"Can't we just talk about this?" Owen asked as soon as he found Gabriella as she walked into the school.
"No, Owen. I said I don't want to talk about it. What's done is done."
"Baby, please. I love you." Owen begged.
Gabriella laughed, stopping in her tracks. "No, Owen, you don't. Just leave me alone." She held up her hand as soon as he started to reply. She walked over to her locker and opened it, grabbing her first books for the day.
She walked into homeroom early, taking her seat. She pulled out her mirror and her chapstick. She smoothed the stick across her lips before putting them both back in her backpack. She looked forward to see Troy sitting in the seat in front of her with a big grin on his face. "What?" She asked, blinking at him.
"Did I just witness you breaking up with Owen?" Troy asked with a smirk.
"No." Gabriella said slowly. "I dumped him last night."
"How come?"
Gabriella smirked. "Who is the nosy one now?"
Troy laughed. "Come on, Gabriella. Tell me."
"Because he hooked up with Sharpay." Gabriella explained with an eye roll.
"Blondie? Isn't she like your best friend?"
Gabi shrugged. "Sometimes."
"Aren't you mad at her?"
"Nah. I was going to break up with him anyway." Gabriella said, waving her hand. "Besides, it hasn't been the first time this happened."
"And you're okay with that?"
Gabriella nodded. "I know if someone really, really wanted to be with me, then they would tell Sharpay to go fuck herself."
Troy smiled and opened his mouth to say something. Ms Darbus walked in, cutting him off. "Alright class, find your seats and we can get started."
"I'll see you in detention." He said with a wink and a smile. He got up and found his seat.
"Tomorrow, at free period, we are going to do an audition song workshop! If you are planning to audition for Cabaret, I suggest you attend." Darbus drabbled on until free period finished.
Gabriella gathered her things and walked out the door. She walked into Trig and took a double take at Coach Bolton who was sitting where Mrs. Benson should be. She took her seat wearily. Coach Bolton looked up and glanced around the classroom. As soon as he saw Gabriella his eyes narrowed. She looked down immediately, busying herself by opening her backpack and pulling out her things.
Trig was awkward and boring. Coach Bolton wasn't the greatest math substitute so they must have been understaffed. The bell rang and everyone got up, turning in their class work. Gabriella was one of the last to get up. She placed her paper on the top of the stack.
"Miss Montez, correct?" Coach Bolton asked.
She nodded. "Gabriella."
"Right, Gabriella, could I speak with you after school?"
"I have detention after school… all week, Coach." Gabriella said, swallowing thickly.
Coach nodded. "Right. Maybe we could have a little talk right now?"
"I have to get to class…" She said pointing out the door.
"I will write you a note." Coach Bolton said. "You don't have to sit down. It will be quick."
"Okay." Gabriella said wearily.
"I need your help." Coach Bolton said. "I figured you can help me with Troy since you're his girlfriend."
Gabriella sat up. "I'm not his girlfriend, Coach."
Coach leaned back on the desk. "Oh, well, you two seem sort-of close. He talks to you more than he talks to me, I'm sure." Gabriella shrugged. "Well anyways, I need you to help me get Troy back on the basketball team."
Gabriella opened her mouth to talk. "Um, Coach Bolton, what if he doesn't want to play basketball?"
"I need you to make him want to play. It is what's best for him and his future. If you care about him, I need you to do this for me." Coach Bolton pleaded. "Please."
Gabriella swallowed again. "Okay, I'm not promising anything, but I will try."
"Thank you, Miss Montez." Coach Bolton scribbled a late pass for her.
She nodded. "Thanks." She took the note before rushing out of the classroom. She found her next class and took a seat after giving the teacher her note.
Gabriella avoided Troy all day, trying to think of what to tell him during detention. She knew she couldn't avoid him then. She found it hard to focus on her school work. She wanted to just take a seat in front of the piano in the choir room. She wanted to write her soul out in place of the 8 hours she wasted in the classroom. She was itching to put her feelings down onto paper.
She stepped into after school detention and pulled out her homework. She got started before Ms. Darbus even walked in. She had a light homework load today. She felt someone sit behind her. "Gabriella." Troy's voice whispered from behind her. "Where were you today? I checked all of your usual places, you weren't there?"
Gabriella shrugged, not turning around. She scribbled answered down on her Spanish worksheet. "Welcome to det- oh." Ms. Darbus stopped. "Well, it looks like I just have you, Miss Montez."
Gabriella looked up and looked around the empty classroom. She looked up at Ms. Darbus. "I'm doing Spanish homework."
Darbus nodded. "Good, well since it's just you, I can work on the show and prep the theatre. Troy , you can help me."
"I have homework too, Ms. Darbus." Troy said, holding up his Algebra textbook. "I was wondering if after Gabriella was done, she could help me with my math. I'm trying to raise my grades, for college."
"Very well then." Darbus said. "I'll finish my paperwork then I will go work on the theatre. I expect you both to behave when I'm gone."
"Of course, Ms. D. Gabriella wouldn't want to disappoint." Troy said. "I hear they're trying to make her valedictorian."
Darbus smiled. "That's great Miss Montez, good luck to you. I'll be right back."
Ms. Darbus walked out of the room before Gabriella turned around to face Troy. "You're an idiot. They don't pick valedictorian until the end of the year."
Troy shrugged. "It worked, didn't it? I seriously need help with Algebra though."
"Well when I'm finished, I'll help you." Gabriella said turning around.
"Why did you avoid me today?" Troy asked from behind her.
"I didn't."
"You have a routine and I've memorized it."
"That's not creepy." Gabriella retorted.
"Whatever. You always have the same spots you go to and you were in none of them today." Troy continued.
"Maybe I felt like switching it up a bit. Why do you care?" Gabriella asked.
"I thought we could hang out in somewhere other than detention." Troy said, playing with a piece of her hair.
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "I have friends Troy."
"I know you do." Troy said, sighing. "I don't, at least not since I quit the team."
"Well, get back on the team and get your friends back." She said simply.
Troy laughed. "Yeah, right."
"I'm serious Troy."
"I don't think you remember me telling you yesterday that I hate basketball."
Gabriella turned around. "Look, your father subbed my Trig class this morning. He told me to convince you to join the basketball team again. So just do it, Troy."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Troy asked, his face reddening with anger.
"Troy-" Gabriella watched as he got up and walked quickly to the door. "Where are you going?" She asked, getting up and following him. "Troy, it's not that big of a deal." She said, following him down the hall.
"Not a big deal" He repeated sarcastically. He pushed open the gym doors. "Coach." He bellowed, interrupting practice.
"What, Bolton?" Coach asked after he dropped the whistle from his mouth.
"I need to talk to you."
"Go ahead." Coach said, crossing his arms.
Gabriella opened the door slightly, sticking her head in to listen. "I am not coming back to the stupid basketball team, no matter who you try to get to convince me. I hate basketball. I've hated it since you've become my coach. I hated waking up every fucking day and going to school just because I'd have to see you everywhere. I'd have to see you and then after school I'd have stupid fucking basketball practice."
"You need to watch your language, son."
"I'm not your son!"Troy yelled back. "I'm your former basketball player, Coach." He spat out. "Don't talk to me. Don't stay to give me a ride home. Don't even look at me at home. I cannot wait to go to college to get the fuck away from you!"
"Troy-"
"No! I don't want to fucking hear it." Troy turned to walk back towards the doors. He stopped turning around again. "And don't talk to the only friend I have to get me to join the team. I hate basketball and I hate you, coach."
Gabriella moved away from the doors just before Troy came storming through. She followed him quietly back to detention. He took his seat and took a deep, calming breath. Gabriella took her seat and glanced back at him before she finished her homework.
Detention was eerily silent as she put away her books. She still had an hour and a half left. She turned around and looked at Troy who had his face in his hands. "Troy?" She asked quietly. "Still need help with Algebra?"
He wiped his face, looking over at her. "Yes, please." He said shortly. She got up and grabbed a loose chair and took a seat next to his desk. He asked her a couple questions and she clarified the answers. In no time, he was doing his homework on his own with no problem. She sat next to him, studying him as he did his homework.
Troy finished his last problem and closed his book. He glanced over at her. "What?" He asked softly.
She shifted uncomfortably after getting caught. "You told me yesterday, you were going to tell me why you keep kissing me."
Troy smirked. "I was hoping you'd forget about that."
She shook her head. "Nope, I want to know."
He smiled, looking at his book. He decided to put it away before answering her. "Do you believe in love at first sight?"
Gabriella laughed. "You're kidding me, right? No way."
"I don't either." Troy said with a laugh. "What about fate?"
She thought for a moment. "I'm not completely sold on fate."
Troy nodded. "Me either."
"Are you going to tell me, or not?"
"Yes, Gabriella, gosh, you're so pushy." Gabriella rolled her eyes. "I've been infatuated with you since last spring."
She looked at him confused. "Why?"
"Junior year, we had an assembly. You were junior class president so you had to speak. You were talking about bullying, do you remember?"
Gabriella shrugged. "Vaguely."
"The middle schools from the district came and you talked. While you were talking, I realized that I was so upset that you cut your hair."
"What?"
"Then I realized I have never spoken a single word to you so I shouldn't be upset that you cut your hair."
"What are you talking about TB?"
"Then after that, I realized that Coach Bolton had way too much control of my life. I needed to get out of his grasp. It was hard at first because a little part of me still wanted to make him proud. I remember last summer, we went to Lava springs for some function that my parents were invited to by Sharpay's, I think. You were there and you were wearing a white dress."
Gabriella groaned. "I hate that white dress."
Troy smiled. "You said that to Sharpay. I was sitting right behind you both. I kept thinking you were this perfect little student and this perfect little person. Throughout the night, I'd hear you make smart little remarks that made me laugh the whole time. It actually made it enjoyable, you know? It encouraged me to pursue my freedom. So that night, I stood up to Coach Bolton and I quit the basketball team. As a punishment, I'd have to sit with Ms. Darbus every afternoon until I wanted to join the basketball team again."
Gabriella laughed. "I'm surprised you're not back already."
"Me too. She's not half bad, Ms. Darbus. Annoying, yes, but I've learned to tune her out." Troy said with a shrug.
"That doesn't answer why you keep kissing me."
"I kiss you because I want to. I'd kiss you all day if I could. It's a gesture of lust and appreciation." Troy said with a smile. "Now, since you have no boyfriend, you can stop lying to yourself and enjoy it too."
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "You're so full of it, TB."
"You should be more thankful to me. Detention would be very boring without me here." Troy said, pushing a piece of her hair behind her ear.
"It would be." Gabriella agreed. "I'm going to go to the choir room."
"Can I join you?"
"Nope, you have to stay here and finish your homework. Tell Ms. Darbus to get actually get me today when detention is over." Gabriella said, grabbing her things.
"Oh, come on." Troy complained.
"You have to get your grades up to get out of here, TB." Gabriella said with a shrug. "That's why I've been working my ass off for the last 6 years." She leaned down, kissing his lips slowly. "Thanks for taking one for the team TB."
Troy sat back, dumbfounded, as he watched her walk out the door. He looked down at his desk before he slumped down to pull the rest of his homework from his backpack. Gabriella smiled proudly as she took a seat in front of the piano. She touched the first key and her fingers got carried away. They formed melodies that she hadn't even thought of yet.
She took her time, remembering the keys that she tapped and the lyrics she sang in her head before she got the chance to write them down. She stopped playing, pulling out her notebook and scribbling as much as she could remember.
A knock sounded from the door and she turned to look back. "How's the song going?" Ms. Darbus asked from the door.
"Great. I just need to tweak a few things." She said with a small smile.
"Good, Mr. Bolton is going to join you and you are going to let yourself out at 4:45." Ms. Darbus said. "Understood?" She asked, glancing back at Troy.
"Yes, Miss Darbus." Gabriella said, looking over at Troy.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow." Darbus said, nodding at both of us before turning to leave.
Troy closed the door behind him. "Wow. Never thought in a million years she'd trust me enough to dismiss myself from detention."
"You're not in detention." Gabriella reminded him. She moved over giving him room on the piano bench.
"You're always at the piano." He observed.
Gabriella nodded. "I'm obsessed. I like to write songs. I want to go to New York for school."
"New York? Wow."
She smiled. "My mother wants me to go to Stanford because my dad went there."
"That sucks." Troy said, leaning on the piano. "What else do you want to do with your life?"
"I just want to be my own person. I don't want to go to anymore dress up parties. I want my mother to be a mother and not a socialite. I want my dad to be home at least once a week. I don't want my sisters to be raised by the nanny." Gabriella said, sighing. "I'm tired, Troy. I just want to be happy."
"You're not happy?" He asked, studying her.
"Not particularly." She said with a sigh. "What about you? What are your plans for the future?"
Troy shrugged. "I have no idea. I just want to get away. Like you said, I want to be my own person." Troy said with a small smile. "I have no idea where, though."
"You'll figure it out, I'm sure." She said, pressing a key gently.
"Play a song for me." He said, sitting up.
"No way."
"You want to move across the country but you're scared to play a song in front of me?" He asked, amused.
"I'm not scared."
"I'm not going to laugh at you. I just want to hear." Troy said, watching her.
Gabriella sighed. "Fine."
"And I want you to sing."
"Fine, TB. No laughing."
"Promise." He said with a small smile.
She cleared her throat before she hesitantly started playing.
"I'd like to say we gave it a try.
I'd like to blame it all on life.
Maybe we just weren't right,
But that's a lie, That's a lie.
And we can deny it as much as we want
But in time, our feelings will show.
Cause sooner or later, we'll wonder why we gave up
The truth is everyone knows
Almost, Almost is never enough
So close to being in love.
If I would have known that you wanted me
the way I wanted you
Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart
But right here in each other's arms.
And we almost, We almost knew what love was
But almost is never enough
If I could change the world overnight
There'd be no such thing as goodbye
You'd be standing right where you were
And we'd get the chance we deserve.
Try to deny it as much as you want
But in time our feelings would show
Cause sooner or later, we'll wonder why we gave up
The truth is everyone knows
Almost, Almost is never enough
So close to being in love.
If I would have known that you wanted me
the way I wanted you
maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart
But right here in each other's arms.
And we almost, We almost knew what love was
But almost is never enough
Oh, Oh baby
Almost is never enough baby
And we can deny it as much as we want
But in time our feelings will show
Cause sooner or later well wonder why we gave up
Truth is everyone knows
Almost, Almost is never enough
So close to being in love.
If I would have known that you wanted me
the way I wanted you
Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart
But right here in each other's arms.
And we almost, We almost knew what love was
But almost is never enough"
Happy June! Can you believe it's June, already? I surely can't. Time really does fly. Don't forget to review!
Almost is Never Enough- Ariana Grande