"Are you alright?" asked a voice from behind Gabriella. She turned around expecting to smart mouth who ever her father sent out to get her this time, but she instantly caught sight of the deepest bluest eyes she had ever seen.
- - - - -
"I am now." Gabriella answered standing herself up, you could combine a million Charles together and it wouldn't even compare to him. He was wearing what looked to be worker men's clothes. His golden hair fell right before his eyebrows, and those eyes; they nearly knocked Gabriella off her feet.
"So tell me what is a beautiful girl like you doing all alone on a beach on New Year's night." The boy replied as he studied her, she was like none other girl he had ever seen before. Even with red eyes a puffy cheeks she radiated.
"Right now, looking for some fun." Gabriella said looking back at her house, as of right now that would be the last place for any source of fun and the kind of celebration that was going on there she didn't want a part of.
"Oh, I see. Well I may not be able to offer you certain luxuries, but I can sure offer you some fun." The boy said as they walked down the beach.
"You haven't told me your name yet." Gabriella said. She didn't know were this boy was taking her, and frankly she didn't care.
"Well that is because you haven't told me yours." Replied the boy. Gabriella liked his smooth talk and quick remarks. His swagger, and laid back persona. How could she not be captivated?
"Gabriella." Gabriella said sweetly, she felt like she was in a trance; she couldn't help but smile.
"Well Gabriella, that is quite a name." He continued. Gabriella's heart raced when he said her name, it took her a moment to regain her composure.
"I told you mine name, I think I deserve yours in return." Gabriella said looking up at him. Those piercing blue eyes went right through her.
"Troy." He said, flashing a smile sending shocks down Gabriella's spine.
"I like it." Gabriella replied in truth, she loved it; she knew it was a name that she would never forget.
"So Troy where exactly are you taking me." Gabriella loved saying his name, hoping that it wouldn't be the last.
"I taking you to a place where you can really celebrate the New Year." He responded. He knew that he was about to show Gabriella a world that she had never experienced. Hidden behind the shadows of balls and expensive dresses.
"Is that all you are going to tell me?" Gabriella asked curious. She didn't have the least bit on an idea as to where Troy was taking her.
"Yep," He replied.
"That's cruel." She replied. She was dying to know where they were going.
"Then I guess I'm a cruel person, but I promise you. You'll have fun." Troy said. She wasn't like most of the girls he knew; he found it very easy to talk to. He had completely forgotten the fact that she lived in a beachside mansion just down the beach.
"I'll hold you to that. So where exactly is this place?" Gabriella asked looking down the beach. There was a row of small building just off the beach; she assumed that it had to one of them.
"Right over there." Troy pointed towards a small pub by the beach.
"A pub?" Gabriella replied. She had never been to a pub before, from what she had been told it was where fat old men spent there weekends getting drunk usually ending in some sort of right, she was confused as to why Troy was bringing her here.
It's not what you think. You'll have fun. Promise." Troy said leading her towards the building.
Gabriella walked into the pub beside Troy; music filled the large room. Gabriella was shocked to see that it was filled with people mostly her age. What she had been told about pubs was very wrong, especially this one.
"Was I right, or was I right?" Troy said as they made there way through the thick crowd.
"You were very right." Gabriella replied. She would go to her dad's parties more often if they were anything like this.
"Wait here, I want you to meet some people." Troy said walking out of Gabriella's sight, but soon returned with a group behind him.
"Gabriella, these are my friends Chad, Zeke, Taylor, and Sharpay." Troy said as he pointed to each of his friends. The two girls were very pretty; with smiles across their faces she could tell that they were going to be best friends.
"Guys, this is Gabriella." He finished with a smile on his face. Gabriella made her way to the bar with Troy's friends.
"Its about time we got some more girls. Listening to these guys all day can get a tad old." Taylor said looking at Sharpay, and then laughed.
"Excuse me?" Chad said grabbing Taylor by the waste and pulling her close. Taylor busted out laughing as Chad squeezed to tightly.
"I said a Tad." Taylor replied laughing as Chad tickled her. "I'm gonna steal her away from you guys for a little." Chad said picking her up and dragging her to the dance floor. Taylor mounted I'll be back to Sharpay and disappeared into the crowd. Gabriella couldn't help but smile; they were defiantly a fun loving group.
"What are you smiling about?" Troy asked looking at her handing her a drink.
"I can't smile?" Gabriella asked. "What do you plan on getting my drunk to night and seducing me." Gabriella replied looking straight into Troy's eyes.
"And what if I do?" Troy asked. Gabriella just smiled and took a sip of her drink.
"Let's dance." Troy said grabbing her but the arm and before she could even answer she was in the middle of the room surrounded by people. She saw from the corner of her eye Taylor and Chad dancing. She quickly noticed that it was very different from ballroom dancing, but not that difficult.
"You're going to need to get a little bit closer." Troy said pulling Gabriella so close that there chests where practically touching. Gabriella immediately felt butterflies shoot through her. This would have never been allowed at a ball, partners were always required to be within arms distance from each other. The music quickly picked up its pace, and off they were. With hands entwined they moved quickly around the dance floor following the music.
"Don't think about it." Troy said loudly over the music. "Just go with it." Troy said. They were off again. This time is a whole different part of the bar, Gabriella felt as if her feet had been lifted off the floor, dancing with Troy was so comfortable, something that she could get very used to. Gabriella felt as if she had been dancing for hours, and she and Troy made there way back towards the bar, where the rest of the group was sitting.
"You're a marvelous dancer." Gabriella said as Troy passed her a drink.
"Why thank you." He responded by bowing, forcing Gabriella to smile, it was very difficult to resist Troy's charm; he had an electrifying presence.
"Is this what you guys do every night?" Gabriella asked.
"Not every night, only when we sit fit." Sharpay said taking a sip of her drink.
"Which is every night." Added Zeke, Gabriella couldn't help but laugh. If only her life could be like this, no worries, no duties, no corsets.
"A toast." Troy said holding up his drink
"To a new year and new friendships." He continued
"I'll drink to that." Gabriella said laughing, so they lifted their drinks in celebration, smashed them together, and gulped down the last of their drinks. As soon as they finished Gabriella could heat the faint sound of the fiddle beginning to be played again, felt herself being pulled back onto the dance floor.
With the pub and dancing scene, for all of you that have scene Titanic its almost exactly like the dancing scene from the movie if your having trouble picturing it.