Prom Problems
Summary: Gabriella's dream is to go to her high school prom with bad boy Troy. However, there are three problems: 1-Troy doesn't do proms, 2-Troy's brother wants to take her and 3-Nobody would ever approve.
Chapter 1-Troy doesn't do proms
"Rumour has it Tanner Bolton is going to ask you to prom, Gabi. Isn't that exciting?" Taylor McKessi announced as she reached her friends sitting by their lockers.
Sharpay's face lit up to match her friend's while the girl in question only paled.
"No way. You lucky bitch! You guys will look so hot!" Sharpay squealed.
"Tanner? I don't even know him that well," Gabriella frowned. "Why would he ask me?"
"Rumour has it, he's had the hots for you ever since you rejected his good-for-nothing brother," Taylor proudly declared.
Gabriella stopped listening after that statement, feelings of guilt resurfacing once more. Images of Troy Bolton's face after she had loudly told him to "get away from her" were flashing through her mind. The memory was still as vivid two months after it happened.
"What's wrong Gabs? Why aren't you jumping in joy at the news? You used to worship Tanner," Sharpay interrupted her thoughts.
"I'm just… in shock," the brunette replied, avoiding her friends' eyes. "Anyways, I have to go. I'm on baby sitting duty today."
Without a second look, Gabriella grabbed her backpack and walked away. She knew her friends probably had not bought her lame excuse, but she didn't care. She needed to get away and forget all about Tanner and the possibility that she might have to go to prom with him. Pushing the doors leading to the parking lot open, she groaned upon seeing the group of delinquents of her school.
"Well would you look at that. Of course you would be the last one out of the building," Ryan Evans snorted.
Ever since she had rejected their friend Troy, the rebels of the school never hesitated to taunt her. Ryan Evans, Sharpay's brother, was the leader of that movement.
"And I thought you guys would be the first ones gone," she retorted, trying to muster as much confidence as she could.
"Why? Because we're screw-ups? Because we don't spend day and night studying our asses off for school? I'll have you know, we have as much right as you to be here," Jason Cross joined.
Gabriella clenched her jaw as the group all formed a line in front of her, blocking her path. She knew they would never dare to touch her, but she couldn't help feeling afraid.
"Leave her alone guys, wouldn't want Principal Matsui failing our asses 'cause we made Montez piss her pants."
The brunette sighed in relief as the group dispersed, the members returning to Troy Bolton's side. For a brief second her eyes caught his icy blue ones. She couldn't help but feel her heart accelerate as she took in his leather jacket, his ripped jeans and his messy brown hair.
"Come on man, one more second and we would've made her beg for your forgiveness," Kelsi whined.
"Montez is my problem, not yours. I get to decide how I want to punish her," Troy replied drily.
As he said the word "punish" his eyes found Gabriella's once again. The brunette raised an eyebrow as she saw a hint of amusement.
"So what Montez, are you just going to stand around until my friends surround you again?" he smirked.
The brunette looked away, feeling the blush of embarrassment creeping upon her cheeks and darted toward her car.
"Damn it Troy," she murmured once she was safely inside the vehicle.
She jumped in shock as she heard a tap on her side window. Her head swirled around to see Troy standing there. He motioned for her to roll down the window.
"What do you want?" Gabriella demanded as he leaned his elbows on the frames.
"Are we hanging out later?" he whispered completely serious.
She could see his friends were still at the same spot as before, a few feet away.
"I'm free right now actually," she responded, calming down. "My mom's not going to be home until 7."
"I'll meet you in 5. Just need to get rid of these guys first," Troy declared.
"You know, you could've just texted me instead of risking it by talking to me."
"Yeah well, this is more fun," he shrugged, leaning away from the car.
She watched as he retreated back to his friends and put her keys into the ignition.
-HSM-
Gabriella checked the time on her phone once more.
"It's been 32 minutes, what's taking him so long?" she wondered.
She once again tried to solve the math equation in front of her. She let out a scream when a pair of arms wrapped around her neck from behind.
"Goddamn it Troy!" she exclaimed recognising the leather jacket.
"You really shouldn't let your balcony doors unlocked," Troy chuckled letting his arms drop.
"I'm on the second floor, I don't need to lock them." She turned to look at him. "You're late by the way."
"Sorry, they wanted to get smokes from Tony," he shrugged. "Don't worry, I didn't buy any. You can check my pockets if ya don't believe me," he quickly added upon seeing her disapproving expression.
Her face softened and she extended an arm to take his hand in hers.
"I believe you," she declared softly, bringing him closer.
"You're the only one who does."
He cupped her face with his available hand and kissed her gently.
"Happy 6 months anniversary," he whispered against her lips.
"You remembered," she smiled.
Without another word he reached into his pocket and took out a small box of chocolate.
"My favourite," Gabriella grinned.
"Of course. I also got you this," he reached into his other jean pocket and took out another small squared box.
"What is it?" she inquired, curiously.
"Just open it."
The brunette carefully took off the top of the box and saw a small note folded in half. She opened it and read: "Gabriella, I love you. You're my angel. – Troy".
"You're so cute," she declared.
Setting the note aside, she unwrapped the tissue paper.
"Your family ring?" she looked at him perplexed. "I thought you didn't care for it?"
"Maybe but I care about you. And I respect the meaning behind it," he admitted.
She reached up and kissed him. He had told her once that the Bolton rings had been in their family for over four generations. The tradition was to give them to the person they fell in love with and, if they ended up with children, they would then be given to them.
"I love you," Gabriella whispered. "And I can't wait to see what you have planned as promposal."
Troy stiffened.
"Uh Gabi, I thought I told you," he started.
"Told me what?"
"I-we don't do proms," he said.
"Who's we?"
"My friends and I."
"Why not?" She let go off his hand.
"It's not really our scene, really," Troy declared awkwardly.
"But Troy, it's prom! I've dreamed about this since I was a freshman."
"Six months ago you said you didn't care for prom."
"That's because I didn't want to scare you off. I didn't want you to think I was one of those materialist girls who dreams about Prince charming."
The blue eyed boy inwardly groaned knowing a fight would soon ensue.
"Tell me one good reason why you won't go to prom," Gabriella demanded, crossing her arms.
"Prom is all about celebrating the high school years; to finish with a bang. Why would I want to go when all it has given me was headaches and frustration?"
The brunette softened slightly. She knew that Troy had suffered from constantly living in his brother's shadow all those years. It also didn't help that everyone at school considered him a troublemaker, a bad seed and a good-for-nothing. When she had met him back in September he had been a lot more reserved and wild. Overtime she had managed to break through the walls he kept around his heart.
"I get it Troy. I understand that you want out as quickly as you can. Heck, if there was a forward button I would press it gladly just so you would be done with school," Gabriella said gently.
She moved to sit beside her boyfriend on her bed and took his big hand in hers.
"I appreciate that."
"Thing is, it's prom and I want to go with my boyfriend who I love very much," she continued.
"No, you don't," Troy contradicted, dropping her hand. "You don't even want to be seen with me."
"That's completely false."
"It's not. Allow me to remind you about the time you told me to 'get away from you' 2 months ago, just 'cause your friends were there."
Gabriella inwardly cringed. Whenever the incident was brought up, she knew things were about to get ugly.
"Troy…"
"I know, I know, I did it to push your buttons at the time so I guess I sort of deserved it. It was a blow to my ego though, but I forgave you," he interrupted her. "However, even if you did acknowledge me in public, I still wouldn't take you to prom. It just isn't my thing you know? Besides, I promised my friends we would have an anti-prom."
"But Troy…"
"You'll be with your friends and you'll have a great time. You won't need me there. You won't even notice I'm missing."
Gabriella's eyes narrowed. She was starting to become seriously fed up with her boyfriend's unwilling attitude.
"You fucking moron," she hissed. "You're the guy I love. Of course I'm going to fucking notice you're missing."
Troy clenched his jaw. Gabriella swearing meant she was really angry. In a split decision, he decided to stand his ground.
-HSM-
Author's note: I know I have a lot of unfinished stories but this one has been haunting me for days.
Reviews would be much appreciated.
