Here's the next chapter, guys! Enjoy!
Both Gabriella and Troy whispered out loud at the same time, coincidentally.
Gabriella: "Meet me, today, at the park, at 5:30, not a moment later. Keep walking till you see the tree with 'Troy&Gabi BFFL!' inscribed on it. Hide behind the tree to the right if you ever want your best friend to be around to even call him that."
Troy: "Meet me, today, at the park, at 5:45, not a moment earlier. Do not speak of the note. Keep walking till you see the tree with 'Troy&Gabi BFFL!' inscribed on it. Put your finger on the 'L!' Don't mention this to anyone if you ever want your best friend to be around to even call her that."
Both were utterly surprised, confused, and upset at the same time. Gabriella thought she would have stared at the note all day, had Link not meowed.
Sighing, she gathered up her things again and walked into the house, unaware that the light was fading fast from the sky. Opening the door, she called, "Mom, I'm home, and, um, I have a surprise?" She finished weakly.
Her mother walked into the room, covering her mouth with a gasp. "Gabriella Marie Montez! Where did you get that cat?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips, shooting her daughter a look that all parents are famous for-'confess.'
"Well, I was at the mall, and I wanted a pet." Gabriella replied, guilt nibbling at her insides. It wasn't really a lie-she was at the mall and she did want a pet, but not telling her mom about Troy made her feel regret. She tried to grin sheepishly, but it didn't really come out like she wanted. More of a, 'I know I did it and I'm sorry but I'm not at the same time.'
Mrs. Montez glanced at the kitten, his eyes overpowering her anger. "What's his name?" She asked, taking the tiny cat into her arms. As if to show he was a good kitty, Link snuggled up against her arms and purred.
"Suck-up," Gabriella muttered, then answered her mother, "His name is Link, like Link Larkin, from Hairspray." Her mother had seen the movie with her daughter and Taylor and Taylor's mom, because they had had a Girl's Night Out. And because of that, she immediately saw the reason, curling the bit of hair around her finger.
"Gabriella, do you promise to buy everything this cat needs with your own money?" Her mother pressed.
"Yes."
"And to take care of it?"
"Him, and yes."
"And how about cleaning his litter box, taking him to the vet, and splitting the costs of the vet bills with your father and I?"
"Yes, I do."
"Fine, Link, welcome to the family." Her mother sighed, handing the kitten back to Gabriella.
Her daughter was ecstatic. "Thank you!" She cried, about to hug her mom but thinking better of it. What good would it do to come to an agreement with her mother-just to squish the kitty?
First, she sat Link down in the kitchen. "Stay," she commanded, pointing a finger at him. Link waited on the kitchen tiles, not moving an inch, though his head followed her every move.
Next, Gabriella went into the attic and pulled out the old baby fences. She set them up around a portion of the front hall, which looked like this:
If you're looking in from the door, the kitchen is straight ahead, the stairs are to the left, and the living room is to the right. Before the steps, to the left of the front door, Gabriella caged off the corner, giving Link about 5x5 feet. She filled up a bowl of water and a bowl of kitty food, and put the litter box in there, filling it with kitty litter. Afterwards, she set Link down and went off in search of some old blankets she could make into a bed.
Once again, she was up in the attic, coughing as she uncovered ancient items, the floor belching up clouds of filth at every footstep she took. Finally she exposed an old, if not antique, cushion. After she brushed it off and took it downstairs, Gabriella discovered it was a blue, striped couch pillow. It was plush and soft, so she set it in the other corner of his 'playpen.' One corner held the litter box, one the cushion, one the food and water, and the other side was free.
As soon as she set the pillow down, Link hopped onto it, curling up, his tiny bit of body weight extracting another small cloud of dust, causing his tiny eyes to water and his nose to let out a cute sneeze. After he cleared the dirt out of his nostrils, Link settled down to sleep, his tail resting on his nose.
---
Troy grimaced, walking into the empty house. His dad was out somewhere with his mom-on a 'date,' as they stated that morning. They wouldn't be back till late-which gave him plenty of time to go to the park, which he still wasn't sure if he was going to go.
He threw his backpack onto the couch, anger overwhelming him. He hadn't been very nice to Gabi lately. Why? Because of stupid college. Maybe-maybe there was some way to make it up to her. But first, he would have to go to that tree later today. Or he might not ever get to see her again.
Slouching on the sofa, he uncrumpled the wrinkled note. His eyes read over the inked words, written in a very weird handwriting, as if the person didn't want to be recognized. The i's were dotted with dashes, hearts, and large circles, the t's were crossed straight and crooked, the letters were short, tall, wide, thin, and out of line. This person sure seemed to be paranoid about being caught.
Troy leaned back, closing his eyes. The soft couch cradled his body, as his mind drifted off…
Last summer… (Troy's POV)
It was the summer before College, we, Gabriella and I, we were hanging out, when I pulled an army knife out of my pocket and pulled Gabriella to a random tree. With the sharp knife, I scratched out in the rough bark, "Troy&" then handed the knife to her.
Gabriella took it, and I helped her steady her hand as she scraped "Gabi BFFL" into the wood. I took the knife back from her, snapped it closed, and stuck it into my pocket. We weren't 'going out,' but we did like each other. A lot.
I wrapped my arm around her waist, grinning at the words. Then, before I realized what I was doing, I whipped the knife out of my pocket, clicked it open, and carved a heart around the words. Gabi rested her head on my shoulder and we both sighed with content. Nothing, it seemed at the time, could ruin our friendship. And I still wish that was true today.
After I put the blade away for the second time, I couldn't pull my eyes away from the words. They confessed our friendship, and a little more.
End dream.
Troy woke up with a start, looking at the kitchen clock, groggy. "Must have dozed off…" He muttered, his voice heavy with sleep. But his eyes widened when he realized it was 5:20! He had to get there in 30 minutes! The park was only 15 minutes away, 10 minutes if he had a good day, but who knows how bad the traffic would be in rush hour?
Jumping up, he ran a hand through his hair. "What I want to know is who the idiot is who sent that letter," he thought aloud, grabbing his keys.
"I mean, I get back from the mall at 5, and that paper airplane hits me minutes after. Then I have to be somewhere at 5:45?" He shook his head, jumped into his car, and raced to the park.
He got there in record time, his watch saying 5:32. Parking, he locked his car after getting out, and starting walking towards the tree, thinking there was something he was forgetting.
---
Gabriella had just finished setting up Link's pen, when she glanced at the watch on her wrist. 5:15! She'd have to hurry to get to the park and, suspiciously enough, hide behind a tree before 5:30. "Mom, I'm going out-" What was she going to tell her mom? "-I'm going out to the park, to, to meet a friend." She mentally cursed, and for not the first time that day, regretted what she said.
But her mother was in the kitchen making dinner, and just replied, "Okay! Be back by 6:30!"
Gabi ran out the front door and got into her car, finding in strange that she left the mall at 4:30, got home around 15 minutes later, found the paper airplane, and was expected to be somewhere else in less than an hour? Someone sure was demanding.
She pulled up into and found a space to park. Getting out of the car, she locked it and glanced once more at her watch. 5:30. She hurried into the park, getting swarmed by the crowds. Glancing this way and that, she suddenly realized-I don't remember where the tree is.
A light rain began to fall, and people took cover. But as Gabriella looked at her watch, it said 5:33. She should have been at the tree already. The water splattered onto the pavement, soaking all items in its way.
Her cell phone starting ringing, a familiar tune playing as she reached for it. Flipping it open, "Everyday" stopped playing. "Hello?" She asked. The caller ID had read "Unknown," meaning someone had called using 69.
A raspy voice replied, "Get to the tree, you're late!" The person talking sounded like a blend of a guy's voice and a girl's. It was a very weird sound. Gabriella snapped the phone shut and stuffed it into her pocket, then started running-Troy's safe being could depend on her being there.
In her rush, Gabi didn't see the tree root as she ran off the path, and she tripped, falling in what seemed like slow-motion. Muscular arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her up. Standing on her feet, arms were still around her tightly, and she was staring into a pair of intense blue eyes that held concern for her and another feeling… Possibly love?
I don't mean to sound pushy, but I won't post another chapter till I have 10 more reviews. I want to know that people read and like my story. I will wait as long as I need. :)