This was it. He was going to tell Gabriella today. He guessed he'd have to go to his parents' house. Of course he wouldn't tell them why him and Gabriella had split up. The thought of going back to his parents made this whole thing feel so real and he was absolutely terrified.
"Hey baby." Gabriella smiled as Troy came through the door. He felt rough after a horrendous practice with the team. He came home early, in fact, because he was absolutely no use to anyone.
Troy's jaw was shaking, making his teeth clatter together. He was nervous, scared, upset, reluctant… everything. He considered not telling her - and a slight relief waved over him. But… not quite enough. The sooner this was out of the way, the better.
"Gabriella, can we have a chat?"
"Of course, what's on your mind?"
Troy took Gabriella's hand, and led her into the living room, and onto the couch.
"Gabs, baby…. You do know, right, that I love you - I love you with all my heart, I can't get enough of you…" Troy fought back the tears. "I couldn't love you any more than I do."
"Yeah, I'm a lucky girl." Gabriella whispered with a frown, already trying to fight back the tears. "Troy, what's the…" Gabriella clenched her eyes shut. "What's going on?"
Gabriella was feeling emotions that she didn't even know how to describe. She wasn't sure where this was going - a speech that starts like that was either gonna have a really great or a really horrible ending. And judging from Troy's face, it wasn't good.
"Just recently, I've been going through some stuff. It's been really difficult, I've been confused about some stuff but I've come out the other side and I know myself a little better." Troy gulped. "And you deserve to know me a little better too." he clenched his eyes shut.
"Troy…" Gabriella whimpered through the tears now flowing down her face. "What is it?"
Troy's eyes were still clenched shut, but now with tears seeping through.
"I love you." He sobbed. "But you have to know what I am."
"What you are?" Gabriella sobbed back. "Just tell me Troy, you've gotta tell me!" Gabriella frantically squealed.
"Gab, I'm gay."
Troy let go, and sobbed uncontrollably into his hands.
"I am so sorry." Troy managed to say through the tears. He glanced up at Gabriella.
She wasn't crying, sobbing, she wasn't doing anything. She was frozen, her glazed-over eyes staring painfully at the floor, mouth slightly open. She managed a blink, before starting to shiver.
"Say something." Troy whispered. "Anything. Shout at me. Throw things?"
Gabriella turned her head slightly towards Troy.
"How… how can you be…" Gabriella whimpered. "What about me? You just said…" she let out a big sob. "You love me. We belong together. Everyone says it." She sobbed again, before letting out a little laugh. "Yeah. You're not gay. You can't be."
"Gabriella."
"You can't be!" Gabriella shouted. She brought her hands up to her face and sobbed.
"Gabi, listen to me. You need to listen."
"You can't be gay!" She shouted again. "What about me?" she started to whisper.
"This is hard for me too." He whispered back. He moved closer towards her and moved to put his arms around her.
"Don't touch me, Troy!" Gabriella shouted.
"Gab!" Troy whined, tears flowing down his face. "I know you're hurting but… I still love you. And you love me. I hurt you, please… at least let me comfort you."
Gabriella sobbed and threw her head onto Troy's shoulder. He breathed a sigh of relief and wrapped his arms tightly around her. He started to slightly rock her.
"I know it's hard, but try and calm down. We need to talk properly about this."
About half an hour later, Gabriella had pretty much stopped sobbing. Every now and then, she'd open her mouth to say something, but Troy silenced her.
"Gabi, are you ready to talk?"
She looked up. She nodded.
"I'm gonna go to my parents tonight. I'll go as soon as you want me to, don't worry about that."
Gabriella nodded again.
"Okay, Gabi, I want you to know…" Troy sighed. "I love you and I had to tell you because I don't want to hurt you. I know that sounds stupid now but I've only just realised it myself and I couldn't lead you on anymore. I told you as soon as I could."
"Okay."
Troy sighed.
"I was never unfaithful. I give you my whole hearted promise."
"Did anyone know?"
Troy looked up and nodded.
"Just one person. Ryan. He's been an amazing friend to me all through this, he helped me find my way. And as soon as I called him to tell him I knew I was gay, the first thing he said was you owe it to Gabriella to tell her."
Gabriella started to cry again.
"I'm sorry!"
"Troy." She sobbed. "What am I gonna do without you?! You're like.. a part of me. Even when you're away… I feel like my right arm is missing. Troy, we've been together for our entire adult lives."
"I know. And I don't want to lose you. And I'd like us to be friends when we recover from this. But I won't insult you by asking you to be my friend. Because that's probably the worst thing to ask of you."
Gabriella looked Troy in the eyes.
"Troy. Listen, I'm not mad. I'm devastated, yeah, but just because I love you so much." she started sobbing. "But I know how these things work. I know it's not your fault, and I believe you when you say you love me and didn't want to hurt me. I don't feel deceived, or anything like that… I know you. Like I know myself. Better, in fact. And I know that everything you're saying is the truth."
Troy started sobbing again himself. He squeezed Gabriella's arm.
"You're so awesome!" He laughed through his tears. He pulled her close, and kissed her on the head, and once again on the forehead. She looked up.
"I love you Troy Bolton."
He smiled.
"I love you Gabriella Montez."
She lifted her head up to Troy's sobbing face. She gently pressed her lips against his. He grazed her face with his hand. The two of them stayed connected, sobbing through their kiss. Gabriella broke away, but Troy pulled her back against his lips.
"I am gay." He let out a small laugh. "But I love you. I can't help but want to kiss you all the time."
"Don't worry, Troy." Gabriella sighed. "You're my best friend. That won't change. But I'm gonna need a bit of space. But not yet."
Troy smiled at her. She truly was his soul mate. She understood him so well. He had just broken her heart and she was being so great. He sat up straight on the couch.
"I need some water. You want some?"
"Yes please."
Troy returned with two bottles of water and Gabriella smiled.
"Ain't life a bitch." She sighed.
"You got that right. Just when your life is perfect… something comes and ruins it."
Gabriella took a sip from her bottle, put the lid back on, and put it on the floor. She got up, and sat down on Troy's lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lay her head on his chest.
"Maybe you should stay tonight. If that's okay?"
"Of course, Gabi." Troy smiled, "If that's what you want. Anything for you."
"You hungry? We need to eat dinner. How about I go pick up some Chinese?"
"Are you sure you're up to going out?!" Troy asked.
"I'd rather be busying myself. I need some air anyway."
"Okay."
When Gabriella had cleaned herself up and left to pick up food, Troy sat and stared for a bit. He wasn't too sure what had just happened. Of course, he'd told Gabriella the harsh truth. And she'd freaked out - for all of five minutes. How could she be so calm? He should've gone with her to get the food. But as she had said - she knew him better than anyone, and he knew her too. They genuinely did just love each other that much. She couldn't be mad when she knew inside her that it wasn't his fault.
He flipped open his phone and dialled that number he felt like he was always dialling these days.
"Bolton." Ryan growled down the phone, with a giggle hidden under there somewhere.
"Ry…"
"Troy, are you okay? Oh my god, did you…"
"I told her."
"Is she okay?"
"She's being so amazing. She's taken it really well. She even doesn't want me to leave tonight. I guess she wants the support."
"From you?"
"That's love, I guess."
"Wow. And how are you?"
"I'm… numb. I'm devastated at the amount I just made my best girl cry."
"Troy. This must be so difficult. But this is the start of a whole new era for you."
"Yeah, once me and Gabi get through this."
"Where is she now?"
"Gone to pick up dinner. She insisted."
"Okay. I'm thinking of you, I'll call you tomorrow to check how everything is. Stay strong, okay?"
"Thanks, Ry. Thanks for everything."
-------
After dinner, Gabriella cuddled herself up to Troy.
"So, um…" She choked on her words, causing Troy to wander if she would start crying again. "Is there… someone?"
"Gabi, do you really wanna talk about this?"
"I'd rather know."
"Okay… well… yes and no. I, um… had a crush on Gary. From the Thunderbirds. You and Chad met him."
"Oh. Yeah, I remember." She said, choking on her words even more.
"And, um…" Troy clenched his eyes shut. "I met a guy, a good few weeks ago now. I noticed him in Starbucks. He started talking to me, turned out he was a Thunderbirds fan. Anyway - he said he was gay, and then…." Troy gulped. "We ended up talking for hours. Then we got some pizza."
"Did, um…" Gabriella sniffed. "Did he know you were gay?"
"I didn't know myself. Until probably, that day. Ryan made me do this exercise where I put myself in the mind frame I was gay. So… I'd told this guy I was gay. Then when I realised how comfortable I was in the persona.. That was when I realised it was no persona, and that was me."
"What happened to this guy?"
"I told him I had a girlfriend. He was really nice about it actually. It's kinda awkward though, he still comes to games."
Gabriella was silent for a moment.
"That's the guy you were talking to at the game, and half time."
"You, uh… saw me?"
"Yeah. I did."
Silence once again.
"Are you okay?"
"I might go lie down." Gabriella said, rubbing her head.
"You want me to come?"
She nodded, and took his hand.
"I'm gonna shower." Gabriella sighed once they got upstairs, and walked into the bathroom. Troy took his clothes off, hesitated, and put his boxers back on. He got into bed, and closed his eyes. He'd had a hectic day and laying down felt so good.
He started to doze, and, twenty minutes later, was awoken by a weight on him. He opened his eyes to find Gabriella naked, straddling him.
"Hey, wh…" Troy rubbed his eyes, and expressed on his face a look of confusion. "What are you doing?"
Gabriella stroked her index finger down Troy's cheek.
"What am I gonna do without you, huh?"
"You'll be great. You're an amazing, independent woman. Anyway, you won't be without me."
Gabriella leaned down and kissed Troy. She rolled over and got under the covers.
"I'll miss you, Troy. I know you'll still be my friend. But I'll miss you. Kissing you, touching you, making love…. Being naughty…" She smiled. "Just… being with you."
Troy smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
"This is what I don't get." Troy said quietly with a sigh. "When I look at you… I just wanna kiss you. And touch you. And when we're.. together, all I want to do is please you. But…" Troy shook his head.
"It's okay. You can't live a lie."
"I just feel like…"
"Troy! You don't have to explain yourself. Relax. Please."
Troy smiled and pulled Gabriella against his body. She frowned.
"Troy, why are you wearing your boxers?" She rolled her eyes. "Take them off."
Troy grinned at her and wriggled a bit until he produced his boxers, throwing them somewhere near the laundry bag.
"Troy, this is hard for both of us, but I love you. Things aren't gonna change. Well, obviously it will. But it's still me. This is still me and you."
"Okay."
Troy pulled Gabriella's leg up on top of his, and stroked her thigh.
"How can you be so amazingly cool about this?"
"Because what we have, Troy. It's special. I know what you mean to me, and I know what I mean to you. I'll still spend my life with you in some ways."
"But you understand that sooner or later I'm gonna…"
"I know. To be honest… It will probably be harder then."
Troy sighed and closed his eyes.
"I'm so confused."
"Let's sleep. Things might make more sense in the morning."
Troy smiled without opening his eyes again.
"Oh, and Troy?"
"Mmm?"
"Please don't go to your parents. Stay here until you find somewhere."
"But…"
"No buts."
Is anyone reading this?x