Hey guys! This is another little something I've been working on. It's going to be a multi-chapter, but not a super long one, probably around four or five chapters unless a lot of people request otherwise. Let me know what you think!
-Nicole
"That chemistry test was ridiculously hard," Taylor whined. Gabriella groaned.
"Ugh, I'm taking that last period today."
The two brainiacs were sitting side by side at a cafeteria table, textbooks stacked next to them.
"There was this whole section on Stoichiometry, Gabi, it was terrible," Taylor continued.
"Shit, I didn't study Stoichiometry! She said it was just going to be on atomic structure!"
"I know!"
Gabriella pulled her chemistry book from the pile on the table and quickly flipped to the correct section, burying herself in the information.
"I have half an hour of lunch to study this," she muttered.
"Hey girls," a bubbly voice said. The perky blonde dropped her bag next to her chair and her lunch tray on the table.
"Hey Shar," Taylor acknowledged. "Ignore Gabi, she's stressing about the chemistry quiz she has last period. Hey Kelsi, hey Ryan."
Right behind Sharpay, her twin brother followed, along with Kelsi's tiny form.
"Hey guys," Ryan said, taking a seat. Kelsi did the same.
"So, girls…" Sharpay began. She was immediately cut off by loud laughter from the nearby table. Even Gabriella looked up from her textbook, a bit dazed. They all turned toward the sound, frowning. Gabriella turned away with a pang in her heart once she saw Troy punching Chad playfully, surrounded by his basketball friends.
Troy used to be her friend. Her best friend.
She thought back to elementary school wistfully.
"What's wrong, Gabriella?" Troy asked. The small brown-eyed girl sat against the playground fence at recess, her legs pulled close to her chest. Her head was buried between her knees in an effort to hide the tears, but nothing could stop her body from shaking.
"I don't get it Troy, why are they so mean to me?" she cried, looking up at him.
"Who? Sharpay? She's just jealous that you're smarter than she is. You could do that math problem with your eyes closed, she didn't know the answer at all!"
"She called me a nerd. She said she hated me. I didn't mean to do anything to her!" Gabriella paused for a moment. "I understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore."
"What?" Troy started. He sat down next to Gabriella and she shifted away from him, staring out across the playground. "Ella, you're my best friend. I'm gonna be your best friend forever and ever, okay? I don't care what Sharpay thinks. You're way cooler than she is anyways."
"Really?"
"Really."
"You promise?" She finally met his gaze. Troy grinned at her, holding out his pinky.
"Promise."
Promises like that aren't kept, Gabriella realized, especially as she and Troy got older. That promise had dissipated once they stepped foot in the East High halls. Troy joined the basketball team and made new friends. He talked to her a bit at first, but their conversations occurred less frequently as time went on. He hadn't even texted her in three weeks, and the last time he had, it was a question about his biology homework. They weren't really friends anymore, she thought. The best word for it was probably 'acquaintances'. Sometimes he would wave at her in the halls, but that was the extent of it. Even though she lived next door to him, she barely saw him anymore.
"Gabi? Are you okay?"
Ryan's voice snapped her from her thoughts.
"Sorry," she said immediately. "I guess I just zoned out for a second there." She looked around at the table and a tiny smile crossed her face. They had come a long way since elementary school. It was sort of ironic that she was closer now with Sharpay than she was with Troy. Ever since she tutored Sharpay in algebra their freshman year, and Sharpay convinced Gabriella to try out for the musical, the two had been inseparable.
"It's okay! I was just saying, I want to have a girls' movie night tonight. I can help you work on your solo for the show, if you want to meet earlier. Are you guys down?" Sharpay suggested.
"I'm assuming I'm not invited," Ryan grumbled.
"Sorry, Ry, maybe next time," Taylor giggled. "We can do it at my place, if you want."
"I'm in! The Last Five Years is finally on Netflix, we should totally watch that one!" Kelsi added. Everyone turned to look at Gabriella.
"I really do need that extra practice for the show. I'll be there."
The lunch bell rang, interrupting the conversation.
"God!" Gabriella cried. "I didn't get to study for that test!"
"You'll be fine, bestie. You always are," Sharpay smiled, hugging her quickly. "I'll see you ladies tonight. 6:30!"
"Thanks Shar."
"Mom? You home?" Gabriella called as she closed the front door and hung her car keys on the hook by the door. She sighed when she got no response, making her way into the kitchen. A note lay on the counter, as she expected.
Gabriella –
My boss called me this morning. I have to fly to Chicago for the weekend. I'll be home on Monday, baby. I left some money on the counter for dinner, if you want. I'll see you when I get back.
Just as she finished reading, the doorbell rang. She rushed to answer it.
"Lucille!" she exclaimed. The auburn-haired woman smiled at her.
"Gabriella! How are you, sweetheart? You haven't stopped next door in ages!"
"Sorry," Gabriella apologized, her smile shrinking a bit. Troy hadn't asked her to come. "I know Troy has been busy with basketball and stuff, I don't want to interrupt him, I guess. I know he's working hard to get a scholarship."
"Yes, he is," Lucille smiled proudly. "But you really shouldn't worry about that! You could even come around when Troy isn't there – my cookies are always better when I bake them with you. You know you're like a second daughter to me, honey."
Gabriella smiled widely, incredibly touched.
"Thank you, Lucille. I'll definitely take you up on that offer," she lied. How could she? It was difficult even talking to Lucille, no matter how much she loved Troy's mother. Her faded friendship with Troy was ruining everything.
"Anyways, I stopped by to drop off this book I borrowed from your mother," Lucille said, holding up the book in question.
"Oh! Thank you," Gabriella said, taking the book from her. "She's not home right now, she had an emergency business trip."
"Are you alone?"
"Yes, but just for the weekend. It happens all the time."
"Oh, sweetheart, I don't want you to be alone! At least come to dinner tonight," Lucille offered, concern lacing her voice.
"I'd love to, but I already made plans with Sharpay, Taylor, and Kelsi. Next time, for sure, though," Gabriella responded with the best smile she could muster.
"Okay, if you're sure. Take care, Gabriella."
"You too." Gabriella watched Lucille's retreating form cross the lawn, hearing a basketball bouncing on the pavement and knowing that Troy was in the backyard practicing. She ached to talk to him, really talk to him, the way they used to. Phone conversations that lasted until three in the morning had turned into the occasional nod of acknowledgment in the halls. She wanted to cry just thinking about it. Shaking herself from her thoughts, she stepped back inside and dropped the book on the kitchen counter before grabbing her book bag and heading to her bedroom to do her homework.
At 6:15, Gabriella pulled on her jacket and grabbed her car keys, along with an overnight bag that she was taking to Taylor's. Jack Bolton was just pulling in his driveway next door when she stepped onto her porch, probably late because of papers he had to grade. He waved back after he parked, smiling. Stepping out of the car, he called to her.
"Hi, Gabriella! How are you?"
"I'm great, how are you?"
"I'm wonderful, that's good to hear. Where ya headed?"
"Taylor's. We're having a movie night."
"Dad!"
Gabriella had to keep herself from flinching at the sound of Troy's voice. She hadn't realized how long it had been since she'd heard it. She watched her old friend walk from his backyard to the front.
"Hey, Troy, how's your practice going?" his father asked.
"I've just been working on free throws for a bit, but we can play one on one after dinner…" Troy trailed off as he followed his father's gaze, noticing Gabriella on her porch. He smiled at her, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Gabriella returned the same half-hearted smile, but said nothing.
"Hey, Gabriella," Troy said after a moment.
"Hi, Troy."
Silence fell again, until Gabriella couldn't take it anymore.
"I should probably go, I don't want to be late," she said quickly, turning her gaze to Jack to make it less painfully awkward. She sent Troy a final glance. "I'll see you around."
"Yeah," Troy said, clearing his throat. "Bye, Ella."
Her heart stung at his use of his nickname for her.
"Have a good time, Gabriella," Jack grinned, waving. Gabriella waved back and hopped in her car.
"God, I hope this girls' night can take my mind off this," she muttered to herself, starting her car and pulling out of the driveway.
After dinner, some extra basketball practice with his dad, and a hot shower, Troy laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He was lost in thought. His mom had said something that bothered him.
"I stopped next door today to give Maria her book back, but she wasn't there. I did see Gabriella, though. She's grown up into such a beautiful young woman, I do miss seeing her around here."
Troy froze, a forkful of pasta halfway in his mouth. Suddenly, he didn't feel like eating anymore. He set his fork down and his parents looked at him.
"Are you okay, son?" asked Jack. Troy stared at his pasta like it had just revealed the secrets of the universe. Looking up to meet his dad's eyes, his own looked incredibly sad. He offered a fake smile.
"I'm fine, Dad. Just tired I guess."
That was a lie. He wasn't fine. He missed Gabriella too. There was a knock on his doorframe and he sat up.
"Hey, Dad," he said, flopping back down onto the bed, sinking into the pillows.
"Are you sure you're okay, Troy? You barely ate at dinner."
There was a moment of silence before Troy spoke.
"Dad, was Gabriella – I mean – do you think she was acting weird earlier?" he blurted. Jack looked confused.
"What do you mean?" Jack prodded.
"She barely looked me in the eye earlier. And then what Mom said at dinner…"
"So, you miss her too."
"Well, yeah," Troy admitted.
"Well, you know you don't have to. You go to school together, you live next door to each other. Don't you see her every day?"
"Yeah but it's not the same. She doesn't talk to me anymore."
"Why not?"
"Well-" Troy started, then stopped himself. "I actually have no idea."
"I think I might have a clue." Both boys turned to look at Lucille, peeking through the doorway.
"She sees you at school every day, but you're always with the basketball team. Right?" Lucille continued. Troy nodded and frowned. "She knows that you're working hard to get that basketball scholarship, and you're doing what you love to do. She even told me earlier – she doesn't want to interrupt you. She knows exactly what you're determined to do, Troy – she knows everything about you. But have you been paying attention to what she's been doing?"
"Well…I guess not," Troy said.
"Honey, I think you and Gabriella should talk. I bet you she misses you just as much as you miss her. And pay a bit more attention. Say hello to her in the hallways or class. For now, just get some sleep. You have the entire weekend to figure out what to say," Lucille said. "I know you two will always be friends."
Troy nodded again, his brow furrowed. Lucille took her husband's arm and they left, leaving Troy alone with his thoughts.