A/N: Since Sweethearts was such a big hit, I decided to continue it and start this one. It's going to take place three years in the future when they're graduating college.
Thanks to justacrush for her help in this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own and/or am affiliated with any of the characters, the movie, music, etc.
June 31st, 2010
"So now that I'm not going to visit your aunt Janice for the holidays, I was wondering what you two were planning on doing?"
"Why aren't you going to Aunt Janice's?" Gabriella brought her glass of iced tea to her lips and stared at her mother.
"Well, since I lost all the money with the caterer, flowers and of course the reservations for the reception…" Troy growled at his mother –in- law and Gabriella raised her hands in frustration. Lately Ms. Montez had made sure to remind Gabriella and Troy of the cancellation of their wedding and how much it cost. Today while they met for lunch was no different.
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
"Mom, I told you we would pay for the wedding. If you are going to remind me every day about how much it cost, then I would have argued with you more about it." Gabriella snapped before she shoved a bite of salad in her mouth.
As Gabriella was chewing, Troy spoke up from behind his sandwich. "We'll pay for your trip to visit your sister. That's the least we can do."
Both Gabriella and her mother were about to protest until Troy waved his hand and dismissed the idea. "No arguing, I'm buying the plane ticket tonight."
"It's fine Troy. Besides, I'd much rather stay around town and help whenever Gabi needs me."
Under the table, Troy put a hand on his wife's knee to keep her from arguing about her health and well-being. The rest of the lunch was spent in silence with the exception of the occasional comments about the wedding and Gabriella's health problems. It was not until the plates had been cleared and Troy was finishing up his beer that a pair of two familiar faces were seen walking out of the store next door, hand in hand.
"Look Gabriella," Ms. Montez nearly screamed. "It's Taylor and Chad. I haven't seen them since the accident." Both Troy and Gabriella's heads flew in the direction of the couple and their faces turned bright red.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
"Yeah, neither have we," Troy mumbled before burying his face in the menu, suddenly becoming very amused with the long list of desserts. Before he knew it though, his mother-in-law was yelling across the restaurant at the couple and waving them over. In no time at all, Chad Danforth, his used-to-be best friend was standing next to him.
"Hey Ms. Montez, Troy, Gabriella," Taylor welcomed them all warmly. Gabriella looked up and smiled at her as nicely as possible, before letting her eyes drift back to the linen napkin in her lap. There was a very long and incredibly awkward pause during which Troy felt like he was going to explode because of the silence.
Finally, Ms. Montez's recognizable scream of excitement broke the silence and sent the menu that was once in Troy's hand across the room.
"Taylor McKessie, what is that on your hand?" Two pairs of eyes flew towards the couple and Gabriella let out a mixed gasp and cry. "Is that an engagement ring?"
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
Taylor blushed and Chad smiled his usually award-winning smile. "Yes ma'am. Chad asked me during our trip to Florida." The joy in Taylor's voice practically broke Gabriella's heart. Troy just sat there with a blank look on his face.
"That's great Taylor," Mrs. Montez gleamed. "Gabriella, why didn't you tell me that Taylor and Chad got engaged?" The question nearly pushed Gabriella over the edge. She had to twist her napkin in her hands and chew on the inside of her cheek to keep the tears from pouring out onto her face.
"I didn't know." She mumbled, hardly audible at all. Her face dropped to the floor. "I had no idea…"
Even though she wasn't looking, Gabriella could see her mother's jaw drop and could feel the questions stirring inside of her head. Taylor's sob kept Mrs. Montez from saying anything.
"Chad and I decided that since you didn't tell us about your little marriage that you wouldn't care." Nothing would keep Gabriella from crying now. Angry and devastated, she stood up and almost knocked over her glass of ice water.
"Taylor we didn't tell you because we knew you wouldn't understand." Gabriella yelled through a face full of tears.
"We wouldn't understand? How could I not understand?" Now with Taylor yelling, the whole restaurant seemed to be staring at the group of girls. Neither Troy, Chad nor Ms. Montez knew what to do.
"You just wouldn't Taylor. You would say that I need to finish school, focus on my job, we're not ready. I can hear you now!"
"How dare you say that I wouldn't understand? If no one else, I have always been able to understand, Gabriella. Was I not the one that sat up with you those nights when Troy broke your heart and then listened to you brag the whole next day of all the wonderful things he did for you. Did I not understand then? What about the time when you were so nervous about your college application? Was I not the one that sat up and watched movies with you and had marshmallow fights?"
"Whatever Taylor. Why didn't you tell me that you and Chad got engaged?" Gabriella used the back of her hand to wipe the tears away.
"Why did you not tell me that you and Troy were married? Married, Gabriella and you were pregnant! Do you not trust me?"
Her face red, eyes full of tears and heartbroken, Gabriella pulled on the sleeves of her shirt and prayed that Troy would catch her if she fell over. "Of course I trusted you, Taylor. It was just complicated."
"I thought you were my best friend Gabi." Neither girl spoke and before they knew it, Chad grabbed hold of his fiancé and led her out the doors of the restaurant.
Long after Taylor was out of sight and Gabriella was getting ready to leave herself, she mumbled under her breath "you are my best friend Taylor," and then walked away.
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
6:30 pm
Sitting downstairs, Troy could still hear the quiet sobs of his wife's from their bedroom. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair before looking up at the clock.
Finally getting the courage, he stood up before walking up the fifteen stairs towards the bedroom. Raising his hand, he gently knocked on the door before entering.
"Hey . . ." Standing in the corner by the door, he watched his wife gently raise her head before looking at him with red, teary eyes.
"Hey. I don't feel like talking, Troy."
Walking across the room, he took a seat on the side of the bed before pulling her close. "I know you don't baby but I just wanted to let you know, that I'm always here for you. And there's never going to be a minute that I'm not going to be here. Because I love you forever, whenever, whatever."
A slight smile crossed her face as she buried her head deeper in Troy's chest. "I love you too."
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see
Hearing her sigh, Troy ran his hand up and down her back in a comforting motion. Kissing her forehead, he listened to her breath in and out gently before lying down in bed.
"We messed up Troy . . ."
Feeling the need to agree with his wife, he nodded his head. "Yeah we did. Don't get me wrong, it was wonderful marrying you in Paris but our friends and most importantly, our family should have been there with us."
"Can't we just have a ceremony here for them to enjoy with us?"
Looking down into her brown eyes, Troy shook his head. "We can but is that going to fix the problems between you, me, and the gang?"
A new batch of tears fell down her face as she shook her head. "No . . ."
"How about we focus on our lives as husband and wife and eventually when this all dies down, then we worry about our friendship with the gang? Eventually, this will all blow over and everything will be right."
And with both of their hearts, they hoped Troy's words would come true . . . one day.
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
The song is "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol. Thank you to all my readers for your patience and words of understanding. I'm back and I'll try to update this as much as possible. Feedback would be wonderful and thank you again!