Dreams or Desire
"What's your problem, dude?" Jordan asked as an annoyed Troy walked into the locker room the next day.
"I don't wanna talk about it," he grumbled placing his bag in his locker.
"Well don't let it effect your game dude," Luke added. Troy didn't even glance at his teammates.
"It won't."
--
Gabriella sighed as she gathered her things from her locker to put them in her gym bag. It had been a rough game, especially considering that Troy looked pissed off the entire time. Even though the Lakers had won, it was clear that Troy hadn't played as well as he normally did. She couldn't help but be hurt, knowing that she was the reason for it. At this point all she wanted was to go home and relax. However, when she discovered the note under her hairspray, she realized she wouldn't be able to go straight home, which is why at the present time, she was walking up to Troy in the players parking lot.
"What do you want?" she asked annoyed, but with sadness in her voice as well.
"You," he said simply, and she sighed.
"Troy, please," Gabriella begged, tears welling up in her eyes. "As much as I want it, I can't. This is my dream. My mother's dream. It would break her heart if I threw it all away for a guy."
"I know. I know Gabi. I've been there. I know how hard it is."
"How could you possibly know?" He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, looking away. He took a deep breath before turning to her.
"In high school I had a girlfriend of 2 years. We planned on going to U of A together. They had offered me a scholarship to play basketball, so I decided to go. It was perfect, I would be playing basketball and I would have her. But then I got an offer from Duke. It had always been my dream school, but going there meant leaving her behind. After a lot of thinking I decided to go to Duke, and I left her. I don't regret going to Duke, but I realized in the end that no matter what my dream was I should've at least given the long distance thing a shot, instead of throwing it all away. I know what it's like to lose someone because of a dream. I don't want that to happen again. And I know you don't want to go through life wondering what could've been." By the end of Troy's speech, Gabriella had tears streaming down her face. She collapsed into his arms and began to sob into his chest. He hugged her tight, one hand on her lower back, the other on the back of her head. He closed his eyes, taking in the feeling of having her in his arms.
"I'm so sorry Troy," she cried.
"It's okay. I understand. But you should know what I'm not the kinda guy that has a girl in every city." She pulled away and looked at him like he was crazy.
"Are you seriously trying to tell me that you've never hooked up with a girl on the road?"
"No, I'm telling you that if I had you to come home to, I wouldn't. Gabriella, ever since college it's been about hooking up with as many girls as possible. This is the first time since Allison that I have no desire to hook up with random girls. Now all I want is you. To be able to kiss you whenever I want. To spoil you rotten. To call you baby."
"I…I think that is the sweetest thing a guy has ever said to me," she said through her tears and he gave her a sweet but sad smile. He reached up and placed his hand on her cheek, wiping her tears away with his thumb, however they just kept coming. "I don't know what to do Troy."
"Well, I guess there could be some excruciating pleasure in waiting till the season is over." Gabriella just shook her head.
"They wouldn't let me come back," she muttered sadly.
"No one has to know," he protested.
"Are you serious Troy? You are a public person. Don't you think someone is going to get suspicious when they realized you haven't hooked up with a supermodel in months?" He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
"So what then? We ignore our feelings until one of us retires? That could be years! I have a five-year contract and you are good enough to do this for as long as you want!"
"Troy, please," she begged through tears. "Don't make it harder than it already is. I mean I want you too but we've only spoken like 5 times. We haven't even been on a date. Is it really worth risking everything."
"I know things have gone pretty fast. And if you don't think that there is a chance that we will last, I understand. I wouldn't throw away everything I've worked for, for someone I had no future with, and I don't think you should. But I think you know that we could have a future together, or else it wouldn't be so hard. And I know you felt something when we kissed." She just nodded and he took her in his arms once again. "You know how much I care about you, how much I want you, you know how well I would treat you, I don't know what more there is to say."
"You don't need to say anything else Troy. I just need to think." Troy nodded and pulled out of the hug.
"I'll be waiting." She nodded and he kissed her forehead, before getting into his car. She took a deep breath and wiped away her tears before walking to her car, unaware that someone had heard the entire thing.
Please Review!!! Sorry it was a little short but I had to leave it there. I know that is a pretty painful cliffhanger but I had to do it. Who do you think it is? I'll give you a little tiny spoiler though. There will very possibly be some references to 17 Again in some future chapters. There is a new chapter of I Know What It's Like up, so please check it out!
And if you haven't heard Ashley's new single you have to check it out. It is amazing, I can't stop listening to it.