Chapter 4: Just Pick a Movie

Gabriella walked into her English class trying to fight the urge to just run out of the school to avoid this class. She took a seat at the back and began reading through a list of possible movies they could use for the project which she had printed off the computer.

She looked up from her sheet to see Troy walking in the door quickly after Ms. Darbus. She rolled her eyes. Was it some rule he had that he couldn't be in the classroom before the bell rang? She shook her head and looked back down at her sheet.

Ms. Darbus clapped her hands, getting the classes attention. She smiled and adjusted her glasses slightly before beginning to speak.

"As you all know, assignments are due in three weeks. We all know what the assignment is so proceed now with your assigned partners," she said, opening her arms wide and flicking her wrists.

Suddenly the sound of chairs moving and desks being pulled filled the room, accompanied with loud chatter as the students moved beside their partners. Gabriella didn't move and instead focused on her sheet even more. She heard someone cough and looked to see Troy staring down at her with his deep blue eyes.

"Couldn't find me?" he asked sarcastically.

Gabriella rolled her eyes and moved over so Troy could sit down beside her. He grabbed a chair and pulled it over, sitting down. He looked over her shoulder at the sheet.

"What's that?" he asked.

Gabriella sighed, "A list of possible movies we could do this six page review on," she answered.

Troy nodded and took it from her. Gabriella watched him as he read the list. She saw his brow begin to furrow and she frowned.

"What?" she asked.

Troy looked up at her.

"These are all chick flicks," he stated.

"So?" Gabriella asked, nodding her head.

"So since when did she say it had to be a chick flick?" he asked.

"She said drama," Gabriella stated.

"There's a difference between chick flick and drama," Troy said.

"Well what do you suggest then?" she asked.

Before Troy could answer Gabriella continued speaking, "If you mention any horror or war film or whatever you're into so help me God," she said coldly.

Troy closed his mouth and glared at her. "Fine then pick one," he said, equally as cold.

Gabriella smiled, happy that she had won the argument. She waited for Troy to read the list again so they could choose a movie together. She noticed he was looking at the table rather than at the list.

"Troy? What are you doing? Aren't you reading the list?" she asked, impatiently.

"How am I meant to pick a movie? I don't know any of these movies. It's just a list of movie titles. You pick one," he said, sliding the sheet across the desk to her.

Gabriella gritted her teeth and leaned forward. "Do you not grasp the concept yet? We have to do this project TOGETHER. That means WE have to choose a movie. WE have to do a six page review of it and WE have to write about the actors and the director. So WE have to pick the movie…get it yet?" she said, leaning across the desk.

Troy smirked at her and threw the sheet on the table.

"Just pick a movie Montez," he said, rubbing his face with his hand.

Gabriella snatched the sheet off the desk and scanned it.

"Fine I choose 'The Notebook' starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Happy?" she asked.

Troy shrugged, "Whatever the sooner this is done the better," he said.

"My thoughts exactly," she replied, "Let's get started with the biographies…"

Gabriella walked to her locker and flung it open. She was in a horrible mood since her English class with Troy. There was something about him that just got her so mad. She didn't know what it was. All she knew was that it was a struggle to be in the same room as him without screaming.

"Hi, I'm Taylor," a voice said from behind her.

Gabriella spun around to face an African-American girl with chocolate brown hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Gabriella smiled, surprised that she was talking to her.

"I'm Gabriella," she replied.

Taylor nodded and grinned at her. "I just noticed you were in most of my classes so I thought I'd introduce myself. So where are you from?" she asked, beginning to walk down the corridor. Gabriella shut her locker and followed her.

"My Mom's company transferred her here from San Diego last week," Gabriella replied.

Taylor nodded, "Cool. Well welcome to East High. If you want you can come eat lunch with me and the other members of the chemistry club. I'm the president," Taylor added, smiling.

Gabriella's eyes widened slightly. Did Taylor know she had been a member of the chemistry club at her former school? Gabriella shook her head slightly. She had been hoping to distance herself from extra school activities like that but it looks like somehow Taylor knew.

"Well at least we have something in common," Gabriella muttered.

Taylor stopped and looked at her curiously.

"You were a member of your school's chemistry club?" Taylor asked, wide-eyed.

Gabriella winced. Obviously Taylor didn't know. She was just being nice.

"Yeah but I'm not really-," Gabriella started but Taylor cut her off.

"You should totally join. We need another member and I'm sure you're smart. You answered every single question in Chemistry correct yesterday I remember," Taylor said, clapping her hands together with excitement.

Gabriella opened her mouth to reply but Taylor dragged her towards the cafeteria.

Gabriella sighed and allowed herself to be dragged. At least she had made a friend.

Troy walked out of the library at the end of school holding a copy of 'Romeo and Juliet' in his hand. He couldn't believe he was being made to act a scene out with Gabriella. The girl who he despised. He opened his locker, flung in the book and looked around for his English book. He noticed it at the back of his locker. Pulling it out he saw it was much newer and was in perfect condition. He opened it quickly and looked at the inside cover. He rolled his eyes as he realised it was Gabriella's book.

He closed his locker and walked down the corridor, hoping he'd see her at her locker. After fifteen minutes of wandering down the school's many corridors he walked into a quieter corridor and noticed Gabriella standing at the end of the corridor at her locker. He smirked as he realised that she seemed to be looking for something and he knew what it was.

He walked up to the locker and waited patiently for her to notice him. After a few seconds he cleared his throat and Gabriella's head flew out of the locker. Her hand banged off the door and it flew back whacking into Troy's nose.

"Ouch!" Troy groaned, grabbing his nose.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Gabriella said, shutting her locker door and steeping closer to Troy, trying to see if he was okay.

Troy rubbed his nose and moaned, "God Montez, trying to break my nose were you?" he asked, still clutching his nose.

Gabriella decided to ignore his comment considering this was her fault.

She tried to look at his nose but couldn't because of his hands. She carefully took his left hand in her right one and moved it out of the way.

Troy felt a bolt of electricity shoot through his as Gabriella's soft, smooth hand grabbed his and gently moved it out of the way. Troy's eyes focused on hers and he watched as she looked at his nose, seeing if it was okay.

"Seems to be okay…," she said, double checking, "Not broken," she added.

Troy nodded and noticed that they were still holding hands. Gabriella's eyes locked with his and they both stared at each other for a brief second. Suddenly Gabriella realised that she was still holding his hand and quickly let go.

"Um…sorry about that," she said, blushing slightly.

Troy shrugged, "Whatever. I just came here to give you your book," he said, handing it to her.

Gabriella nodded, "I was looking for it but I didn't think you'd stolen it," she said, winding him up slowly but surely.

Troy snorted, "Oh yeah because I'm so pathetic that I stole your English book of all things. Also if we're gonna get all the work done we're going to have to work outside of school too as much as I hate to admit this," he said, leaning against the lockers.

"I was thinking the same thing. So what do you wanna do?" she asked.

Troy shrugged, "You decide," he said.

Gabriella shook her head, "No. I chose the movie. You figure out what we do next. I'm not here to do all the work and make all the decisions. Didn't I explain this earlier? Or do you need me to spell it?" Gabriella asked, sarcastically.

Troy rolled his eyes, "Whatever. Let's use the library then," he grunted, already turning around and walking down the corridor.

"Fine," Gabriella replied. She folded her arms and followed him down the deserted corridors, staying two steps behind him the whole way to the library.

Troy walked into the library and sat down at a table in the corner. Gabriella followed him and placed her books on the table before sitting down opposite him.

"So what do you want to start with?" Gabriella asked, taking out a sheet of paper and a pen.

Troy shrugged and scratched his head. Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Well we can either read Romeo and Juliet now, or plan out some of the biographies," she suggested.

Troy shrugged and stared off into space. Gabriella let out a frustrated groan and tapped her pen loudly on her book, staring at the table trying to calm herself down.

After a few minutes of her tapping Troy reached out and grabbed the pen out of her hand. Gabriella jumped slightly and looked at him, frowning.

"Why did you just take my pen?" she asked.

"Because Montez your constant tapping was driving me crazy," he replied, smirking at her.

"Well maybe I wouldn't have to tap my pen constantly if we were actually getting work done but that's impossible because of you staring off into space Bolton," she shot back.

"Well Montez I'm sorry that I'm not as good at this as you are," he said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Gabriella asked, folding her arms and sitting back in her chair, frowning.

Troy looked at her for a second, about to explain himself. Gabriella looked back at him.

"Well?" she asked.

"Nothing," Troy said, sliding her pen across the desk and getting a sheet of paper for himself.

Gabriella began tapping again.

"What's wrong Bolton? Can't think of any words to say? Or are you finally realising that I'm right?" Gabriella asked, smirking.

Troy suddenly felt his blood boil at her snide remark and as she began tapping the pen again.

"Okay Montez you wanna know what I meant by that comment?" he asked, leaning forward across the desk.

Gabriella stopped tapping and looked at him, nodding.

"I meant that all you seem to do is read. Every class you're always there ahead of everyone. You always know the answer. You always have you work done perfect. What I'm saying is that maybe the reason I'm not as good at all this project stuff as you are is because I actually have a life and friends. I suggest you get one and then see what happens to your grades. You won't have all that free time to read your school books from cover to cover," Troy said, angrily.

Gabriella froze as he said this. She felt her frown disappear as she realised what he had just said. She suddenly felt her eyes begin to water and she knew she had to get out of there.

Troy sat back as he realised what he had just said. He didn't mean it he had just been so angry at her that he said stuff he didn't mean but now he was regretting it. He looked at her and saw her eyes were glazing over. He suddenly felt very guilty.

"Look Gabriella-," he started but she cut him off.

"Um Troy I forgot I…um…I have to be home by five so I better go. I'll do work on the biographies tonight so…I better go," she stuttered, picking up her things. Before Troy could reply Gabriella had walked out quickly.

Troy sighed and leaned back in his chair covering his face with his hands. Sometimes he really did go too far.

Hey I'm sooo sooo sorry it took me so long to update this! But good news is I have it finished I just have to upload it! School has be SO crazy lately! Sorry again! But I'm putting another chapter up right now! Tell me what you think!!!