It had been a few days since Eduardo and Maria had been laid to rest, and even though Gabriella had closed her feelings off, the way she felt about them was anything but laid to rest. Troy had a home game since the funeral, so he hadn't had to leave her for that long, but leaving for the short time he had had been stressful enough on him. He knew Lily was still hurting, that she was still angry, and he wanted to be with her in case she needed him.
She had been completely shut off, barely speaking to anyone, even him. Tori had asked many times if she had done anything to upset her, but Troy had reassured her several times that the way her mama was being wasn't her fault. He tried to explain to Tori that she was dealing with her emotions from the funeral, and even though Tori understood that as much as she could, seeing her mama like this worried her. Troy made sure to tell her often that both he and his mama loved her and that everything was going to be alright.
Temperance was another story. She had completely shut herself away from everyone as well – except for Dominick. She was sure her sister resented her because of the way each of them had been treated by the parents that claimed to love both of them, and because of that, she stayed away from Gabriella and the penthouse as much as possible. And because Gabriella wasn't speaking to her, or anyone for that matter, no one minded that Temperance was spending all of her time with Dominick.
Gabriella had told the two of them it was alright if they saw each other anyway. So it wasn't like they were doing anything wrong... She just hadn't gotten permission to stay the night with Dominick. Troy hadn't said anything when she left, and didn't feel like it was his place to tell her to stay home. He understood she needed someone and her sister wasn't able to be there for her. So he let Dominick be there for Temperance as he was trying to be there for Lily.
Gabriella knew she was shutting everyone out, but she didn't know how to stop. She needed Troy more than anything, and she knew he was doing his best to be there and get her through this, but she couldn't let him in completely. Troy left Gabriella on the couch in the living room as she sat trying to get the words from her head down to the paper. She had been trying to write a song for months now, and since she had finished filming her movie, it was the only thing she was finding any solace in.
But Troy only saw it as another way she was cutting herself off from everyone. And tonight he wasn't going to let her push him away anymore. He told Gabriella he was taking Tori over to Chad and Taylor's for the night, kissing her on the top of her head when she only nodded. Troy told Tori to tell her mama goodbye and she walked around the couch, wrapping her arms around her mama's neck, holding onto her tightly.
"Te amo, Mama," she whispered into her ear.
Gabriella closed her eyes, trying to keep her tears locked behind the vaults of her eyelids. Tori pulled away from her mama and walked back over to her daddy.
"I'll be back later, babe," Troy said, letting his hand softly rub her shoulder. "Call me if you need me."
She didn't respond so Troy dropped his hand, taking Tori's hand, telling Lily, "I love you," as he walked out the door.
Gabriella closed her eyes tightly, hearing the door close behind her. She felt like crying, but the tears wouldn't come. She felt too numb. She just wanted to focus on the song, letting it distract her from her feelings.
Troy arrived at Chad and Taylor's place about forty-five minutes later. Parking his SUV, he got Tori's bag and helped her out. They walked up to the door and Tori looked up at her father.
"May I ring the bell?"
Troy looked down at his daughter, dropping his hand from where he was about to knock. "Go ahead."
Tori reached up, pushing the button to ring the bell. She smiled up at her daddy and Troy nodded down at her. "Bien hecho."
Tori loved it when her daddy would tell him that. It made her feel really good inside, even though things weren't so good right now at home. That was the reason why she was coming to spend the night with his uncle and aunt. They weren't really related, but they were as close as family, or closer.
The door opened and Tori looked up to see her Uncle Chad standing at the door holding baby Reggie.
"Hey, Tora Tora Tora! Howsit hangin?"
Tori smiled up at him. "I'm great! I'm going to spend the night with my tito y mi titi!"
Chad nodded his head. "Well, aren't we the lucky ones? Come in. Oh, tell your old man he can come in too."
Chad stepped back, letting Tori come in as she looked back behind her. "Come in, Daddy!" she said, grabbing her bag from Troy and running into the house to find Taylor, knowing it was about time for dinner and she couldn't wait to eat.
Chad looked back at Troy as he walked in as well. "Howsit goin, man?" Chad asked, shutting the door behind them.
Troy sighed, shaking his head.
"That good, huh?"
Troy's shoulders dropped and Chad gestured with his head. "Let's sit down."
Troy nodded and walked with his best friend into his living room. They sat down on the couch and Chad shifted his daughter in his arms.
"What is it, man? Is it Pepper? She alright? Tay's been worried. She doesn't answer her calls or her texts. What's up?"
Troy shook his head. "I really don't know. I mean I know what's been going on and I know when it started, but I don't understand why."
Chad shook his head, his dreads shaking behind his head. "Tell me."
Troy sighed, leaning back against the couch. "She's completely shut herself off from everyone. Even me. She isn't talking to anyone. She doesn't even respond when I touch her. The only time she lets me anywhere near her is when we're going ot bed. But even then, she usually makes sure Tori is between us. Unless she's already asleep, then she'll let me hold her." Troy still wasn't telling Chad why though.
"But what happened to make her this way, man?"
Troy took a deep breath. "That's just it. I don't get it. She was fine all through the funeral, but then we got to the cemetery and her grandmother made her say good bye to them..." Troy shook his head. "She broke down, Chad. She cried so hard. She let me comfort her then, but since we got home, it's as if she's put up a wall and I can't get around it."
Chad looked down at Reggie, taking her tiny hand in his when she reached up for his hair. "Reminds me of what happened to you two in high school, man. Except you two were fighting all the time. She barely spoke to anyone else."
Troy sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I don't know, Chad. I think I'd almost rather the fighting. At least she'd be talking to me." He shook his head. "Then again, I wouldn't want to be fighting with her in front of Tori."
Chad nodded his head. "I understand that. Believe me. I do my best not to argue with Taylor since Regina's been born."
Troy looked over at his best friend. "I just want my Lily back, man."
Chad leaned over, taking his hand from his daughter's grasp and patting Troy's back. "She'll come back to you. Trust me."
Troy took a deep breath, standing up. "Thanks, man. I have reservations to take Lily out tonight."
Chad nodded, standing as well. "Good. That will be good for both of you."
Troy nodded and walked with Chad to the door. Chad opened the door and Troy stepped outside.
"Good luck, man," Chad told him, patting his daughter's back.
Troy turned his head back slightly as he walked to his SUV. "Thanks, buddy. I'll call you later." He jumped into his SUV and headed back toward Santa Monica.
Gabriella sat on the couch with her guitar. She was finally certain she had the words to this song worked out, she was trying to work out the chords to the melody she had already written in her head. Strumming a few chords, she closed her eyes, trying to feel the music but not letting it overwhelm her.
"I will give everything I own," she sang along to the chords she was strumming. "Give up my life, my heart, my home..."
She heard the lock on the door turn, knowing Troy was home, and stopped playing. Troy walked into the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Hola, bonita," he spoke softly, walking toward the couch.
She sat her guitar down beside herself on the couch, closing up her composition book.
"Writing a song?"
She closed her eyes, barely nodding her head.
"Can I hear it?" he asked, kneeling in front of her.
She shook her head, not looking at him.
"Come on. Let me hear!"
He was excited. He wanted to hear a song she was working on. He hadn't heard her write since high school. But she didn't want to share.
"No, Troy!" She stood up, taking her guitar with her and heading straight for her practice room through the door under the stairs.
Troy stood quickly, following after her. "Lily, come on!"
She almost shut the door in his face, but he caught it. She stepped back, looking up at him as he pushed the door open.
"Not tonight, babe. You're not shutting me out tonight."
Gabriella felt the tears stinging her eyes. "Troy, please," she barely whispered.
He stepped into the room, stepping closer to her and reaching out to her. He took her guitar from her and set it on the stand, not taking his eyes off of her. She stepped back, but he wouldn't let her. Pulling her into his arms, Troy held her close to him. Gabriella felt as though she were being split in two. She wanted to push him away and continue shutting him out, but at the same time, being in his arms felt so good. She didn't want to push him away.
"Troy..." she whispered again, her arms slowly moving up his, wrapping around his neck.
"Shhh–shh," Troy whispered against the top of her head. "It's ok, baby. It's ok."
She swallowed, looking up at him. "I need you, Troy," she barely spoke, tears softly falling from her eyes.
Troy lifted his hands, cradling her face in them and wiping away her soft tears. "I'm here, baby. I'm always here."
Even when he wasn't there with her physically, he was always there for her. That's what the ring on her left hand symbolized, and she knew it.
"I love you," she whispered, looking up into his eyes.
Troy smiled, the weight on his heart lifted. "I love you, Lily. Forever."
He pulled her face to his, leaning down to meet her lips, kissing her softly until Gabriella pulled his head more against hers, deepening the kiss. After a few moments they both pulled away breathlessly, leaning their foreheads against each others.
"I've missed you, Lily," he whispered softly, his thumbs softly moving on her neck.
"I'm sorry, T. I'm so sorry."
Troy shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry about."
Gabriella shook her head, pulling away from him slightly. "Yes, I do. I've pushed you and everyone else away."
Troy placed his hands on her shoulders, looking straight into her eyes. "Lily, baby, trust me, nobody blames you for that. I understand. I've helped Tori understand. I promise you. Everything is ok. I love you. Tori loves you. That will never change."
Gabriella wrapped her arms around him. "I love you. Thank you for not giving up on me."
He kissed her softly. "I never will, baby. Never." Pulling back, he smiled down brightly at her. "I want you to get ready to go. I'm taking you out tonight, and I don't want to hear any butts about it."
Gabriella inhaled slowly, nodding her head softly. "Sí," she whispered.
Troy kissed the side of her head, smiling gently.
After Gabriella showered and they both got dressed for the night, she met him downstairs where he was waiting for her, dressed in a clean, crisp black suit with a lavender shirt and a bold purple tie. Troy looked her over, pleased with himself for matching her. She ware a lilac scrunched velvet dress with dark purple flowers accented in the material. Her shoes were dark purple velvet pumps.
"You look absolutely breathtaking, Lily."
She smiled as she came to the bottom of the stairs and he took her hand, leaning over to press his lips to it.
"Thank you. You look..." she licked her lips. "...amazing yourself."
He smiled, pressing his lips to hers, kissing her softly. "Ready to go?" he asked, looking up into her perfect brown eyes.
She smiled softly at him, nodding her head. "I'm ready."
And she was. She was ready to get out of the Penthouse and breathe fresh air again. The most she had done lately was gone downstairs to get a coffee from the bakery. She was really going out, and she was going out with Troy.
Dinner had been perfect. Troy had made sure Lily smiled all night. He even had gotten her to laugh more than a few times. He was sure that things were better. Things had to be better. He couldn't go on feeling the way he was. She couldn't go on feeling the way she was. They had a life and a family to think about, and neither of them could focus on that with the way things had been lately. But she had had a good time out with him tonight.
He held her close to him as she fumbled with the key in the lock, trying to unlock the front door. Troy had his face nestled in the side of her neck, stringing kisses from her ear down to her shoulder.
"T, I can't..." She moaned softly, leaning against the door as he pushed himself against her from behind.
"Can't what, babe?"
She closed her eyes, biting her lip. "Open the door," she mumbled, enjoying Troy's hands as they slid up the front of her dress, stopping just below her breasts.
"Don't," she breathed shallowly, quickly. "Don't tease... me, T."
He smirked, whispering warmly against her ear. "Then get the door open and I'll stop holding back." He was playing with her and she both hated and loved it at the same time.
Finally getting the door open, she tossed her keys and her clutch on the bureau against the wall, turning in his arms and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Don't tease me anymore, Mr. Bolton."
He smirked down at her, lifting her against his body as he walked into the beach house, shutting the door behind them by kicking it with his foot. She pulled herself more up on him, wrapping her legs around his waist and kicking off her pumps. He turned, pushing her up against the wall.
"Oh, Lily!" he groaned, sliding her skirt up, gripping at the top of her pantyhose.
Pulling them down and off of her hips, practically yanking them down, they tore and he just tossed them aside. Giggling at him, Gabriella pulled him back to her with her legs, kissing him deeply. She held herself with her legs, pulling her hands from behind his neck, letting them slide down his chest, pushing his jacket off of his shoulders. Letting it fall to the floor, she started untying his tie before unbuttoning his shirt. He started to rub at her clit through her panties.
"Oh, T!" she gasped, her mouth coming off of his slightly.
He spread his kisses down over her chin and to her neck again. He was aching against the confines of his pants, pushing up against her. She could feel him. He was as hard for her as she was wet for him. They weren't even going to get to their bed. They were making love right here on the wall. She pushed his shirt off of his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor with his jacket.
"Make love to me, T," she moaned, pushing herself against his hand.
Grabbing his belt, she undid it, moving to work on the clasp and zipper of his pants. Pushing them down off his hips along with her boxers, she let her hand wrap around his hard shaft, pumping it against her through her panties. He lifted her dress up and off of her body, dropping it aside before pulling at her bra, tossing it aside as well. He couldn't handle her hands on him anymore. He had to be inside her.
Pulling her hands away, he pushed her more up against the wall, kissing her deeply. He wasted no time before sliding her panties aside and plunging straight into her. She gasped out, her lips pulling away only briefly from his, inhaling a deep breath of air.
"Sí," she mumbled, pressing her lips back to his, moving up and down on him as he thrust his cock deep within her.
He felt so amazing inside her. He always did, but this time, this time it was more intense, more powerful. Neither of them could hold on long, their climaxes reaching the pinnacle together, screaming out each others names. They were sure everyone in the community could hear them. But they didn't care. They were both happy.
Troy dropped his head to her shoulder, breathing heavily. "Oh, God, Lily," he groaned, his hot breath blowing over her bare breast.
Smiling, she kissed the side of his head. "Te quiero, T. Por siempre."
Pulling back, he looked into her dark chocolate eyes, brushing his lips across hers. "I love you, baby. Por siempre."
Gabriella smiled softly, inhaling sharply as he grabbed her ass, walking with him still inside of her toward the stairs. "What are you doing, T?" she asked him, kissing the side of his neck, giggling softly.
"I'm going to make love to you properly now." Pulling back, she smiled brightly at him, pressing her lips back to his as he walked them into their room, shutting the door behind them.