AUTHORS NOTE: Thank you guys for all of the reviews. They, as always made my day. I'm going to work on this story for the next four chapters before going to my other one. I hope you guys enjoy it. It's nothing like I wanted it to be, but personally I liked it this way.
Giving credit to my beta, xxKaitlynnMariexx, I guess I'm going to have to test my patience but she was super fast so yea for her.
Alright on with the story.
Chapter 23
Troy watched with a smile on his face as Gabriella tried her hardest to straddle the horse without using a step. He leaned against the wooden rail and chuckled as his father made his way over to help her. They argued for a few minutes. Gabriella saying that she could do it, and, his father saying that she was too stubborn for her own good.
It was cool and windy out causing Troy to shiver. He couldn't help but to think about the last few days. He loved being around Gabriella, but hearing her complain about Madison was starting to annoy him. How did Madison know where we were? What did you tell Madison? Why does she keep following us? Did she always have to have dinner with us? Troy groaned. All the complaining. Ugh.
But she was right. Somehow Madison had disrupted almost everything that they did together. He showed her around town…Madison offered to join them. He took her out to lunch…Madison was there. He didn't want to be rude and tell her no, but he still considered her as a friend. Even though he would never…ever get back with her. That didn't mean that they couldn't be friends. She had apologized, and knew he loved Gabriella, he saw no warm whatsoever.
"Woo! I did it."
Troy snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at Gabriella who was fixing her pink cow-boy hat. She had begged him to get her one before they went out to the ranch.
"Good job baby!" He called out.
He watched as she rode slowly, led by his father around the training fence. Buttercup was his mother's horse and the only one that he trusted to let Gabi ride. Thunder, his horse, and Russell, his fathers…were just way too big and too…well mean. He had had his horse since before he remembered. They kept them at a ranch a couple ways from the house. His father was not going to have horses roaming around the front yard.
"She's a natural."
He looked to his side and saw his mother coming to stand next to him a horses' brush in her hand.
"Yeah." He agreed.
They watched Gabriella and his father for a few more minutes.
"Have you thought about what you were going to get her for Christmas. It's only in a few days. Or have you already got her present?"
Troy shook his head. "I haven't yet. I can't decide what to get. I don't want to get her anything superficial, but I don't want to get her anything common like a ring or necklace."
"I'm sure she'd love a diamond necklace or earrings."
He shook his head once again. "No. She had diamonds. I want to get her something special, but…I'm completely blank."
"Do you love her?" His mother asked after pausing for a moment.
He looked over at Gabriella and felt his heart beat faster just from looking at her. He watched as she leaned over Buttercup and stroked the brown horses neck, her hair hanging over one side. She smiled down at his father her mouth moving as she was telling him something. She fit into his family perfectly.
"More than anything mom. I've never, loved anyone like I love her."
He heard his mother sigh. "Okay, well remember what your grandmother gave me before she passed?"
Troy shrugged. "Not really, no." He looked up to see Gabriella and his father making their way towards them.
"Remind me to finish this conversation when we get home."
Troy narrowed his eyes and smirked at her, wondering what his mother was up to.
"Hey babe. Did you see me out there." Gabriella asked from on top of Buttercup.
"Yeah you're a natural cowgirl."
"She's naturally stubborn." His father called out.
"I'm going to go back and finish brushing the horses." His mother said pushing back from the fence.
"I'll go with you honey." His father said with raised eyebrows.
Troy sighed heavily as his parents disappeared. He looked up at Gabriella. "My parents are so embarrassing."
"They are so in love."
She leaned down keeping a firm grip on the horse. Troy reached up standing on the fence and attached his lips to hers. His tongue darted into her mouth quickly, before he pulled back.
"I wonder if you can make love on a horse?" she asked laughing.
"You're such a tease." He reached up and kissed her again, placing his hand firmly on the horse to keep his balance, trying to get closer to her. His lips kissed her top one before moving to the corner and her cheek. He wondered if they had enough time to have fun in the car.
"What the hell is she doing here."
His thoughts and lips stopped for a moment as he looked at Gabriella who had her eyes narrowed looking past him. Sighing loudly he didn't need to know who was behind him. He turned around to see Madison riding up on a tan horse.
"Hi Troy!" She called out trotting up.
"Why the hell is she here?" Gabriella mumbled.
"I don't know." he said as he waved back.
Gabriella sighed, and glared at him for a second before looking back at Madison. Troy scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably.
"What are you doing here?" Gabriella asked as Madison stopped the horse in front of them.
Troy's eyes roamed over the beautiful tan horse. He had always liked Madison's horse, ever since he knew her. He knew that his father had been trying to buy it from her but she wasn't selling. The point was he was a beautiful animal. He took a step towards him and ran his hands over his mane.
"He's missed you." Madison said ignoring Gabriella.
"I've always liked Carlos. He is such a beautiful animal." He said still rubbing the horse.
"Carlos?" Gabriella asked making him look back at her. "You named your horse Carlos?"
Madison looked up at her glaring. "So Christmas is coming up. What are your plans Troy?"
Troy opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted.
"He's spending it with me. His girlfriend." Gabriella bit out.
He looked up at her and gave her a confused look. Gabriella instead shrugged her shoulders and concentrated back on Madison.
"Well my mother convinced my father to forgo the big party. So I guess were just having a family thing." he said.
"Well do you mind if my family and I come and celebrate with you. Daddy has actually been talking about getting together, Christmas could be a wonderful time." Madison said with a smile.
He cleared his throat. He didn't know why Madison father wanted to speak to his. They never really got along that well, it was never said but you hear it in their voices. "Well…um…"
"You have some nerve." Gabriella said. "We don't want you there. His parents don't want you there. I sure as hell don't want you there, and Troy doesn't want you there. So stop pretending that you are nice, because we're not buying it. So why don't you stay at home not just on Christmas but every fucking day and leave us alone."
Troy closed his eyes and shook his head. He really didn't want another argument going on between them. He watched as Madison smiled over at Gabriella. She smoothly and confidently pulled herself off of the horse. Taking the reins she walked over to where Gabriella was, pulling Carlos along. The two stood on each side of the fence. Troy looked behind him to see if his father and mother were done "brushing" the horses. He probably would need help.
"Last I heard, Troy had his own voice, and if he didn't want to spend time with me he would have opened his mouth and said it. He doesn't need a bitch to speak for him. Anyway there won't be any staying at home for me. Just for your information, I just got brand new tires. You know after you shredded my old ones."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You stupid bitch I know--"
"Are you going to let her speak to me like that Troy."
Troy glanced at Gabriella, mouth open just a bit. "Madison don't call her a bitch."
"Looks like he opened his mouth that time." Gabriella spat.
"Gabi." Troy warned. "Can we not do this. Please. I don't feel like hearing you two fight. You two have been fighting since we got here. Gabriella, Madison is my friend now. She's apologized and I've accepted. Madison Gabriella is my girlfriend and she's not going anywhere."
The two glared at each other and Troy sighed heavily. Yeah that little speech didn't do any good.
"Wow, Buttercup is looking good." Madison said tying up Carlos. She tucked her hair behind her ear before she hopped up on the fence. Her hand went out to touch my mother's horse but Gabriella's voice stopped her.
"Don't touch my horse you whore."
Madison laughed. "Last I knew Buttercup belonged to Mrs. Bolton's. Not you bitch."
Troy shook his head. Yep, there was no way they were going to get along. Troy didn't know what to do. He was going to need some manly advice.
Madison went ahead and her hand touched Buttercup. Troy looked up at Gabriella was staring at him. He shrugged his shoulders and she scoffed. He knew that she was upset at him. He watched uninterested as Madison ran her hand over the mane as he thought some more. Christmas was out of the question. Not only did Troy want to spend his first Christmas with his girlfriend, alone, he most definitely didn't want to spend it with his ex-girlfriend. Even if they were becoming friends. Troy couldn't dismiss they way she acted when he told her about the fight with Gabriella, and once again she had apologized.
"What?" Gabriella's voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he looked at her. "Ahhh!"
The next thing he knew Buttercup had taken off in a frenzy, with Gabriella on her back. She was holding on to everything that she had her voice screaming for help. Tory's heart raced under his chest as he saw the horse buck wildly, with his girlfriend.
"Gabi!" He yelled. "Gabi! Hold on! "Not thinking he jumped over the fence and ran as fast as he could towards the wild horse. What the hell happened! Buttercup was not calming down. At all. She raced around, neighing and bucking like it was the end of the world.
"Troy! Help me!" He heard Gabriella's tearful cries.
"Madison. Go get my father!" Troy called out, he looked back to actually make sure she would do what he said. He watched her as she slowly jumped from the fence and made her way leisurely towards the corral. Troy cursed. "Hurry up Maddie!" He saw her look back at him with a heavy sigh before she took off.
Focusing his attention back on the horse he raced towards it again. "Gabi!"
"Get me off of here!" She barely yelled her voice raw from screaming.
"Okay…okay…" Troy didn't want to scare buttercup by sneaking up on her so he tried to approach her from the front. That of course did nothing and Buttercup took off again. Troy watched in horror as the horse made it's way towards the fence, before it left across it making Gabriella lose her grip and tumble off of her back.
Troy ran over to the unmoving girl, his heart beating so loudly in his ears that he didn't hear his mother or father calling his name.
Reaching her, he reached out a shaky hand and touched her, moving her hair from her face. Her eyes were closed, her breathing labored.
"Gabi. Gabi. Wake up baby." He mumbled to her. "Are you alright?"
He watched as her brown eyes opened slowly as she looked at him dazed.
"Are you alright?" he repeated. "Does anything hurt or feel broken." His hands traveled over her arms and legs, squeezing to see if she would react. She didn't do anything instead of look at him. She didn't lose her voice did she? Maybe the trauma of the horse going crazy made her lose her voice. Troy shook his head, his fingers going towards her hair again.
"Troy! Oh my God! Is she alright?" His mother said reaching them.
Troy shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. She won't talk."
His father knelt down and moved Gabriella face his way. She looked at him with the same dazed eyes.
"Gabriella. Do you hear me?" He asked in a stern voice. She said nothing. "Gabriella, tell me how old are you?" Troy's heart raced for a different reason. If Gabriella accidentally slipped that she was eighteen their whole cover would be blown. He shook his head. That wasn't what mattered…what mattered was her health and that she was alright. "Gabriella?"
Troy sighed heavily glancing up to see Madison in the near distance along the fence. Her hands were clasped together tightly and her brow drawn up in confusion. Her worried look. He still remembered her worry look. Looking back at Gabriella he decided once more to try and get her attention, before he would take her to the hospital.
"Gabriella. Baby, can you hear me. Are you alright?" He asked.
She blinked her eyes, and her tongue darted out to like her lips. She took a deep breath. "That bitch!" she growled out.
Okay so that wasn't what he expected her to say. He looked at her confusedly as well as his parents.
"Gabriella are you alright dear?" His mother asked, ignoring the small comment she made.
"That fucking bitch!"
Troy watched as Gabriella groaned as she tried to sit up.
"Gabriella you should lay still. You might have strained your back or something." His father cautioned.
"Where the hell is she!" Gabriella snapped looking around.
"Where's who?" Troy frowned at her statement. What the hell was she talking about.
The three of them stood up when they saw that it was pointless trying to keep Gabriella down. Troy pulled her up and watched as her face squinted in pain as she hunched over.
"Where the hell is she?" she repeated.
Troy shook his head. "I really don't know who you're talking about? Are you alright?"
She turned around and froze. "I'll be fine." she mumbled.
Troy, and his parents watched as Gabriella slowly made her way over to the gate. Following her, he received a concern look from his mother whom he just shrugged. He really didn't know what to do or think. He was totally confused.
It didn't take them long to reach the gate, where Madison was still standing there with worry on her face.
"Are you alright Gabriella?" She asked when they were close enough.
It all happened too fast for Troy to stop it before she started. Gabriella suddenly tackled Madison making her shriek in fear. Quickly Gabriella straddled her and tried to get as many punches as she could to the blondes face, though she was having a tough time since Madison kept her face covered with her hands. So Gabriella went for anything else. Arms, chest, stomach.
Troy grabbed Gabriella from around the waste as gently as he could…he still didn't want to bruise her or hurt her further, thought that seemed unnecessary since she was fighting.
"Gabi! Hold up!"
"You fucking skank! You little shit!" She yelled kicking from Troy's arms, and landing one on Madison's leg. Troy could hear Madison crying and screaming out bitch and whore.
"Gabriella. Calm down." His mother said.
"That bitch did that!" Gabriella said lunging at Madison who pushed herself away from Gabriella, still on the ground.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Madison hissed, drops of blood coming from her nose.
"Troy she scared her. Buttercup. That whore stabbed Buttercup with needles."
Troy shook his head. "Needles?"
Gabriella nodded. "Yeah. She stuck them right in Buttercup."
"No I didn't!" Madison yelled. "I would never do that to an animal, or to a human. You're being delusional." She got up dusting her clothes off. "You just wait until my lawyers find out about this. I'm going to charge you with assault you bitch."
"Wait a second." His father said suddenly. "Madison there is no need to get the police involved."
"There sure in hell is!"
"Go ahead get them. And then I'll tell them how you tried to kill me!" Gabriella spat out.
"No!" Troy snapped. "Madison. Please don't call the police." Getting the police involve was going to cause more trouble than anything. Especially for Gabriella and himself with the whole sleeping with the student thing. He sighed heavily, looking over at Madison. Smiling softly and trying to turn on the charm, "Please…for me."
"Fine." Madison said. "For you Troy, not for this delusional bitch."
Troy sighed and looked back towards Gabriella. "Are you alright?"
She looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "You don't believe me?" She asked it in a question.
Troy continued to look at her and didn't break his stare. He knew that he should have believed her, but Madison putting needles into Buttercup. Where did the needles come from, and far as he knew Madison would never hurt any animal, especially horses which were her favorite. He licked his lips.
"How can you not believe me?" Gabriella seethed. "She had three needles and she just stuck them right in Buttercup."
"Maybe it was just a bee sting or something." Troy tried to reason. He watched her mouth fall open in shock and he shook his head, hoping not to cause another argument between the two of them. "Look Gabriella maybe the fall muddled your thoughts a bit. Okay…I know you don't like Madison so maybe you brain is making you think--"
"I'm not thinking! I know! That bitch tried to kill me and you are defending her!" Gabriella yelled tears coming to her eyes.
Troy felt a tremendous pain of guilt rest in his stomach as he defended himself. "No. I'm not defending her. Not at all. I just think that maybe your mind is playing--"
"My mind isn't playing fucking tricks on me!" She snapped.
The couple stared at each other. One with guilt in their eyes the other with fire.
"Maybe we should take this home." Troy heard his father say. He couldn't agree more. Nodding he looked back at Madison.
"Are you going to be okay getting home?" he asked the blonde.
He watched her cast her eyes to the ground, before gently touching the purple bruises that were forming on her arm and neck. "I don't know. I hurt a lot. Maybe you could drop me off."
"Bullshit! I barely hurt you!" Gabriella yelled. "I'm the one that just got thrown off a damn horse!" She looked over at Troy. "You put her in that car and I swear I will fucking kill her. I will literally go to jail for killing her!"
Troy closed his eyes tightly and nodded his head. "Um…dad?" his father looked over at him. "Do you think you could drive Madison home."
His father sighed and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess I could do that."
"But…um…." Madison tried to say but Troy cut her off.
"I really need to get Gabriella home. Make sure she's alright from the fall."
"That you caused." Gabriella mumbled.
"I'll go with you." His mother said following his father.
"How am I suppose to get home. I was going to call you to pick me up." His father said.
His mother looked over at Madison with thin lips before sighing. "I--I--"
"I'll be fine. I promise." His father kissed her longingly on the mouth before helping Madison away from the three.
Troy frowned as he looked at his mother who was frowning after her husband. "Come on mom."
The three walked toward the car that they had rode up to the corral together. His mother offered Gabriella the front seat as Troy got into the driver's seat, but she shook her head and sat in the back.
Troy looked back at her. "You're upset with me?"
"You don't believe me." she mumbled once they took off.
"Gabriella I just don't see how she could have done it. Where were the needles? I mean you saw her ride up, tie her own horse up, and climb the fence. She couldn't done that with needles in her hands."
Gabriella scoffed. "I'm you're girlfriend. You are suppose to believe me. Not her."
"I'm not taking her side--"
"You might as well. You think I'm a delusion bitch also."
Troy shook his head. "No I don't." He said simply. He concentrated on driving for a while…well he tried to. He couldn't believe the events that happened today. They had started out so good only to end up arguing with each other. Troy tried to put himself in Gabriella spot. If it was Kade who was at the scene of his death defying moment he would probably blame the bastard also. Though the thought did actually pass his brain that Madison could have truly done what Gabriella said she did. People died from falling off of horses. Backs broken…spines ruptured. It was serious stuff. He truly had not been so relieved when he saw Gabriella tackle Madison because he knew she was alright.
She was right though. She was his girlfriend, he should have believed her. Maybe that is why he felt so guilty.
"I believe you Gabriella."
Troy's thoughts snapped as he looked over at his mother who was looking out the window.
"You do?" Gabriella asked.
"Yes, Buttercup has gotten stung many times by bees…she's a horse for God's sake. She's been stung and she's been stung with me on her back. She's never reacted that way before. Heck…she's never ever did that before ever. " she looked over at Troy. "A bee did not cause my horse to act that way Troy."
Troy glanced back at Gabriella through the rear-view mirror and nodded his head. What his mother said made sense. He had never seen Buttercup at that way, she could have only did it if she was provoked in some way. Shaking his head slightly he cursed himself in believing in Madison since that's actually what he had been doing.
"I'm sorry." he said softly, hoping that Gabriella would forgive him. His hands tightened on the steering wheel. Damn he was such a idiot.
"You're not just saying that are you?" Gabriella said.
Troy shook his head. "No. I guess…I guess I just…I…" He took a deep breath trying to word her thoughts. "The only ugly side I've ever saw in Madison was the day she broke up with me. "
"Don't forget dinner dear." His mother pointed out when Madison first met Gabriella.
"yes and dinner mom." Troy continued. "Anyway, I've known her so long it's hard for me to think that she would do something like that. She's changed, and I'm sorry."
He watched as Gabriella nodded her head before leaning back and closing her eyes. Troy continued to drive with a heavy heart back home.
When they finally reached it, Gabriella had drifted off to sleep. Troy gathered her in his arms, careful not to wake her.
"You go ahead and get dad." He said to his mother giving her the keys.
He had never seen his mother drive so fast.
Once inside the house he took the brunette to his room and placed her gently on his bed. He knew that she needed a shower and he needed to clean her cuts and still make sure she didn't need to go to the hospital.
He sat at the edge of the bed and put his face into his hands. He was so stupid. He should have known better than to trust Madison. She hurt him before there was no doubt that she would hurt him again and she did. He could understand her dislike towards Gabriella just as he understood Gabriella's dislike…or more like hatred towards Madison. But for Madison to actually hurt Gabriella physically. There was no explanation.
"Are you alright?"
He looked back at Gabriella and sighed. Shaking his head he answered her. "No. No. I'm stupid. I…I should have believed you when you first said something."
Gabriella nodded her head. "Yes, you should have." Troy cringed, but Gabriella continued. "But I guess I was a little too hard on you."
"No you weren't--"
"Yes I was. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. But I just thought you were taking her side. Like you said Troy you've known her for a long time. Longer than you've known me. I wouldn't be surprise if you took her side."
Troy shook his head. "But you're my girlfriend. Like you said. I should have believed you. Not that I was defending Madison in anyway…" he defended himself. "But I should have--"
Gabriella sat up in bed and shook her head. "Can we just put this behind us. As long as I don't see that…girl…again I'll be fine. Really." Troy sighed in relief as she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down beside her. "Besides Christmas is coming up and I want to spend it with you stress free."
He smiled as she softly placed her lips against his. Troy watched as she feel asleep soon after that, thanking the fates that everything had worked out…at least for now.
AUTHORS NOTE: You obviously know what to do...or what you should do at least. Reviews are much needed and I'd be extremly grateful for them so yeah tell me what you think
