It's been -what- five hours since a updated the story? It's summer, I'm at home...and bored.
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Disclaimer: still nothing.
Good Comes Last
by Laugh, in laughnsmile96
Chapter Fifteen: Right Here, Right Now
Right here, Right now
I'm looking at you and
My Heart love the view
Cause you mean everything
Right Here, I'll promise you Somehow that tomorrow
Can wait for some other
Day to be
Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, Right Here, Right Now
"Hello?" Troy said into the phone.
"Troy, this is Ryan," he sounded solemn. Troy put it speaker phone so Gabriella can here as well. "You're doctors called." Troy's eye's widened. It had been completely wiped off of his mind to talk to his doctors about this whole going-back-to-basketball charade.
"Ryan, man, I totally forgot-"
"Look, they're giving you one chance to get back into basketball. If you fail to show that you can, then you gonna go back home," Troy nodded willfully. He hung up.
"God, I totally forgot," he ran a hand through his hair and looked down. Gabriella smiled. She lifted his chin up with her finger.
"You'll do fine," Troy pulled Gabriella closer to him. It hadn't occurred to him before, but tomorrow was his first game. Tomorrow was the beginning of an end.
They held hands. They kept each other close. And they ate each others food. Troy and Gabriella did everything but kiss since that stormy day in June. They were your typical best friends. But, they couldn't come to accept that they could be more.
Troy wanted to spend every single moment with her , and it seemed like he would do anything for it. When Troy went to his monthly liver check-up that was supposed to be for only you and the doctor, he begged her to come, promising that he would do something to pay her back. She came, but later didn't ask for anything back. When their friends, Matt and Ashley, announced their wedding was in two months, Troy ditched the bachelor party and pulled Gabriella from the spinster party as well. He took her to a moon lit beach. Finally, when Troy set foot in the men's locker room after a long time, he pleaded for Gabriella's company. Gabriella didn't say a word. Each time he promised that he would do something to pay her back and by now he owed her too much. But Gabriella refused to ask for anything else. why? Because she secretly wanted to be with Troy too. Every single time Troy dragged her along with him somewhere, she too wanted to be with him.
Yet, dreadfully, without any one's knowing, as the two 25 year olds spent more time together, they fell deeper and deeper in love with each other.
So, again, a month later from when Troy and Gabriella started to work out, they were found in Gabriella's bedroom chit-chatting. Right now, no one was talking. And neither had realized it either. They definitely lost in depths of the other's eyes. Gabriella was the first to look down.
"Troy," she took a hold of his large hand. "when you asked me if I tried to remember my past, that day on the beach, I really do," Troy nodded, encouraging her to go on.
"When I think about it, I get excruciating headaches," she nodded her head towards the pile of medicine she has to take everyday. "You can tell,". "All I can understand right now, is that my past was extremely complicating. So instead of figuring it out, I'd like to live my life right now...with you," Troy looked deep into her eyes and saw it all. Hurt, comfort, angst, drama, and love. He smiled. And he was sure that all he had in his eyes was pure guilt. Because it was eating his heart alive.
He had to tell her. Everything. About his ex-girlfriend. About his meeting with her brother. She had to know everything. Including the fact that he was the one who stole her past.
Troy put an arm around his best friend and pulled her close. "Ella," he said, tearfully. And to Gabriella's fright, one indifferent drop did fall. "You have no idea what you have done to me," Gabriella's eyebrows came together for just a second, confused. Her face was next to his cheek. "I owe you so much," he couldn't manage to say anything about the crash.
She would hate him.
Troy couldn't say anything else. So, he put his head on her lap and let her caress him like a baby.
Alas, the day has come. For eight months Troy had stayed away from his nightmares, and now, after two months of preparation , he was going to bravely approach that same court again. Troy stared at himself in the mirror as Gabriella pressed some wrinkles away on his suit behind him. Before the game, Troy had agreed to hold a press conference on the subject of his return. Which is why he was wearing a newly bought, Gabriella-chosen dark gray suit from Men's Warehouse. Gabriella's patted the dust on his shoulders away and rested her head on his shoulder. She was standing in fairly high heels as well as a two inch stool. Gabriella smiled.
"Nervous?" She played with his luscious hairs while proudly gazing at his reflection. Troy nodded as a reply.
"More about the game than the press conference," he croaked and loosened his tie.
Gabriella turned him around and saw him face-to-face. "Then let's get this done first, shall we?" She kissed his nose. Troy's heart blossomed and it showed in his cheeks. Gabriella stepped down from the stool and began walking out of the dressing room they were in. Troy watched her from a distance.
"Coming?" and he was pushed out of his trance and obliged to follow his love.
"Mr. Bolton, can you explain what really made you take a break from basketball?"
"Are the rumors true?"
Mr. Bolton, did Teagan Crow really steal your money and leave you?" Their voices echoed in Troy's head. It was no doubt that these men wanted to start from the beginning.
Troy sat on the stage with weary look on his face. Agreeing to conduct this press conference was a big mistake. He was tired of all the questions and he wanted them to stop. Troy wanted to fly home and be in the welcoming arms of Gabriella . Troy looked at the other end of the small room in a dainty corner. Gabriella stood there confident in his actions. She looked at him with her deep brown eyes and nodded with a smile. "Do you want to stop?" she mouthed. Troy shook his head at her. He gathered his courage back.
The voices hushed.
"Well, it is true that I had to leave the team for many health issues, of which it has taken a long time to heal. As for Miss. Crow, she did leave me, but I am sure that no money was stolen or else she would've been caught and behind bars right now," the audience roared in laughter. "Besides, why would she need the money with her expert boyfriend picking skills. She is a very successful model as well," Troy could have sworn that Gabriella let out a flowering laugh at his words. Troy nodded at the crowd in front of him to go on.
"Mr. Bolton, is it true that you had to get a kidney transplant?" Troy sighed.
"Yes, that is true,"
"What motivated you to come back to the team?" Troy smiled wide and proud. He looked at his favorite corner course, the truth had to stay hidden.
"I guess, the time had come that I could get fit again and join the team and I am very grateful that the Lakers and letting me come back," The questions continued. On and on until it was finally time to go. Troy stood up and stood for a few pictures. Last minute questions still erupted, but one stood out the most.
"Mr. Bolton, what about your new lady friend, Gabriella Montez? Are you two dating now?" The crows was silenced and all eyes turned to Troy anxious for an answer. Troy looked at the woman who had capture his heart. He looked back.
"Gabriella and I are completely just the best of friends. And I am eternally full with gratitude for what she had done for me," Troy stood up and began talking, until a woman questioner started again.
"Does she know,sir, of what you have done to her," This time even a pin could be heard if it fell. The audience was dead silent. Troy's heart stopped as fright consumed his eyes. The color of his eyes becoming a whiskey gray. He looked around for Gabriella. She was no where in sight. Troy exhaled, completely relieved as his life began to pound in his chest once again.
Gabriella waited for at home after the press conference. The crazy paparazzi and obnoxious fans separated the two and lead Gabriella to take a taxi back home before Troy even left the stage. So, now, Gabriella sat in the living room changed into a pure white strapless dress. It was better than the fancy dress that she had to wear to the conference. Gabriella looked at the watch on the wall. It was over a half an hour since she had come back. Where was he?
Troy looked out the window of the limousine. He was still breathing heavily from outburst at the press conference and still relieved that Gabriella wasn't there when it happened. If at all, Troy himself wanted to tell what happened, rather than her figuring out at a press conference on probably a day when he needed her. The car was driving fast and they were almost home. Meanwhile, Troy's thoughts wandered to Gabriella. Something that happened quite frequently nowadays.
Gabriella waited in the living like she was a princess, waiting for her prince charming to come and sweep her off her feet. The door knob of the house entrance unlocked and opened. She jumped off of her seat immediately ran to the man she waited for.
"Troy!" she yelped. Her arms wrapped around his neck as her head shifted to his shoulder. Likewise, she wrapped her legs around his waist to fully hug him."God, I was so worried. I came here early, and you weren't coming-" Gabriella jumbled off many words until she was cut off by Troy's unusual expression. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Troy's face was bright and his eyes dug into Gabriella's. His mouth wore a pretty smile. Gabriella didn't feel hat she was moving with Troy but suddenly, she felt her back on the cold white wall. She shivered.
"Gabi," Troy uttered, like he was going to say something. But he didn't. Troy put his lips just above her shoulder and traced her neck line with his lips. Gabriella understood where this was going and pulled him closer, her heart starting to chant a beat in her chest. She could feel his steady exhale on her neck. Troy finally reached her face and put his hand on her cheek. Gabriella didn't know what this was but she could feel her lips become dry as Troy inched closer to them with his."Gabi, I-" He was right in front of her lips and as he talked Gabriella could feel his cool breath on her mouth.
"Troy is that you down there?" Marissa called from the top of the stairs. They could hear her feet pattering down towards them. "Well, it's about time. You scared Gabriella half to death," Troy and Gabriella slid apart, one going towards the kitchen and another towards the television set. "It's two-o-clock. Do you two want some lunch before you head to the court?" They nodded at the same time, still silent. "Good. I'll fix some up, and you two go strait upstairs and wash up," And they did.
"You're gonna be the best, wildcat," Gabriella encouraged. The game was just about to begin. Troy had slipped out of the locker rooms just for Gabriella. He was completely shaken. Anxiety boiling in his stomach. Gabriella kissed him on the cheek and gave him one last hug before he had to travel back to the locker rooms.
Almost a few minutes later, Troy charged out of the Lakers banner and ran to center court. As team captain, it was up to him to see who was going to start the game. Troy faced the captain of the opponent's team. The referee chucked the ball in the air and the two jumped at the same time. But Troy, grabbed the ball out of the air first. It was the Lakers' start.
Troy balanced the dribbling ball in his hands. So far the game was a tie. The Lakers were 14 and the Sacramento Kings the same. He was headed for the other side of the court. His eyes knew exactly where his feet should take him. His whole plan for this shot was visualized in his brain. Troy's legs were fast and stable. It was only a few seconds to the shot when he caught the eyes of Gabriella. Even though it was only for a second, when the two connected Troy eye's widened as a realization hit him. It shook his entire being. And he clearly felt that every part of his body was filled to the brim with the sweetest nectar. Immediately, Troy went flying to the basket and dunked the orange ball into the hoop. I love her.
"Ladies and Gentlemen it looks like the game has taken a turn, with the Kings leading 24 to 22. If Troy Bolton can win this shot for the Lakers then this game is all theirs and Troy can keep his position in the team. And I swear, I haven't seen Number 14 play like this in my 14 years of describing a game," the speaker announced. The crowd was hollering crazily as Troy swiftly ran to the other end of the court. His heart was pumping and he was sure that he couldn't feel his big toe. Sweat covered his face and attached his hair to his forehead. He climbed into the air and shot the ball, aiming for rim of the hoop. He landed on the ground and watched ball fly into the air. Everything had gone silent. The orange globe bounced on the rim of hoop and with a swish perfectly went through the basket. Troy collapsed on his knees and looked at the ground. Not a peep came out of anyone until finally Troy lifted his hands in the air hollered in utter bliss.
The crowd picked him and threw him in the air. When they set him down, Troy spotted Gabriella running towards him. His heart skipped a beat and flourished. Troy wrapped his arms around his beloved and spun her around in the air. "Troy, you did it!" she praised giggling like a baby. Gabriella had her hands wrapped around in his neck and Troy's on her waist. They were quiet for a second. Troy grabbed her hand and led her to the Lakers den. As soon as he had her in her arms again he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her ever so lovingly.
"I love you"
