Chapter Three – Crushing on Troy?
Finally it was Friday and Gabriella had 8 days to figure out who her secret admirer was. In the main hallway, Miss Darbus had put up the list for the musical that would begin in a few months. Gabriella was just as excited as Kelsi as they both walked up to the list. They both squealed when they saw Gabriella's name on the list and hugged each other. "Congratulations!" Kelsi said. They pulled back, "C'mon. You know Miss Darbus adores me because I'm her A student." Gabriella told her friend. "I heard you made the list." The girls turned to see who it was and saw Sharpay standing there with her arms folded across her chest. "Well Gabriella's going to kick your ass in the musical." Taylor walked up to Sharpay, followed by Martha. "Please… Like she's going to win. I remember what happened last time when she um…choked." Sharpay said. "I'm going to-"Taylor was being held back by Martha and Kelsi. "It is so on. I heard there's going to be judges there rating on how good we perform so…break a leg and I mean it." Gabriella smiled, turned on her heels and walked away. Taylor gave Sharpay another glare before following her friend; the other two followed behind them.
During lunch, Gabriella entered the cafeteria and saw her friends call her over to sit down with them. She held up a finger and walked over to the table where Troy was at. "Hey Mark." She smiled as she hugged him. "Hey Gabs." Mark smiled at her. "Would you mind if I sit down for a bit?" she asked him, looking at the rest of the team. "No, please sit down. It's very rare for a beautiful girl like you to sit with guys like us." He answered. "Thank you." she smiled as she sat down next to him. "This table is not big enough for the two of us Montez." Troy told her. She scowled at him. "I don't fucking care Bolton." "So, why are you over here?" Jason asked. "Oh, I have this friend of mine who wanted me to give this to Troy. You know, for good luck." She answered, pulling out a box from her backpack as she handed it to Troy from across the table. He looked at it for a moment before taking it from her. "What is it?" Chad asked as Troy opened it. "Does your friend really expect me to wear this?" Troy chuckled, showing a handmade bracelet towards her. "Well, she thought you might like it. I have to go." She stood up and walked to where her friends were seated.
"What did you give him?" Kelsi asked, glancing over at Troy's table. "A bracelet. I made it for him when we were still best friends. I have the same one, but I took it off." Gabriella answered as she sat down. "Well, you had the guts to walk over there with all of his friends who treat us like we're sluts." Martha said as Gabriella rolled her eyes, but her friend was right. "True, but…" "What happened on Monday night? You didn't answer any of our texts." Taylor interrupted before Gabriella could continue. "I um…" Gabriella looked down at her hands, remembering the night she and Troy kissed. She quickly blushed, "What's his name?" Kelsi asked. "I um…" The bell rang and Gabriella was glad that she didn't have to say anymore. "I'll see you at rehearsal Gabs." Kelsi said as Gabriella nodded, took her tray, and threw her food into the trashcan as she walked out of the cafeteria.
***
In the gym, "Dude, where did you go on Monday night?" Chad asked Troy while they were shooting free throws. "I went out for a walk." Troy answered, making a shot. It was just recently that Troy's been making every shot and his team wondered why. "That's your hundredth shot in a row." Zeke said as Troy passed the ball to Chad. "I guess it's my lucky day." Troy smiled. "Troy!" He groaned as he turned to see that it was Sharpay. "Are you available to come to my party next Saturday? It'll be fun!" she smiled. "I can't. I have plans on that day. Some other time, alright?" Troy smiled back as she watched him walk towards the locker rooms. The bell rang again, signaling that it was free period. Gabriella was sitting on a bench outside of the school, reading when she saw a familiar shadow. She looked up and saw that it was Troy. "What do you want?" she asked, looking up from her book. "Nothing, may I sit?" he asked her. "Sure, go ahead." She answered as he sat down. She looked down at his wrist and saw the bracelet she had given to him from her 'friend'. "How did you get that?" she asked, motioning towards the bracelet. "This? It's nothing." He answered her as she shook her head. "You don't have to keep secrets from me. I know my friend told me to give it to you. Too bad she doesn't have the guts to talk to a sweet…I mean, ignorant guy like you." she smiled as she looked down at her book.
"Ignorant?" Troy scoffed as she nodded. "Gabriella Anne Montez…" He trailed off as she looked at him. "Yes Troy David Alexander Bolton?" she asked politely. "I will kill you for that." he smiled as she slightly growled and then started running away from him. He followed after her and the two ran into the building. They ran into the theater, interrupting Sharpay and Ryan's rehearsal. "Sorry Miss Darbus." Gabriella apologized, out of breath. "Are you alright Miss Montez?" Miss Darbus asked. "Oh, I'm fine." Gabriella smiled as she walked down the aisle and sat down in a seat. Troy followed her, but sat down in the row behind her. Miss Darbus smiled and turned to tell Ryan where he left off. Ryan began again as he and Sharpay danced around on the stage. Troy slightly kissed Gabriella's neck, gently biting it as she giggled. Ryan and Sharpay finished their song, and then it was Gabriella's turn. "You came to watch her sing, but not us?" Sharpay asked Troy as Gabriella made her way to the stage. "You're not that good." He answered her as she scowled and walked away. Gabriella finished her song and walked up to the guys. "I can't believe you stayed to watch me sing." She crossed her arms over her chest. "It's the least I can do Montez. After all, we were best friends." Troy told her.
She rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Oh, would you like me to see one of your basketball games?" "It would actually make me very happy to not see you there." He said as she glared at him and walked away. "Bye Montez!" he called out. "Fuck you Bolton!" she called back and walked out of the theater. Her friends followed behind her and they walked towards Gabriella's locker. "So, what's the deal between you and Troy?" Martha asked as Gabriella looked at her friend. "Nothing!" Gabriella answered, but her voice had given it away because it was high-pitched and her friends knew that she was denying something. She pulled out her english book and closed her locker. "You're totally denying the fact that you have a slight crush on Troy Bolton." Taylor smiled as Gabriella shook her head. "No I don't and besides Troy is a jerk. He's always going to be a jerk from now until we graduate college." Gabriella walked down the hall as the bell rang. "Look, all we know is that Troy is trying to get you to go on a date with him and you are obviously falling for him Gabriella." Taylor said, stopping Gabriella in her tracks. They were outside Gabriella's english class as Gabriella sighed and told her friends that she wasn't falling for Troy. She also included the fact that she would never go out on a date with Troy, even if he gave her roses and pretended to be her prince charming.
She entered the classroom as her friends walked away. Far away, Troy and his friends were listening to the girls' conversations. "Does she really hate me that much?" Troy asked his friends as they walked to their next class. "She's popular man, of course she'll say things like that about you. Plus, you're wearing that stupid bracelet that was 'given' by a friend of hers when her 'friend' is actually Gabriella herself. Dude, she has a crush on you." Chad answered. The guys nodded in agreement as Mark passed by them. "Mark!" Troy called out as Mark turned around. "Yeah?" Mark asked. "I heard you and Gabriella were in the same english class together, am I right?" Troy asked. "Why do you ask?" Mark wondered curiously. "I want you to talk to Gabriella and ask her if she's been having any crushes lately." Troy answered. "Sure." Mark smiled and headed to class.
***
After school, "Mark, for the last and final time, I don't have a crush on anyone." Gabriella told Mark. She was fed up with the whole questionnaire thing that her friends and now Mark were asking. She hated that fact that she couldn't get any time alone. "Okay, I believe you." Mark smiled and walked away. Gabriella turned in the other direction to go to the music room, but as she passed by the gym, she couldn't help but watch the guys practicing. "What are you doing?" she jumped and only saw that it was Sharpay. "Nothing." She answered Sharpay. "It seems to me like you are into Troy Bolton." Sharpay smiled, glancing through the windows of the gym doors. "I'm not into him. I think he's into me." Gabriella said. "I have to go and rehearse. Bye!" She waved and walked to the music room without looking behind her. She entered the music room and sat down in a chair next to Kelsi. "Okay, I have the perfect music picked out for you, but it's a duet song." Kelsi told her friend.
Gabriella panicked, "How am I going to find a singing partner Kels? No one can sing as good as Ryan." "Look, I'm sure there will be some guys who'll be willing to try-out. I mean, you're popular and you know how-""I don't care Kels! I want someone who I can be myself around with and be comfortable singing onstage with instead of forgetting words like last time." Gabriella interrupted. "Gabby, what happened last time was no big deal. You didn't forget the words because you were nervous, you forgot the words because Troy was there." Kelsi told her friend. "You're right. I should blame Troy for all of my troubles that have happened to me in the past." Gabriella said. "Are you going to the game tonight?" Kelsi asked. "You're changing the subject again and maybe." Gabriella answered. "You have to Gabs. You're singing the National Anthem." Kelsi sang the last sentence. "Oh, alright." Gabriella smiled. "Yay!" Kelsi hugged her friend and then pulled away. "I think we should have auditions after school starting on Monday next week. You know, for your duet." She added. "Sure." Gabriella smiled.
After basketball practice, Chad and Troy were walking to the main entrance when they heard some music playing. They followed the music to the music room and peeked in the window to find Gabriella singing, but only practicing her part.
"That's how much I love you.
That's how much I need you.
And I can't stand you.
Must everything you do make me wanna smile.
Can I not like you for a while?
-
But I hate it…
You know exactly what to do
So that I can't stay mad at you
For too long, that's wrong.
-
And I hate how much I love you boy
I can't stand how much I need you
And I hate how much I love you boy
But I just can't let you go
And I hate that I love you so
-
Said it's not fair
How you take advantage of the fact
That I… love you beyond the reason why
And it just ain't right.
-
One of these days, maybe your magic won't affect me
And your kiss won't make me weak
But no one, in this world, knows me the way you know me
So you'll probably always have a spell on me
-
That's how much I love you
That's how much I need you
That's how much I love you
That's how much I need you
-
And I hate that I love you so
And I hate how much I love you boy
I can't stand how much I need you
And I hate how much I love you boy
But I just can't let you go
And I hate that I love you so
And I hate that I love you so… so…"
"Man she's-" The door opened and the boys hid around the corner as Gabriella and Kelsi walked passed them. Once the girls were far away from them, the boys sighed with relief and entered the music room. "Isn't that Gabriella's cell phone?" Chad asked as soon as Troy picked it up. "Hm…" Troy smiled to himself as he placed the phone in his pocket and walked out of the music room, being followed by Chad.
***
Gabriella and Kelsi arrived at Gabriella's house because Kelsi was sleeping over, along with Taylor and Martha. "Hey mom!" Gabriella called out as she and Kelsi entered the kitchen. "Hello Ms. Montez." Kelsi smiled. "Hello girls." Maria smiled at the two. "How was your day?" she asked them. "Gabriella made the musical." Kelsi answered. "Congrats honey!" Maria hugged her daughter. "Thanks mom."Gabriella smiled, then smelled something coming from the oven. "Is that chocolate chip cookies?" she motioned towards the oven. "Well, I should've told you, but you know my friend Lucille?" Maria asked her daughter as Gabriella nodded, remembering that Lucille was Troy's mom. "Yes, why?" she asked. "I invited she and her family over for dinner." Her mother answered. Gabriella and Kelsi exchanged glances, and then she looked at her mom. "Mom, Tay and Martha are coming over and we're going to have the Bolton's over. Do you who their son is?" she asked her mom.
"Honey, I know that you and Troy aren't very close, but they are our friends." Her mother told her daughter. "They're yours and daddy's friends, not mine. When Tay and Martha come, tell them to meet me and Kelsi upstairs." Gabriella said, walking out of the kitchen as Kelsi followed her upstairs.
***
"I can't believe that Troy and his family are eating dinner here." Gabriella sat down on her bed, hugging her bear that she had ever since she was 10. "You know that's the bear Troy gave you 7 years ago." Taylor pointed towards the bear. "I know." Gabriella looked at the bear and sighed. "That was the only year Troy was ever nice to me. He gave this bear to me for no reason." She added.
"Gabriella!" 10 year old Gabriella turned around and saw Troy walking up to her with his hands behind his back. "What's behind your back?" she asked him as he looked behind him. "Well," he paused, holding out a bear in front of him. "I'm giving this to you." She hugged him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you Troy!" she pulled back and politely took the bear from him. "Why are you giving this to me?" she asked. "No reason." He answered with a smile. "Thank you…again." She hugged the bear and gave him a kiss on the cheek as she ran inside to tell her mom what Troy gave her.
"Wow, you must really like him then." Martha smiled. "I thought I told you guys that-""We know. You don't like him and you don't have a crush on him." Taylor interrupted Gabriella. "Gabriella, the Bolton's are here!" Gabriella heard her mom call out. She groaned and headed downstairs. Her friends followed and entered the kitchen to see if Maria need help with anything. "Hello Mrs. Bolton." Gabriella smiled, hugging Lucille. She pulled back and then greeted Troy's dad, Jack. "How are you Gabriella?" Jack asked her. "I'm very good." She smiled. Once his parents entered the house, Troy was walking up towards the front door. "Troy." She said. "Gabriella." he smiled as he entered the house, passing by her as he gave her a kiss on the cheek. She blushed as she closed the door and then shook out of her trance. She was about to walk into the dining room when Troy called her name. She turned around as he reached into his pocket. "Here, I came to give you your cell phone back." He held out his phone towards her. "Thank you Troy!" she hugged him as soon as everyone turned to see what they were doing. She whispered into his ear in a threatening tone, "If you tell anyone we kissed, I will kill you." She smiled at him as she pulled away, taking her phone from him and took her seat in the dining room. He followed and sat down in the seat across from her. "That was odd." Jack mumbled as Gabriella and Troy quickly started eating without saying a word.