Disclaimer: High School Musical is a property of Disney. I do not own any of these characters, I just like playing with them. :-)
Part Three:
"Hey, Sharpay, come look at this tree." Gabriella looked over at her girlfriend who was laying on the picnic blanket taking in the sun.
"No, I'm too lazy."
Gabriella rolled her eyes and tossed a twig in her direction. "Get your ass over here."
Sharpay sat up and squinted trying to find where Gabriella was. "Why do you want me to look at a tree? I've seen them before. They're all over this park." She laid back down and closed her eyes. Hearing Gabriella approach her, she opened her eyes and saw she was standing over her blocking the sun. "Hey! I'm trying to get a tan."
Gabriella laughed holding her hands out to her. "Come on, just come look at it and I promise I'll let you tan in peace."
Sharpay finally gave in and took her hands and pulled herself up. "Alright, this better be where the Keebler elves live." She held Gabriella's hand as she led her to the giant oak tree that was a few feet away from their picnic area. Gabriella stopped and stared at it and then looked at her expectantly. Sharpay didn't know how she wanted her to react. It looked like a normal oak tree. "Okay? What's so special about this tree?"
Gabriella rolled her eyes again and pointed to the bark. Sharpay saw a bunch of engravings with initials, names, and dates. "Isn't that sweet?" She asked her pointing to a set of initials with a heart around it.
"Yeah, defacing park trees. Very sweet."
Gabriella scoffed and playfully smacked her. Sharpay smiled. "Why do you always fail to see the sentiment in anything?"
"Because I'm not a romantic sap like you are."
"Oh shut up. I'm pretty sure this is The Lover's Tree." She looked at it dreamily.
Sharpay raised her eyebrows and tilted her head at Gabriella. "The what tree?"
"How can you live here your entire life and not know about The Lover's Tree?" she asked her accusingly.
"Hey now, just because you lived in a city your entire life does not mean you know everything about it. I'm pretty sure that I didn't get one of those brochures that tell me the fun facts about Albuquerque." She looked at the tree again and noticed that some of the dates went back really far. Geez, how long has this tree been around?
"For your information, my mother got me those brochures. I just read them out of curiosity," she stated, offended.
Sharpay looked at her amused. She wasn't actually being serious about them. "Okay, oh wise one, tell me the story about The Lover's Tree."
Gabriella sat down by the tree Indian style and pulled Sharpay down next to her. "Well, from what I read, when Albuquerque was first being established, there was this young couple in love."
"Oh it's one of these stories," Sharpay said rolling her eyes. Gabriella shot her a look. "Sorry, continue."
"Anyways, there was a battle going on to claim the territory and the guy had to fight in it. So of course he had to leave his love but he promised her he'll always come back to her. He carved their names into an oak tree promising her that he'll return to this very spot and marry her once the battle was over." She watched Sharpay seeing if anything she was saying was actually interesting her in any way.
"So did he come back from battle?" Sharpay asked genuinely curious.
"No. He died."
"Well that's depressing."
Gabriella laughed. "Yeah, but he somewhat kept his promise. He left a wedding band on one of the branches and when she came back to this tree, she found it. Couples have been carving their names onto this tree ever since then." She looked at Sharpay and then back to the tree hoping she'd take a hint. "I always thought it was sweet."
Sharpay looked at Gabriella knowing exactly where she was going with this. "Do you want us to carve our names on this tree?"
Gabriella gave her a toothy smile. "No, I'm just saying it's romantic."
She blew out a puff of air. "Gabriella, you know how I feel about these things. I don't think we need to declare our feelings for each other by carving it into an old oak tree." Gabriella frowned in disappointment. Sharpay sighed and reached out to hold Gabriella's hand, rubbing her knuckles with her thumb. Looking back to the tree, Sharpay got up and went to the picnic blanket.
"Hey, where are you going?" Gabriella called after her.
"Just stay there, I'll be right back." Gabriella watched Sharpay take something out of her purse then walk back to her. She didn't say anything as she approached the tree with a metal nail file in her hand.
Gabriella looked on in disbelief when Sharpay started to carve into it with the nail file. "You're actually doing it?"
Sharpay smiled despite of herself. "You're so lucky I love you," she muttered, carving vigorously. It was really hard without the proper tools. A nail file was a really poor substitute for a knife. "There." She blew away some wood shavings and showed it to Gabriella.
Gabriella absolutely beamed. "Sharpay, oh my God, this is so…" She looked at the carving. "Not our initials." She turned to Sharpay with a confused look. She had not carved an 'S' and an 'G' but instead what looked liked a fancy 'M' and 'H.' "Um, Sharpay, unless you fashioned us with new nicknames, our initials aren't 'M' and 'H.'"
She shook her head and laughed at Gabriella. "It's not an 'M' and 'H,' it's the zodiatic symbols for Scorpio and Pisces."
Gabriella looked back at it and then started to smile when realization dawned on her. "Like you and me?"
Sharpay smiled back. "Yes, like you and me." Gabriella threw her arms around neck knocking her down on the grass and then kissed her.
"I love you."
Sharpay ran a finger down Gabriella's face and then traced her smile. "I love you, too, but you owe me a new nail file." She held up the now broken tool and showed it to Gabriella. She laughed, throwing it aside and kissed her again.
Gabriella slowly opened her eyes letting the dream and memory fade away. She couldn't remember where she was until she saw Troy by the window reading one of her magazines. His eyebrows were furrowed reading the contents of the pages before him.
Troy sensed Gabriella looking at him and put the magazine down. She looked so small hidden in the blankets. Her eyes were absolutely empty. "Hey." He said quietly giving her a comforting smile.
Gabriella blinked a few times. Her gaze immediately wandered back to the framed photo remembering the dream she just had. Then, the dam inside her broke and the tears poured down her face. Troy approached the bed not saying a word but his heart was breaking for her. He got into the bed and wrapped his arms around Gabriella holding her tight. She put her face into his chest, muffling the sound of her cries.
--&--&--&--
Gabriella didn't want to go to school. Not because she didn't want to see Sharpay but because she felt physically ill. She hadn't eaten since she threw up the day before and right now she didn't think she could hold anything down. Her head was still throbbing in pain and she felt cold even though she was still buried in her blankets.
Gabriella sat up and wrapped her arms around herself. Shivering, she pulled the drawstring on the hoodie she was wearing a little tighter. She then realized that it was the same one that Troy had given her yesterday. She smiled as she brought the sweater to her face inhaling the scent. Troy had stayed with her the entire night, lying to his parents and said he was doing a project and he couldn't be home. She had no idea what she'd do if she didn't have Troy in her life. He was her rock. Her protector. He always dropped everything he was doing just to make sure she was all right.
She couldn't help but wonder if she and Troy had stayed together if he would have broken her heart the way Sharpay just did. Gabriella shook the thoughts out of her head. She couldn't imagine Troy ever hurting her. He was her knight and shining armor. Her thoughts were interrupted when her knight came through the door carrying a tray of food.
Troy smiled as he carried the tray to the bed. "I thought you should eat a little something." He set it across her legs.
Gabriella smiled weakly at him and looked down at her breakfast. "Thanks, but I'm really not that hungry." She pulled her sleeves down over her hands.
He sat down next to her and picked up a bowl filled with hot oatmeal. Gabriella could see the steam rising. "Come on, just a little something to put in your stomach. And you know I suck at cooking but I attempted to make you oatmeal. Cinnamon apple, your favorite." He waved the bowl in her face earning a small laugh from her. "It's not as great as your mom's but since she's out of town, I tried my best."
Gabriella gingerly took the bowl from his hands and grabbed the spoon. She swirled it around the oatmeal but made no attempt in trying to eat it.
Troy just watched her. "Do you want me to spoon feed you? Because you know I do it all the time with my baby cousin and I do a killer airplane noise." She laughed again before taking a small portion onto the spoon. Bringing it to her mouth, Gabriella blew on it a little before eating it.
He looked at her expectantly. "So, how is it?"
Gabriella licked her lips now just realizing how chapped they were and smiled at Troy. "Not bad. Ten points, Bolton."
"Thanks. Now, do you think you can eat a little more?"
She looked down at the bowl and took a deep breath. She thought it was absolutely pathetic that she had to muster up the strength just to eat a little breakfast. How could she possibly face Sharpay if she couldn't even eat a bowl of oatmeal? Gabriella tried her best to finish it but only managed to eat half before her stomach just couldn't take anymore.
Gabriella sighed and pushed the bowl aside. Troy could sense she wanted to say something. "I don't want to go to school today." She looked down at her hands.
Troy glanced at his watch. They still had an hour before school started. "You don't have to. I'll stay here with you if you want."
Gabriella looked at him wondering how someone can be so sweet. "Troy, you don't have to do that. Your dad will be so pissed if you cut school."
"I don't care. I don't want you to be alone."
Gabriella welled up with tears. Alone. She was alone now. Sharpay left her.
Troy reached over and wiped a tear away that slid down her face. "Hey, I'll always be here for you, okay? I'll never leave." Gabriella broke down again as Troy pulled her into his arms.
Gabriella finally decided to go to school after fighting with herself for almost an hour. Even though she felt like she was going to fall apart every other second, Gabriella knew she couldn't just hide from the world. She dreaded talking to anyone because obviously no one knew what happened between her and Sharpay. Troy and Ryan were probably the only people aware of the situation. She was thankful that Troy was by her side. Literally. He held her hand the entire time they were walking down the hallways.
She mostly looked down at the floor letting Troy lead her through the halls. Every time she saw even a glimpse of blonde hair, she immediately squeezed Troy's hand tighter. Gabriella knew seeing Sharpay was completely inevitable considering they had Chemistry together. And not only that, they also happened to be lab partners.
"Alright, I'll see you at lunch. We don't have to eat in the cafeteria, we can eat up on the roof like we used to," Troy suggested when they stopped in front of Gabriella's first class.
Gabriella almost forgot about lunch and the fact that all their friends sat at one table. "It's alright we don't have to do that. People will just start asking questions and I don't think I can handle that just yet. Just promise to sit next to me the entire time?"
Troy held out his pinky to her. "Pinky swear." Gabriella smiled and then linked her pinky with his.
She was an absolute mess the entire day. Normally Gabriella was a very focused person never letting anything distract her. But now, it was almost impossible to listen to any of the teachers when her mind kept thinking about Sharpay and the fact that Chemistry was approaching faster and faster. Time seemed to go by double speed when Gabriella realized that her next hour was Chemistry.
She walked slowly down the Science hallway hoping that she wouldn't run into her on the way. Gabriella stopped before she entered the classroom debating on whether to just run the other direction. She didn't want to go in. She couldn't.
Come on, Gabriella. You can cry about it later, just go inside.
Gabriella took a deep breath and stepped inside the classroom. Her heart immediately sank the second she saw Sharpay was already sitting at their lab table. Out of all the days Sharpay got to Chemistry first, it had to be the day after she broke up with her. Looking down, Gabriella made her way to the table and sat in the chair. She scooted her seat away from Sharpay.
"Hey," Sharpay greeted quietly. Gabriella didn't say anything but instead took out her textbook and opened it. Sharpay bit her lip. "How are you?"
Is she serious? Did she really just ask me how I was?
She remained silent and she could feel Sharpay's gaze burning a hole on the side of her head.
"Gabriella, come on," she pleaded.
"Alright class," Gabriella was grateful that the teacher finally started the lesson. This way she can properly ignore Sharpay. "It's Wednesday! You know what that means?"
A chorus of groans came from the class and Gabriella's felt nauseous. It was Wednesday. Wednesdays were…
"Lab day!" The teacher exclaimed. "Alright, here's the lab." She rolled up the projector screen revealing the instructions on the board. "And I expect it to be done by the end of this hour and the lab report handed in tomorrow. Remember the safety rules, work efficiently, and have a good time." There were sounds of chairs being scraped against the floor and students gathering the supplies they needed for the lab.
Gabriella didn't move an inch. Why did it have to be lab day?. She saw from the corner of her eye that Sharpay was still staring at her.
"So are we going to work on this lab or just sit here?" Her voice was light in attempt to try to ease the situation. Once again Sharpay didn't receive a response. "Okay, I'm just going to get the stuff we need and we'll start working on it." She sighed in defeat and left the lab table. Gabriella watched her letting out a long breath.
How the hell am I going to do this?
Sharpay returned shortly carrying all the supplies they needed along with two sets of lab aprons and goggles handing them to Gabriella. She took them without looking at her. Pulling her hair up, Gabriella put on the goggles and apron and read the first step on the board.
Just follow routine, Gabriella thought. I always do the measurements and Sharpay always records the data. You don't have to talk to her.
She took a beaker and started to fill it with a chemical solution. Gabriella had no idea why but her hands were shaking and it was almost impossible to get the solution in the beaker without having it spill everywhere. Sharpay saw this and offered her assistance.
"Here, let me help you." She started to reach over but Gabriella took a step back.
"I got it," she snapped, surprising Sharpay and herself at how angry she sounded. She took a deep breath and tried again, her hands shaking worse than ever.
"Come on, Gabriella." This time Sharpay didn't give her the chance to pull away as she grabbed Gabriella's shaking hand. At the moment of contact, Gabriella dropped the beaker shattering glass all over the floor. Everyone in the classroom got startled and turned towards their direction.
"Ladies, is everything alright?" The teacher asked looking over to their lab station.
Sharpay looked down at the floor and then to Gabriella to make sure she was okay. "Yes, sorry Mrs. Mylson, just a little accident. We'll clean it up." She went to get the broom and dustpan leaving Gabriella whose eyes were glued to the shattered mess.
Gabriella wasn't even thinking as she bent down to the floor and started to clean it up with her bare hands.
"Gabriella, don't!" Sharpay came back just as Gabriella picked up a large piece of broken glass. Gabriella gasped in pain and brought her hand up quickly. A large gash appeared in the middle of her palm bleeding. "Oh my God, are you okay?" Sharpay dropped the broom and dustpan and bent down next to Gabriella reaching out to her wounded hand.
She stood up and walked far away from Sharpay. "I'm fine." Even though she wasn't. The cut started to throb in pain and was bleeding pretty profusely.
"No you're not," she said looking at her bloody hand getting slightly squeamish. "Mrs. Mylson? Can I take Gabriella to the nurse's office? She cut her hand."
"Yes, of course. Go."
Gabriella didn't want Sharpay to take her to the nurse's office. She didn't understand why she was treating her like this. Was it pity or a guilty conscience?
So now since you don't have to deal with me, you're suddenly nice to me again? Gabriella thought with spite walking down the hallway. Sharpay was right behind her so she quickened her pace trying to distance herself from her. "You don't have to walk me there. I know where it is." She just kept getting angrier and angrier.
Sharpay swallowed. "That cut looks pretty deep and I just want to make sure you're okay."
Like you care.
She looked at her hand and suddenly got nauseous again. She hated the sight of blood. They got to the office and the nurse took a look at Gabriella's injury.
"Good news is it's not that deep so it doesn't need stitches. I'll just clean it and wrap it up and you can head back to class." She left to get the things she needed leaving Gabriella and Sharpay alone.
"You can go back to class, you know," Gabriella said after a few minutes of pained silence.
Sharpay thought for a moment before deciding to stay. "I hate Chemistry, I don't want to go back just yet."
"What about the lab? Someone's got to work on it."
"I'm pretty sure Mrs. Mylson will give us an extension."
I don't want an extension. I want to finish it so we don't have to work together any longer.
The nurse returned with a bottle of antiseptic and a few bandages. Taking a cotton ball, she opened the bottle and poured some on it. "Okay, this going to sting." Gabriella braced herself as the nurse dabbed her cut with the antiseptic. It burned. She looked away and shut her eyes.
Sharpay grimaced watching the nurse clean Gabriella's wound. And without thinking, she took Gabriella's other hand in hers. Gabriella didn't even seem to notice, squeezing it every single time the nurse touched her cut.
She finished wrapping her hand. "Okay, you're all set. Let me just go write you girls a note to get back to class."
Gabriella opened her eyes and looked at her now bandaged hand. It was throbbing under the pressure of the gauze.
"Does it hurt?" Sharpay asked still holding her hand.
Gabriella finally realized it and quickly pulled away. "Yes." She looked down at it again. "It hurts," she answered not talking about the cut.
--&--&--&--
"Oh my God, what happened?" Troy met Gabriella at the entrance of the cafeteria immediately seeing her injury.
Gabriella shrugged and held it up for him to see it a little better. "A minor mishap in Chemistry."
"Minor?" He took her hand gingerly seeing that some of the blood had seeped through the gauze. "It looks like you have the stigmata."
"Yeah...I blame Sharpay." It just slipped. She didn't really blame her but she wanted to.
Troy looked at her curiously. "What happened? Did she cut your hand?"
"No, but she might as well have. I mean she already ripped out my heart, so this," she waved around her hand. "feels like nothing."
He just looked at her sympathetically not really knowing what to say. "Are you sure you want to eat in the cafeteria?"
Gabriella sighed and shook her head. "Yes. I'm sorry. It's just easier to be mad. Anger is better than falling apart in front of everybody."
Troy understood and held out his arm. "So you want me to buy you lunch?"
She linked her arm in his. "No, I'm not hungry." She wasn't. She couldn't even think about food without getting sick.
"Come on, you have to eat something. I'll get you some fruit." He walked her to their table and they sat down. No one was there yet. "I'll be quick, okay?"
She nodded and watched him leave to go get some food. Gabriella started to pick at the edge of the bandages when Taylor and Chad arrived.
"Holy crap, what happened to you?" Taylor asked sitting down across from her.
"Accident in Chemistry." Gabriella explained. "Apparently broken glass and skin are not best friends." She joked trying to act normal so no questions would arise.
"Troy here yet? He owes me five bucks." Chad asked handing Taylor a can of pop he got from the vending machine.
"He went to buy me lunch."
"Probably with my money." He got up and ran to the cafeteria line, Gabriella and Taylor laughing in his wake.
"God, that looks like it hurts." Taylor commented, opening the can of pop. "How did you manage to cut yourself that badly?" She looked at it, wincing. The blood had now spread even more.
Gabriella sighed. "I just wasn't paying attention and dropped the beaker on the floor. Then I picked up a piece and cut my hand."
"Was Sharpay freaking out?" Taylor asked joking.
The minute she mentioned her name, Sharpay and Ryan had approached the table.
"Why was I freaking out?" She asked taking a seat next to Taylor. She stole a glance at Gabriella whose eyes had averted to the floor.
"About Gabriella's hand."
"Oh right. Yeah, but just a little." She laughed but it was forced. Ryan sat down next to Gabriella.
"You okay?" He asked her. Gabriella looked up at him and knew he wasn't talking about her hand.
"I'm okay." She spoke quietly so only he could hear her. He put a comforting hand on her knee just as Troy and Chad came back arguing.
"Seriously, Troy, give me my money." He looked extremely frustrated.
"I already did!"
Chad shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, that may have worked back in the third grade, but you need to give me my money."
Troy grinned, ignoring him and took his seat on the other side of Gabriella. He handed her a bowl of fruit smiling up at Chad. "Okay, I spent it on Gabriella's lunch, and I know you love her so you don't mind right?"
Chad glared at him shaking his head. "Oh, play the Gabriella card. You know you can't use that forever!" He sat down and almost pouted.
Gabriella smiled at him gratefully. "Thanks for the lunch, Chad."
"No problem, but it's the last time I'm doing it!" It was directed to Troy and everyone laughed.
Alright, this isn't that bad. No one knows. Sharpay's on the other side of the table and Troy's by my side. I'll be fine.
"So Sharpay, Gabriella, you still double dating with me and Chad on Saturday?" Taylor asked once the laughter died down.
Sharpay dropped her fork and Gabriella choked on piece of watermelon she had in her mouth.
"Saturday?" Sharpay asked looking over at Gabriella. She was facing Troy but she could tell her eyes were filled with worry.
"Yeah, our designated date night every month?"
Sharpay started to play with her ring. "Um, well. I'm busy that night with the play. Sorry, I can't do it."
"Oh come on, Ryan's in the same play and we still get to hang out with him. Seriously, Sharpay none of us ever see you anymore." Taylor looked over to everybody else seeing if anyone shared the same opinion. "Right Gabriella? You were just telling me last week you don't ever see her anymore and she's your girlfriend."
Gabriella wished she hadn't said that and felt her stomach churn again. She could feel Sharpay looking at her and she couldn't take it. "I, uh, gotta go." She stood up abruptly leaving Taylor and Chad confused. Feeling the need to throw up again, Gabriella rushed to the bathroom.
Troy looked around the table before standing up and going after her.
"Okay did I say something wrong?" Taylor asked confused as ever. Ryan glanced at Sharpay seeing if she was going to say something.
Taking a deep breath, Sharpay looked up at her friends. "Gabriella and I broke up last night." She didn't wait for their reactions but stood up and left the table as well.
Ryan pushed his chair back. "Um, I'm going to go after her." With that he left Taylor and Chad at the table completely dumbfounded.
