The Gardener

Summary: During that transitional summer from freshman year to sophomore, Troy took the job of gardener to be able to work with long time crush Gabriella. He expected a nice tan, bulging muscles and cash but that's not all he received. Coming back to school, after that disastrous summer how can he pretend nothing has changed when everything had?

Chapter two

September 22nd, 2009

For the last couple of weeks since we came back from vacation, I've been struggling to act like the old me with my buds. Keyword is: struggling. Truth to be told, I joke with them, hang with them but something just feels off, as if I'm lying to them because that's not who I am anymore. I don't feel at home in their company like I used to, I just feel as if I'm imprisoned. And trust me, it sucks.

We currently are at our lockers near the main doors and are watching the students arriving into the school. As usual, they're cracking jokes about the others appearances and as usual, I'm not listening. I nod and smile when I see they're talking to me, but I don't participate. The reason is that I'm waiting for Gabriella. I haven't seen her since yesterday afternoon and we didn't talk on the phone because I stayed over at Chad's and truth to be told, I miss her.

And then finally, my prayers are answered because the doors opens, revealing my girl accompanied by Sharpay. Illuminating the room like she always does. Gabriella, not Sharpay, but that just might be because I'm biased.

"Bolt's getting a hard-on!" I faintly hear Chad exclaim.

"I wouldn't blame him; I mean that shirt she's wearing really brings out her tits."

This statement made by Jason obviously made the bastards I call friends howler in laughter. As part of my act, I let out a forced chuckle.

And then, her eyes meet mines; the mask is shed.

I separate myself from our group without much of an explanation since I know they get it. When we're within reach, I interlace my fingers with hers, without a word and we walk away. Arriving at our spot in the staircase, we're finally alone and I instantly feel relieve. She smiles at me shyly and say:

"Hey."

"Hey yourself," I grin back, leaning in to give her a good morning kiss.

She meets me halfway. After a while, Gabriella pulls back and still holding onto my hand, drag me to the steps where she sits down, making me do the same.

"I'm so glad you abducted me! I was gonna kill myself if I would've heard anymore of Sharpay's newly acquired puppy," she declares, dramatically.

"And I was gonna seriously punch someone if I would've heard any more of the guys' comments about you," I reply simply, making small circles on the back of her hand with my thumb.

"What were they saying?" she asks, curiously.

"That your shirt makes your boobs look good," I answer seriously. "And I definitely agree, by the way," I continue, smirking as she blushes before looking down at her chest, to check for herself.

"They're not that big," she grumbles.

"I know but they're big enough. Definitely big enough," I state, looking at her cleavage for emphasis.

"Perv!" she yells, swatting me on the arm.

I chuckle before bringing her close to me and kiss her on the head. Unfortunately, the first bell rings, announcing there is only 5 minutes left before class starts.

"We should go," Gabriella sighs.

"I know," I reply. "Just so we're sure, you're still coming to my house after school, right?"

"Yep," she nods.

"Alright, see you later babe," I say, kissing her one last time. "I love you."

"I love you too."

- - -

There is a skate ramp on our school ground, courtesy of last year's school president and this is where me, Chad, Zeke and Jason hangs out during lunch. After the first week back to school, Gab and I established that Monday's and Thursday's we would spend lunch together and the others, with our respective friends. Just so we could have a balance in our relationship. So, here I am, sitting on the railing, my helmet on my head and my skateboard beside me, just watching other guys fall on their asses trying to execute elaborate tricks.

"So Bolt, how are things between you and Gabs?" Chad questions, settling beside me, hair spilling everywhere from under his helmet.

I freeze. From the smug look on his face I know he is not just asking this to be polite. Either he's asking about our sex life or if we're having trouble and truthfully, I don't like either of those meanings.

"Good," I answer simply.

"So, no trouble?" he insists.

"Nope," I continue with a one-word answer.

"Damn, that must mean the sex is fucking good then," he snarls.

I don't like the challenge in his eyes. I know he wants to push my buttons for whatever reason and I really don't like it.

"Shut up Chad," I say lowly.

"What? Don't tell me you're not getting any of that ass!"

I don't know if it was the tone or the fact that he shouted it so everyone could hear that got to me, either way I throw my fist back and punch him, without having second thoughts about it. He screams in pain and I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. After all, he is my best friend.

"Dude what the fuck?!" Jason yells, angrily as he and the others came over to us.

I ignore them and walk away.

Without even bothering to grab my stuff in my locker, I go straight home which is like 5 miles from school. Damn, my hand hurts. I really did not imagine it would hurt like this. Maybe I took it too far, maybe I should apologize. But damn it, the way he looked at me when he said that… Ugh, just thinking about it makes my blood boil all over again.

When I finally am inside my house, I go sit on the couch of my living room, still in a daze. I'm probably going to get detention for skipping, but whatever. That was worth it. Gabriella is worth it. After all, she's the only one who actually do get me with the whole Kelsi thing and all. I guess I could try to explain to my friends about what happened this summer and truthfully I've come close to telling them several times in the past weeks, but every time, I somehow chicken out.

I guess I just can't bring myself to say it out loud. Can't bring myself to face the truth; that someone I knew and cared for was murdered. By her own father; her flesh and blood. It's just too disgusting and cruel; I just can't understand how someone can do this…

Troy, stop. Stop thinking about this right now. Especially since I'm all alone and if I start to think more about it, I might have a panic attack. It wouldn't be the first time anyway. And so I lean back, close my eyes and start thinking about more cheerful things like when me and Gab really met this summer, or how happy she was when we hanged out at the beach with her friends…

- - -

I am woken up by an annoying ringing sound. I open my eyes, groaning and remember I'm still on the living room's couch. As I try to sit up to go answer the door, pain flashes through my right hand. Oh, right. I punched Chad. I get up and answer the door. I smile when I see my girlfriend with her backpack on her shoulder. School must've ended.

"Hey," I say sheepishly as I took in her narrow eyes.

"Where were you?" Gabriella questions, her arms cross.

"Here," I shrug taking a step back to let her in.

"You skipped class and you didn't tell me? I could've gone with you," she retorts entering my house.

"Sorry, something came up and I didn't really have time to tell you," I answer.

She opens her mouth to say something but then she stops and I see her eyes are on my injured hand.

"What happened to you?" she asks worriedly.

"Nothing," I dismiss, hiding it behind my back.

I don't really feel like talking about Chad right now. Thing is, I don't want to let her know that things are not as great with my friends like how I described her this summer. Call it misplaced pride, I don't care. All I know is that I don't want to tell her about how my friends are not really my friends anymore or how they always seem to blame everything wrong about me on her.

"Your knuckles are red and you're hiding it from me, that's not what I call nothing," she replies, frowning.

"Just let it go Gab, I don't really feel like talking about it," I declare, trying as much as possible not to be too harsh on her.

I see her hesitating before finally softening her features in defeat.

"Can you at least let me see your hand?" she inquires, softly.

I nod and held it in front of myself. She approaches and takes my big one in her tiny hands. I wince as her fingertips brushes against my knuckles. Her eyebrows are knit together, indicating that she is deep in concentration as she is examining my hand.

"It's just red Gabriella. Don't worry, it'll probably be gone in a few days," I mumble. I don't want to make a big deal out of it.

She looks up to gauge my face and sigh before placing a kiss on all four of my knuckles.

"Are you staying over?" I ask.

"Do you want me to?"

"You know I always do."

"Good, because I already got the permission from my dad," she says grinning.

I roll my eyes, I should've known.

After eating supper with my mom and doing our school work, it is time to go to bed. My mom don't mind me and Gab sleeping in the same bed, since her room is right beside mine and she's a light sleeper, so any noise will wake her up. Plus it's not like this is the first time.

"So, now are you finally gonna tell me what happened to you today?" Gabriella ask coming out of the bathroom dressed in one of my basketball shorts and t-shirt.

I don't answer her immediately. I don't want to tell her but at the same time I don't want to lie to her. She comes over to my bed, where I'm lying, and snuggles into my chest, still looking at me with those innocent brown eyes.

"I punched someone because they were being an ass," I finally answer.

"Really?" she asks eyes wide in surprise.

"Yeah," I confirm. "By the way, I'm thinking of joining the basketball team this year."

If you haven't realised, I'm trying to change the subject. Although, this statement isn't totally random since I really am thinking about trying out.

"Seriously?"

That seemed to work.

"Yep. I mean, for years now my mom always bugged me about trying out but I always refused, but now I don't know, I guess I wanna give it a shot."

"Why?"

"Well, one, I know how much you love my body so I better keep in shape," I wink making her giggle. "Two, it looks good on College application if you were part of a club and three, I feel like it."

"Plus, you're good at it," she adds. "When are the try-outs?"

"I think it said in two weeks on one of the flier," I answer.

"Do you mind if I watch?"

"Um, no. I don't see why I would."

"Good, you don't really have a choice because I would've snuck in if you would have refused," she grinned.

I roll my eyes; my girlfriend is so stubborn sometimes.

- - -

The reason why this chapter took so long is because I wasn't satisfied with it so yesterday I erased it and completely rewrote it. I know there are probably lots of mistakes in this one; the reason is that my beta is busy. The next chapters shouldn't take as long as this one since it's already done.

By the way, the banners for 'His Dream Girl', 'The Gardener' and 'The One Left Behind' are all on my profile so go check it out if you want.

Review please.