The Gardener
Summary: During the summer between freshman year and sophomore, Troy took the job of a 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? TxG
Chapter Nine
July 23rd 2009
I tiredly fall on the bed and close my eyes, way too exhausted to bother getting dressed in my pyjamas. Today has been one of the hottest day of the summer and, lucky me, it was work day. On top of almost passing out from the heat, I didn't even see Gabriella today. When I rang her doorbell this morning, instead of being greeted by her beautiful face, I was met by Mr Montez. Don't get me wrong Mr. Montez is a nice man and I like him, but I like his daughter more.
As I feel sleep taking over me, my cell phone starts to ring obnoxiously loud. I groan, but don't bother to pick up. At last, it stops. Thank God. From far off, I hear our home phone starting to ring, echoing through the hallway. Thankfully, I don't have any in my bedroom.
"Troy, someone wants to speak to you!" clamours my mother.
I stay silent. Maybe she'll think I'm sleeping and tell the person to call later. No such luck.
"Troy?" I hear my mom entering my bedroom. "Gabriella wants to speak to you."
I instantly sit up, no longer tired. My mom just raises an eyebrow and hands me the phone.
"Gabriella?" I say, bringing it to my ear as my mom exits.
"Troy? Why weren't you picking up your cell?" Gabriella asks.
"I uh, didn't hear it ring. I was sleeping," I lie.
"Oh, did I wake you up?"
"Uh, well yeah kinda."
"I'm sorry," she apologizes.
"It's alright," I say trying to muffle my yawn. "Hey, where were you today anyway? I went to your house and you weren't there."
"Oh, I was baby-sitting. Sorry I didn't tell you."
"Nielson's kid again?"
Yesterday after our ice cream stop, I walked her to the Nielson's house and came back real late. She texted me it went well and that's the last I heard from her before now.
"Yeah, that's why I called you by the way. I need your help."
"Help with what?"
"I'm in a, um, tough situation and only you can help me."
What kind of tough situation? Does it involve the old Nielson? The guy's a prick.
"Be there in 5," I say hanging up.
I know it may be nothing, but this gives me a reason to see her. I quickly slip on a pair of low-rise jeans, a red v-neck t-shirt and, of course, a beanie, the black one.
"Hey mom, can you drive me to Gabriella's neighbourhood?" I question.
The Nielson's house is right in front of Gabriella's.
"Now? Isn't it a little late?" mom asks, taken back.
"Please mom," I pleaded.
"It's to see her isn't it?" she smiles, knowingly.
After that fateful day in 6th grade where I saw Gabriella for the first time, I told my mom about her; I told her the new girl was really pretty. My mom joked about me starting to finally notice girls. Then I found myself talking quite often about her to my mom, not everyday, 'cause that's just creepy but, you know, every now and then. When I asked her to dance with me in 7th grade on Valentine's Day, when she hugged me at our middle school graduation, when she sat next to me one time in 9th and we talked about the book 'To Kill a Mockingbird', also the time when she stole my pencil and kept it the rest of the year. Yeah, those were the times.
"Yeah," I confirm.
My mom sends me this big grin and goes to get her keys. The day I told her I was going to go to Macdonald's with Gabriella, she was stunned. She was almost as stunned as I was. Nonetheless, she's really thrilled that me and Gab are friends and I can finally stop rambling about the pencil incident.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go," mom says, bringing me back to reality.
I grin and excitedly follow her. I know it sounds weird, but I'm secretly happy that my mom is me and Gab's biggest supporter.
"Call me when you guys are done alright?" mom says, once we're in front of Nielson's house.
"Will do mom. See ya," I reply closing the passenger door.
I casually ring the doorbell and wait. I try not to be too impatient. Seconds later, the door opens to reveal the most beautiful girl in the world.
"You really did mean it when you said 5 huh?" Gabriella teases, hugging me in greeting.
"Why, you thought I was lying?" I retort, breathing in her delicious scent, my arms around her.
"Yeah actually. I thought you went back to sleep or something," she admits pulling away.
"Did you really?" I ask, stunned. She nodded. "What kind of guy do you think I am?"
"The normal type," she laughs, dragging me inside holding onto my wrist. "Do you want something to eat or drink?"
I look around. This house is as big as Gabriella's, but instead of having a homey sort of vibe, it's, I don't know, empty.
"Nah, it's alright. Aren't you supposed to be watching uh Kelly?" I ask, trying to remember what she said her name is.
"Kelsi. And, she's able to look after herself. She's not the type to, you know, break stuff," she shrugs, starting to make her way downstairs.
"Because she's a girl?" I ask, following her.
"Because she's 11," she replies simply.
Huh?
"Wait. She's eleven years old?" I inquire, wanting to make sure. "She's only like 4 years younger than you?"
"Yeah. I was weirded out too when she told me, but whatever. It surely is better than looking after a hyperactive kid."
I don't have time to respond because she opens the door and the child named Kelsi is there. She's sitting in front of a big piano and appears to be writing something on a sheet of paper.
"Hey Kels, our boy voice is here," Gabriella say, announcing our presence.
Wait, boy voice? Kelsi turns around. The girl is tiny. She has glasses and has braids. Her face looks mature, but still innocent.
"Hi, I'm Kelsi," she says politely extending a hand.
I hesitantly shake it. I'm not used to this kind of greeting from someone younger than my mom.
"Troy," I reply.
"You're as hot as Gabi said," she declares.
I look at Gabriella, surprised. Her blush confirms me she indeed described me as 'hot'. Hell yeah!
"Thank you, you're cute too," I respond to the young girl in front of me.
"Too bad I'm already taken," Kelsi says happily, turning on her heels.
"What?" I mouth to Gabriella.
She shrugs in response and goes to stand beside the little girl. I look around the room and take in the numerous instruments. There are like 6 guitars, a drum set, two trumpets, a bunch of violins… Either Mr Nielson is really musical or Kelsi is.
"So Troy, do you sing?"
I'm brought out of my reverie and turn my head to see them looking at me expectedly.
"Huh?"
"Do you sing?" Kelsi repeats.
"Well no. I mean, other than the occasional goofing off singing," I reply rubbing my neck uncomfortably as I see her narrowing her eyes.
"This'll be your lucky day then, 'cause I'm gonna teach you," the eleven year old declares.
"What?" I ask, dumbfounded.
I look at Gabriella, pleading her to help me. She sends me an apologetic smile as if to say she can't do anything about it.
"Come here beside the piano. You'll see, by the end of tonight you'll be like a professional."
I sigh and go stand beside Gabriella.
"I doubt you'll be able to achieve that. I don't even know how to read music," I confess.
"Don't worry, if I was able to teach your girlfriend, I'm able to teach anybody," she declares plainly.
I amusedly look at the girl beside me.
"You were difficult to teach?" I tease.
"Shut up. I've never sang seriously before," Gabriella replies, blushing.
I chuckle and give her a quick side hug, to indicate I'm joking.
"You guys remind me of my boyfriend and I," Kelsi cuts in.
"You have a boyfriend?" I inquire stunned.
"Yeah, he's my math tutor. Most of the time though we would be composing songs. I would've tried out this new one I wrote today with him, but he's on vacation."
That girl is seriously starting to freak me out. She's so fricken mature for her age.
"Wait, he's your math tutor?" Gabriella starts. "How old is this guy?" she questions.
"He's your age I presume," she answers simply.
Me and Gabriella's eyes meet. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one weirded out by this.
"What's his name?" I ask.
"Ryan."
"Evans?" my crush exclaims.
"Yes, you know him?" she answers calmly.
I wrap an arm around Gabriella's shoulders who suddenly looks really pale. With reason though, since Ryan is her best friend's twin brother. I would see him at school sometimes hanging out with the popular crowd, although not most of the time. Unlike his sister, he doesn't seem to enjoy the spotlight all that much.
"You… you guys are… together?" I say, wanting to make sure.
I rub Gabriella's back soothingly, as she still looks shell-shock.
"Well, no. He says he's too old for me. But I'm in love with him and he's in love with me," she states seriously.
I believe her. She seems too smart to be in denial.
"I'm gonna go get some water," Gabriella declares leaving the room.
"Oh, what am I doing? Here I am, talking about my love, instead of doing my duty. Silly me. Here, Troy," she continues, handing me a sheet of music. "This is what you'll be singing today."
I look at the weird music notes and the lyrics underneath. The title of the song says: 'Just Wanna Be with You'. Well, this is straight to the point.
"Will she be singing too?" I ask as Gabriella comes back into the room, a glass of water in hand.
There is no way I'm gonna be singing some love song to an eleven year old. Besides, this song so far really sounds like what I'm feeling towards my friend.
"Um, no there's no need," Gabriella answers quickly.
"You're right. Now that I think about it, I don't want to sing with anyone other than Ryan. So, Gabriella, you'll be singing too," Kelsi replies.
I see her groan and laugh quietly.
"I hate you," she whispers when she's by my side again.
"You're welcome," I smile smugly, making her roll her eyes.
Despite our reluctance we look over the song and do some singing exercises with Kelsi. As much as we tried to be serious though, we would often end up goofing off and unable to continue with the exercise because we would be giggling. Who knew singing could be so fun?
"You guys are impossible to work with," Kelsi sighs as our snickers started to subside.
"Sorry Kels, we won't do it again," Gabriella says, trying to appear serious.
"Yeah, won't happen again," I repeat, trying to hide my smile.
"No, I think I've had enough for tonight. You guys are clearly not taking this seriously," she answers.
"Kelsi, please come on, one last," I say.
"No. I won't let you guys make fun of my song again."
I look at Gabriella, and she looks guilty.
"We swear we won't do it again. We didn't mean to make fun of it. We were just…"
"Laughing? Giggling? Goofing off? I thought you guys were different. I thought you guys were different than my classmates," Kelsi declares, disheartened.
"We're sorry for not having taking it seriously," I say sincerely. "I think you're incredibly talented and I promise not to laugh again."
"Same here," Gabriella adds.
Kelsi looks at us blankly for a moment and her features soften.
"One last time then," she agrees, turning back to her piano.
I take the sheet music in my hands and stand straight, ready to sing. I see Gabriella doing the same thing.
"I got a lot of things
I have to do
All these distractions
Our futures coming soon
We're being pulled," I start, eyes on the paper.
"A hundred different directions," Gabriella joins me.
"But whatever happens," I smile at her quickly. "I know I've got you," we sing together.
"You're on my mind
You're in my heart
It doesn't matter where we are
We'll be alright," I wink, making her giggle softly.
"Even if we're miles appparrrt."
You don't have to be a genius to get who the song is for. Kelsi obviously wrote it about her separation with Ryan Evans. If they were trying to be discreet about their 'relationship', all chances of that are blown with this song.
"All I wanna do
Is be with you."
Oops, I was supposed to sing along with Gabriella there.
"Be with you
There's nothing we can do
Just wanna be with you
Only you," I get back on track and point at her.
"No matter where life takes us
Nothing can break us apart
You know it's true
I just wanna be with you."
Maybe it's just my imagination, but I could've sworn I saw Gabriella glancing at me at the last line.
"You know how life can be
It changes overnight."
By that point, I don't even need to look at the sheet music anymore. Of course, I keep in my hands, just in case, but, you know, I feel more confident singing while looking at her.
"It's sunny then raining, but it's alright," she chimes in.
"A friend like you
Always makes it easy."
Why is she so darn cute? When she's singing, her smile just lights up the room. She looks like the happiest girl on earth.
"I know that you get me
Every time."
I probably look like a moron right now with this humongus smile on my face. I can't seem to stop though. Her joy is just so contagious. Yes, before my breath would always catch in my throat whenever she was near, but now, it's different. At this exact moment my heart is beating so incredibly fast it's a wonder neither Kelsi nor Gabriella can hear it.
"Through every up, through every down
You know I'll always be around
Through anything you can count on me!"
My hand reaches for hers and as I am staring into her eyes, keeping in rhythm with the music, I realized something.
"All I wanna do
Is be with you
Be with you."
Gabriella's soft small thumb is rubbing against the back of my hand, still looking at me with those sparkling eyes of hers. It is then that I realise before what I felt for her was just infatuation. What I felt for her was just a silly school crush. For years, I thought I was head over heels crazy about that girl. I was wrong.
"There's nothing we can do
Just wanna be with you
Only you
No matter where life takes us
Nothing can break us apart
You know it's true."
I lift our interlaced hands and brought her closer. I gently cup her cheek with my other hand.
"I just wanna be with you."
I had been fooling myself thinking I was in love. I couldn't have been because right now, what I feel for her, is a thousand times more powerful than I've ever felt. I know I'm falling in love with her, hard. And I don't know how in the world I'm ever going to hide it from her.
"I just wanna be with…you," we ended.
-HSM-
Last chapter I got 13 reviews. 13 REVIEWS. This was the biggest amount I've gotten so far so I want to thank everyone for those. They make my day and they give me motivation to write. You guys are awesome!