A/N: Okay. Chapter three! Woohoo! Nearly done with media coursework but then I have to go back to science :(
I don't own:
HSM
Let's dance - Vanessa Hudgens
I do own:
Britney Bucket (I got the idea from 'keeping up appearances' btw)
Storyline
Chapter 3 – One huge mistake
A twelve year old Gabriella got out of the car and ran towards the door of the house next to hers in tears. He arm was in a sling and she could hear Marie yelling for her to be careful. Instead of knocking like she usually did, she opened the door and ran through to the kitchen where she saw Lucille drinking some coffee and reading a magazine at the island.
"Gabby?" She called as the girl ran through the back door to the garden.
Gabriella ran out to the basketball court where a fourteen year old Troy was having a game with Jack. "Troy!"
Troy turned his head and dropped the ball quickly and ran over to her. "Brie, what happened?"
Gabriella wrapped her free arm around his torso as she sobbed into his chest. She didn't care that he was covered in sweat or that he stank, she just wanted him to hold her. She relaxed as Troy's arms slowly wound around her waist as he pulled her further against his body and he kissed her head. Her sobs subsided and looked up into Troy's blue eyes, noticing that Jack had obviously gone inside.
"What happened?" He asked softly.
She took a deep breath. "My cousin. She thought that I was getting all the attention and she…pushed me down the stairs."
Troy's fists clenched. "WHAT?!"
She brought her hand up and cupped his cheek. "Troy, its fine. They're in New York and we're here. Leave it."
Troy entwined their fingers as he brought her hand back to her side. "So, how is it?"
"It's just a break." Gabriella shrugged. "It'll be fine."
"Can I sign your cast?" He asked hopefully.
She laughed and nodded. "Of course. I wanted you to be the first one to sign it which is why it's blank."
Troy shook his head and took her hand, leading her into his house and they both ran upstairs to his room. He let go of her hand and started rummaging through his desk drawers. "I know there's a pen somewhere."
Gabriella giggled. "Third drawer on the right."
Troy pulled open the drawer and retrieved a pen, thankful she seemed to have cheered up. He walked over to her and took the hand that was hidden slightly by the sling. He clicked the top of the pen and started writing his message. "There you go." He threw his pen onto his bed.
Gabriella craned her neck and read tearfully the message that her best friend had just written for her. The words touched her heart and she felt tears leak from her eyes and land clumsily onto her shirt.
Gabriella, boy I never call you that so I hope that you realise what I'm about to say, or write, is true. Your cousin was wrong to push you down the stairs but right in saying that you have all the attention. Whether you actually have the attention or not isn't important. What's important is that you deserve the attention. You're a talented singer, song writer, a straight A student, a fantastic little sister and a terrific best friend. Promise me that you won't visit her again.
Oh yeah, get well soon.
Love Troy x
Gabriella laughed at the last part and embraced Troy tightly and giggled into his chest. She looked up at him and kissed his cheeks. "I promise I'll never see her again."
"You moved here?" Gabriella asked slowly.
Taylor hit Chad over the head to get his attention. "Don't stare."
"Don't worry boys." Britney said seductively. "You can stare all you want."
Taylor pulled Chad back and Martha thumped Ryan in the leg to stop him going anywhere. Zeke wrapped an arm around Sharpay's shoulder and looked at Gabriella. "Gabs, who's this?"
Gabriella stepped forward. "She's my cousin."
"Aww, Gabby. Did you miss me?" She said in a baby voice.
Gabriella folded her arms. "About as much as a slow healing scab."
"Don't be mean. You shouldn't hold a grudge." Britney replied in a sweet voice.
"You shouldn't be a bitch but we can't have everything." She smiled innocently and cocked her head to the side.
"Gabby." Jason warned, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Gabriella sighed. "Whatever. Could you go away now? We have band practice." She walked back towards Troy and looked back through her lyrics.
"Leave, Britney." Jason ordered, glaring at her pointedly.
Britney shook her head, resting her hands on her hips. "I'd like to hear what songs you and your silly band sing."
"We're not a silly band." Gabriella snapped.
Troy then prised his eyes away from Britney and looked at Gabriella. "Brie, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Let's dance." She ordered angrily as she and Troy grabbed a microphone each and everyone stood at their respective instruments as Jason sat back down on the couch.
Italics – Gabriella
Bold - Troy
Dance!
It's so hot
I can't stop
The music fills the room
Vibrations
Sensations
That beat goes boom boom boom
I've got to keep it together
I've got to keep it together
I've got to keep it together
Watch the crazy people dance
Let's dance (let's dance)
Show me (show me)
Hold me (hold me)
Control me (yeah)
Let's dance (right now)
Take me (take me)
Shake me (shake me)
Make me (make me)
Let's dance
Just like that
Don't hold back
Get crazy on the floor
We'll have fun
All day long
And then we'll still want more
I've got to keep it together
I've got to keep it together
I've got to keep it together
Watch the crazy people dance
Let's dance (let's dance)
Show me (show me)
Hold me (hold me)
Control me (yeah)(yeah)
Let's dance (right now)
Take me (take me)
Shake me (shake me)
Make me (make me)
Look in my eyes
You'll realize
We can't deny
I'm into you and you're so into me
And you know you can't fight what is meant to be
Let's dance (let's dance)
Show me (show me)
Hold me (hold me)
Control me (yeah)
Let's dance (right now)
Take me (take me)
Shake me (shake me)
Make me (make me)
Let's dance
Gabriella turned her microphone off and glared at Britney. "Why are you back in my life?"
Britney shrugged, examining her nails. "Like I said, we moved here. I'm going to East High. Apparently the basketball captain is like a sex god."
Gabriella's face paled at the last two words. "Britney, go away. We have to practice."
Troy stepped forward and smiled broadly at Britney, extending his hand. "Troy Bolton. Basketball captain of East High."
Britney giggled flirtatiously as she shook his hand. "Britney Bouquet."
"You mean Bucket." Jason smirked, standing up.
"It's Bouquet!" She insisted.
Gabriella shook her head. "Whatever. I'll see you guys later. I don't feel too good." She whispered, grabbing her lyrics book before slowly trudging up the stairs.
"I'll see if she's alright. Come on, Tay." Sharpay said quietly, dragging Taylor out of the room.
Troy turned back to Britney. "Brie's never mentioned you before."
"I wonder why." Jason said sarcastically, following the girls up the stairs.
Britney rolled her eyes. "We've never really seen eye to eye. It's nothing serious. She's still my cousin and I love her." She lied.
Troy smiled. "Brie has that effect on people. Hey, do you want to go out later. We could go to the movie and then some pizza?" He offered.
Britney faked an innocent smile. "I'd like that."
"Cool. What's your number?" He got his cell phone out and they swapped numbers. He slipped his phone into his back jeans pocket and grinned. "That's settled then. We'll meet at the theatre at six?"
Gabriella sank into her office chair and opened her lyrics book. She gazed the many melodies and words she had formed that no one else had seen. Troy. That was the reason no one saw the book. It was full of songs that were based on her feelings for Troy. People joked that she was in love with Troy but no one knew that it was true except the girls.
"Gabby?" A voice said from the door.
She twirled around in her chair and saw Sharpay, Taylor and Jason standing there. She shook her head sadly and went back to writing the song she just had an idea for. "Guys, go away. I want to be alone."
Sharpay, Taylor and Jason all sat down on her bed, Jason in the middle. Sharpay stared at her friend. "Gabby, what's wrong?"
Gabriella sighed, reading back over the lyrics she had just pencilled in. She swivelled round and handed the book to her friends and brother. "That's what's wrong."
They read over it and Jason spoke. "Gabs, you don't know a Drew."
Sharpay and Taylor hit him over the head simultaneously. "She's talking about Troy, doofus." Sharpay exclaimed.
"I've always loved him." Gabriella admitted quietly. "And I never had the guts to do anything about it and I'm too late."
"Remember what your dad said when couldn't find our first gig? The only way to be out of the game, is to take yourself out of the game." Taylor advised.
"Guys, it's too late. I blew it. Game over. I've been working the courage to tell him and we'd get interrupted. And now he likes Britney. Man, I hate her." She mumbled, throwing her pencil back onto her desk.
"Why do you hate her?" Sharpay asked in confusion.
Jason laughed sarcastically. "The easier question would be 'why do we like her?'."
Gabriella sighed. "Remember four years ago and I came home from a vacation with a broken arm because a cousin pushed me down some stairs?"
Taylor gasped. "Troy likes her?"
"Well, I didn't tell him her name. I didn't think it was important." Gabriella confessed. "But it was one huge mistake. Everything. Falling for Troy, not telling him I'm in love with him and letting her fool him."