Chapter Four

One Week Later

I've never exactly been to a sleepover. I mean, sure, I have been to several... But it was never with girls I really knew. It would be a birthday party, and it would be my mom's co-worker's daughters, and I would get invited, even though I barely know the birthday girl. So heading down to Taylor's hotel room with a sleeping bag and a bag full of endless sweets and movies, I was excited.

The sleepovers I've been to were fun. There would be chocolate fountains with a plate of strawberries, marshmallows, and pretzels; there would be movies and homemade popcorn; there would be gossip and prank calling into the night... But I mainly just watched as the girls did these things. I was incredibly shy when I was younger and I didn't know any of the girls. They had gone to the same school together, so I never knew what any of them would talk about. I didn't know the people they prank called; I didn't know their inside jokes; I didn't know any of the boys they rambled on and on about. It felt nice to go to a sleepover and know that you'll feel welcomed.

I still had plenty to learn about my friends. But this time, I felt like I could ask them what they were talking about if I was lost. Whereas before, I would just quietly sit in the corner and watch. Now, I felt welcomed and loved with my new friends.

I placed the sleeping bag on the floor so I can knock on the hotel room door. I haven't been to Taylor's room yet, but I didn't really deem it necessary. I assumed it looked the same as mine. Taylor opened the door with a big smile on her face and a piece of licorice in her hand. She wore pink flannel pajamas with little green frogs all over them. I looked down at my boring pajamas. Short blue shorts, with a gray T-shirt that had a smiley face on it. It was worn out, thus why I wore it as a pajama.

I grin at her, "Nice jammies you've got there."

Taylor smiled, grabbing me by the hand and forcing me into the room. She grabbed my sleeping bag for me, closing the door with her foot. Kelsi and Martha were already there. Loud music was blaring from the iPod that was connected to the stereo. Party Rock Anthem was playing. Martha was standing on the bed, dancing crazily. Kelsi was sitting in a chair, laughing at Martha's dancing. Martha wore pajamas similar to Taylor's, except hers was blue with little goldfish all over it. Kelsi wore sweatpants and a yellow shirt with a pink smiling flower on it.

I place my bag down on the floor, and jumped onto the other bed with Taylor. We joined hands, swaying our hips to the beat of the music, and raising our arms as we laughed. Kelsi eventually joined Martha, and we danced until the song ended. We crashed onto the bed as another song came on. This song was much calmer and slower. Martha reached over and paused her iPod.

I grabbed my bag, and reached in. I took out three bags of Kit Kat and two bags of Starburst. Taylor extended her hands out for the chocolate. "Bless you, Gabriella." She opened the bag, grabbing a piece and eating it. She closed her eyes as she savored the taste. I laugh as I place the other bags where all the other candy was.

Taylor's mom was staying with my mom tonight so we had the room to ourselves. We spent some time eating the junk food, and talking. No, nothing about Troy was mentioned. Just as I figured. I look around the room. Plan A (asking about Troy) obviously didn't work. So now it was time for Plan B.

Plan B was to snoop...

But what was I even looking for? A photograph perhaps... But I doubted that Taylor would have one lingering around. At that precise moment, they were talking about their yearbook, and how horrible their pictures turned out. Then, I got an idea.

"Can I see it?"

Martha's face brightened. "Sure!" She rolled off the bed and crawled to her bag, retrieving a red and white yearbook with a picture of a wildcat on the front.

"I want to show you the page dedicated to the musical!" Kelsi said excitedly. She didn't suspect a thing.

Taylor covered her face with her hands, "Don't look at my picture, it's horrendous!"

Martha handed me the yearbook, and I open it. Pictures of smiling teachers was on the first page. I skimmed through the yearbook, trying to find the page where they were at.

Taylor stopped at a page, pointing to Chad. She began laughing as she stared at Chad's picture. He did look hilarious. He seemed to have been having a bad hair day. It looked like someone attempted at gelling his hair back. All it resulted in was the top of his hair being flat while the sides were crazy. His smile was fake. His eyes were narrowed slightly, as if glaring at the camera. I couldn't help it; I started laughing so hard.

While they were flashing back to the memory of that day, I searched the names, desperately trying to find Bolton, Troy. Gosh, where is it? It has to be here somewhere... If I insist on searching through every page of smiling, awkward students, they would surely suspect that I was looking for someone.

I saw his name.

Second row, fourth person...

And I just couldn't believe it...

Martha had crossed his face out.

That's right. A big black X framed his entire face. I could not see him.

I want to show you the page dedicated to the musical!

Troy was in the musical, Kelsi had said before... I hand the yearbook to Kelsi, telling her to find the Drama page. She finds it, and she walks over to sit next to me. She hands me the yearbook, ranting on about how horrible a singer this girl was, and how bad of an actor this guy was. I wasn't listening. I was desperately trying to find him. But I didn't even know what he looked like. How could I find him?

Kelsi pointed to a picture of her sitting on a piano stool. She wore one of her signature hats, and she was concentrating on the music sheet in front of her. She was smiling. There was a boy in the picture, but his back was turned, so you couldn't see his face. But you could tell he was singing. I look at Kelsi, and she stared at the picture as if recalling a memory.

"Is that...?" I started to ask. Frankly, I was too afraid to continue. Taylor and Martha leaned over, staring at the person I was pointing to. Kelsi took a shaky breath, and nodded once.

"Yeah... That's Troy."

Martha and Taylor were silent as I stared at the boy's back. He was wearing a dark blue shirt with light blue stripes on it. He wore dark blue jeans and black converse. His hair was a light brown color, and extremely messy, as if he just ran his fingers through it in the morning.

Taylor sighed, "He was a really good Arnold in that musical."

Even though I had no idea what they were talking about, I listened intently.

"He was a pretty good dancer too," Martha whispered.

Kelsi looked at the two girls, sadness in her eyes. She stared back at the picture, hopelessly. "I... miss him," she breathed out.

All of them were taking Troy so seriously. I wondered if he played more than a friend in some of their lives. If he had a much more intense role. I wanted to ask desperately; I wanted to know more about him. I was obsessed with knowing about Troy Bolton and I had never met him. I was curious beyond belief. I wondered what he was like. Was he smart? Funny? Down-to-earth? A jerk?

And most importantly, what did he do that was so bad?

It was silent in the room, as if the girls were deep in thought. I turned the page, and noticed that it was the Sports page. I see two full pages dedicated to basketball.

"East High is well known for its basketball team. We went to the championships last year... It was on live TV and everything... But we didn't win because Troy, the captain, decided not to show up," Taylor said with a hint of disgust in her tone of voice when she recalled Troy's betrayal to the team.

I was surprised that they were openly talking to me about this. Maybe they never got the chance to talk about it because Chad was so obviously scarred by whatever happened with his best friend. Maybe they thought this was their only opportunity.

I look at the picture at the top where all of the basketball players were seated on the bleachers. Cheerleaders surrounded them, holding their pom-poms to their hips with big smiles on their faces. But I wasn't staring at the cheerleader's. I was staring at the boy who was in the very front, in the very middle, holding the basketball.

I was staring at the picture of the captain of the East High Wildcats basketball team.

Troy.

His hair was tousled and messy just like the one on the Drama page. He was wearing his uniform in this picture. He wasn't exactly smiling in the picture; more like smirking. I could easily tell he had a well-sculpted body with the muscles clearly evident through his uniform. But that wasn't the best part.

His eyes.

They were blue.

They were gorgeous. The eyes just added onto his extreme hotness. I'm a girl, sue me. I found myself staring at the beautiful Troy Bolton. I forgot about the other girls in the room. I forgot about the fact that something happened involving him and my friends. I forgot that he hurt all of their feelings, and betrayed them.

I forgot about all that, just by staring at him. I wondered what it would be like to see his beauty in person. I felt myself nearly drooling as the yearbook was taken away and snapped shut. I blink, wiping my mouth, as I look up. Taylor was giving the yearbook to Martha, and Martha was walking back to her suitcase to put the yearbook back into her bag. Taylor was staring at me with her arms crossed at her chest. Her eyes were narrowed at me, and I knew that I was caught. She knew I was admiring Troy. She knew my plan. She knew everything.

The room was uncomfortably and awkwardly silent. Tension filled the air. Martha cleared her throat, and grabbed a piece of paper that was lying on the nightstand. It was a list of things that they should do tonight.

Raiding the guys' rooms, prank-calling, watching horror and romance movies, talking, dancing, karaoke, pillow fight... Everything girls do at sleepovers. Taylor's eyes moved away from mine, and to the list. She shakes her head, and without a glance at me, she crawls to the lamp and turns it off. The room is dark, but it's obvious when Taylor gets underneath the covers. Her foot nudges me; her way of telling me to move. Originally, I was supposed to sleep in her bed while Kelsi and Martha shared a bed. I wasn't so sure if I was wanted anymore...

I was angry, needless to say. Why were they being so dramatic over this whole Troy situation? It's stupid, honestly! Kelsi and Martha quietly approach their bed, and I hear the bed springs squeak as they crawl underneath the covers.

I still haven't moved from Taylor's bed. I just stare in the dark. I don't know what I'm staring at; I'm just staring. Taylor nudges me again, harder this time.

"Get in bed," came Taylor's muffled voice.

I look at her as she curls up into a ball, making some room for me on the other side. Sighing, I crawl to the empty side and lay down. It was quiet in the room, and I know Kelsi and Martha are asleep with their lack of movement and heavy breathing. But I know Taylor is awake, just like me.

I feel like I need to talk. Like I need to apologize. But apologize for what? Being curious? No... More like being nosy. I've known them for a week, and I feel as if they think that I'm using them to find out information about Troy. But I'm not. I love hanging out with them. They're my friends.

Maybe I should stop with this whole Troy Bolton mystery. It's been ruining things. It's made things quite awkward with Kelsi and I whenever we're left alone. Things between Ryan and I have looked up. But I didn't want things with Taylor to be ruined. I saw Taylor as one of my closest friends. My best friend.

I couldn't lose her over something as stupid as trying to figure out about a boy I don't even know.

I feel Taylor turn over, and opening my eyes, I see her staring back at me. The whites in her eyes are noticeable even in the dark. She doesn't seem angry. She seems thoughtful.

"No one really knows what happened with Troy to be honest. Just one day... He began acting weird. He's always been so kind-hearted. He was popular at East High, and I was a nobody. So were Kelsi and Martha. This was when we were in ninth grade. But then Troy joined the musical after some persuasion on Kelsi's part. Everyone in the school was surprised and some were outraged. He was changing the school, but for the better. Everyone began to mingle. Troy asked me to tutor him in Math, and so I did. We became friends, and I met Chad, and we became friends, and so on and so forth, we created this group. The brainiacs and the popular jocks. It was unbelievable, but it all began because of Troy Bolton."

I was silent as this sunk in. I didn't ask for this description on Troy... So why was Taylor telling me all this?

After a couple of minutes, she continued on.

"Sharpay and Troy met through the musical, and Sharpay's always been... strange. But then they began dating, and even we saw a difference in Sharpay. She wasn't so bitter about everything, she wasn't always begging for attention. She was nice at times. I almost considered her a friend. Troy had made a mark in all of our hearts. Troy and Chad were best friends, brothers at heart. They had been together since pre-school. Chad took it hard when Troy joined Drama and did the musical, but he eventually got over it. They've been through everything together. So that's why Chad took it the hardest. Troy shut him out. He shut us all out. And we don't even know the full story. We have assumptions; but we don't know the entire truth."

I bite my bottom lip. And before I could stop myself, I ask, "What do you guys think happened?"

Taylor took a deep breath, and I smelled Starburst in her breath.

"You know, Gabriella, I never talk about this. None of us do. Ever since you came here, it's like we've all been taken down memory lane again. I can tell it's hard on Chad. Sometimes he just stares off into the distance. It's not the same with Zeke and Jason. They're best friends, sure, but what Chad and Troy had together... It was a brother-hood. Supposed to last forever. But it didn't. It ended as soon as it began, it seems. I know you're curious, Gabi... But, I think I'm done for one night."

She turns over again. And just like that, the conversation is over.

The Next Day

I was the last person to wake up, probably because I was the last person to fall asleep. I stayed up until sunrise. Kelsi, Martha, and even Taylor who had told me much more about Troy, had slept no problem. But me? I found myself digging through Martha's suitcase and taking out the yearbook. I found myself obsessively staring at Troy Bolton's picture.

I looked in the back. Everyone and their mother autographed Martha's yearbook... Everyone, but Troy.

It's official. I'm a stalker.

Taylor, Kelsi, and Martha were all sitting up, munching on Pop tarts as they watched Cake Boss on television. I rubbed my eyes, and sat up. I rarely slept in. Glancing at the clock, I see that it's 10:00. I sit up, stretching, and I see the girls turn to look at me. Taylor hands me a strawberry pop tart and a glass of milk, and I quietly eat.

No one talks.

No one is mentioning anything about the conversation that had taken place last night.

Taylor refused to meet my gaze.

Everything is so...awkward.

Taylor's mom and my mom enter the hotel room, and smile upon seeing us still in our pajamas. The room is a mess. Candy wrappers filled the floor, and blankets and pillows were scattered on the ground.

"Oh, Maria, remember when we were their age?"

My mom laughs heartily, "I sure do, Glenda."

Glenda McKessie smiles at each of us, and bends down, throwing away a Kit Kat wrapper in the trash can. One of many wrappers.

"Well, girls, it looks like you had fun last night. Now you can have more fun, cleaning the room. The boys were in the hallway when we were coming here; looks like they're bored. Maria and I sent them off to wait for you guys in the lobby."

We stare blankly at the mothers.

Maria claps her hands, "Chop, chop!"

We groan, and reluctantly leave the soft comfort of the bed and begin cleaning the trash up off the floor.

"This is what maids are for," Martha mumbled.

Taylor sighed, "My mom believes that we should clean up our own messes... Even on vacation, we shouldn't be allowed to receive special treatment."

Kelsi groaned, "This sucks. We won't be able to see the guys until hours. This place is a mess."

Taylor raised her eyebrows at Kelsi, and in a sing-song voice, she said, "Hm, someone wants to see a certain boy by the name of Jason Cross."

Kelsi blushed, bowing her head as she picked up a Starburst wrapper, "He doesn't see me that way."

I lean over, slapping her arm playfully. "You're so blind. He totally likes you!"

Kelsi points to her glasses. "Well... I am blind."

Martha rolls her eyes, "Not like that."

Taylor rolls her eyes, "She knows perfectly well what we mean."

Kelsi looked up, looking straight at Taylor.

"Well, what about you, Ms. McKessie? Has Chad asked you out officially yet?"

Taylor turns bright red. She shakes her head, an annoyed groan escaping her lips. "No... I doubt he ever will. I'm tired of playing this game with him, though."

"Why don't you take control and ask him? Lord knows that Chad is just a coward," I said.

Taylor shakes her head quickly. "I couldn't do that. I'm just as cowardly as him."

I nudge her playfully, "Which means you're perfect for each other!"

Taylor glares at me, with a grin on her face.

"Shut up, Montez, and clean up."

After cleaning up and changing (and getting the approval from our mothers) we make our way to the lobby. We changed into our bathing suits, in hopes of going to the beach again. I couldn't get tired of the beach. Sure, sand ended up in awkward places. Sure, rocks hurt your feet. Sure, there weren't any hot lifeguards at this beach... But it was something I wasn't quite used to, and wanted to get used to.

We found the guys in the lobby, munching on cookies and reading pointless magazines.

Kelsi plops herself down next to Jason, and with a look of encouragement from us, she nudges him. "Anything interesting in those magazines?"

I wanted to slap my forehead with the palm of my hand with her horrible attempt at a conversation.

Jason shrugged, throwing the magazine back onto the table. "I'm bored," Chad exclaimed. He grabbed Taylor and I by the hands and begins leading us to the entrance. Everyone else followed. Taylor pouted, "We wanted to go to the beach!"

Chad shook his head, still dragging us down the sidewalk.

"No can do. We're going shopping."

Taylor frowns, "You hate shopping."

"Not birthday party shopping."

I close my eyes. Shoot, he knew, didn't he?

Taylor narrows her eyes in confusion. She stops defiantly, crossing her arms defiantly. "Chad Danforth, what are you talking about?"

Chad's brown eyes look at me, "Gabi didn't tell you? Its okay, she didn't tell me either... I had to hear from her mom."

Taylor turns to look at me, "Gabs, what is he talking about?"

I didn't dare open my mouth to speak. Everyone has caught up to us by now.

"Are we having a staring contest?" Jason asked.

Martha nudged him, "They're obviously talking."

Jason pouted, "Oh."

"What's going on?" Ryan asked.

Chad looked at me for a moment and I nodded... I was giving him permission to tell them.

"We're going party shopping... For Gabriella's seventeenth birthday bash we are going to be throwing for her at the beach!"

Just like that, I'm tackled into hugs. Taylor is hugging me while glaring. She slaps my arm playfully, "I can't believe you didn't tell me your birthday is this summer!" Ryan whispers in my ear, "I'll take you shopping for your present." Jason is on the floor with his arms around my leg, "Will you have a piñata?" Chad is hugging Taylor from the back, but his arms manage to embrace me as well, "Oh, man, this is going to be awesome!" Kelsi looks up at me with nervous eyes, "I can come up with the music with Martha if you want." Martha nods enthusiastically. "I'll make my signature cookies!" Zeke announced excitedly, "And I'll make your cake!"

I close my eyes, savoring the moment.

Because at that moment I knew that I had the best friends anyone could ask for.

A/N: So we're beginning to learn more and more about the infamous yet mysterious (not to mention, HOT) Troy Bolton! Gabriella's party will probably be in two chapters or so… I hope you like this chapter! Thanks so much for the reviews; they really make my day.