AUTHORS NOTE: Oh ye of little faith! Haha you guys cracked me up, you really disliked Gabriella last chapter. I'm glad you did cause I did also, but of course I needed her to be like that. I'm sorry I put you guys through that much pain…Someone even said they hated me and then said update soon. I couldn't help but to laugh, hopefully by the end of this chapter you'll love me again. Thanks for the reviews.
DISCLAIMER: All HSM characters belong to Disney
Chapter 20
If it was possible for him to take a week off of work he would have. Truly all he wanted to do was stay home, and be in bed deep under the covers. He wanted nothing more than to be by himself and wallow in his misery. He felt so tired, so upset, so depressed, yet angry also. Angry at himself, angry at her…angry at the whole fucking situation.
It had been too long. Way to long. Two whole weeks. He didn't even feel this way when Madison had left him. He was no where near this heartache. He felt as if he wanted to just…just die! Okay maybe he was a bit more dramatic but it hurt like hell. He had sat in his apartment and had came to the conclusion that Gabriella…Gabriella was his life.
She had pulled him out of his state months ago. She had made his life better than it had been in his life. He was finally able to experience true love and she was it. And that love was…it was it. He had truly never felt so complete when he was with Gabriella. He knew that she would be there whenever he needed her. And that whatever he needed she would take care of it, whether it was taking his mind off the issue or doing something about it herself.
Yes two weeks had been way to long. He only had a week left before he wouldn't see her until the next year. And that was putting that hurtful pressure on his chest also.
Troy stood at the sidelines his eyes lingeringly on the brown haired beauty who stood holding the tennis racket. Only a few times would his eyes wonder around the court towards the other students but for the most part they stayed on her.
She hadn't looked at him once since she had walked out of the locker room. And he tried no tricks to get her to look at him. The clipboard was held against his chest as he crossed his arms. He watched as she swung back and hit the ball as hard as possible making it hit the wall on the other side.
"Come on Gabriella. Pay attention." Her teammate called out.
"Shut up!" She snapped.
Troy sighed and shook his head. She was angry. Of course she was. She thought that he cheated on her. He couldn't believe that she wouldn't act like an adult, by sitting down and listening to him. All he wanted was a chance to explain himself. He didn't know if she was upset because Madison had called him and she just assumed that he was cheating or was she upset because she found out that Madison had kissed him. Another reason why he needed to talk to her. He wanted to know what she knew.
Watching her for a few more minutes he finally dismissed the class and went to his office. Checking his phone he realized that he had a missed call from Chad. Of course Chad had been notified about the breakup. And he had tried to be the most loyal friend that he could be trying to find out information from Taylor who of course talked to Gabriella.
He erased the missed call deciding to call him after he left work. Grabbing his supplies for his next class he sighed deeply, a headache coming on as he walked out of the boys locker room. Just as he stepped foot out, the girls locker room door opened bringing Gabriella to stand right in front of him.
They stared at each other. Troy watched her brown eyes and saw different emotions flickering through the brown depts. Shock, hope, despair, and anger flooded her eyes. He kept his eyes on her, not wanting to miss anything that she did.
She took a deep breath and crossed her arms across her chest. He guessed that there weren't any other girls in the locker room since she hadn't moved right away.
He didn't know what to say. Conversation starters fluttered through his mind and he didn't know which one to pick.
He heard he sigh again before she walked away from him.
"Can we talk!" he called out after her, glad that the gym was empty.
She stopped in her steps and turned around. "I have nothing to say to you." she said lowly.
Troy hitched his bag on his shoulder walking towards her. "I just want to talk. About what happened. Please."
She shook her head and headed out the gym double doors letting them slam back hard making him jump.
Troy closed his eyes in defeat before heading off to his music class.
****
When he arrived home he was surprised to find Chad sitting there on the couch, a box of half eaten pizza on the table in front of him. He gave his friend a small smile and a shake of his head as he put his supplies down.
Going straight to the couch he grabbed a piece of pizza and turned his attention on the television.
It was about thirty minutes before either one of them started talking, and as much as Troy wished it didn't happen, Chad had a mouth, and that mouth liked talking.
"So, have you spoken to her yet?" He asked taking a bite of food.
Troy considered not saying anything. Just let Chad think of his own answers, but decided that he needed to have this conversation once again with his best friend.
"She won't listen to me at all." Troy answered.
"You know I've been talking to Taylor. Little girl won't really say much about Gabriella but I did manage to get something from her."
Troy's interest peeked and he looked over at Chad. "What? What did she say?"
Chad shrugged his shoulders as though it wasn't a big deal but they both knew that it was. "Well, I know that she doesn't know about the kiss that Madison planted on you."
Troy's heartbeat sped up. "Really? So her thinking that I cheated on her is just speculation?"
Chad nodded his head. "Yeah, Taylor said that Gabriella didn't mention anything about the kiss, and was just talking about the call that Madison gave. Then she said something about you invading her privacy."
Troy's eyes narrowed. "Invading her privacy! She kept something so important from me! Plus it fell out of her purse I didn't go digging through it."
Chad sighed. "Maybe you should try calling her and explaining it to her."
Troy shook his head. "It would be a waste. She won't pick up my calls. Believe me I've been trying."
Chad bit his lip and took another bite of his pizza. "Troy, I know you said that she wouldn't do it but are you sure that Gabriella won't tell the whole teacher student affair thing in an act of revenge or something."
Troy immediately shook his head. "No. No, she wouldn't do that. I know her better than that. She would never do that."
Chad nodded his head in agreement with his friend and turned back to the television. After a few moments a thought came to Troy and grabbed Chad's attention.
"I know that both you and Taylor saw what Madison did to me at Thanksgiving. Why hasn't Taylor told her yet?" he asked a bit confused.
"Well, I asked her that also. Before the whole breakup thing, and she said because she knew that Madison was a bitch and she knew that it wasn't your fault. Tay knows that Gabriella can be a bit dramatic so she just 'forgot' about it." He said putting air quotes around the word forget. "I asked her a few weeks ago and she said that she didn't know whether or not to tell her now. But obviously she hasn't seeing how Gabriella still thinks the breakup was over her calling."
Troy sighed and sat his uneaten pizza back in the box. He picked up his cell and looked down at it. Scrolling through his many numbers he finally got to the one he wanted and pressed call.
***
Gabriella looked down at her phone only to find that she hadn't had any text messages and no phone calls. The last time he had called had been a week ago, and he hadn't called again. Maybe he had given up.
She continued to look down at the math book, continuing on doing the math problems that was needed to be done, but she couldn't concentrate. The words and numbers were nothing but that…words and numbers. They meant nothing to her.
Her mind went back three weeks ago when she told him that they were over. God she had to be the most stupidest girl on the planet. What in the hell was she thinking, breaking up with her boyfriend? The man that she loved more than anyone. All because of a stupid phone call!
Of course she wanted him back. But her pride, her damn pride stood in the way and she wasn't going to admit to herself that she was wrong in some way. She hadn't been wrong. He was the one having his ex girlfriend call him, he was the one that went through her stuff. Yes, she kept it from him but that was because it was personal. He didn't need to know about that…right?
Gabriella shook her head. No, he did have the right to know about that. Right? She couldn't help but to be disgusted at herself at the way she had been treating him the past couple of weeks. She ignored him, not bothering to talk to him. Even when he asked her questions in class or gym she ignored him. The one time she actually did talk to him she had been in a shock from seeing him so quickly, that was the first and last time she spoke to him.
She sat up in her bed and threw her pencil down on the open text book. She pushed her hair out of her face and looked over at Taylor who was concentrating very hard on her book. Gabriella couldn't concentrate at all.
"I can't do this." She said gaining Taylor's attention.
Taylor didn't look up from her book. "What, do you need help?"
Gabriella shook her head. Leaning back against her head board she picked up her phone again. Her pride was fighting against her, as she argued with herself on whether or not to give Troy a call and see how he was doing. She had been doing this almost every day since she broke up with him, and every time her pride won out, as it did now.
"Gabriella, seriously stop thinking about him and do your work. Tomorrow is that last day before Christmas break. You need to be caught up."
Gabriella sighed. "I know, I know. I just--I keep thinking about everything."
"Like what." Taylor closed her book, knowing that this was going to be one of those girl talk times. She was just glad that Gabriella looked towards her and not Sharpay.
"Well maybe I was a bit too jumpy when I found out about Madison calling." She said looking away with a far off look. "But he just made me so mad. He basically called me a liar and there he was lying at me also. And I just snapped."
"I've always called you a drama queen."
Gabriella glared at her. "Wouldn't you have done the same if Chad's ex girlfriend called his phone?"
Taylor bit her lip sitting up. "I would listen to what Chad had to say and I think that you should have listened to Troy."
Gabriella closed her eyes in what was it…shame? Depression? Yes, maybe she should have listened to him. She just didn't want to give him the chance for him to say that he didn't love her anymore. That he finally got Madison back and she was just a play thing.
"Do you think he's back with Madison?" She asked opening her eyes looking at the wall.
She heard Taylor sigh. "Why would he be with Madison? I thought he hated her."
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "She called--"
"Yeah." Taylor said softly. "she called alright."
Gabriella glanced at Taylor to find her staring daggers at the floor. She was so concentrated on the floor and Gabriella knew something was up. She licked her lips, wetting them just a bit before talking to her.
"What are you hiding?" Gabriella asked.
"Hiding?" Taylor laughed opening her math book again. "why would you think I'm hiding something?"
Gabriella said nothing but just stared at her friend. "Taylor?" She snapped.
Taylor finally looked up and sighed with defeat. "Okay, so I'm going to tell you this but you have to promise not to get made at me." She gave her a questioning look.
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Do I have reason to be mad at you?"
"Maybe, but in my defense I didn't think it was that big of a deal, and nothing came from it." Taylor said. "Promise me you won't get mad."
Gabriella struggled with herself. It must be something bad if Taylor was making her promise not to be mad. She nodded hesitantly.
"Okay." Taylor took another deep breath. "Okay so you know how I went with Chad on--"
Taylor was interrupted by the ringing of her own cell phone. Gabriella glared at her best friend. "Don't answer it and finish the fucking story."
Taylor rolled her eye. "It's Chad." She said simple before putting the phone to her ear. "Hey babe…why?…he's what?….well can't you take care of him…but…yeah…are you absolutely positive…alright fine. I'll be there."
Gabriella watched as she hung up the phone and gathered her stuff.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Where are you going?" Gabriella asked standing up from the bed.
"Chad needs me."
"I need you."
Taylor stuffed her book in her bag. "Troy is pissed drunk and Chad needs me to help with him. He didn't know who else to call, seeing how he doesn't know anyone."
Gabriella gasped, "So you're ditching me to help Troy?"
"You don't need my help." Taylor said. "You need a fucking physiatrist."
Gabriella scoffed.
"You do." Taylor said agreeing with herself. "You broke up with a guy who was completely in love with you. Now I know I wasn't all into this student teacher relationship thing but Troy is a good guy. He loves you, and you…you're too dramatic for your own good. I'm saying this as a friend."
Gabriella followed Taylor out of the room and down that stairs. "Yeah some friend you are."
Taylor turned around on her. "Don't do this Gabriella. Don't push me away and make me mad at you. I'm trying to help you but Troy's my friend too. Don't make me choose."
Gabriella shifted her feet as she felt the guilt pass through her body. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I just a bit…a bit--"
"Bitchy?" Taylor supplied. "I know." She stepped forward and hugged her.
Gabriella wrapped her arms around her hugging her back. "Make sure he's alright."
"I will."
Gabriella sighed as they finished their way down the stairs. She grabbed Taylor's arm before she went out the door. "Are you ever going to finish your story?" She asked.
Taylor nodded her head slowly. "Tomorrow."
****
He looked like hell.
Gabriella watched as Troy walked down the hallway, and on his way out the door leaving the school for holiday. His hair was bed hair, in a sexy way but totally un-Troy like. He had a five o'clock shadow on his jaw. His eyes were glassy and unfocused just a bit. She was surprised that he actually showed up to school. Just because he did, didn't mean he was going to teach. No, both in music and gym class, he let them have a free day, not only because it was the last day of school, but because he probably had a hang over.
Taylor's words had been hunting her all night and day. Maybe she did need professional help. She did just break up with her boyfriend that love her, that she loved with out any explanting on his part. She didn't give him a chance. Maybe this was the day that her pride would finally step aside.
Thinking of Taylor, her supposed best friend had been ignoring her all day. She hadn't seen Taylor except for in class. And after class she would run off. It was the end of the school day and still she hadn't gotten the story that she wanted.
Pushing off against the lockers. She looked over at Sharpay who was putting a few books in her worn out book bag.
"Have you seen Taylor?" she asked.
Sharpay scoffed. They still didn't get along. "Do I have to say if I did?"
Gabriella smiled. "I would like it if you did."
"She's in the library."
Gabriella thanked her, wished her a safe and Merry Christmas before she ran down the hallways towards the library. Only Taylor would be in the library the last day of school.
Of course it wasn't that hard to find her seeing how she and the librarian were the only two in the room. She was sitting at a table her eyes scanning over a book. Gabriella walked over to her knowing that she wasn't going to let Taylor get away from her now.
Sitting next to her, she made Taylor jump with the sudden appearance. She watched as Taylor bit her lip. Yep she knew what she wanted. Closing the book Taylor turned towards her.
"How was Troy?" Gabriella asked throwing her off.
Taylor looked at her surprised but shrugged her shoulders. "Well he was worse than what Chad said. He had almost passed out. I have never smelled someone who reeked of alcohol as much as he did."
Gabriella felt the guilt flood her body as she listened to Taylor.
"He was of course mumbling about you. How much he loved you, and how he would die if he wasn't with you. Pretty pathetic actually." Taylor said. "But I felt sorry for him."
Gabriella sighed closing her eyes a bit trying to push down the guilt. "The story?" she asked.
Taylor nodded. "Now before I start remember I said that you can't be mad at me. I kept this from you because I didn't think it would make a difference. Then again I could be wrong."
Gabriella said nothing and waited for her to continue.
"Okay when I went back with Chad for thanksgiving, Troy's parent's invited us to this party. A Thanksgiving party that they supposedly have every year."
"Yeah, Troy told me about that."
"Yeah well it was packed. Everyone was there, and when I mean every I mean… Madison."
Gabriella eyes flashed with anger. "I knew it! I knew that he was--"
"Wait! Don't go flying off the handle without knowing the whole story." Taylor snapped looking over her shoulder at the librarian who was giving them a hard look. Taylor turned back to Gabriella and continued. "Troy went out on the balcony I guess to get some air, and Madison followed him. Chad and I were close enough to hear the conversation, mostly because Chad dragged me over there. He can be very nosy. Anyway, Madison was I think trying to get Troy jealous, she talked about her new boyfriend but Troy didn't take the bate and obviously didn't care. I guess that kinda ticked her off because she…well…" Taylor sighed biting her lip before continuing.
"She what?" Gabriella asked kinda knowing what she was about to say.
"She kissed him."
"What!" Gabriella yelled.
"Miss. Montez!"
Gabriella looked up to find the librarian staring at her with shock. Gabriella apologized before looked back down at Taylor.
"She kissed Troy?" She whispered fiercely.
"He pushed her right off Gabriella. He told her about you and everything…well not everything but he told her that he had a girlfriend. Of course she didn't take that as an answer."
Gabriella felt her blood boil at the thought of someone beside herself kissing Troy. She closed her eyes and took deep trembling breaths. She was a bit surprised that she didn't blame Troy. Not this time no. Yeah she definitely needed help. She got mad over a phone call, but not over a kiss. Maybe it was because she learned her lesson.
She put her head on the desk with a thud. "And you held this information from me why?" she asked Taylor.
"I'm sorry. I knew it wasn't his fault and I just didn't want you two to break up over something so insignificant." Taylor smirked. "But it seemed like you already took care of that."
Gabriella lifted her head. She pulled her cell phone out of her bag and dialed his number. Pride be damned. He didn't pick up and she wondered if it was because he was sleep or just didn't want to talk to her. Oh please don't bite me in the ass Karma, she thought.
"Hey Troy." she spoke within the phone as the voicemail came on. "This is uh…Gabi. I would really like to talk to you when you have the chance, so…yeah…um…talk to you later. "
"He didn't pick up?" Taylor asked.
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "You think." She sighed. "Sorry. I just really need to talk to him." She stood up. "I'm going to go over to his place, hopefully--"
"He won't be there." Taylor said quickly. "Chad told me that he was heading home as soon as school let out."
Gabriella groaned shaking her head. "No…you mean he's not in Albuquerque anymore?"
Taylor looked at her phone. "Not in the last thirty minutes he hasn't been."
Gabriella cursed. A smile was brought to her face.
"What are you thinking?" Taylor asked cautiously.
"Can you get me his address?" Gabriella asked.
"You have--"
"His address in Torreon. His parent's place."
"Ummm….I guess, I could ask Chad."
Gabriella nodded his head. "Okay, just don't…don't tell Chad my plan. I need the address no more than twenty minutes. I gotta put it in my GPS. "
Taylor stood up looking at her face with wide brown eyes. "And what exactly are your plans?"
Gabriella smiled. "I'll be damned if that bitch try's and seduce Troy. I'm going to go get my man."
AUTHORS NOTE: So reviews are most needed. Hopefully this chapter was up to par…I don't know what that means but I've heard ppl say it. Review let me know what you think. I'll try and get another chapter out asap
