Hey guys,
I'm back, posting this story is so exciting because … well new stories are always exciting. The idea for this story actually came to me in lots of small scenes. At first it was about roommates, then it was about best friends, and for a while there it was just about this really hot new guy who just shows up one day. So while riding the bus to work I was listening to Taylor Swift and not to be cheesy but I Knew You Were Trouble spoke to me and this was the result mixed with a little Begin Again.
So enough babble from me! Let's get to it! oh and I do not own High school musical or its characters, however, the plot and personalities in this story are my own.
"But why does he have to stay here, doesn't he have relatives?" Gabriella said as she lifted another spoonful.
"Gabi I thought you would be happy," Maria said as she placed a hand on her hip. "You guys use to be best friends when he lived next store."
"When we were like 3. Things changed he tied my Barbie's to the clothing line and blew them up with fire crackers!" Gabriella said dropping her spoon into her cereal bowl. "He put gum in hair."
"And if I recall you knocked his tree house down," Maria said giving her the eye. "While he was inside and broke his arm."
"Yeah well payback sucks." Gabriella said sitting up straighter. "My point is mother, that Troy is a monster, he's immature, conceited and totally horrendous." She said picking up her book bag. "Ever since he left 10 years ago I've been fine and now it's my senior year and it's suppose to be magical and he's going to destroy it."
"Stop being so dramatic," Maria said as she took Gabriella's bowl. "His parents are going overseas for their research and Troy needs a place to stay and needs to finish high school. It's just a year."
"Please, next thing you know you'll tell me I won't even notice he's here." Gabriella said as she took began to leave the kitchen.
"Have a nice day at school."
"Yeah the last nice one I'll have." Gabriella said as she walked out.
There was a honk outside as Sharpay impatiently waited. "Come on Brie I don't have all day."
"I'm coming." Gabriella said as she raced down the step and ran across the drive.
"Not fast enough," Taylor said from the back seat.
Gabriella got into the front seat. "My mother is single handedly trying to kill my senior year."
"That guy still moving in today?" Taylor asked as she leaned back and continued to file her nail. Taylor was one of her best friends. She was quite but when she was angry she had a temper the size of Texas. She remembered parts of Gabriella and Troy's history only because she's been around during the early years. Sharpay on the other hand they met on their first day as freshmen at East High and ever since the three of them had been inseparable.
"Yes, and I've made every argument against it," Gabriella leaned back banging her head softly against she seat as she looked over at Sharpay, "She's just going to allow some strange teenage boy to live in our house without knowing anything about him."
"Who is this guy again?" Sharpay asked.
"Troy Bolton, my old next door neighbor from before Chad's grandma moved in." Gabriella said glancing back at Taylor. "You remember him don't you?"
"Yeah I remember him throwing water balloons at us from a tree while we're minding our own business." Taylor said with a frown.
Gabriella let out a sigh "Well apparently his parents are into some weird stuff and they travel a lot." Gabriella said turning back to the front and watching Sharpay drive. "He's been home schooled for the past ten years and the last time I saw him was when we were 8 and he was popping the heads off my dolls for kicks."
"Well doesn't he sound delightful," Sharpay said with sarcasm.
"My mom and his mom are like best friends and they write letters back and forth all the time." Gabriella said. "Long story short he wants to graduate from an actual high school to help his chances at getting into a college."
"I heard kids that are homes schooled are like super weird," Taylor said.
"Well maybe he got cute or something?" Sharpay said with a shrug.
"Being Prince William wouldn't make this situation better." Gabriella said as she turned to look out the window. He was a guy, as far as she was concerned he was on the shit list.
"Well pushing your life crises to the side but not making it any less important. We need to talk about the fact that Steven and I will be going to the homecoming dance and win king and queen." Sharpay said with a sigh.
"He asked you?" Gabriella asked with a raised brow.
"No, at least not yet." Sharpay said with a shrug. "He just hasn't realized the potential of our relationship."
"I hear a scheme coming on." Taylor said from the back seat.
"There is no scheme, just the facts and the facts are that Steven Rodgers and I belong together." Sharpay said adjusting her rearview mirror to see herself and blowing her reflection a kiss.
Gabriella quietly bit her lip as she looked out the window. Steven Rodgers, was sore subject for her and unfortunately the only subject Sharpay ever wanted to talk about. It all started during her sophomore year when her father was first checked into the hospital. Steven's younger brother had gotten his appendix removed and as a result they were both in the hospital's cafeteria trying to stomach the crappy food. He surprised her, granted she never really knew Steven and they never ran in the same circles but she couldn't help but feel special. Even if he was all the things that mothers warn their daughters about. At first he was just polite and kind, someone that made her smile and laugh during a tough time. Looking back at it now she didn't know why didn't tell Sharpay or Taylor about him, maybe because some selfish part of her wanted to keep him to herself.
It wasn't like the most popular guy in your grade gave just anyone attention. However her silence had been a crucial error in her judgment. They spent the summer together while Sharpay was away in paris with her family and Taylor spending time with her new boyfriend, Chad. It seemed like she was alone and he was the only person that could see her for who she was and be with her just because. At first they would go to art galleries, go to the park and just hang out. She would draw and he would listen to music or just watch her intently. A summer romance right out of one of those books at a time she needed it the most. The relationship was spinning so fast and so intense that she could barely keep up with how she felt. Her father was getting worst and she was falling deeper into a depression, into a need for someone to fill that hole growing bigger in her heart.
Instead Steven had done the opposite, after much consideration and debating with herself she finally gone through with it. She decided to sleep with him. To give him her virginity, she was blinded by the stars in her eyes whenever she looked at him. Lost in the romantic idea of their summer romance and free falling into this crazy love for him.
However when she called he didn't return her call, when she went to their special places he was nowhere to be found. Then she appeared on his doorstep and asked if they could meet up later he refused. "Look it just wasn't what I expected," Steven had said as he leaned in the doorway. "Besides it's not like we're going out or anything it was just causal." He said with a shrug. "Look if you want I'll say you were great and tell people you're awesome, you'd be popular in a week."
"I don't want to be popular. And I don't want you to tell anyone." Gabriella said after a moment's pause. She could feel her heart breaking into a million pieces with each breath. "Promise me you won't tell anyone."
"Alright, fine. Whatever?" Steven shrugged as he went to shut the door. "Well my parents are home so I gotta go."
When the door shut Gabriella stood there for five minutes trying to get a hold of herself. She felt betrayed, embarrassed, stupid and used. She never told anyone what happened.
It wasn't until this summer during a girl's night that Sharpay mentioned him once or twice and while Gabriella had mention their time together and the brush off she didn't mention the sex or rejection. She had hoped that Sharpay's mind would change but Sharpay's crush on him only grew more and more. Now he was all she ever talked about and Gabriella knowing that it was too late to say anything just ignored it.
Gabriella stood in the hallway sorting though her locker in effort to find her math book. It wasn't working out, in fact the more she searched the more she believe that her math book was still in her bedroom sitting on her desk. Gabriella growled in frustration this morning she put on an Iron Maiden t-shirt and her favorite blue jean today with her hair loose and around her shoulders. Gabriella angrily brushed her hair back as she lifted her backpack from the floor and searched it again. "Crap," she mumbled as she gave up her search. So far today was not a good day.
"Hey Brie," the sound of Steven voice made her still. "Looking good today." He said arching a brow a little as he looked her over. Here was the thing about Steven Rodgers, while what he had done to her was devastating and cruel he had kept his promise and he was nice to her. But then again her membership with the wildcat cheerleaders had a lot to do with that. Steven Rodgers had declared cheerleaders a thing a royalty, royalty to only be shared with the East High Wildcats basketball team. In other words if you weren't on the team you could look but you couldn't touch.
Steven had the school pretty much wired to his own perfection, sometimes she wondered about the moment it happened. Wondered when people took his word for law? Why they had just given the reins of their entire existence to someone like Steven of all people.
"What do you want?" she said taking her science book and English book and putting them in her bag.
"You sound upset," Steven said leaning against the locker beside hers. "Did I do something?"
Gabriella rolled her eyes. Sometimes she could actually believe that nothing had happened between them."Does your presents have a point?" she said zipping up her bag.
"Gabriella," Sharpay had her books snuggly against her chest as came over with a bright smile. "Hey Steven,"
Gabriella rolled her eyes again as she looked back inside her locker.
"Hey Sharpay," Steven greeted her with a smile.
"You ready for that English test Friday?" Sharpay asked in her girly voice.
Gabriella closed her locker. What was the point to a girly voice? What was the point in raising your voice an entire octave just to make yourself sound like you have an addiction to helium?
"Not really," he said turning so he was looking into the classroom across the hall. "Do you get this Jane Eyre stuff?"
"Not really," Sharpay said.
Gabriella huffed. That was another thing, why did a girl have to pretend she was stupid in order to get a guys attention? It wasn't enough that Men had to be stronger and bigger they also had to appear smarter too?
"Gabriella you like that book don't you?" Sharpay asked.
"No." Gabriella lied as she quickly begun to pack up and pushed her backpack over her shoulder.
"You're lying," Sharpay said with a nudge, "She's such a kidder I tell you," She said nervously with her best smile. "I have an idea, Gabriella, why don't we all get together for a study session."
Steven smiled as he crossed his arms and eyed Gabriella. "You know funny thing I was actually hoping that I could ask you for some help?" he said looking at Sharpay with a charming grin.
"Bite me." Gabriella said.
"Ha," Sharpay forced a giggle as she playfully with more effort than necessary slapped Gabriella shoulder. "You're just a riot."
Steven pushed himself off the locker. "You know coach says I can't afford to get another D, so I have to step it up." Steven said looking back at her with his green eyes.
"Is that right?" Gabriella said with her best fake polite smile.
"We should get together at your place." Sharpay said with a smile as she nudge Gabriella.
"Why not you're place?" Gabriella said in a low voice.
"Cause my house is never empty. And it would be too loud." Sharpay said quietly as she gave Gabriella the eye. Sharpay had a three brothers, one was her twin Ryan Evans also known at school as East High Glee club caption. Kelsi, a fellow cheerleader, had the biggest crush on him but since he wasn't a jock she kept her distance, even though Gabriella had encouraged her time after time to just chuck the rules.
"Sounds like fun," Steven said with a sly grin. "You know you are the smartest girl in school."
"I bet." Gabriella said as the first warning bell rang. Looking back at Sharpay she frowned. "We have class now. Bye bye." She said grabbing Sharpay by the arm.
"Great, so I'll come over to your place?" Steven said as 2nd bell sounded.
"Do I have a choice?" Gabriella said as they continued to walk off.
"Five would be great!" Sharpay called back as she turned to catch up with Gabriella. "Can't wait."
The final warning bell rang and Gabriella turned around and began to run towards her next class. When she got to her math class she instantly made a beeline for her seat with Sharpay on her heals.
"Do you have to be so rude," Sharpay said as they took their seats.
"Yes?" Gabriella said quickly settling into her seat next to Sharpay. "He's a lunk head basketball boy Shar, You're better than that,"
"I don't want to be better than that." Sharpay as she took out her notebook. "His dad is in business weekly almost every week and he drives a mustang. He even has great exfoliating skin that matches with my complexions and makes us picture perfect for the year book."
"Huh who?" Zeke the guy sitting in front of them turned to face them catching the last bit of Sharpay brain vomit.
"Steven," Gabriella said with annoyance as she took out her notebook from her bag.
"I like nice things Brie, he's got lots of shiny things plus he's caption of the basketball team and supeerrrr cute?" Sharpay said turning her attention to Gabriella as the teacher in front began to take roll call.
"He's an asshole." Gabriella said. "Can you believe she invited him to my house tomorrow?" Gabriella said to Zeke.
"Steven going to your house?" Zeke said looking between the two them.
Sharpay rolled her eyes. "Gabriella you don't get it. Steven is a eligible basketball star bachelor." Sharpay said with a faint swoon. "This is so exciting; Steven Rodgers is going to be at your house tomorrow!" Sharpay exclaimed quietly as they both wiggled around in there seat with excitement. "Wait," Sharpay said suddenly caught by something. "What about Troy?"
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders, "What about him," She let out a sigh and then raised her hand as the teacher called her name.
"It's almost like a double date, Me and Steven and You-."
"Finish that line and I will kill you." Gabriella said with a warning in her tone as she began writing the date at the top of her page.
"Come on isn't your goal to get a life this year?" Sharpay said, "You said so yourself, you want to go to house parties, you want to get back out there and experience life."
"Nothing in that statement has anything to do with Steven Rodgers or Troy Bolton." Gabriella said sitting up. "Last year was hard," she paused as she let out a sigh, "I just want my chance to be a normal teenager like everyone else and get this high school experience over with."
"Well there is a party this weekend," Sharpay said with a sly smile. "It'd be perfect for your first one."
"Great," Gabriella said pushing her chair closer to Sharpay. "Can I share your book?"
"Sure,"
