Monday morning, Troy was wearing his practice jersey, and Gabriella was walking with him to gym. "So you get to meet your new coach today?" Gabriella smiled. He kissed her lips, "Don't remind me. I can't believe Coach Hart quit... I wonder who's going to replace him."
she ran a hand through his hair, "Let's hope his good, for your sake." he smiled leaning his forehead on hers, "Get to class.." she laughed pecking his lips, "I love you Troy." "I love you too Brie." she smiled turning the other way and leaving.
When Troy got into the gym, Chad came over to him, "Dude, you should meet the coach, his a cool dude." Troy chuckled, "Well I might as well since his going to be the coach for the rest of the year." Troy walked over to the tall man that was looking at the clipboard. "Hey Man, since you're the new gym coach, I was wanting to introduce myself.. I'm Troy Bolton, Captain." he held out his hand.
The man looked at him, with the same deep blue eyes that Troy had. "T-Troy?" Troy looked at him, and noticed him from the pictures his mom showed him as a child. he gulped, "D-D-Dad..?" Jack smiled, "Son, it's..wow, you've really grown.." Troy shuffled his feet, "At least one of us has." he muttered.
Jack looked at him, "Hey..uh..how's your mom-" "She's fine. I'm taking care of her, and she takes care of me. We don't need you." With that he marched off toward where the other team members were standing, waiting for basketball drills to start.
Troy needed the stress relief. Jack sighed, looking where Troy was stretching his legs and getting ready for a drill. He sighed, blowing the whistle, "all right! I want you to do 5 laps around this gym! Then run across it twice and then suicide jumps-as much as you can do! And...GO!"
After practice, Troy was wiping his face off with a towel on the bleachers. Gabriella walked through the two double doors and tip toed beside him and covered his eyes. "Guess who?" he chuckled, standing up, and turning to face her, "The most beautiful wonderful girlfriend ever." he pulled her close, kissing her lips.
Gabriella smiled, "How was practice? did you like the new coach?" he held her hand sighing, "Brie.. I..I don't like him very well..at all." Gabriella frowned, wrapping her arms around his neck and pecking his lips. "Save public display of affection for another time." said a voice behind them.
Troy and Gabriella jumped apart. Gabriella bit her lip, "I..I'm sorry Coach-" "Bolton." Gabriella raised a brow, and looked at Troy who was shuffling his feet. "Who are you?" Jack asked.
Gabriella squeezed Troy's hand, "I'm Gabriella Montez-" "She's my girlfriend." Troy said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. Gabriella looked at him, "Troy-" Jack sighed, "Listen, Gabriella, I don't know what the other coach let you do, but umm, no one is aloud in here after practice...are we clear Miss Montez?" Gabriella bit her lip, but nodded, "Yes Mister Bolton-" "Sir." she gulped, "Sir."
Gabriella turned towards Troy, "Uhm...see you later, Troy." Troy nodded, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek. To piss of his son of a bitch father, he could've french kissed her right there, but he wouldn't do that. To Troy, Jack wasn't his father-never would be-he is just his coach. "See you Babe."
Gabriella walked out of the gym, Troy glared at his dad. "What?" Jack asked, Troy continues to glare, "She's my girlfriend-" "and this is my gym-" "My school. My girlfriend. My life-word of advice, stay out of it!"
Jack glared at him, "I'm just trying to-" "Don't try anything.. if you know what's good for you." he threw his towel at him, and glared at him coldly walking into the locker room. Jack squeezed his hands into the towel tightly. he needs to have a little chat with little Miss Montez.
**Home Is Where The Heart Is**
Gabriella sat in French class, twirling her hair in her fingers, until the teacher spoke, "Gabriella." Gabriella looked up, "It seems like...Coach Bolton would like to have a word with you." Gabriella gulped, nodding, picking up her books and lifting her backpack and clutching it close.
she made her way into the gym, and into the coach's office. she knocked on the doorframe. Jack looked up, "You..wanted to umm see me?-" "Take a seat." Gabriella nodded, and took a seat. Jack walked closer to her, "So, tell me Gabriella, how long have you and Troy been together?" Gabriella gulped, "Just a few months, but I known him since I was 8.. unlike you." she said. he glared at her, "What the hell is that suppose to mean-" "It means that I don't think it's a good thing you be near Troy-"
That did it, he pushed her against the wall. Gabriella closed her eyes tightly, then opened them, "Let's get one damn thing straight Montez.. Troy is my son, nothing to you! I'm not going to let anyone come between us, not in even whores like you!"
Gabriella whimpered, "Coach Bolton, you need to let go of me-" he squeezed her wrist, then she did the only thing she could do, she spat in his eye, and ran down the hallway out of the gym, and ran as fast as she could.
**Home Is Where The Heart Is**
At lunch, Chad sat there with a glass of Kool-Aid. "Okay, let's try this now." he threw the peanut in, and covered himself. everybody rolled their eyes.
Troy had his arm wrapped around Gabriella. he looked at her, "Babe, aren't you hungry?" he looked at her plate, she hasn't touched anything. Gabriella just shook her head, and looked away.
Troy looked at her, "Brie-" she shook her head and pushed her tray away as she stood up and walked out of the cafeteria. Troy watched her leave, as did everyone else-minus Chad, but then again, he's still trying to figure out the 'exploding peanut' thing. "Oh! Milk!"
He cheers, grabbing Kelsi's milk and dropping another peanut in it; covering himself. No explosion. "Dammit!" "Guys, excuse me..." Troy said standing up and walking out of the cafeteria. He looked left, then right. "Brie?" he called out, his best bet was the roof top garden. So he went there first.
Troy walked up the steps, "Brie." she was sitting on the steps, and she looked away from him. "Brie.. talk to me please." he sat beside her wrapping her up in his arms. Gabriella rested her hands on his lap. "Brie..please, I wanna hear you talk, please baby, please... what did I do?" Gabriella sniffled, looking him in the eyes, "If..If I tell you, promise me right now you won't do anything about it, and you'll stay out of it?"
he looked at her, then sighed, "Okay, I promise." she took a deep breath, "In French class today, I was called down to Coach Bolton's office...and..and well, he was asking me questions about us, and asking me how long we had been together, and I told him a few months, but that I've known you since we were 8 unlike him and he asked me what that was suppose to mean, and I said that I thought it would be a good idea, that he didn't come near you..and..and.."
she looked away, "He pushed me...and..and he said that no one.. no one was going to come between you two.. he said he wasen't going to let me get between you two.." she looked at him, "I'm so so sorry Troy.." she buried her face into his chest.
"Hey..." Troy whispered, pulling her in towards him. "You have nothing to apologize for." Gabriella sniffled, "I just...I don't trust him." "And you have every right not to." She looked up at his big blue eyes, "Huh?" Troy sighed, "Brie...you think that your family situation is fucked up right?"
Gabriella nods, Troy chuckled hollowly, "well...my dad left me and my mom when I was 3, he chose drugs over his kid and wife; he's been in and out of jail for...years. How he's here? I don't know, I don't want him here, but I have to deal with it."
Gabriella sniffled, "He...he was in jail." Troy nodded, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Yes...for drug possession, grand theft auto...theft, soliciting-the list goes on...point is, if you don't trust him, that's fine. In fact, I'd prefer it. I don't trust the guy." "Troy-" Troy wasn't done ranting, "Brie, JACK may be my BIOLOGICAL father, but he will never be my father; JACK is a sperm donor to my mom and that's all."
Gabriella sniffled, Troy lifted her on his lap, moving some of her hair out of the way, he held her close as she looked at him, "Brie, don't waste those tears on him..." Gabriella sniffled, "It just...it scared me a little bit-"
he kissed her lips, "You don't have to be afraid of anything.. I love you, and let me tell you something," he held her hand, "Nothing or Anyone is going to come between us.. you're my world, my rock, my life, my soul, my sun, you have my heart..I love you."
Gabriella smiled, and hugged him, "Oh Troy! I love you so much!" he held her close, "I love you too baby brie.." he whispered, "So much." Gabriella looked at him, "I..I think you're going to make an amazing father someday." she giggled.
Troy smiled, leaning his forehead on hers. "Hey...come on." he stood up, holding her bridal style. She giggled, "where are we going?" Troy looked at her smirking, "out to lunch so you can get food in you." "Troy-" "skipping school once in a while is healthy. Come on." Gabriella smiled, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck, "I'm trusting you Wildcat."
**Home Is Where The Heart Is**
Lucille was sitting in the kitchen paying some bills, then there was a knock at the door. Lucille sighed, taking off her glasses and going to the door. she looked at the tall man infront of her, "J-Jack.. what..what in the hell are you doing here?!" she shouted.
he sighed, "Lucille, I'm the new basketball coach at East High.. and I saw Troy today, and..and I wanna be able to see my son-" "That's not my choice anymore Jack, and it's up to Troy, and I don't think he wants you in his life, his almost 18."
Troy and Gabriella were walking through the other door, and were laughing until they got into the kitchen. Troy narrowed his eyes, "Mom get the hell away from him." He growled. Lucille looked at her son, "Sweetie, it's fine-" "No mom. get away from him, he doesn't deserve us..after what he did."
Jack sighed, "Troy, I know you're angry-" "Angry? Nah, just pissed the hell off.. what the hell are you doing here anyway?" "I wanted to see you son, I..I wanted to be in your life again-" "No chance in hell." Troy spoke.
Jack sighed, "Troy please-" Gabriella stepped in, "Jack, you need to finally listen to you're son..." Troy grabbed her shoulder, "Brie-" she pulled back glaring at Jack, "Troy is a grown man, a man that grew up without a father and was better off without you... Troy doesn't need you anymore...Troy does everything for me, does everything in his power to protect me, and now I'm protecting him... leave Troy alone.."
Jack looked at her, "Montez, this has nothing to do with you! You are nothing to Troy! you have nothing of Troy's! so you're nothing to him! you're not his family!"
Troy moved Gabriella behind him, getting into his father's face. "You don't talk to her like that!" Troy yelled, Lucille grabbed Gabriella by the shoulders gently, "Sweetie, come on...this is going to get ugly-"
"No," Gabriella said, "I'm staying." Troy looked from Jack to her, "Brie, you should go where it's safe..." he then continued to glare at his father. Gabriella bit her lip, but shook her head, "I'm staying here."
Troy looked at her, wrapping his arms around her waist, "I want you in the other room with my mom, please brie, I'll be there in a minute." She shook her head, "No.. We're all in this together." he smiled, and turned around to face Jack, "You need to leave!" Jack stiffened, "Troy, come on, I'm trying to reach out to you-" "I don't want you doing anything for me.. I don't need you, I don't like you, I don't want you, and I definetly don't love you! You are not my father!" he yelled and pushed him back, "Get the fuck out of house!"
Jack looked at him, "don't use this tone with me-" "You're not my father!" Troy shouted, "Get out!" and he pushed him out the door. Gabriella hugged him tightly, and looked up at him, "Troy..everything's going to be okay.." "Brie..I..he left me when I was 3... I just can't have him come back into my life like nothing ever happened." Gabriella sighed, running a hand through his hair, "And you don't have too... all we need is each other, and that's what we have.. each other..do you love me Troy?"
He nodded, "So much." she smiled, "Then have faith.." he smiled pulling her close, and kissing her lips, and whispering in her ear, "You are my family. you're my life." she smiled, and cupped his cheek, and kissing his lips, and leaning her forehead against his, "I love you Troy..."
He kissed her lips gently, "I love you too..." Lucille cleared her throat, the two love-struck teens looked up at her. "Troy...me and you need to talk. Gabriella," her look was apologetic, "you can come back later, but this is important." Gabriella nodded, "Okay..." she turned to Troy, "Be safe. I love you."
He pecked her lips, "You too." Gabriella smiled, walking out the door. Troy looked at his mother, his smile gone and eyes hardened. "If we're talking about him-" "We have too talk about Jac-" "I don't want too." "Honey, he is your father-" "your defending that asshole!?"
"I'm not! He just has a point, and until your 18, he has every right to see you!" "No! He doesn't! I don't want him too!" "Troy-" "I hate him mom! I can't stand him! I just want him in jail! Stay there!"
Lucille sighed, "Troy, I know he did wrong-" "No mom! I don't need him! listen to me... I've gone 13 years without him I can go 13 more. I've been better off without him! I've learned how to play basketball without him, I"ve learned how to shave, I've learned how to drive, I've learned how to fight without him, had 13 birthdays without him, he didn't even send me a damn card! damn with him!" he shouted.
Lucille sighed, Troy continued, "I don't need him then I don't need him now.. I don't need him to teach me anything about how to be a father cause I sure as hell will be a better father then he ever was, cause there's not a damn thing he can tell me on how to love my kids!"
Lucille sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Troy...just...give him a chance please?" "Fuck no." Troy scoffed, shaking his head and stuffing his hands in his pockets as he started to walk out the door. That's when Lucille grabbed his shoulder, yanking him backwards. "Troy...please, he-...everyone deserves a second chance, don't they?"
"No." Troy said, not looking back at his mom. "Not everyone. Not him." He yanked his shoulder out of his mother's hand and walked out the door, he needed to clear his head. Stuffing his hands deeper into his pockets, he walked in the direction of the park. For some reason, he always ended there when he walked to clear his head.
**Home Is Where The Heart Is**
Gabriella hugged her arms around herself, the clouds were grey and thick; rain storm. Her hood was up, Gabriella loved the rain, but hated storms. "Hey!" She doens't slow down, but she doesn't speed up either. "Gabriella! Please, I just want to talk to you..." she bit her lip, stopping and digging her nails into her palms.
She heard the slamming of a car door, and then the guy from the Halloween store-her father-was standing in front of her. "What?" she asked, "if your going to tell me that I was a-augh!" Gabriella didn't see the hug coming, but Greg pulled in to a hug and then pulled away slightly. "I can give you a ride..." she shook her head, "No, I don't get into cars with people I don't know."
Greg smirked, "Smart girl, but...I'm your father...and I'd like to know my daughter." "I can't..I'm sorry," she walked around him, he sighed, turning around to her back. "It's going to storm tonight...you'll get home faster! I have heated seats!" Gabriella stopped in her tracks turning 90 degrees toward him. "I don't know you!" "You can...Gabriella, I am your father. Please?"
Gabriella sighed, looking towards the way home. Gabriella sighed, and looked at him, "You promise you'll take me straight home?" Greg nodded, "Absolutely." she sighed but nodded, "great." he smiled, and they walked to his car, and he opened the door for her, and she got in and he shut it. he got in the other side and he drove off.
She played with her phone, and looked out the window. "So umm when did you come to Alberquerque?" she looked at him, "when did you and 'mother'?" she said looking away. Greg sighed, "Umm I don't know about here, but I just got here about a year ago...I've been trying to find you." Gabriella didn't say anything, she just looked out the window. "so umm I heard about you and stanford.." Gabriella looked at him, "how did you-" "You're boyfriend told me." she sighed, and smiled at the thought of Troy and looked back out the window.
"I'm proud of you-" Gabriella sighed, "Listen, you seem like a nice guy and all, but you know, I really don't wanna hear that I was a mistake here anytime soon.. You're not my father, I'm sorry, James Montez is my father, and Lilly Montez is my mother.. you abandoned me when I was 2... so you did it for a reason, you didn't want me, so why do you want me now?"
Greg sighed, "Gabriella, you don't understand, it's kind of hard to explain." Gabriella bit her lip, looking down at her hands. "Then try to explain it to me." Greg sighed, tightening and loosening his grip on the wheel, "well-" "Turn here." Gabriella said, Greg turned. "it's...when Rosalee told me she was pregnant, I was...well, I was happy. Excited even."
Gabriella lifted her head slightly to peek at him through her lashes. "You-you were?" he nodded, "yeah..I was ready to be a father. But...Rosalee thought I wasn't...so she left. I couldn't find her; I tried, but I couldn't. Then after nine months, I tried to find you." Gabriella closed her eyes, "I was in london till I was 8. At an Orphanage there." Greg looked at her through the corner of his eye, "I looked in all the orphanages...but I didn't have a picture of you. So...I was lost."
Gabriella bit her, "So...you tried to find me. But...Rosalee didn't want you to know me?" "Your mother-" "Don't call her that." "She is your moth-" "No she's not." Gabriella looked out the window, Greg sighed, and the conversation ended there. For a few moments. Gabriella told Greg when to turn. She was looking around the car, she spotted something in the ashtray, picking them up in her hand. "What are these?"
Greg looks at her in a sideways glance, "My AA chips." Gabriella read one of the chips, '50 days sober', "Your an alcoholic?" Greg chuckles, "No...honey, I am an alcoholic." She looks at him, "But you have-" "Alcoholism is something I live with. The temptation to cave and splurge on beer will always be there...but I'm learning to get a handle on it."
Gabriella bit her lip, looking at the chips again and then setting them down in the ashtray again. "What's your most recent one?" Greg couldn't but smile, "I'll get my 1 year sober chip tomorrow at the meeting."
Gabriella nodded, and looked to see they were on her street. "My house is right there." he pulled up, and she looked at him, "umm thanks for the ride.. it was nice talking to you." she spoke. he smiled, "It was nice seeing you Gabriella." she nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt, and was getting out of the car, and then she stopped and looked at him,
"Do you like barbeque?" he smiled, "Yeah I do." she smiled, "My family is having a barbeque tomorrow.. my adopted parents, my friends, my brother, and my boyfriend will be there.. would you consider going?" he smiled, "umm sure, what time?" she smiled, "5." he nodded, "I'll be here Gabriella.. bye." she nodded, "Bye."
Gabriella made her way to the park, and she found Troy there sitting at the wooden place. "Troy?" he looked down, "Brie..what are you doing here?" she smiled climbing up the wooden place, and sitting down beside him, "I just came here to thing about things.." she looked at him, "I bet you're here to think about your dad."
He nodded, she smiled, "Me too." he looked at her, "what do you mean?" she sighed, "He pulled up beside me while I was walking home, and well he gave me a ride home cause he wouldn't take no for an answer, but umm he started telling me that Rosalee took off when she was pregnant with me, and he couldn't find me, and he tried every orphange, but he didn't have a picture.."
She took a deep breath, "His been trying to find me Troy..all these years his been trying to find me." Troy looked at her, "Brie, are you sure that you can trust this guy?" Gabriella smiled, "I don't know.. but I do.. I wanna know more about him, and I wanna know my real dad...I love james don't get me wrong, but my biological dad.. I really wanna know him... I invited him to the barbeque tomorrow...are you going to be there?"
Troy looked at her, smiling and taking her hand. "Yeah, of course, I'll be there. You know that.." Gabriella smiled, scooting closer. "That's great, I just want you to talk to him. Please for me?" Troy sighed, "I can't say no to you can I?"
Gabriella giggled, "maybe my dad can be a surrogate dad for you...like be your dad without being your bio-dad." Troy sighed, looking at the ground before he turns his head to her. "What made you come here?" She shrugged, "Oh..I just had that feeling to come here."
Troy chuckled, "Well I'm glad you did." he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. Gabriella smiled kissing his lips tenderly. "Do you wanna head home wildcat?" he smiled, "Yeah, come on, I'll walk you home." she nodded as he grabbed a hold of her hand, and they began walking.
They smiled at each other, their eyes sparkling at each other showing people they were inlove, and he pulled her close wrapping an arm around her and walking home with her.