In Need of Someone to Love
Chapter 6
Hellos and Goodbyes
Hi, I tried to update as soon as possible. I hope you guys like it. It's pretty long. Please review.
The sky was a dull gray. The once bright and cheerful sun had ran behind the clouds to mourn. Or at least that's what Troy thought. Ashlee played with her hands restlessly. She looked so cute in her little black dress and Mary Janes. The priest's voice echoed through the cemetery. His voice matched the skies and all of the stone monuments that were in the ground. If it wasn't a funeral he would laugh. In plain words the priest sounded dead. Dead… Angelina was dead. The words hit him like a ton of bricks. He glanced around at everyone there. Chad, Taylor, Sharpay, Zeke, Ryan, Tanya, Martha, and his assistant coach, his parents, Angelina's parents, and Angelina's siblings: Braison, Brandon, Travis, Sophia, and Samira. Samira was the closest to Angelina and the youngest of the Braden's. She clinged tearfully to Braison and kept her head down. Troy looked at the coffin. It was sealed tightly and covered with baby roses, they were Angelina's favorite. Troy wondered where she was right now. He knew her lifeless body was in there, but what about her spirit. She had always believed in heaven and hell. He knew that she wasn't in hell… so where could she be? He felt a gentle warmth next to him. He instantly turned around, but he saw no one. Then he knew… she was right there.
It was a few hours later. Troy sat in his study staring glumly at the purple carpet. It was the exact spot where Angelina had given him the bad news. Ashlee was downstairs with Taylor and Tyler. He sighed and the phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID. It was his boss… the principal of East High. He answered.
"Troy Bolton speaking." He said.
"Yes, hello Mr. Bolton." Principal Matsui (Yes, this guy is still around. It's only a couple of years later.) answered. "I know that you have a baby girl and that your wife just died, but we need you to come back and work. I can't afford to keep paying you when you aren't working."
"Principal… I mean, Mr.Matsui, I can't come back. There is no one around to take care of Ashlee. I have no one…"
"I'm sorry Troy. We need you to come in and do your job. You need to be back by Monday."
"But Mr. Matsui… I." He was met by a dial tone. He slammed the phone down and buried his head in his hands.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked himself. Just then he heard Angelina's mumbled words.
"Hire a babysitter."
He leaped up and dashed downstairs. Taylor saw him and jumped.
"What's wrong Troy?" she asked.
"Mr. Matsui wants me to start working again on Monday. I have to call that babysitter's agency now."
"Whoa, three days to get a perfect babysitter. That may not work out well Troy." Taylor replied.
"I'll try. I don't want to lose my job!" Troy cried as he ran for the phonebook.
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"You do… that's great!" Troy yelped a few minutes later.
"Yes, we'll send her over tomorrow to see if you like her. She's really great with kids and little children. She takes good care of them and can do errands and house chores." The secretary said.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. You're saving my job!!" Troy screamed. He was jumping up like a little kid.
"Your welcome." The secretary answered. "Call us if you have any problems." Troy hung up and walked into the living room. Taylor was cradling Ashlee in her arms. Tyler ran around the room chasing his toy airplane.
"Guess what Taylor… I got a baby-sitter. She is younger than us, but she is great with little kids."
"That's what the babysitting agency said about that other woman, but she turned out to be great with a butcher knife." Taylor said darkly. Troy tried to push away the horrifying thought.
"Um… anyway, can you come over tomorrow and check her out? Please, I know you want to help me find someone for Ashlee."
"Sure." Taylor agreed. She handed Ashlee to Troy and stood up.
"Come on Ty, we have to go sweetie."
"But Mommy." Tyler begged.
"No, we have to go home. Daddy is waiting for us." Taylor said sternly.
"Okay." Tyler groaned, defeated. Troy felt a little bit sorry for him. He knew what it felt like to not have your way. He bent down to Tyler's level.
"Hey Tyler, maybe you can come to East High with me sometime and help me coach."
"You mean the Wildcats!" Tyler shouted, his eyes widening, "The team that you and Daddy played for?" Troy nodded, Tyler reminded him of Chad. He had Chad's curly hair and wide eyes. He was also very wild and lively.
"But only if you are good." Taylor pointed out. Tyler leaped up and quickly put on his jacket.
"Let's go Mommy, come on." He said, hopping around impatiently. Troy laughed…yup, that was Chad.
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At seven o clock the next morning, Troy leaped out of bed. He wanted to be wide awake before the sitter came and he was anxious to meet her. He hummed as he changed and as he walked through the corridor. He stopped at Ashlee's room. Ashlee's eyes were closed, but he could still see how pretty and blue they were. She was hugging her stuffed owl, Hedwig. (cough, xoxMusicalxox, cough) It had been Angelina's when she was a baby, so she passed it on. Troy stepped into the room and picked her up from her crib. She shifted a little and moved closer to his chest.
"I love you Ashlee and I will do everything I can to take care of you. Even though your mommy is no longer with us." He said softly. Just then the doorbell rang. He put Ashlee back into her crib and ran down the stairs so quickly he almost fell. He ran past the kitchen and into the living room. Then there it was … the front door. He took a deep breath and then swung it open. On his doorstep, stood a petite young woman. She had short black hair and brown eyes. (Gabriella is no longer brunette, remember HSM 2?)
"Hi, I heard you needed a baby-sitter. My name is Gabriella Montez." The woman spoke. Troy was speechless, she was beautiful and her voice was so gentle.
"Hi, I'm Troy Bolton." He said. He opened the door awkwardly. "Come in." Gabriella stepped in timidly. She looked around at her surroundings.
"Would you like something to drink?" Troy asked.
"No thanks." Gabriella answered.
"So tell me about you." The young man stated, his eyes never leaving her.
"Um… well, I love working with kids. I like to read and I want to be a teacher someday." She said.
"So, when do you think you can start?"
"Tomorrow."
"From…?"
"From now, seven, to at least nine in the afternoon." Gabriella said.
Troy couldn't believe his luck. She was super flexible!
"So, how old is your daughter Mr. Bolton." Gabriella queried.
"A couple months old." Troy replied, "And you can call me Troy."
"Okay, um… Troy, can I see her?"
"Sure." Troy answered. He led her upstairs and to Ashlee's room.
"Oh my gosh." Gabriella squealed. Troy stared at her and she clamped her mouth shut.
"This is Ashlee Braden-Bolton." He said, lifting Ashlee out of the crib once again.
"She is so cute." Gabriella murmured. "Can I hold her?" Troy thought for a moment then gave Ashlee to the young woman. Gabriella rocked the little one and hummed softly. Ashlee blinked and opened her eyes. Gabriella smiled. Such pretty blue eyes. She thought to herself. Just like her father.
Troy shifted uncomfortably.
"My friend Taylor Danforth will be coming later to meet you." He finally said.
"Ok." Said Gabriella, not even looking up. Ashlee gripped her finger and tried to suck it.
"No, you can't have my thumb." The babysitter chuckled, gently prying her thumb away. Troy looked on at the bonding between the two. He sighed, Gabriella was perfect.
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When Taylor walked into the Bolton house later that afternoon, she wore a serious expression. She followed Troy outside onto the patio where Gabriella was.
"Hi." Said Gabriella. "You must be Taylor Danforth, I'm Gabriella Montez."
"Hello." Taylor responded. She pulled out a paper with questions she had written. She wanted to ensure that Gabriella was the right babysitter for her friend's baby.
"Have you taken care of young babies before?" she asked.
"Yes." Gabriella nodded. She quickly turned her attention to Ashlee, who had begun to cry. Taylor stuffed her paper away; this would be a test enough. Troy reached for his daughter, but Taylor shot him a look and he pulled his arms back.
Gabriella felt Troy and Taylor's eyes on her. She knew that they were watching to see what she could do.
"You're teething, aren't you?" she asked the little one. She looked up at Troy.
"Do you have a teething ring?" she asked him.
"Sure." Troy said, going inside. Gabriella patted Ashlee's back and whispered soothingly to her.
"You really know what you're doing." Taylor commented.
"Thank you." Gabriella said, "I did some research on childcare before I started babysitting."
"That was a very intelligent decision." Taylor replied.
"Thanks, I always like to think ahead."
"Me too, that's why I decided to put money into my son's college fund. Even though he is just a little boy."
"You have a son?"
"Yes. I live right down the block. My husband is Chad Danforth. He is Troy's best friend."
"Oh." Gabriella said.
"What do you like to do when you're not babysitting?" Taylor asked. Gabriella looked around the backyard.
"I like teaching." She answered. "I take online classes. Babysitting helps pay the fees."
"Really… what do you want to be?" Taylor replied. She knew she sounded nosy, but she couldn't help it.
"I want to be a science teacher. I love science and I like sharing my knowledge." Gabriella stated, smiling.
"I love science too; I was head of the Scholastic Decathlon Team when I went to East High." Memories began to drift back towards her. "Chad and Troy were Wildcats. That team was the best. That's why Troy decided to go back and become the head coach after college. His father was the head coach before him."
"Okay, than what about his wife?" Gabriella queried.
"Well…" Taylor began. Just then Troy emerged from the kitchen and joined them.
"Here's the teething ring." He said, handing it to Gabriella. Gabriella took it and put in Ashlee's mouth. The little one bit it forcefully.
"There you go." Gabriella whispered. Ashlee's eyes were so pretty.
"Well, I have to go."Taylor said, interrupting the moment. She handed Gabriella another slip of paper. "Here's my number. Feel free to call."
Gabriella beamed. "Thanks, I'll give you mine later." Taylor kissed Ashlee's forehead and left.
"I see that you and Taylor have become friends." Troy said.
"Yes." Gabriella admitted. "We are very much a like." She glanced at her blue watch. "Oops. I have to go now; my mom and I have a charity event to attend."
"I'll drive you." Troy offered. The babysitter handed Ashlee to him.
"That's okay; I don't live far from here." Gabriella insisted.
"No, its okay, I'll drive you to the charity event." Troy prodded.
"Oh, okay." Gabriella gave in.
Troy looked at her with dreamy eyes. He couldn't help it. He was falling for her.
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