Hurt
Lost Them All
Gabriella slowly climbed the steps of the school, taking in her surroundings.
Last night was spectacular. After the "tutoring session", Troy had invited her to lunch on Sunday.
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"Favorite movie?" he asked her, taking a sip of his milkshake.
Glancing at her untouched frosty drink, she weakly said, "Titanic."
"Titanic?" he asked. His eyes went wide.
Here it comes…
"I love Titanic too," he said, leaning forward. She smiled and relaxed.
"Isn't it a… I don't know… chick flick?"
"Hey, I come to get in touch with my feminine side."
"Oh, no, you're not gay are you?" she asked playfully.
"Well, if I was that kiss meant nothing, right?"
Her eyes dulled as she felt those walls build up again.
The kiss had meant nothing? Was that what he said? Her first kiss?
"That's not what I mean, Gabriella," he assured her quickly, disrupting her insecure thoughts. "Not at all."
She gave a thin smile as her eyes continued to wander the nonexistent, trying to find a loophole to this fantasy.
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"Hey, Montez, nice shirt," a tall, thin girl said.
"Thanks," Gabriella whispered. The girl started to almost gag. It was a mixture of a cough and a laugh.
Gabriella tried not to notice.
She, like everyday, walked quietly to her locker. She took out her things and started her descent to homeroom.
"Gabriella!" she heard a voice call. She spun around, trying to keep her books balanced.
There he was with a bright smile on his face.
"Hi," he said when he had caught up to her. His hair was messed up, his clothes were crumpled. She loved it.
"Hi," she returned.
"I had so much fun yesterday."
"So did I."
"Maybe…" He paused and the smile on his face thinned out. "Maybe you would like to do it again sometime?"
"Maybe." He grinned again as she turned her heel and walked away.
At corner of her eye, she saw the same girl she had run into earlier.
"That little slut thinks she could get Bolton," the girl whispered loudly. Gabriella suppressed the girl's words and kept on walking. "Little asshole."
Gabriella heart sunk to her stomach.
Slut? Asshole? When did those names start?
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Troy found her during lunch again.
It wasn't really that hard; she was in the same spot. Her eyes, shielded by the thin lenses of her glasses, were glued onto the page. Her hand was anxiously resting on the opposite page, just waiting to be used. Her mouth was hanging open slightly. He noticed how her expression changed from page to page. He noticed how her hair sort of traveled in a wavy pattern in the wind. He noticed that the shirt she was wearing today was baby blue. He noticed how she hunched her back.
When she closed the book and took off her glasses she said, "You've been staring at me for the last twenty minutes."
"You're fun to stare at." She blushed and looked at him. He took a seat next to her so that their knees were touching. She felt calm by his touch and felt at bliss as he placed a strong arm around her.
Truth be told, he was scared to death. This was a sign of "liking". Well, he did like her but that didn't necessarily mean that he had the…privilege to do that.
When she didn't pull away and only leaned into him, he knew he was doing the right thing.
She stayed like that for a long time, one of her hands over her book and another behind him, grasping the hem of his shirt. She forgot who she was for a second. She forgot that she was Gabriella Montez, the girl who's as worthwhile as an extra piece of trash that could neither be recycled nor thrown away. She just…there. She was a part of the school, just a part of the student body. She forgot that she was the girl who was the let out for anyone who had a bad day. Who got insults as gifts on Christmas and snickers as everyday "hello"s.
She knew who Troy Bolton was. She knew that he was popular, handsome, and nice. She could even say by experience. She just couldn't believe he was talking to her.
"Troy!" a shrilly voice then ripped through the air. She immediately pulled away from him and turned to the direction of the voice.
It was one of them.
Troy's arm was still secured around her. The girl's face dropped when she saw this.
"And uhh… Montez," the girl said with a lower voice. She eyed Troy's arm and Gabriella's remote figure.
"Hi Jane," Troy greeted.
"So, Troy," Jane said, trying to regain her composure. "What brings you here?"
"School?"
Jane giggled unnaturally loud, earning a confused stare from Gabriella. Gabriella had started to breathe faster and feel tense. When did she not?
"I mean here… with Montez." Jane gave a faked smile at Gabriella.
"Oh, just saying hi," Troy sighed as his arms traveled lower down her body to her waist.
Gabriella gave a small whimper and shot her eyes to him. What are you doing?, her eyes cried.
Once he gave a small squeeze of her waist, she calmed down.
Paranoia was coming.
"Do you usually say hi like this?" Jane was obviously talking about the display of affection.
"Gabriella's special." Gabriella looked at him and she met with his eyes once more. At her view, he towered over her. Well, he was taller but she was hunched over like a scared little puppy. Troy gave a flirty smile and she returned it with a wry one.
"Special?" Jane asked obviously annoyed. She blew it off with a frustrated sigh. "Well, Troy." He turned to look at Jane. "I was wondering if you'd go to the dance… with me?"
"The dance?" Jane nodded furiously. "No thanks." She huffed and crossed her arms.
"Why?" Troy shook his head.
"I think I've got plans."
"Oh, well… okay." She strutted off with a hung head.
When she was out of earshot, Troy burst into laughter.
"What's so funny," Gabriella asked joining him.
"Those girls… they think they can get anything that want. It's hilarious," he laughed.
Her smile faded. Realization of the authority of school came to her. She knew she was no good to try and change it.
1. Troy
2. Jane/ those girls
3. Everybody else
4. Gabriella
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After school, Gabriella had to run to Mrs. Barns' room to pick up her paper. Mrs. Barns happily handed Gabriella her "A" paper.
Satisfied with her "A", Gabriella walked outside, one hand in her jacket pocket holding her old car keys.
Someone's voice made her stop.
"I swear Troy's not even that into her," a girl's voice said.
"But his arm was around her!" Jane's voice echoed through the empty halls.
"Does it matter?" the other girl said. Gabriella leaned against the lockers, listening in to the conversation. The cold metal lockers were the only things that were aware of her presence. She knew they were talking about her.
"He can't pick that geek Montez over me!"
"He's just getting close to her for a nice screw, trust me. He knows the virgins do it the best."
Jane's voice didn't appear for a long time. Gabriella's heart had already sunk though.
"I guess you're right. What was I thinking?"
Gabriella heard footsteps getting closer and headed toward the door again. She was just another fling for Troy? Well, of course. She had no experience with people, more or less boys. She pulled her hood over her head and as her skin met the beating rain outside.
It would be a long day.
AN:// Eight reviews for the last chapter? Thanks! I'm glad also that you are telling me why you like it and how I should improve. It really means a lot. Thank you.
