Immortality, a story by Ohemmgeexd
Summary: It's like I'm immortal. Every cut, every stab, heals itself as if it never happened. What sucks the most is living a life not knowing whether you can die or not. I am Gabriella and this is my story.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A / N : For those of you who are actually reading this, thank you for taking the time to give this story a chance. I hope you like it. And please do not hesitate to review if you like the chapter or if there is anything I can do to improve the story.
--
Chapter One
Gabriella Anne Montez. Her simple name was known by many, but her haunting story was unknown by everyone except her and her best friend. She was a depressed teenager, living at the sweet age of seventeen and on a plane to her new home. She never wanted to leave her hometown of New York. After all, her mother was buried in its cemetery, but she knew it was for the best. He couldn't find her. Not again.
She rubbed her blood-shot eyes and peered at the stained page, a tear stained page. It was a Harry Potter book. Her eyes burned with anger as she threw the book onto the floor of the plane. Her best friend, Matt, had bothered to pick it up. It was the book she once loved, but now she dreaded it. It made her eyes burst with sadness. It made her fists clench with anger. But most of all, it reminded her of the miserable life she lived. She was always hiding, always running like the wind. She never did like life on the run, but it's the only thing you can do with such a lame super power. She didn't have mystical magic like Harry Potter did. She could heal.
Healing, a power she never wanted, but just happened to obtain. But she could not always heal; it had just recently started the week before, the exact day after her brother died. She did not know why, and she did not want to know. Without healing, she would have been a monster. She was scared to look into a mirror and when she did, she did not see herself, only the monster she used to be. She did not care about her looks anymore. She never carried a mirror. It only reminded her of him. Him, he did this to her. He killed everyone she got close to. He hurt the love of her life.
Troy Alexander Bolton was her lover's name. He moved from New York to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Gabriella was going. He never told her the reason why he left, he just did. She pleaded for him to hate her, but he said he could not. He could never hate the one he once loved. She demanded him to be mad, but he said no matter what, he would be happy. She broke his heart, but he could still love her somehow, someway. She broke her own delicate, fragile heart, but he could still manage to put the pieces back together.
She said if he loved her, he would come back. He did not. He promised her he would; sealed it with a kiss even. He broke his promise. She was not angry. She was scared. Scared for his life, scared for her own. She would cry a single tear and he would be there to wipe it dry. He would not be the one to wipe the tears, not anymore. She stared blankly at the bracelet she had always worn. It said, 'I love Troy' in bright colored beads. She promised herself she would take it off. But she just could not. Taking it off was just like saying she did not love him anymore. She did love him. She loved him more than she should have. If she loved him just a smidge less, he wouldn't have gotten hurt. He wouldn't have hurt him.
Him; he was the man that would appear in Gabriella's nightmares every night when she fell asleep. He was the man who did this to Gabriella. He was the one who caused her pain, sadness, anger, and more pain. He did this to her. He hurt everyone who had gotten close to her and killed her family. She would never forgive him; ever. Even if he was her own flesh and blood. She was disgraced to know he was family. Family meant no one got left behind or forgotten. But he did both. She was disgusted by his name. George Montez, such an unattractive name. So hideous that she begged her brother to change her last name to her mom's maiden name. Of course, he would not do it. He was determined to keep her just the way she was. Even though her last name had stayed the same, she was a different Gabriella Montez. She was different than the Gabriella Montez that had lived in New York, different from the one Troy knew.
She wondered about Troy. Was he okay? Had he forgotten her or the promise they had shared? Was he even alive, or had George got to him? So many questions and so little answers; she was going to get some soon though, as she stepped off the plane and walked to the baggage claim with her best friend at her side. She picked up one suitcase while he picked up one of his own. Everything else Gabriella and he owned was burned in the fire. She took a step outside the airport and stood on the curb beside her best friend.
Her best friend was the only person who knew of her power. Matthew Brendan Hale was his name. He had a tan skin color much like hers, maybe a little lighter, and he had a love of playing the guitar. Matt had always been incredibly funny and could make anyone laugh. Gabriella was best friends with Matt mostly because he knew what it was like to be abused at home, but of course he ignored it and loved life anyway. Both Matt's mother and father abused him and when they got arrested for child abuse he lived with his aunt until he turned eighteen and moved out. He then lived with Gabriella and her brother. He was also Troy's best friend that is, before Troy had moved and met Chad. Matt was the one who convinced Troy to ask Gabriella to be his girlfriend and Troy had never regretted it since.
Matt looked at his best friend sympathetically and she looked back with a pleading glance, not wanting him to leave her side. Her eyes were a deep dark brown almost black, and he could tell that she was afraid. His stare softened and he rubbed her arm delicately, reassuring her that everything would be okay. He returned his eyes onto the bustling street and called over a taxi with his loud whistle. Gabriella could never whistle like he could. She quickly attempted and he looked over at her with amusement filling his eyes. She failed miserably and he chuckled lightly as she silently laughed along with him.
A bright yellow cab pulled over. Matt opened the door for Gabriella to get in and placed enough money for the cab ride in the palm of her hand. She looked at the money for a moment and than towards him. He gave her a crooked smile. Her chocolate orbs bestowed him another pleading look and he chose to politely ignore it as he carefully closed the taxi door. Gabriella quickly rolled down the window manually using the crank older cars had and Matt bent down next to the windowsill when Gabriella had rolled it down successfully. He opened his mouth, giving her his two famous words. "Be safe," He says quietly and Gabriella nods before kissing his cheek. Her lips were ice cold and they tingled as they met his skin, but he was used to it by now. Gabriella had always been cold. "Troy wouldn't like that." He adds teasing lightly as her soft giggle filled his ears like music from a guitar.
Matt backed away from the cab as Gabriella rolled up her window and sighed. She really had wished Matt would have just agreed in taking the same taxi cab as her. She could not imagine doing anything without him especially after her brother, Danny Montez, passed away. She stared intensely through the window and gave her best friend a quick wave before turning to the taxi driver. She spoke as kindly as she could, masking her icy tone while talking in a small voice, "Fifth Avenue, please." The journey began as the taxi driver made a quick u-turn and Gabriella watched sadly as she saw Matt step into a taxi of his own.
--
Troy closed his locker and sighed. Today was the day. It was the day he made that promise to Gabriella. It was the same day he gave her that earth-shattering kiss and whispered 'I love you' in her ear before he slowly stepped into the terminal and got on a flight to his new home. He saw his bushy-haired friend walk down the hallway. He gradually walked towards him. Troy always had a habit of walking as slow as a turtle. On the other hand, Gabriella had always walked in a hurry as if she was late or had somewhere better to be. "Hey captain!" the bushy-haired boy greeted his best friend. They did a man-hug before Troy replied.
Charlie Michael Danforth or 'Chad' was the bushy-haired teenager's name. Basketball was the game he often played whether it was in Troy's backyard or in a school gym with the roaring of screaming fans. Known for his big bushy-hair, or fro as he calls it, Chad is part of the popular crowd much like Troy, but Troy was much more popular than he was. Troy could have all the girls he wanted, dangling at his feet, while Chad much rather preferred his genius of a girl friend. There was nothing wrong with that though, Chad was very loyal to his girl and his best friend.
"Hey Chad," Troy said in a noticeable bored tone as they started to walk to their last period class, AP English Literature with Mrs. Taylor. Chad knew all about Gabriella, the whole entire story. He knew about how they met, the dates of special events during the time they dated, heck, he even knew as much about her as Troy did. As they strolled to class, Troy couldn't shake Gabriella out of his thoughts. He couldn't forget her short dark brown curls that reached her shoulders, her gorgeous chocolate brown eyes, or the way she made a polo and a skirt look so good. She looked different now, totally different than the girl Troy had described to Chad.
She wasn't like that anymore. You could not even tell that the girl Troy loved was actually her. She had long black curls that went down her back and she often had them in her face. Also, she always wore dark blue skinny jeans and a black hoodie with the hood placed on her head. She wanted to be dark and mysterious, which she was. She was different. She felt different. After all, wouldn't you look different if you were on the run? She could not get close to anyone. She could not let anyone know her super power. She refused to be found out and be sent to a lab to be tested on like a lab rat by some 40 year old person who still lived with his mother.
Troy immediately snapped out of his thoughts and paid closer attention to his bushy-haired friend who seemed to be talking at the moment. "Troy? Troy, are you even listening to all the possibilities the future holds?" Chad says as he throws his hands up in dramatic effect and Troy goes back into the land he came from. Chad usually called it Gabriella-Land just to tease and make fun of him whenever Taylor or Sharpay were around. Troy sunk back into his thoughts and Chad got more and worried as time droned on. "Troy?" Chad waved his hand in front of Troy's face.
"Hmm," Troy asked dazed, not really paying any attention whatsoever. "Did you say something, Chad?" Troy asked as the two jocks entered room 405, a classroom they had both called Hell. He avoided the conversation Chad was having practically with himself and slowly sat at his desk. He did a quick knuckle-touch with his best friend and slumped in his seat, thinking of her. He thought about how her eye color got slightly darker when she was sad or afraid, how her hair bounced when she walked, and how he loved her so. He didn't even know she was standing at his doorstep right at that very moment.
--
Gabriella set her suitcase down on the cement and rang the doorbell. She could hear it ring from the inside and the pitter-patter of someone's footsteps walking towards the door. Suddenly, the door slowly creaked open and a middle-aged woman poked her head out. Once she saw Gabriella, she opened the door fully and gave a soft smile. "Why, hello Gabriella. Don't be shy, come in." The women spoke while beckoning her inside the house. "I'll show you your room so you can rest. Albuquerque is a long way from New York, you must be jet lagged."
Gabriella took a step in the house and followed the woman to a door at the end of the hall and watched as she opened it. She saw walls that were half white and half black with a small blue wallpaper of flowers, hearts, and peace signs in between. Gabriella gave a small smile. The Bolton's always knew she had loved the colors white, black, and blue. However, her smile disappeared once she saw the balcony. "Do you like it?" The woman asked in a rather cheerful voice as Gabriella set her suitcase down next to the queen size bed.
She simply nodded towards the woman and stood there awkwardly, not having the faintest idea of what to say. She looked at her feet embarrassed of her lack of words. "Gabriella," She started and Gabriella picked her head up, giving the woman her full attention. "It's okay to feel nervous. You are here in a new home with new stuff and new people. Just be yourself. You look beautiful, all grown up." She reassured her and Gabriella looked away as her cheeks turned a slight tint of pink.
Gabriella brought her hand up to her right eye, feeling it watering up. She really would not be this emotional is Mrs. Bolton acted just a smidge less like her mother. She was so used to being criticize that she often did it to herself as well and she was not used to this kind of kindness from others. Mrs. Bolton noticed her tears and gave her a tight hug. Gabriella wiped hot steamy tears from her face before speaking up. "I'm sorry." She said, embarrassed. She looked up at Mrs. Bolton quickly before turning away when she met her gaze. "I'm grateful, I really am."
"I am very sure you are." Mrs. Bolton replied gingerly before letting go of Gabriella and carefully pushing her towards the bed. "Go," She says softly, patting Gabriella on the back. "Get some rest, I will not be home when you wake up but I am sure Troy will be." She gave Gabriella a teasing smile as she said Troy and Gabriella could feel her cheeks burning from blushing a deep red. Mrs. Bolton was always a supporter when Troy and Gabriella began to go out.
--
Gabriella's eyes peered opened and she sat up to stretch her arms while her breathing calmed. She had awakened from a nightmare about him. She had jumped awake as he pushed her off a building. She ruffled her hair and stepped out of the queen size bed as her tears dried. She rubbed her eyes and yawned with her mouth opened widely, her hand covered it of course, so you couldn't see her tonsils. She put her hood back on the top of her head as it always was, and sat on the edge of her bed. She stared at her hands in her lap. She decided that she could not stay in this room much longer, so she got up from her bed and started walking.
Gabriella opened the door and walked into the empty hallway. She had remembered what Mrs. Bolton had said that no one would be home and she just wanted to be sure. She walked down the hall and passed the living room to come face to face with a door. She didn't know whose room it was, but she turned the knob anyways. It was empty. She slowly pulled the door to close it and turned to around to go back to her room, but instead she came face to face with Troy Bolton.
Gabriella's eyes widen at the sight of her boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend now. His stare seemed to be filled with confusion as if he did not know why she was there. He looked almost the same as he did back in freshman year except he was far more muscular and a couple inches taller. His voice had probably gotten deeper and his face was more aged. Her lips pressed in a hard line as she fought the urge to kiss him right then and there. "Troy," She whispered softly before her lips became still once more. She kept a straight face easily while he tried his hardest not to smile.
He could not take it much longer and engulfed her into a tight squeeze. It had taken Gabriella a quick minute before she had realized what was going on and she promptly returned the firm hug. Troy took a deep breath, inhaling her scent and smiled widely. Her perfume was different than all the other girls. She had used a brand that no one had ever heard of. He kissed the top of her head and she buried her face in his shoulder. "Gabriella, I've missed you." He said to her as he rested his chin on the top of her head while stroking her hair.
Her face was still nuzzled in his shoulder when he had spoken, but she picked her head up before she responded, "I missed you too, Troy." She said sincerely in a soft tone. The last time Gabriella had used a tone like that was in New York when Troy was leaving her. She now always talked in an icy tone, like she was angry all the time. She used to hide her emotions and act happy all the time, but now the happiness was filled with anger and a bad attitude. Troy pulled back suddenly, and Gabriella began to yearn for his gentle touch.
Troy beckoned Gabriella to come inside his bedroom, but she shook her head furiously. He decided to ask her once more. "Come in, we can catch up on things." He offered as he ran a hand through his hair and she got butterflies just like she used to in Junior High. She shook her head again, but he ignored her motion and pulled her inside his room. She felt a bit tense and she was sure that he could read her like an open book. She nodded her head to reassure him that she was indeed listening to everything he had said even though she really did not have the faintest idea on what he was saying. He gestured her to sit on the bed and she hesitantly obeyed.
He gazed at Gabriella once more, but this time his stare was not confused. His stare was filled with worry and fear. He had to be scared, that was the only explanation for the light color of his eyes. Scared of what, Gabriella never knew. Then he popped an unnecessary question. "Are you okay?" If Gabriella was still in her icy tone she would have scoffed and asked him if she looked okay in an angry manner. Gabriella had always hated when people asked her if she was okay. She even snapped at Matt once in a while. Gabriella did not want to be mean to him. She loved him with all of her heart even if he did not know it.
She did not know how to respond to his question. What would she tell him? She could not tell that a mass murderer in prison was looking for her and wanted to kill her. And she definitely could not tell him that she could heal her wounds, but feel the pain they produced. There was only one possible solution, "Oh, I'm fine." She answered lamely. He narrowed his eyes at her, not believing any of her words. She sighed, "I just had a nightmare."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Troy grew more worried. He wondered what the nightmare was about because she had seemed pretty shaken up by it. There was something different about Gabriella than when she had lived in New York. Gabriella had long dark curls that went half way down her back and always wore a hoodie now, but the Gabriella back in New York had short dark curls and always wore a zip up jacket that was never properly zipped. They had the same cold effect; he had remembered that back in New York Gabriella was always cold. Their eyes were definitely similar, both pairs got darker when they were having an intense emotion. He knew it was really her.
Troy's eyes filled with pity for Gabriella. If she felt mean right at this second she would have growled at him saying she did not need pity especially coming from him and his perfect little family. She had always known that Troy's family hardly had any problems, they were so perfectly perfect. She thought of Matt, he would disapprove at her attitude toward her 'lover'. "No thanks." She replied nervously, hoping he would drop the subject she carelessly brought up.
Troy could tell that this nightmare was eating up her insides and pretty soon there would be an enormous hole that she would not be able to fill. He could imagine Gabriella holding on to her stomach keeping her ribcage in place as the hole withered away the rest of her body. The nightmares were frequent, he could tell from the fear in her eyes. He assumed that she was scared of falling asleep at night because she would have a nightmare. He did not like the thought of Gabriella screaming and crying in her sleep and he knew the only way to fix this was to get her to talk to him about it. "Are you sure?"
Gabriella nodded slowly, thinking. If she was mean and icy Gabriella she would have snarled at him while asking him if he thought she was sure. She would have yelled at him saying that she already said no and that he needed to stop asking the same question over and over again. She absolutely dreaded it when someone asked the same question twice when they had already received an answer.
She sighed deeply. "Troy, you don't know me." She said softly, the pain killing her with every word she spoke. "And I would appreciate if you stopped acting like you did." She finished with a tear streaming down her cheek. Her tears were cold too and combined with her cold cheek the tear could have easily turned into an ice cube. His warm hand tried to wipe the freezing tear away, but her numb hand swatted his hand away.
"Gabriella," He replied softly, letting a long sigh escape his flawless lips. The sadness in his light blue orbs met the iciness in her dark brown ones. If her eyes got any colder she would have sworn that they would have turned blue. "I do know you and that's what scares me the most." Gabriella shifted uncomfortably in her seat and she looked awkwardly down at her hands that were as cold as frost. Her hands rubbed arms nervously and she avoided Troy's gaze. Tears welled up in her eyes and she quickly controlled her emotions. Luckily that was something she had taught herself to do.
She took a deep breath before she considered responding to his comment. "No," She whispered, but Troy could hear her perfectly. "You think you know everything, but you actually know nothing." Confusion struck Troy's eyes once more and it was his turn to look at his hands awkwardly. He rubbed the back of his neck in a nervous motion and Gabriella sighed deeply. "You don't know what I went through those years you weren't there."
"But I want to know…" His voice trailed off.
"I can't tell you." She says, detached from the conversation as she stares across the room.
Gabriella noticed pain and anger in Troy's blue orbs. She let a tear escape her eyes and the pad of her thumb brushed it off her cheek. She took a deep breath before he replied in an annoyed tone of voice. "Then don't get mad at me for not knowing." There was a long pause and Gabriella hung her head down low. She frowned at his words and did not know what to say in return. She desperately needed Troy when she knew she could not let her self get close to him.
She needed to hear Troy's velvet smooth voice and snuggle herself into his arms.
She needed him.
End of Chapter
That is the first chapter. I am so excited for this story. I hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter and I hope you guys are looking forward to the next chapters. For those who have read this chapter, thanks for giving this story a chance. I appreciate it a lot.
Don't forget to leave a review with your opinion. I want to know if you guys like the idea so far, and if there is anyway to improve this story before I continue with the next chapter. I am just warning you guys that I want at least 10 reviews with feedback on the story before I post another chapter.
LOVE YOU GUYS,
OHEMMGEEXD
