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?
Author's note: As usual, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter!
Chapter eight
November 16th, 2009
"Bolton takes the ball, he dribbles trying to escape from the big monster he calls his teammate; the time is running out," I mumble under my breath, making the guys around me chuckle. "He looks around trying to spot an available player."
"I'm open!" Wyatt yells.
Without bothering to comment, I chuck the ball at him and darts off to the other end of the court. This commentary thingy is annoying me, and unfortunately we all have to do it at one point or another. Coach's rules. He wants us to, not only be able to play well, but also know how to describe our actions. Plus he says it helps our concentration. Oh and also, we have to use the third person narration when speaking about ourselves. Fun.
"Pass it!" I scream.
I take a step backward to catch the ball thrown at me and dribbles the last couple of feet towards the hoop.
"15 seconds!" I hear Coach's voice announce in the background. "Don't forget to comment Bolton."
I sigh.
"Bolton looks left, then right; all his teammates are guarded. He decides to take a risk, bends his knees, aims the ball to the net and throws it."
We all watch as the ball was thrown in the air, waiting anxiously to see the result.
"And he…" I start. "misses," I groan.
As the ball hits the ground, the whistle is blown, announcing the end of practice.
"Thanks for making us win, Bolton," Ron jokes, slapping my shoulder before entering the locker room.
"You're welcome," I reply sarcastically.
I make my way toward the basketball on the ground and pick it up. I roll it in my hands, remembering our first game a few weeks earlier. It was an away game; I remember not being able to sleep at all that night in the hotel room. Back then, it had only been two weeks after Gabriella and I broke up and I was still hurting. Still to this day, I'm still hurting, but less. I'll get to that later though.
"Hey Bolton, we're going out for a pizza, want to join us?" I hear.
I look behind me to see that some of the guys were already changed and ready to go.
"Nah, it's fine, I think I'm gonna stay here for a while," I answer, dribbling the ball.
I make my way toward the free throws line and shoots toward the basket, getting it in. I jog and retrieve it, before repeating the process. I remember that first game. It was against the Wolves from Carleton High, all the way across town. They had rented us hotel rooms, because Coach didn't want to travel at night and it was my first time playing in another gym. Even if there weren't many spectators in the bleachers, I was still shaking in my Wildcat uniform. The first few minutes it was so bad I was put on the bench.
However, as I had been beat down, I let my eyes roam around the few faces of the crowd and that's when I saw her. Gabriella. Even if she was faded in the crowd and I couldn't really see her face, I knew it was her. In those few seconds I had caught glimpse of her, I felt calmer and much much happier. Needless to say, we won that game. Something that had never happened in all Wildcat history. For the first time, the basketball team has won their first away game.
"Looking good number 14!"
I look behind me and send a polite smile at the group of cheerleaders who've just finished their practice like us.
"Thanks," I reply bending my knees, preparing to throw the ball.
While before I might've been semi popular because I was Gabriella's boyfriend, now I guess I can say I'm full blown popular. Whatever. No big deal. Nothing's really changed because of that. I'm still Troy Bolton, the guy who's incredibly in love with Gabriella. Only thing that's different is more people are talking to me now.
"Can't believe Gabi let that one go," I hear them saying to each other.
I ignore them, and go retrieve the ball.
"Tell me about it, the guy's just steamy. All broody and mysterious and have you seen his abs?"
I groan inwardly.
"You know how I said I was never going to date Sharpay or Gabriella's left overs? Well, I think I might just make an exception to this one."
I heard enough. Without another word I go into the locker room and shower. I haven't spoken to Gabriella since the day she left me. When we would cross path we would say hi and stuff but nothing more. It just sucks that we went from being super tight to, well, strangers. One would think after one month my love for her would've wavered, it didn't. There isn't a day I'm not thinking about her, missing her.
November 17th, 2009
"I'll have one hot chocolate," I say to the girl working behind the counter.
She quickly enters my order into the cash register and asks me if I want anything else. Her name tag reads Mara.
"I'll also have a chocolate chip cookie," I respond taking some money out from my pocket. "Thank you," I say as she hands me my order.
I'm currently in this coffee shop that is open until like midnight. Right now it's 10:32 and I can't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Gabriella, about Kelsi, about basketball, but mostly about Gabriella. As I'm making my way toward the back of the room, a mass of raven hair catches my eye. Wait.
"Gabriella?" I say dumbfounded.
There, sitting in one of the booth, with a cup in front of her is my ex. Her eyes widen upon seeing me.
"Troy? What are you doing here?" Gabriella inquires.
"I couldn't sleep. Felt like my house was suffocating me so, I came here," I explain. "What about you?"
"I couldn't sleep either," she states, looking at her cup.
"Can I?" I inquire motioning to the seat in front of her.
"Yeah, go ahead."
I set the bag with the cookie on the table before sitting down. We sit there for a minute, not quite knowing what to say. It's weird. And awkward. Now that we're exes, I doubt I can tell her everything on my mind. In fact, I don't find anything to say.
"How are you anyway?" I question, finally finding a safe topic.
"I'm okay. Tired, but okay. I haven't been really sleeping lately but even if I fall asleep everyday in class, I just can't seem to fall asleep at home. My body's weird, I know," she shrugs.
"Your body's far from weird," I retort without thinking.
Damn it. Why did I have to say that? Her eyes are now wide in shock.
"Uh, I didn't mean that. Not in that sense. I meant like uh, you're healthy?"
Wow, Troy, real smooth.
"It's weird isn't it? I mean, few weeks ago we could tell each other everything. Now, it's kind of hard to find a safe topic. Like, I have a billion things to say, but I'm not sure if I can tell you because of our status," Gabriella admits.
"Same here. I mean, even if it has been one month, it's still kind of hard for me to believe we're broken up."
"I'm trying to remember how we used to be before we were an us, and I can't. I know we were friends first, but I just can't seem to… I don't know."
I scratch the back of my neck, uncomfortably. How did we come to this? Ever since the first time we talked during the summer we've always been pretty honest to each other. I knew I could tell her anything and she seemed to tell me everything too. Effortlessly. Even when we were just acquaintances we never held back when it came to discussing.
"I miss you," I declare gently.
Maybe if I tell her what's on my mind, it'll be less awkward. I don't regret being so straight forward because right now anything is better than the silence preceding it.
"Me too," she whispers, her eyes boring into mine. "Everyday."
I send her a smile and I swear my heart stops beating when she flashes me the beautiful smile I've been missing these past few weeks. It's the truest smile we've exchanged all night.
"I know you were right to break up with me. I've come to term with it. I don't know if we'll be together again, but I know I don't want you out of my life."
"Hey, you're stuck with me forever, remember?" Gabriella reminds me.
I chuckle; ever since that day at the ice cream parlour, she'd repeat that sentence to me on a daily basis.
"Oh shit!"
We jump upon hearing the loud scream of the cashier. We look in her direction and see her looking distressed.
"Anything wrong?" I ask, since we're the only one in here.
"I had to take some pictures to replace these ones," Mara says pointing to the big old poster in front of the door. "But I forgot. And my boss was to send the pictures tomorrow. I'm so stupid," she continues.
"Want us to help you?" Gabriella inquires.
As if suddenly struck by an idea, the cashier's face turns to hopeful.
"Can I use you guys for the poster?"
I cringe.
"Uh. Well, I mean," I stammer.
"Please, please you guys. I'm begging you. I'll owe you for life please. I need this job," Mara pleads desperately.
I lock eyes with Gabriella and she urges me to say yes. I sigh.
"Okay fine," I answer dejectedly.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
She proceeds to go in the back room to grab her camera.
"Do you think she'll pay us?" I ask the girl in front of me.
"You're so cheap," Gabriella replies rolling her eyes.
"No, but really. Do you?"
This just earns me a kick on the leg.
"Alright guys, can you two slid in the back of the booth, close to each other, with your cup of coffee in hands?" the cashier says.
We oblige and awkwardly smile at the camera. I desperately try to ignore the sweet smell of Gabriella's perfume filling my nostrils.
"Gosh, you guys are so attractive together," the temporary photographer gushes, snapping more pictures.
Me and Gab quickly share a sad look.
"Can you put your arm around Gabi?" she requests.
How does she know Gabriella's name? I extend an arm around her shoulders.
"Now Gabi, can you bring your cup close to your lips, while looking at, uh."
"Troy," I supply.
"While looking at Troy," Mara says winking playfully.
Gabriella does as she is told and, man, her eyes are so deep. So chocolate. My eyes can't help but trail down her face, to her lips. Her luscious lips. What I would give to kiss those again.
"Okay, I think this'll be enough. Thank you guys so much," the girl says, breaking our focus.
"No problem," Gabriella replies, reverting back to her previous spot. "Tell us if you need anything else."
"I think I'll be alright. You're a real sweetheart Gab."
Mara then went into the backroom, leaving us alone.
"How does she know your name?" I inquire curiously.
"Oh, you know, she must be a student at East High," she answers, looking at her cup.
She's avoiding my gaze. She's not telling me the truth.
"She looks older than a high schooler though," I say calmly.
Judging by her guilty expression, I know she's hiding something. She does not respond though.
"Do you come here often?"
"Every now and then," she mumbles, still refusing to look at me.
"More like three nights a week!" Mara contradicts coming back. "Don't know how you do it Gab. I mean, in the fall school just started so, you didn't need as much sleep, but now you guys are nearing the finals."
"Uh, actually the finals are in January for us," Gabriella declares, red.
She looks embarrassed, she should be. I mean three times a week? Since September? We were together in September! How come she never told me?
"Oh are they? Man I'm so disconnected from high school, it's crazy! Good thing though 'cause I absolutely hated high school. I was kind of a loner you see, just minding my own business but one day, this rich popular bitch started shit with me. I swear, all hell broke loose! Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. Stupid popular girls thinking the world revolved around them. Don't you just wish they would simply not exist?"
I bit back a laugh as Gabriella turned even redder. You know, 'cause she herself is a popular girl.
"Anyways, I think I've bothered you guys long enough, so I'll go back to work."
"Bye Mara," I say in Gabriella's place, since she still looks uncomfortable.
I wait until the waitress is gone before I confront my ex about what I discovered earlier.
"How come you never told me you came here during the night?" I ask her.
"Well, I mean we were broken up so I didn't think it was necessary…"
"Don't try Gabriella. You heard the waitress, you come here since September. Why didn't you ever mention it to me? I could've come with you."
She only sighs, refusing to look at me. Have we really been reduced to this? Not being able to look at each other in the eyes whenever something too serious comes up?
"Gabriella," I whisper, reaching across the table and gently lifting her chin so she'd look at me. "You've been having dreams haven't you? About her?"
Her eyes waters and she leans back, making me drop my hand. She shakily whispers:
"I didn't want you to know."
My heart breaks a little as I hear her broken tone. I extend an arm resting the back of my hand on the table, palm up. She glances at it and slowly places her hand in mine. I give her an encouraging squeeze.
"I just… you always told me how proud of me you were. Always said I was amazingly strong and you loved me because of it," she murmurs. "I didn't want to deceive you. I-I wanted you to think I was strong so you wouldn't realise how messed up I really am."
"You think I would've felt let down if you told me you were still mourning her death?" I repeat, earning a nod. "Gabriella, I love you. I love you when you're laughing at me, I love you when you're being a silly kid, I love you when you're wearing my shirt before going to bed and I absolutely unconditionally love you when you're just you. With flaws and insecurities. I love it all. I know you're not perfect; I never expected you to be unaffected by the Kelsi thing because to be honest, that would just make you appear heartless. You're human and it's normal that you have some moments where you're feeling low."
Tears are slowly falling from her eyes by now, but she doesn't motion me to stop so I continue:
"Do you remember when you weren't able to fall asleep unless I sang you 'Fix You' by Coldplay over the phone? It was then I realised I really really loved you. You were vulnerable and you were sobbing, but I loved you because you weren't afraid of showing all that to me. I don't know what changed. How you went from the girl who had no problem crying on the phone all night to the girl who hid her dreams from me because you thought you would let me down."
"Why d'you say I was strong then?" she whispers.
"Because being strong for me doesn't mean being able to forget Kelsi faster; rather it is being able to tell the truth, even if it may leave you vulnerable."
That's when she completely broke down. Uncontrollable sobs taking over her, hands on her face. I immediately slid beside her and wrap my arms around her small body. She accepts my embrace and cries in my shoulder.
"Let it out Gabriella. Let it all out," I whisper, rubbing her back soothingly.
Right then I knew things between us would be alright. We may not be together right now, but I know one day we will be. One thing's for sure, I'll do whatever it takes to always be her shoulder to cry on.
-HSM-
Here it is: the chapter after the breakup. Hope I didn't disappoint. I've rewritten the prologue and changed the date of the murder because as it turns out, I miscalculated the time in the flashbacks. The new date of Kelsi's death is August 24.
By the way I'm thinking of writing a prequel to this story (a one-shot or something like that) would you guys be interested?