be sure to RER!

Chapter 22

Previously in the last chapter...

"MOM!" yelled Angie, flipping the burning pancakes onto the plate and putting it on the counter, then grabbed the fire extinguisher that was under the sink in the kitchen for emergencies like this.

TGTGTG

"Oh, crap!" Gabriella yelled, unplugging the griddle and moved out of the way when Angie came around her with the fire extinguisher and sprayed white foam all over the place. Gabriella looked at the mess and then at her self in the side of a reflective toaster, she felt tears prick her eyes, "I-I can't do pancakes!" she sank down to the floor and leaned against the cubbard. Angie, coughed and put the fire extinguisher down on the counter and sat next to her mother, "Mom, it's okay..." she said, putting her arm around her shaking shoulders. She sniffled, "Really?"

"Yeah, I mean, we all can't be great at everything...and you're just not great at cooking." she said, attempting to comfort her.

"Thanks, Ang." Gabriella laughed, "I feel so much better..." insert sarcasm. But, Angie didn't notice the sarcasm, she smiled cheekily and said, "Great, now why don't you get dressed and I'll go wake dad up!" She pushed herself up off the kitchen floor and skipped to the living room-which was still a mess from her and Troy's pizza party the night before.

Gabriella sat for a moment, what just happened? she thought. Shaking her head, she pushed herself up and walked through the double doors of her bedroom, and then to her closet. Like she thought when she first came home last night to Angie and Troy, it was to be very interesting.

# # # # # # # #

"Dad, wake up!" Angie said, shaking his shoulder roughly. She only got a hand slapped to her face as a response. So, she tried to shake him harder, "DAD! WAKE UP!" no response-well, unless you count as even louder snoring and grumbling incoherently in his sleep a response, then yes she got one. She blew a puff of breath out, causing her bangs to blow up like a wind was tossing them. "If you are not going to wake up this way...then...hm..." then an evil smirk creeped its way onto her face, and she got a glint her eyes; she knew what would wake him up. She just needed a bucket, ice cubes, and cold water; a bowl-preferably a deep bowl-would work nicely. She went to the kitchen, and clanged around the pots and pans until she found a really deep dutch oven (A/N: it's a pot) and then she filled up water, then she put ice cubes in it. She walked out of the kitchen carrying it in both hands, trying so hard not to spill. She knew if she did, that her mom would either ground her for a month or at least maim her enough so she couldn't walk. She gulped loudly.

She put the pot down by Troy's shoulder and bent down so she was at his ear, "Dad..." she said sweetly, "dad, wake up...don't make me get the water bucket." he stirred, but that's about it. "Okay then, you have made me use force," she stood up, picked up the pot and poured the ice water all over him. But, that wasn't what was funny; what was funny was Troy's reaction to the whole thing.

He shot up, causing the now wet blanket to fall onto his lap. He was soaking wet and cold. "what the hell?" he exclaimed, pushing himself off the floor. He looked at Angie, who he thought- no, who he knew poured water on him; she was still holding the pot. "What was that for, Angelina!" he put his hands on his hips and glared at her; awaiting her answer.

"Well-" she was laughing, "I told my mom that I would get you up, but you sleep like the dead, so I thought that I would wake you up the best way that I could think of." she burst out laughing, again.

"So, you thought it would funny to dump ice water on me?" he said sternly.

She stopped laughing and feigned deep thought, after a moment she said, "Yep, pretty much."

"Why?"

"Cause it is funny!" she laughed again. She was almost doubled over from laughing so hard.

"Angie, what's so funny-oh my god! Troy! What happened to you!" Gabriella exclaimed, walking out of the room fully dressed and her mouth gaping like a fish. Troy hung his head as he let out an exasperated sigh, he put his hand to his forehead and rubbed it. It was silent a few seconds-well, other than Angies incessant laughter. Finally he spoke, "why don't you ask our daughter..."

Gabriella looked at Angie who had stopped laughing and had on her best pout, "What'd I do momma?" she asked, batting her lashes.

"That's what I would like to know, Angie, why is your father soaking wet and; what in the world-" she was interrupted when a screamo ringtone bursted in. She looked at Troy confusedly and vice versa; since when did Angie like screamo music?

"Oh, sorry, guys; but, this is important," she said, looking at the ID screen. "I have to take this...Hello?" she walked out of the living room, tossing the dutch-oven on the couch and walked outside talking to whoever it was that had called. Troy and Gabriella were left in the silence, and it was starting to feel very awkward, very fast.

Troy cleared his throat, "nice to see you, Brie." she stiffened. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to call her that, of course there was a small part that liked it; his voice mostly. But she just wasn't sure, "I bet you're wondering why I am here..."

She turned to him, with her brows raised, and she spoke incredulously "Yes, that would be nice. Please, explain. Because the last thing I remember was me and my daughter left you in San Diego with your whore of a fiance!" she didn't mean to sound like she did, but what was she supposed to do? Welcome him and say 'Gee, Troy, I forgive you for blowing up at Angie like you did; that totally makes up for everything you did'. Yeah, Gabriella didn't think so.

Troy groaned and rolled his eyes, "I take it you are still mad at me for screaming at her..."

"No."

"You're not?" he said, a small, hopeful smile tugging at his lips.

"No." she repeated.

"So, I'm forgiven...?" Please oh, please, oh please! he silently prayed.

She took a deep breath, but didn't answer. She didn't know how to answer that question. It's not like she didn't want to, it's just that she didn't know how and she wasn't sure if she should or not. So, she did what she normally did; she looked down at the floor and pushed passed him. But, he caught her arm. He wasn't letting her go again so easily."Brie, I'm forgiven, right?"

"No...Yes...I don't know Troy...I don't know." to her dismay, her voice cracked, and she felt her throat go dry and hot tears run down her cheeks. Troy pulled her into his chest and stroked her hair, he always hated seeing her upset or crying. He felt his heartbreak in two every time he saw her this way. "Brie, it's okay..shh.."

She took deep breaths to regain her composure, and pulled away. "No, it's not Troy. It's not."

"Yes it is."

"No it's not! You're here! And you have a fiance-as much as I don't like her and I wish her to rot in hell-you have a fiance, and then you leave her!..like-like you ...the way you left me.."

"Brie, I-"

"Don't call me that!" she screamed, she picked up the closest thing that she could and threw it at him. It was a stuffed bear, so it couldn't have hurt. "Leave! Go back to your world of paparazzi and fame and fucking every whore that meets you!" She ran pass Troy, and went straight to her room and locked the door. When the door was locked she slid down and brought up her knees and let more tears fall. On the other side, Troy tried knocking and pleading, but it wouldn't open. So, he slid down the door and sat patiently until it opened. He sit there all night if he had to.

XxLaterxXIn the EveningxX

With Angie

"Okay, so there's three slots left open?" she asked, walking back and forth across the patio.

"..."

"That's great. I have to do this tonight...It's for my parents."

"...?"

"Yeah,...I guess you could call it a late New Years present; look its Saturday night and the buses are going to be full-"

"..."

"Okay, Aunt Sharpay that was totally uncalled for!"

"...!"

"I know as many words as you do! I'm just not allowed to say them!"

"..."

Angie grumbled into the phone, and pinched her nose. "Fine, fine. I'll do the 8:30 slot...tonight?"

"..."

"Awesome! See you then, wait what time is it now?"

"..."

"Just tell me!"

"..."

"What? 7:30! I only have an hour and half to get to the shop! Are you kidding me?"

"..."

"Okay, I'm on my way; oh! I need you to please send a car with a fancy-shmancy chauffer driving it, to pick up my parents."

"..."

"Please, aunt Sharpay?"

"..."

"Thanks! I'm on my way! See you there!" She clapped her phone shut and ran down to the nearest bus stop to Sharpay's coffee shop-improvajava- She wants this surprise to be perfect, very perfect. It's something that she's doing for her parents.

Done with Angie

Troy took a deep breath, he had been sitting in front of this door all day. All fricking day, and Gabriella still hadn't opened it. Well, he could tell that waiting wasn't going to get him anywhere, so, he did what he could think of and he just started talking. "You know, I left Celine. I actually realized what a bitch she was; And she actually blew up at me a day after you guys left. heh heh." he took a breath and let it out before continuing. "...she wanted me to choose between her and you two. I didn't even think when I said 'them'...I just kind of knew that it was right..." click. "Gabriella?" he wondered, standing slightly (kind of looked like he was kneeling...) then the door opened a crack.

"Y-you chose...us?" her voice was thick with tears and her cheeks were shiny from the tears that had fallen. Troy nodded, "I chose you. Gabriella, I chose you."

She shut her eyes and opened the door wider, just enough for him to poke his head through. "Why would you do that?" she asked.

"What do you mean? why would I-"

"Why would you leave your fiance for me?"

"Because..." he took a deep breath, "I love you Gabriella...I love you."

She felt her breath hitch and get caught in her throat, she opened the door all the way and he walked in. "w-what?"

"I love you..." he said, closing the space between them and putting his hand on her cheek and wiping away the tear stains on them. "I love you, Brie." he leaned down and touched his lips to hers and wrapped his arms around her waist, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She missed the very taste of him. Unfotunately, they were broken apart when a knock on the door sounded.

"I should answer that..." Gabriella whispered, walking slowly out of her bedroom. Her apartment felt like a foreign place to her. "Yes?" she said when she opened the door.

"I am here to pick up Ms. Montez and Mr. Bolton." the man said.

"That's us..."

The man nodded his head, and said, "Follow me then." He walked to the shiny black volvo and opened the back doors. "You are needed somewhere."

They both nodded, and got into the volvo. The man drove them to their destination.

Sorry if it is rushed slightly toward the end there, i was being kicked off. any way, enjoy and Angie's surprise will be revealed in the next chapter.

what do you think of this one? dramatic? that's just what i was going for! any way be sure to RER!