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
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. And thank you all for the reviews.
Chapter Ten
November 17th, 2009
"Are you sure this is okay?" Gabriella inquires timidly, entering my bedroom.
"Why wouldn't it be? You've been here hundreds of times," I reply closing the door behind her.
"Yeah, but this is not like the other times," she sighs turning on the lights.
"Are we really going there, Gabi? I mean, after our moment at the coffee shop I thought being uncomfortable with each other was out of the question."
After comforting her for almost half an hour, I've convinced her to spend the night at my house.
"Doesn't change the fact we're broken up," she states looking at the picture frame on my night stand.
I watch as a sad expression harbours her features. It is a picture of us from last summer. We were at the baseball field, I was wearing my red hat and she had red ribbons in her hair. Kelsi had taken that photograph. It was maybe two weeks after Gabriella and I started going out. In that particular shot, she was actually giving me a kiss on the cheek. This is my absolute favourite picture.
I'm itching to just bring her in my arms and kiss her endlessly. However I know I can't do that right now. To distract myself I go into my wardrobe and reach to grab a pair of sweat pants she left at my house a while ago.
"I'll go get myself a mattress," I declare after handing her the piece of clothing.
"Wait what?" Gabriella says, her hand grasping my elbow.
"Well, I'm not gonna sleep directly on the floor; it's way too hard and I have basketball practice tomorrow, so yeah."
She's still looking at me with a confused expression.
"You take the bed, I'll be on the floor," I clarify, smiling a little.
"Why can't we sleep in the same bed? We've done it heaps of times before."
"Yeah, but this is not like the other times," I answer softly, repeating what she'd said to me earlier. "I'll be back, take whichever shirt you want to sleep in."
In the past she'd always use one of my shirts and her pair of sweatpants as a pyjama. Usually she would wear my black one with the superman logo on it. She looks absolutely cute in it. As I gather extra bed sheets from the pantry along with an extra pillow, I hear a door creaking open.
"Troy? What are you doing up?"
I jump out of my skin upon hearing my mother's voice. Uh oh. There she is, standing in the doorway of her bedroom, rubbing her tired eyes. She's a very light sleeper my mama; she really is.
"I uh, is it okay if uh, I have a friend sleeping over?" I inquire nervously.
"Is it a girl?" she wonders, crossing her arms.
"Uh yeah. Uh, this is why I'm getting extra sheets actually."
"Is she sleeping on the floor?"
"No, I am."
"Good. I taught you well," she smiles. "And are you dating this girl?"
"No."
Not anymore, that is. She nods, wishes me goodnight and goes back into her room. The reason she didn't tell me to keep the door open is because she knows I wouldn't have sex with another girl than Gabriella. And since she doesn't know it's her sleeping over, she thinks it is harmless. Some may say my mom is too naïve for believing I can have a girl in my bedroom and not doing anything, but actually the truth is, she just trusts me.
-HSM-
The smell of strawberry fills my nostrils. I don't really know why I'm imagining it. Guess it's because Gabriella is sleeping on the bed next to me, but man, the smell is vivid. It's like she's exactly beside me. I don't know if I'm dreaming of if I'm awake, maybe I'm in-between. I feel warm. Very warm. I remember falling asleep on the floor beside my bed just shivering from the cold, so this is a nice change. It's curious, but I guess in my sleep I must have grabbed a random pillow because right now my arms are wrapped around something soft…
Wait a minute. I slowly open my eyes and almost jump in shock when I see Gabriella's dark locks under my nose. My arms are wrapped around her waist and she's fast asleep on my chest. Uh oh. She must have rolled over and fell from the bed on top of me. Crap, if she wakes up tomorrow, she's gonna probably think I took advantage of her or something. Damn it, it could ruin everything.
But damn, I missed having her in my arms. The way our bodies fit perfectly is kind of a pang to the heart. Nevertheless, I unwrap my arms from around her waist.
"Gabi," I whisper. "Hey Gabi, wake up."
She sort of groans and shifts, but doesn't open her eyes.
"Gabriella," I try again, but this time while tapping her on the back lightly.
Her eyes flutter open and I feel bad because she looks so lost.
"Is it morning yet?" Gabriella inquires, in an absolutely adorable way.
"No, it's still night, but uh, I think in your sleep you rolled over and fell on top of me."
Her eyes suddenly widen, realising the position we are in and she instantly scurries away from me. Even if the room is dark, I can tell she is blushing.
"Uh yeah, uh I'm a klutz in my sleep," she mumbles.
"I must've been dead tired 'cause I didn't even feel you falling. Weird because you would think this sort of thing would've waked me up, after all I was the mattress," I joke.
However, she does not respond or even crack a smile. Without a sound she just climbs back into bed. That's unusual.
"Well, I guess you really are light as a feather," I try again.
"I'm the one who laid on top of you," she declares after a moment.
Really?
"Don't think I planned this, because I didn't. But, I saw you barely covered, with goosebumps on your skin and I couldn't bear it. So I kneeled beside you and pulled a blanket on you, but…"
She sorts of pause, a frown on her face.
"But what?" I say, urging her to finish her sentence.
"You still looked cold. You just looked so cold and lonely and I just missed you so much that I," she pauses and takes a deep breath, "lied beside you, rest my head on your pillow and wrapped one arm around your middle, hoping you would get warmer."
"And then, somehow in the middle of the night you got on top of me," I finish gently.
I feel a sort of thrill at the thought she still cares about me that she is willing to sleep by my side so I don't get cold.
"Yeah," she nods. "I know, this is probably not appropriate considering our situation, but uh, sleeping in your arms was probably the best sleep I had in months. Ever since we broke up actually," she declares timidly.
"Is that so?" I ask, making sure. This earns me a nod. "Well, it's still night, better make the most of it. After all we have school tomorrow. So, come here Montez."
"What? Are you serious?" she inquires, baffled. "But isn't that like off-limit?"
"It's just sleeping Gabi. Friends sleep in each other's bed all the time, why should we be any different?"
She only sends me a sad look in response. She's right of course. We're not friends; we're exes and I'm still in love with her.
"Just come here Gabriella," I order, tugging her hand.
She gratefully smiles at me and reverts to her previous position on my chest. I cover our bodies with a blanket and wrap my arms around her.
"This feels like home," I hear her whisper; although I am not sure she's talking to me exactly.
I smile a little at her declaration, agreeing wholesomely and closed my eyes.
November 18th, 2009
"Troy time to wake up and go to…"
I groggily open on eye to see my mom at the entrance of my bedroom, her eyes very wide. I frown a little. Oh right, I have Gabriella in my arms.
"Troy, I thought you said this friend you invited over wasn't your girlfriend," Mom whispers in a neutral tone.
I can tell she's mad.
"It's not what you think," I say in a raspy voice.
As I am about to explain, Gabriella starts to shift in my arms. Damn, did we wake her up? My mom and I remain silent as my girl opens her eyes.
"Good morning," she smiles at me.
"Good morning," my mother interjects behind her, stiffly.
I feel her freeze. She slowly turns her head.
"Oh hey Ms Bolton, I didn't see you there," she says nervously, removing herself from me.
My mom's face softens upon recognizing my ex-girlfriend.
"Gabriella, sweetie. It's so good to see you. Did you have a good night sleep?" she inquires.
"Yes, very good," she nods blushing madly.
"I'm glad you two worked things out. My son really missed you, you know?" she continues.
We awkwardly share a look. My mom looks so happy. How am I supposed to break the news to her without crushing her?
"I uh, I'm glad we did too. I missed him a whole lot," Gabriella replies before I can.
Her tone and the implication of her words break my heart.
For the rest of the morning, Gabriella and I got ready for school, ate breakfast and acted as a couple for my mom's sake. I know it's bad to lie to her like that, but I just don't have the heart to ruin her mood. All my mom wants is for me to be happy, she deserves to live in the fantasy at least for a little while. I'm gonna break it to her eventually though.
"It's weird to take the bus with you," Gabriella declares as we're waiting at the bus stop.
"I'll bet. Riding Sharpay's car obviously makes you think you're too cool to ride the good ol' yellow school bus with us less worthy humans," I say lightly which earns me a playful punch on the arm.
"Shut up," she scoffs mockingly.
As the bus stops in front of us, I playfully pull on Gabriella's backpack just as she was about to get in.
"Hey!" she cries out stumbling backward.
I wink before getting in first. I'm shocked when she hits my butt in response, but try not to make a big deal out of it. After all, we'd just started to get comfortable with each other again.
"Good morning Troy," the bus driver greets me an amused smile on his face.
"Good morning. Is it okay if this little lady rides in our bus?" I inquire.
"Of course, Gabriella is always welcomed here," he smiles.
"Thanks man," I nod making my way to my seat.
I hear Gabriella repeating my words behind me.
"Hi Gabi!"
I chuckle as a perky freshmen's voice wakes a bunch of half asleep students on my bus. I sit down in an available seat near the back and curiously watch as Gabriella waves in response.
"Gabriella whattup?" another guy greets.
"The ceiling," she immediately answers. "It's always the ceiling."
"Look at you, little miss popular," I joke when she finally sits beside me.
"You jelly?" she says playfully cocking an eyebrow at me.
"Oh yah for sure," I nod, not meaning it at all.
"Are you guys back together?" a girl in the seat in front of us asks.
"No, we're just friends," Gabriella replies easily.
"Yep, just friends," I manage to say.
And, hey, I managed to sound convincing. Maybe this friend thing is not going to be so hard after all.
-HSM-
I feel like someone just punched me to my stomach. It feels like someone ripped my guts out just for the sheer pleasure of it. Most of all, I feel betrayed.
"Gabriella?" I manage to croak out.
She hastily steps away from her… whatever that guy is. Thank God for that.
"Who is this?" I question trying hard not to lose it.
She won't look at me. Her arm that was previously around that jerk's middle now hung by her side.
"Uh I think I'll leave you two sort out your shit. See ya later babe," the asshole say making a big show of kissing her square on the lips.
"Who was that Gabriella? Who was that jerk?" I exclaim, heart beating abnormally fast.
"Troy, I'm sorry," she finally speaks up still not looking at me. "I… I didn't want you to find out this way…"
"A little too late don't you think? I mean, that's your new guy right?" I take her silence as a confirmation. "Why do that? We spent the freaking night together Gabi! You told me all those things at the diner about missing me and then you slept in my arms all night. All that time spent together and you never thought of mentioning him?"
I'm angry and hurt. Last night gave me hope. Last night I felt whole for the first time since we broke up.
"I'm sorry. I… I'm trying to get over you. I-I'm trying to make things right," she whimpers, tears falling from her eyes.
"You want to get over me? You really want me out of your life huh? Well congratulation, you succeeded," I declare, turning my back to her.
As I'm making my way through the crowded hallway, I have to bite my cheeks hard to stop myself from crying. A man doesn't cry in public. I can't cry. Especially since I don't want her new bastard of a boyfriend to see how shattered I really am. I faintly hear the warning bell go off, but I don't care. Screw this, there's no way I'm staying here.
I angrily push the doors open and scope the horizon. There's nobody. Good. Not being able to take it anymore I slide against the wall, heads in hand. It's really over. I lost the girl I love.
"It's not what you think, you know," a voice suddenly declares.
I snap my head up only to see Sharpay.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with her and her new boyfriend?"
"Pfft. Gabriella and Kyle? They won't last, trust me. After this summer she's wayyy past dating jerks. Besides she's really not over you."
"Doubt it. I mean she did get together with that guy."
I can't help being bitter.
"You really are love retarded aren't you? Gabriella, she's not dating him 'cause she likes him. She's doing it for you."
"What are you talking about? If she wanted to do me a favour, she would've never even have talked to that jerk."
"I should seriously be paid for the numbers of times I've helped you and Gab's relationship," Sharpay sighs, sitting down beside me. "Do you remember why you guys broke up?"
Of course I do. Does she seriously think I haven't replayed that encounter a billion times? Because I have. Every single time it ends with me convincing her not to do this and she kisses me.
"'Cause she thought she was lowering my self-esteem," I respond.
"Exactly. She thinks that as long as you still think you have a chance with her you'll never think highly of yourself."
"So, this is why she went with him?"
I can't help it, I feel a tiny glimmer of hope.
"Yeah."
"Why did you tell me?"
"'Cause I figured since you really are oblivious to all things girls, you'd never figure out by yourself what you need to do in order to get her back."
"And how's that?"
I'm curious now, I really am.
"The only way you can prove to her that this relationship won't bring you down is if you fight for her."
Huh?
"What? That doesn't even make sense. Why would she expect me to fight for her when she's doing everything she can to discourage me?"
"Because fighting for your love means you believe you're good enough for her. It means you have high enough confidence that you're willing to whisk her away from her guy so she can be with you."
"Why are you helping me?" I inquire.
"Because you're the best boyfriend she ever had. Now, to get back to what I was saying, are you willing to fight for her?"
Without missing a beat I respond:
"I'll do whatever it takes."
I'm not letting her go for the second time.
-HSM-
To be honest, I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter. What did you guys think? Review please.