Disclaimer: I only own the plot line
A/N: okay so I noticed in the last chapter that I forgot to mention why Gabriella was suprised to see Coach Bolton so I put the reason in the first paragraph of the chapter.
1. Italics -dreams or short flashbacks. (All in Gabi's POV)
2. Regular font -Long flashbacks and regular POV(a.k.a Gabi's POV)
3. Long lines -the beginning and end of a long flashback unless noted
4. If a chapter ends with a flashback, the next chapter will begin in the flashback.
Taking Over Me
by: LunarEclipse360
Sechzehn
Throughout the entire school day there were two things on my mind: Alex and Coach Bolton. I don't know if what I saw was just my eyes playing tricks on me or what. All I knew was that it couldn't have been Coach Bolton since he and his wife moved after Troy's 'funeral'. They claimed that they couldn't deal with the pain anymore so they moved to start over. It was hard to see them leave since they were like my second family and the only true way of remembering Troy.
"Gabriella are you okay?" Kelsi asked as we walked to her house. It was a nice day so we just decided to walk to her house instead of taking the bus and I knew if I went home there was no guarantee I would be willing to go back out.
"Yeah. I'm fine. I just...I saw Coach Bolton today or at least I think I saw him."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. I was walking to second period and that's when I saw him, standing in front of Principal Matsui's office. I didn't understand why he would be here and was about to go up to him when Alex came up to me. We talked and then he said I should get to History class. Before I started walking, I turned back to see if Coach Bolton was still there but he wasn't."
"That's why you're not sure if you saw him or not."
"Exactly. My mind likes to play tricks on me so I thought he was just another trick of my mind."
"Wow. So what are you going to do?"
"I have no clue."
"Changing the subject. How do you think the songs are turning out? We've been working on them for the past two days and I think they sound great."
"Yeah. So do I. They just need names."
"And we need to put them in the order you're going to sing them in." I nodded just as we approached her house. I expected us to go up to her room like we normally did but this time she led me to her basement.
"Kels why are we going down here?"
"Because this is where my parents keep the grand piano. Don't ask me why but they do and the basement has the best sound." I nodded and continued down the staircase to the basement. She walked over to the piano and sat down. I slowly walked over to sit next to her and we started on one of the songs.
After an hour, we decided to take a break and try and see if we could give the songs names. It worked out pretty well. We had all songs named but one...one that seemed to mean the most to me.
"What are you going to name it?"
"I don't know Kelsi. I just don't know."
"Well if you want this can be the last song you sing. That way you have more time to name it." I nodded and sighed.
"So when does the competition start?"
"Two days before graduation."
"Wow. That soon? I mean prom is in two weeks and then two weeks after that is graduation."
"So you have little less than a month to get ready."
"This is going to be hard."
"Why?"
"I haven't sung in front of people since Troy and I never thought I would have to without him again."
"Well...just pretend he's standing right next to you, singing with you." I smiled and closed my eyes. But my smile faded when I realized that I couldn't do that. Not when I couldn't remember what Troy looked like. "What's wrong?"
"Remember what I told you before..."
"Oh yeah." she said, her face falling. "I forgot about that. Well maybe you can just remember his voice."
"Yea maybe."
"Hey what was that conversation about?"
"What conversation?"
"The one between you and Alex. The one that you guys had me leave."
"Oh...that conversation. It was just about Friday and...the kiss I gave him." I blushed bright red and tried to hide it but Kelsi saw it anyway.
"You guys are going out for real aren't you?" I nodded and she gasped. "Do you not realize what will happen if you do this? You're not ready to move on. That's why you haven't. You're heart is still yearning for Troy and you're putting more pressure on it by dating Alex."
"I know that Kelsi but...I can't help it. Alex fills the void that's in my heart. He makes that lonely feeling go away."
"But isn't that the part of you that remembers Troy and doesn't want to let him go?" I nodded sadly and she sighed. "If you insist on doing it then go right a head. But I'm telling you this, one of you, if not both of you, is going to get hurt."
I knew Kelsi was right but I needed Alex. He was like a drug that I needed to heal myself. He was the only way to mend my broken heart.
"I should get going." I said and she nodded. She ushered me back up the stairs and to the front door. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye Gabriella and remember what I said." I nodded and left her house.
I walked down the streets alone, not expecting Alex to come and take me home this time. He would probably be grounded for getting into a fight. But of course, what did I know.
"Gabriella." I turned around and saw Alex running up behind me. I stopped and waited for him.
"Alex what are you doing out here?"
"Walking you home of course."
"But I thought you'd be grounded."
"Nope. My parents took a way my car but didn't ground me. Weird aren't they?" I nodded and smiled at him.
"So you came all the way from your house just to walk me home from Kelsi's?"
"Yep. I came all the way from my house just to walk my girlfriend home." he said as he laced his fingers with mine. "Come on." he said and we began walking down the street. "So when do I get to hear you sing these songs you've been working on with Kelsi?"
"You've already heard one."
"You mean that one that you were singing the first time we met?"
"Yep."
"Okay but when am I going to hear the rest of them?"
"Not until two days before graduation."
"Aw man." I giggled and shook my head.
"Just be patient."
"Only because it's you." he said with a smile. "So are you ready for prom?"
"Apparently so. My mom has my dress already."
"Wow."
"I know. She's like some psycho woman who's obsessed with wanting me to go to prom." he chuckled and pulled me closer to him.
"She just wants you to enjoy what's left of your high school years."
"I only enjoyed part of my first year of high school. After that..." I stopped, feeling the tension building up in Alex. "Then of course you have to count the days that you've been around." he relaxed and smiled at me. "Alex do you feel uncomfortable when I talk about Troy?"
"No. Why?"
"Cause you tense up everytime I mention him or anything to do with him."
"Well it does get a little irritating when your girlfriend talks about her ex."
"But you know how I am when it comes to him."
"I know...I just. You know what it doesn't matter. I mean second always comes last right?" he said spitefully. He unlaced his fingers with mine and started walking with his arms crossed. I stopped and grabbed his arm.
"Alex...I'm sorry. Okay? But you have to accept me no matter how...broken I am."
"But broken or not, you don't need to keep referring to him."
"He was apart of my life. What else am I supposed to do?"
"You're right. I'm sorry." he said with a sigh and for some reason I started laughing. "What?"
"We just had our first fight." he smirked and took my hand, pulling me closer to him. He wrapped one arm around my waist and I looked up at him. He brushed stray hairs out of my face with his other hand before letting it rest on my cheek and kissing me softly. I kissed back and wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled away after a few seconds, both of us needing air and I smiled.
"Let's get you home before your mom calls the cops." I nodded and he took my hand, leading me down the block to my house.
"I'm sorry about that whole thing." I said as we stood on my doorstep. "I'll try to limit my talk of Troy but you can't make me forget him." he stroked my cheek and looked into my eyes.
"I never wanted you to forget about him, I just want you to try not to talk about him around me." I nodded and he smiled. He leaned in and placed his lips on mine. "Give me that much at least." I smiled and pecked his lips.
"I'll see what I can do." he chuckled softly and I sighed. "I better get inside. I'll see you...whenever you go back to school."
"Bye Gabriella."
"Bye Alex." I turned around and opened my door, only turning around to give him one last kiss and closed the door. I was falling deeper and deeper by the second. I only feared that I would fall too deeply and I wouldn't be able to get myself out when necessary.
