Chapter 4

The following day Taylor was waiting near the bus stop for Gabriella, umbrella sitting just high enough for her to see when Gabriella got off the bus. Her phone kept going off, Chad was desperate to see her before school but Taylor wasn't in the mood to speak to him. Taylor had dropped more hints than she cared to admit about prom and Chad still hadn't asked her. Until he did she was ignoring all phone calls and texts from him, it might seem childish but he still hadn't said the magical three words yet either so Taylor felt that it was her right to be annoyed with her boyfriend in that moment.

Taylor was pulled from her thoughts when Gabriella got off of the bus. Taylor walked over to meet her best friend, holding her umbrella to keep the sun at bay, she wasn't in the mood for sunburn. The two walked together towards the school.

"Hey Tay," Gabriella smiled.

"Morning sunshine," Taylor smiled in response.

"So you going to rehearsals today?" Gabriella asked.

"Ah do I have a choice?" Taylor questioned, "you got us into this."

Gabriella laughed.

"Which I don't understand considering you may not even be here for the show," Taylor tried to understand, "have you told anyone you're up for Stanford's freshman honours program?"

"No," Gabriella said simply.

"Well you're going to be hearing from them any day," Taylor reminded, "hello?"

"Taylor these things take time," Gabriella laughed as she reached for her ringing phone in her bag.

Taylor sighed and rolled her eyes, she couldn't understand why Gabriella wasn't more excited. Ever since they met Gabriella had only ever spoken of wanting to go to Stanford.

Taylor could only hear part of the conversation but she knew that Gabriella was talking to Troy.

"Hey," Gabriella smiled, "what?"

The pair looked up to see Troy standing on the roof of the school.

Taylor couldn't believe how cute that was but she had to remind her best friend of the possible consequences.

"This has two weeks detention written all over it," Taylor said although she was smiling so Gabriella knew that she wasn't that worried about them.

"I have to go," Gabriella said laughing as she started to walk away.

"Have fun," Taylor smiled.

Taylor stood there for a while wondering why Chad couldn't be more romantic like Troy.

Taylor was interrupted in her thoughts by Martha running over to her with a massive grin on her face. Taylor couldn't help but smile back at her friend even though she had no idea why they were smiling.

"Hey Martha, you look happy," Taylor offered.

Martha laughed, "you have no idea! Guess who just asked me to prom."

Taylor thought for a moment but didn't have to think hard when she spotted Jason a few metres away wearing a top that read 'Jason + Martha = Prom'.

"Jason?" Taylor asked.

Martha nodded enthusiastically, "YES!"

Taylor grinned and the two hugged tightly.

"I'm so happy for you Martha," Taylor said trying to stay enthusiastic.

Martha saw the uncertainty in Taylor's eyes and knew instantly that Chad still hadn't asked her.

"He'll ask you Tay," Martha tried to reassure her.

Taylor wasn't convinced, "I don't know Martha, he's had plenty of chances to, yet he still hasn't. Has he even bought tickets yet?"

Martha sighed, it wasn't like she could lie to Taylor, she was a terrible liar, "no he hasn't."

"Maybe he just doesn't want to go. I wish he understood how important it is to me though," Taylor sighed.

"He probably just doesn't think he has to ask, you are a couple, he probably just assumes that you'll go with him without having to ask," Martha offered.

"Maybe," Taylor said as the bell rang.

"Don't stress about it, he'll ask," Martha said as they headed to their separate classes.

Taylor walked into the room and sat down, a few minutes later Gabriella joined her.

Taylor put on a smile not wanting to bring her friends mood down when she clearly looked over the moon about something.

"What did you get up to?" Taylor asked.

Gabriella smiled, "Troy was so sweet asking me to prom. He asked me to help him choose a tux and then said that he needed to look good cause I'd be in a beautiful dress and then he asked me and we danced the waltz around the roof. Oh Taylor it was so romantic."

Taylor tried not to feel disappointed that her boyfriend's friends were going out of their way to be romantic and he still hadn't asked her.

"That sounds amazing Gab," Taylor tried to not let her smile falter.

"It truly was," Gabriella smiled widely.

The rest of the morning leading up to free period was uneventful and Taylor was feeling more miserable about prom as the day went on. Every where she went everyone was talking about the amazing ways in which they had been asked and she was yet to be.

Free period was pretty uneventful to start with as well. Ryan was running the day's rehearsal with various dance steps.

Part way through one of his instructions Troy and Chad came running through the group carrying clothes that were clearly not their own. Moments later two of the new basketball team members ran in with only towels on.

Taylor and Gabriella joined in with everyone as they laughed at the two innocent and embarrassed boys.

"Yearbook opportunity!" Gabriella exclaimed.

Taylor grinned and reached into her bag for a camera, "ooh photo op."

Taylor quickly knelt in front of the boys, "smile," she said as she snapped the picture.

Laughter still filled the air.

Gabriella and Taylor looked at the photo and grinned, it was a perfect shot.

The laughter started to die down a little as Ms Darbus approached.

"Bold choice gentlemen," she started, "we all must have the courage to discover ourselves however at East High we will discover ourselves whilst clothed. But welcome to our drama club and our spring musical."

Everyone cheered slightly, laughter still present, particularly with Chad and Troy.

"Yeah, welcome," Troy laughed.

Ms Darbus approached Chad and Troy, "the stage crew can use your help during detention painting sets."

The stage was filled with "oooh" as Ms Darbus dealt out the punishment.

"Through a sheet over them," she finished, "Ryan."

Ryan took charge again of the rehearsal, "alright guys let's go back up to the top, uh Jason why don't you come down here and help me out."

The rest of the day was uneventful. By the end bell even Taylor was ready to go home.

"I'll see you tomorrow Tay, don't worry he'll ask," Gabriella smiled as they hugged.

Gabriella was swept away to Troy's truck with the man himself before Taylor could respond.

Taylor really hoped that Chad would make his move tomorrow so that she wouldn't have to sit around waiting while everyone around her got excited for prom.

That night Taylor again ignored all phone calls and texts from Chad. She spent the night curled up on the couch with her dog watching movies. At some point Taylor fell asleep and her Dad put a blanket over her when he got home, her Mum had flown to New York that night.