A/N: Hey. The next chapter is the prom preperation EEP!!! lol. Don't own HSM
Chapter 18 - what we're going through
(A/N: This HSMandChelseaFCfan)
After arriving home, Troy and Gabriella were met by a very flustered Maria. Gabriella gave Troy a look as they watched her hurry downstairs with her bag in her hand.
"What's going on, Mom?" Gabriella asked, slightly worried that she had found out about Aidan and was leaving.
Maria got to the bottom of the stairs and caught her breath. "Thank goodness you two are home, there is an emergency at work and I need the two of you to look after Devon. He's not been feeling good today so just keep an eye on him. You'll need to feed him and I have no idea whether your father will be home or not tonight so don't worry about him. Call me if you have any problems."
Placing her hands on her mother's shoulders to calm her down, Gabriella smiled. "Don't worry, Mom, its cool. We can manage perfectly fine so don't worry about us. Just go."
Maria placed a kiss on Gabriella's forehead before repeating her action's on Troy's and nodded gratefully at the two. "I should be back before you have to leave for school tomorrow but if not just drop Devon off next door, Mrs Jones said she'll happily look after him."
"Ok. Have a good night, Mom." Gabriella said softly as Troy left her to see off her Mom while he went to find Devon.
"Hey, Big D. How's it going?" Troy flopped down on the sofa next to the young boy who didn't portray his normal cheeky smile.
Moving closer, Devon leaned against Troy's arm. "I don't feel good."
Troy lifted his arm to hold him closer. "I'm sorry, Big D. Want me to make you your favourite sundae to make you feel better?" For once, Devon shook his head which showed Troy he really wasn't well. "Do you need anything?"
"Can I have some juice?" He asked quietly and Troy nodded. He was about to get up but was stopped.
"You stay there and I'll get it. You want anything?" Gabriella offered, having walked into the room and found Devon looking comfortable against Troy.
Turning round, Troy smiled at his girlfriend. "I'll have whatever you have." Gabriella nodded as she walked off; Troy's eyes lingering on her as he watched her.
Devon let out a little giggle before poking Troy in the stomach. "Stop watching Gavvy."
Troy grinned seeing the cheeky look in his eyes that had appeared. "I wasn't." Troy tried to protest but failed miserably seeing the look he was receiving from Devon.
"Yes you were. Did you tell her you like her?"
Troy rolled his eyes remembering the awkward conversation a few days previous with Maria and Devon. "We are not having that conversation again."
Devon pouted, giving Troy the same look that Gabriella did whenever she wanted something. "But you love Gavvy."
"Yes I know but it has to stay our secret because I can't tell Brie as she might not love me too and then it would be awkward and we probably wouldn't talk anymore. We don't want that do we?" Troy told him, hating the fact he was having to lie to Devon but knowing he know how Gabriella wasn't that comfortable with people knowing – especially with Chris, Scarlet and Kirsten.
Sighing in defeat, Devon nodded. "I don't want that because Gavvy needs you and I do too." Troy hugged the small boy as Gabriella reappeared with a glass of juice and a large glass of soda.
"Everything ok?" She asked, noticing the frown on Devon's face. She placed all of the drinks down before taking a seat next to Troy. "You okay, Don?"
He nodded again. "I'm just tired."
"Well how about we get Troy to order us a pizza and then the three of us pick out a movie to watch." Gabriella suggested. Nodding at his sister, the two Montez's looked at Troy.
He rolled his eyes. "I'll go find the menu and find some money then?" The two nodded. "The things I do for you two."
"But you love us really." Gabriella smiled, her eyes showing the true meaning of that purpose even though she didn't make it obvious in front of Devon. Devon smirked at Troy.
Rolling his eyes again at the two, Troy shook his head. "It's a good job I do because you two could be a nightmare to live with otherwise." He stood up as Devon and Gabriella slapped hands.
"We're just fulfilling our mission of pushing you out." Gabriella yelled as Troy scoffed.
"You wish, Montez. You couldn't cope without me." Smiling, the brother and sister pair knew just how true that was.
Devon waited until he heard Troy on the phone before turning to his sister. "Gavvy?"
Looking into Devon's big brown eyes, she smiled. "What's up, Don?"
"I need to tell you something." Gabriella gave him a worried look. "It's not a bad thing, I think."
Gabriella let out a small laugh. "Go on then."
Waiting for her to lean down so he could whisper in her ear, he looked back to check Troy was still in the kitchen before speaking. "Troy loves you."
Gabriella's eyes widened in surprise hearing Devon's words. "What? How do you know?"
"He told me but shh he told me he couldn't tell you but I couldn't keep it a secret any longer. He really likes you, Gavvy."
Gabriella's eyes caught Troy standing in the doorway and gave him a look to stay quiet. "Look Don, thank you for telling me. I'm glad you told me."
Devon suddenly sat up remembering something. "You won't tell Troy I told you, will you? Or stop talking to him because I don't want him to ever leave."
Kissing the worried boy's forehead, his sister smiled. "Don't worry. I don't either."
"Good because Gavvy, I still really, really, love you but I love Troy like my brother too. But I still like you a little bit more."
Gabriella laughed. "That's ok but as long as I'm always favoured a little bit more."
Giggling, Devon nodded. "Deal."
Finally giving Troy a look to say he could come back, the two Montez's separated from their hug. "Why do I get the feeling you two are talking about me?" Troy asked as he took his previous seat between the Montez siblings, wrapping one arm around each – his fingers slipped up the sleeve of Gabriella's shirt to caress the skin of her shirt.
"Maybe we were but we won't tell you." Devon grinned cheekily.
Troy smirked. "I'll get it out of one of you eventually."
"Nu-uh. We Montez siblings always stick together, don't we, Don?" He nodded as the three settled back down.
After finishing their meal, the three were curled up on the sofa; Troy situated in the middle of Gabriella and Devon. Devon was asleep while Troy and Gabriella were talking quietly between themselves.
"Do you think we'll be ok?" Gabriella asked, looking down at Devon.
Troy sighed. "I have no idea but I promise I'll help you get through it no matter what happens. You, Devon and your mom will always have me there to help you guys out."
Leaning over, Gabriella placed a kiss on his cheek. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Gabriella. I love you too."
***
(A/N: This is me)
Gabriella grabbed Troy's sports jacket and draped it over her shoulders before stepping out onto her balcony. She was now in his shirt and jeans and she folded her arms. She looked at the stars twinkling on the black sheet that was the sky. Tears pricked her eyes and she inhaled a shaky breath. What she would give to just fly away from everything. Her eyes closed and she breathed in the familiar Albuquerque air.
Two arms wrapped around her waist and she leant back against his chest. "You okay?" He whispered.
She shook her head. "No. Not really."
He placed comforting kisses along the exposed skin of her neck. "Bella, Baby, stop worrying."
"I'm not just lying to my mom." She whispered. "I'm lying to my Donny. I've never done that before."
"I thought you've been telling him we're not together?" Troy asked in confusion.
She turned in his arms and shrugged. "He's only asked me if I love you. I told him the truth."
"What was that?" He asked quietly as he dusted soft kisses across her jaw.
She pulled back, smiling gently up at him. "I told him that," She leaned up to kiss his lips and felt him smile against her mouth. "I love you." She breathed into his mouth as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
His hold tightened around her waist and lifted her off of the ground. "You're too short." He muttered as they briefly pulled apart.
She sighed against his lips and ran her fingers through his locks of hair. She pulled back and smiled slightly at him. "You're too tall." She twisted her head to look back at the night sky before turning back to him. "It's hard to believe that my life is so horrible when there's a sky so perfect like that."
"I was thinking more along the lines of how such a perfect girl could be going through all of this." He whispered.
She furrowed her brow as she brought her right hand to his face and she rubbed her thumb over his forehead. She kept her eyes on his and used only the lightest of touches. She moved her thumb over his cheek, to his nose, across his lips and she finally gripped his neck. "You've been through so much more than me." She whispered with glossy eyes.
Troy sighed and set her own momentarily while his closed the balcony doors before leading her to the bed and unzipping the sports jacket. He pushed it from her shoulders and threw it towards Gabriella's desk chair. "Bella, you're going through the worst thing anybody has to go through and don't deny it. You've found out that your own father is having an affair. You've got to live, wondering how to confront it. You don't feel secure around him. You don't trust him anymore. And because of that, you're laboured with the decision of telling Maria. That's not fair. I know where my parents are." Tears leaked from his eyes and he brought her into his arms. "I know they're okay now. I know they're watching over us."
Gabriella giggled slightly as tears glided down her tanned cheeks. "I love you." She breathed against his neck.
"I love you too." He whispered into her hair.
"Do you ever feel like we're still best friends?" She muttered.
"Everyday." He said softly. "Except," he continued mischievously, "I get to do this," he leaned down and placed his mouth over hers in a passionate kiss. He swallowed her gasp and pushed her back onto the bed, straddling her hips.
"Troy." She breathed when he eventually pulled back and nuzzled his nose into her neck.
"Too fast?" He muttered, not bothering to hide his disappointment.
"No." She said with a confidence she didn't know she owned. "I liked it. A lot."
Troy smiled against her neck he gently kissed her skin before lifting his head. "Tell me when I rush, okay?"
She nodded from beneath him before frowning. "I'm in pyjamas and your not." She whined and reached for the hem of his shirt.
He helped her take it off and then returned to his lying position. "My pyjamas consist of boxers." He exclaimed.
"You slept in just boxers when we were just friends. What's different now?" She raised her eyebrows.
Troy chuckled and kissed her cheek before resting his head on her shoulder. "You're my everything."