Take Off
Three days had passed since the movies incident. Ever since then, Gabriella and Troy had been spending every free moment with each other. Movie marathons every other night, parties with Taylor, Chad, and Jason, and –Gabriella's favorite- making out under Troy's shady weeping willow.
But now…Gabriella couldn't bear to kiss Troy. Standing in the airport terminal, her school bag over one shoulder, her tiny Troy-penguin under the other arm, she knew that kissing Troy would be too much. Gabriella couldn't bear it.
"Bye, mija! Diviértase en Nueva York!" Maria blurted, her eyes welling up.
"Bye Mom, I'll be sure to have fun!" I say it-but do I mean it? "And Troy…" I love you too much to leave. "Promise that in the four days I'm gone, you won't find some hotter chick to start counting stars with?"
He gave a raspy, strained laugh.
You laugh, but I'm telling the truth. I can't lose you…
Gabriella laughed before jumping into his arms and hugging him tightly.
He kissed her ear softly and whispered, "I promise…"
Please mean it…
A Brooklyn accented woman's voice boomed through the speakers. "ALL FOR FLIGHT 1227 TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK! STARTING WITH FIRST CLASS!"
"That's me…" Gabriella said as she released from Troy's everlasting hug, the places where he touched her still tingling up her forearm. She was actually glad that her Da- Roberto…worked in such a high class job. Sitting in coach could sometimes be nauseating.
"Bye Gabriella…" Troy said as she waved goodbye, tears streaming down her face.
If she's only going to be gone for four days… Troy thought, turning around as she walked through the air tunnel, then why do I feel like she's leaving for a lifetime?
Little did Troy know that "leaving for a lifetime" was pretty close to the truth…
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Gabriella slid into the new-looking black Lexus. The seats were soft leather and the windows were tinted. It must have been the finest in luxury cars.
"Fasten yor seatbelts, madame. We hawve a long ride ahead of us." The taxi driver waved his hand in a "Buckle up" motion.
Gabriella couldn't believe Roberto had hired a taxi. Couldn't he have picked me up himself? Maybe he just doesn't care…
Strike one.
As Gabriella curled up against the frosty glass of the back seat window, the driver tried to make small talk.
"So…Mr. Montez said yor in from New Mexico. Tha' must have been a bloddy long trip. Huh?"
"Yeah…"
" 'E also said tha' yor only gonna be 'er fo' a couple'r days."
"Yup…"
"An' 'e said tha' yor-"
"Um…I'm kind of tired. Would you mind raising the partion?" She pretended to yawn, and then pressed her fingertips against the cold window.
"No problem, Miss Montez…" The man pressed a button on the dashboard and then a large sliding partion rose from the floor, blocking out all noise from the drivers' seat.
No sooner had Gabriella began to shut her eyes, did a stud followed by paparazzi cross one of the busy intersections of Manhattan.
Was that…
She heard one of the photogs shout "ORANDO! MR. BLOOM! GIVE US A PICTURE!"
"OH MY GAWSH!" She shrieked, slamming her hand on the "Open sunroof" button. Once she got it open, she quickly stuck her head out into the cold January air screaming, "ORLANDO! I LOVE YOUUUUUUU! SIGN MY FOREHEAD! SIGN MY SHIRT!"
Gabriella phone was vibrating in her back pocket.
"H-hello? Troy? Wait one sec…" Then she stuck her head back out, screaming, "ORLANDO! I LOVE YOU! SIGN MY FOREHEAD! GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR MOVIE! I LOVE YOUUUUUUU!"
"You love who?" Troy's voice sounded playful, yet somehow defensive.
"Orlando Bloom, Troy. He's gone anyway…" Gabriella regained composure and sat back down, closing the sunroof that was supposed to shield her form the dusty snow falling from the heavens.
"Oh…well…are you at Roberto's yet?"
"No, I'm in the car. It's snowing here."
"Oh…"
"So…how's New Mexico?"
"Warm…"
"Don't make me jealous."
"Don't make me laugh."
They both burst into a fit of hysterics.
"Hey…we stopped. I think I have to get out. I'll call you in the morning! Bye Troy!"
"Bye Gabriella…" He managed to let out before she slammed the phone closed, throwing it into her Northface backpack.
"We're 'ere madame…" The driver's voice called as he unlocked the doors. "'Ave fun with yor fawtha!"
Gabriella stepped out, grabbed her bags, and watched as the car sped off, leaving her standing in front of the Waldorf-Astoria.
"Whoa…"