It was brought to my attention that some of you may perhaps be confused by something. The question was that Gabriella wouldn't let any of her friends- including Troy- call her 'Gabi' because it was her Dad's name for her and therefore it means means a lot to her, so why will she let Davis call her that? Now, after taking a few days and contmeplating that, I realized the real reason. I think it would be that she told Troy because the two of them are close (obviously) and he unknowingly upset her by calling her that. He then went and told the others without her knowing, so they just never even had the chance to call her Gabi. They always called her Gabriella and Troy calls her Brie- he's the only one who has a special nickname for her (except for Chad who calls her Gabs or Gabster).
Now, as to why she lets Davis call her Gabi... who knows? It could be one of those instances where she's tried time and time again to please not call her that, but he just doesn't pick up on it. Let's just say that she finally gave up on asking him to please not call her Gabi.
Chapter 4
As the alarm began to buzz at 6:15 on Saturday morning, Troy quickly reached over to turn it off before it woke up his slumbering girlfriend, knowing that the chances of that happening were very slim. Before climbing out of bed, he leaned over to sneak a peak at Gabriella and smiled when he noticed the serene look that crossed her features, knowing that he had a hand in making that look appear the night before. He pulled his arm out from under her head causing her to roll over and reach for his pillow, pulling it into her body at the loss of contact, and placed a gentle kiss on her smooth cheek before climbing out of bed and walking into the bathroom. As he started the shower and stepped behind the curtain, he couldn't help but think back to the previous night.
After round one, the two snuggled down into the covers of the bed- Troy with his arms wrapped tightly around Gabriella's naked form and Gabriella with her head tucked under his slightly bearded chin- talking about the week apart that lay ahead and how much they would miss each other. This had become almost routine for them whenever he was about to leave for an away game, whether it be merely overnight or for a tournament that would take him away for several days.
"I'm really going to miss you," she told him, speaking quietly into the dim light that the room was basked in, thanks to the small lamp on the bedside table that had been turned on just moments prior.
"You make it sound like I've got some type of terminal disease and am dying. I'm only going to be gone for five days, Brie. I'll be back."
"But what if something happens while you're gone?"
"Like what? Someone trying to break into the apartment? Babe, the gates at the entrance are locked every night. Someone would either need the code or have to call up here so you can let them in. This is one of the best secured complexes in the area. I think that's the only reason our parents approved it."
"No, not that. What if something happens to the plane or something that we can't control?"
"You mean like a towel getting caught in the engine? What are the chances of that happening?" he asked with a smirk, referring to Taylor's mishap with her flight.
"Troy, I'm being serious," she said as she started to turn her back to him so she could snuggle further against his front. "I don't know what it is, but I just…" she said, allowing her voice to trail off.
"Just what?" he prompted, urging her to turn back around so they were facing each other once more. During a conversation such as this, he wanted to be able to look into her eyes and see into her soul.
"It's nothing," she told him as she reached up and cupped his cheek lovingly with her hand, running her thumb over the facial hair that he was growing. "I just want to enjoy this. Us, together, no worries…"
"No worries," he told her as he leaned down to join their mouths once more, encouraging round two to begin.
He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he was certain that something was different in their love making after that conversation. Almost like she was trying to savor it. While it confused him somewhat, he enjoyed it. It wasn't often that her possessive nature came out. Troy pushed the thought from his mind and decided to just take the memory with him and let it be.
He finished his shower within minutes and as he emerged from the bathroom with the towel wrapped around his middle, he noticed Gabriella sitting up in bed, looking down at her folded hands resting in her lap with fascination.
"Babe?" he called, trying to get her attention. She looked up at him and he couldn't help but notice the almost helpless look on her face. "Why don't you go back to sleep?"
"I can't sleep when you're not here. I've not been able to do so this whole season."
"Really?" he asked as he grabbed a shirt from the dresser drawer and pulled it over his head.
"You've gone the whole season not able to sleep when I've got away games? Why haven't you said anything before now?" When she looked up at him with her doe-eyed expression that he loved so much and shrugged her shoulders in answer, he shook his head and chuckled as he pulled his boxer briefs on, removing the towel. "You're going to have a really hard time this week."
"I know! This is the longest I've had to go with hardly any sleep," she said as she sat up with the covers wrapped around her and held her arms up to him like a little girl wanting to be held. He complied with pleasure and crossed the room to gather her small body in his arms. Gabriella first gripped his shirt before placing her hands on both of his cheeks, turning his face to hers to give him a kiss. He couldn't help but notice the longing and distress behind her kiss and- while slightly confused at her change in attitude within the past few hours- responded in a way that he hoped would appease her until he got back from Georgia. Finally, he reluctantly pulled back and studied her face.
"Gabriella, Sweetheart, it's just a few days. This is no big deal. We've done this before. And you've even got Tay here with you this time. What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
She attempted to push her doubts from her mind for the time being and merely shrugged it off knowing he should be right. "I don't know. It's nothing. I just know I'm gonna miss you." Their eyes met and she smiled, hoping to set his mind at ease, before changing the subject. "You better hurry and finish getting ready. I'll help get your stuff together." She climbed out of the bed and picked the button up shirt he'd worn to the party the night before off the floor and put it on, moving to the closet.
About twenty minutes later, his duffle bag was packed and he was ready to leave. The young couple moved to the door for their official good-bye, careful not to wake their house guest in the next bedroom. As they stood in front of the door, Gabriella stood on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close for a tight hug. Troy retaliated and held her just as tight before she let out a gentle sigh. Feeling her breath against his neck, he pulled back and gave her a soft kiss. She pulled back after a moment and opened the door.
"Go. You can't be late. We can't have the coach mad at you," she instructed him.
He put a finger under her chin, causing her to lift her face and look him in the eyes. "When I get back I want a night just like last night, okay?" he told her with a coy look on his face.
She lowered her eyes and blushed, returning his grin. "Promise," she told him as she nibbled on her lower lip, meeting his eyes once more.
"Promise is a really big word, Gabriella," he told her, repeating her words to him from years before. "And this is one I'm planning to hold you to," he whispered into her ear before taking her earlobe in his mouth and nipping gently.
"Hold me to it anytime, Wildcat," she told him as she gripped tighter to his t-shirt, reveling in the feel of his lips on any part of her body. "I love you."
"Love you too, Baby. Have fun with Taylor." He leaned down and gave her one more kiss before he turned and walked through the breezeway towards the stairs of their building.
Once he disappeared from her sight, Gabriella closed the door and leaned with her back against it, trying to hold back the few tears that had gathered in her eyes. "Hold me to it, Wildcat. Please."
Not knowing what was causing the feeling of unease, Gabriella made her way to the couch and pulled the blanket down from the back of it, covering herself with it as she laid down. She laid there alone in the silence trying to fall back asleep before deciding that it was useless.
Who am I kidding? There's no hope in me falling back asleep now. Coffee…
She stood up from the couch and padded barefoot into the kitchen, starting the dark liquid that had become an obsession of hers- morning, noon, and night. As she fixed a cup and took her first sip, she made her way back into the living room and decided to put a movie into the DVD player to kill the time until Taylor woke up, which she was expecting to be several more hours given the jet lag that Taylor was more than likely experiencing. Finally deciding on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, she sat back down on the couch and wrapped the blanket back around her body, allowing herself to get lost in the world of C.S. Lewis.
About three quarters of the way through the movie, Gabriella felt a presence in the chair next to the couch. Turning her head, she saw that Taylor had woken and moved from the bedroom into the living room. Taylor turned to take in Gabriella's face and noticed the dullness in her usually lively eyes. She gave her hostess a small smile and turned her attention back to the movie. When it was over, Gabriella spoke first.
"I figured you'd still be asleep."
"Aslan woke me up. Besides, my body says it's almost noon."
"Time change," Gabriella said with a 'well duh' tone. "Forgot about that. Sorry if the movie was too loud."
"It's okay," Taylor told her before changing the subject. "Why the tears?" she asked.
"What tears?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Montez. I know you and I know when you've been crying. What's up, other than Troy being gone?"
Gabriella merely shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, I just… for some strange reason, I don't have a great feeling about this particular trip."
"What do you mean? Are you afraid something might happen to the plane and we'll have a repeat of Marshall University?"
Gabriella turned her stare to Taylor with wide eyes. "Well, I wasn't until now!" she exclaimed, trying hard to fight back a fresh batch of tears. "Thanks, Tay!"
"I'm sorry!" Taylor was quick to apologize. She got up from the chair and moved to sit on the couch next to Gabriella, wrapping her arms around her friend. "I didn't mean to upset you again!" The two girls just sat there in silence for a few minutes, listening to the ticking of the clock that hung on the wall and Gabriella's occasional sniffling.
"Sweetie, are you okay?" Taylor asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I guess I'm fine. I don't know, Tay. I'm just being silly I guess."
Taylor reached her hand up to swipe a finger under Gabriella's left eye before she leaned over to grab the box of tissues that sat on the nearby coffee table. "What's wrong? Why the tears?" she asked a second time.
"I don't know," Gabriella repeated. "I mean, we've been separated before. He's had overnight away games. He's even had away games where he's been gone for several days. I mean, Berkeley has competed in the March Madness every year we've been here." The girls shared a look and an eye roll at the thought that their lives had been overtaken with basketball knowledge.
"Isn't it ironic that just six short years ago we both could care less about basketball, and now here we sit knowing almost everything there is to know about the sport?" Taylor pointed out, and the girls snickered. Gabriella sighed before continuing.
"We've been separated before, but this time it just feels so… I don't know." She paused, taking a deep breath, before starting again. "I guess I just…" Gabriella let out a sigh, frustrated at not being able to get her thoughts across in a very comprehensible manner.
"You just miss him. It's okay."
"Yeah, but why is this time so much harder than it's ever been? That's what I don't get."
The two just sat in silence once more. No words needed to be spoken. Taylor just hugged Gabriella closer to her and simply held her.
"Troy has no idea what he's got with you. If he knew then he'd already be making sure that he keeps you."
"Taylor, he does know. We don't need an outward sign to show how much we love each other."
Taylor took in the look on Gabriella's face and noticed the sorrow hidden behind her eyes and decided to just let it go. If only he really did know… she thought to herself. She shook the thought from her mind and allowed her face to light up with a fresh idea.
"Hey, what about the tour you promised me? I'm here to see not just you, missy!"
"Well, then get your butt up off the couch and go get ready! I've been waiting on you!"
"Oh, whatever!" Taylor argued back and the two laughed as they stood off the couch, each making their way into the separate bathrooms to begin their routine. After her shower, while Gabriella was in her bathroom applying her makeup, she heard the sounds of her Bruno Mars ring tone and knew instantly who it was. Only one person had that song on her phone. She put down her eye shadow and walked into the bedroom to pick up the phone off the bed, smiling to herself as she got closer.
When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change.
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are.
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stare for awhile.
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are.
"Hi, Baby. Are you there already?" she asked.
"No, not yet. We have a layover in St. Louis. I was waiting until we got to the gate before I called. How's it going there?"
"It's going good. We're getting ready now to head out. I figured I'd take Tay to Golden Gate Park and maybe the Japanese Tea Garden for lunch while we're down there."
"Nu-huh!" he whined. "Don't get sushi without me!"
"But I might be able to actually enjoy my whole order without someone trying to steal pieces off my plate this time," Gabriella whined back, grinning.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" Troy said, feigning innocence.
"Whatever," she told him. A soft, comfortable silence filled the phone lines for a moment, before Gabriella let out a soft sigh.
"How are you really doing, Brie?"
"What do you mean? Troy, I told you I'm fine."
"Gabriella…" he said with a warning tone to his voice.
"How could you tell?" she asked softly.
"Because I know you inside and out. I don't have to see your face to know that you're not doing well right now."
"I'm doing better than I was when you left, I guess. I don't know, to be honest."
"Brie, Baby, please take care of yourself while I'm gone. You know I wish I could be there with you."
"I know. And I promise I'll do the best that I can. That bed is awfully big…"
"Oh, don't even go there. Please?" he begged, closing his eyes to ward off the feeling she was trying to evoke in a certain part of him. "I need to focus this week and can't be thinking about that." Gabriella grinned, knowing that she had hit a nerve in a very sensitive area. She heard a voice come over the loudspeaker in the background, and Troy sighed before he continued. "Hey, they just gave our five minute warning before boarding. I want to talk to Taylor before I hang up, but I just want you to know that I love you."
"I love you, too. Play well this week. Wear your knee brace!" she warned as she walked across the hall to her own bedroom that was serving as Taylor's room for the week. She knocked on the door before letting herself in as she heard Troy's response in her ear.
"Yes, mom," he joked. Hearing his girlfriend's scoff in his ear, he continued. "No, seriously! Mom said the same thing to me when I talked to her on the way to the airport this morning." Gabriella's laughter joined his. When she stopped, Troy could swear he heard her sniffle. "Be strong for me, Babe. I love you," he told her again.
"I love you, too. Here's Taylor." Taylor pulled her shirt over her head before taking the phone from Gabriella.
"Miss me already? You just couldn't live without me, could you?" she joked.
Troy chuckled in her ear. "Isn't that the truth! You're the only girlfriend's best friend for me!"
"You just make sure it stays that way," she told him. "Now, what can I do for you?" she asked, as she noticed Gabriella wiping her eyes before turning to go back into the other bedroom to finish getting ready.
"I need you to do me a favor, please," he requested.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Take care of her for me. She had a hard time when I left this morning and I'm really worried about her."
"Troy, you know I'll look out for her. She and I are going to live it up San Fran style and before she can even say 'My boyfriend's away at a tournament this week', the week will be over and you'll be home."
"You promise?" he questioned.
"I promise. I'll do whatever it takes to cheer her up."
"Okay. Thanks, Taylor. I gotta go; we're boarding. Tell Brie that I'll text her when we land in Atlanta and call when we get to UGA."
"I will. Have a good week and play your ass off!"
Troy hung up his phone and as he walked down the ramp to board the plane, only one thought was running through his mind:
Please take care of her, Taylor. Why do I feel like I'm trusting you with my relationship?
As the girls finished getting ready, they grabbed their purses and started to make their way out the door and into the breezeway of the apartment building. Gabriella waited until they were walking down the steps to vocalize the question that had been running through her mind ever since she handed her phone to Taylor.
"Why did Troy want to talk to you?"
"He wanted to tell me he missed me," she joked. Gabriella just rolled her eyes and shook her head, so Taylor continued speaking. "No reason, really. He just wanted to apologize if he made me feel uncomfortable last night."
"You don't have to lie, Taylor," Gabriella said knowingly. "He told you to watch out for me, didn't he?"
Taylor was quiet for a moment while Gabriella looked her in the eyes. "Yeah," she said sheepishly. "I can't lie to you. I've tried. It's just not possible. He's worried about you and asked me to keep an eye on you."
"See, doesn't that show you just how much he cares about me? Even from thousands of miles away he's concerned." No matter how hard she tried, Gabriella couldn't keep the know it all tone from her voice.
"I know, I know. You don't have to keep pushing it in my face," Taylor said, slightly apologetic. "My point is just that after this much time together, living together especially, any other man would be staking his claim."
"Well first off, he has staked his claim on me...in more ways than one, not that I need to elaborate for you and your wild imagination," she said, lowering her voice mischievously on that last part. "And I don't have to have a ring to know that. Secondly, Troy is not just any other man. He's mine, and he's devoted to me." She reached her hand up and fingered the T necklace around her neck. It was just like the one he gave her at the end of their junior year of high school, except this one was given as her birthday gift during their sophomore year of college after the chain broke on the original. She smiled as she thought back to the day he gave it to her.
She woke up the morning of her twentieth birthday to a warm early April Saturday. The morning chill had lifted and San Francisco had been wrapped in warmth the past couple of weeks, causing Gabriella and her roommate Kate to sleep with their dorm window open. Just as she was stretching out cat-like in her bed, she felt something hit her on the head.
"Ow!" she said, sitting up in bed and rubbing her head. She turned to notice her auburn haired roommate smirking at her with her phone to her ear. "What the hell, Kate? That hurt!"
"Yeah, Gabriella. Watch for those darn pillows. They can really cause nasty bruises. Happy birthday, Sunshine!"
"Why are you waking me up? It's my special 'happy me' day. I should be allowed to sleep," she groggily complained.
"You were waking up yourself, Bright One! Besides, the phone is for you and- thanks to the person on the other end- I had no choice but to rush the process along."
"What are you talking about? Who is it?" she asked as she sat up in bed.
"Here." Kate stood from her bed and handed the phone to her roommate. Gabriella took the phone and put it to her ear, wondering who was on the other end of Kate's phone that wanted to talk to her. Halfway to her ear, she noticed that it wasn't Kate's phone after all, but her own. Scrunching her eyebrows in confusion, she pulled it the rest of the way to her ear and began the conversation with- who's on the other end again?
"Hello?" she said.
"Happy birthday, Beautiful."
She grinned when she heard her boyfriend's voice. "Thank you. Why are you calling so early?"
"Brie, it's almost 10. Why are you sleeping so late?"
"Because it's my special day and I can. Be nice to me," she told him with a slight pout in her voice.
"Here, I'm supposed to give this to you when you wake up," Kate interrupted, handing Gabriella a small wrapped box. "I also have specific instructions to order you to open it now and not wait until your date tonight so he can see your reaction. He figured you'd want to put it on right away."
"Where did you get this?" she asked her roommate.
"Troy gave it to me when he was here last weekend and said to give it to you this morning," Kate told her.
"What did you do?" she asked into the phone, taking the red wrapped box from Kate.
"Just paid attention a few months ago, that's all," he told her. Troy waited and listened to the sound of his girlfriend of almost three and a half years tearing the wrapping paper and when he heard the slight gasp escape her lips, he knew she was instantly in love with what laid inside the velvet box.
"Troy! You remembered!"
"How could I forget? You practically cried every day for about two months when the chain broke on the old one. 'Troy, I don't have a necklace anymore. What am I going to wear now?'" he said, imitating Gabriella's adorable pout. "This one is to replace the old one. Plus, it's not cheap like the old one was. I had a bigger budget this time," he joked.
"Wildcat, I love it," she said as she fingered the gold T, pausing suddenly and letting out a gasp. "A diamond? Troy, is that a diamond? This necklace has a diamond in it!"
"Yeah, it's your birthstone. And your point is…?"
"Troy, it cost too much! You can't get me a diamond!"
"Gee, you're welcome," he said, trying to hide the slight disappointment at her reaction. "Look, Brie, I'm sorry if you think I spent too much on a new gold T necklace with a diamond on this one instead of a cheap red something. I love you and you're worth it to me. I know how much that necklace meant to you and how disappointed you were when the chain broke Halloween night at the party we went to. I just wanted to do something special to replace it- maybe even get you a better one."
"Why do you always do that?" she asked him after a long pause.
"Do what?"
"Make me feel bad for always paying attention to the price? You're right, Troy. I do love it and I appreciate that you thought of that. It's beautiful. I'm sorry I overreacted. Thank you."
"So does that mean you'll wear it tonight when we go to dinner?"
"I've already put it on," she told him with a wide smile on her face.
Gabriella's thoughts were interrupted by Taylor. She looked over to see her with her hands in the air in surrender. "Fine… fine. I get it. But just so you know, you may not need the ring...but it sure comes in handy when someone else is trying to hit on you."
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw the way both of you acted around that Davis guy at the party. You liked his little flirty ways. And if Troy was so bothered by it, he should do more than just griping and threatening the poor guy."
"Taylor-" Gabriella started with a frustrated sigh.
"I'm just saying. Anyway, that's enough said on the subject for now." The two girls reached Gabriella's car. "I want my tour," Taylor announced as she climbed in the car.
"Tour my ass. What you need is a man of your own," Gabriella mumbled.
"What was that?" Taylor asked. "I didn't quite catch that."
"What I said was-" Gabriella started, closing her door and turning to face Taylor "-that what you need is a man of your own so you'll leave me alone about mine."
"I don't need a man," Taylor scoffed.
Gabriella backed the car out of its space and put it in drive before turning to face Taylor, the look on her face screaming 'Oh, please! Whatever!'
"Let me just say one word to contradict that statement…" Taylor turned to face her friend and when Gabriella had her full attention, she continued. "…CHAD!"
Taylor rolled her eyes and turned her stare back out the passenger side window. "Oh, please. Whatever," she mumbled under her breath.
"'Whatever' is right." A light bulb suddenly went off in Gabriella's brain as she drove down the street, and a grin spread across her face. "And I know just the man for you!"
Taylor slowly turned to face Gabriella almost afraid to see the Grinch like grin that graced her features. "Why am I all of a sudden afraid?"
"Don't be afraid. Just sit back and enjoy the ride." And with that, a plan was beginning to take form in Gabriella's mind. She just hoped that for Taylor's sake, it would all play out the way it was meant.