"I hate dresses," Alex whined as she stood on a chair for her grandmother as combed out her long brown hair.
"My," Maria said with a smile, "who does that sound like?"
Gabriella laughed as she slipped on her sandals, "Very funny mom."
The Montez women were in Maria and Luis's bedroom doing hair and makeup, a process that was already going on its second hour. The party at the Danforth's was in an hour and the girls were almost ready. Gabriella was wearing a light blue sun dress they had found in a small store in town. Her hair was down with the front clipped back and away from her face. She knew that tonight she was going to see Troy and she knew that time was running out, she couldn't keep avoiding the truth any longer.
Summer wouldn't last forever, Doug wouldn't wait forever. Doug already made it clear that he would adopt Alex and marry Gabriella all the cards were on the table. At least that what she had to keep telling herself, she had to believe that Doug was the right choice, he was a step forward, a step into her future. Her hands were shaking as she attempted to put her earring in her ears. She could marry a man she loved and live a normal life with the picket white fence she always dreamed of or she could run into the arms of the boy next store begging for forgiveness.
Gabriella took a deep breath in an effort to steady her hands. Doug was safe, he was the man who was responsible for making her happy again. He seen past her walls and accepted her with all her baggage and trust issues. He loved her, he wanted to marry her and here she was, like a freshman going on her first date. Gabriella placed both her hands on the vanity mirror she just wanted to get the papers signed and head back home so she could put this whole mess behind her. Even though she knew that wasn't possible, she had to give Troy the equal chance to be a father. He deserved that.
At that last thought she looked into the mirror and took in her reflection, Alex would have a father, Troy would have a daughter, his parents would be grandparents and Gabriella would be the evil version of Cinderella's step mom who hid her way in the tower. Her breath caught in her throat and she almost felt like she couldn't breathe. She couldn't do this, she couldn't bring herself to hold her walls up. How was she going to face the father of her child and play it off like he was nothing to her when she still had so many lingering feeling for him?
"Honey is everything alright?" Maria said finishing Alex's final pig tail. When Gabriella didn't answer Maria taped Alex on the shoulder and smiled. "Why don't you go tell Grandpa we'll be down in a moment?" she whispered and Alex nodded before jumping down from the chair and running out of the room.
Once Alex was gone Gabriella felt her knees shake. "Mom, I don't think I can do this," she said walking over to the bed and sitting down.
"Yes you can," Maria assured her as she came to her side, "everything will be fine."
"But what about Doug?" she said sniffling.
"You're going to live happily ever after," Maria said placing two hands on her shoulders. "You have to take a leap of faith here Gabriella. You're going to be fine," she said.
"He wants to adopt Alex, but I wouldn't let him until she meets her real father and has a chance with him," she said hunching her shoulders over. "It's just that I'm so worried about everyone else's reaction, all the ripple effects, and all the pain I'm going to cause people." Gabriella stared off into the corner of the room. "What on earth have I done?"
"You can't change the past," her mother said placing her hands on her daughters face gently, "you can only change the future. Alex is strong she can handle whatever comes her way and people will forgive you, it will take time but they will."
Gabriella took a deep breath and nodded.
Maria stood silent and she stared at her daughter. "Take off that necklace," she said getting up from the bed and walking over to her jewelry box. "Tonight you need to focus on one man, and you can't do that while the other one is around your neck."
Hesitantly Gabriella removed the necklace with the ring on it and gently gave it to her mother who put it to the side for safe keeping. Turning around she handed her another necklace. This necklace had a small angel on it and Maria smiled as she held it up to Gabriella.
"This will give you strength to honor your heart," she said helping Gabriella put it around her neck. "It takes a lot of courage to do what you need to do and I'm not saying you lack it but Gabriella," she paused as she adjust the angle on her chest, "my sweet, sweet child. Just think of your daughter."
Gabriella smiled warmly as she looked down at the angel. "Thank you, I just wish that I knew what I'm supposed to do?"
"Be true to your heart, remember who you are?" she said slowly, "It's the only thing you can do." Maria held out her hand for her daughter to take it.
Gabriella nodded and took her mother's hand, "I hope that one day I can be half the mother you are."
"You are," she said with a sigh, "Now come on, tonight we dance and enjoy ourselves." Her mother said tugging her down towards the hall was they made their way downstairs were Alex and her Grandfather were dancing around and bumping butts.
"We're ready," Maria said grabbing her purse from the dining room table.
Once they got to the party Gabriella was stunned by the beauty she saw before her in their back yard. Hanging over head were an endless set of Twinkle lights that made it look like the stars were right there for the plucking. Tiki torches surrounded all sides of the yard and there was a dance floor in the middle of the yard clear for the couples that were dancing and the children running around. Everywhere she looked there were familiar faces.
"Gabby!" Taylor raced towards her with her arms extended and Sharpay behind her both of them in sundresses almost like Gabriella's. The three of them took part in a group hug and Gabriella laughed as she wrapped her arms around them. She was so happy to be back at home with her friend and family who welcomed her with open arms. Soon they were talking about how much Alex had grown and hugging her as they showered her with affection.
Alex stood by her mother side as she endured the pinching cheeks and tight hugs that left her breathless. After a moment the topic had shifted back to her mother and what she was wearing. Alex was quiet as she watched everyone interacting, she always felt odd when she was around her mother's old friends. They would always pay so much attention to her and her mother it was weird to be the center of attention because back at home her mother didn't have many friend other than the old woman who lived across the hall. She liked it here, people were nicer her mom was happier, she didn't get why her mom just would move back.
"Alex?" two little boys came up to her holding a basket ball. "Want to play?"
Alex looked up at her mother waiting for permission, "Mom?"
Taking pity on her Gabriella sent Alex off to go play with the others, and she took off like a bat fresh out of a cave. She followed the boys to the basket ball court off to the side of the house. Gabriella watched her keeping an eye on her until she was sure that she'd settled in with the others.
"Be careful Alex," Gabriella called out.
"Gabby?" Kelsi called from the DJ table.
Spinning around she saw Kelsi standing at table surrounded by music equipment and a laptop resting in front of her. "Kelsi, how have you been?" Gabriella said coming up close to greet her.
"I've been wonderful! How are you?"
"I'm good," Kelsi said with a smile as she lifted a bottle of water to her lips, "Isn't it just beautiful?" she said motioning to the decorations.
Gabriella nodded looking out into the crowd and watching her parents grouping with other parents and having a good time. The theme was white and red with a hint of tan. Candles were everywhere waiting to be lit when it got dark enough.
"Actually I'm been doing really good, but tell me does this make me look fat." She said turning to the side showing off her belly and Gabriella squealed as she placed a hand on it.
"Oh my goodness, how many months?" she asked looking for Ryan. "What did Ryan say?"
"5 months and he is in love with it," she beamed, "He's been playing jazz music for the baby and reading him all the Broadway musical reviews."
Gabriella laughed on the outside and inside she felt a finch of pain grasp around her heart as she remembered her own pregnancy and how no one was around to do things like that for Alex.
"I see your Alex is growing into a fine little heart breaker," she motioned behind her to the basketball court. "Beauty, brains and a love for the game… that makes her dangerous triple threat," she said with a laugh.
"She wants to be a reporter, she's been interviewing people left and right," Gabriella said with a small frown remembering her encounter with Troy.
"Wow, looking sassy Montez," Ryan came up from behind placing his hands on her shoulders.
I see congratulations on being a daddy is in order," Gabriella smirked as she gave him a playful nudge.
Ryan's eyes went wide as he covered his mouth, "You mean she's just not eating too many Hotdogs?" wiping his brow he looked up at his wife and smiled.
"Shut up," Kelsi rolled her eyes playfully as she shook her head.
Ryan laughed as he brought her closer to him so he could place his hand on her stomach, "I'm as happy as humanly possible without combusting," he said endearingly.
Gabriella smiled and she excused herself from them not that the noticed because the two of them could barely keep their eyes off each other. Gabriella shook out her hands not really sure what to do as she walked away from the DJ table. Seeing them so happy made her heart hurt. She wasn't even sure her heart knew what to feel but at the moment she was just sad.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Chad said with one hand wrapped around a beer and the other placed on her shoulder. "You alright?"
"Yeah," she said sucking it up and smiling. "Everything looks really nice who did the decorating?" she asked admiring how everything looked.
"It's all done by my mother I just flipped the bill," Chad smiled.
"Wow," she said as she searched for something more to say. Then as if god himself was trying to save her everyone started clapping and cheering interrupting her mini brain to mouth malfunction. Turning around she watched as the couple of the evening came out from the back of the house and into the yard hand in hand. Mrs. Danforth wore a black dress her Husband matched her in a black suit without the tie. The greatest Love Of All, by Whitney Huston played in the background as they began to dance in the middle of everyone who watched and smiled.
She barely noticed when Chad left her side, she just stood there off to the side watching as couples joined them on the dance floor. It was so magical she almost wanted to cry, but she didn't, she just smiled lovingly at all her friends. Admiring the happiness they had found in each other.
As the night wore on, she had talked to everyone, she caught up with old friends and was introduced to some new ones. She'd even found Troy who was talking about plumbing and putting up dry wall with the guys. He so was handsome it was almost criminal. The way his shirt hung on his body and the way his jeans just snuggly cupped his bottom she almost had to check for drool when she realized she'd been staring. He was always a good looking boy, growing up she'd admire him for hours throughout high school waiting for the day when he would look back at her in the same manner. Only now he was grown man and she was a grown woman, it was like nothing had ever changed between them.
He had a beer in one hand as he vividly listened to a story Zeke and Chad were going out of their way to demonstrate. When he laughed, the sound of it was so much deeper than she remembered. It sounded real and rich with genuine happiness. Bring a glass of wine to her lips she sipped slowly looking in the crowd for Alex who was still on the basketball court. She had to mental kick herself before risking the chance to look back in Troy's direction. She was almost a married woman, these feelings were out of hand and misguided.
"So I was feeding him the cheerios and Zeke had just placed his cookie mix on the table," Sharpay said with a small laugh, "He went looking for chocolate chips and while we weren't looking, Matthew decides to throw his cheerios into the mix." Sharpay tossed her head back with a sigh as she brushed some hair back. "Zeke had no idea and neither of us notice when he put the cookies to bake. It wasn't until later that day at the business meeting that he noticed something was off."
"Oh my god, did they fire him," Taylor asked bringing her hand up to her lips.
"No. They hired him, turns out they wanted someone who was different and not afraid to mix things up," Sharpay explain. They were talking about her husband recent job interview and Gabriella had to try hard to keep focus on the story and not the other things in her mind.
When the table was more clear and it was only Sharpay and Taylor they both looked towards Gabriella. "How are you planning to tell him," Taylor said before sipping her wine.
Gabriella looked back from the crowd to her friends. "I don't know, just say it, pull him to the side and just tell him," she said shrugging her shoulders.
"Well, regardless if this is the right thing to say or not? Have you given any thought to the press?" Sharpay asked leaning forward.
"What?" Gabriella asked tilting her head confused.
"Once this leaks out that he has a daughter that NBA star is going to be in the spotlight with your kid. Not only will she have a father but she going to have all of America watching her and people are stupid enough to be dangerous," Sharpay frown a little as she leaned forward to place her hand over Gabriella's.
"Yeah Chad's agent wanted the boys to were matching sweat suits and stand on the side line of all the games to cheer him on. I mean come on, my boys have bed times and I'm sorry but that isn't happening on a school night. I had to put my foot down," She said leaning forward and placing her elbows on the table.
"It has passed my mind once or twice but I don't think I can just not tell him because he happens to be famous," she said in low voice.
"People are going to talk as long as you know that, and ignore it you'll be fine," Sharpay said leaning back in chair, "Just be warned that publicity wise the whole thing is a disaster in the making."
"Why are you putting things like that in her head, it's been eight years, that little girl has the right to know and Troy's right to know is way past due," Taylor scolding Sharpay with an evil glare.
"It's alright, I have to tell him, it the reason I'm here," she said with a small smile, "no more hiding."
"Are you really going to marry the history man?" Taylor asked trying to change topic.
"His book just got published," she boasted with a chest full of pride. She was really proud of the things that Doug had accomplished. "He loves me unconditionally and I love him," pausing she looked back out at the crowd where her daughter was. "He wants to adopt Alex."
"Well that's out of the question," Taylor laughed, "I mean, he can't just expect a new father to give up all of his rights before he even knew he had them," Taylor's smiled fell when she realized that Gabriella stood silent.
"That's not right and you know it," Sharpay said leaning forward. "Troy would be a good father and you owe him that chance."
"You know you can't do this," Taylor said with a frown, "I mean if you want to marry this guy I'll support you but you just can't do that to Alex and Troy."
"If you ask me you shouldn't even marry this pop tart," Sharpay said looking at Taylor and holding up her hands in surrender when she glared, "I'm only supporting you and I'm on team Troy."
"Well this marriage thing to the side," Taylor narrowed her eyes at her before turning back to Gabriella, who only looked more scared. "It's going to be fine, we're here no matter what you do" she nodded and Sharpay nodded with her.
Gabriella tired her best to shrug off the topic even after it was changed. Her mind was racing as she sat there sipping on her wine like a life vest. The liquid courage racing through her blood stream. Her attention was caught as she watched her daughter dance with her grandfather her little stature causing him to bend over as they swayed to the music.
At the sight of the setting sun she remembered the candles and looked around spotting her mom as she went from table to table lighting the candles. A song from Etta James filled the summer night air and she leaned back in her chair as she watched the couples on the dance floor. The wind rolling through was soft and cooling, the perfect weather for a night like this. Turning around to the table she stilled, in course of admiring the evening she hadn't noticed that everyone was gone. Looking around she realized they'd been scooped up by their husbands and were now on the dance floor.
Reaching for the ring around her neck she lifted the angel instead. Her thoughts returned to Doug, what he must be doing right now. If he'd eaten, or remembered that he was supposed to be checking her mail while they were away. Without noticing it her body began to sway slowly to the music as she thought about her life waiting for her back at home. Their long lazy mornings, the social events planned for his book tour.
"Never could sit still whenever the music was on," Troy's voice sliced through her thoughts like a knife going through butter.
Her eyes shifted upwards to the vision of him standing in front of her, his smell surrounding her as she looked at his light blue button down shirt that was open at the top with his sleeves rolled up and resting on his forearm.
"Hey," she said as casually as she could muster. "You looked relaxed."
"That's because it took four beers to work up the guts to ask you to dance," he admitted with a small chuckle. "It's been a while since I had the chance to dance with you," he said extending his hand to her.
Gabriella entire body felt 10 degree's warmer as she slowly reached to take his hand, "I guess I better say yes then," she smiled as she got up from her seat.
"I'd be broken hearted if you left me hanging," he said with a grin as he led her out to the dance floor. They were standing still for a moment before the music started again and Gabriella smiled as she felt his hand rest on the small of her back. Everything about this man was like a double straight up shot of whiskey. His musk smell was strong and tempting, easy one the eyes with a slow burn that lingered from his touch.
She couldn't remember when she ever felt like this before. When the mere touch of man gave her a cool and steady burn inside her. Surly being with Troy again and feeling this way was because of her overactive imagination. The result of a little crush she'd been harboring since high school. Surly she wasn't really feeling this way, without actually meaning to she gone a little stiff from the tension.
Taking a deep breath she was consumed by his smell her, she could feel herself coming closer to him. Their bodies joining together along with the melody as he held her close. The was no way Troy Bolton thought of her as anything more than a friend and if she allowed herself to think otherwise she'd be right back where they started nine years ago.
By this time the sun had set and all the candles were lit. There was a low hum of people talking and laughing. There was also a good mixture of people on the dance floor making it impossible to keep her distance. Looking down because she refused to look up at his warm blue kiss me eyes she noticed that many of the women had left their shoes under the tables and were now swaying in the grass to the beat of the music in their bare feet.
"You look really nice," he said leaning down to be heard over the music, his right hand held on to hers closely and he was rubbing her knuckles softly with the pad of his thumb.
"So do you," she said as she urged herself to relax and losing her hold on his shoulder. "It's been a long time," she said risking a glance up at him.
"Time seems to long when you're miserable," he joked as he spun her around and then brought her back holder her closer than she had been before.
"Miserable?" Gabriella moved back a little so that she could see him clearly.
"Well I didn't throw a party when you left," he said shyly as he pulled her closer. "I mean come on, you never told me why you left," he said a bit more quietly. "I'm only going to assume it was me that made you not come back?"
Still in rhythm they stared at each other both not knowing where to go from there. She was small in against his tall muscular body and yet she seemed to feel right at home in his arms. Like no time had pasted at all. Letting her go a bit he smiled and dipped her catching her off guard and making her laugh out loud as she came back up.
"I missed the hell out of that laugh," he said bringing them back to a slow rhythm. "So why'd you go?" he asked suddenly serious as he ducked down a little to catch her eye.
Gabriella took a deep breath while her inside took their time to compose. "You always could make me laugh seconds after making me feel horrible," she said in low voice as she glanced around at the other couples dancing. "Troy there's no easy way to answer that question."
"Hey," he said catching her attention before she could continue, "It's all in the past," he said calmly. "I mean you're a full grown woman with a child, a career and if I know you a man to keep her warm."
He was right about everything but the last part no one ever made her feel as warm as she did in Troy's arms. Compare to the whiskey burn of Troy's touch any man after would be like drink a glass of water.
"Troy we really need to talk," she said working up her courage. This was the moment she'd been waiting for. "It's about what happened on prom night," she said trying not to lose her nerve. The music ended and they stopped moving. "The real reason I didn't come back."
"Gabriella it was high school," he said with a laugh, "Susan and I broke up after graduation anyway. I would have told you but you were already gone."
Gabriella led him off the dance floor as they continued to talk. "I haven't forgotten about the other part Troy," she said a bit more sternly as the bitter feelings of the past came back. It was like a flood gate of memories, remembering how she overheard the boys talking about the "man pack" one afternoon while she was waiting for Troy outside of the changing room so she could tell him about how she felt.
"We were high school boys," he said quietly. "I swear I didn't tell them about what happen till this day you can ask Chad he doesn't know," Troy said a little panicked. "The pack was to deflower our prom dates, and Gabriella you weren't my date so no I didn't think it mattered enough to bring it up that detail."
"Seriously?" Gabriella said taken aback by his words, "It didn't matter?"
"Not that what happened didn't matter," he said quickly "I meant that it wasn't part of the bet. I swear I left you out of it, I was young and stupid back then Gabi." Troy brought a hand up to grab the chain link fence they were now standing beside as they remained off to the sidelines of the party.
"Right, you expect me to believe that Troy?" she said angrily, "I heard you telling them about the tree house, I heard you tell them that it was exactly what you expected from a girl a like that." Gabriella said as she filtered through her memory bank. "Face it when I ruined things between you and Susan that night you were all too willing and ready to use me instead." There hurt in her voice as she looked around to make sure no one was listening in.
"You never could lose a bet in high school, you were always to damn proud!" Crossing her arms over her chest she turned away from him so she was not looking out into the crowd. "How dare you for one minute think that you could use me as replacement to claim your prize," she said a disgusted tone.
"Gabriella I never used you, what happened between us was an accident, I never meant to take it as far as we did, not with you," he said in frustrated rush, after a moment of silence between them he let out a winced as the words sunk in.
"An accident?" she said quietly, "Really Troy, first it didn't matter now it's an accident? You know what, forget it all this time I thought that you were just a really big idiot for even participating in a bet like that. But now I know your just as asshole," she said trying not to cry.
"Gabi, it's not the way it sounds," he said placing a hand on her arm.
"Really because that's exactly how it sounds, you ignored me Troy I was always just some little groupie hanging around and cheering you on, there for a laugh, there for an easy ticket out," she said pulling away from his touch.
"Gabi, I never intended to hurt you. I never wanted you to feel used or led on," he said looking into her eyes. "We just got lost in the moment. If I knew that you were gonna up and leave-"
"I gave you something precious Troy," she interrupted not letting him finish. "It might not have been as great as all your other girlfriends but I gave you my virginity," she said in low tone making sure that no one could over hearing them. "That is not something you just get lost in the moment for," she said and turned to walk away leaving him standing against the fence as he stared out into the crowd.