Chapter 18:
I Hav No Idea Wat 2 Cll Dis Chap Cuz I Made It 2 Long!
"What do you mean it's over?' Maxine said. "It's over as in they are leaving or it's over as in…Troy and Gabriella."
"Both," Gabriella said as she pulled away from Rosie. "They're leaving and we're over."
"Wait, so you changed his mind?" Reva asked. "Gabriella, why?"
"Because I'm not that selfish, okay? I don't want him or Leilani and Emil to stay and be away from their family. I can't do that to him."
Reva shook her head and stormed off to her room. Gabriella wiped at her eyes and went silently to her room as well.
"You guys aren't leaving…right?" Sammy asked. He walked down the stairs clutching his teddy bear. "You guys are staying here with us aren't you?"
"I don't know," Selena said softly. "I really don't know."
…
Gabriella threw her suitcase on her bed and started throwing her clothes in it. Tears stung her eyes and trailed down her cheeks quickly but she didn't wipe them away. Instead she pushed her suitcase aside and cried in her hands.
There was a knock on the door before it opened. "Gabriella?" Selena came inside of the room and sat down on the bed. "Gabriella, it'll be alright."
"Don't say that unless you know what I'm going through," Gabriella said fiercely, lifting up from her hands and looking at Selena. "You know, I wish I never asked mom to let us come here. It's all been a disaster! I just want to go home and forget about everything."
"So you want to forget about Troy, then?" Selena asked, knowing she struck a nerve. "Gabriella, you have time. Go get your man."
"It's not that easy," Gabriella said. "That means I'll be taking him away from his family. And that's selfish."
Selena shook her head. "It's not selfish, Gabriella. It's true love."
…
"Troy, can we talk to you?" Lucille opened the door to her son's room and her and jack walked in. Troy sighed and sat up. He leaned over on his knees and nodded. "What do you want? Do you want to ruin my life some more?"
"Troy, we know you're mad," Jack said.
"No shit." Troy rolled his eyes.
"But we won't tolerate that kind of tone and language," Lucille said firmly.
"Is that all you came in here to say?" Troy asked, looking up at them with unyielding eyes. "Because if it is, just go."
"We came in here to let you know we support you and Gabriella's relationship," Lucille explained.
Troy shook his head. "It's a little too late for that now. I don't even think we have a relationship anymore."
"Well why not?" Jack asked. "What happened?"
"She came over after the meeting and said goodbye."
"Goodbye as in see you later, right?"
Troy shook his head and sighed. "No. Goodbye as in I won't ever see you again."
"Oh, Troy." Lucille stepped up and hugged him. "But this was a temporary thing, right? Wasn't she going back to LA in a few more months?"
"Yes, but we wanted ore time."
"We're sorry, Troy," Jack said. "But Gabriella is right. You can't choose her over family. Goodnight." Jack nodded before leaving the room with Lucille.
"Of course," Troy whispered before falling back on his bed and closing his eyes.
…
"Selena, can you teach me how to play the drums?" Sammy asked Selena as he came bouncing down to the basement. He stood in front of Selena and her drums and watched a she created a steady beat. Selena stopped drumming and grinned up at him. "Want to play the drums?"
"Yeah. My friend Vinny plays the drums. But he moved to Maine."
"Maine isn't even that popular, why are people moving to it?" Sammy shrugged. "Okay, so you want to play the awesome drums, then you have to know how to speak to the drums."
Sammy's face grew confused. "Huh?"
Selena smiled. "Let the rhythm come to you. I bet you want to just go wild and beat on the drums. Well, it's not all that. You have to find a beat and then add to it. Like this." Selena started tapping on the base drum. In between it she hit the cymbal. Then she made a beat. "Like that. Try it." Selena stood up and Sammy sat down. He grabbed the drum sticks and copied Selena's motions.
"This so cool!" he exclaimed. But then he frowned and dropped the drum sticks. "Gabriella and Reva haven't come out of their rooms since yesterday. Does that mean you guys are leaving?"
"Oh, Sammy." Selena sighed. "I hope not. I don't know how they feel since they both have a broken heart, but I know it hurts them so much. Let's just give them time."
"I hope you guys aren't," Sammy said softly. "I actually like you."
Selena grinned. "I'm grateful of that. Now, how about I show you some songs and we can get rocking."
"Yeah! That would be so awesome!" Sammy went wild on the drums and Selena laughed. All the while, Gabriella was at the top of the steps. She turned away and plopped down on a stool. "Well, if it isn't Miss Broken-Heart." Rosie came into the kitchen. "How are you holding up?"
Gabriella stood and opened the freezer. She pulled out a tube of cookie dough ice cream then sat back down. "Well, that answers my question." Rosie handed Gabriella a spoon. "You're at the ice cream sulking stage."
"I should've known this would be a bad idea," Gabriella said. "I mean, Reva was right. Who are we trying to kid? When we got into this business, that turned into our normal. Not this and it will never be this."
"Gabriella, don't doubt yourself. You guys can be anything you want to be. But sometimes that comes with bumpy bumps on the road."
Gabriella dug the spoon in the bowl. "I hate bumps." She picked up a huge lump of ice cream and placed it in her mouth. "I hate my life."
Rosie frowned and took the ice cream away from her. Gabriella looked at her. "Hey, that's my sulking ice cream. Go find your own."
"No, see what you need is a good tune up. Let me see your lyrics book."
"Why?"
"Just let me see it."
"Okay, okay. Jeez." Gabriella grabbed her book from her backpack hanging on the hook by the door. She handed it to Rosie and watched as she looked through it. "What do you need it for?"
"These songs are really good," Rosie commented. "Let's find a fun one…how about this one?"
Gabriella grabbed the book and looked down at the song. "He Could Be the One? I don't know…I'm not in a mood to sing this."
"Come one. The public wants a song from you, Gabs. And Reva and Selena." Gabriella sighed and shook her head. "Just tell me how it goes."
"Fine, fine."
"Good. We'll sing it at the park in an hour. Good luck." Rosie grinned and left the room. Maxine took her place. "What was that about?"
"Rosie wants me to sing a song at the park."
"The park? But that's where…" Maxine grinned. "What's the song called?"
"He Could Be the One." Gabriella slid the book in Maxine's view. "I wrote it for Troy a few weeks ago."
Maxine grinned. "Well, it's a good thing you did. See you later, chica." Maxine ran off and Gabriella shook her head. She reached for her tube of ice cream and started eating.
…
"Reva, we need you. This isn't just for Gabriella. It's for you too."
"How? I don't even get why we'd be singing that song."
"Please, Rev," Maxine pleaded. "I promise you'll love the outcome of it."
"And what if I don't?"
"Then you can leave here," Maxine said. "Just try."
Reva sighed and opened her door. "Fine. I'll sing it. But I'm not going to like it."
"Just pretend you will. And then you can go back to being sad."
An hour later, just like Rosie said, the girls were off at the park. Selena and Sammy pulled out the drums while Rosie, Gabriella, Reva and Maxine fixed the microphones and guitars. Many people were already crowded around them.
"I don't know," Gabriella said.
"Well if you don't do it, then I won't either," Reva said.
Selena rolled her eyes and sat at her drums. "Would you guys shut up? We're doing this whether you like it or not."
"Are you guys almost ready?" Rosie asked. "The crowd is getting antsy."
"Yeah, we're ready."
Gabriella stood in front of her microphone. Reva put on her guitar and stood in front of hers too. Selena fixed her microphone so it would lean down towards her and the drums. Maxine's eyes searched the crowd on top of the Escalade. When she spotted who she was looking for, she smiled brightly and signaled for the trio to start.
…
"I don't get why we're here," Troy said. "What's going on…is that the trio?" Troy looked up. Emil did also and smiled. "Yup," Leilani said. "That's them."
"Smooth talking. So rocking. He's got everything that a girl's wanting," Gabriella sung. "Singing cutie who sings so groovy and I can't keep myself from doing something stupid. Think I may be falling for his smile. Get butterflies when he says my name!"
"He's got something special, he's got something special. The way he's looking at me I want to get all sentimental," the trio sung together. Everyone busted out into applause and cheers. "He's got something special, he's got something special. I can hardly breathe, something's telling me, telling me maybe he could be the one. He could be the one. He could be the one. He could be the one.
"He could be the one. He could be the one. He could be the one."
Reva stepped up to her mic. She gripped at it with both hands and smiled at the crowd. "He's lightning. Sparks are flying. Everywhere I go he's always on my mind and I'm goin' crazy about him lately! And I can't help myself from how my heart is racing. Think I'm really digging his vibe. He really blows me away! Whoo!"
"He's got something special, he's got something special. The way he's looking at me I want to get all sentimental," the trio sung. "He's got something special, he's got something special. I can hardly breathe, something's telling me, telling me maybe he could be the one. He could be the one. He could be the one. He could be the one.
"He could be the one. He could be the one. He could be the one."
And like always, Selena came into the bridge. "And he's got a way of making me feel like everything I do is perfectly fine. The stars are aligned when I'm with him. And I'm so into him…"
"He's got something special, he's got something special. The way he's looking at me I want to get all sentimental," the trio sung. "He's got something special, he's got something special. I can hardly breathe, something's telling me, telling me maybe he could be the one. He could be the one. He could be the one. He could be the one.
"He could be the one. He could be the one. He could be the one."
"So I might slip again, let it in now and then. That don't mean anything." The crowd that slowly grew erupted into cheers. It was only then when Gabriella and Reva noticed the Bolton boys. "Troy…" She turned to her sisters. "Can I sing something else?"
"Do you need us?" Selena asked.
"Of course. Remember, When You Look At Me?"
Selena and Reva looked at each other before nodding at Gabriella. "Yeah. We'll sing it."
"Okay. Thanks." Gabriella turned to the crowd and waited for them to quiet down before speaking. "I want to sing this song. Its for the people we've met and known to love at our short stay here. And you people know who you are." Reva pulled her keyboard from the back of the Escalade. When she had it set up, they began.
"Everybody needs inspiration," Gabriella sung. "Everybody needs a song. A beautiful melody when the nights are so long. 'Cause there is no guarantee that this life is easy."
"Yeah when my world is falling apart and there's no light to break up the dark that's when I, I look at you," they sung together. Gabriella looked at Troy and smiled when she saw his smile. "When the waves are flooding the shore and I can't find my way home anymore that's when I, I look at you."
"When I look at you," sung Reva. "I see forgiveness. I see the truth. You love me for who I am like the stars hold the moon. Right there where they belong and I know I'm not alone."
"Yeah when my world is falling apart and there's no light to break up the dark that's when I, I look at you. When the waves are flooding the shore and I can't find my way home anymore that's when I, I look at you."
Selena stepped up to her mic. "You appear just like a dream to me just like kaleidoscope colors that cover me all I need every breath that I breathe. All I need every breath that I breathe. Don't you know you're beautiful? Yeah, yeah."
"When the waves are flooding the shore and I can't find me way home anymore that's when I, I look at you. I look at you. Yeah. Whoa, you appear just like a dream to me," they finished together. Maxine and Sammy stood up on the Escalade and clapped wildly, mimicking the crowd's.
Troy sliced his way through the crowd and when he was right in front of Gabriella, that's when the camera's started flashing. "Do you care if they see us kissing?' Troy whispered. Gabriella smiled softly and shook her head. Troy grinned. "Good." He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. Emil came up to Reva and did the same.
Leilani bounced up to Selena and hugged her. "You guys were great. That was amazing."
"Thanks. Looks like we fixed the couples problem." Selena smiled over at her sisters who were hugging and kissing their boyfriends. "Sammy says you taught him how to play drums," Maxine said as she walked over to them.
"He's born to play. After everything I do, he can do it exactly the same.
"I just called Vinny!" Sammy exclaimed as he came over to them. "He said he will send me a video of him playing the drums! And he also sent me a picture with his new tarantula!"
"What happened to his old one?"
"His sister accidentally ate it."
"How do you accidentally…I don't even want to know."
"That was beautiful," Emil said to Reva. "Look, I made you a poem." Reva took the piece of paper he pulled out of his pocket and looked it over.
One thousand three hundred and thirty four hours
Is the amount of time we've spent together
But don't worry, we're not over
Because I'll love you forever and ever.
She smiled. "It's beautiful."
"Thanks. I was up all night working on it. It was hard to rhyme."
Reva laughed and threw her arms around him. "You're the best, Emil."
"Yeah, I know."
"My mom and dad said we could stay," Troy announced to Gabriella. They had moved to a more isolated place. Gabriella grinned at him. "Really?"
"Yeah. At first they wanted me to go, but then today they saw how sad we were and let us stay."
"I love you so much," Gabriella said, wrapping her arms around him. Troy smiled and pulled away. He pulled out a pocket knife and started carving something into the tree besides them. "What are you doing?"
"Writing something cheesy and something that's from a lot of romantic movies," Troy said as he finished carving in a G. He made the plus sign and then finished with a rough looking T. G + T. Gabriella giggled and took the knife from him. She started carving the number 4 and then wrote Ever. G+T 4Ever. "I remember carving a heart on a tree for my dad," Gabriella said. "But then I dropped the knife and it cut me." She turned her arm over and Troy traced the dark scar. "How come I've never noticed?"
Gabriella smiled and shrugged. "Hey, is your house still open?"
"Yeah. My parents went out. They're going to finish unpacking when they get back."
Gabriella grinned. She trailed her hands down his chest and looked up at him with suggesting eyes. "Wanna go over there so we can finish packing?"
Troy grinned and nodded. "Hell yeah. Let's go."
…
And I think you know what happens ;)
…
"Go Selena!" Maxine yelled. Reva threw her a look. "Selena? What about me? I'll be your sister-in-law someday!"
Emil's eyes went wide. "Yeah, someday in fifteen years."
"I was thinking along the lines of maybe eight—" Reva squealed as Selena rammed into her. Selena laughed and patted her pillow. "I love this."
Reva stood and fixed her pillow under her shirt. She looked at Selena and put her fist up. "You're on, sister! Come and get me!" They both ran to each other and then they both fell backwards. Everyone laughed. Sammy stepped up. "One…Two…" Reva quickly popped up and Sammy stepped back.
Selena on the other hand rolled around on the carpet trying to get up. "I' not used to having a big belly," Selena complained. Gabriella stepped in and helped her up then sat back down. "Okay…and fight!"
Selena rammed into Reva, but Reva stayed her ground. She bumped her pillow into Selena and Selena toppled over. Reva quickly jumped on Selena and pinned her down. Sammy stepped up. "One…two…" Selena withered and squirmed beneath Reva, but failed to get her off of her. "Three!" Sammy rung Rosie's cowbell and lifted Reva's hand. "Winner!"
"Gabriella and Maxine's turn," Selena said. She removed the pillows from under her shirt and went to sit on the couch. Gabriella and Maxine stuffed their shirts with pillows before stepping up. "This feels so weird," Gabriella said. She poked at the pillow before looking up at Maxine. "Okay, keep this fight clean," Sammy said. "And… fight!"
Maxine rammed at Gabriella. Gabriella dodged her and Maxine lost her balance and fell. "Ha, beat that, Max!" Gabriella gloated and did a happy dance.
"Oh shut up." Maxine squirmed a bit before standing. She rammed into Gabriella and didn't miss this time. Gabriella and Maxine fell and Maxine pinned her. Sammy scattered to the floor. "One…two…th—"Gabriella pushed Maxine off of her. She pounced at Maxine and they started rolling on the carpet.
"Grab that G and grab that A then grab that B-R-I-E-L-L-A!" Selena chanted.
"Go Maxine!" Leilani and Reva said together. Emil watched with interest. "This is somewhat like lesbian porn. Awesome!"
Everyone stopped and looked at Emil. "Seriously, Emil?" Leilani said.
Emil smirked and leaned back in his seat. "Yup."
Gabriella shook her head and pinned Maxine. Maxine squirmed beneath her, trying to break free. "One…two…three!" Sammy rung the cowbell and lifted Gabriella's hand. "Winner!"
Gabriella jumped with triumph. "Yeah, I won!"
"Now, the winners must face each other," Sammy said. "Then after that, the winner must face…the Great Leilani! Undefeated at this sport." He looked at Gabriella and Reva. "The match up between best sisters. Who will win? Okay. Ready…set…fight!" Sammy quickly moved out of the way as the girls smashed into each other. Reva grabbed Gabriella's arm and twisted it. Gabriella squealed and jerked her arm back. "Fuck Reva, don't break my arm!" Reva grinned and bumped her stomach into Gabriella. Gabriella stumbled back but didn't fall.
"It could be anyone's win," Sammy said. Troy and Selena chanted for Gabriella while Emil and Maxine chanted for Reva. "Go Rev!"
"Maxine, I so don't want to share a room with you anymore," Gabriella said. She pushed Reva onto the ground with her pillow then pinned her to the ground. "One…two—"
Reva pushed Gabriella off of her and pinned her. Gabriella tried to get up under Reva, but all she could do is squirm. "One…two…three!" Sammy rang his cowbell and held up Reva's hand. "Winner!"
Gabriella laughed as she pulled the pillow out from under her shirt. "Look, how much weight I lost."
"Okay, now time for the great Leilani and Reva to perform," Sammy said. He plopped down on the couch next to Gabriella.
Leilani got up. She had stuffed three pillows under her shirt while Reva only had one. "Oh boy," Reva said. Leilani smirked before ramming into Reva's small body. It wasn't even ten seconds before Leilani was able to pin her. "One…two…three!" Sammy rang the cowbell. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!" Sammy held up Leilani's hand. Leilani bowed.
"Well, she had three pillows," Reva said.
Rosie laughed and stood. "That was fun. Now who wants watermelon?'
Reva popped up. "I do! I do! I do!"
Rosie nodded and smiled. "I figured, Reva."
"Mami is calling," Gabriella announced later that night. Troy, Leilani and Emil had moved in after their parents left for Maine. The plan was that they were going to live with Chad, but Emil had somehow persuaded his parents to let them stay here.
Gabriella answered her phone and put it on speaker. "Hey, mami. How was the concert in…Montana?"
"It was good. I love the fans and how they cheer me on."
"That's good. Hey, how are Owen and Elena?"
"They're great. Elena keeps asking for Sammy."
"She does?" Sammy grinned. "Tell her I miss her!"
Rayline laughed. "Okay, I will when I can, Sam."
"Thanks!"
"Hey mom, are you going to make it for my birthday?' Selena asked. Her birthday was in a week and she was really hoping to have her mom there. Rayline sighed. "I don't know, sweetie. If not, I'll send in Skype and send you a present."
Selena sighed disconsolately. "Okay. And, you know, it's okay if you're not coming. I didn't even…care for it." Selena sighed and walked out of the kitchen.
"Selena?" Rayline said dreadfully.
"We'll call you later, mom," Gabriella said. "We love you."
"Love you too. And tell Selena I'll try my very best. I feel bad letting her down."
"It's okay, mom," Reva said. "We'll see if we can talk to her."
"Thank you, chicas. Okay, I have to go. Bye."
"Bye." Gabriella ended the call and turned to Reva. "I'll go talk to her and see if I can reason with her." Reva nodded and sat down on the stool. Gabriella walked up to Selena's room and knocked lightly on the door. "Selena?"
"It's open," Selena sniffed. Gabriella opened the door and closed it after her. Selena was sat on her bed, wiping at her eyes. Gabriella sat down next to her. "Sel, you know mom is trying."
"I know, I know, but I want her to be there. I miss mom, Gabs. I miss her really badly and I know I saw her a few weeks ago, but I still miss her."
"Selena, you know she's trying," Gabriella said. "She's on tour. She can't just drop it all for your birthday. I mean, it would be great, but she can't."
"I hate this." Selena flopped back on her bed and sighed. "I hate it! Normal people think that this life is so glamorous and awesome, but it's not. I mean, it is most of the time, but not all the time. I'm grateful for who I am but I just want to be an ordinary girl." Selena looked at Gabriella. "Does that make any sense?"
Gabriella smiled faintly. "Of course it does. I feel the same. Wait here." Gabriella stood and walked out of the room. Selena sat up and waited until she came back. After a minute, the door opened again and Gabriella slipped in. "I want to show you something." She opened her lyrics book to a page. "Don't get me wrong I love who I am I don't want to be ungrateful it probably sounds strange. I really love the role I play, the songs I sing, but with all the fame. The things that seem so simple are suddenly so far out of reach I wish that they could see that underneath…I'm just an ordinary girl."
Selena smiled and put the book by her side. "Sometimes I'm lazy I get bored. I get scared I feel ignored. I feel happy, I get silly. I choke on my own words I make wishes, I have dreams and I still want to believe anything can happen in this world for an ordinary girl like you like me. For any ordinary girl, like you like me."
"I totally get it," Gabriella said and grinned at Selena. Selena grinned back and hugged her. "Thanks, Gabs. Seriously, you're the best sister ever. But don't tell Reva."
Gabriella laughed. Reva had said the same thing to her a week before they were leaving to New Mexico. "Sure, I promise."
"Hey guys, we're about to get into the pool," Reva announced as she came into the room. She rushed to her drawer and started bringing out bikinis. "Let's show our boyfriends what we can pull off. Oh, and Sel, Leilani brought a special guest to this party."
"Who?" Selena grabbed the little red and white halter bikini.
"That's confidential until you get outside. Now, go get changed."
Selena eyed her for a second before going to her connected bathroom. Gabriella looked at Reva. "Who's here for Selena?"
"Howard Leering. Leilani and the Twins told me that he's one of the guys you picked for Maxine. But we also have someone here for Maxine too. Nick Copper so it's a win-win."
Gabriella grinned. "Good. Hopefully they'll hit it off."
Reva nodded. "Now get out so I can change." She pushed Gabriella out and closed the door.
…
"No!" Gabriella squealed as Troy grabbed her. He grabbed her torso while Emil grabbed her legs. Gabriella squealed as they threw her into the pool. When she resurfaced she glared at them. "I hate you guys!"
"Well at least they didn't throw your tarantula in here!" Sammy said as he came up form under water. He had Yoda in a freezer bag. "Yoda can't swim so I keep him in here."
Reva screamed as Emil lifted her up and tossed her in the pool. Troy did the same with Leilani. "Is this take-girls-off-their-beach-chairs-and-throw-them-into-the-pool day?"
Emil jumped into the pool with Troy. "No. It's couples day. Looks like Selena and Maxine are getting their couple on."
Gabriella and Reva and Leilani looked to Maxine and Selena as they chatted it up with Nick and Howard.
"Now all that I need to do is get a boyfriend," Leilani said. Troy shook his head. "You don't need one."
"Baby brother, I'm older than you so I'm allowed to get a boyfriend."
"My goodness, Leilani. For the last fucking time, you are only older by three minutes."
Leilani smirked and swam away. Gabriella smiled and swam over to Troy. "She's right. She is older than you."
"Great, now my girlfriend is turning on me." Troy shook his head and pretended to cry. "This world just doesn't make sense anymore."
Gabriella climbed out of the pool with Reva and Leilani. They went back to their lounge chairs and started to sun bathe.
"I can stay like this forever," Reva said. She turned on her stomach and savored the way the sun hammered down on her body.
"Not if you don't want to look like Snooki," Gabriella said and pulled on her sunglasses.
…
"Hey, Sammy, how was school?" Rosie asked as Sammy jumped into the Escalade. Sammy shrugged and pulled down his baseball cap. "Oh, you know same-old-same-old. Fun at school."
"You okay?" Maxine asked. "You hardly ever wear that baseball cap. It messes up you hair that you spend and hour on."
Sammy shrugged and pulled the cap down over his eye. "This guys at school said that it looks nice on me. So I think I'll wear it everyday. Including at night."
Maxine eyes him apprehensively for a second before turning back around. When they arrived at the house, Sammy fled form his seat and into the house. Everyone looked worried at each other.
"What's with him?" Reva asked Maxine.
Maxine shrugged and started after Sammy. "Sam?" She ran up to his room and knocked on the door. "Sammy, open up." Sammy opened the door and stepped out. His baseball cap was off now and he was wearing a pair of Rosie's sunglasses. "Hey, Maxine," he said nervously. "How's the weather?"
"Sammy, you always ask that question when you're hiding something. What is it?" Maxine took the sunglasses off of his eyes and gasped. "Sammy, who the hell did that to you?" Maxine grabbed his face in her hand and tilted it side to side, examining the huge black eye covering his left eye.
"I…uh, I fell into the mailbox while we were at recess."
"You have no mailbox in your playground, Sammy." Maxine guided Sammy top his bed and they sat down. She looked him straight in the eye. "Now who did this to you?"
"He told me not to snitch!" Sammy exclaimed. When he heard footfalls vibrating off the hallway floor, he snatched the glasses away from Maxine and placed them back on his eyes. Rosie came into the room looking worried. "What is it?"
"Sammy got a black-eyed," Maxine explained then took the sunglasses off of his eyes again. Rosie gasped and crouched down by him. "Who hit you?"
"I fell into a mailbox," Sammy said. "Honest!"
"Sammy, this wasn't something a mailbox can do. So we can prevent this from happening again, I want you to tell me who hit you."
Sammy sighed, defeated. "His name is Brock Channing. He's the toughest, meanest kid in the third grade. He even takes kindergartens lunches and dumps them on them!"
"Wait, he's in third grade? Sammy, you're only in first. I need to call the principal."
But Sammy grasped her arm before she could move. "No! Please don't! Brock will rearrange my face if you tell on him."
Rosie sighed and shook her head. "Maxine, get him some ice. I'll be right back."
Sammy groaned. "Why would he want to beat you up, Sam?" Maxine asked.
"Because he knows I like Cassandra! And he likes Cassandra."
Maxine smiled coyly. "So this is a battle for a girl?"
Sammy nodded timidly. "Yeah, it is. But the thing is, Brock already had five girlfriends! He's being mean and selfish by not letting me have my first one."
Maxine laughed and hugged him. "You guys are only in elementary school. Why are you worrying about this?"
"Because you're only cool if you got a girlfriend or boyfriend," Sammy explained. "It's the rule of East High Elementary."
Maxine shook her head and stood. "Well, why don't we go downstairs and get a Popsicle and ice."
"Ice?"
"You need it for your eye. Can't have it swell up. Then Cassandra wouldn't like the way you look."
Sammy's eyes went wide. He started combing his fingers through his hair. "I can never not look hot, Max. You should know that."
"What happened?" Reva gasped as her and Emil were walking out of her room.
"Sammy got beat on by this third grader," Maxine explained.
"He wants to date Cassandra, but he had like ten girlfriends already. It's my turn to shine. This hair will win over anything." Sammy grinned. "And maybe even this black-eye. It makes me look tough."
"Yeah, girls like tough guys with muscle," Emil said. Sammy beamed up at him. "Really? What else do they like?" Sammy moved next to him.
"Let's talk about," Emil said and led Sammy back into Reva's room. Reva frowned. "Well, I guess that make-out session is off the list."
Maxine laughed and they walked down the steps.
…
"Okay, one…two…three." Gabriella and Troy butted their chest together. Gabriella laughed as she fell back on the bed. She rubbed her chest. "Dammit, Troy. You seriously are pecked." She looked at his naked chest and smiled demurely. "It's like you're photos-hoped."
Troy grinned. They had decided to strip down to their underwear and watch old movies. But then they started talking about that new movie Friends With Benefits and butted their chest together.
Gabriella sat up. She held her hair up into a loose ponytail and tied her zebra printed scrunchie around it. Tresses of hair fell sloppily into her face. There was a knock on her door before it opened. In walked Selena, Leilani and Maxine. "Hey, you guys—" Selena stopped talking abruptly and her eyebrows rose.
"You guys really should knock," Gabriella said. She grabbed her blanket and held it up to cover her half-naked body. "And before you ask, we weren't having sex we were doing what Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake did in FWB."
"Oh, I can't wait to see that movie," Maxine said, plopping down in the moon chair besides her bed. Troy and Gabriella quickly shimmied into their clothes.
"Troy and me were going to go see it," Gabriella said. "You guys gonna come?"
"Yeah."
"We're all underage," Leilani announced. "They won't let us go into an R-rated movie."
"Yeah they will," Gabriella said. "We just say to Rosie that we're there to see another movie and then sneak out to the theater playing FWB."
"That's horrible," Maxine commented. "But I like it."
…
"Did you straighten everything out with the principal, Rosie?" Maxine asked the next day. After Rosie picked up the girls and Troy and Emil, they set off to pick up Sammy. Rosie nodded and pulled up by the curb. "Yup. He said he'll talk to Brock's parents."
Sammy walked out of school. He had his baseball cap on and over it was his hood. He had his sunglasses held securely over his eyes and his head and leaned toward the ground. Everyone in the car shot each other worried looks.
Sammy climbed into the Escalade. He squeezed in between Maxine and Troy and kept his head low.
"What happened with Brock?" Troy asked.
"Oh, uh…well, you see, he and I had a talk. I punched him in front of Cassandra because Emil said girls like tough guys. And then…"
"Then…?"
"And then we started fighting and…"
"Sammy, get on with it already."
"And he did this." Sammy took off his cap and hood. He removed the sunglasses and everyone took short intakes of breath. His other eye had a black eye and his lip was puffy and bleeding. A purple bruise settled under his eye. "His dad is the principal and his mom is the vice principal," Sammy explained. "They told him not to do it again, but he did." Sammy's eyes peeked over Troy and he gasped. A boy with girls clinging onto him was striding out of the front entrance. The boy me Sammy's eyes and he grinned.
Sammy sunk low in his seat. "One of the girls was Cassandra."
"He looks mean," Gabriella commented. "And someone should do something." Sammy shrugged and pulled his cap back on.
"Hold on," Rosie said. She got out of the car and started walking to the school. Everyone in the car shared confused expressions.
Rosie opened the doors of the school. She walked straight to the principal's office and opened the door without knocking. "Okay, listen up." Rosie leaned on his desk and looked into his startled eyes. "Your son Brock Channing is messing around and beating up my nephew Sammy Williams. He has two black eyes, a busted lip and a bruise under his eye. I demand you either suspend that boy or do something. Especially since Sam is a first grader and Brock is a third grader."
Principal Channing sighed and folded his hands together. "Miss Williams, Brock has told me that your nephew has been picking on him and calling him names. He is just doing what most boys do. Plus, I bet they're just playing."
"No, they are not." Rosie frowned. "And Sammy does no such thing! Sammy always has that terrified look on his face when he comes home from school. I try to ignore it, but when he came home with that black eye yesterday, I know it's time to end."
Principal Channing sighed once more. "Boys are boys, Miss Williams. We can't stop what they do."
"Yes you can. Do you know how many kids commit suicide because they're pushed around? I know it's a little too early for Sammy to think about that, but it's true. And if you don't address this matter, I will go to the board."
"Miss Williams, what am I supposed to do? Suspend my own son? Maybe you should tell Mr. Williams to buff up a bit."
"Buff up a bit…?" Rosie laughed cynically. "Buff up a bit? He's six!" Rosie laughed again, but it wasn't a happy laugh. "Why don't you tell your son to get a fucking life and stop messing with my nephew?"
Principal Channing gasped. "I will not tolerate that kind of language in my school."
"Yeah, well maybe you should not tolerate that kind of bullying in your school as well," Rosie spat back. "And tell Brock he can stick his little fist up his little as—"
"Rosie." Rosie and Principal Channing looked to the door. Leilani and Maxine hung in. "The paps are crazy out there. They're seriously knocking the car back and forth. Mind hurrying up a bit?"
Rosie nodded and ran a hand over her flustered face. "Yes. Yeah, I am." She turned back to Principal Channing. "And I will get the board involved in this. I'll make sure that boy is expelled." Rosie glared at him for a second more before turning and exiting with the girls. Maxine looked to Rosie shocked. "What did you say to him? He looked mad."
"Yeah, well maybe he'll think twice before messing with my family." Rosie sighed and they pushed their way into the car. Rosie honked and the paps scattered out of the way. Rosie sped off down the road.
"What happened?" Sammy asked.
"I confronted your principal and told him to do something with the matter," Rosie said resolutely. "Or else I would confront the board."
"Is that bad?"
"Yeah."
Minutes later Rosie pulled up into the driveway. Everyone jumped out of the car. "Why don't we use our cars?" Gabriella asked. She looked at the row of cars in the driveway.
"Because carpooling helps save gas. The gas is over four dollars," Rosie answered. "But if you want, you guys can drive to school and back."
"Help me with my homework," Troy said. He pulled Gabriella by the waist to her room and locked the door. "What subject?" Gabriella asked. Troy grinned and pushed her softly onto the bed. "The human body."
"Huh?" Then realization dawned over her. She grinned up at him and tugged on his shirt collar so his lips would come to hers. "I think I know where you're going."
"You better." And then Troy pushed his lips hard to hers.
…
"Hey, Troy, you got a razor?" Emil came out of the bathroom. His face was filled with shaving cream. He looked like the son of Santa Clause. Troy laughed and put down his basketball jersey. "Dude, you look like a skinny Santa. And what do you need shaving cream for. You don't even look like you've been through puberty."
Emil shook his head. He pointed to his chest. "Actually, I beg a differ, brother. I have exactly three chest hairs and six armpit hairs. How's manly for that?"
Troy looked at him for a moment before cracking up. His body doubled over in laughter and Emil grew confused. "Yo, airhead, what's so funny?" Troy shook his head and laughed harder. Emil grew frustrated. "Troy?" When he didn't answer, Emil picked up his baseball. He hurled it at Troy and it hit him in the wrong spot. "Ah, shit!" Troy cursed loudly. He fell to the floor clutching at his painfully aching balls.
It was Emil's turn to laugh. The girls all came rolling into the room. "What's with the laughing?" Gabriella asked.
"Well, Troy started laughing at me when I said that I was actually growing hair and so I hit him hard in the balls with my lucky baseball signed by Chase Utley."
Maxine turned. "So it's basically boys just being their retarded self."
"Hey, watch the name-calling."
"Hey guys, Reyna posted on her wall," Leilani announced, looking up form her phone.
"You're friends with her on facebook?"
"Yes. But only because I want to see what she puts on her wall. What she put was bad."
"How so?" Gabriella stepped up now. She peered over Selena's shoulder and read the post with shadowy eyes. She shook her head.
"What does it say?" Reva asked.
"It's just stupid threats like she could do anything. Let's get to sleep. It's late."
…
"What's going on?" Gabriella asked as she pulled up into the school parking lot. A car screeched to a stop in front of a white line. Another car sped after it, stopping as well. Gabriella and Troy exited her car and watched with curiosity.
"Racing," Troy finally said. "Reyna wants a boyfriend."
"Seriously? So she gets a boyfriend by them racing. They could get hurt."
"And in trouble. Let's go." Troy grabbed the edge of his skateboard and placed it on the ground. Gabriella got on and Troy got on after her. He pushed the skateboard, picking up speed before getting on the board fully. They sped down the parking lot, up the ramp and into the school. Gabriella grinned as the wind they created whisked at her hair. Troy grabbed her waist with one hand and then his locker with his other. They stopped abruptly.
"I like doing that now," Gabriella said. Troy grinned and slipped the board into his locker. "I'm glad you do. Hey, are you free tonight?"
"Um, no. Why?"
"I wanna take you out on a date to an isolated place where no one can interrupt us."
Gabriella grinned. "That sounds perfect. Meet me by the front door at seven?"
"Yeah. I have to go talk to coach about basketball, you'll be okay walking to class alone?"
"Duh, Troy. I'm not handicap. Go." Gabriella gave his shoulder a bit of a push. Troy smiled and kissed her on the cheek before walking off. "Aw, how cute," a voice said behind her. Gabriella spun around and frowned when she saw Reyna. Reyna smiled and dug her hand into the pocket of a guys pants that stood next to her. He stood about six feet seven inches and had charming black hair. His green eyes pierced into Gabriella and it sent shivers down her spine. My god, he was good-looking, but also intimidating and chilling. "What do you want, Reyna?" Gabriella managed to look back at her.
"I want you to meet my new boyfriend Hunter Prince." Reyna grinned haughtily at Hunter as if being a partner with him set off an innovative, interesting and intimidating vibe. And in a way, it did. But Gabriella rolled her eyes and leaned against Troy's locker. On instinct she reached up to grab the T necklace Troy had given her and the necklace her mom had given her before she left. "Okay, now what?"
"I want your opinion," Reyna said mischievously. "Don't you think he's hot?"
"He looks nice. But I have to go. And by the way, if you're going to go into the bathroom for a fuck, I'd lock the doors so no one walks in on you…again."
Reyna gave her a condescension look. "Listen, bitch. All I really wanted to say was watch your back."
"Thanks, Reyna. I really appreciate it," Gabriella said sarcastically. "But I have to go." Gabriella grinned. "See ya." Gabriella turned and went off to homeroom.
…
"You've been avoiding practices," Chad said as troy entered the gym. Troy shrugged and held his hands out. Chad passed the ball to him and Troy turned to make a shot. When the ball flew into the net with a swish, Troy grinned. "And the champ still has it."
Chad retrieved the ball. "You'll always have it. But obviously not with Gabriella in the picture." Chad passed the ball to Troy again but with more force. Troy looked at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that with you focusing on fucking Gabriella, you aren't winning us a game."
"Wait, what? First of all, our love life isn't just fucking, Chad. Get it straight. We love each other and I wouldn't give it up for anything."
"Not even a winning trophy?"
"Chad, there's twelve other people on the team. Not just me. And winning isn't everything."
"Yes it is. And with you here, you lead us to infinity and beyond, but not if you're worried about the celebrity."
"I thought you were cool with Gabriella."
"I was before she came in and stopped you from practicing."
"Dude, you're acting like I quit the team."
"You are. Honestly, Troy. Have you ever practiced since Gabriella was here?"
"You know, I think you're being so worked up about nothing. So why don't you butt the hell out of my life."
"She's hurting your chance at going to U of A or Duke. Do you seriously want to throw it all away for her?"
"You're acting like she's nothing."
"I think you should cut it off with her," Chad said. He plucked another ball and started throwing free-throws. Troy watched in astonishment. "Cut it off with her? Who do you think you are? Last time I checked, you were my best friend." Troy shook his head. "But I doubt that now."
"Dude, she's going to ruin your life!"
"Whatever, Chad. I'm going." Troy threw the ball. Chad quickly ducked it and watched as Troy left the room. Reyna took his spot and smiled puckishly at Chad. "Hey, Chaddy. I have a proposition for you."
Chad looked at where Troy stood for a second before looking back at Reyna. "I don't know…"
"It's about Troy and Gabriella. A way to make Troy the basketball fanatic he was before."
Chad looked thoughtful for a moment then he nodded. "Okay, I'm listening."
…
"Hey." Gabriella looked up from her science experiment. Hunter approached her looking even godlier. Gabriella felt her throat close dry. "Hi."
"I'm good at science," Hunter said. "Look, you're doing it wrong. Let me help you." Hunter moved behind Gabriella. He grabbed her wrist in his big hands and helped her pour a bit of the pink fluid into the green. A small puff of smoke licked out of the beaker. It smelled good. Like cinnamon and flowers mixed together. Gabriella turned her neck to look at Hunter. "Wow."
Hunter rubbed her arms before moving next to her. "You have to pour the right amount first."He looked down at her hands. He grabbed them. "Your hands are so strong. Do you play the piano?"
"Yeah," Gabriella said dazedly. She swallowed harshly as Hunter rubbed the skin on her knuckles. "I play, too."
"You do?"
"Yes. We can play together if you'd like."
"I'd love that," Gabriella breathed. She looked up into his eyes. They were so mesmerizing and mysterious. She felt herself falling and falling until…
Thud!
Gabriella gasped as she felt hot pain swim around her head. She had fallen out of her seat and hit her head hard on the linoleum floor. Hunter was quick to help her up. "Gabriella, are you okay? That was quite a fall."
"I'm fine," Gabriella grumbled and reached up to her pounding head. Her fingers swiped softly against a huge gash and blood stained her fingers. "My goodness, how'd you fall?" Miss K asked as she came into the scene. She examined Gabriella head. "Go to the nurse's office. Hunter, would you go with her?"
"Yes, ma'am," Hunter said. He smiled charmingly before helping Gabriella out of the room. "I don't know what happened," Gabriella said. Her face felt hot and flushed and she didn't know why.
"It was probably the smell of the experiment that caught you off track. Or maybe something else." Hunter leaned into her and Gabriella moved away. They walked into the nurse's office and Miss Tinner looked at them. "Well, how may I help you two today?"
"Gabriella has busted her head open," Hunter explained. Miss Tinner pushed Gabriella's head down gently and examined the gash. "My, that is big. But nothing alcohol couldn't do. It doesn't look like you'll need stitches."
Gabriella nodded and sat down. Miss Tinner started cleaning the cut. When she finished, she let Gabriella and Hunter go. "Feels weird," Gabriella said. She touched at the gash sensually. "And disgusting."
Hunter laughed. "Yeah, it probably would." They opened the door to the classroom and stepped in. Gabriella sat back in her seat and Hunter took his previous seat. Gabriella couldn't help but look back at him.
…
"This looks really dangerous," Gabriella said. She eyed a needle skeptically and hid behind Troy.
"How is it dangerous? People do it everyday. It's like going to the doctors and getting a shot." Troy smiled brilliantly. "You're not scared, are you?"
"Of course not," Gabriella lied. "Why would I be scared of a needle?"
"You don't have to donate if you don't want to, Brie. They aren't making you do it."
Gabriella shrugged wearily and turned to walk away. But Reyna jumped in front of her to stop her. "Hey there, Gabriella. Aren't you donating?"
Gabriella shook her head. "No, I don't think so."
"Well, why not?" Reyna tilted her head and smiled. "You aren't scared…are you?"
"Of course I'm not."
"Look Reyna, we really have to go," Troy said. He grabbed Gabriella's arm and started pulling her away, but Reyna stopped them again. "Not so fast. Donating blood to our local hospital is a good charity, don't you think?"
"Alright, fine! You want me to take the damn needle then I'll take it." Gabriella turned back around and her eyes went wide when she saw the sharp needle penetrate deep into a boy's arm. But he didn't even flinch. Gabriella grabbed her arm and walked forward into the room.
"You're donating?" a plump nurse asked. Gabriella nodded despairingly and the lady smiled. She guided Gabriella into a seat and brought out a needle. "It feels like a cat scratch," the lady explained. "Or a really long pinch, but the pain will ease away."
Gabriella nodded and watched as the nurse wiped at her arm. She then lowered the needle and it pricked Gabriella's skin making a bulb of blood seep out and run down her arm. Gabriella felt her stomach clench tightly and she felt the wooziness swarm around her head. The blood continued to drip and Gabriella's eyes began to droop. "Dear Lord," she breathed and blacked out.
Gabriella's eyes came open. She was laying on something soft and fuzzy. "Gabriella?" Her eyes moved over to the chair next to her. Troy sat there. "You okay? You've been out for about thirty minutes."
Gabriella nodded and sat up. "What happened?"
"You got a needle and passed out. I didn't know blood made you queasy."
Gabriella shrugged. "I didn't know either. I never passed out at all the other times I've seen blood."
"Well you did there." He paused. "Hey, who's Hunter?"
"Hunter?" Gabriella said. Her palms started sweating and she bit her lip. "Yeah, Hunter. Um, he's Reyna's new boyfriend and I fell in science so he helped me to the nurse's office. He's just a friend."
"Oh," Troy said quietly. He started pulling restlessly at his shirt. Gabriella squirmed in her seat before jumping off of it and striding over to Troy. She sat on his lap and looked him straight in the eyes. "Don't be jealous," she whispered. "Hunter is nothing compared to you."
"I'm not jealous," he said. "I'm just cautious."
Gabriella bit her lip to hold back a grin. "Cautious of what?"
"Of other boys. Do you see how they look at you? It's like you're the delicious prey and they're the big predators."
"Well, Troy, I'm a big celebrity. Girls look at me that way too."
Troy chuckled. "But I doubt that they actually want to go out with you."
Gabriella tilted her head forwards and smirked at him. "Wanna bet?"
Troy smiled and kissed her slowly and attentively on the lips. Just to remember that Troy was the only guy for her, Gabriella pushed her lips harder onto his. Her arms slowly slid up his broad shoulders and her hands settled at the back of his neck, sensually playing with the dark brown hairs that swept down in thick and curly waves.
Troy's fingers brushed against her sides making Gabriella squirm and shiver beneath his touch. She felt a moan vibrate from the back of her throat as Troy pushed his tongue into her mouth and she leaned into him even more.
This was one of the Oh My God type kisses that made Gabriella's head spin and her body tingle with joy. It made her think of how she got here to this town in New Mexico and met him. The most charming, sensitive, funny and amazingly great guy she had ever met.
Gabriella reached hastily behind her for Troy's hand. She moved it slowly against the side of her stomach and then moved it to cup the bottom of her breast. She felt Troy's chuckle slither past his soft lips and Gabriella smiled.
"Eh-hem!" A voice hissed. Gabriella and Troy quickly broke apart as if they were electrocuted. Gabriella slid off his lap and stood, Troy following after her. Miss Tinner stood there, smiling with a hint of humor laced in her green eyes. "Well, I see that you're up and well, Miss Montez."
"Yes, Miss Tinner. I feel great, actually."
Miss Tinner bit her lip trying to hold back a laugh as if that sentence held two meanings. "Well, that's good. I called your guardian Rosie to pick you up. Will you be okay if I let you go now? No more falls, I presume?"
"Totally—I mean, yes. Definitely. I'll be okay, I promise I won't fall."
Miss Tinner smiled vibrantly. "Okay. Good luck. Oh." Miss Tinner chuckled and lowered her framed glasses on them. "And be careful." Gabriella blushed when she found that that warning had two meanings. She hurriedly walked out of the room with Troy. "That was embarrassing," Gabriella breathed.
Troy shrugged. "Not really. Miss T is cool. I bet she'd let us slide if we were having sex on top of her desk and getting cum on all of her paper—"
"Troy!" Gabriella scowled. She buried her head in her hands and shook her head. "If I get any redder, I'll be a skinny tomato."
"A skinny tomato?" Troy said, chuckling. He pried her hands off of her face and looked down adoringly at her. "And yet, I'd still love you."
"Aw, how sweet," she cooed and hugged him. "You wanna help with Sel's party later on?"
"Of course. What's the theme?"
"Just a regular party. Streamers, balloons, a huge cake with rocket's soaring out of it, maybe a really famous band or two like Owl City or Backstreet Boys, hundreds of presents—"
"Let me stop you there, party planner," Troy said, stopping her from walking anymore. Gabriella looked up at him bemused. "You aren't in LA, Brie. How about a regular, regular birthday party. Not the outgoing big parties in LA where everyone that is famous will attend. Just a couple friends and family, a cake, presents, streamers and balloons."
"That would probably be a good idea. Especially since it doesn't involve a circus."
"A circus? Seriously Gabriella?"
"What? She got one on her sweet sixteenth."
Troy laughed. "And that is why I love you guys. Hey, you should call Rosie and say we can drive ourselves back home," Troy suggested.
Gabriella nodded and pulled out her phone. She quickly texted Rosie. "Okay…and done. Let's go, lover boy." They walked out to Troy's truck. Gabriella had willingly given up her car since Troy already had one and she didn't want to make him give Delilah up.
"What's happening at Sammy's school?" Gabriella questioned. She peered out the window. A huge crowd of kids were all bunched into a circle shouting and screaming. "Do you think it's Sammy?" Gabriella asked. Troy shrugged and quickly parked on the curb. Gabriella slipped on Troy's hoodie, her sunglasses and then put the hood up to cover her face. They got out of the car and ran to the scene.
"Shit, that is Sammy," Gabriella said. Sammy was trapped under Brock as Brock hit him repeatedly. "Hey, break it up!" she yelled. All the kids fell silent and looked her way. Gabriella felt a wave of satisfaction dawn over her. So this is what it felt like to control little kids. However, she wasn't expecting the next part in their dead silence.
"It's Gabriella Montez!" a girl squeaked. It took the kids a moment for register her real face. Then they all started rushing up to her asking for autographs. Troy walked over to Brock and Sammy. Brock looked up at him with huge eyes. "Dude, you're huge."
"I'll take that as a compliment," he said before scooping Sammy up. Brock stomped his foot. "Hey! Who do you think you are? You can't just come here and take kids like you own them."
"He's my friend's brother," Troy explained.
"What in the world is going on here?" Principal Channing and a group of teachers exited the building.
"Dad, Sam hit me!" Brock exclaimed. "I was just playing tag with my friends and Sam came over here and hit me. I have the bruise to prove it." Brock lifted his arm and there laid a hefty purple bruise. Troy eyed the bruise and could instantly tell it was make-up.
"He took the first punch!" Brock let a fake tear slip. "Honest. You can even ask them." Brock looked back at the other kids with eyes of fury. They understood quickly and agreed with Brock's story.
"And who are they?" Principal Channing asked, looking at Troy and Gabriella. Gabriella quickly slipped from the kids and to Troy and Sammy. "This is Troy Bolton and I'm Gabriella Montez. His aunt Rosie is my homeschooled teacher and his sister is our best friend. We were driving home when we saw that Brock was beating up Sammy. It didn't even look like Sammy got a hit so he couldn't have made the first move." Gabriella looked back at Sammy. He had a nose bleed and a busted lip. His right eye was swollen and tightly pinched closed.
"And that bruise is obviously fake," Troy added, nodding to Brock's "bruise".
"And what do you have to say, Mr. Williams?" Principal Channing let his eyes land on Sammy. Sammy wiped off blood from his nose. "Brock started it. I was playing tag with my friends and Brock pushed me down. Then he started punching me." Sammy looked at Brock, daring him to say that it wasn't true. And to his surprise, Brock backed down under his gaze. Principal Channing let his eyes fall on Brock again. "Is this true, Brock?"
Brock looked at Sammy, then at Troy and Gabriella and then at the other kids. He stood up straight and nodded. "Yeah, it's true. But it's only true because Sammy called me fart-breath!"
"I did not!" Sammy yelled. "You said I was weird and a baby for carrying my tarantula Yoda around! When you were actually scared of it."
"Okay, enough," Principal Channing exclaimed. "Brock, in my office now. We will have a very, very long and serious talk. Your mother will be involved too."
"No, not mom!" Brock yelled. "She'll take away my bunny!" Brock's eyes went wide when he realized what he just said. Every student started laughing. Including Sammy. "You ready to go?" Troy asked Sammy. Sammy looked up at them and nodded. "Yeah, I am. And thanks for coming to my rescue."
"Why wouldn't we?" Gabriella said. Sammy smiled and they walked to the car, leaving a crying Brock and laughing students. "Karma is a female dog," Gabriella said. Sammy looked at her weird. "Huh? What does that mean?"
"Nothing," Gabriella said and smiled at him. "You want some ice cream from Cold Stones?"
"I'd die if I don't. Of course!"
Gabriella and Troy ordered Sammy a large Root beer Float and then got some ice for his bruises. "I don't wanna!" Sammy whined, pushing the ice away. Gabriella sighed and put the ice down. "Sammy, do you want to look like a blowfish?" Sammy shook his head. "Then let me put this over you bruises."
"But it hurts."
"I know, sweetie. But please do it." Sammy shook his head again. Troy sighed. "Come on, Sam. Look at this." Troy hit his head hard on the steering wheel. Gabriel gasped. "Troy! What the hell?"
Troy came back up. Blood was trickling down his forehead. He reached feebly for the ice wrapped in a napkin Gabriella had and pressed it hard to his cut. "I know it hurts, but it'll look and be better afterwards."
"But you're stronger than me," Sammy insisted but he took the ice anyway. He pressed it to his lip and hissed. "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!"
"Just be lucky that Rosie isn't here to make you put alcohol on it," Gabriella said, taking the ice away and changed it. "It looks okay now. Put it over your eye." Sammy put it over his eye and sighed. Gabriella turned back around in her seat and Troy started driving again. They pulled up at the house ten minutes later and climbed out of the car. It was still thirty minutes before everyone got out of school and Rosie got out of work.
"Thinking what I'm thinking?" Troy said, coming up behind Gabriella and pulling her close to him. Gabriella giggled. "Yup…I think I know…Just Dance 2!" She quickly ran from his arms. Sammy ran after her, screaming. Troy's eyebrows rose. "Not what I was thinking, but okay." He ran after them. "Hey Gabs, you should do Crazy in Love."
…
"Ha! Beat that Elvis," Gabriella said. "Got five stars on Viva Las Vegas."
"Well I got five stars on Barbie Girl," Troy said. He placed his hand son his hips and plopped down onto the floor. Gabriella shot him a weird look.
"Yeah, well I got five stars on When I Grow Up!" Sammy started doing the Sprinkler. "When I grow up I wanna be famous, I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies!"
"Aw, Sam, you didn't tell me you want to be like me," Gabriella said. Sammy grinned and hugged her. "Let's do Hey Ya!"
"Lucy, I'm home!" Leilani called. Troy, Gabriella and Sammy looked to the door.
"Aw, I can't believe you guys started without me," Reva complained. Everyone came into the house. Maxine gasped as she saw Sammy's face. "Sam!"
"We didn't want to worry you guys about him. That's why I didn't text you," Gabriella explained. Maxine hugged Sammy. "It was Brock again?'
"Yeah, but his dad had a talk with him. And his mom. But he was sad when he got told that because he didn't want his mom to take away his bunny."
Maxine laughed and hugged Sammy again. Leilani walked over to Gabriella and pulled her away from everyone else. "Why did Hunter put a note in my locker?"
"Huh?"
"It's addressed to you. I didn't read it but I want to know why he would want to give you a note."
"He's Reyna's boyfriend, Lei. Plus, we're just…acquaintances, I guess. I just met him today and he took me to the nurse's office when I fell. That's it."
"Are you sure?" Leilani's eyes lowered on Gabriella. Leilani didn't want Troy to have another broken heart and Gabriella knew that. She also knew that she would never in a millions years cheat on Troy.
"Of course I'm sure, Leilani. I would never hurt Troy. I love him and you know that. I'm no ho like Reyna."
Leilani smiled. "I know. Hey, Maxine and I have something to show you guys. Wanna hear it?"
"Not shit, Sherlock. Let me see."
…
"When the darkness sees you lonely, all the world tries to push you away. When your sky is looking troubled you can count on me 'cause I'm gonna stay," Leilani sung softly.
"Put your worries in my pocket, I have a key so we can lock it. I swear that, I won't let them escape," Maxine put in. The trio swayed with the rhythm, smiling as Leilani and Maxine sung.
"Love, it's always worth it, love. Everyone deserves it," they sung together in perfect harmony.
"It's the friend that holds your hand when no body understands."
"Love, it wants to heal you, love. It sees the real you. But you have to open up when you need a little love."
"If there's something you're in need of."
"You're in need of."
"You only have to let me know. I've got a shoulder you can lean on and I'm always right up the road."
"Put your fears in my pocket. I've got a key so we can lock it. And no one won't let them escape." They stopped singing and looked at everyone, eyes filled with determination. Reva smiled and sprung. "Absolutely brilliant!"
"I know, that was amazing," Gabriella agreed.
"We should sing together," Selena suggested. "Sing a song that involves everyone."
"That's an awesome idea!" Sammy exclaimed. He had his sunglasses over his eyes now. "I could play the drums with Selena."
"That you can, my friend." Selena pulled him into her lap and rested her chin on his spiky brown hair.
"I bet Kels has a really great song," Gabriella said. "She always does."
"Dinner's ready!" Rosie yelled from downstairs. Everyone quickly hurried down the steps.
"Wow, no chicken alffredo this time, Rose?" Reva asked as she took a plate of breaded shrimp, string beans and mashed potatoes.
"Nope. I think I should go for something else now. Now eat."
After dinner everyone crowded into the living room to watch Shrek Forever After. Except Rosie. She was planning the preparations fro Selena's birthday party.
"That baby is butt ugly," Sammy said.
"She's an ogre, what do you expect?" Emil said. Sammy shrugged and pulled out Yoda. He started petting him.
"That's how we're going to be when we get married," Reva said to Emil. Emil looked at her as if she had fifty eyes. "Why must you keep bringing up this marriage thing?"
"So you don't want to get married to me when we're older?" Reva said. Her eyes lowered on him, daring him to say no. Emil shook his head frantically. "Of course I want to get married to you. Just in a few decades."
Reva rolled her eyes and pinched under his knee. Emil's body went limp against hers. "What the hell did you do?" Troy asked. He picked up Emil's dead arm and looked at Reva.
"It's a technique my mom taught me. If you find the right spot under someone's knee and pinch it, they'll pass out. But only for like ten minutes."
"No!" Gabriella suddenly squeaked. She had a pillow clutched tightly to her chest and she was basically the only one watching the movie. Besides Sammy and Maxine. "Don't sign the contract."
Selena looked at her. "Seriously, Gabriella? You actually like this?"
Gabriella looked at her. "Shush! It's interesting." She turned back to the screen and gasped. "No! He signed it! Why, Shrek, why?"
Sammy popped up. "Ha-ha-ha! The evil Rumplestiltskin has won again!" He rubbed his hands together, threw his head back and let out an eerie laugh, then fled off and up the stairs. The doorbell rang after that. "Can you open that, Rosie?" Reva called. Rosie peeked her head out of the kitchen and sighed. "Yeah, because I'm so much closer." She walked to the door. Reva smiled. "Thanks. Want some popcorn?" She flung the kernel at Rosie and laughed.
"Sometimes I wonder why I don't charge for this," Rosie muttered as she opened the door.
"Because you love us."
"Julie? Steve? What are you guys doing here," Rosie asked hugging them and ushering them inside. It was lightening and thundering outside. They were soaking wet and shivering. Rosie handed them each a towel and they dried off.
"We got locked up and kicked out of our hotel," Julie said.
Rosie's eyebrows rose. "Huh? How?"
"Well, Steve and I thought it would be funny if we ran down the corridors naked and yelling stupid stuff. The police came and arrested us for a few days and then we were kicked out of the hotel." Julie smiled. "Nice story, eh?"
"Believe me, I've heard worse." Rosie turned her head to the kids and smiled. The she turned back to Julie. "So your vacation was cut short?"
"Yup. And we also realized we missed the kids." Just as she said that, Sammy came bouncing down the steps. When he spotted his parents he smiled brightly and barreled to them, hugging them tightly.
"We heard about Brock," Julie said, examining Sammy's face. "You're okay, right?"
"Yes. Troy and Gabriella came and helped me just as he threatened to pull my eye out," Sammy exclaimed. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Well, mommy and daddy just thought that it was time to leave."
"Oh. Does that mean we have to leave?"
"Well, yeah. Don't you want to go back home?"
"Yeah…but I also wanna stay here with the trio and Troy and Leilani and Emil and Auntie Rosie."
"Well, I'll tell you what. You go home tonight and then I'll drive you to school on my way to work. And then you can come over here after school."
"Yay!" Sammy grinned.
"Hey mom, hey dad," Maxine said, hugging them. "How was the vacation?"
"Good, good."
"I wish you'd guys had warned me before you came," Rosie said. "They're stuff isn't anywhere near packed."
"That's okay. We'll come pick them up in a day or two."
"Okay, you guys want some food?"
"No thanks. We ate before we arrived. Okay, we'll see you later kids. Give me hugs." Everyone stood and gave Julie and Steve hugs and then they left.
"It will be weird not having you two everyday," Gabriella said, picking up popcorn from between the seats. Troy took the kernels and popped them in his mouth. "Ew, Troy! You have no idea what people do on this couch."
"He sure doesn't," Emil said groggily. He had just woken up. "Especially since I just farted."
"I don't smell—dear lord, what the hell is that smell?" Reva exclaimed. "That is not gas that is a toxic spill." Reva quickly covered her nose and Emil laughed.
Funny how I had a really short chapter and now I have a long one. (:
Thanks!-Brittany