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It had taken Troy all of his strength not to cut his visit home short but he had managed it, arriving back in Louvis on his originally bought and paid for airplane ticket. Chris was due back the day before but had delayed his flight to go back with Troy, keeping Troy company during the flights back especially as Troy's mood had become more depressing the longer he didn't hear from Gabriella over the past few days. Even though Chris was more like Gabriella's best friend, he had genuinely come to care about Troy as a real friend and hated to see him hurt this way, knowing that Gabriella must have some good reason for not reaching up to him by now.
When Troy and Chris both had their luggage, they wheeled it out after calling Tomas up and getting his reassurance that he was just pulling outside the terminal to avoid the mob of flashing flights Troy already saw through the glass windows despite their tinting.
"Stupid paparazzi. What happened to that law where they had to stay back a certain amount of distance?" asked Troy as he slipped his sunglasses on over his eyes as he and Chris left the safety of the airport to walk right into the sea of flashing lights.
"Usually it's enforced but who knows what sparked these guys up," muttered Chris, thankful that Tomas really was right outside with his trunk open to let the men dump their things in as quickly as possible and get in to speed away from the flashing shutterbugs. "Thanks Tomas for doing this."
"Least I could do. Must be tough Troy," replied Tomas, concentrating on the road as he merged onto the highway.
Troy shrugged. "They weren't nearly this bad when I left. Did something change while I was gone?"
Tomas felt his jaw almost drop as he hazarded a look at Troy to see that he was serious. "Oh my God, you don't know do you?"
Narrowing his eyes, Troy returned Tomas's brief looks. "Know what?"
"Fuck, why do I have to be the person to do this to you? Chris, grab the newspapers behind my seat and hand them to Troy," stated Tomas, gripping the steering wheel tighter as he prepared for the emotional outburst he was confident was about to come.
Chris nearly choked as he spied a large picture of Gabriella and Patrick together, a ring on her left hand and a sad smile on her lips. "I don't think that's such a good idea Tomas."
"Just do it Chris, please," Tomas returned, knowing he didn't want to hurt Troy but knowing that it was better Troy learn now about everything, away from the public eye per se.
Reluctantly, Chris handed the newspapers to Troy, bracing himself for the response he too was expecting.
Troy was quick to see why both Chris and Tomas both were apprehensive about the news articles, scanning all three with more speed than he had ever used to read before, the sinking feeling he was feeling ever since Gabriella left settling into a more permanent spot now that it was validated. "I've lost…"
Chris winced at the words, hearing the absence of a fighting spirit he had hoped to hear. "Troy, think about it man. Do you really think Gabriella would be engaged to Patrick right after accepting you? She's not that shallow."
Barely hearing Chris's words, Troy's eyes settled on a more formal, posed picture of Gabriella and Patrick at a recent event, the large engagement ring sitting on Gabriella's left hand, almost mocking him. Troy narrowed his eyes though as a spark of hope renewed itself in his soul as he saw that Gabriella was still wearing his engagement ring that he had given her on her right hand. Comparing the two, he knew instantly that Patrick's engagement ring was way bigger and way more money but Troy found some comfort in the fact that even by this single picture, he could tell Gabriella wasn't comfortable with it nor did it suit her. 'No, she's much more quiet and reserved, favoring something more to her personality like the canary diamond, which is her favorite color cut in a heart to symbolize our love. Shit, what is she doing with him?'
"What are you going to do?" Tomas nervously asked, trying to keep an eye on the road but also on his teammate and friend.
"I need to know the truth of all of this from Gabriella herself. She's trying to tell me something by still wearing the ring, that there's hope, but I don't understand it if she's publicly engaged to Patrick now and the entire country knows about the forced arrangement," Troy murmured, looking at the first article, which had pictures from their trip in New Mexico and Colorado. "How the hell are these paparazzi finding us too? Some of the details mentioned in the second article are actually pretty accurate. Who could be selling us out?"
Chris clucked his tongue. "Could be anyone but I can guarantee the trespasser isn't one of the people we spent the past few days and for you weeks with. Those people back in the US are your best friends for life man and wouldn't do it. I wouldn't either."
"Me either," echoed Tomas. "That type of information is easy fodder though for the paparazzi, paying off just the right people. You just may never know."
With a sigh, Troy shook his head, trying to work everything out. They were almost at Chris's place when Troy made a quick decision. "Tomas, would you mind taking me home first so I can shower and change? I need to find Gabriella and talk to her as soon as possible. This not knowing is killing me," stated Troy, sure now after seeing the canary heart shaped diamond on Gabriella's right hand that she was trying to tell him something but he just wasn't positive about what and knew it was driving him nuts the longer he thought about it.
Relieved that Troy rebounded from his temporary despair, Tomas made his own offer to help. "How about doing that at my place? I have a feeling the pap are camped outside your place and you should have the ability to see your fair lady in private to talk about all this. I don't mind driving you around."
"Don't worry about dropping me off either. I'm good for the ride," added Chris, wanting to make things as easy as possible.
Grinning, Troy readily accepted both of their offers of help, feeling that he could do it all now, all because Gabriella was still wearing their engagement ring despite everything he already knew and what he had to learn.
Paul watched as Patrick and Gabriella made their rounds to chat with every influential person at the brunch benefiting the Louvis Children's Hospital. He shook his head as he saw yet again Gabriella's more than forced smile, seeing her usually lively brown orbs look absolutely dead. It made Paul and Emma both sick knowing what Gabriella was sacrificing but both also sadly knew that this was the only option.
Curtis rolled his eyes when he heard Paul's sigh from where he stood next to him against a wall in the room. "Paul, you have to get over it. Gabriella made her choice and now it's our job to secure both her and her choice. I always thought that she made a better match with Patrick."
"Why? Because Patrick was born into money?" asked Paul, watching Patrick place his hand on the small of Gabriella's back as they moved on to the next set of couples to speak to.
"There is that but more so I can see Patrick ruling this country. Being born and raised here gives him knowledge to how things are done here and a true desire to do right for Copanvy and her people," Curtis shared, his eyes scanning the room.
"You never liked Troy anyway, even when they were younger and in high school," stated Paul, intently scanning the room himself for any possible danger or secret paparazzi.
Curtis shrugged, not denying it. "If the whelp can't protect his supposed girlfriend from being raped and then drugged years later, what makes you think he could protect this country?"
"Just because he's not Superman and can't single handedly stop all the danger doesn't disqualify him. After all, you and I both have skin in the game to keep her safe, that's why we have jobs. Curtis, if this is how you really feel, what the hell are you doing in the royal service instead of worshiping the ground the Diaz family walks on?" returned Paul, barely controlling his automatic defensive mode that always came out whenever Troy or Gabriella were attacked, even verbally.
"It's a job but most importantly I get paid well," returned Curtis before he walked away.
Something about what Curtis said made Paul narrow his eyes in suspicion but he eventually pushed it aside as he heard both Patrick and Gabriella talking softly nearby, instead focusing his attention on the couple and making sure that no one else was too close to eavesdrop on what appeared to be a serious discussion.
Patrick pulled out a chair for Gabriella and sat down next to her, studying her expression. He noticed the heavy makeup she was wearing, knowing it was highly unusual for her, and sadly suspected that she was hiding dark circles under her normally beautiful, sparkling brown eyes. "Is being engaged to me so terrible Gabriella? Have I turned into some monster between the time we were really dating and learning about each other and now? I thought you loved me at some point too."
The misery in Patrick's soft voice caught Gabriella's attention as she shifted her gaze from the crowd yards away to his caring brown eyes. "Patrick, I really did fall for you back then, please don't doubt that, but things are different now. This isn't just about you and me."
"You're right, it isn't," Patrick agreed. "It's about this country we both love and our families, the council. I want you to know though that if it wasn't for this tradition of an arranged marriage that I would still be in love with you, even if you didn't have an ounce of royal blood to you. What can I do to bring out that real smile that stuns an entire room that you possess Gabriella? What can I do to make you actually happy?"
Gabriella glanced at her watch and realized she was going to be late for meeting Selena, Iyana, and Brandi at the teen center and still needed to change. Giving Patrick a regretful smile, Gabriella stood up and grabbed her purse from the table. "Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything you personally can do Patrick but thank you for the offer. I'll see you at the next formal event tomorrow night."
Patrick allowed Gabriella to leave without another word, understanding exactly what she meant. The hair on the back of his neck though stood up as Patrick felt someone staring and looked around. No one unusual stood out, a few people at the brunch were looking his way along with some of the security team like Paul and Curtis but no one strange.
The sense of being watched left as Patrick's thoughts turned back to Gabriella and their engagement, wondering if this was all it was meant to be or if there was something more.
"I can't believe you are engaged to Patrick!" exclaimed Iyana. "You and Troy are perfect together in every way a teenage girl could dream of!"
"And that says a lot considering how much Iyana crushes on him," added Brandi. "So it's all true? The arrangement and Patrick becoming the next Prince of Copanvy?"
"Yup," answered Gabriella, making sure to keep her own feelings to herself despite the trusted company.
Selena studied the woman sitting with herself, her sister, and their friend. "You aren't happy, you're miserable, and that's quite an understatement."
Gabriella didn't even bother denying it. "This is what happens. Sometimes, you just don't have any choice but to accept your fate, that some things are out of your control. Sometimes responsibilities and duties have to come first before all else."
"Not when true, genuine, unconditional love is involved," disagreed a familiar voice from behind all of them, a voice that made Gabriella's stomach flutter as she felt an unfamiliar grin spread across her face.
All three teenagers grinned too as they saw the first real, shining smile they had seen in a while appear on Gabriella's lips before she stood up and rushed right into Troy's waiting arms where he caught her and looked like he was never going to let her go. He kissed her hair softly before meeting Gabriella's lips in a tender kiss, settling with staring into her eyes as their foreheads rested against each other's.
While Brandi and Iyana got excited at seeing Chris, who was visiting with Mikey and Luka, along with seeing Tomas in person, Selena was watching the way both Troy and Gabriella beamed at each other, happy that Gabriella really was happy in that moment. It meant a lot especially to Selena because it gave her hope that she too could recover from her own rape, just as Gabriella did, and that maybe she too would one day find a guy who would love her even a fraction of how Troy loved Gabriella.
Seeing that the couple were now talking softly to each other, a serious look on both of their faces again while still being in each other's arms, Selena glanced around and was relieved that there were no troublemakers around that would sell out this special moment. Hanging around Gabriella so much and having experienced what Selena had combined to make the teenager super aware of her surroundings and was glad there were only friends around, including Claudia, who had just stepped in for a few moments between errands.
After snapping out of their fangirl modes with Tomas, Brandi and Iyana settled back down in their seats next to Selena while Tomas went to talk to Troy and Gabriella, who were currently holding hands. Iyana toyed with the camera in her hands, which she had used moments before to take pictures with Tomas. Without a second thought, Iyana snapped some cute candids of the couple before setting it on the table, smiling as she thought of the many other adorable pictures she had collected of the couple over the past months.
"You know, they really look happy for her being arranged to another man," commented Brandi.
"They are but, unfortunately, just in this moment. Gabriella isn't the defying type," Iyana said, sadness in her voice as she wished both adults could continue to be happy together.
Selena contemplated what the younger girls said, a brilliant idea glowing in her mind as she watched Troy slip his arm around Gabriella's waist, pulling her body so it was snugly against his, as they continued talking to both Chris and Tomas while Luka and Mikey made their way over to where the girls were sitting. She barely registered the appreciative look Luka was giving her as deep in her thoughts as she was but managed to smile at him, rewarded with his own grin.
"Oh no, Selena is actually conspiring something," Iyana observed as she saw the furrowed brow of her sister's. "That's my job! What in the world are you thinking big sis?"
Luka too was eyeing the usually sweet and quiet girl but knew that her intelligence was leading to something huge. "Selena, we all know how very smart you are. Does this have to do with Troy and Princess, err, Gabriella?"
Selena just beamed in an answer. "You could say that. Luka, what's your parents' take on all this? And yours Mikey?"
Mikey was the first to answer. "My parents both think that it's scandalous the way the princess has behaved but at the same time don't blame her for trying to escape such an old tradition."
"Mine are more stuck with the traditions, they are there for a reason, or some sort of crap like that," replied Luka. "I personally think it stinks, especially as I know that Troy loves her so much. I mean, he isn't all sappy about her all the time but she almost seems like his life and I hate seeing him upset, like how he will be if this engagement really does hold."
"You can vote now right Mikey? Luka?" Selena asked, looking at both boys.
Both nodded their heads while Brandi asked, "So what?"
An even bigger grin grew on Selena's face as she gained even more confidence in her plan. "Listen, this is what we're going to do…"
Unaware of the plotting going on by the teenagers, Gabriella leaned her head against Troy's shoulder, toying with the heavy ring on her left hand. "I'm so sorry you had to find out the way you all did. I just, I couldn't speak it out loud to anyone. Emma couldn't even get me to say the words and I still won't."
"It's real though Ella, that much is clear," Chris answered. "So your hand got forced on this, to accept, but can't you still run away and leave this royal joke behind?"
Before Gabriella could answer, Troy shook his head. "I trust Brie Chris and if she felt she had to do this, she had to do this for a good reason. Gabriella hasn't told me exactly what is going on but the fact that she's still here, in my arms, that says something else to me."
"It means she's still thinking of running," commented Tomas, studying the way Gabriella and Troy seemed to just blend together almost, wearing similar colors even. "Pretty smart if you ask me, to buy time."
Gabriella just gave them a nervous smile, not volunteering anything she knew, knowing she couldn't, and let them think what they wanted. Both Chris and Tomas were well aware that Gabriella wasn't disclosing what was really going on and accepted it for what it was. After all, if Troy could trust Gabriella on this, they would have to as well.
"How was your trip back guys? How are the gang?" Gabriella asked, wanting to break up the sudden tension between the four of them and divert the attention away from her as she hid her left hand in a pocket in her jeans.
"Same as you left them. Sharpay and Tessa are still bickering, Taylor is still trying to fix Chad's bad habits with Chucky's help, and Ryan went back to California a few days after you to start on his next producing gig," Chris informed Gabriella. "Tessa is thinking of coming out in a few months if she can work it though so that's a plus."
"Definitely is," agreed Gabriella, grinning at him. "Glad to hear things haven't changed with my sudden departure. I'm sorry for that too."
Chris lifted his shoulders, brushing it off. "Ella, it was fine. We all suspected something else was going on besides some formal, royal thing you forgot about. Just, all I ask is that you don't keep us in the dark too long, k? I need to know if my favorite dance partner is going to go run off to some unknown place only to become the love slave of one amazing Knights player."
Troy mock gasped, putting his right hand over his open mouth. "You mean to tell me Tomas is running away with my woman? After all we've been through? Why you bastard!"
Tomas merely rolled his eyes. "As if you'd still be standing there if that was true. Heaven help anyone for merely kissing her cheek if you sense it is meant in a more than friendly manner."
"Bolton, violent? Never!" exclaimed Chris in mock horror.
Shaking her head, Gabriella slipped her arm around Troy's waist and tilted her head up so she could gaze into his face. "My Wildcat is just a harmless fluffball really, right Troy?"
Troy chuckled, leaning down to steal a quick kiss. "Only when I'm with you babe, only with you."
As the four continued to talk, trying to make everything seem as normal as they could despite what was clearly looming over them, they found it easier to forget that Gabriella was technically engaged to two men, one secretly and one publicly.
The lightened mood though evaporated as some random teenagers Gabriella hadn't seen before came into the building, forcing her to untangle herself from Troy, already missing his touch. She gave him an apologetic look but tilted her head in the direction of where the teenagers were now looking around, some glancing over at them, so Troy could see why she ripped away from him so. Troy nodded his understanding and continued talking with Tomas and Chris while Gabriella took the time to let Claudia know that there were new teenagers on premises.
"Thank you Gabriella. I'll see if Selena and Luka will give them the tour and the rundown of the rules," replied Claudia before leaving the small office to find the two teenagers in question.
Gabriella hung back, finding some comfort in having a few moments to herself, wondering how she was possibly making it so far with minimal damage. 'That luck will eventually run out though Gabriella, it's only a matter of time, and it's your job to make sure Troy doesn't get hurt any more than he has to.'
With a sigh, Gabriella walked out of the office to see Luka and Selena dutifully showing the newest people to the teen center around while Brandi, Iyana, and Mikey were huddled around a computer station. The three men had started a basketball game on the court leaving Gabriella with some more time to collect her thoughts and steel herself against the fact that her future and her choices were really in her hands but more so in Fate's, praying that everything she wanted and hoped for would be her reality and not the alternate of which she didn't even want to think of, ever.