Here's the next chapter! I'm glad you're all enjoying this so much – I got some absolutely lovely reviews on the last chapter and they really brought a smile to my face, so thank you!
-Nicole
Christmas went by in a blur. Lucille made a quick recovery from the accident – it was a few weeks into the new year and she was well into her physical therapy sessions.
Troy: She'll be walking again, soon. That's what the doctor said at least.
Gabriella: That's great!
Troy: I know it was late, but did you get my package yet?
Gabriella: Oh! It arrived yesterday! I haven't opened it yet.
Troy: Open it now. :)
Gabriella grabbed the package from the corner of her desk. Troy had sent her a Christmas present, but it was understandably running late because he had been so busy with his mom. There was a tiny wrapped box inside – as she tore open the paper she could tell it was jewelry.
Inside, there was a necklace with a small silver charm in the shape of the letter T. She put it on, smiling.
Gabriella: T as in Troy?
Troy: You like it?
Gabriella: It's beautiful, Troy. Thank you.
"Gabi, can you come down here?" Maria shouted up the stairs, sounding muffled through the walls. Gabriella turned from her computer screen.
"Be right there, Mom!" she shouted. She sent Troy a quick message.
Gabriella: I have to go. Mom is calling.
Troy: Talk to you later, babe.
She smiled, closing her computer before rushing down the stairs into the kitchen.
"What do you need, Mom?" Gabriella asked. Maria said nothing, just grinning.
"What?" Gabriella asked, narrowing her eyes with suspicion.
"Baby, we're moving."
Gabriella's curious demeanor immediately changed.
"What?" she choked out. "We've only been here a few weeks!" She wanted to cry. She hating moving, she hated her mother's job, she hated everything.
"Calm down, baby. You're going to be happy about this one."
"Happy?" Gabriella scoffed. "Yeah right, Mom. Not unless we're moving to Albuquerque, I'm not."
Maria's smile only grew wider. "We leave next week."
Gabriella watched her mom for a moment, her eyes widening as it registered.
"Wait – are you ser- " Gabriella's hand clasped over her mouth. "Mom, please tell me you're not joking."
"Baby, you should have seen my face when my boss told me."
That was the final straw. Gabriella broke down, sobbing and laughing at the same time. Watching her daughter, Maria couldn't help but do the same. Gabriella clasped her arms around her mother's neck, hugging her tightly.
"Oh my god, Mom, I'm going to see him," she cried.
"I haven't even told you the best part yet," Maria laughed. Gabriella pulled back immediately, attentive.
"I made them promise," Maria continued. "No more moving until you graduate."
"Mom," she gasped. "Oh my god." If possible, Gabriella cried harder. She gave herself a moment to calm down. Her smile was glowing, practically lighting up the entire room.
"Oh my god, I have to call him!" she exclaimed. "I have to call Troy!" She dashed up the stairs to her bedroom, the door slamming shut behind her, before scrambling to grab her phone from her desk. She took a deep breath.
"Get it together, Gabriella," she mumbled to herself as she dialed, bringing the phone up to her ear.
"Talk to me."
At the sound of the all too familiar voice, she was crying again, all effort futile.
"Gabriella?" Troy asked, concern lacing his tone. "Ella, what's wrong? Hey, what's going on?"
She calmed herself enough to answer him.
"We're moving, Troy," she choked out.
"Already? God. I'm sorry, Ella, I know you hate – "
"To Albuquerque, Troy. We're moving to Albuquerque."
The other end of the line was dead silent for a moment. Gabriella's heart stopped.
What if he doesn't want to see me? What if he doesn't care that I'm coming? What if –
Her intrusive thoughts were cut off by a soft, "Are you serious?"
"Yes," she said. "My mom just told me." She sniffled, wiping her eyes. There was another moment of silence, and then she was laughing and wincing, pulling the phone away from her ear as Troy shouted.
"YES!" Gabriella pulled the phone away from her ear, wincing at the noise. When it died down, she brought it back.
"Gabriella, this is – when? When are you coming?" he asked. She could practically hear him jumping up and down in his bedroom. She couldn't stop smiling herself.
"I don't know when we'll get there – Troy," she breathed. "Troy I – I'm going to see you. I'm gonna hug you and kiss you and meet Chad."
"I can't believe this is happening – Ella," he said. "I love you so much. I can't wait."
"Me either," she said softly. "I should probably get packing."
"Yes, you should. The sooner you pack, the sooner you get here, and I want you here by yesterday."
She giggled. "I'll talk to you soon."
"I love you, Ella."
"I love you too, Troy." She hung up the phone, dropping it on her desk and dancing around the room.
"I told you, you'd be happy about this one," Maria said. Gabriella turned to her mother, who was standing in the doorway. She rushed up to her, hugging her tightly.
"Thank you, Mom," she whispered.
"I love you, baby," Maria smiled. "What did Troy say?"
"He wants me there yesterday."
"I'm sure he does." Maria looked down at her daughter with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "You know, I've been emailing Troy's mother – "
"You have?"
"Yes, I have. You're going to be going to the same school – "
"Oh my god, Mom," she said. "I'm going to see him. Every day."
"Our street is only two blocks from theirs – "
"Mom, stop," Gabriella said. "I'm gonna start crying again."
"And Troy has a championship game next Friday, and we're flying in early Friday morning. We can go to the game and surprise him."
"I'll be able to go to his basketball games! I – Mom, I just…" Gabriella swallowed. "I love you. Thank you so much."
"I love you too, baby. Now go," Maria smiled. "Start packing."
/
Gabriella was antsy for the rest of the week, her nerves getting to her. She was really starting to panic once they reached the airport. She couldn't sleep the night before, she couldn't eat that morning, she couldn't believe that in a few hours, she would see him.
This is actually happening. This is actually happening.
"This is actually happening," she said incredulously as they stood in line to board the plane, passports in hand.
"Well believe it," Maria laughed. "You've got a three hour flight to let it sink in."
On the plane, Gabriella finally fell asleep, her sleepless night catching up to her. She blinked awake to her mother shaking her shoulder.
"We're here, Gabi," Maria said softly. "Just landed."
"Oh my god," Gabriella breathed, feeling her heart skip a beat. "Mom, I'm so nervous."
"You have no reason to be. Troy loves you. He's going to be so happy to see you later."
Gabriella nodded, biting her lip. She stood up and stretched, and the two gathered their things and got off the plane.
"Should I call a cab, Mom?" Gabriella asked as they entered a busier section of the airport.
"No need."
"Why not?"
Maria pointed over Gabriella's left shoulder. Gabriella spun around quickly, following her mother's gaze. Her jaw dropped, taking in the sight of the red-haired woman standing mere meters away from her. She was on crutches. The woman was scanning the crowd, and when her eyes fell on Gabriella, her hand clasped over her mouth. Then she shrieked happily. Gabriella rushed toward her.
"Lucille!"
Troy's mother embraced her tightly.
"Oh, goodness, you are so much more beautiful in person," Lucille exclaimed. She pulled back to look at the young girl. "Oh, I can't believe you're here! Maria!" She turned and hugged Maria.
"It's so nice to finally meet both of you," Lucille continued. "Oh, Troy is going to be so happy! He doesn't suspect a thing – I told the boys I was going to get my nails done! They're so clueless."
The three women laughed. Gabriella couldn't believe it.
I'm really here.
"Are you here on your own?" Maria asked, concerned. She nodded at Lucille's crutches. There was a boot on her foot.
"Oh, no, Jack is here! He went to the bathroom…oh there he is!"
A tall, brown-haired man walked toward them confidently. He was smiling.
"You must be Gabriella!"
"I'm so happy to meet you, Mr. Bolton," Gabriella exclaimed as he hugged her.
"Please, call me Jack. You must be Maria, then."
The two adults shook hands.
"Come on!" Lucille said to the other girls. "Let's bring you two home!"
The drive to their new house was comfortable and enjoyable. Lucille rambled on, joking about her family. Maria and Gabriella listened attentively, laughing at her stories. Gabriella hardly paid attention to where they were until Lucille stopped the car, pulling into the driveway of a large white house.
"Is this it? Our house?" Gabriella asked, jumping in her seat. She was practically out of the car before it was put in park.
"This is it!" Maria grinned as she followed Gabriella out of the car. The two walked up to the front door, Lucille and Jack following closely behind. Maria unlocked the door and they went inside, pulling their small suitcases along with them. The rest of their things were arriving the next day.
"It's beautiful Mom," Gabriella whispered.
"Come see your bedroom," Maria said excitedly. This time, she was the one bolting in front of the others, grabbing her daughter's hand and leading her up the stairs. She opened a hall door into a large white room, with a queen sized bare bed and a set of glass doors leading out to a balcony.
"Mom! I love it!" Gabriella gushed, immediately rushing out to the balcony. She breathed in the fresh Albuquerque air.
The same air Troy is breathing.
"See that brown house, two blocks over? With the shingled roof?" Lucille pointed.
"Yeah, right there?"
"That's our house."
"Holy shit," Gabriella said aloud. "This is really happening. Troy is there? Two blocks away from me?"
"Yes, honey," Lucille laughed. "I'll let you two get settled. Jack needs to get to the school, being the coach and all…I'm sure you're tired from the travelling. It's only two o'clock, Troy's game starts at six. He and Chad usually go an hour early so they're the first ones there. I can pick you two up at five thirty?"
"That sounds great," Maria said. Lucille hugged them both, Gabriella last. She brushed the young girl's hair out of her face.
"He's going to be so excited to see you. I'm so glad you're here. You make him so happy, Gabriella," Lucille said quietly. Gabriella smiled softly.
"He makes me happy too." Lucille hugged her again and Gabriella walked her to the door.
"I'll be back before you know it," Lucille said.
"See you then."
The door shut and Gabriella leaned against it, sinking down to the ground. The butterflies in her stomach were going crazy. She had no idea why she was so nervous. Everything seemed so real all of a sudden.
"Are you okay, Gabi?"
"Yeah," she said, though it didn't sound very convincing with the way her voice cracked. She stopped and shook her head, changing her mind. "Actually, no. I'm freaking out, Mom."
"You're always nervous in a new place, I'm not surprised, especially under these circumstances," Maria said. "Why don't you go take a quick nap? I know you didn't sleep last night. I'll wake you up an hour before we leave, so you have enough time to get ready."
"Thank you, Mom."
Gabriella went upstairs to her new room and laid down on the bare mattress, staring at the ceiling. She let her mind stop racing and gave in to sleep with a smile.