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.

A lot of you guys are getting annoyed at Gabriella for not realizing Troy's feelings lol! This chapter also features more of Momma Bolton just because i love her so much! And Troy was too depressing to stay with the entire chapter!

Dedication to kaybaby1127 for being an observational reader!

You do something to me that I can't explain
So would I be out of line if I said
I miss you?

I see your picture
I smell your skin on the empty pillow next to mine

You have only been gone ten days
But already I'm wasting away

I know I'll see you again
Whether far or soon

But I need you to know that I care
And I miss you

~ Incubus, "I miss you"

Chapter 6

"Welcome home!" Lucille greeted, raising her arms for a hug.

Troy barely glanced at her before trudging up the stairs to his room. He dropped his bags and took the four steps to his bed and fell. He was asleep within seconds.

Sharing a bed with Chad was bad enough but ever since the nondate date fiasco, he had trouble adjusting his sleep properly. He spent part of the nighttime thinking about her and the other time hating how obsessed he was.

He didn't like feeling like he did.

When he woke up at four o'clock the next morning, he felt well rested for the first time in a couple of days. He sat up and looked around his dark room. He changed out of his jeans, hating the stiffness that accompanies sleeping in them.

Her closed balcony doors bothered him so much that after putting on shorts, he went downstairs.

The house looked exactly as it did when he left so he headed straight to the refrigerator. There was a foil covered plate with his name on it. He grabbed it and sent a mental thanks up to the second floor.

After he was done, he felt a little lost. He wanted to get home so bad but it was two days too late. Before he could question it, he grabbed his cell phone and went to his room.

It went straight to voicemail. After the third call (he didn't leave a voicemail), he decided to play some xbox. He didn't want to talk to his friends because after a week of them, he was sick of them.

He lasted until 7 before quitting the game. His head was starting to hurt and his vision was waning. Plus, he spent the whole time thinking about Gabriella and died enough to feel embarrassed.

He was glad Chad wasn't there. He would so make fun of him.

He laid down again but couldn't fall asleep. He began to feel claustrophobic and went on his balcony. He remembered the first time he joined her on her balcony. She was screaming hysterically and he was surprised she didn't get the cops called on them.

"Don't sit there," She cried. "Why can't you just take the long way?"

"What's the point of having balconies like this if it doesn't provide a secret shortcut?" He asked, sitting on the ledge.

"Troy," Ella whined, tears starting to stream down her face.

It was then he realized he had taken it too far. She was really afraid for him and he had disregarded her fears.

"Fine," He told her and climbed back over.

Her shoulders stopped shaking and she sniffled. "T-thank you. I would like you to be able to visit but not at your expense."

He had been willing to give up when he thought she was just scared. Knowing that she wanted him next to her like he wanted her was enough to propel him across the ledge and into the tree. He was next to her in less than a minute. She gaped at him before pushing him.

"You did that on purpose," She scolded but then hugged him tightly. "I was so worried."

He placed a kiss on her head and let the smell of strawberries surround him.

He was on her balcony before he finished the memory. Though he was sure they were locked (Ella was all about safety), he tried the doors.

It was unlocked!

He pushed it open and the scent of strawberries was so strong it made him dizzy. He had been in her room more times than he could count but every time he came in it, he liked it more. When Ella was younger, her mom would dress her in light colors and frills. He would listen to her complain about how idiotic she looked even though he thought she looked amazing. She hated it so much that he remembered how excited she was to get to decorate her own room.

He could remember her mom's reaction to the purples, reds, and oranges. The green iron bed had rust stains, the blankets looked old, and the furniture didn't match. She had pictures of foreign places she wanted to visit and there were books everywhere.

Ella called it "boho chic" and her mom called it horrible.

She screeched and demanded her to get rid of it all but Ella refused. Her mom eventually gave up and truly let her decorate how she wanted. He loved how different her room was, it fit her exactly.

He was so busy in his musings that it took him a full five minutes to notice the envelope on one of her numerous pillows. It had his name on it in her elegant script.

Blue eyes, July 25, 2011

I feel like I should lecture you on trespassing but obviously I knew it would happen otherwise I could have left this note for Lucille or just locked my doors (I doubt that would have stopped you though).

How was your trip? I hope you enjoyed it even though I wish you could have come with me instead. Is that selfish? I feel like it is so that is why I didn't allow you to leave early. Also, I did not want to give your friends another reason to hate me. Chad doesn't need any provocation.

I must admit that I have been a little unclear on my trip on purpose. I didn't want you to do anything crazy once I told you I won't be able to use my cell phone. It's a two week cruise around the Caribbean. It departs from Tampa where my father and his girlfriend live. You remember how upset I was when he told me about Sandra? I think this trip is a ploy to get us to bond. I wouldn't hold my breath.

I know you're most likely freaking about the lack of communication and I agree. It's going to be weird not talking you every day. The ship has WIFI but it's outrageous ($50 for an hour!) so I can't use it. I did some research and on some of the islands they have internet cafes so I will email you as much as possible. The only email address I remember was the one from middle school (wildcatzsupaSTAR14 ) so I hope you still use that one. Mine is gmontez in case yours is no longer correct.

Please check your email,

Gabriella

P.S. I'll miss you

He stared at it for a moment before rushing back to his balcony, room, and finally his computer. He cursed the slow computer as it loaded and logged into his email.

Incorrect username or password flashed in red.

He cursed and tried another combination. He finally gave up and hit the forgot your password? link. It asked him random questions that took him forever to remember. He was half convinced that the answers were wrong when it pulled up his mailbox.

He had 2,000 messages. Well that's what I get for never checking my messages, Troy thought. He cringed but brightened when he saw two recent ones from gmontez. He opened the older one first.

Hey Troy,

We made it to Tampa! We have two days before we board the cruise. You probably won't get this email before we leave but I wanted to tell you I made it safely. The plane ride was awful and Taylor would not stop complaining but I'm glad to see my dad. Not much has happened so far and we're about to get a late dinner, so I have to go.

love,

Gabriella

He stared at the word love, wondering if she had ever used that in her letters or emails. He couldn't remember her ever using that particular closing because he felt like he would definitely notice. While she could possibly mean love in the platonic sense, he refused to even acknowledge that possibility.

It was with a smile he opened the next email.

Troy,

We are waiting to leave my dad's house to go to onto the cruise. I must admit I am a little nervous. I have never been on cruise or on the ocean really beyond that one time with your family. I hope I do not get sick because that would really ruin the experience. Taylor has been making an itinerary for when we port. It's not as annoying as it sounds especially when she has been researching which cafes' have internet. The more I can email you the happier I will be.

love,

Gabriella

Troy leaned back on her bed and looked around. Over the past week, he had taken to hanging out in Ella's bedroom when her mother would leave for work. He would lock the door and snoop.

He looked through all of her photo albums (there was a surprising amount of photos of him!). He supposed that made sense since they had been friends for a long time.

Troy chose to believe there was a deeper, more romantic, reason.

He went through her book shelves and tried to read a couple of the large tomes. They were boring and confusing but he enjoyed her pretty handwriting in the margins.

He had his phone on him at all times. He learned how to sync his email to his phone so when she sent him an email he would know immediately. He would unlock her door and basically fly to his room.

She sent him such detailed emails that took him a long time to read. It was worth it. He actually felt like he was on the trip with her sometimes.

She would attach pictures and he would save everyone with her in it. They were in a secret file under the name "Scenic Views."

His replies were always short and consisted of questions. He didn't know what to tell her because he had literally done nothing besides miss her since she left.

When he couldn't get to sleep, he would relook at her pictures and think about her. Sometimes he would imagine holding her or playing with her hair but mostly it would consist of kissing and touching her in those bikinis or skimpy clothing. He would lose himself in those fantasies for a while.

"Wow," Jack joked. "I didn't think I would see you until school started."

Troy rolled his eyes at his dad's lame joke. "It has not been that long." He speared a green bean and chomped as he chewed.

"Have you been eating and showering?" Lucille asked half serious. He had been up in his room for over a week. She hadn't seen him eat or use the bathroom but she knew he had to be using it. He didn't smell or look sickly. Just sad and like he hadn't been sleeping well.

He glared at her. "Of course I am."

Lucille hid a smile at her son's temperament. She was just happy to see him out on his own accord. "I was just making sure. You know Gabriella would not want to hang out with you when she came back if you stank."

He softened. "I know you're worried but I'm fine."

Jack scoffed but the other two occupants ignored him and continued eating. It was silent for a few minutes before Troy spoke again.

"Can I borrow your credit card?"

Lucille choked on the piece of steak she was eating. "Not to buy a ticket to the Caribbean!" She told him and he avoided her gaze. He was so busted.

"Come on!" Jack groaned as his fork clattered to the plate. "She'll be home in a week! You'll survive."

"Jack," Lucille admonished. "Your son is in love and he can be dramatic if he wants."

"I am not in love," Troy defended even though he knew it was useless. His arguments didn't even seem convincing to himself anymore. "Can I at least use it to get a movie?"

She watched him for a moment before nodding. "I have to go to the store tomorrow so I'll take you to the one with the Redbox. Do you know if it'll be in that one?"

"I'll check," He agreed and grabbed his empty plate to take it to the kitchen. He kissed his mom on his way back up the stairs. "Thanks mom."

Lucille's eyes watered and Jack chuckled.

"What?" She snapped playfully.

He held his hands up in surrender. "Nothing."

"He's going to marry that girl," She warned him, completely serious.

His eyebrows rose. "Isn't he a little young?"

"You don't see the way he looks at her," She argued, taking a sip of her wine thoughtfully. "Nobody exists except her."

"It's just hormones," Jack reasoned. "All guys look at attractive girls like that."

"Maybe," She agreed. "But not every guy gets that depressed when an attractive girl goes away for a little bit."

"Okay, so maybe he's infatuated," He shrugged. "That doesn't mean forever especially not to teenagers."

"Oh Jack," She sighed condescendingly and stood. "If that was true, why has he never even hung out with another girl without her?"

Jack frowned, realizing his wife was right. He followed her into the kitchen with his own plate and set it next to hers. He gathered her in his arms. "This is not healthy."

"No," She agreed, leaning back. "But the fact it's mutual will help."

He rested his head against hers. "How can you be so sure?"

"Gabriella is smart and she'd have to be idiot not to love our son."

Lucille knocked the next afternoon on Troy's door. Like the new usual, she hadn't seen him all morning so she was more than a little surprised when he opened the door immediately, smiling widely.

"You look happy," She commented on the drive over. He was typing furiously on his phone.

"Yeah, Ella sent me an email this morning." He paused. "She said she really misses me."

He was glowing and she could swear his eyes were actually brighter.

Nothing else was said on the drive over.

"I'm going to go get some groceries so if you can't find me then call," She handed him the debit card to him. She was positive that he could not get a plane ticket from within the grocery store.

She was starting to worry after thirty minutes.

After an hour, she was finished and freaking out. She was walking to the front, near the cashiers, when she called him.

"I'm behind you," He said.

She turned around and there he was. She gaped at him. "W-what happened to your hair?"

He ran a hand through the shortened hair. "I got it cut."

WOW! This boy is cray-cray lol! If you want to figure out what Troy is looking like now I'd say google it and it's a cross between Zac Efron at Charlie St. Cloud Premiere in LA, LA family housing award 2011, Zac Efron Photo (16835536), and MTV movie 2010 awards. I know that's a variety but they're all close to what I want.

Any ideas as to why he got it cut?

Another response like last time and I'll be forced to update soon:

ice, wildcats2016, hisboo13, zanessafaithx, ChasingGhosts, ToTheFullPotential, xojokubauskasx3, dyeitrouge, dolphindreams16, zanessa14, EricN, Porkayla, kaybaby1127, and hopeful extinction.