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Chapter 23: Just Might Have To
Gabi sobbed on her shoulder. Letting it all out. It was too much. Too much pain. Too many secrets. Secrets that everyone would know. The solution to Kyle was simple: Tell Troy. He'd kick his ass faster than anything. To protect her. But would he? They weren't talking. Would he still be her hero?
Her tears had stopped. She was thinking. To Cathleen it was clear. "What happened?"
"Kyle Lindsay. He knows. Well not the truth. He's going to spread it." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"As much as I don't approve of violence. Or your choice of a boyfriend." Gabi giggled a little. The first real giggle in a few days now. "He should know about that."
Gabi nodded. Cathleen was right. Troy did need to know about that. "Why don't we go tell him together. They have rehearsal right now correct?" Again Gabi giggled. Only Cathleen Darbus would call basketball practice rehearsal.
The two got up and slowly made their way across the campus. Every so often Cathleen would gently rub Gabi's back, reminding the girl that she was not alone in this. They reached the gym doors. Gabriella hesitated. Her hand on the door, but not moving. Cathleen took charge and opened the door. She led the way in.
Jack Bolton looked up and saw his least favorite person entering the gym. He blew his whistle. "What do you want Darbus?" he was aggravated.
"Not you Bolton. I want your son." Her voice was a 'holier than thou' that made the Wildcats in the stands laugh a little.
"We're busy." Jack's response was curt.
"Well sorry to interrupt your rehearsal or what have you, but this is important. To both you and your son I believe." She turned slightly. Gabriella's hand was still placed on the closed door of the gym. "Excuse me for one moment."
She walked outside. "He's not going to come unless he sees you." She smiled proudly, "They don't like me."
"He's not going to come even if he sees me." Tears streamed down her face at the thought. Troy didn't love her anymore. That was her conclusion. She sighed, but he still didn't like Lindsay and he'd still love a reason to kick his ass. Even if she was the reason. Bravely she pushed the door opened. Darbus followed her inside.
The practice had resumed. Jack thought he'd gotten rid of her. When he saw her bright lime green scarf her rolled his eyes and blew his whistle again. The team groaned. Troy turned around. He was pissed and he was going to voice his emotions to his homeroom and English teacher and get her to fuck off.
Gabriella stood in front of her. Tears sliding down her delicate porcelain features. She looked broken. Devastated. Defeated. Troy was by her side in an instant. All thoughts of the fight forgotten.
"What happened baby? Did someone hurt you?" He ran his hands over her face, her arms, her stomach, looking for a sign of injury. She shook her head slightly, before shoving it forcefully in his chest. Sobs echoed throughout the quiet gym.
Jack walked over to Darbus. He scratched the back of his neck, "Thank you." He knew Cathleen Darbus was somehow taking care of Gabriella. And that meant the world to him.
The team and the Wildcats watched as Troy rocked her. Back and forth. Whispering in her hair. Kissing her temple. Allowing his hands to run up and down her back. Through her hair. Trying in every way, shape, or form to comfort her. She sniffled. "Kyle Lindsay."
Troy tensed. It was visible to everyone. They could see the anger running through his veins. He pulled away. Gabriella whimpered at the loss of contact. "What did Lindsay do to you?" His voice was dangerous. Ready to kill.
Gabriella involuntarily shivered at the possessive look in his eyes. It brought out something primal in her. She suddenly wanted lunge at him and attack his lips. She fought the urge. "He knows. And what he doesn't he's made up." She whimpered. "He's going to spread it all around."
"What?" Troy asked through clenched teeth.
"My past. My dad. The," she stopped. She couldn't say it aloud. Not now. "He knows."
Troy ran his hand through his hair, he pulled her closer to him than before, "I'm not going to let him hurt you. He won't spread it around. I'll take care of it." Gabi clung to him like a lifeline. As if he was the only thing that would keep her heart pumping. "Is that what's been bothering you?"
Gabi tensed. She nodded into his chest, "Yeah, that's it."
She was lying. And he knew it.
The Wildcats sat in the cafeteria. Gabriella wasn't eating. Troy was angrily scanning the room. The basketball team was on high alert. Everyone looking for Kyle Lindsay. He was nowhere to be found. He wasn't stupid. He knew he was being hunted down. And by the one person he didn't want to fuck with.
Troy slammed his fist to the table. Everyone jumped. Gabi looked at him. Fear in her eyes, "Troy." She sighed. She wrapped her arm around his torso and maneuvered herself under his arm. Now she was practically sitting on his lap. "Please. You're scaring me." Her voice was a whimper.
He sighed. Kissing her head he wrapped his arms around her. No one said a word.
"I know you're lying to me. There's more." Only she could hear his voice. His breath tickling her ear.
She shook her head, "No, I'm not." She was trying to not only convince him, but also herself. It wasn't working. She felt him sigh in defeat. His eyes still scanning the cafeteria, looking for his prey.
The end of the day came to a near and there had been no sign of Kyle Lindsay or any of the guys that had been with him when he threatened Gabriella. Gabriella sighed. Troy hadn't let her out of his sight. He hadn't threatened her physically. Just to spill her secret to the world. It wasn't that bad. But then again, with all the pressure, she'd acted like the world was coming to an end.
Math was carrying on at an excruciatingly slow pace. All Gabriella could think about was high-tailing it out of the room. Her mind sidetracked from notes. To doodling. To song-writing. Lyrics flowed out of her. Her pen moving gracefully across the page that was now filling up with beautifully rhythmic words.
I'm five years old it's getting cold I've got my big coat on
I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you I run and run
Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides look now the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home
I don't know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you're not scared of anything at all
Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away
But I know I had the best day with you today
I'm 13 now and don't know how my friends could be so mean
I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys
And we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away
And we talk and window shop till I forgot all their names
I don't know who I'm gonna talk to now at school
But I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay
But I know I had the best day with you today
I have an excellent father
His strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother
Inside and out he's better than I am
I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run
And I had the best days with you
There is a video I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you're talking to me
It's the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarves
Daddy's smart and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world
No I know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
Staying back and watching me shine and I didn't know if you knew
So I'm taking this chance to say that I had the best day with you today
"Miss Montez…" The annoyed voice cut through her beautiful thoughts.
"Hm?" Gabriella looked up.
Mr. Mann was less than thrilled, "That will be a detention. Now please. Do number 43 for the class, if you can."
Gabriella sighed. Closing her notebook and picking up the text she walked to the front of the room. Grabbing the piece of chalk she began to do number 43 with a practiced ease. This class was way too easy for her anyways.
She walked out of the room, but was caught by Mr. Mann. "Miss Montez, Ms. Darbus is running detention today. Report to the theater at 3:15."
Gabriella gave him a radiant smile, "Thank you Mr. Mann." She left the room, leaving a very confused math teacher in her wake. After all who was excited about detention? Especially with Darbus?
"I cannot believe you zoned out like that." Taylor repeated for the thousandth time.
"And got detention." Kelsi added.
"With Darbus." It was Martha.
"Sucks." Chad.
This had been going on all the way to their lockers. And Gabriella didn't seem to care. The bell rang and everyone parted ways. Gabriella walked into the theater to find people working on the set. She walked over to Cathleen and handed her the pink slip.
"You got detention?" Cathleen was shocked.
"I zoned out in math class. I was writing a song." Gabi explained. She wasn't sorry. It was a good song. Almost a 'goodbye' to her mother and father and brother.
"May we hear it?" She asked. Gabi thought for a moment. Finally she nodded, realizing that it didn't matter if people knew she could sing. "Young thespians!" Darbus clapped and got everyone's attention. "Detention is going to work differently today. Everyone stop what you're doing and come sit down. Gabi is going to play a song for us today."
The students looked at each other and quickly gathered around the piano. Music filled the room as did her beautiful voice. When she was finished the students all clapped.
"Do you have another song?" The voice was sweet.
Gabi looked at the girl, "What's your name?"
"Emily." The mousy girl, who reminded her slightly of Kelsi replied.
"Any particular theme?" The girl thought for a moment. She got up and whispered something in Gabi's ear.
Gabi grinned, a full grin and began flipping through the pages in her notebook. She stopped at a particular song and looked it over for a moment. Nodding she began playing, unaware that the theater was filled in the back by certain Wildcats.
You're on the phone with your girlfriend
She's upset, she's going off about something that you said
Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do
I'm in the room it's a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like
And she'll never know your story like I do
But she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been hear the whole time
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see
You belong with me
You belong with me
Walk in the streets with you in your worn out jeans
I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be
Laughing on a park bench thinking to myself, hey isn't this easy
And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I haven't seen it in a while since she brought you down
You say you're fine I know you better than that
Hey what you doing with a girl like that
She wears high heels, I wear sneakers
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why cant' you se
You belong with me
Standing by waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know baby
You belong with me
You belong with me
Oh I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night
I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're about to cry
I know your favorite songs and you tell me about your dreams
I think I know where you belong, I think I know it's with me
Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see
You belong with me
Standing by waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know baby
You belong with me
You belong with me
You belong with me
Have you ever thought just maybe
You belong with me
You belong with me
Again everyone clapped. "We have time for one more if Gabi is up for it…" Cathleen insinuated.
Gabi sighed in mock defeat, "I suppose so…" The truth was she hadn't been this relaxed in a while. A bleach blonde girl stood up and whispered something in Gabi's ear. Gabi nodded and smiled. Flipping once again through the book she came upon another song.
He is sensible and so incredible
And all my single friends are jealous
He says everything I need to hear and it's like
I couldn't ask for anything better
He opens up my door and I get into his car
And he says you look beautiful tonight
And I feel perfectly fine
I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain
And it's 2am and I'm cursing your name
You're so in love that you act insane
And that's the way I loved you
Breakin' down and coming undone
It's a roller coaster kind of rush
And I never knew I could feel that much
And that's the way I loved you
He respects my space
And never makes me wait
And he calls exactly when he says he will
He's close to my mother
Talks business with my father
He's charming and endearing
And I'm comfortable
I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain
And it's 2am and I'm cursing your name
You're so in love that you act insane
And that's the way I loved you
Breakin' down and coming undone
It's a roller coaster kind of rush
And I never knew I could feel that much
And that's they way I loved you
He can't see the smile I'm faking
And my heart's not breaking
Cause I'm not feeling anything at all
And you were wild and crazy
Just so frustrating intoxicating
Complicated, got away by some mistake and now
I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain
It's 2am and I'm cursing your name
I'm so in love that I acted insane
And that's they way I loved you
Breaking down and coming undone
It's a roller coaster kind of rush
And I never knew I could feel that much
And that's the way I loved you oh, oh
And that's the way I loved you oh, oh
Never knew I could feel that much
And that's the way I loved you
Again applause erupted. Once it had died down, Cathleen let everyone go early. Chad was flipping out in the back of the theater at how 'cool' Darbus was being. While everyone else was flipping out over other issues.
"Those songs were lovely Gabi. I didn't know you had a brother."
Gabi sighed and looked away, "He died from cancer when he was eight." She sighed again, "I was 14." Cathleen nodded. Giving the girl a hug the two said their goodbyes, going in separate directions.
"You had a brother." Gabi looked up. Her mocha eyes connecting with Troy's. He looked hurt. She shut her eyes. Willing the pain that she had tucked away so many years ago to go away. The minute the darkness enclosed around her, she was being chased. Her demons wouldn't go away. The skeletons remained in her closet. Her eyes flew open. She looked rattled. Fear playing over every feature of her delicate face. She was pale. Sharpay was at her side.
"Boo?" Sharpay knew what was floating through her mind. She could read her expression. Fear. Nightmares. She refused to let Troy in. He might be her only savior. She might just have to.
Songs: Best Day, You Belong With Me, and The Way I Loved You, by Taylor Swift
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Mollie XOXO