A/N: Well, let me explain a thing about this chapter before you take your time to read it. This Troy is completely different from the Troy from "Brotherly Love", this time he is more sensitive… and inspiring, maybe. I haven't figured it out, yet.
My cute boyfriend is a huge fan of classical music and well, I got addicted to it as well a few months ago – so I decided that this Troy would be into classical music too. I chose from a list of composers my BF gave me (ha, he helps me so much) and I picked Debussy to be Troy's fave composer, considering Clair de Lune is getting very popular because of the Twilight Saga. So, the ones interested in different types of music, feel free to download the music I suggest in the story. They're really great, believe me. =]
And again, thanks for the reviews! You guys are great!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Enjoy!
Feel It
Chapter 3:
"Todd Bolton, you're awake and in the kitchen!"
Gabriella sounded so surprised that Troy had to laugh, "Yeah, Graziella. I came here and I didn't bump into anything" he smiled at her his mind blowing smile, "Are you proud?"
Gabriella got lost in his smile for a second. "Uhm… what?"
Troy chuckled and shook his head, "Forget it. I'm glad you're here. I tried to find the cereal box but I don't remember where my mom puts it"
She smiled and took off her backpack, putting it on a chair, "The reason you didn't find it is because it's on top of the fridge"
"Oh no" he sounded worried.
"What?"
"Can you reach it?" he joked and Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Someone's in a good mood"
Troy stood up and rested his hands on the chair, "Here, use this"
"I have another idea" she stepped closer to him, "It's a very nice day. Why don't we eat at the mall?"
Troy shook his head. "I don't think so"
"Why not, maybe I could even call your friend?"
"Chad?" Troy shook his head again, "Not now"
"Okay" Gabriella sighed, "Whenever you feel ready"
He nodded his head, "Thanks"
They ate lunch in silence and then Gabriella convinced Troy to go to the backyard garden at least. They sat on a bench near the swimming pool and Troy took his iPod out of his pocket.
"I can see you a bit when I'm in daylight"
Gabriella's eyes widened, "can you?"
"I mean, your shadow" he looked down a bit, studying her "And the contour of your body"
"Well, that's great" she grinned.
"You're not fat" he added playfully as he put his headphones on.
"I'm glad you could observe that, Troy" Gabriella replied sarcastically.
He smirked and rested his head against the bench, tilting his head to the side. "And you have long hair"
"Yes" she agreed.
Troy's hand captured one curl of her hair and he smiled, "It's soft"
"Yes" she agreed again, blushing.
"What color is it?"
"Black"
Troy nodded. "And your eyes?"
"They're a mix of brown and green"
He grinned. "It must be lovely"
"I don't know" She giggled, "Your eyes are amazing, Troy"
"They are?"
"Yeah" she couldn't help but stare at them, "They're so blue"
Troy shrugged. "It doesn't help having nice eyes when you can't use them"
Gabriella sighed. "Payton told me you have chances to see again"
"Too little"
"Well, you're still alive, that's what matters don't you think?"
He sounded discouraged, "I don't know"
"Your life isn't over just because you can't see, Troy" Gabriella sat closer to him, "You can still feel things"
"It's not the same"
She placed a hand on his chest, feeling his heart accelerate "Do you feel it?"
Troy nodded quietly.
Gabriella moved her hand to his arm, "And now?"
"Yes"
"How does it feel?" she stroked his cheek.
He blushed a bit, "Good"
She smiled, "See? You don't have to use your eyes for this"
Troy sighed, "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should enjoy life like this"
"I think you'd have a great time" she told him sincerely, "Don't waste your life feeling sorry for yourself Troy, it's not worth it"
He looked down, his index finger tapping his IPod slowly, "could you help me find Debussy?"
"Sure" she put her book on the bench and leaned on him to change the songs. Her perfume lingered Troy's nose and he felt his stomach flip.
"Ready"
"Thanks" he said politely. "Do you like classical?"
Gabriella shrugged. "I don't know"
He took off one of his headphones and gave it to her. "Listen to it"
She nodded quietly and put his headphone in her ear. "Close your eyes" he whispered to her.
"Can you feel the intensity?" he asked and she nodded slightly, biting her lip as the music filled her ear.
"All the years that I have studied music I always loved Debussy's compositions" he admitted in a low voice, more quietly than Gabriella wanted. She found herself not only in love with Debussy's music, but with Troy's voice as well.
"This one is called Arabesque" Troy told her, his voice so soft he sounded like he was telling her a story, "There is such a fluidity about his compositions that makes a joy to listen"
Gabriella nodded, opening her eyes to look at Troy. His eyes were still closed, his head still rested against the bench. The sunlight illuminated his face, making his hair look a kind of dirty blond and his face look like one of the Calvin Klein's models.
"Do you play Debussy?"
Troy smirked, "Claude is a challenge to play" he informed casually, "But I think I can handle it"
"Will you play for me one day?" she asked, suddenly shy.
"One day?" he teased.
"Yes"
"One day" he repeated and opened his eyes again, "I will"
Troy sighed deeply, looking down, the hot sun making his skin burn. "Music is my passion, Gabriella" he admitted, "I think I would suffer way more not being able to hear than see"
"Consider yourself lucky you have your ears then" she joked and he smiled, "I feel tired now. I'm going to my room"
"Are you sure?"
Troy nodded and stood up. "Do you need any help?" she asked again.
"No" he smiled at her, "Thank you"
Troy locked himself in his room the whole afternoon and the night as well. Gabriella didn't know why he did that, but she was feeling too grateful already to be making progress with him that she didn't want to invade his space.
She had dinner alone, since Troy decided he was not hungry. He managed to take a shower all by himself, the door of his room never opening.
Gabriella cleaned herself as well and lay on her bed. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes, only to open them two minutes later.
"I was going to knock, but you left the door open"
She sat down on her bed and turned on the lamp, "In case you needed anything"
Troy stood in her doorway, "It's actually 7"
"Hmm?"
Troy smiled, "7 steps from my room"
"Oh"
"Can I come in?" he asked and Gabriella nodded, "Sure"
"How many steps till I reach you?"
"Make it 5 large steps"
He laughed quietly, "Ok" he took five large steps and felt Gabriella's hand touching his arm, "I feel you" he said happily and she giggled, "I feel you too, Troy"
Troy sat on the edge of her bed and Gabriella looked at him curious, "Do you need anything?"
"I just wanted to talk. Are you tired?" he asked, "Because I can go"
"No" she replied a little too fast, "stay"
"Okay" he said softly, crossing his legs.
"What would you like to talk about?" Gabriella asked.
"You"
She gulped. "Me?"
"Yes" Troy replied calmly. "I don't know if it's because I can't see you, but I find you very fascinating, Gabriella" he sat closer to her, "I'm curious, really curious"
"Oh" she let out a gasp. "What would you like to know?"
"I would like to touch you" he admitted, "I'm trying to know you better"
Gabriella bit her lip and nodded, "Okay"
Troy smiled. "Can you put my hand in your face?"
Her shaky hand held Troy's large one and, as his fingertips made contact with her cheek, she felt butterflies in her stomach, "Ready?"
He smirked as his hand cupped her face, his thumb gently caressing her skin. Gabriella closed her eyes and held her breath as his index finger started to move down the line of her neck and across her jaw very slowly and delicately, ever so gently that he seemed he was afraid she could break anytime now.
Troy traced the contours of her chin, over her cheekbones, across her forehead and Gabriella couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. He examined her closed eyes, her eyelashes and ran his finger lightly over her lips, stroking her sensible skin, making her part her lips slightly at his touch.
"Do you have a piece of paper and a pencil?" he asked in a low voice and Gabriella snapped out of her trance.
"Y-yes"
He felt the bed moving and after a few minutes it moved again as she sat in front of him. Gabriella gave him the paper and the pencil and he closed his eyes, starting to draw something she had no idea what it was.
"What you're doing?"
"Please, don't look till it's ready"
She rested her back against her pillow and waited. Gabriella waited for what felt like ages, but it was probably about twenty or thirty minutes.
Troy's hand rested on her knee and he handed her the paper. "That's how I imagine you"
And even though he could not see her, he had drawn her perfectly. Troy Bolton had started to notice, he had been through the superficial.
Gabriella's eyes got teary as she understood the meaning of Troy's draw.
"It's gorgeous, thank you"
Troy reached for her face and touched her cheek, "You're crying"
"Yes" she admitted, "You're turning into a very sensitive man, Todd Bolton"
He smiled and wiped her tears with his thumbs, but when he spoke his voice sounded painful, "Why you're crying Graziella?"
"Can't you understand Troy?" her voice shook with emotion, "You are starting to see things with your soul"
"Am I?" he asked.
"Yes" she said in almost a whisper and placed her hand on his chest, right where his heart was, "In here, you'll never be blind"
He nodded quietly, but Gabriella was not sure if he did understand what she was trying to say. She tended to expect deeper emotions from people.
"I'm tired. I'm heading to bed" Troy informed her calmly and stood up, "Thanks again"
And before Gabriella could say anything, he turned on his heel and disappeared through her door.
