Troy's chest.
"I still don't know. I need some time to think about it," said Gabriella.
"You can have all the time that you need as long as it doesn't mean we're broking up?" said Troy.
"We never broke up," Gabriella said. "But it doesn't mean you're forgiven."
"I know," Troy answered seriously, knowing she wasn't joking.
I know this chapter has been long but it isn't finished, it's only the first part of chapter 8. The flashbacks went longer that anticipated but I wanted them in but if you guys think I shouldn't really have them then please tell me. Also I promise you there are no flashbacks in the second part of this chapter. Please R&R!