Against All Odds
I Could Fall In Love
"So, what are you going to do?" Chad asked, pulling a t-shirt over his head.
Troy looked up from tying his shoes. The boys had decided to spend free period playing a friendly game of basketball.
"About what?" Troy asked confused.
"Do you really have to ask that Troy?" Chad rolled his eyes. "What are you going to do about Gabriella?"
"What about her?"
"Stop playing dumb, man! When are you going to tell her how you feel?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Chad." Troy said almost too quickly.
"Troy, I saw the kiss the almost took place after the championship."
Troy rolled his eyes. 'The kiss that you interrupted.' He thought to himself.
"I also see the way you two are together." Chad continued. "Okay? The entire school sees it. When are you going to see it, Troy?"
"She doesn't feel the same way Chad."
Chad smiled at his friends. "Ahhh, so you do have feelings for her?"
Troy looked up at his friend facing defeat. Chad could always get his deep secrets out of him. "I love her, Chad." He whispered so softly, Chad barely heard him.
"So what are you going to do about that?"
Troy just looked at him as they both made their way out into the hallway, and made their way to their next class.
"So what are you guys doing tonight?" Chad asked Troy.
"Oh, we're going to see a movie or something."
"Yeah, and that's totally not a date." Chad said sarcastically.
"Is it?"
"Dude, just take her to see a chick flick. All girls want you to take them to see chick flicks because they think you're romantic. I don't know. It works every time."
Gabriella and Taylor sat in Chemistry class working on a lab assignment. Taylor looked at her best friend, and could she was really focusing hard on the task at hand. 'Too hard.' Taylor thought. Taylor had been badgering Gabriella with questions, and Gabriella was determined not to answer.
"Do not avoid the subject, Gabriella!"
"Taylor." Gabriella said flatly. "I'm focusing on the chemical solution in front of me. I would really like it if you would do the same, and stop asking me stupid questions."
Taylor smirked. "If you're avoiding it this badly, then it has to be true."
"Taylor!" Gabriella yelled, causing several other students in the class to look up. Gabriella's cheeks flushed, and she calmed herself. "Leave it be."
"Okay, Gabs. I'll let it go."
"Thank you. Now hand me the weighed portion of Sodium Chloride."
Taylor grabbed the tube containing the compound and handed it to Gabriella who poured it into the glass sitting over a Bunsen burner.
"So, what are you doing tonight? You want to hang out?"
Gabriella shook her head and smiled. "I'm sorry Tay, but I can't. Me and Troy are going to the movies tonight."
Taylor smiled. "Oh, but just as friends though. Since we clearly established earlier that you don't like him."
Gabriella glared at her friend, realizing she would never let go of the subject. "Yes, Taylor. We're just friends."
"And you have no feelings for him? Honestly?"
Gabriella looked at her friend. She knew she couldn't deny it, she did have feelings for Troy. She just didn't know what they meant yet. She was scared by the fact that she could hardly focus in class anymore because she was always thinking about him. He was the first thing she thought about in the mornings and the last thing on her mind at nights. She counted down the minutes until she got see him and spend time with him.
"I'll take that as a yes." Taylor winked at her friend.
"Taylor," Gabriella pleaded. "Please don't tell Chad. Cause then he'll tell Troy, and I'm not sure if I'm ready for that?"
"Gabriella, I won't tell him, but I'm sure he already knows."
"How?" Gabriella began to panic.
"Because everyone knows. We all see the way you two look at each other. There's no denying there's something there."
"But Troy doesn't feel the same way."
"Gabs? Listen to me. I've been going to school with Troy Bolton my entire life. He has never talked, let alone looked, at someone the way he does you. He's definitely feeling something for you."
"You think?"
"I know so."
Gabriella smiled at her friend for the first time that day.
"Just make sure he takes you to a scary movie." Taylor piped up.
"Why?"
"Because all guys take girls to scary movies so they can cuddle up to them when it gets scary."
"Oh, right." Gabriella nodded her head like she knew what Taylor was talking about.
'Where do people come up with this stuff?' She thought.
Troy had met Gabriella at her house, and her mother had driven them to the movies. Sure, he liked her mother, but he hated being driven around by everyone. He had been too busy from basketball to take the time to take the courses and get his license, but his dad promised that they would get everything taken care of soon.
Isabella pulled up to the curve, and let the two teenagers out. "Have fun you two." She called out. "But not too much fun!"
Both Gabriella and Troy's cheeks blushed a bright shade of red. "Mom!" Gabriella hissed.
"Okay, I'm leaving!" Her mother laughed as she pulled away.
Now that they were alone, they both became nervous. The conversations they had both had earlier now flashed through both their minds. They walked into the theater, staring at the movie posters that hung in front of them.
'Okay, what did Chad say? If this were a date, a girl would normally want a guy to take her to go see... a...chick flick.' Troy remembered.
"Scary movie. Scary movie. Scary movie.' Gabriella repeated in her mind. 'If this is a date he'll take me to see a scary movie.'
They both turned to face each other.
"So..." They said at the same time. The next lines also came out in unison.
"I was thinking Tristan and Isolde."
"I was thinking Hostel."
"Oh." They said still speaking in unison.
"Ok, we've got to stop that." Troy laughed, making Gabriella laugh.
'She wanted to see a scary movie! I thought girls like chick flicks! Maybe this isn't a date...'
'He said something about a romance movie! Where's Taylor so I can kick her..'
"Actually, Hostel sounds pretty good." Troy said, trying to sound enthusiastic. It was becoming harder and harder after he realized this wasn't a date. He had been excited about it all afternoon.
'Great.' Gabriella thought. 'I'm stuck watching a scary movie because I thought Troy liked me. Obviously not! He recommended Tristan and Isolde – why can't we watch that! I hate scary movies! Really where's Taylor? We need to share some words.'
'At least I get to watch a crazy scary movie with my best friend.' Troy thought to himself, feeling sad. He really wanted this to be more than that.
"Hey Troy, you coming?" Gabriella was walking over to buy the tickets.
"Yeah." He said. He turned to the counter. "We'd like two for Hostel. 8:30. Thanks." He handed the man a twenty, and took his change.
"You didn't have to buy my ticket, Troy."
"Yeah, but I wanted to."
"Okay! As long as I can buy the popcorn!" She smiled, and ran over to the concessions. Troy laughed as he followed her.
"Butter, or extra butter?" She asked him.
"Definitely extra. You can't go wrong with extra butter." He joked.
"Oh, I agree. One large extra buttery popcorn!" She told the kid behind the counter. They heard a group of girls behind them giggle.
"Hi Troy!" All the girls said in unison before running off before he could see them. Troy's looked down in embarrassment as Gabriella laughed at him.
"Oh Troy!" She said in a mocking tone. "You're sooooo gorgeous. And like seriously, the, uh, like hottest super-bum!"
Troy laughed. "What is it with you and 'super-bum'?"
"It's the only word I know from the cheerleader language."
"I'm glad you don't talk like that Gabby. I'd be going crazy by now."
"But seriously, does that happen to you a lot?"
"Oh, you know. Here and there." He said in a macho tone.
"Come on, let's go before your ego gets too big."
They both laughed as Gabriella linked her arm with Troy's and they walked down the hallway. The nervousness they both felt earlier had subsided. Well, at least for now.
Gabriella's hands had been over her eyes for a large portion of the movie. Troy laughed each time she would flinch at something remotely scary. He felt Gabriella pull on his shirt, forcing him to come closer so she could hide her face into his chest.
For several moments Troy didn't know what to do. He felt Gabriella loosen her grip as she turned to face the screen again.
'Oooohh. Not a good time, Gabby.' He laughed to himself as she realized the same thing, and turned back around again to hide her face. He eased her away for a moment as he lifted the armrest, making it more comfortable for her. She immediately fell back into him, and he gently placed his arms around her. From time to time he would rub her back or arms, especially at moments she jumped with fear.
A while later the movie had ended, but neither had noticed. Troy had become quite comfortable with Gabriella in his arms, and she had resorted that she should just stay turned away from the screen. She also, really liked being held by Troy. She found it sweet that he had comforted her.
Troy shook her gently. "Gabriella, are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's just that I really hate scary movies."
"I'm sorry Gabby. We didn't have to see..." He trailed off.
'Wait a second! Didn't she recommend this movie?' He asked himself. He started to ask her why she chose this movie, but stopped when he looked down and saw two beautiful brown eyes staring at him. They inched closer, they're lips just centimeters away. As they held their breaths, both Troy and Gabriella closed their eyes. Just before their lips met, they heard a buzzing noise. Suddenly Gabriella pulled away, and began rummaging through her purse.
"Everything ok?" He croaked out. He was still flushed from what almost happened.
"Yeah, it's just a text message from my mom. She's waiting outside for us."
"Oh." Troy said disappointed. "Well, let's go then. It's probably getting really late."
"Yeah." It was the only thing Gabriella could say. Her mind kept racing over the incident that just taken place. She had almost kissed Troy Bolton! More than than, she really wanted to kiss him.
They stood up and walked out of the theater. They saw Gabriella's mother waiting by the curb, and they both climbed into the car.
"Sorry, Mom. The movie took longer than we thought it would."
"That's okay Gabby. I just wanted to make sure you guys were okay."
The rest of the ride home was spent in an awfully awkward silence. Neither knew what to think of what had happened.
They finally reached Troy's house. Gabriella turned to face him. "Thanks for going to the movies with me Troy." She took his hand and gave it a squeeze that sent electricity through his entire body. "I had a great time."
"Yeah, I did too. I'll talk to you sometime later, okay?"
"Sounds great Troy. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight Gabby. Goodnight Ms. Montez."
He closed the door and walked towards his door letting out a huge sigh.
Was it really supposed to be this hard?
Gabriella sighed as she flopped onto her bed. Physically, she was tired. Her mind, on the other hand, was racing.
'Did he want to kiss me too?'
'No stupid, of course he didn't!'
"But he was inching closer too! Plus, I saw it in his eyes!'
'You just thought you saw it.'
She stopped when she heard her cell phone go off, notifying that she had a text message. She reached over, picked it up, and flipped it open.
Hey Gabby. Just wanted to say I really did have a great time. Would you like to do something tomorrow? We could like go to a park or something. It could be fun.
Troy
Gabriella laughed as she could practically hear Troy rambling. She clicked reply and began typing back.
Sure, I'd love to. I'll see you tomorrow.
She clicked 'send', and waited for his response. A few moments later heard her phone ring.
Great! Goodnight Gabriella.
She smiled at the message.
Goodnight Troy.
She shut the phone shut, placed it on her bedside, and laid back to sleep. This time, however, her thoughts weren't racing. She simply fell asleep with a smile on her face.
A/N!
Hey, I hope you guys enjoyed that. I've got some great ideas for the next few chapters, so please review --- I like reading them. Plus if you have any ideas, just let me know!