Thanks for all the reviews everyone! I love reading them and I'm especially glad you like the story. I know everyone wants Troyella to be together ASAP…so do I! BUT..I've got to let the story flow…so you'll just have to keep reading and see what happens. This chapter has some Lilly-Sharpay bonding . I hope I show how close they are…I'm also introducing Katie into the story, and for those of you who can't picture her…check out the trailer again and Google the actress I made her.I just realized Troy's not in here any other than by mention, He'll be in here plenty next chapter! Thanks and keep reviewing!!
Disclaimer: Oh yeah, I also own Hawaii…Jamaica.. The White House..J
Ch.6-Good Times, Here and Tomorrow
TWO MONTHS LATER, it seemed came too soon. The only way Gabi and Troy had been in contact was through e-mails and the telephone. Each night, they called one another. Sometimes Troy would call early to talk with Lilly, others it was late into the night, when he could swoon Gabi with love-filled poems her wrote for her or just telling her about his day. Gabi would always tell him how Lilly was doing in school and at basketball, or just listen to his husky voice tell her he loved her. Gabriella and Lilly were still staying at Sharpay's due to a delay in building. The two-story white house was almost complete, but unknown to Gabi and Lilly, some of the delay was due to Shar hiring a interior designer to fix the house up, with high-tech electronics to marble counters and even putting a scrupulous pool and Jacuzzi in the backyard.
Chad and Taylor had been frequently talking during her lunch break and at night, whether it be by the phone or their latest discovery, webcam. Gabi and Shar didn't know that she was traveling home to use her webcam, and she had avoided telling her friends what they were doing, because knowing them, they would make quite a commotion about it.
Since their first game in the end of September, the boys had had six more games, five wins and one loss. With Thanksgiving approaching in the following week, they would soon find out where they would be playing, and the entire team was crossing their fingers for a game time not too close to Thanksgiving day.
It was late into the Friday before school let out for Thanksgiving when Gabi called Shar, who had the day off, to pick up Lilly from school. She was overflowing with Thanksgiving bouquets to arrange and would be staying to work late. So, Shar raced over to the school and sat in her car to wait, when her cell rang.
"Hello" She answered.
"Hey Shar, it's Ryan"
"Hey Bro! What's going on?" She glanced around when she saw her clock ease onto 3 o'clock.
"I actually need a favor from you." He replied, and she heard basketballs in the background.
"I'll try to help. What do you need me to do?"
Ryan then began to explain what he wanted her to do for him, and her grin grew wider with each syllable he uttered. When he finished, she quickly agreed and saw Lilly aimless walking around in the thinning crowd of students, so she hung up with Ryan and went over to the mini-Gabriella.
"Hey Lil, you want to go eat some ice cream and run some errands with me?" Shar questioned, squatting down to the little girl's eye level.
"Okay! What errands do we have to do?" She questioned as they made their way back into Shar's new Jeep Wrangler.
"We have to buy some food for Thanksgiving dinner and we also have to pick up some grown-up drinks." Sharpay pulled out into the main road, heading for downtown.
THE DOUBLE DUO arrived in the supermarket parking lot, armed with credit cards and ice cream cones. The greeter by the entrance shot them a look as they walked in, but Shar gave her a cold glare that quickly sent the greeter back to her post. They pulled a shopping cart out of the row and Lilly hopped inside.
They started their shopping mission in the fresh produce section and the race was soon on. Shar ran up and down the aisles grabbing everything she would ever need to make a warm and welcoming Thanksgiving dinner. She noticed a brand-new Barbie doll with her own house, accessories and all as they passed the toy section. She smiled and plopped it down in the cart.
"Aunty, whose that for?" She queried, licking her chocolate scoop of ice cream.
"This little girl with ice cream on her nose!" Shar squealed as she dabbed her vanilla ice cream on Lilly's nose.
"AH! Aunt Sharpie!" She stood up and plopped Sharpay's nose in her chocolate mess, making Shar burst with laughter.
"Lilly! I'm going to tickle you!!" She used her free hand to tickle her nieces sides, making her squeal with delight and giggles. She was holding hard to her ice cream when Sharpay stopped.
"I've still got my ice cream!" She taunted as she took a big bite out of it, leaning forward to rub it in Shar's face that she still had her ice cream.
Sharpay laughed and took a bite out of Lilly's ice cream, "Yours is pretty good!"
They both laughed because the ice cream thief had gotten the chocolate ice cream all over her mouth.
"You sure are messy!" Lilly exclaimed as they rode towards the checkout.
"So are you!" She pointed out the dripped chocolate all down the front of Lil's shirt.
The cashier made a strange face at the two girls eating ice cream in the end of November, practically wearing the creamy goodness. Shar took no notice and happily paid for her groceries, leaving a vanilla trail in front of the greeter, before smiling sickly sweet, taking Lilly's hand and leaving the store.
10 O'CLOCK that night, Tay, Shar and Gabi all sat next to Shar's fireplace, drinking hot coco.
"So girls, I have two exciting bit of news." Sharpay announced, sipping her warm drink.
"Don't hold us in suspense here girl!" Tay exclaimed.
"Well…I got a call from Ryan today. They just announced that the Knicks will play the Suns over in Phoenix, and we have tickets and locker room passes!" Tay and Gab began to squeal and hug each other.
"Oh that's such GREAT news!" Gab's face shone as she spoke.
"You two can't tell Troy or Chad though, you have to act completely upset because you couldn't get off of work." Shar explained.
"Oh…but it will be so fun to see their faces when we run into the locker room." Tay gazed into the fire, imagining Chad and her re-uniting.
"Lilly's going to have a fit!" Gab thought aloud, sipping her drink.
"Why don't you surprise her too?" Tay asked, looking over to Gab.
"Good idea Tay! You know her birthday's next Wednesday, when's the game?" Gab directed the question at Shar.
She thought for a moment before breaking out into a smile, "Next Wednesday."
"The perfect gift!" The three girls exclaimed, overly excited at the prospect of seeing more of the people that matter to them.
SATURDAY MORNING, The songbirds were singing by 8 o'clock, just as Katie Montez sat down on her porch swing. She would soon begin her daily work in her extensive flower garden, which she used to supply Serenity mainly. She ordered some of the strange or cross-breed flowers, but the rest came from her very own garden.
She usually sat for about an hour or so, sipping her coffee and enjoying the morning before Gab arrived at 10 to pick up flowers for the shop.
However, she soon heard a quiet rustle of the back gate and before her stood Gabi, decked out in blue jean overalls, a red and white shirt underneath, her hair in pigtails.
"Good Morning Abuelita, how are you?" She quickly made her way up the back steps, hugging her grandmother and taking a seat next to her.
"I'm doing wonderful my nieta, but what are you doing here so early?" Katie never was someone to beat around the bush.
"I just woke up and decided to get a head start on the day. I need to work as much as possible, but I do need to tell you something." Gab turned to her grandmother, making sure she had her full attention.
"I'm listening chica, what is it that you MUST tell me?" They both laughed before Gab explained.
"Next Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, Tay, Shar and myself will not be coming in to work. Don't freak ok?" She saw Katie face taking different shades of color. "I'm calling in Anna, Laura and Wesley, so they all will be down at Serenity. So have no fear, Gabi's here!" They shared another laugh over her silliness.
They sat listening to the wind rustle the trees and the birds sing, Gab's mind drifting off to a blue-eyed NBA star. She was quickly brought out of her daze.
"How's Lilly? Is her school and basketball still going well?" Katie loved her little granddaughter, nearly as much as Gab did.
"Lilly's great. She's excited for the break though! She likes school, but is ready for a break all the same. I still can hardly believe how she's growing up so fast." The young woman smiled softly over at her abuelita.
"Children grow before our eyes and in a flash…they are grown, living life on their own. Your doing a great job Niña…I'm so proud of you. Each day, you amaze me more and more." Katie softly touched her cheek. "Ricky and Marie would be proud too. I knew them for many years and they would be overjoyed with what you have accomplished."
She gently nodded her head, thinking of the few memories left of her parents.
"So…what about this man Troy you've told me so much about? What's happening with him?" Katie was also a very nosey person, but Gabriella usually gave way to her insistent prying.
"He's doing marvelous. His basketball team is playing in Phoenix, so that's why Tay, Shar, Lilly and I are taking off."
"I see. Well…I hate to put any damper on your good spirits, but you need to be careful exposing Lilly to him. I know you love him, but if it doesn't work out, Lilly will be heartbroken, and you have to think of her." Gabi turned away as Katie stated this. "Don't be angry with me. I just want to see you all happy."
"I'm not angry, but I am scared. You've voiced my main concern, but I think Troy is a great and loving man, who will always be there."
"On one of his fan sites, they said he was voted 'Sexiest Man Alive', my nieta is a lucky woman apparently!" Her wrinkles increased, but she smiled wide and laughed loud at Gab's shocked face.
"You were looking him up on the internet?!"
"I have to make sure he's not some madman!" Katie smiled and the girls laughed.
"Well…let's pick some flowers for the shop because I need to head on over and open up." The two women stood up and eased their way over into the garden, but not before Katie bumped Gabi with her hip,
"You need some meat on your bones child! This Troy-toy needs something to hold onto!!" Katie grinned wickedly.
"ABUELITA!" She exclaimed, and Katie just walked into the garden laughing as Gab walked close behind shaking her head.