A/N: This story is now going to be co-written with HSMandChelseaFCfan. Her work is in bold! Please remember! I'm continuing this but I needed help so she's writing it with me! Enjoy! Don't own HSM! (HSMandChelseaFCfan doesn't either :P)
Chapter 8 – Trusting each other
Troy waited patiently on Gabriella's bed with Devon next to him until the bathroom door opened and Gabriella stepped out of the bathroom in her baby blue pyjamas, carrying two towels in her hands. She threw them into the hamper in the corner of her room and then turned to Troy, sniffing slightly. "Troy?" She whispered.
Troy leapt to his feet and stood in front of her, looking imploringly into her eyes. "Yeah?" He had already showered and changed and was thankful that Devon had already finished when they had come into the house so he could use his bathroom.
"Can I wear one of your shirts?" She whispered, blushing deeply.
Troy nodded. "Sure you can." He rushed over to the closet and found a blue and white striped shirt. He handed it to her and watched as she pulled it over her head on top of her pyjama top. "You want to watch a movie?"
"With ice cream?" She asked innocently.
"Ben and Jerry's double chocolate chip?" Troy asked softly.
She smiled slightly and nodded. "I'd like that."
"Well, you go and choose a movie downstairs and Devon and I will sort the ice cream out, okay?" He asked tenderly.
Gabriella nodded as he wrapped an arm around her waist and started leading her down the stairs with Devon walking behind them. "Do you have any preferences?" She mumbled tiredly into his shoulder.
Troy shook his head. "It can be anything you want. I promise I don't mind."
She nodded and walked into the lounge while Troy and Devon went into the kitchen. Troy opened the freezer and pulled out the ice cream he had put away before their showers and closed it. He pulled open a drawer and pulled out three spoons. He placed everything on the island before crouching to Devon's height. "Big D, I need you to be really brave for me, okay?"
Devon nodded nervously. "I'll try."
"Can you tell Gabriella what Chris did, or do you want me to?" Troy asked softly. "But, she needs to know."
Devon nodded once again. "I know. I'll try to tell her." He whispered.
Troy smiled proudly and kissed his forehead. He straightened up and grabbed the ice cream and spoons before walking into the lounge with Devon. Troy saw Gabriella snuggled up at the edge of the sofa, clutching the DVD remote tightly. "What did you choose?" He asked quietly, sitting next to her.
"A walk to remember." She muttered. "Is that okay?"
Troy nodded. "It's fine. But, could you pause it for a second?"
Gabriella paused it and frowned as Troy placed the ice cream on the coffee table. "What's up?"
Troy lifted Devon onto his lap and sighed. "You still want to tell her?"
Devon bit his lip and finally smiled bravely before turning to Gabriella. "Gavvy, Chris never liked me. He bullied me and smacked me and stuff." He whimpered, burying his face into Troy's neck.
Gabriella gasped. "What? Why didn't you tell me?"
Devon lifted his head and gladly moved to his sister's open arms. "I knew you liked him. I wanted you to be happy." He whispered.
She kissed his forehead and hugged him close. "Baby, tell me when you don't like a guy I date. Promise?"
Devon nodded. "I promise."
"Hey, Big D, why don't you get that thing and show Brie?" Troy suggested.
Devon grinned and jumped to the floor. "Good idea." He toddled out of the room and the pair heard thumping as he ran up the stairs.
Troy reached for the ice cream and offered a spoon to Gabriella before taking the lid off the tub. "So, you want to talk?"
Gabriella shook her head as she ate a spoonful. "Not really." She lifted her head to look at him. "But, could you hold me?"
Troy smiled and wrapped his arms around her, the ice cream balancing on his lap. He pressed his lips to her forehead as she rested her head comfortably on his chest. "I am so sorry, Brie."
She sighed, eating some more ice cream. "You tried to tell me but I wouldn't listen."
He tightened his hold on her and rubbed his hand over her arm. "Don't worry about it. Just tell me what to do to make you feel better."
"Stop the world so we can stay like this forever." She whispered into his chest.
"Why?" He wondered out loud, his voice as soft as a feather. His thumb continued to gently caress the bare skin of her arms and her eyes fluttered closed as she maintained her ice cream eating.
"I know you won't hurt me, Troy." She lifted her head to look deeply into his blue orbs. "I know I wasn't very nice to you when you first came here and I apologise. But, you make me feel safe."
"You are." He whispered. "Nothing's going to happen while I'm here. If I can promise you anything, it's that I will always protect you." His eyes flickered to her lips and unconsciously leaned forward. He felt her breath tickle his chin as he inched closer and he closed his eyes.
"Look, Gavvy!" A voice exclaimed.
Gabriella jumped and turned to the doorway to see Devon waving a piece of paper around. "What have you got there?"
Devon climbed onto the couch on the other side of Troy and held it out for his sister. "I drew it today in art class." He said proudly.
Gabriella glanced at Troy who smiled slightly and took it off of her brother. She turned it over in her hands and breathed out slightly. "Wow. You drew this?"
"You and Troy are my greatest inspiration." He whispered.
Gabriella leaned over and kissed Devon's cheek. "This is beautiful, Don. I'm honoured." She placed the picture on the coffee table and took a spoonful of ice cream. "Can I watch my movie now?"
Troy chuckled and nodded, releasing her slightly as she reached for the remote. "Of course you can." He whispered, sighing at his almost-kiss with Gabriella.
She pressed play and settled back into Troy's arms, resting her head on his chest. She kept eating spoonfuls of ice cream and glanced upward to see Troy looking into the distance. "You okay?"
He nodded, smiling down at her. "Yeah. Pass me and Big D a spoon each?"
* * *
Maria sighed as she reached the front door of her house. After a crazy afternoon at work, she was just glad to see her own front door. After dealing with screaming children, over-protective parents and then hours waiting for someone to come in, she had felt her blood pressure increasing by the minute. She placed the key into the lock and turned it, frowning when she found it was already open. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, locking it behind her. She glanced at her wedding photo and sighed. It was nights like these when Aidan would give her a massage and hold her while she reeled off the reasons as to why she was tense.
She shook the thoughts out of her head and hung her bag and jacket on the hook. Aidan wasn't here and wouldn't be for another two days so right now was making sure Gabriella, Devon and Troy were alright. She slipped her shoes off and wandered through the kitchen and into the lounge, frowning when she saw the DVD menu of 'A walk to remember'. "Gabby, why didn't you…" Her voice trailed off when she turned and saw Troy sat in the middle of the sofa, one arm around Gabriella and the other around Devon. Gabriella was resting her head on Troy's chest and Troy was resting his cheek on the top of her head. She noticed tear tracks down her daughter's cheeks and had to wonder if it was the movie or something else.
She saw an empty ice cream tub and three spoons on the coffee table…next to a piece of paper. She slowly picked it up and smiled softly, lifting her eyes to look at Troy, Gabriella and Devon. She placed the picture back on the coffee table and stepped closer to the couch. "Troy." She sang, nudging his shoulder slightly.
He groaned and tightened his grip on Gabriella's shoulders. "Hmmm… Five more minutes…"
Maria giggled and nudged him a bit more forcefully. "Troy, its Maria. Come on, wake up."
Troy's eyes opened and he groaned. "Hey. What's up?" He straightened up a bit, trying not to disturb the little boy or the young girl beside him."
"Was she crying at the movie or something?" Maria whispered.
"Both." He replied quietly. "Chris." He said, knowing she'd understand.
Maria nodded and gestured to his position. "Comfy?"
He blushed and nodded. "Yeah. I'm sorry. With all the drama, we must've fallen asleep."
"No worries. Maybe you want to move upstairs, though. It's a school night and you'll get a mean crick in the neck if you stay like that. I'll take Devon. Are you okay with Gabby?" She asked, gently picking up her son in her arms.
Troy nodded, shifting slightly before standing up with Gabriella in his arms. "Good night, Maria." He whispered through a yawn. He started making his way out of the lounge, struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Troy?" Maria called softly, walking towards him.
He turned around and raised his eyebrows. "Yeah?"
"Troy, please be careful. If you have any type of feelings for my daughter, please be careful." She said desperately.
Troy woke up a bit more and frowned. "What do you mean?"
"She's the kind of person that locks herself up, making sure everyone's happy and doesn't open up to anyone." Maria whispered. "Just…be careful. Especially now. I know you're hurt too but…don't press too hard. I think that's why she was reluctant to be your friend at the start. She's not used to change. The last change hurt her bad and she's tried so hard to keep everything the same. Just don't press too hard." Maria whispered, her eyes shining with tears.
Troy nodded and turned around, carrying Gabriella up the stairs. He entered her bedroom and laid her softly on the bed, kissing her on the forehead. "Good night, Brie." He whispered. He walked around the bed and started removing the cushions from the couch.
"Troy?" A voice whimpered.
Troy stood up and rushed over to Gabriella, kneeling next to the bed. "Hey, hey, go to sleep. It's real late." He whispered.
Gabriella reached out and grabbed Troy's shirt, pulling him onto the bed. "Please hold me." She whispered into his neck.
Troy wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "Of course, Brie." He paused slightly before continuing. "Can I ask you something?"
Gabriella nodded against his neck. "I'll try to answer." She whispered.
"Why did you hate me when I first came here?" He whispered, not knowing if that was pressing her too hard.
Gabriella nuzzled her nose into his neck and clung onto him tighter. "I didn't want you back in my life." She whispered. She pulled back to look into his eyes and he saw the depth of emotion she had obviously been hiding from the world. "When you left eleven years ago, I was hurting so much. I woke up the day after you left, realising that I didn't have a best friend anymore. And I know it wasn't your fault but it hurt, and then I saw how you dressed and you unknowingly insulted my hometown. I didn't mean to hate you but I did. And I've never liked change. Ever since you left, things kept changing." She sat up and hugged her knees tightly. She felt Troy sit up beside her and wrap his arms around her body. "I had a little brother, older than Devon. He was born just before you left. Do you remember him?"
Troy shook his head. "No. I don't." He whispered.
"He was wonderful. I was five years older than him. But…he died. Two years ago. He had appendicitis and my mom didn't operate in time." She whispered. "Then, a few months ago, I found out that my dad isn't my dad." She finally let a few tears roll down her cheeks.
"What are you talking about?" Troy asked.
Gabriella turned to Troy and sighed. "My mom was pregnant when they got married and she didn't know. She… She slept with my dad's best friend. She told me and he doesn't know. Why am I telling you this?"
"You're loaded up on confusion. Trust me, I know what it feels like." He muttered, kissing her cheek.
"I'm sorry. I guess, I just didn't want more change." She whispered.
Troy held her tightly and kissed her cheek. "We're both the same. I mean, I've been through a change I didn't even think about happening while I was seventeen." He whispered. "I kept thinking I had time to spend with my parents. But, I didn't."
Gabriella smiled weakly as tears rolled down her cheeks. "All my life I wanted someone to come along that I could talk to."
"Yeah?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"And you came along." She cried. "And it terrifies me."
Troy held her tightly as she cried into his shoulder. "I know. It scares me too."
After a few minutes, Gabriella lifted her head. Wiping her eyes, she laughed softly as she tried to lighten the mood. "Look at me, I'm a mess."
"No you're not." Troy softly removed her hands and rubbed her cheek, wiping away her tears himself. "You always look beautiful to me." Whispering, Troy rested his forehead against Gabriella's.
Gabriella looked into his eyes, never once breaking eye contact, "Promise you won't leave me? Promise nothing will ever cause us to stop talking or lose touch again. I don't think I could handle you disappearing from my life again."
Troy kissed the tip of her nose, smiling, "I promise." Troy kept his arms tightly around Gabriella; her grip on him still as strong as before. In that moment, there was no one else Gabriella wanted to hold her but Troy.
"I never got chance to say it before but thanks."
Troy looked at her confused. "What for?"
"Being there for Don. I mean you were there for him when he didn't feel he could tell me the truth about," seeing her hesitate, Troy placed a kiss on her head, "about what Chris did." Gabriella buried herself deeper into his chest as she let his scent sooth her.
"Hey, it's cool. If anything it helped me adjust knowing he trusted me so much to tell me so soon."
"Well it meant a lot to me knowing someone was there for him and helped him. I just still feel really bad knowing someone could hurt Don like that and I didn't even see."
"It's not your fault, you know that. Chris is the only one to blame."
Gabriella interrupted. "But if I hadn't of fallen for him then Devon wouldn't have gotten hurt." Troy could see the guilt she felt on her face.
Troy lifted her face with his two fingers so she was looking at him. "You couldn't have known that this would happen. Please don't blame yourself."
"But I'm supposed to look after my little brother but yet he got hurt because he wanted me to be happy. What if you hadn't of come and I'd not found on. How long might it have gone on for?"
Troy placed his finger over her lips to stop her rambling. "But it didn't so stop stressing over what ifs. It's over now. Big D is fine and you know the truth."
Blushing slightly, Gabriella smiled gratefully. "I'm sorry for rambling."
Troy just nodded before Gabriella let out a yawn.
"We should try and get some sleep." Gabriella nodded, Troy lying further down as Gabriella curled into his side.
"Sweet dreams." He whispered.
Troy lay quietly as he listened to Gabriella's breath even out and fall asleep in his arms. As much as he tried not to, the only thing he could think of was how perfect it felt holding Gabriella so close knowing that right now he was the one keeping her going and felt could trust enough to open up to. And to Troy, he couldn't ask for anything more.