A/N: Hey guys. Thankz for the awesome reviews. I want to say that I'm truly thankful for everyone of them. They all made me smile. Okay so I was trying to get two chapters up today but I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it...my birthday is today..the big 21 and everyone wants to do everything...so I'll probably have it up next week. I hope you like this one and for those who do read the author's note i just wanted to know if the story is movie too fast or too slow. I would appreciate it soo much. Okay onto the story....
Chapter 4
Usually when Troy was told that he could have vacation time he was ecstatic. That was his relaxation time. That was the time when he could sleep in, have fun, go to parties, and lounge around. He could re-energize himself before he had months and months of working. That was what vacation time was usually about. But not this time. This time it was filled with stress and wishful thinking that caused the stressed. He didn't know what was happening to him. He had girls throwing himself every day, and for some reason he didn't find interest in any of them. He didn't know why this girl, Gabriella, had such a fix on him. He couldn't get her out of his head. He felt like he was going crazy. He saw her once and every since that day he had been day dreaming, thinking, and talking to anyone who would listen about her. He had thought about looking her up but then realized that he didn't know her last name. He had even went back to the shopping center and walked around to see if he would run into her again, but that didn't happen. A whole week. He hadn't set eyes on her for a whole week.
He looked down at his food, picking up a French fry before dipping it into some ranch sauce and popping it into his mouth. He looked up as he heard a loud laugh. He watched as Sharpay was doubled over in laughter her eyes looking towards Chad. Troy then looked over at Chad he had a sneer on his face as she looked at Sharpay. A smile cracked on his face as he looked down at Chad's food to find a whole pile of salt on his French fries. He shook his head at their silliness'.
"That was fucked up Sharpay." Chad said looking down at his fries sadly. "You're going pay to get me some more."
Troy watched as Sharpay rolled her eyes a smile still playing her lips. She tossed her hair behind her should very dramatic like, and she licked her glossy lips. "Oh come on, it was funny."
"No it wasn't. Damn it Sharpay. Order me some more." He said pushing his food from him.
"Yeah right. I'm not your maid Chad." She said.
Troy sighed not really wanting to hear them arguing. Yeah they were all close friends…as close as they come but Sharpay and Chad had this little thing going on where they loved to argue with each other. It wasn't a flirting kinda of arguing like Chad and Taylor did. It was more like an annoying arguing thing. They would argue about anything stupid stuff like, color, and how rainbows were formed and how the make the paper that goes around soda bottle come from. Yeah it was some pretty stupid shit but they didn't mind arguing about it though most of the time it gave Troy a headache like it did now. They had decided that they would all go out and have lunch at a local…kinda non-existent diner. They didn't really feel like being accosted by the paparazzi that day and they had hoped that with all the old people in here they wouldn't be noticed.
"You such a bitch." Chad said glaring at her.
"Yeah well you are too." Sharpay said laughing. She looked over at Troy and gave him a questioning look. He seemed to be a little out there, and she knew exactly what he was thinking about. When Chad had called her telling her about the whole fan phone number thing she hadn't been shocked at all. She knew that sooner or later Troy was going to find another girl sooner or later. The only probably that she had was that he seemed to be too interested in this girl when he knew nothing about her. He hadn't even talked to her yet. She didn't know if all he wanted was sex or if he wanted something more and the something more made her question his thinking. She had even questioned this "fan." Who in the hell was she? Was she just playing hard to get in order to get to Mr. Troy Bolton himself? She sighed.
"Troy" she said getting his attention since he was looking out the window with a faraway look. "What are you thinking about?"
Troy sighed and opened his mouth only to have Chad answer for him.
"What do you think he's thinking about. Gabriella. The famous fan." He said laughing. "You know what Troy I'm starting to think that she isn't real."
Troy narrowed his eyes towards Chad. "She's real Chad. Believe me."
"If she's so real why hasn't she called you? I mean you said she noticed who you were. Who wouldn't want to call the famous Troy Bolton?"
Troy shrugged his shoulders. He had been thinking the same thing. "Maybe…maybe she's busy."
They were all quiet for a while Sharpay and Chad looking at Troy with disbelieving looks while he tried to justify the whole situation.
"Or…" Sharpay said slowly.. "Maybe she just doesn't like you."
Troy scoffed and shook his head at both of them. "What good friends you too are. You've been picking on me this whole week about her. You guys are suppose to be encouraging."
"Yeah well…it's kinda hard not to pick on you when you've been talking about her twenty four seven. I mean come on Troy…just forget her. She's not going to call, you're not going to see her again, plus you're leaving soon." Sharpay said in a commanding voice. Troy ignored it.
"Yeah in about 2 months. I still have time to find her."
"How?" Chad snapped. "How are you going to find her Troy? All you know is that her name is Gabriella. That's going to do you a lot of fucking good."
Troy scratched the back of his head as he took his eyes off of his two best friends. "I know she lives around this area. Well maybe the suburb part because the shopping center where I met her was kinda in the suburbs not really in the city part. She could live there."
Sharpay nodded her head slowly. "Okay so you know she lives in a small town but hello Troy I'm betting on there still people in that town. There is no what you're going to find her."
Troy couldn't believe his friends were being like this. Maybe it was just so out of character for him or maybe he was getting on their nerves. Were they right? Should he just give up trying to find Gabriella? Should he just let her go? Okay well maybe he was getting a little obsessed. It wasn't like they were in a relationship and had suddenly broken up and he still wanted her back…unlike Kathleen but still when he had set eyes on her that day…he felt…as though…damn he couldn't even describe the word. His brain snapped him back in reality as he smiled up at Chad who was singing and humming a little.
"Bet on it, bet on it, bet on it, bet on me." He said picking up one of his fries and shoving it in his mouth, before spitting it back out again. Sharpay jumped away from him looking as though he was the most disgusting thing on the planet. She shook her head and rolled her eyes at him before taking out her pocket size mirror and looking at herself in it. God he had the weirdest friends.
"Hey bitch you still owe me some fries." Chad said pointing at Sharpay. Yeah he had weird friends.
"You know." Sharpay said as she dug around her purse for a moment. "I don't think Taylor would like it if her boyfriend was disrespecting the female race. Maybe I should give her a call." She said smiling at Chad as she took out her phone.
Chad sneered at her knowing that she would do it and that Taylor would probably believe Sharpay over him any day. "You stupid—"
"Hey guys!" Troy called out bringing both of their eyes to him. He smiled at them and clasped his hands together taking a deep breath. While they had been arguing again he had sat and thought about it. He would try one more time. Once more and if he couldn't find her…then he would give up. "I want to go to that shopping center."
"Ohh! Shopping. That's a very good idea, I need some new shoes for—"Sharpay started completely missing the whole idea, but Chad cut her off.
"What shopping center?" he asked as he looked at Troy. Troy smiled shyly and shrugged his shoulders. "Oh come on man. She's not going to be there. You know it, I know it, the whole fucking world knows it."
"Just one more time" Troy said signaling the waitress for his check. "And if she's not there I promise I will never bring up the topic Gabriella again. " He looked up at Chad and Sharpay who both had gave him the "yeah right" look. He scoffed. "I promise." After paying his portion of the meal he threw a tip on the table before quickly standing up and going out to Chad's car. He knew he should have brought his but since they were altogether they decided to save money on gas and save the environment by carpooling. "Come on."
"Wait…what about my fries!" Chad called out as Sharpay laughed as she started to walk out the door. She looked back and rolled her eyes.
"Come on let's go find mystery girl."
Chad stayed at the table for a while looking down at his fries before his eyes wondered over towards Sharpay's bill. She had left it for him to pay! He threw some money down on the table hoping that the waitress would take what was needed for his bill and the rest for her tip. He scoffed. "Stupid bitch." He mumbled before walking out of the café.
"I'm sorry Troy."
Sharpay could tell how depressed Troy was. He hadn't said one word since they put on their disguises, of hats and sunglasses, and pulled up to the outdoor shopping mall. They had been every single store; Sharpay of course took that opportunity to do some fast shopping. They were now walking out of a pet store out into the sunny world. He had his hands deep into his pocket looking up and down the sidewalk. She sighed and looked over at Chad who was tossing his newly bought football. They started walking down the sidewalk each in their own thoughts.
Troy was pretty disappointed in himself. He couldn't believe that he actually let some stupid girl control his mind. Stupid, stupid girl. He didn't even know anything about her, his friends were right. He didn't even know why he was so obsessed with finding her. She was just another girl. Troy took several deep breathing trying to clear his head. He had promised that if he wasn't able to find her here that he wouldn't talk about her anymore, and he was going to keep his promise, but he didn't need to do it just for them…he needed to do it for himself also.
"Come on dude, cheer up. It's not the end of the world." Chad said glancing over at him.
"Yeah I know." Troy said smiling. He put Gabriella behind him as he looked towards Chad. "Why did you buy a football? I thought you were a basketball dude."
Chad shrugged. "It's a pretty cool football." He said looking down at it tossing it up again and catching it.
"It's just a disgusting ball Chad…nothing special about it." Sharpay said her eyes on her phone while she was texting someone.
Troy laughed and held his hands up towards Chad. "Here give it to me…go long."
Troy and Sharpay paused, Sharpay leaning against a pole her eyes still on her phone. Troy watched as Chad ran down the sidewalk looking back every now and again. Of course they were acting like little boys. They shouldn't have been throwing football when there was display windows were about. What if they broke something? Or hit someone? No they didn't think about any of that. Instead they just thought about having a little fun, without any of the consequences.
"Be sure to catch it dude!" Troy yelled out smiling.
"I got it come on!"
Troy released the ball making it fly through the air. It went straight for Chad's hands. It was a perfect throw. Chad should have had it and Troy could not figure out why the stupid idiot completely failed to catch the perfectly thrown football. As soon the Chad missed the ball, he heard a loud groan. Chad looked behind him and gasped as he saw a girl sitting on a bench clutching g the side of her head. Chad rushed the short distance towards her trying to make sure she was alright.
"Shit. I'm sorry—"he started.
"What the hell!" she said looking up at him, her eyes narrowing a little. Chad chuckled uncomfortably as he looked down at her. He couldn't tell if she noticed him or not. He rolled his eyes…right now he needed to make sure she was alright and didn't file a lawsuit against him. Chad frowned lightly. Wait a minute this wasn't his fault. This was Troy's fault. He was the one who threw the football. He should be the one she filed charges against.
"Are you okay?" Chad asked as he bent down and picked up the football.
"Do you think I'm alright? You just hit me in the head with a fucking football."
"I didn't hit you my friend Tr--, my friend did." If she didn't notice him he didn't want to be the one that told her right out.
Troy had walked quickly over to where Chad was, pulling Sharpay along. Stupid Chad. How do you miss catching a football? How stupid could one get? Of course he hadn't counted on who he was talking to. Especially when he was trying to get that exact person out of his head. When he reached Chad and looked around him his hand dropped from Sharpay's and his mouth was wide open in shocked.
"Gabriella?" he asked in a stunned voice.
Gabriella's sneer fell off of her face as her eyes landed on a particular blue eyed boy wonder. She gasped softly. What the hell was he doing here? She guessed that whoever was looking over her life had decided that today would be a pretty good day to live. She had once again gone to the mall, to go window shopping. This time she told herself that the only reason she was going was that she wouldn't be bored and have nothing to do at school but she knew that she was hoping to run into him again. She had spent about two hours at the shopping center trying to see if he was there. She didn't think that she would actually see him there. Maybe it was God that was looking down on her. She stayed on the bench the pain in her head completely gone. Her mouth dropped open just a bit. Her eyes went back and forth from him to the guy that was right in front of her. Her mouth dropped even further as she realized who was standing right in front of her. What was this meet the High School Musical cast day?
"Gabriella?"
She looked behind Troy and spotted another cast member. Of course she instantly noticed her because what other blonde bombshell would be hanging out with both Troy Bolton and Chad Danforth. It was none other than Sharpay Evans. Her heart was beating quickly. She looked back and forth between all three celebrities as they looked down at her in wonder. She wanted to recoil just a bit wondering why they were staring at her in wonder.
"She's real." Chad said stupidly.
Troy rolled his eyes at Chad then pushed him aside to get closer to Gabriella. She looked just as beautiful as ever. He smiled down at her, thanking God that he had finally found her. Not that he had been looking for her…okay he had been looking for her but still. This was a dream come true. His first instinct was to grab her and hug her but he had to remind himself that she would probably think he was crazy if he did it.
"How are you doing?" he asked simply.
She nodded her head before turning her back and looking down the street wondering if the bus was going to come soon. It wasn't that she didn't want to be surrounded by the cast of her favorite movie, but they were making her nervous, plus Troy Bolton was talking to her…talking to her? Again.
"You...you never called me?" he blurted out.
Gabriella turned back at around with a look of shock on her face. He actually looked put out because she didn't call him. In reality she wanted to call the number that he gave her. A lot. Though during that week she was physically incapable to talk or do anything basically with her mouth. Her father had kept his promise and had bruised her face pretty bad. Bad enough that it hurt to open her mouth in anyway. She had skipped school that whole week, giving her bruises some time to heal enough that when she put make-up on it would be able to cover them. She bit her lip as he bent down balancing himself on his toes his eyes right across from hers.
"Umm…I was busy." She said coolly.
Troy nodded his head. "I figured as much."
"Yeah right. You've been talking about her ever since—" Chad started
"Chad!" Troy snapped.
Gabriella smiled softly at the two.
"Well you have." Chad said smiling tossing the football and catching again. Chad had looked down at her and the smile fell off of his face and he held the ball still. "Damn Troy. You hit the fuck out of her. There is already a bruise forming."
Gabriella watched as Chad pointed to her forehead. Her eyes widen. She knew that that football didn't make a bruise that fast. It was probably because of what her father did. Well she wasn't going to let them know the latter. Troy had reached up and touched her forehead softly, and their eyes connected instantly. His hand stayed in its play softly running his fingers over the bruise. They both could feel their hearts stop at the eye connection. They could both feel that small surge of electricity that past from his fingertips to her head. She exhaled softly. As much as she wanted to feel as though this wasn't happening, that Troy Bolton star of High School Musical wasn't touching her…that just wasn't going through her head. She had never felt what she was feeling. The weird feeling that she got in her stomach that kind of felt like she wanted to throw up. She could feel her pulse racing under her skin. Her eyes became heavy just from being so close to him. She had the urge to pull him closer and hold on to him…maybe even pressing her lips to his.
Troy smirked at her and he could read almost every emotion in her eyes. They were filled with wonder and passion and a little bit of confusion. He wouldn't blame her. He was feeling a bit confused also. He didn't think someone who had just met another could feel like this. Wasn't there the whole getting to know someone, and taking them out on dates before these feelings took over one's body. Things like this only happened in those romance books that girls read. It didn't happen to real people. It didn't happen to him.
He frowned slightly as she pulled away from him. Gabriella took a deep breath, she didn't know what had just happened but the feeling that she felt had scared her. Who wouldn't be scared about those feelings…especially since they just slammed into her?
"So you're Gabriella." Sharpay said walking up to the three of them. She had her arms crossed and she looked down at Gabriella with raised eye brows. "Hmm. I guess she's…alright."
Troy looked at Sharpay narrowing his eyes towards her before looking back at Gabriella. "So listen I was wondering if you want to go out sometime. You know for dinner or lunch." He chuckled softly.
Gabriella shook her head quickly. He couldn't be serious. "Are you for real?"
"Of course he's for real." Chad said. "He's been talking about you non-stop. It was Gabriella this and—"
"Chad!" Troy snapped at him again. "Look Gabriella, I am serious. I wanna take you out."
"But…I'm…"
"Normal?" Sharpay said smirking at her.
Gabriella frowned at her for a moment before looking at Troy. "Look Your Troy Bolton and I'm just…" she laughed. "…like she said. Normal."
Troy shook his head cursing Sharpay. What the hell was her problem? "Your anything but normal Gabriella." He sighed deeply trying to figure out a way to at least talk to her privately without.
Gabriella couldn't believe this was happening to her. She wouldn't believe this. She was the most invisible person on the planet and Troy Bolton wanted to take her out to lunch. Yeah right. "I don't know. I don't think—"
"Why don't you come hang out with us tomorrow?" Chad said suddenly, "My girlfriend is having a party sort of. Well not really a party just a few close friends. You could hang out with us there. You know as friends?"Chad looked stressfully at Troy trying to get him to catch on. And Troy did catch on. Maybe if he could convince her to just be friends at first, he could get to know her and hopefully convince her to go out on at least one date with him.
"Yeah as friends." He said smiling at her. "Please."
Gabriella sighed as she bit her lip, and Troy couldn't help but to be turned on by that unconscious move. Of course she was hesitating on actually going or not. Everything was happening so fast and not only that, she had to deal with her father. And that meant sneaking around and lying. She was pretty good at that when she put her mind to it. She was caught in the middle. She really wanted to go to this party, wanted to hang out with Troy Bolton, how many people could say they did that. Then she was afraid that if she was actually caught that she might not be alive anymore. She took a deep breath holding it in for a moment before letting it out just a bit. "As friends right?" she asked him. She had it in her mind that Troy Bolton would want nothing else. She didn't even know what that something else might be, that how confused she was.
"Yep." Troy said.
"Okay I'll be there."
"Hella yeah!" Troy said standing up. He had a huge smile on his face. This was great. Now he could actually speak with her. He could finally get caught up with everything that should have happened this past week. He rolled his neck as he looked down at her. She was back at him with a soft smile on her face. Troy had to admit that she had the most beautiful eyes. Those chocolate eyes just called out to him. It was as though he wanted to drown in them.
"Are you catching the bus?" Chad asked laughing.
Troy eyes snapped towards his, widening slightly communicating to him with his eyes. What the hell Chad. Why would he ask a question like that? Troy hadn't even noticed her sitting at the bus stop. He didn't see it as a big concern. There were plenty of people who rode the bus or maybe the subway in bigger cities. Then a thought crossed his mind. What if she wasn't even old enough to drive? What if she was like thirteen? Though she surly didn't look thirteen. He hadn't even asked her how old she was. He prayed to god that she wasn't a ten year old but Troy knew that that was a little farfetched. He looked down at her with a slight smile on his face trying to judge her age, but it was impossible. She looked to be fifteen to in her early twenties. He himself was nineteen and he didn't want to go to jail for trying to hit on a minor…well a young minor.
"Umm…this might sound a little weird but, how old are you?" he said still looking down at her but now with a thoughtful look.
There was silence for a minute while all three people there looked at him as though he had lost his mind. Sharpay mouth was hanging open, Gabriella had raised eyebrows and Chad had a smile on his face.
"Wow." Chad said laughing a bit throwing the football in the air and catching it again.
"Not only are you obsessed with a girl you know nothing about you don't even know how old she is." Sharpay said. She looked down at Gabriella with a sneer curling her lips. "Well…I would have to say she looks around twelve or something. Kinda boyish."
Troy glared at Sharpay, still wondering what in the hell was wrong with her. She was usually never mean to people…well except for Kathleen. He would have to talk to her later to see what her problem was.
Gabriella eyes quickly left Sharpay's as she noticed her glaring towards her. She wondered what she had done to instantly make the girl dislike her so much. She didn't think she did anything. This was her first time meeting her after all. And what did she mean twelve? She wasn't boyish? Was she? She looked down at herself, well at least her father's friends didn't think so, she tried to joke to herself but it just sent a wave of nausea through her stomach. She shook her head of the blonde girl and focused on the guy that was standing in front of her. She had never really thought about age before. Probably because she already knew his and her age being so close to his wasn't really necessary to look at.
"I'm seventeen." She said softly looking behind her to see if the bus was coming.
Troy nodded his head and watched as she turned around leaning forward just a bit to look down the street. He sighed looking back at Chad, ignoring Sharpay, who shrugged his shoulders, He cleared his throat to try and get her attention she didn't look back at him. He looked at Chad again who just shook his head and continued on tossing his ball.
"Gabriella?" Troy said getting her attention. She turned around her hair swinging with her. He eyes caught him off guard. They had a look of confusion, and looked a bit frightened. He frowned at this. "Is everything alright?" he asked.
"Yeah. I just really need to get home and the bus is late." She said looking down the street again.
"We can take you." Chad said suddenly nudging Troy a little. Troy looked at Chad and rolled his eyes. Of course when the words had poured out of those luscious lips of hers he was going to ask her if she would life a ride but of course Chad had to open his mouth once again. He looked back at Gabriella who had turned around again. There was no doubt that there was a shocked and frightening look in her face as she shook her head.
"No. I can ride the bus." She said quickly.
"Come on. You gotta live around here somewhere if you catch the bus." Chad said.
"Chad!" Troy snapped at him. He looked at Gabriella and smiled at her. "Listen we can drop you off. It really won't be a problem." He said.
She shook her head again.
"No. Really it's fine. I can catch the bus."
"Look, the bus is late and you don't want to get in trouble with your parents do you? Let us drop you off and you'll make it in time. I promise."
She was quiet for a moment as though she was thinking it through. He urged her to say okay though his mind. Say okay, say okay.
"She said she wanted to catch the bus. Let her catch the fucking bus." Sharpay said out of nowhere.
"Shar!" Chad snapped at her. Troy watched as Chad grabbed her arm and pulled her away. Whispering fiercely to her and she back. He glanced at Gabriella.
"So what do you say?"
Gabriella looked once more down the street to see if the bus was coming. Though she would out of her mind to not take Troy Bolton upon the request she was a bit scared and who would be knowing what she did. If her father ever caught her anywhere near a car with a guy sitting in it…if he caught her near a guy at all…more hell would have to be paid. Though she knew that if she didn't get home soon, he would wonder where she was at…if he was even home. It wasn't like he was going to get out and walk her to the door. She'd make sure of that. She'd make sure that as soon as they pulled up to the house she would hop out and run inside…yes that's what she would do. She thought came to her and she inhaled softly…yes she would do that.
"Okay." She said standing up from the bench.
Troy smiled widely and it almost made her heart melt as he did. He wanted to grab her arm or hand to led her over to Chad's car be decided once again he didn't want her to think that he was crazy just touching her and stuff. He pointed to where Chad and Sharpay was now by his car arguing and she walked past him. Troy felt a faint smile come to his face as he smelled the scent coming off of her. He hadn't noticed it before. Like honey and strawberries. It was a weird combination but it seemed to work. He followed her to the car and helped her get in opening the passenger door for her. She had looked up at him with shocked. Hadn't she ever had someone open a door for her? He sighed as he climbed in behind her as well as Sharpay and Chad.
When Chad had started the car the music that they had been playing blared loudly making Gabriella jump just a bit. She looked over at Troy who had just laughed a bit. She frowned at him and looked out the window. She was sitting so close to the door that she felt like she was going to fall out of it. Troy smiled over at her and shook his head. He wished that she could figure out what she was thinking about…what was going through her mind. He cleared his throat.
"You don't have to be afraid." He said to her. Her eyes snapped towards his and Troy smiled again. They were filled with fire, wonder, and once again a bit of confusion.
"Afraid? Who said I was afraid?" she snapped at him.
Chad laughed. "Whoa…looks like you got your hands filled Bolton." He said turning out of the shopping mall.
"Hooray for him." Sharpay said under her breath earning a glare from both Troy and Chad.
Gabriella smiled just a little as she looked over at the blue eyed wonder. His eyes were soft as they scanned her face and those soft eyes made her extremely uncomfortable. She didn't see eyes like that. She gave him a soft smile before she turned and looked out the window again just as her bus passed the car and made its way down to her bus stop.
A/N: So i hope you liked the chapter and once again it'd be awesome if you could review and tell me how you liked it
