"Cause I don't wanna be,
one of the boys, one of your guys,
Just give me a chance to prove to you tonight."
-Katy Perry, One Of The Boys
I sighed as I walked into school. I saw my guys on the steps and half smiled. "Gabster!" Chad called. I waved, and did a peace sign. I walked towards them, feeling like a boy too. My baggy jeans and old sweatshirt didn't help that. But, they were my guys. I didn't have to show off to them.
"Hey. Zeke, Chad, Jason, my guys. Where's Troy?" My heart yanked, and I pushed the feeling away,. Cursing at myself internally.
"He's got B-Ball practice with Coach until school starts." Chad replied.
"Oh." I replied. It was Monday, and I was in a bad enough mood. "What are you guys doing for the summer?" I asked, and they all cheered. Summer vacation started tomorrow.
"I'm going to B-Ball camp with Troy, Zeke's going to cookery school, and Jason's with his grandma." Chad replied.
"Yeah!" Jason cut in. "I get to see Grammy! How coolsome is that?" I rolled my eyes, and watched as Jason and Zeke walked into school with some cheerleaders.
"What are you doing?" Chad asked me. I shrugged, and he sighed. "Staying in again? Gabby, you should hang out with Taylor and Sharpay. They go shopping and stuff."
"Chad, you know me. I hate clothes shops, I hate make up, I hate the COLOUR pink. I can't handle a girly shopping trip. I'd rather hang myself." I told him fiercly. "Why do you guys keep suggesting this? Are you trying to get rid of me or something?"
"Gab, we love having you around!" He replied, just as fiercly. "You know we do, so don't try to turn that on me. We just know that you're not meant to be one of the guys. Maybe on a weekend, but you dress like I do when I'm out. You never spend any time with girls. No one knows why you stick with us!"
"That's none of your business..." I told him harshly. I turned and walked away.
"Gabby!" He called after me, but I ignored him.
* * * * * * * * *
"Gab, Chad says you're in a mood."
Trust Troy to be blunt. "None of your business either, Troy..." I told him, looking through my bag for a pencil.
"Did he bring up the shopping thing again?" I paused, and looked at Troy. His blue eyes gazed at me, and I sighed, throwing my shoulder bag on the floor.
"Yes." I replied. "Yes, he did." I hate how he knows everything about me.
"I think you're fine the way you are." Troy told me. My breath caught in my throat. I was just... fine?
"Well, fine." I replied. He was in for a shock, I decided.
* * * * * * * * *
I looked at the dresses in the store, thinking. I don't know when I realised I was in love with Troy. It was the moment we first spent the afternoon together, I decided. When he saw me as soon as I'd woken up, and I was even more ugly than I usually am. My hair was like a haystack, but I had no makeup on, like usual.
"So stupid..." I groaned to myself. All these clothes were so confusing... I was used to sweats and jeans... not miniskirts and dresses.
"Gabriella?" A voice came behind me. I turned. Sharpay and Taylor were there. Kelsi was stood behind them. "Since when do you come here?" Sharpay asked.
"First time." I replied, giving a small smile. "I'm changing how I look, but I don't have a clue of what to do." I told them. Sharpay turned to Taylor and grinned.
"We're gonna teach you."
* * * * * * * * * * *
I gazed at myself in the mirror. An entire summer of being with Sharpay and Taylor had definatly paid off. After that first sleepover, we'd been inseperable, and I'd been a girl. It'd felt amazing. I looked at my phone. I had a new text of Sharpay.
Where are you?
-Shar
I giggled (yes, me. I GIGGLED!) and texted back. She'd decided to pick me up before school each morning. She didn't want me catching the bus. 'You'll get raped' she'd said. Then we'd laughed for the rest of the night.
Home. You?
-Gabby
On my way. Be outside in 5.
Love ya, Shar x
Love ya too
Gabby x
I walked into school with Sharpay, watching as everyone stared. The boy's best friend and little sister was a girl. I turned to Sharpay as soon as I saw Chad, Zeke, Jason and Troy. "Shar, before I go, can I say something?"
"Yeah, sure." She smiled.
"Thank you so much for dressing me properly, teaching me to straighten my hair, and applying makeup. It's been the most fun I've had since I came to this school. But, now I'm not a boy anymore, and you've finished your makeover, you're not gonna abandon me, are you?" I asked, blushing and looking down. She surprised me by laughing.
"Gabs, I love you. You're one of the funniest, sweetest people I've ever met. We're gonna be friends forever, understand?" She smiled at me, and I hugged her. My new bestfriend. I breathed out, slowly, and turned around and walked away.
I walked up to the guys in a flowered dress that came to mid-thigh, and had a tight bodice and flowing skirt to my mid thigh. I had 4 inch heels on, my hair curled and scraped back into a bun with curled strands hanging down. My makeup was foundation, powder, mascara, eyeliner and lip gloss. I was wearing a silver necklace saying 'love'. "Hey guys." I said, breathing out. They turned, and I heard a gasp. I looked up, and they were all standing with their mouths open. "It's Gabriella. I reminded them, and they looked at me.
"You're a girl!" Chad said. I nodded, and glared at him. He wooped, and hugged me. Jason and Zeke hugged me, and I giggled, and they grinned. They moved to the side and greeted their girlfriends. I met eyes with Troy, and he stared at me.
"Why've you changed?" He asked. I looked hurt, and he started rambling like usual when he was nervous. "Don't get me wrong, you look amazing. Not that you didn't before, but you're gorgeous. I mean, I think I like you more than I did before which is impossible. I mean..." My mouth dropped open and he realised what he said. "Oops."
"You like me?" I asked.
"Is that a problem?" He asked, scared.
"No. Because I like you too." I replied. I heard no reply, and started going red. I felt a hand on my cheek, and some lips crashed onto my own. I kissed Troy for what felt like a second, and I knew I was gonna stay in his arms forever.
"Finally." Chad said, clapping Troy on the back.