Marriage is a Virtue:
A/N: High School Musical is Copyright of it's respectful owners. I am merely a Fan.
Chapter 1:
Beep! Beep! Beep! the alarm sounded at 7.00
"Mmmmm shut up, shut up." Gabriella groaned being woken from her deep sleep. Turning over she reached for the top of the alarm clock, on the bed side table, and immediately searched for the off button, with only her fingers to guide her. Suddenly the beep was silenced.
"Result." she thought, turning back over for that extra five minutes.
"Oh no you don't" came a sound from the body next to her, snuggled under the covers. He had also been awaken from his deep sleep. "You don't want to be late again, do you?"
"When I decided to get off my ass and work, I never expected so many early starts." she said as she turned onto her back, staring at the wall.
"Hey stop that." he said rolling over and grabbing the duvet from her. "Some of us don't have to work today."
"Well that's alright for you." she groaned, taking an armful of the duvet back with her.
"At least you have you're weekends off. I have to pick and choose." he said turning onto his side to face her. Gabriella also rolled over onto her side.
"You will remember about tonight, won't you?" she mumbled with the duvet covering her mouth.
"Yeah, sure I will. It'll be fine." he said stroking her face before kissing her forehead. "But you're gonna have to get up."
"Just five more minutes." she moaned turning on to the opposite side from him. He stood up and with one pull, took the duvet off the bed.
"Get up." he smirked
"Sometimes I really hate you."
"But luckily it's outweighed by love."
7.03
She yawned tenderly as she finally rose from the bed, sitting up on the side to get her morning bearings. Getting up she wandered over towards her wardrobe. As it creaked open, she began rummaging through an assortment of clothes, looking for the right outfit. He, as usual, was again in bed, dozing off, with not a care in the world. Once the outfit, a matching pinstripe suit jacket and pants with a white shirt, had been found she proceeded through to the bathroom on her left.
7.07
Steam began to fill the room as she stepped into the shower. Her life was always so predictable. Shower first, It was the same every day of the week. Unmoved she reached for the shampoo, pouring just about the right amount on top of her head and rubbing it carefully into her hair, closing her eyes to stop any of the lather from coming through and stinging.
7.40
The shower would soon be over and she would then be found by her mirror, sitting and staring at herself, her face tired and unhappy due to the lack of sleep. Applying the smallest amounts of makeup with the highest amounts of precision would soon make a difference. "This old gal could still turn it on, every day" she kept telling herself, everyday. She would soon have her guard up. Reaching for the hairbrush to her right, she began to sort her scuffled hair, which had been recently dried. Once all of the knots had been found, she opened a small drawer in front of her. Taking out a black bauble, she tied her hair back. This was her working look. After she had applied the finishing touches, she crept out of the room, not to wake him, not to make him stir.
8.00
Bread flicked up from where it had just been toasted, the kettle bubbled as it reached boiling point. Almost uncaring, almost subconsciously, she reached for the toast and placed it onto the plate she had taken from the cupboard above. Yelping as the heat, began to hurt her fingers. Next she reached for the boiled kettle and added the perfect amount into her cup, she had always been emasculate about these kind of things. Stirring in the right amount of sweetener, not sugar, she didn't want to get that fat.
8.15
Gabriella stared at the bottom of her coffee cup, not having spoken for over an hour now. However silence was always found at this time of the morning, with or without her up. Getting up, she, placed her dishes in the dishwasher, just to save him from having to do it. Reaching for the sticky notes on the top of the works top, she wrote "BREAD J" in big letters, before safely sticking it to the outside of the refrigerator. Once the message had been left for him, she went to the laundry basket and lifted out the dirty linen. Without a thought, she placed them into the washing machine and turned it to an appropriate setting. Adding washing powder when needed, just so he only needed to put it in the dryer, once it was done. She would iron when she got home, just so he would be perfect for his own job tomorrow. This process had happened for a while now. She grabbed her keys, making sure not to slam the door that could wake him. Turning around she was now outside.
8.41
Gabriella stepped into the overcrowded train as always, finding space over in a corner. Placing her bag down beneath her feet, making sure it wasn't a hazard to others, she changed songs on her ipod. The music she listened to would be her soundtrack for the next fifteen minutes, (Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel). Houses passed, as did people in cars, people on streets, children playing outside school just before the morning bell. The same usual sights, the same usual life.
8.55
Walking into work she went into her bag and pulled out a clocking in card, swiping it as she walked past the machine. Pushing the button, she waited on an elevator. When it came, she again had to step into the onslaught of another crowded area. All around her, there were so many familiar faces. The same faces, some from other departments, some who were right beside her. Some began to trickle out at other levels, some like her stayed until her floor came. But she saw no need to talk to them for now. That wasn't protocol until 9.
9.00
Slumping into her seat, she reached for a pen from the desk in front of her. Slowly placing it on her bottom lip and staring at the tiny mirror, making sure her lipstick was perfect, she then proceeded to log into the computer at her desk and check what task would be in front of her, making small talk with those around her. She usually kept herself to herself, but she had friends at work, she was respected at work. For this was work, every weekday, for Gabriella. She didn't even need to work, he was a driving instructor, he had taken the day off especially, to prepare for the evening, and still went through with it, even when he knew she couldn't get off herself. He had his own business. He made more than enough to keep them, but she felt guilty. This wasn't what she wanted to do, but she didn't want to be alone in the house all day, everyday pining for him to come through the door. She didn't want to have to rely on him for everything. She had taken the vows, just like him. She cooked and cleaned for him, while he dealt with the bills. They had to be equal, by giving and taking, in everything they did concerning each other.
10.20
Fifteen minute break. Time for coffee, standing in the queue with the drones, she waited her turn, as plain faced and motionless as the those in front or behind her.
11.00
"Gabriella, have you got those reports for the Jefferson deal?" came a voice from in front of her desk
"Yes, Mr Philips. They should all be in order. Let me call them up and I'll bring them to you in your office before lunch." she answered smiling at him.
"Perfect, thank you." he was a nice boss, in his late 50s, understanding and caring for his staff. One of the upsides of working. She went to take a drink from her cup, the coffee now cold. It didn't matter.
1.30
Sitting on a concrete bench, in the square opposite the building, Gabriella began to tuck into her daily sandwich, cheese savoury, while taking a quick browse over world events in her daily broadsheet newspaper. The square was always busy at this time, with people just like her having a spot of lunch. But this time, told many different stories. The young child with her Grandmother, who had stopped for a rest, while he was adamant on continuing. The man on his phone to his girlfriend, wife or even mistress. Even the lonely hotdog seller who stood by his stand, injecting the linger aroma of the hot dogs into the atmosphere.
1.50
Taking another bite from her sandwich, followed by another slurp from her water bottle, Gabriella continued reading. Dark clouds were now gathering overhead, The rain would soon come too, causing her newspaper to become her temporary umbrella, until she was safely inside the office once more. She then disposed of the newspaper and sandwich wrapping, now soaked through.
4.50
The dry heat of the office was making conditions clammy for Gabriella, who was still damp from the rain at lunchtime. But it was nearly time to leave. Packing up her things for another day, she made her way toward the exit, down the again crowded escalator and through the doors of the main building.
"So what have you got planned tonight?" said a girl working next to her, Sally
"Not much I think, probably just stay in. You?" she answered back.
"Ah I'm going out to that new club in town, Steinbergs', with Rick."
"Rick? The guy in tech?" she smiled
"Yes."
"Fancy." she teased, "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship."
"I hope so, I mean who wouldn't say no to him?"
"Me"
"Yeah, but you're tied down." The truth was she was, but she wouldn't have it any other way, "How is married life?"
"Brilliant, as always." she smiled back
"No regrets at being attached at 22?" Sally questioned
"Not at all."
5.05
Clocking out, Gabriella walked out of the doors of the office and into the outside world. Work was over, she could be her again. The rain was still pouring, but she wasn't bothered. There was no need to keep her clothes intact, she didn't need to go back inside. Walking down the street, she decided to take a detour and saunter by the boutique shops before going for the train. Just to keep him waiting that bit longer.
5.40
The rain was falling harder as she spotted a pretty little pink number in the window she was passing. Stopping and staring into the window, she wondered, if she would be able to afford it.
"No point asking him," she thought, "He'd just complain and say I had too many clothes."
Passing by the coffee shop on her right, she stopped. There was enough time for just one more cup.
6.00
Gabriella splashed through the puddles, soaking her pants as the water came up with every step. A smile now came across her face, as she took out her bauble, letting her long hair hang down her back. She could be her again.
6.15
On the train home now, things were different. Her make up wasn't to perfection, just as her hair wasn't in perfect place. The bottom of her pants were still wet from stepping through puddles on the way to catch her train home. Home, where she could let her guard down, where she hadn't a care in the world. Where she was safe with him. Looking around the train she could see those around her all in the same boat. Be it school children, mothers with small children or those coming back from work like herself, they were all in the same boat, eager to get home. She sat opposite an elderly couple on the train. They still looked so in love with the man's arm around the women's shoulder. They were chatting, laughing, enjoying life. Hopefully him and her would grow old together, just like the couple on the train. Smiling intently she began to come back to life, tapping her feet to the music on her ipod, and looking out into the vast city at night as people were doing exactly what she was doing, going home.
6.45
With the train slightly delayed. She stumbled over the final step towards the house and nearly fell coming through the back door. Placing her bag on the floor and kicking off her high heels, she gave a long hard stretch followed by a yawn. She was home again. For Gabriella, it was always good to be home with him, but tonight was even more special.
7.00
Walking into the kitchen, she found him making the finishing touches to the meal he had specially prepared. The room only lit by candle light. The music was easy going and romantic. Catching her eye, he was now facing her, placing his arms tight around her waist. The alarm bells inside her were silenced once more. This was the point of working all day and coming home to him. This was the reason they were married, so they could have the days like she had just had, but still have the tender moments when they were over. Only with him, where he would make her feel woman again. Where he would take all her troubles away. A place where they could only go.
"Happy anniversary Gabriella." he said as placed his forehead on to hers.
"Happy anniversary, my darling Ryan." she said kissing him softly
