Dreams or Desire
"Don't be nervous babe." Gabriella turned to her boyfriend and looked at him like he was insane.
"I can I not be nervous. I am going to see my ex-best friend for the first time in like 6 months!" Gabriella exclaimed as the two entered Brett's Malibu beach house for his annual Fourth of July party.
"I know honey, but there are going to be plenty of people here. You won't even have to look at her." Gabriella just nodded and Troy kissed her forehead. He then opened the door to see that the party was already in full swing. They made their way to the patio, hand in hand. After getting drinks and saying hi to a few people they found themselves in a conversation with Brett, his girlfriend Jessica, Luke, Jordan, and his girlfriend, Rebecca. Over the past few months the girls had become relatively close, considering the friendship their boyfriends had with one another.
"Okay, first of all we need to talk about this dress you are wearing," Jessica said in a girly tone, referring to the Emilio Pucci summer dress Gabriella was wearing.
"I agree," Rebecca added. Gabriella giggled, leading Troy to smile at her, and the other boys to roll their eyes.
"So, what do you wanna do now babe?" Troy asked as they left the Venice café that they had eaten lunch at.
"Let's just walk around. Explore," she replied with a smile, still not over the fact that she was in Venice.
"Sounds perfect." He took her hand in his.
"Oh my god that dress is amazing," Gabriella suddenly said, as they walked by the Emilio Pucci's store, who was a famous Italian designer known for his colorful patterns. Troy turned to see the short blue and white summer dress that was on the mannequin.
"Well hopefully they have it in your size," he replied. Her eyes widened as he began to walk towards the store.
"Are you crazy Troy?" He turned around and looked at her confused. "That dress is at least a thousand dollars!" He rolled his eyes and placed his hands on her waist.
"You really think I was gonna take you to Europe and just let you window shop?" he asked with raised eyebrows and she sighed.
"But Troy, as sweet as it is, if you buy me expensive clothes…" she started in a whiney tone.
"You are going to feel like an NBA Housewife?" She just nodded. "Look baby, I know that you aren't with me because of my money, so you aren't some stereotypical trophy wife. I like seeing you in things that I've bought you. It's sexy, it reminds me that you are all mine. I don't care how expensive it is because you deserve nothing but the best there is out there."
"So you know that even if you had no money what so ever, I would love you the same amount as I do now?"
"Of course I do, which is one of the many reasons why I love you." They smiled at one another, before sharing a loving kiss. "Now, I think you have a dress to try on." Gabriella just giggled as he led her into the store.
"What can I say? I have an amazing boyfriend," she smiled, leaning into him and placing her hand on his chest.
"I can't believe you bought her a Pucci dress," Jessica said in awe. Troy looked down at Gabriella and smiled.
"Anything for my girl," he replied before kissing the top of her head.
"Wanna stop dude? You're making us look bad," Jordan told Troy, who just chuckled.
"Yeah! Why can't you buy me a Pucci dress?" Jessica asked Brett.
"Well first of all I have no idea but Pucci is, but it sounds pretty expensive, and I'm sorry babe, but I don't make 21 million dollars a year," Brett replied.
"You live on the beach in Malibu, I think you are doing pretty well for yourself," Troy shot back and Brett just glared at him as everyone else laughed.
"Anyway, tell us more! Besides all the amazing shopping you did, what else did you guys do?" Rebecca asked.
"A lot of sight seeing. We were such tourists," Gabriella laughed. "Between all the architecture and the art, everything there is so beautiful."
"Dude, please don't tell me you let her drag you through museums," Jordan asked Troy, groaning.
"He sure did. And he didn't complain once," Gabriella smiled proudly.
"Troy, can you give these boys a lesson on how to be a good boyfriend?" Rebecca asked. Troy and Gabriella laughed as Brett and Jordan glared at Troy.
"I liked you so much better when you were an asshole and a player. We always looked like the good ones," Brett said to Troy.
"I agree," Jordan added.
"Well you guys better get used to it, because that Troy is never coming back. Right babe?" Gabriella asked, looking up at him.
"Of course not," he replied and she smiled, before turning back to their friends.
"And oh my god! The restaurants! Literally it is the best food ever! And every single one was so romantic."
"Well the cities themselves must be so romantic," Jessica asked more than stated.
"That's the best part," Gabriella replied, smiling up at Troy. "Take all the shopping and museums away and it still would've been perfect."
"God, look at this place, I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful in my life," Gabriella said, as she looked at the gorgeous view of Venice from the rooftop restaurant that Troy had taken her to.
"I have," Troy replied, looking into her eyes with a wide smile. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"The effectiveness of cheesy lines only last for the first few weeks of a relationship."
"Can't blame me for trying."
"I guess not," she smiled and he reached across the table and took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers. "These really have been like the best two weeks of my life, thank…"
"I swear to god Bella, if you thank me one more time…" She just giggled and blushed, and her heart fluttered at the sound of his new nickname for her. After being told that bella was Italian for beautiful, and realizing that Bella had somewhat of a relation to his girlfriend's name, Troy had decided that his nickname for her would be Bella.
"I know, I just feel bad, I don't know how I could possibly repay you."
"Baby you have risked so much to be with me, that's enough for me."
"Seriously man, I hate you," Jordan stated, glaring at Troy.
"Me too," Brett added.
"Don't worry babe, I still love you," Jessica smiled to Brett kissing his cheek. He just smiled and blushed, and everyone else chuckled.
"So you guys wanna hit the water?" Troy asked.
"You just wanna see Gabs in a bikini," Jordan replied.
"Can you blame me?" he asked back, leading Gabriella to blush. "Come on lets go." The six friends made their way to the edge of the patio.
"Last one there buys next dinner!" Brett exclaimed, and the three boys automatically sprinted towards the ocean, taking off their shirts as they ran. The three girls looked at each other and shook their heads. They removed their cover ups, leading Gabriella to reveal the Pucci bathing suit that matched the dress.
"He bought you a Pucci bathing suit too?" Jessica asked in shock.
"Is it too much?" Gabriella asked worried. "Should I have just worn one or the other?"
"No!" Rebecca exclaimed. "It's so cute and you look amazing! I would do the same exact thing!"
"It doesn't look like I'm showing off?"
"Oh shut up Gabs," Jessica replied, rolling her eyes. "There is nothing wrong with wearing a designer bikini." Gabriella just smiled and nodded. The girls made their way to the ocean, and as they did, they walked right past Taylor. As the two former best friends made eye contact, Taylor shot Gabriella a death glared, who just rolled her eyes at the action. Not wanting to deal with it, Gabriella just turned to her other friends. The three walked onto the beach to see their boyfriends arguing who won the race, making them shake their heads. The boys then caught the sighed their bikini clad girlfriends, and immediately stopped arguing. They glanced at each other, before running towards their respective girlfriends. All the girls squealed in surprise as their boyfriends picked them up and carried them into the ocean. Once they were waist deep, the boys let go of the girls, dropping them into the water. Gabriella giggled, before Troy grabbed her by the waist, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, and her arms around his neck. They kissed one another lovingly, completely forgetting that their friends were also in the ocean. They pulled away smiling, before Gabriella's face fell.
"What's wrong love?"
"I just saw Taylor. I swear to god if looks could kill I'd be dead 5 times already." Troy sighed and pulled her closer.
"Just ignore her, she's just being stupid and immature." Gabriella just nodded. They kissed once again, and once they pulled away, Gabriella glanced behind Troy, only to see Taylor staring at them in disgust. "What is it babe?"
"Taylor is staring at us."
"Well if she wants to watch us, then we might as well give her a show." Gabriella smiled before he kissed her passionately. When they finally needed air, they pulled away and he placed his mouth at her ear. "Thank you for giving me an excuse to that." She couldn't help but giggle.
"Anything for you," she flirted and he smiled.
"I love you, you know that?" She smiled and nodded, before kissing him again.
"And just so you know, I like the caring, sweet, dedicated Troy much better than the cocky player."
"Like? I just pulled an I love you and that's all I get?" He joked leading her to giggle. She placed her forehead on his.
"I love you too," she smiled.
--
About an hour later, after a lot of flirting and making out in the ocean with Troy, as well as joking around with their friends, Gabriella walked out of Jessica's bathroom, for she had just changed out of her bathing suit.
"Oh my god! Can you believe what she is wearing?" Gabriella froze at the sound of her former friend's voice. She turned to see a bathroom door that was slightly open.
"I know!" A girl that Gabriella recognized as the girlfriend of Troy and Chad's friends, replied.
"It doesn't surprise me. She always needs to be the center of attention." Gabriella's jaw dropped and tears welled up in her eyes.
"I can so see that. I mean the Pucci dress with a matching bathing suit, and the brand new Balenciaga, I mean really? Who does she think she is?"
"I have no idea."
"I can't believe Troy bought her all that stuff." Taylor scoffed and a look of confusion came across Gabriella's face.
"Oh, I can. According to Chad, he's done this before. He cheated on his girlfriend and felt guilty about it, so he just bought her a bunch of nice stuff. I'm sure it's the same with Gabriella." Gabriella's entire body tensed and her heart sank to her stomach. "She's so naïve. I can't believe someone as smart as her could be that clueless." Before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face. Not being able to take it anymore, she ran downstairs, and towards the door, not even noticing Troy, who followed her as soon as he caught sight of her.
"Gabriella!" At the sound of her name, she stopped running and turned around. Troy tensed up with worry as soon as he saw the tears streaming down her face. "Baby, what's wrong?"
"Is it true Troy?" She asked through her sobs and he looked at her confused.
"Is what true?"
"That you only buy me nice things because you feel guilty for cheating on me!" Troy's jaw hit the floor.
"What?! Where the hell did you get that idea?"
"I overheard Taylor talking to Megan. Chad told her that you've done this before. When you cheated on your girlfriend!" Troy sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
"It was a long time ago Gabriella," He started in a sad tone, and she choked out a sob. "But I promise you that I have never ever cheated on you, and I never would."
"How do I know that? Cause you bought me things?"
"No! Because I love you!"
"Well considering I am apparently naïve and clueless, I don't know if I should believe that."
"Did Taylor seriously say that about you?" Troy asked in shock. Gabriella just nodded. "Bella don't listen to a word she says. You can't."
"Well it's too late for that," she replied harshly before storming off. He watched in shock as Gabriella got the car keys from the valet that Brett had hired. It quickly turned into anger, and before he knew it, he had stormed into the house. His eyes filled with furry, he searched for Taylor. As soon as he saw her talking with a group of people, he rushed over, and didn't say a word to anyone else, instead just went right up to her.
"What the fuck is your problem?!" Everyone standing around his girlfriend's ex-best friend froze and looked at him in shock.
"What the fuck man?" Chad asked his best friend, standing up for his girlfriend.
"Shut up Chad!" Everyone practically jumped, extremely surprised at the fact that Troy had just yelled at his best friend. But before Chad could shoot a come back, Troy focused his attention back to Taylor. "Seriously, who the fuck do you think you are? Gabriella heard your little convo with Megan in the bathroom, and on top of the fact that she is hurt that you actually had to nerve to call her naïve and clueless, she now also thinks that I'm cheating on her. And you might think I am too, but the second you called my girlfriend a gold digging whore; me, Gabriella, and our relationship became none of your fucking business. Fine I admit it, I cheated on my last girlfriend, and yeah, I was guilty so I bought her stuff…" Troy suddenly stopped his tirade and turned to Chad, still furious.
"By the way, thanks for that man," he spat sarcastically. Before Chad could reply, Troy turned back to Taylor. "I did those things because at that point in my life I was a jackass and that's the only thing I knew how to fix things, even though it wasn't even a serious relationship. But guess what, I have never cheated on Gabriella and I never would. You might not believe me, but I don't give a shit, because I don't have to prove anything to you."
"So how do you explain the one thousand dollar dress? The three hundred dollar bathing suit? The two thousand dollar bag?" Taylor shot back.
"I fucking love her! Because she deserves nothing but the best there is out there! If you have a problem with me spoiling my girlfriend, then that is your issue. If you feel like that trashing Gabriella will make you feel better about yourself, then good for you, but guess what, jealousy is an ugly emotion and it will come back to haunt you."
"You think I'm jealous of Gabriella?" Taylor asked in disgust.
"I think you always have been. I know Gabriella was the popular girl in school, so let me guess, you were known as 'Gabriella's friend'. When you got a 98 on a test she got a 99. But then, you found Chad, who was a nice guy and treated you well, and Gabriella got together with me, who you thought of as a jackass and a guy who would treat her horribly. And for one moment there, you were on top, but then you saw how well things were going with me and Gabriella, you saw how well I treated her, and once again you felt that you were second best. And I get it, everyone gets jealous, but to the point where you wanna ruin your best friend's relationship? Are you fucking kidding me? I swear to god Taylor, if you do one more thing that puts my relationship with Gabriella in jeopardy, I will make your life a living hell." Finished with his rant, Troy turned to Chad, who was standing there in complete and utter shock, not only at the fact that Troy had yelled at his girlfriend, but at the fact that his girlfriend had said those things. "You know Chad, you've made some pretty big mistakes with relationships in the past, but this is by far your biggest. Now if you would all excuse me, I have to convince my girlfriend that I'm not a cheating asshole."
Please Review!!! Drama!! Please don't hate me!! Don't worry, knowing me, it wont last long. I tried to make it seem like Gabriella really is down to earth even though she has all these things now, and I hope it worked. Sorry to all of you Taylor fans for making her a bitch in this story, but I couldn't really help myself. I was never a fan of the character, considering in every movie she does something that leads to something coming in between Troy and Gabriella. I find it very annoying. Anyway, I hope you don't mind that I didn't do a whole chapter based on Europe. I wanted to do a chapter that wasn't pure fluff, because there has been and is going to be plenty of that.