Disclaimer: I don't own HSM or any songs I mention!
Author: Alleycat
Story: Everybody Knows
Growing up is hard. It's a lot harder when you're in love with your best friend and everyone knows it-except her.
Thanks for the response! And I'm so sorry that we're moving on for those of you who wanted to stay with them in 5th grade. I'll think about doing a flashback maybe if you guys really want it…
And onto 7th grade-
When you came to me with your bad dreams and your fears
It was easy to see that you'd been crying
Seems like everywhere you turn catastrophe it reigns
But who really profits from the dying
I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever
I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you in my arms forever
-Ray LaMontagne "Hold You in my Arms"
Chapter 2
Troy was having trouble sleeping.
He stared bleakly at the ceiling and let his thoughts drift. He wasn't surprised when they ended up with the girl sleeping next door. Ever since she walked into his classroom two years ago, he couldn't get her out of his head.
She was now a constant part in his life much to the chagrin of his other best friend Chad. She liked his basketball friends but Chad always had this animosity toward her. If Troy didn't know better, he would think he was jealous.
Well he didn't care either way.
Gabriella was the most amazing person he had ever met in his life. She was so smart and so pretty and obviously out of his league. She didn't make fun of him like the other geniuses she hung out with like Taylor.
He knew he was only good at basketball while she had everything going for her. Regardless of this, she allowed him to be in her life.
In fact, if it wasn't for basketball and her science club they would spend every waking second together.
He wasn't complaining but others certainly were.
Like his parents, who said that the two were a little too close. He ignored their comments because what they thought didn't really matter. He definitely did not tell Gabriella because he was sure she would take it personally and get hurt.
That was the last thing he wanted to do.
He took his duties as a best friend seriously and that meant that nobody was going to hurt his Ella. Not even his own parents.
He sat up and grabbed his prepaid cell phone off the side table before heading out to his balcony. He remembered how much he had to convince his parents that he deserved this bedroom. It took months of begging and pleading for them to agree. He never actually told him why he wanted it so bad.
Gabriella had a balcony too and it was right across from his.
It might have been creepy to want to be this connected to her but he couldn't help it. With Gabriella, he had problems maintaining boundaries.
They would sit on their respective balcony or sometimes he would join her or the other way around. They would sometimes look at the stars.
He looked over at the closed doors and was surprised to see the light on beyond the curtains. He looked at the time (10:30) which was late for her. He debated on calling her when he heard the yelling.
He flinched.
Her parents were going through…something.
She never mentioned anything and he didn't feel it was his place to bring it up. She would talk if she wanted to and plus as a teenage boy, he wasn't all about the feelings.
If she wanted to though, he would.
Before he could think any more about it, he pressed send. She answered quietly a few rings later.
"It's a little late for a phone call," She commented, and he saw her outline sit up.
"I'm outside on the balcony." He paused, unsure of how to proceed. "Is everything okay?"
He was rewarded with silence and he looked at the phone and was surprised to see that the call ended. It took him a few moments to realize that she hung up on him. Then the panic set in.
Did he piss her off?
He hit send again and it went straight to her voice message. He dropped his phone and went to the edge and climbed over before jumping on to the tree. This may have been dangerous but they did it so constantly that it was second nature. He reached her balcony, ready to beg for her forgiveness.
They rarely ever got in to a fight. Sure they argued, but it was never anything serious.
He wasn't sure what he did wrong but he would do anything to make it right again. He knocked on her door and he saw her outline freeze.
"Ella, please open up." He said as loud as he dared through the crack of the door. The yelling continued and he tried not to jump when he heard a crash. It sounded like it was getting bad. "I'm sorry for whatever I did."
She saw her move to the door and he heard the clink of the lock turning. She opened it a crack and greeted him with red rim eyes. "I'm fine."
"No you're not," He corrected, forcing open the door and gathering her in his arms. She resisted for a moment before crumpling. He ran a soothing hand through her hair as she cried.
He hated himself for enjoying this so much. Not the crying part but the hugging. He liked the feel of her body against his. Her arms wrapped around his waist, gripping him like he was the most important thing in her life.
Another crash caused her to jump and she removed her arms from him. "This is so embarrassing," She said hiding her face behind her hand and stepping away.
"What are you talking about?"
"My parents are so loud that I'm sure the whole neighborhood can hear. Then I slobber on you," She laughed bitterly. "How pathetic."
"It's just me," Troy tried to grab her again but she stepped back too fast. "I'm your best friend."
She gave him a look that he didn't understand before sighing loudly. "I should go to bed," Gabriella turned toward the door.
He grabbed her hand to stop her. "Will you be able to sleep with all this noise?"
She sent him a tired smile over her shoulder, "I'll deal with it."
"Do you want to sleep with me?" He blurted.
She froze, just inside the door.
"Not like that," He shouted, his face burning. He heard other guys, older guys, talk about that. "Just in my room, away from the noise."
Honestly, he wouldn't have minded the other meaning not that he knew much about it. He was a male teenager, after all. There weren't there in their relationship yet. He didn't know if they would ever be, that was something he wouldn't allow himself to think about.
She avoided his eyes. "Are you sure I wouldn't be bothering you?"
"Lock your bedroom door," He told her instead. "You can just climb back over in the morning."
She opened her mouth and he held his hand up. "I will not take no for an answer Ella."
She bit her lip and tried not to smile. "You're the greatest person ever."
"Remember that next time I eat off your plate," He called to her when she darted inside. When he reached his room he paused, before trying to make it as presentable as possible. It wouldn't be her first time in his room but it would be the first time at night to sleep.
Somehow it was more serious.
He had just finished making a pallet on the floor when she opened his door. She looked so small that he had to fight not to hold her again. He didn't want to scare her.
"I'll be sleeping on the floor and you take the bed. It'll be like a sleepover," He gestured to the pallet as he locked his bedroom door. "Let me know if you need anything."
She nodded and lay down, looking like she would get swallowed in his large bed. He felt like he should be right next to her but didn't want her to be uncomfortable.
He had been asleep for a while when he awoke to quiet sniffling. Troy got up slowly, cursing his predicament, and climbed into the bed with her. He made sure to keep his distance.
It didn't make a difference because as soon as she noticed him, she threw her arms around his neck and cried. He ran a hand down her back, trying not to notice how thin the t-shirt was or how she wasn't wearing a bra.
He gulped loudly, but she just continued to cry.
She finally quieted down and curled into his side. His heart pounded and he was so scared that she would move and feel his physical reaction.
He was a horrible person but he couldn't help how she affected him. Only when she was asleep could he let out the breath he had been holding.
Poor Troy! He's a little too young to understand his feelings or puberty.
As always, review please and give me the strength to continue…