Troy rolled out of bed on Saturday morning wearing only his boxers as the sunlight poured into his room. He groaned as he had a head ache, but it wasn't as bad as the previous night. He looked at his clock and saw that it read 11 a.m. and knew that his parents weren't gonna be home until later that night since they got a hotel room the previous night and weren't gonna start driving home until the afternoon.
He walked over the piles of dirty laundry in his room to get to his phone. He remembered the previous night and how Gabriella had stopped drinking by 11 that morning and had driven him home around eight that night. She also stayed to make sure that Troy got to bed that night before she left saying that she couldn't stay since her mom would be calling the home phone this morning and if she wasn't there then she would come round looking for her.
Troy found his cell phone and quickly turned it on before he plopped down on the bed and pressed down the number one to hear the dialing of his girlfriend's number.
He felt kind of bad that Gabriella had to take care of him drunk, but she had told him that it was no big deal and that she didn't mind yesterday.
There was a ring and then another ring before Gabriella's usual sweet voice picked up, but something was off about her this time. Her usual perky voice and the greeting she always gave him just by looking down at the caller id didn't happen and instead she greeted him like any normal person would.
"Hey Troy." Gabriella's saddened voice said instead of 'Hey Wildcat.'
Troy's brow furrowed, did he do something that she would be upset at him for? He vaguely remembered the car ride home as he was sleeping for most of the time and it wasn't like he puked in the car, which wouldn't be a big deal since it was his car, so he didn't make a complete ass of himself or her. Troy drew a blank just thinking what Gabriella could be upset about.
"Hey beautiful, what's up?" Troy asked with concern as he wanted to just get up and shut the blinds so the heavy heated sun wouldn't pound through his window into his room, but he had no energy to get up and do it himself.
There was a pause as Troy thought maybe she still does have a hang over. "N-nothing much. Just…nothing." Gabriella said gloomily.
Troy felt his heart sink a little as he heard Gabriella's tone. And then it hit him, she was supposed to do something with Jake that day, maybe he canceled on her?
"Hey, where's Jake? I thought you two were doing something today?" Troy asked as Gabriella tensed up on the other side of the phone even though Troy couldn't tell.
"Um…no." Gabriella's voice was tiny and Troy swore he heard a sniffle on the other side of the phone, but didn't press it as he figured he was imagining it since his head was hurting like hell right now and his senses were out of whack still.
Troy shut his eyes to block out the bright lights and settled into his bed again. "Oh, did something come up?" Troy asked with interest trying to make some kind of conversation with his girlfriend.
There that sound was again. A little sniffle of the nose as Gabriella was silent and Troy didn't know if Gabriella accidentally hung up on him or not.
"Gabi?" Troy asked as he bolted upright in bed after a mere twenty seconds of silence. This was starting to worry him more as he now was convinced something happened. He hopped out of bed and picked up the closest pair of jeans he had and started struggling to put them on as his phone was lodged between the side of his face and shoulder with his head cocked to the side. "Gabi? Are you okay?"
"Ye--yeah. Just kind of spaced out…sorry." Gabriella's weak voice said as Troy scanned his room for a clean shirt and walked across the ways to his closet deciding he probably should do laundry some time soon.
"You don't sound fine. I'll be over there in like 15 minutes okay?" Troy said as he pulled a dark blue shirt off a hanger and put it over his head only to have it bunch up around his face since he still had the phone to his ear.
Troy pulled the phone away from his ear missing some of Gabriella's sentence as he slid in one arm and then the other and quickly pushing the phone to his ear again to only get Gabriella's last part of her explanation.
"…I'm fine really, so just stay put." Gabriella's meek voice said that held a bunch of emotions Troy was going to discover.
"Gabi, you really don't sound fine. Are you sick because I can bring soup. Or maybe you're running a temp and you're getting that damn flu." Troy exclaimed as he grabbed his wallet on the dresser and headed out of his room. "I swear, you and I are not going by anyone ever again if that means you're gonna get sick."
"Wildcat, I'm not sick." Gabriella said trying to convince him.
Troy's smile was small as he heard his nickname come out of her mouth. At least she called him that and he knew now for sure that he did nothing to upset her, but then what else could be wrong? What did Gabriella say Jake was doing?
"Well…I'm still coming over." Troy said as he slipped on his tennis shoes and started for the front door. "If you're not doing anything with Jake and your mom is at work then you'll need company." Troy reasoned as he heard that damn sniffle again. "Gabi…" Troy cooed softly as the sun beat down on him and his head ache picked up and he tried to adjust his eyes to the light. "Where is Jake?"
Gabriella sighed, "I don't want to talk about it." Gabriella said with disappointment. "And Wildcat, you really don't have to come over. I'll be fine. I'm probably just pmsing or something so it's no big deal." Gabriella lied.
Troy didn't buy it one bit. He remembered that one weekend a couple of months ago when everything went up into flames and it just so happened to be Taylor's and Gabriella's time of the month and Chad and him ended up avoiding them or buying them gifts so they wouldn't get snapped at. This sad version of Gabriella was nothing compared to her pmsing side.
"I'm just heading out so I'll see you soon. I lo--LIKE to drive anyways so I'll just drop by." Troy said awkwardly as his eyes went wide with what he just almost let slip.
Either Gabriella wasn't listening to him or she was just too concentrated on what she was doing right now to notice his almost slip up as her voice echoed through the phone with defeat…"Okay."
Troy hung up his phone once he heard Gabriella click off her phone and put it in his back pocket. He was worried, there was no denying it but he wanted to keep his cool to show her that he wasn't the type of person to freak out over nothing just incase she might've just got the common cold and that's why there was sniffling on her part.
Troy got into his tuck and started it up. He backed up and drove down the street setting out to go over to Gabriella's house.
Troy couldn't remember the last time Gabriella cried on his shoulder, and that probably was due to the fact that he had never seen her cry before. He always saw her as a strong, confident type of girl who occasionally would get mad, frustrated, and irritated at things. But nonetheless Gabriella was always in control and that was something he admired about her since he was known to lose his temper sometimes.
He turned the street corner and could see Gabriella's house come into sight as all the curtains were closing off the windows and he saw Gabriella's balcony come into view and the doors were shut. Troy parked outside her house and got out of his truck only to see a pissed off looking Jake slam his front door open and whip open the mail box to grab the mail and turn on his heel and storm back into the house.
Troy winced a little as he walked up to Gabriella's front door and walked in quietly knowing that she was the only one home.
He walked up the stairs and turned the corner to walk down the hallway to Gabriella's bedroom which had the door slightly open a crack. He knocked softly and pushed it open a bit more to step inside before closing it all the way.
Troy turned around and saw Gabriella sitting against her head board in a tank top and short black shorts that were almost like underwear on her as he forced himself to look up at her face and saw the tear stained cheeks, the messy bun hair, the red eyes that seemed to stop shedding tears, and the end of the pencil she was chewing on as she concentrated strictly on the book in front of her with a notebook open next to her on her queen size bed.
Gabriella's head turned slowly to look at Troy as she offered him a small smile. Troy walked forward quickly as he knelt down besides her and looked worriedly at her. Troy's hand reached up and cupped her cheek.
"Gabi, what's wrong?"
Gabriella shrugged as she held up her AP English book that she was taking notes from. "I have to study. That's what's wrong…and I fucked up. I can't believe this happened." Gabriella said with regret laced into her voice.
"Whoa…" Troy said softly as he gave Gabriella a small smile and stroked her cheek softly, "Let's start with one thing at a time. Why do you have to study, you have two weeks to do that." Troy pointed out in a quiet voice knowing that they didn't need to talk too loud.
"There was this huge test yesterday in AP English that counted for half of our grade and as you know I wasn't there so…." Gabriella looked down as she sighed, "I e-mailed the teacher telling her that I was sick and she said that I could make up the test but it would be different than the others and harder since she wasn't even planning on letting people do make-ups."
Troy nodded understanding so far, but this couldn't be the reason why Gabriella was so upset. It wasn't like her to get this upset over school work.
"Okay…well we can fix this. I'll help you study, it'll be no big deal, maybe we can even make it fun." Troy suggested with enthusiasm that they both knew it was fake, but that still earned him a small smile on Gabriella's face to which he smiled at.
There was a silence as Troy moved a stray curl of Gabriella's behind her ear. "What else is there beautiful?"
Gabriella looked up, "Jake was here last night and we…we…" Gabriella looked down as she was having a hard time producing this sentence. "We said some things and we both lost it. I have never seen him this mad before." Gabriella admitted. "And…" Gabriella said tentatively. "I don't blame him."
Troy felt a wet drop fall on the back of his hand as he put two fingers under her chin to make her look up at him and saw that there were tears in her eyes that were on the brink of falling.
"Hey…I'm sure it's gonna be okay. Jake seems like an easy going guy when it comes to friends." Troy reassured her as Gabriella shook her head stubbornly.
"No, you don't get it." Gabriella said as she remembered the last sentence she yelled at him. "I told him that I hated him." Gabriella whimpered as Troy stood up and moved her book and notebook aside to sit down next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and she buried her head into his chest. This proved just how much Gabriella needed Jake and from what Troy saw of Jake that morning, it looked like he needed Gabriella as well.
Troy rubbed Gabriella's back up and down. "Sh…it's gonna be okay. You two will be back as best friends before you know it." Troy reassured her.
Gabriella shook her head no again into Troy's chest. "He said he hated me too. I…I just want to say sorry to him, but…he was so angry last night. I've never seen him like that." Gabriella sniffled.
Troy agreed with Gabriella. He had never seen Jake so mad like this morning. Troy thought that Jake would be an easy guy to get along with, he seemed like the type to just forgive and forget, but of course he didn't know what they fought about and he wasn't about to ask Gabriella about it so she didn't break down into cries again.
"Maybe you should just call him tonight?" Troy suggested.
Gabriella pulled away and sighed, "Maybe, but…when he gets mad…" Gabriella said slowly, "He stays mad for a while. Like last year there was this guy that wanted to date me and Jake got into so much trouble on the football team for not cooperating with this guy since they played side by side together."
Troy nodded, maybe there was more to Jake than what meets the eye?
"But Wildcat," Gabriella said with desperation in her voice, "I didn't mean what I told him. I didn't mean it." Troy found that Gabriella was almost pleading with him to believe her even though he believed her the second he saw her.
Troy nodded his head, "I know. I know." He cooed as he kissed the top of her head and they both leaned back against the headboard again. "Let's just relax and bit and then maybe I can help you study?" Troy suggested again as he felt Gabriella nod her head against his chest.
Troy stroked his fingers up and down his girlfriend's bare arm softly as he shut his eyes and leaned his head back. Even though his head was killing him, his eyes hurt from the lights, his stomach was growling for food…his heart was hurting the most and it wasn't for himself.
"That's my girl." Troy mumbled quietly as he felt Gabriella press a kiss to his clad covered chest and relax in his arms.
Gabriella giggled as she squirmed on her back and Troy's hands had her arms pinned above her head. She felt the hardwood floor underneath her, she felt Troy's legs in between her own as he was bent over her, and she felt her shirt halfway up her torso as Troy's mouth connected with her flat stomach and blew making a weird noise.
"Wildcat!" Gabriella shrieked with laughter as this was the Gabriella that Troy knew. The fun easy going Gabriella. "Stop!" Gabriella laughed as Troy continued to blow on her stomach and then look up at her with an innocent face on.
"What was that Montez?" Troy asked with a smirk as his hands slowly traveled down her arms that were still above her head and rest on her waist as she brought her hands down and wrapped around Troy's neck.
It had been three hours since Troy had come over and seen her in a complete mess, but he had calmed her down and then she had taken a shower as Troy ate and now they were supposed to be studying.
"We have to get back to studying." Gabriella pointed out as Troy nuzzled his nose against her.
"Gabi, you know this stuff even before I ask a question." Troy pointed out. "Don't you want to get out of here and go do something? It's Christmas break." Troy pointed out.
Gabriella ran her hand through his hair, she knew that she knew this stuff but it made her feel better and useful that she was actually studying. She knew that in the back of her mind that she was still feeling guilty about missing the test and lying to the teacher that she was sick, so studying this stuff sounded like an equal punishment since it was vacation and she was spending time in her empty house with a book…and her boyfriend. It wasn't that bad actually.
"I know Wildcat." Gabriella said softly.
Tory's eyes went wide, "You knew that you knew this stuff but yet you insisted on studying?!" Troy exclaimed with a joking angry face on.
Gabriella shrugged, "You're still here, so it can't be that bad." Gabriella laughed as Troy playfully glared at her and right as they were about to connect their lips the doorbell went off and Troy reluctantly rolled off of Gabriella.
"You expecting anyone?" Troy asked as he got off the ground after Gabriella and started for the door.
"Not that I can think of." Gabriella answered as she reached for the door handle and opened the door to see Jake carrying an open box that showed off a lot of books.
Gabriella looked up as she felt Troy's body tense behind her and she saw Jake's piercing eyes the held ice in them, his set jaw which no doubtfully had gritted teeth hiding, and his eyes narrowed once more as his eyes landed on Troy.
"Jake?" Gabriella asked shocked that he was here. Gabriella was shocked to say the least that she was seeing Jake right now. She didn't expect him to want anything to do with her for another couple of days before they apologized, but then again they never really did fight before since the only other time was over something stupid at school, so they didn't really count that.
"My mom made me bring over these books for you mom, where do you want them?" He asked bluntly as he walked into the house.
"Um…" Gabriella looked around blankly and then shook out of her gaze. "Just on the floor I guess." Gabriella said unsurely.
Jake dropped the box making a loud heavy 'thud' sound and Gabriella swore she could almost feel the heat radiating off of his body. She knew that out of all her friends that Jake had the biggest temper, and that was even compared to Troy who she had only seen once before get really angry and that was about a year ago when he got into a physical fight with the old football captain last year.
Most people thought Jake was a nice, caring, laid back guy, which he was. Gabriella couldn't deny it, those were the best qualities about him, but…when he got mad or protective of his friends, he tended to give into his anger and keep it up for quite a few days. He was determined to get his point across to the person who was his target to make sure that they knew that he was mad and disappointed in them before he even thought about having a conversation with them.
Gabriella watched him turn on his heel and start for the door, "Jake, wait!" Gabriella exclaimed frantically as she reached out and grabbed his arm.
Jake turned sharply once again and shook her hand off his arm. He glared at both Gabriella and Troy. "Gabriella don't." He hissed.
Gabriella sunk back a little as she felt Troy's hand on her lower back and rubbing small comforting circles supporting her.
"Please Jake, just let me explain." Gabriella tried again.
Jake huffed, "Explain to somebody who cares." Jake said harshly as Gabriella's mouth was slightly ajar at the tone he used and Gabriella swore she saw a flash of guilt ripple through his face, but it was quickly covered up as he turned for the door and opened it.
"Jake, I'm sorry." Gabriella pleaded as she went after him and followed him out to the porch and noticed that Troy didn't follow as she was silently thanking him that he understood that it probably was better if she talked to him one on one.
"Gabriella." Jake snapped. "I don't have time for this. I thought we established that we didn't want anything to do with each other." Jake glared at Gabriella as she bit her bottom lip nervously.
"Jake…" Gabriella said speechless and glossy eyed. "I'm so sorry. Just listen to me for a minute and I can explain." Gabriella said with desperation. Gabriella reached out for his arm to bring him closer and to stop him from baking up.
"Gabriella, stay the fuck away from me right now!" Jake hissed lowly as he started walking away with his head held high and Gabriella felt tears prick her eyes.
He was her best friend and she didn't want to leave it at just that. This was vacation and if he would just listen to her and hear her out than maybe he would forgive her sooner? She promised herself the previous night that she wouldn't skip school again, that she would keep her grades up like before, and she also promised herself that if Jake ever did forgive her that she would prove to him that she was changing for the best and her feelings for Troy weren't just puppy love and that it was the real deal, she just hadn't told Troy that afraid that he didn't feel the same way.
"Jake!" Gabriella called out as she held back a whimper and Jake froze in his spot, but kept his back to her.
Jake clenched his eyes closed, trying to block out the mental picture of what his best friend looked like right now and the sadness in her eyes. Jake knew though that he couldn't talk to her when he was this angry. He wanted to make her realize that being careless right now especially right around their huge tests for school was not a good idea, he needed to make sure that she understood that and if that meant being mad at her then so be it. He just had to cool off and in a couple of days he should be able to speak to her again because what good would it do if he spoke to her right now in this state?
"Gabriella…" Jake breathed out as he counted to ten in his head, keeping his anger in barely. "Just give me time." Jake continued to walk to his house as Gabriella closed her eyes and kept her tears in.
She walked dejectedly up her porch stairs and the instant she opened her front door she was engulfed in Troy's arms. She closed her eyes tight again as she breathed in Troy's scent and wrapped her arms around him.
"Sh…it's gonna be okay." Troy soothed as Gabriella truly wanted to believe him.
Author's Note--So first off, i wanted to say thank you to everyone who reviewed and told me what they thought. I really appreciate it and it makes me want to write more. Second, before anyone else asks, i will be continuing Finding Love soon, but I had sort of a writers block, and I really want the chapter to be good so I'm rewriting it and it should be up in a couple of days. Third, tell me what you think about this chapter because i'm interesting in what you think of everyone's relationships. Please and thank you.