She unlocked the door and let the two girls run inside the apartment. She picked up some grocery bags from the floor and looked around. Her neighbor's door opened and a man with blond hair approached with clutch bag in his arms. "Oh, hey... Riley." Gabriella greeted before entering the apartment. The man faced her and he had big eyeglasses. "You still have those glasses of yours." Gabriella complimented causing him to chuckle. She put the groceries down again and crossed her arms.
"For reading." Riley said, nodding his head. She can say he was nervous. "Yeah, that's the use of glasses, right?" Gabriella said and she smiled at him, also nodding her head, "So, I'll see you later, Riley." Gabriella added and picked the paper bag again and entered the house.
"Yeah, nice to see you again, Gabriella." Riley said and left the apartment.
Gabriella puts the groceries in the kitchen counter and called out the twins' names. "Mags? Emi?" Gabriella called and left the groceries in the counter. She walked out of the kitchen in real silence. She walked up the stairs and continued to call out their names.
She opened their bedroom door and found something that made her smiled. They are totally asleep in each of their beds. They have changed their clothes in normal house clothes and now, sleeping in each of their beds. She got inside to kiss their forehead and its Maggie's turn when she whimper a little bit.
"I'm sorry; I just haven't given you the most thing you really needed. A good father." Gabriella said and another tear let out from her cheeks. It landed on the blanket of Maggie. She wiped the trace of the tears and smiled. She got up from the bed and walked out of the door.
She silently whimpers when she saw Nana Rose walking in the corridor. "Nana Rose?" Gabriella asked as the old woman look something in her bag. "Oh, I thought I was earlier." The old woman said, lowering her purse. You can ask why the old woman had expensive purse, the woman is just 50 and above years old. She's not as old as you think. She can buy things she wanted and enjoy being young again. Just consider.
"Uh, that's what I thought earlier." Gabriella said and forced a fake smile, "Well something bad happened at school." Gabriella added and walked down the stairs. Nana Rose puts the purse above the wooden desk with a flower vase above. She followed Gabriella downstairs who went straight in the kitchen. "What happened?" Nana Rose asked worriedly.
"Uh, you don't wanna know." Gabriella said and unpacked the groceries from the bags. She puts the unpacked things in the cabinet and its designated places. "Try me, I wanna help you." Nana Rose said, trying to convince Gabriella.
"That's the point… you always help me." Gabriella said and stopped putting the things in the cabinet. She turned around to see the old woman standing near the counter. "Maybe… I could just forget about it." Gabriella said, another tear let out and she wiped it again. She's really tired of crying and she still can't control it. Her life was so emotional all through four years.
"Just, please. I want to be a perfect mother for you." Nana Rose said as she steps forward to Gabriella. Gabriella looks up in depression and frustration. "Thanks." Gabriella said and she smiled reluctantly. She gave a little sniffle and the old woman let out a giggle.
"Now, what happened?" Nana Rose asked.
"He found me…" Gabriella said, "I know, that Troy found me last night but I didn't expect that he'll be the visitor in South Miami High. It was unexpected." She added.
"Golly, G… Do you ever think of going back?" Nana Rose asked.
"No one is coming back. Neither do I." Gabriella answered, looking down at the tile floor. "But he still needed to see his kids." Nana Rose said.
"What I just don't believe is he told me that he broke up with me because of my father. I just… don't get it." Gabriella explained.
"Maybe it's one other truth. That he didn't mean to leave you because he had to make choices." Nana Rose advised. Gabriella was feeling a little confuse. Maybe he's right. Maybe he was really forced for something. But what was the something because he promised her that he won't leave whatever happens? That promise was so broken into billion of pieces.
"I don't know. It's just… hard to forgive again." Gabriella replied after she was thought for a few long minutes. "But are you willing to forgive… him?" Nana Rose asked and it froze Gabriella. She wasn't ready for that question but is she, though? For all the time that he wasn't there in her side, her life was like hell. It was so much complicated living on your own and trying to survive with twins with no other company.
Gabriella continued cooking their dinner as the twins watch TV and Nana Rose was cutting some other ingredients. It was already seven in the evening. She had enough time to forget all about the happenings that day. Only the old woman and her know about Troy. Means, the kids have no idea what happened at school.
Ding dong…
"I'll get it," Nana Rose offered and walked out of the dainty kitchen. Gabriella let out a little giggle as she heard Emi's voice offer to open the door but was refused by the old woman.
With the old woman, she turned into the straight corner going to the main door. She wiped her hand with her apron and twisted the golden doorknob of the wooden. She pulled the door open and found a man in his nearly thirties with piercing blue eyes and dirty blond hair. He was standing at exactly 5"10 ½. Nana Rose can exactly remember this man. It was the man that drives Gabriella just last night.
Troy Bolton.
"Uh hi," Troy greeted as he puts his hand deeper in his pockets. He curved his lips a little and the old woman greeted back. "Is… Gabriella Montez living here?" Troy asked politely.
"Yes, she's in the kitchen, making some dinner. I'll call her if you want." Nana Rose said.
"Please, I really need to apologize to her." Troy said, with some tone of begging and convincing.
"Yeah, she told me a few hours ago. I'm your guessing you're Troy." Nana Rose said and he nodded, "I'm Rose, Gabriella's foster parent. I found her in the prison for being found lying in the beach unconscious." Nana Rose said.
"Well, thank you so much for taking her in safety." Troy said.
"No problem. Well, I'll call her, okay? Can you wait here or go inside?" Nana Rose said.
"No thanks… I'm guessing she'll be even madder if I came inside her house." Troy joked causing the old woman to chuckle a bit. He returned a flash of wonderful smile on the woman. Nana Rose came back in and slightly closed the door. She walked down the hallway again and straight to the kitchen.
"Someone's looking for you," Nana Rose stated and Gabriella searched for an answer, "A man with blue eyes and brown hair." She added.
"Don't tell me it's him." Gabriella said, nervously. Heart beats faster than ever, again. "Yes." Nana Rose said and continued to chop the onions. Gabriella sighed and said, "Tell him to go away." She said and focused on the frying pan.
"Please, Gabriella. You need to talk to him—," Nana Rose and was cut off but her scoffing tone.
"There is no more to talk about. We're all over." Gabriella said.
"Yes, there is. He wanted to make an apology. And he's a nice guy." Nana Rose.
"How did you know he's a nice guy? You're not the one that fell in love with his fucking trap and had sex with him." Gabriella said raising her voice.
"Lower your voice and watch your language, young lady." Nana Rose scolded.
"Puh-lease, Nana Rose. If you can't shove him off from our house, just let him stand there all night." Gabriella said.
"Gabriella, you still have to talk to him at least. Try to listen to him and keep your nerves down. I know I didn't fell in love with him but I can feel that he didn't mean to break up with you. I can see it in his eyes. He's still in loved with you. He wouldn't look for you all over the world if he doesn't love you. He's not gonna spend his time in looking for you if he doesn't love you. In anyway, he still does. You just can't accept the fact." Nana Rose pointed out.
Gabriella sighed heavily as she heard all of it. Nana Rose was right. There is nothing wrong if she tried to talk to him and listen to his excuses, again. She turned the stove off and prepared the food. She left the bowl of dish in the counter and washed her hands.
She walked pass the living room and saw the kids watching Hannah Montana on TV. She turned to the straight hallway and to the front door. She extended her hand to touch the doorknob but she stopped, thinking if it was such a good a idea. Maybe she could try. She wouldn't know if she didn't at least try.
She opened the door and found him facing backwards. He still looks the same. "Uh, ahem." Gabriella said as if trying to catch his attention. He turned around and blue eyes met her dark eyes. "Hey," he said nervously.
"What are you doing here?" Gabriella asked in her calmest voice.
"I'm here to apologize. For the events at the school and for all the things I have done to you." Troy started.
"Well, Troy… it isn't easy as you think. It's so complicated. All my life had like hell without you here, guiding me. I don't know what else to do. I just look at our kids and I can see you in them." Gabriella explained.
"I know it's complicated. At least you can forgive me and we'll still be friends." Troy said.
"Uh, Troy. You don't know how I miss you so much. How I cried every night wishing you were here by my side. I missed you, so much." Gabriella said.
"I know what you meant and I'm not expecting you to come with me in New York. And I don't also expect that you would let me be a father to my kids for even months." Troy explained.
"It's like a convincing type of statement." Gabriella giggled and Troy chuckled at her compliment. "But maybe, I could at least forgive you and be a father to the twins." Gabriella said and his face enlightened. It was the most wonderful thing he had ever heard in that day.
"Really? You would do that?" Troy asked.
"Of course, for you. I'm not that sarcastic anymore. I've change. I've learned everything I need to learn." Gabriella answered.
"Thank you so much, Gabriella." Troy said with a smile on his face.
"Okay, maybe since tomorrow is Saturday, I could take the kids in a restaurant and meet us there." Gabriella said.
"What restaurant? What time?" Troy asked.
"Uh, lunch… at the Italian restaurant in 5th North Drive. It's name is Fiasco." Gabriella said, politely.
"Thanks again, for all. For forgiving me and for tomorrow." Troy said.
"Don't thank me yet for tomorrow. Well, good night, Troy." Gabriella said and held the edge of the door.
"Good night, Brie." He called her again as Brie and in surprise, she blushed. She missed how he calls her that name. It was like a addictive song playing in her mind.
It's finally finished. Now, do like the forgiving scene? Is it too long? I mean, have I been that fast to forgive? Maybe hearts just know the answer. So cheesy! Wow, my reviews, please don't you forget that... Haha. Now, goodbye and much love from me.