Hearts on the Dance Floor

Chapter 2

Gabriella's POV

I lay on my bed in my new room, listening to my music like I normally did. I stared at the ceiling, thinking about the mess I had gotten myself into when the door to my room flew open and a blonde in shorts and a pink and white tank top rushed in the room. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she had a bag slung around her shoulder and flats her on feet.

I paused my music and watched her tear through the dresser draws, searching for something. He clothes went flying all over the place and she started shrieking and mumbling to herself.

"Um hi?" I said, trying to get her attention.

Upon hearing my voice, she jumped and turned around, just noticing me sitting there for the first time. "Oh my god, who are you?"

"Um, I think I'm your new roommate."

Her face lit up in realization. "Oh, your Gabriella?"

"Yea," I replied nodding.

She smiled warmly at me. "Well I'm Sharpay, Sharpay Evans. Welcome to CSA roomy."

I appreciated her enthusiasm, but it really wasn't needed it and as far as I was concerned, I didn't want it. "Um, yea thanks." I turned around and plopped back down on my bed, turning my music back up.

When I noticed Sharpay was still standing there, I paused it again. "What?" I asked, confused as to why she was looking at me.

"I was just wondering, don't you have classes?"

"Uh yea, I think," I looked around the bed, located the schedule the receptionist have given me earlier. "Although I'm not really sure how to read this."

She reached for the paper in my hands. "Lemme see it."

I handed it over to her and watched her reading it carefully. "Omg, you have all the classes I have."

I rolled my eyes. "Great," I replied sarcastically.

"Ok, this means I can show you around and introduce you to my friends, like Chad and the super sexy Troy Bolton……"

As Gabriella started to tune her out, she realized that name rang a bell in her head, but she paid it no attention.

"Um listen Sharpay?" I asked as she nodded. "I really appreciate that but I really just don't want to deal with that right now."

Sharpay looked offended for a second but then she rolled her eyes. "Ok, I'm through with the nice girl act, but seriously I'm going to warn you, I think you should go to class. It being your first day here and all they might not say anything about it, but they're going to do something when they find out you skipped."

I stared at her for a second before I smiled. Maybe I was going to like this girl. She seemed like she had that same no nonsense attitude and I liked that. "Yea, I'll go to class, but only because I think you're a cool roommate."

She smirked, folding he arms over her chest as she waited for me to gather my stuff and we walked out of the room. "By the way, I like your shirt."

My first class happened to have something to do with free dancing. When we showed up, I was welcomed by the instructor and she asked me to show the class a little bit about myself through my dancing. At first I had no idea what she was talking about, but then I just figured she wanted me to dance and I did just that.

After showing my "musical background" as she called it, I learned that this was the class where she would pair me up with someone based on my skills. Just as she was about to start pairing people up, the doors to the room opened and in walked in the blue eyed boy that helped me with my bags this morning.

"Well, Mr. Bolton," the instructor mused. "It's nice for you to finally join us. Can you give me a reason why you're late today?"

"Probably another good one," someone called out making the whole class laugh and the teacher rolled her eyes.

"Settle down. Alright, so since you decided you wanted to be late, I'll pair you up first. You'll be with," She glanced around the room and I noticed a few girls primping their hair and smiling real big and cheesy like as if they wanted to be picked. I didn't see what they big deal was, he was just a guy. Her eyes finally landed on me. "Oh, yes. You are partnered with Ms. Montez. Ms. Montez you and Mr. Bolton will have to put together something and then present it to the class at the end of the semester. Put in hard work and effort and I'm looking forward to what you can come up with…on to the next pair."

I glanced at Sharpay helplessly. She was smiling at me like I had just told her I was getting married and wanted her to be my maid of honor.

"What?" I asked, concerned about the look on her face.

"You are paired with 'The Troy Bolton'," She grinned at me before getting up and heading off to meet her partner. "Good luck."

I shook my head. What was so special about one guy that all these girls wanted him and he was called 'The Troy Bolton'? I didn't get it, but I figured if I was going to half to dance with him, I would find out soon enough.

I got up and walked over to him, standing awkwardly in front of him as he smiled, before removing the shirt he hand on to reveal a white wife beater.

"So we meet again."

"Uhh yea, I guess."

"Cool so you ready?" He asked nodding toward me.

I gently set my bag down near us and peeled off my hoodie, pulling my hair up into a bun, before turning back to him. "Ready when you are."

"Great," he said, walking over to a small stereo and turning it on. The beat that came blasting out of it made me jump a little because it was so not what I'd expected from a performing school student. "Follow my lead."

Troy grabbed my hands and he started to move with the beat of the music. Instantly, I caught on a before I knew it, we were moving as one. His hands moved down to my waist, keeping up with me as I started moving more expertly with him.

I couldn't believe what I was doing at first. I never dance with anyone really before, unless I was grinding at a club or something, but it scared me how well Troy and I connected through our feet. I tuned out everything but the beat of the music, pulsing through the floor and I kept my eyes on the floor.

Somewhere in between Troy and I moving together, I could have sworn I felt people starting to stare at us, but I didn't dare look up, because that was one thing I learned through all my years of dancing. Never look out at the people who are watching you. It could get you to feel intimidated or make you lose yourself and forget where you were.

In my head, I moved myself with the music and seconds later, the beat came to an abrupt stop, causing Troy and I to halt our moves, staring at each other, breathing hard. Looking into his eyes, I noticed the sincerity and the heart. He enjoyed dancing as much as I did and that moved me. We spoke to each other in an entirely different yet, extremely same language.

The claps of the class brought me to look away from him and to the crowd of kids that were standing, cheering and clapping at us.

I looked away from them, still breathing hard and to Troy, who was grinning at me.

Suddenly a loud ring rang right in my ears and the whole room started to disperse, grabbing their bags and exiting to their other classes.

Troy and I picked up my bags and I walked over to Sharpay, when we were both called back. "Mr. Bolton, Ms. Montez, stay behind for a second please."

Sharpay motioned that she would be waiting for me and then left the room.

"Listen, you two…have something that I haven't seen in years. You have amazing chemistry on the dance floor and I like it. This is exactly why I'm submitting your names as a couple in the showcase."

"Showcase?" I asked, looking at her confused.

"It's like a talent show, where people pair up and dance, showing everyone what they have up their sleeves. Seeing as how you two have shown such amazing chemistry on the first meet, I highly suggest you compete. In the end, the winners of the showcase will receive a full ride scholarship to the school of their choice."

My eyes went wide. That's exactly what I needed. In order for me to get out of CSA with a perfect record and go home and live my life how I was living it before, I had to win that scholarship. It was then I knew I'd do whatever it took to win the showcase.

--

Sharpay sat on her bed across from me later, gaping wide. "She asked you two to be in the showcase?"

"Yea," I replied, lying back on my pillow, breathing in.

"Gabriella do you know how big that is?"

"Yea, I do," I said, staring at the ceiling. "And I need that scholarship."

"Don't we all," She chuckled.

"No, Sharpay, I need it. I mean yea I want it to, but I really need it."

Her face scrunched up. "Why do you need it so much?"

I shook my head quickly. "I can't tell you, but I just do."

She shrugged. "So I guess you and Troy will be spending mucho time with each other now huh?"

"I don't know."

"Well at least you're partnered with him," She said. "I mean if I had a choice, I'd want to be paired with the hottest guy on campus."

I sat up after she said this. "What is the deal with him? You act like he's king of the place or something."

"Because technically, he is."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't care what he is; he is no concern of mine."

"You say that now," She smirked at me. "Eventually, every girl falls for him. Only reason I'm unfazed is because I hang out with his best friend so I'm used to seeing him and I can speak a full sentence to him, unlike half of the girls here."

"Whatever, I don't need him for anything except to win that showcase…and I'm not even sure I need him for that."

"Whatever floats your boat," Sharpay said, getting up and going into the bathroom.

I sighed, falling back on the bed once again. "Actually, it's whatever gets me out of here," I muttered under my breath.

A/N: ok so i updated my profile so if everyone cud just direct their attention there after reading this i wud appreiciate it lol (wait did i spell that right) oopsy o well REVIEW