The Silent Girl

Ok before I begin, I have been getting a few emails/reviews about people telling me to read their stories and review. Believe it or not, who ever reviews, or adds me as a favorite, author, story, etc, I go to everyone's profiles and look at their stories. I am not the one to review unless a story is so horrible I can't read it. I also review if your story is outstanding. If I don't review your story, don't take it personal, take it as a complement. I like your story if I don't review. I just don't have the time to review everyone's story with all of my stories that are in progress. So please don't ask me to review your story, odds are I have already read it. It may not seem like it from this little blurb, but I really am I nice person, I swear.

Gabriella's Pov:

I stared up into his sparkling blue eyes and smiled. If he was going to be up for the challenge, then so was I. It's not that I didn't want to talk, I was just afraid of what people would say. I can't hear myself, so I don't really know how I sound, or if I'm pronouncing everything correctly for that matter.

I felt him take his cold hand off of mine. For a minute, I forgot my pain. It was as if his hands were magic. Looking down at my arm, I found nothing but redness. The swelling went down, but you could still see the outline of the tennis ball.

He grabbed my hand in his, and we walked off the courts never once looking back at the other basketball players. I could tell he was still mad by the way he was biting the side of his cheek. Not really knowing what I was doing, my thumb grazed gently over the back of his hand. In my own attempts, I was trying to calm him down. Any other person would talk it out, but not me. I'm different.

Sparks flew throughout my body when I felt him squeeze my hand. Raising my head, I saw him smile. He led me into the gym, since we only had five minutes left. Secretly, I was happy. I wouldn't have to rush in the locker room to get changed. No one would be there to point and laugh at me either.

"Go get changed, and meet me out here." I read his lips and nodded at him.

While I was getting dressed, I kept thinking about what I would say to him. Would he even want to come to my house? If he did what would he do, stare at each other? It would no doubt be awkward, plus, my moms going to be there. My first friend and my mother will be all over him.

It's not like we could watch a movie, or talk. We wouldn't be able to watch TV either. Well I guess he could.

Grabbing my backpack, I closed my locker and walked out. There was only a minute left of school, and I didn't want to be here when the class got back.

Troy's Pov:

I watched as she slowly walked out of the locker room. Her eyebrows creased looking as if she was in deep thought.

Taking out my cell phone, I began to type.

To Gabriella:

You ok?

From: Troy

Smiling, I watched as she reached quickly around her pockets to find her phone. Her hand twirled around one of her curls as she read my message. I waited patiently for her to type back. It seemed as if she was having trouble responding to my answer. Her hands kept pausing over the small buttons as she typed. Maybe there really was something wrong. Maybe her arm was still hurting her from before. I made a mental note to get her some ice as soon as I could.

To Troy:

I don't want to scare you off Troy. It's nothing.

From Gabriella

Did she really think it's possible to scare me off? I looked into her chocolate eyes and smiled. Shaking my head I began to respond.

To Gabriella:

Try me

From Troy

Looking around me, I noticed that the gym was beginning to fill up. Sweaty kids began rushing in, trying to get out as soon as possible. My teammates, if I could even call them that, stared at her. I would make sure that today at practice, they would regret it. Apparently, they didn't learn their lesson from before.

Sharpay, Taylor, Kelsi, Chad, Ryan, and Zeke, all came over to us. By the looks of it, they were already changed. Sharpay had a huge smile of her face, which made me a littler nervous. I watched her as she came up behind Gabriella and hugged her. Gabriella got scared when she felt someone suddenly hug her. Once she saw it was Sharpay, a huge smile played on her lips. Her smile was contagious. I just hope that someday I can hear that voice of hers; it probably was as beautiful as her.

"Please let me take her shopping, Troy. I no one else wants to go with me and I can buy her so much clothes. She can be my shopping buddy now." Gabriella was unfazed by what Sharpay said, probably because she was busy typing back to me and not looking at her lips. I shook my head at Sharpay.

"There is no way am I going to let you corrupt her. I'm not going to make her spend a whole day in the mall." Sharpay's smile turned into a pout in a matter of seconds.

"I promise I will only spend four hours."

"Not today Sharpay, it's Friday, do it Saturday when you actually have a day. We'll all go." Wow did I just say that? Never once did I ever want to go shopping, especially with her. Gabriella was sure changing me – for the better of course.

"Find but we expect her tomorrow, tootles!" And with that, Sharpay was off along with the rest of them once they said goodbye to us.

My phone beeped signaling a new text message. Flipping it open, I stared at the words on the page smiling.

To Troy:

I was just wondering, if you wanted to come to my house today. My mom kind of wants to meet you.

From Gabriella

I watched as she played with the hem of her shirt, waiting for a response. As I stared into her eyes, I shook my head no. Those eyes held nothing but sadness. Her mouth fell slightly open and she turned on the balls of her feet.

Grabbing her arm gently I turned her around. I held up my pointer finger, signaling for her to wait a minute.

To Gabriella

First of all, I can't come with you to your house, because I have basketball practice, but I do plan to go after with you. That is if your willing to wait on the bleachers and watch as I torture my team.

From Troy

The frown on her face changed to a smile once she read her text message. The gym was filling up with my teammates – if you could even call them that. They were goofing around, flinging that ball at the basket, missing on purpose. Almost as if they were mocking her in this sport too. I'll let them have their fun. It won't be fun and games when practice starts.

To Troy:

You really don't know how much this means to me. I would have expected you to run away in the first five minutes you met me. Most people get frustrated from me not talking. I would love to watch my friend on the court, but I don't know about my mom. I walk home, so she doesn't like me walking home at night.

From Gabriella

Putting my cell phone back into my pocket, I gently grabbed her phone out of her hands. She gave me a questioning look as I flipped through her contacts. Once I found the one that said 'mom' I pressed the green send button and held the phone up to my ear.

It rang a couple of times before someone picked up, probably because she was wondering why Gabriella was calling her.

"Hello?" Her mom's voice was soft, yet filled with worry.

"Hello Ms. Montez, this is Troy Bolton, Gabi's friend." My eyes stayed focused on Gabriella. I watched as he eyes stayed focused on my lips, wondering why in the world I was talking to her mother.

"Oh Troy please call me Marie! How are you? It's so nice to talk to you. Would you like to join us for dinner tonight? Oh I'm so glad she found a friend, Troy. Thank you so much," I could tell she was really excited.

"I'm good Marie, but if you wouldn't mind, I have basketball practice now and I was wondering if it would be ok if I drive her home about 5:30?"The smile on Gabriella's face couldn't get any bigger.

"Oh that would be great. I'm sure she'll have fun. I'm making lasagna, is that ok, Troy." Ms. Montez's voice sounded so welcoming. It was nice. Gabriella mouthed something to me, which thankfully I understood

"You don't have to go through any trouble for me. We'll see you in two hours. Gabriella says hi. It was nice talking to you."

"I'm so glad you called Troy, thank you." With that, she hung up and I handed the phone back to Gabi.

To Troy

How did you know I didn't have a car?

From Gabi

Her text message made me laugh. Was she really that oblivious?

To Gabriella

Who do you think follows you home everyday, just to make sure you made it home safe?

From Troy

Before I knew it, she was in my arms, hugging me. I wrapped my arms around her petite frame, and hugged her back. It's hard to believe how much being a friend really means to someone. Most people take it for granted, like they do a lot of things. To a person who didn't have any though, one friend can mean the world. Even a simple smile or hello can change a person's day. We stayed in that position for a long time. Neither one of us wanting to move, but we knew we had to. Taking her hand in mine, I walked her over to the bleachers. My teammates were still goofing off while we walked by them.

"I'm taking the team today, I'll meet you at home later," My dad was more than willing to give me a shot at being coach. He respected the fact that sometimes, I needed the team to myself. He especially wanted me to deal with them after what happened today.

"Don't go easy on them." He patted my back, gave me his clip board, and began to walk out.

"OK, GIVE ME 50 SUICIDES NOW AND THEN I WANT 50 LAPS AROUND THE GYM!" I yelled at them.

They groaned and then took off running. In the meantime, I walked back over to Gabriella. Picking up a basketball, I held it out to her. She shook her head and took out her cell phone.

To Troy

They'll just laugh at me

From Gabriella

Ok so I am taking suggestions for next chapter. I hope you like it and please review!