Chapter 3
Disclaimer: All creative rights to the characters in this story related to High School Musical belong to its original creators. Any other names, places or events that may have similarity to existing/actual names, places or events is purely coincidental and the use of such is for the purpose of this story alone. Lastly, the author does not, in any way, profit from this story.
Gabriella's brother Jason, Troy discovered, is not a Montez but a Cross. He is of the same age as Gabriella. He has coal black hair that appears to be in desperate need of a comb or better yet a pair of scissors. He's average in height, slightly on the chubby side but quite good looking and he seems to possess an amiable personality as his lively eyes made a fleeting sweep of Troy from head to foot. Jason also did not spend his time inside the apartment romping with his girlfriend like he and Gabriella initially assumed because when they returned from the diner, Jason was fully clothed and was just about to enter the apartment as well.
Jason didn't look surprised either when he saw Troy with his sister and if Troy was expecting a reaction from him, it definitely wasn't of Jason Cross laughing his ass off at him after Gabriella hastily enlightened him of the events that led up to their meeting, then bluntly telling Troy between bouts of laughter and despite Gabriella's stern demand for him shut up that, "Chad and me always wondered when she'd tire bringing home furry four legged ones."
"What do you mean?" Troy inquired askance, looking from a laughing Jason who he was beginning to like less to Gabriella who was blushing and glaring with murder in her eyes at her oblivious brother.
"Strays, man!" Jason exclaimed heartily, clapping him on the shoulder with a force that should have sent Troy staggering forward if he weren't able to brace his stance in time. "Gabster here," He roughly pulled a scowling Gabriella to his side and looped his arm over her resisting shoulders and gave it a hard squeeze of affection. "has a soft heart for strays. Just last week she brought home a stray kitten and now . . . here you are!"
Troy's stunned gaze shifted back to Gabriella who winced, either from the brusque affection given by her brother or from embarrassment because of her brother, and then she returned his gaze with an apologetic look that Troy understood to mean she can't stop Jason any more than he can and to just bear with it. "Where's the stray kitten now?" He raised a brow and directed his question to Gabriella.
With a sheepish smile, Gabriella opened her mouth to answer him but was immediately cut off by her brother.
"Is that the—Crespi slip-ons?" Jason suddenly blurted in complete discord with the current topic of strays. His unrelated outburst broke off Troy and Gabriella's shared silent look then shifted their attention to Jason who swiftly knelt at Troy's feet to closely inspect the black pinstripe designed Vans shoes, that for reasons unfathomable to Troy and only known to Jason, he seems very in awe of.
"Yes." Troy replied, impulsively moving back a step away from Jason, confused and a little harassed by the abrupt change in the other man at the sight of an ordinary pair of shoes, which made him throw another questioning glance at Gabriella who now looked completely mortified by her brother's behavior.
She cast him an apologetic look, opened her mouth to say something then quickly changed her mind with a helpless shake of her head. "Jason, stand up!" Gabriella snapped instead, grabbing Jason's arm to pull him to his feet as she did so. "Don't be an idiot!"
"I've been saving to buy me a pair of that."
"Yes, you keep telling us since last year—until now you have nothing saved!"
"Gotta stop taking girls on dates."
"You need to stop a lot of other stupid things."
"I don't get it—"
"You're a moron!"
Taking a safer distance as the siblings exchanged words, cautious not to get caught in the middle like the times he found himself in the thick of Ryan and Sharpay's verbal slander against each other and barely survived with his clothes intact, Troy sighed harshly, running a hand through his hair. This is one hell of a mess he plunged into and he's unprepared for it. He's had enough stress for one day and he could tell Jason is quite a hand full. How Gabriella—who he thinks is smart, witty, mannerly and considerate—survived living with a brash, ill mannered, I-could-care-less person all these years is beyond the ken of his rationality.
If Jason is a glimpse of what the other brother and the aunt will be, he will have a hard time keeping his disposition in check, even for just a few hours.
Withdrawing his thoughts from what is still to be decided, he scanned the apartment instead—he failed to do so minutes before because of his astonishment from meeting Jason that he now concludes, apart from his earlier impression, as blunt, a little slow in the head and possesses the attention span of a five year old—he noted right off that it was small like what Gabriella claimed. In fact, carefully trailing his eyes across the area within its four walls, he realized his own room in the Los Angeles mansion as well as his other bedrooms in the other houses his family owns is bigger than the apartment where purportedly four people live.
A small sofa, two extra chairs with no back rest and a low rectangular center table that's bare are flanked in a semi circle in front of a small television screen on top of a black table positioned against the wall, Troy assumed, made up the living room which is where they are crowding now. There is a disc player placed on the table's horizontal partition halfway down the length of the table's legs and there are two—small sized—plastic drawer type containers stacked next to the television which, as Troy read from the labels, contained an alphabetized DVD arrangement of the movies and series they have. Overhead, attached to the wall, parallel racks hold several books lined according to height and some board games. The limited living area pans out into four closed doors probably bedrooms and a bathroom and a door-less entry to what looked to be a kitchen and dining area in one.
But despite the obvious meager size of the place, Troy was startled to see it was very clean and it smelled clean too. He isn't sure if there's anything brand new of the things he's seeing but everything looked—from the sparse furniture to the modest home decors that hung on one wall—incredibly clean and orderly that he was confident he wouldn't feel squeamish or disgusted or have an urge to sneeze if he touched any of it. There isn't anything he could see that is unkempt or misplaced and the apartment gave an impression that very fastidious people live there. Gabriella and her aunt must be so because obviously imagining Jason as the type of guy who pays particular attention to orderliness is such a farfetched and absurd notion.
The inside of the apartment is definitely a revelation to Troy considering the dismal state of the building they were in and his general opinion of this part of town. And if the shock of meeting Jason made him reconsider the wisdom of his decision to stay here, the overall tidiness of the place and his positive impression of Gabriella forced him to linger, provided, of course, Gabriella's aunt allows him to settle here overnight.
He was about to move forward to assist Gabriella with pulling the obstinate Jason upright when the front door opening caught his attention and Troy involuntarily braced himself for another awkward meeting with, he assumed, Gabriella's other brother Chad. In came a dark skinned guy, with a poofed up crown of hair slightly bouncing as he bobbed his head to whatever music is playing from the sound buds stuck to his ears. His head was bent low so Troy couldn't clearly see his face; this brother seems carried away by the music he was listening to, his hand imitated an intense drumming motion while he simultaneously closed the door with the heel of his foot. He then swung his backpack from his shoulders, took two steps, looked up and stopped dead in his tracks.
His eyes very slowly went from Troy—lingering on him for a few seconds while his dumbfounded face gave way to a deep frown—to Gabriella whom he raised a quizzical brow at, then narrowed sharply on Jason. "I must be in the wrong apartment or else my eyes are playing tricks on me." He drawled derisively then he removed the buds from his ears and tossed his backpack on the sofa before standing straight to cross his arms over his chest, keeping his gaze on the kneeling brother. "Jason, if you're on your knees praying for your sins, I can assure you right now you'll be kneeling for a month, even more, so don't bother."
"Chad . . ." Gabriella spoke ready to make light of Troy's presence but with an almost imperceptible shake of his head, Chad silenced Gabriella then he turned his attention back at Jason.
In a half kneel, Jason paid no attention to the acerbic remark and instead pointed out the cause of his fascination. "He's wearing Crespi, Chad!" He said as if that justifies his undignified kneeling. "And I think it's the real thing, not a fake."
Troy felt compelled to react, rather affronted Jason would think he'd wear a cheap imitation of anything that he forgot to consider their social differences and that Jason was only speaking based on his knowledge of what kind of things the people he's acquainted with often buy to get their hands on a certain brand. "It's real." He insisted adamantly, letting his annoyance show regardless that he's the stranger in their home who's hoping to be allowed to stay if he makes a good impression as their potential house guest.
"Stand up, Jason." Chad firmly ordered of his brother and turned his full attention on Troy. "Who are you supposed to be?" He didn't sound pleased and his displeasure showed well on his face and posture.
Realizing too late that Chad took exception to his belligerent retort, Troy forced to calm his ire over the trivial matter of his shoes' authenticity. He did dress very casually when he left the hotel. The pair he's wearing cost but a tiny fraction of the others he owns. Imagine how Jason would react to the really expensive ones. The guy would probably end up kissing his feet.
He shook his head. Although he managed to carefully mask how he felt and altogether dismiss his affront for the shoes, deep down he still feels aggravated that he's now being forced to mind what he says and does because he's literally at the mercy of these people, Gabriella's brother in particular and soon, her aunt.
He's out of his own world and into theirs. He is now the person who's trying to please another to win their favor. And he doesn't like to be on that end of the stick but unless he can think of a better way out of this mess with his father, he has to accept the temporary situation as such.
If this happened to any one of his friends or acquaintances, he'd surely find it laughable but since he's the one stuck in this predicament, the notion doesn't seem funny in the least bit.
Seeing Chad's disapproving scowl only reinforced in Troy that like Gabriella, they don't know who he is or how much he's actually worth or that being a Bolton means he's accustomed to always getting what he wants when he wants it, no questions asked. But Chad and Jason, and he's almost sure the aunt as well, wouldn't really care regardless. Actually, Gabriella didn't care either. In fact, earlier, she sounded disappointed when she said he's rich and he had a feeling she was waiting for him to deny it, which is the oddest reaction he's ever gotten from a female or anyone for that matter.
It also looks as though they don't give a shit what Troy thinks of them. Be it good or bad. It won't affect them. But they won't harm him either. Troy is sure of it, as sure as knowing without Chad explicitly telling him that because he's in their turf, it's their rules being imposed on him and like it or not, temporary or not, they expect him to abide by it if he really wants to stay. Come to think of it, Chad's silently communicated view of Troy's position in their territory is pretty much the same as his own views, his own imposition on others when he's in his home turf and for that he couldn't fault the guy.
Gabriella's brother Chad, Troy decided, is not like Jason. He's also not a real brother to either Jason or Gabriella judging from his looks, although compared to Jason, he seems smarter, probably as astute as Gabriella and quite self assured. Maybe he's older than Jason and Gabriella because, Troy could see, of the three, he's definitely the authority figure. If things were different, Troy thought, he would have liked the guy. Unfortunately, that isn't the case here and besides, if Gabriella's aunt will allow, his stay will only be for a few hours so it wouldn't really matter what their opinion of each other is.
Gabriella let go of Jason's arm, upsetting his balance. "Chad, This is Troy Bo—" She began to explain trying to draw her brother's attention to her, already she can sense the unsavory impressions Chad was making of Troy and his curiosity for Troy being there was evident in his questioning gaze. For some reason, the last thing she wants is for Chad to decide against Troy staying with them and evict him out of the apartment before her aunt even comes home, but she was again interrupted by Jason.
"Dude, how many days have you been wearing these shoes?" Jason clamored in a thoroughly appalled tone, suddenly scrambling to get up and away from Troy's shoes when only moments before he was short of worshiping the thing. "They smell—awful—fishy!"
"At the hospital—" Troy absently put in as he cast a brief assessing look at Chad, noting the apparent differences between him and Jason and then he noticed Gabriella's tense look directed at Chad. "the pregnant lady's water broke and it spilled on my shoes."
"Shit that's gross!" Jason exclaimed shaking his head. Gabriella stole a quick glance at Troy's shoe and grimaced a little before looking back at Chad.
Chad had a different and more significant concern than Jason, proving yet another difference in their character. He didn't care about the shoes, whether it was fake or real, whether it smelled or not. It was not important. "What hospital?—you were in a hospital with him?" He demanded from Gabriella, pointing a finger from his sister to Troy. "What the hell happened to you, Gabriella?" He sounded angry but also worried as he inspected his sister for any obvious signs of injury, found none, but he noticed the expensive jacket she was wearing and swiftly leveled his gaze back at Troy. "Who are you?"
Gabriella quickly jumped in to explain before Chad loses his temper altogether, but unlike her clarifications to Jason, this time it was more detailed and she narrated what transpired earlier like she was making Chad soften his attitude toward Troy by stressing very clearly that he took responsibility for her injuries which were very minor by taking her to the hospital, staying with her, paying for her medical bills and even treating her to dinner. It's as if she wants Chad to understand that Troy took the extra time and effort to see to her needs to express his gratitude which she said, "Not every stranger would do.", which therefore warrants his presence in their apartment.
Troy was so astounded by her recitation and the depth of appreciation underlying it for what he considered a paltry thing he did for her that he was momentarily speechless as he stared at her. Did he just paint him out like a Good Samaritan of some kind? That certainly is a first. Then quickly, he realized, Gabriella was backing him up to ensure Chad won't raise any objections against Troy staying with them when she asks for her aunt's permission later.
Chad, however, wasn't speechless or impressed and he didn't soften toward the guy either. He was suspicious of Troy, if anything, and curious why Gabriella seems to have stopped thinking rationally because of a stranger she met in a dark alley. He knows what Gabriella is doing and he now has a clear idea of Troy's purpose for being in their apartment although he couldn't understand why. The guy wore a casual gray shirt and jeans which should've been a common get up and it was, except on sight, on Troy Bolton it looked expensive; but other than the obvious quality of his clothing, there's something in his overall appearance that called attention to him. Whether it's his tousled style hair, his blue eyes, his pretty boy face or the quiet power and self-assurance emanating from every inch of the guy or all of those, Chad wasn't sure. He's only sure he didn't belong. And his arrogant bearing annoyed him.
The reason for his confusion was why Gabriella felt it necessary to bring him into their apartment when the guy looked like he can afford the best accommodations around, unless . . .
Jason provided an answer to that riddle in seconds. "He's a stray person." He uttered in a bored tone and promptly turned his back to them, slumping down on the sofa to flick through the channels of the television, clearly showing he lost interest on them.
"What enlightening information, Jason!" Gabriella retorted sardonically and then knocked the back of Jason's head. He merely grunted in reaction.
Surprisingly, Chad chuckled, losing his aggressive stance as he dropped his arms to his sides and said to Troy, "At least you aren't purring or barking or squawking. You look clean and decent and except for your shoes . . . you don't smell like the others she usually brings home."
Wary by the sudden change in Chad's demeanor, unconvinced that Jason's remark of him being a stray was easily accepted by Chad, Troy asked a bit hesitantly, "Should I be saying thank you to that?"
"No," Chad leaned his hip against the back rest of the sofa, on the surface looking negligent as he shot his sister a meaningful glance Troy could not read but Gabriella acknowledged with a small nod. "we should be thanking Gabriella."
"Why?" Troy asked, observing Gabriella's reaction to her brother. She looked to Chad as if promising him of something, something that had nothing to do with their current topic of conversation.
Chad pushed off the sofa and dryly averred, "Because our sinuses could use a break."
"What—exactly does Gabriella bring home and how often?"
"Not often!"Gabriella protested but deep down she felt relieved Chad backed down on Troy. She has some more explaining to do to him later though, because between her two brothers, Chad is the more protective one and he just silently told her the ploy didn't work on him and that he doesn't like Troy. "It's just this week was—"
"Often." Jason piped in, cutting off Gabriella then he switched off the TV and got up to leave, disappearing through one of the doors without a backward glance.
"Annoyingly often." Chad categorized specifically, grabbing his backpack from the sofa and moved around them toward the same door Jason went into. Then before closing the door, he addressed Troy, "You're the first of your kind."
The soft thud of the door closing was followed by a lengthy silence in the living room before Troy looked at Gabriella and said, "I'm afraid to ask what he means by that."
With a plucky smile, she clarified, "He means you're the first stray I brought home that smells . . . decent."
"Except for my shoes, of course." He snorted a laugh but after a moment's pause, quickly turned serious. "What time is your aunt coming home?"
"Soon." Gabriella took a step back, hesitated then said, "While we wait make yourself at home, Troy."
He moved from his spot to sit on the sofa. "Where will you be?"
"In my room. I have to change my clothes." Gabriella watched him slowly pat the top of the sofa as if he was searching for a sharp object that could be embedded in the cushions and when he sat down, bounced a few times to either test the quality of the foam underneath the upholstery or find a comfortable position for his derriere. She suppressed a giggle and said, "I'll give you your jacket in a bit."
He swung around from the sofa, an arm casually draped on the back rest, to face her. "You can have it." He was firm and as if to soften the slight edge on his tone, he reasoned with a smile, "It looks better on you."
Gabriella refused to be swayed by his smile, no matter how doubly charming and handsome he is when his serious face lightens with a simple smile. "No, Troy." She shook her head, determined to set her foot down on the matter. "You don't need to give me any—"
But he was much more determined to get his way and a hell of a lot more experienced on how to get it, therefore he interrupted to cease the topic and not give her a chance to object or argue with him. "What's your aunt like?" He asked. Her aunt is his pressing concern anyway now that Chad and Jason are out of the way.
She sighed resignedly, seeing the stubborn set of his jaw and his cool blue eyes looking straight at her, telling her not to bother disagreeing. "Pretty and nice. She's a social worker." She replied with a small smile and went to sit next to him, forestalling the changing of clothes. She had to admit she was rather curious of Troy. There are several questions that come to mind. She wants to ask him about his father and why he feels so strongly against the man that he's willing to subject himself to any discomfort just to get away from him . . . but she has no idea how to start. Besides, she doesn't think Troy would be open to such a personal discussion with a stranger. He seems very guarded and rightly so. They aren't friends and tomorrow he'll be gone anyway . . . she sighed, quelling the curiosity. She shouldn't concern herself with him too much.
"Will she let me stay?" He made room for her and shifted his body so that he was still facing her while they talk. His voice carefully controlled. "Your brothers obviously don't want me here."
Gabriella didn't sense any annoyance in his tone at the mention of her brothers, only worry that her aunt might refuse because of her brothers' opinion of him; and she felt it necessary to appease him with the reason why her brothers, especially Chad, reacted to him negatively. "Chad and Jason are in shock—"
He readily accepted that with a nod, not letting her finish. "Because you brought home a stray person instead of an animal." He sounded so sure. "It's one hell of an insulting comparison but whatever . . ."
Gabriella averted her gaze from him to stare at the TV up front and she smiled widely, willing herself not to burst into laughter. "No—" Her voice sounded a little strangled and she had to clear her throat to continue. "because I brought home a guy."
"What's so shocking about that?" Troy kept his eyes on her profile, unconsciously admiring the delicate lines of her face, the surprisingly flawless skin and the lovely smile on her lips. He wondered where her parents are, why she's living with her aunt and two adoptive brothers, why she's repeatedly refusing to be paid for saving his life, why she will try to help him again by convincing her aunt to let him stay for the night.
She erupted in giggles then and her brown eyes filled with laughter looked back at him again. "There's nothing shocking about it if it were any other girl but me." Gabriella said with a grin, unaware that to others she sounds like she's deprecating herself. To her, of course, it wasn't like that. She knows she looks plain and she doesn't harbor any illusions contrary to it and is therefore comfortable talking about it. "I don't look like someone who can entice a guy to come with her, especially someone who looks like you."
Now Troy was confused. He was smiling at the sound of her musical giggle that he doesn't how and when their conversation suddenly shifted and actually made him lose his train of thought. Did she just compliment his looks again, this time at the detriment of her own? "What?"
"I'm not pretty." She stated plainly, but was also confused by his puzzled expression.
Several seconds passed with Troy merely staring at her and Gabriella waiting for him to say something since he looks like he's very slowly processing what she just told him and is thinking of a good response to say back to her. "You're not?" He echoed. He sounded ridiculous even to his own ears.
Rolling her eyes at him, she gave him an exasperated sigh. "Come on, Troy, you don't need to pretend you find me attractive out of consideration for my tender feminine feelings or out of gratitude for saving you. I already know how I look. You thought I was a boy, remember." She smiled to let him see it's no big deal and he shouldn't make a fuss of it either. He blinked twice, noted her smiling face and the matter-of-fact way she was telling him she's ugly. "I know I'm not pretty and I assure you I'm not distraught by that fact."
Troy grabbed both her arms, finally comprehending what she's telling him, and he felt quite annoyed too. At her. Because she didn't even look upset or embarrassed by the belittling remarks she made about her own face. "You think—" He would have shaken her for such a demoralizing logic, asked her what was wrong with her head, told her he happens to think she's pretty and nice and witty, but her aunt arrived in that moment and alerted them of her presence with a quiet question. "Gabriella, who's your friend?"
Their heads swung in unison toward the door and Gabriella abruptly stood up, dragging Troy to stand as well since he still had a firm grasp of her arms. "Aunt Lucille!" Gabriella exclaimed, smiling, and she flung Troy's hold off her arms. "I'm so glad you're home."
"Good evening, Ma'am." Troy intoned formally, straightening next to Gabriella, pushing aside his annoyance for the meantime.
* * * * * *
Lucille Montez Smarth is another surprise to Troy.
She's not at all what he expected of Gabriella's aunt to be. Lucille, as Gabriella whispered to him, is forty years of age but from Troy's vantage point she doesn't look a day over thirty. She's tall, slim, very poised even in simple clothes and she's not pretty like Gabriella said she was . . . Lucille Smarth is beautiful.
She greeted Troy with a polite smile and gracefully made her way inside the apartment. After Gabriella kissed Lucille's cheek in greeting, Jason and Chad came out of their room as if on cue and each greeted Lucille with kisses to the cheek as well. They fell into a lively chatter about what transpired during the day that merits to be shared as they all moved to the kitchen, leaving Troy behind to feel like an invisible intruder, an astonished one too after the affectionate greetings he just witnessed.
They sure are an odd family, he thought. And for an odd family, they seem so close. It's another contradiction to what he assumed a family living in the dumps would be like. Lucille Smarth doesn't even look like she has a problem weighing down on her. She radiated a happy and content disposition and the affection that enlivened her eyes when Gabriella, Chad and Jason greeted her was quite a sight to see.
It was a good ten minutes that they were out of Troy's view and he could hear their cheerful voices still talking as if they haven't seen each other in quite awhile. He waited . . . it was all he could do. He's basically in no position to be impatient, although he already is and keeping it controlled within was proving to be a difficult undertaking. Maybe he should start considering other options. Like, stay in a motel or an inn. Preferably one that looks decrepit that his father won't consider looking for him there. He could pay the owner or whoever is in charge to keep his mouth shut on the off chance that Jack lets his people scour the entire state of Albuquerque to find him.
And then what? Is it even possible for him to fly back to L.A. undetected by Jack? He sighed. He has a lot of thinking to do and very little time to do it. He can't even think straight right now.
Two minutes later, Gabriella came out from the kitchen followed by her aunt and the brothers. Gabriella sat next to him, gave him a tiny smile and a gentle pat on the hand. Her aunt sat across from them on one of the backless settee. Chad and Jason, engrossed in a laughing argument of sorts, went back inside their room.
"Gabriella, go and change your clothes." Lucille said as soon as she settled on the settee. Troy braced himself for a setdown.
Without question, Gabriella did as bidden and Troy had to control himself from tugging her down beside him. He felt like a nervous idiot all of a sudden, facing an older woman with her intelligent gray eyes effectively unnerving him. He's used to being stared at and it usually doesn't bother him, but this one is different. Lucille Smarth isn't admiring him. She's keenly observing him, looking beyond his carefully composed façade, yet her face betrayed nothing but her eyes showed kindness. It was so conflicting that he doesn't know what to make of the woman. Is she deceiving him? She looked very cool, very calm as if she's waiting for Troy to make the wrong move or say something audacious that could hasten her decision to kick him out. There isn't anything antagonistic about her pose though, but he couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling she's seeing something unpleasant in him that others have overlooked.
So Troy forced to keep still and silent and like he usually does, schooled his face to impassiveness, sitting rigidly straight on the sofa with his hands resting on his lap, and he let her stare at him for as long as she likes, although hoping she doesn't tarry too much because he can't stand the suspense anymore and he really doesn't have enough time to figure out where else he could stay, if she decides not to accommodate him.
Then she smiled. Troy was taken aback by the unexpected change in her expression that instead of smiling back, he frowned.
Lucille laughed at him then. It was a soft laugh, not rude in the least bit and Troy involuntarily felt himself relax. "Gabriella explained to me what happened, Troy." She said and Troy sensed an understanding in her voice. He waited for her to say more and ask him questions or demanded some things from him which she's very much entitled to, but she surprised him again by saying, "You can stay here for tonight."
"Thank you." Troy said with sincerity, unable to believe it was that simple.
She nodded with a warm smile and casually shared, "Gabriella often brings homeless creatures here."
"Yes. Your sons mentioned it earlier." Troy relaxed further. His problem for tonight is now solved. Given a choice, he would've wanted to stretch himself on a bed and rest, but he felt very genial toward Lucille Smarth so the little chitchat she struck up, he's more than willing to comply with. "I'm the first of my kind apparently."
"What kind are you?"
Troy was surprised by the innocent comeback. "The two legged kind?" He isn't sure what Chad had meant earlier.
Lucille nodded, somewhat amused, a small smile still on her face. "She sheltered a bird once."
"Oh . . ." Troy didn't know what the significance was but he knew it will come to light soon. Lucille is easing into what she wants him to understand for the few hours that he will be under her roof.
She spoke slowly but clearly. "She brings home a lot of animals but she has never brought a snake."
"I hate snakes." Troy emphatically rejoined.
"Don't we all." She said and with a direct look into his eyes, she spoke just as ardently, "I would never welcome one in my home."
The message was clear to Troy. "I feel as strongly as you do, Mrs. Smarth." He averred and he had to keep himself from smiling lest Lucille take it the wrong way. The woman is not only beautiful; she's also very clever without being overbearing and hostile. He was impressed and decided he liked Gabriella's aunt just as much as he likes Gabriella. "If I were in your shoes, I'd be equally cautious against snakes. They can't be trusted."
Her smile widened and Troy could see the silent approval in her eyes. "We understand each other then."
"Yes. Clearly."
She stood up. Troy stood as well. She stepped closer to him and looked down on his shoes. "Troy, you can remove your shoes. It needs to be cleaned and aired." Lucille said but it didn't sound like a request. "Gabriella will give you slippers and clothes to change into. You'll use her room tonight."
He didn't like the idea of Gabriella being ousted from her own room because of him. "Gabriella needn't give up her room. I can sleep here in the sofa."
"You won't be comfortable out here. Gabriella will sleep in my room."
"Okay." He agreed.
As Lucille said, Gabriella directed him into her room, gave him a toothbrush, slippers and a set of new clothes which he did not bother to inquire about. When he was changed and comfortable, he waylaid Gabriella into staying awhile to talk with him since the next day he'll be going his own way and will probably never see her again. He felt saddened by the thought all of a sudden and found himself wanting to spend what little time left chatting with her than resting.
"Thank you." He said as he sat on the edge of her single bed, looking at her seated across from him on a futon by the only window in the room.
She laughed softly, gave him a smiling glance then looked out the window. "You're the most grateful person I've met." She joked.
"You're the kindest person I know."
"I'm not." She denied, ignoring the sincerity ringing in his voice. She felt unreasonably sad over the thought of him going off tomorrow. He's a stranger, for God's sake! "You don't know me well enough to say that."
"You're also the only one I know who doesn't take compliments very well." Troy was mildly annoyed by her stubbornness, then irrationally, he felt even more annoyed when he noticed she's wearing a shirt two sizes too big for her and loose fitted sweat pants. Her clothes swallowed her tiny frame.
"I'm just being honest, Troy." She shrugged. "And I don't really like flowery words."
"I don't tend to flower my words. I say what I mean." Troy knew he sounded a bit harsh but he couldn't seem to help himself. He also realized Gabriella kept her gaze fixed on the window instead of looking at him while she talked. "Look at me when I talk to you." He demanded.
She did but her eyes showed her displeasure over his highhanded tone. "Are we going to argue over how nice I am?" She snapped back.
"I'm sorry." Troy sighed and mumbled contritely, bracing his elbows on his thighs as he kept his gaze on her angry ones. He could see the gold flecks in her brown eyes. She's annoyed, all right. He didn't mean to anger her. He wanted a nice, easy conversation but Gabriella's unpredictability and her unusual reactions to such simple statements can rile his equanimity and he doesn't know what's gotten over him. He isn't one to care about others, especially strangers; but he acknowledges, Gabriella is a rare exception. "You're being very stubborn." He said, offering a smile of apology. "I don't give compliments lightly, Miss Montez. You should be honored."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Oh all right, Mr. Bolton." She heaved, crossing her arms over her chest in an exasperated manner, but there was a teasing lilt in her tone. "Thank you for the compliment."
"That is the most ungrateful thank you I've ever heard." He scoffed, also crossing his arms on his chest.
They burst out laughing after a brief staring contest. It seems so easy for Troy to laugh and tease with her but he did not ponder on the thought long. He decided, for a person like him, it's a rare occurrence indeed to have met someone like her in a place as desolate as the slums. "Believe it or not," He sobered a while later and tapped the space next to him on the bed, motioning for her to sit beside him. When she did, he added quietly, "I think I will miss you."
"Odd, isn't it?" She tried to sound jovial, tried to pass off his quietly spoken words like she isn't affected. She never met anyone quite as handsome, as finicky as him. He already made an impression on her and she's certain she won't forget him that easily. It was nice though, while it lasted. "I'm starting to feel like I will miss you too."
It was meant to sound like a joke but he looked pleased by her admission; the glimmer in his eyes told Gabriella so. "I won't forget you, Gabriella."
His voice was low and husky and she wanted to dismiss it because what he's saying couldn't possibly be true. He's just being nice and grateful. "Oh I'm sure you won't . . ." She stated with a cheerfulness she didn't really feel. "Unless you get into trouble again and another costumed girl you'll mistake for a boy comes along to save you."
"I doubt it. I'm already partial to Peter Pan." He grinned at her peal of laughter and before he realized what he was doing, he reached out to tenderly tip her chin to make her look at him. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Her pulse leapt at his gentle touch as much as it did with his words and the charming look in his eyes. "Okay . . ." She could feel her face getting warmer. She didn't want to blush and embarrass herself over such an innocent touch on his part. In her frenzy, she tried to force some discipline into her reactions, tried to think of something else but failed miserably. She tried to breathe evenly too when Troy began sliding his thumb over the dent on her chin. "Y-you take care too."
Troy smiled and gazed at her with warmth in his cyan eyes as if he knows what his touch was doing to her and that made Gabriella blush easily.
When she left the room, Gabriella went directly to the kitchen and downed three glasses of cold water. Then she silently berated herself for allowing Troy Bolton to affect her usually disciplined senses. Damn it! It was just a simple touch on the chin!
. . . And a kiss on the forehead.
* * * * * *