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The Choice Is Yours
Sharpay was starting to tear up again after reading Troy's letter, for which seemed like the hundredth time, within hours of Taylor receiving it.
"It's just so beautiful" replied Sharpay as she handed the letter back to Taylor. The two ladies were sitting in the cafeteria at the table that Sharpay had been using for the last four years. Taylor was still trying to adjust to sitting above everyone in the café; she usually sat with the other Wildcats downstairs but this was just another one of those many changes that Taylor had come to expect this year.
"Yeah I know, when I read it last night the top of my shirt was so soaking wet" chuckled Taylor. "I just have this nervous energy mixed with fear about what is gonna happen next".
"Have you been able to talk to him yet?" asked Sharpay.
"Nope. He said in the letter that he would get in contact with me when he could. But he did give me a knowing look today when we walked out of homeroom. I guess that was his way of reassuring me, I know it's gonna be real hard for him to have to break up with Gabriella" whispered Taylor.
"It's gonna be real hard for who to break up with Gabriella?" asked Ryan settling down after getting his lunch.
"Who do you think Ryan!" snapped Sharpay. "And keep it down! We don't want the whole world to know" she quietly said to her brother.
"You don't want the whole world to know what?" asked Ryan totally clueless.
"Urgh!" screamed Sharpay as she got up to go throw her trash away. "I'm going to the auditorium Taylor, if you need me" she said and immediately turned away to make her way out of the café.
'Dramatic to the end' thought Taylor with a smile. "Here Ryan, maybe this will help you understand" as she handed over the letter to Ryan.
Taylor really didn't know when but her relationship with the two Evans twins had turned very brotherly and sisterly really fast. She felt comfortable expressing herself with them and sharing personal things with them without a second thought. The only other person she ever did that with was Troy, and it was a very comforting feeling to know that she had other people that were generally interested in her life and well being.
"Uh, wow" said Ryan breaking Taylor out of her thoughts. "He just put it all on the table, huh" he said while handing her the letter back. Taylor took the letter she treasured so much and placed it back into her binder.
"Yeah, it was a little unexpected but I'm glad he decided for himself what was right for him" said Taylor.
"Yeah I guess" he replied. "I wander how he's gonna break up with her" said Ryan, more to himself than anyone else. Taylor followed his eyes to the table that Troy and Gabriella were. The rest of the self made gang was around the couple engaged in their own conversations. Taylor watched as Gabriella whispered something into Troy's ear that made him blush and chuckle a little, it was enough to make her physically ill.
"I don't know Ryan, but I hope it's soon" said Taylor rolling her eyes.
Ryan and Taylor finished the rest of the lunch period talking about their upcoming plans for the rest of their senior year. Once the bell rang, the pair made their way out of the cafeteria and into the crowded hallway. "Hey you want me to walk you to class?" asked Ryan.
"Uh…I think I will be okay" replied Taylor.
"Okay, I will see you at home" said Ryan turning around as he headed for the auditorium. Taylor watched as he ran down the hall to class; she was prolonging her stay in the hallway as long as she could. She hated the period after lunch, for some odd reason it was the only period she had with Gabriella. Not only did she have class with her, but Gabriella's seat was right behind hers. It was a tension that she could live without, but she had to take this class in order to make up for the time she missed at the beginning of the year.
"Ms. McKessie you need to hurry to class the late bell is about to ring" said the hall monitor Mr. Peterson.
"Okay Mr. Peterson, I'm on my way" she said and walked down the hall and into the class. She noticed that Gabriella was already seated. As hard as tried to avoid eye contact it never seemed to work, she always ended up looking at Gaby right in the eyes, and guilt, frustration, and anger would flood her body in a matter of seconds. Today was no different; both young women saw one another, looked at each other directly in the eye and immediately turned away. Taylor went and sat down and hoped that class would fly by. 'I really wish I could take this class with a one on one aid' Taylor thought.
"Alright, settle down class….settle down" said Mrs. Laurence, their advanced chemistry teacher. The talking stopped at once and the students who were standing up went immediately to their seats.
"Today we will be starting our in class project, which will be worth fifteen percent of your overall grade. Each student will be paired off with another student, and each person in the pair will have responsibilities that must be met in order for the group to receive one hundred percent. Please listen for your name so you know who your partner will be" said Mrs. Laurence. "Once I call your name along with your partners name, please come and pick your packets up that has all of your instructions available".
'Please God, don't pair me off with Gabriella....please don't pair me off with Gabriella' thought Taylor.
"Alright, listen up class for your names. Stevenson and McNair, Combs and Johnson, Slavoski and McCormack, Williams and Benjamin,……"
Mrs. Laurence continued to call out names and students went up to grab the packet she was handing out for the project. As she called off each name, despair was slowly starting to creep up into her mind. Not only was her name not being called but neither was Gabriella's.
"And last but definitely not least Montez and McKessie" finished Mrs. Laurence.
Taylor felt her stomach drop and her shoulders slouch at the same time. In the back of Taylor, Gabriella's hand shot straight in the air.
"Ah,….Mrs. Laurence is it a possibility that we can switch partners?" asked Gabriella. Taylor turned around to look at Gabriella. "I can't believe you're gonna ask her that in front of the whole class" said Taylor quietly, who was shocked by Gabriella's boldness.
"Look I know you don't want to be my partner, I'm just trying to make it easier on both of us" she said.
"Ms. McKessie and Ms. Montez can I see you both at my desk?" asked Mrs. Laurence. "Alright class, now that you have your partners and packets, you may get started, you should be able to at least assign who is going to do what". "Ladies, I'm waiting" said Mrs. Laurence looking directly at both Taylor and Gabriella.
Both beautiful women got up reluctantly and made their way to Mrs. Laurence desk. They stood a couple of feet from one another, not daring to even look at each other let alone Mrs. Laurence.
"Now why is it that you want a new partner Ms. Montez?" asked Mrs. Laurence, "and please look at me darling, that's apart of respect".
"I just don't think it's a good idea for Taylor and me to work together" said Gabriella looking directly at the teacher.
"And why is that?" asked Mrs. Laurence.
"Uh…um…um"
"We really don't get along any more" said Taylor cutting in for Gabriella. "And since this project is worth fifteen percent of our grade, I….well we both agree that working with someone else would be more beneficial".
Gabriella chanced a glance at Taylor, she noticed that Taylor was fidgeting around with something on Mrs. Laurence desk and not really looking at the teacher.
"You know it really pains me to see two of my best and brightest students not talking to one another, and what's worse you were known for being best friends, and you ladies don't even give each other the courtesy of looking at one another. You act as if the other girl doesn't exist" said Mrs. Laurence a little agitated. Mrs. Laurence looked from Gabriella to Taylor and realized that she wasn't getting through to either one of them. 'It's like talking to a brick wall' she thought.
"Ladies I need for both of you to look at me" said Mrs. Laurence, while she waited to get both of the young ladies attention. "I can not grant your request for a new partner; you two are just going to have to work out your differences in order to get this project done."
"But Mrs. Laurence if we could…."
"I'm sorry Mrs. McKessie…." said Mrs. Laurence cutting Taylor off, "But that is my final decision".
"C'mon Taylor, let's just do the project, she's not gonna change her mind" said Gabriella turning around and walking to her seat. "Don't forget your packet ladies" said Mrs. Laurence.
Taylor reached back and grabbed the packet from Mrs. Laurence. She walked quietly back to her seat and utter disbelief. Gabriella was already at her seat pushing their chairs together so they could get started on the assignment. 'How many bad days can you have in a year?! Gosh!' thought Taylor to herself. She made her way back to her seat and handed Gabriella the packet, which she immediately began to peruse.
"I guess the first thing we need to do is assign responsibilities" said Gabriella not looking at Taylor.
"Fine whatever" said Taylor getting more and more agitated by the minute.
"Look Taylor, I know you don't want to do this with me, and if you had it your way you could ignore me for the rest of the school year but its not gonna happen. Were being forced to interact with one another, were being forced to work together, so let's just make the best of it. Once this is over we can go back to "acting like each other doesn't exist" as Mrs. Laurence so eloquently pointed out" said Gabriella harshly, but was able to maintain a low speaking tone.
Taylor looked at Gabriella and had a sudden urge to laugh but thought it was best not to do so. "Fine let's get started, I guess since there is only one packet I will copy down what I need to do" said Taylor opening up her notebook and grabbing a pencil, "and I guess we need to come up with some schedule of when we need to meet outside of school, to get this done quickly".
Gabriella shook her head in agreement and watched as Taylor pulled out some blank paper to copy down her work on, but something in Taylor's notebook caught her eye.
"Taylor what is that?" asked Gabriella.
"What is what?" said Taylor looking at Gabriella questioningly.
"That! That piece of paper, it looks like it has Troy's handwriting on it" said Gabriella pointing at the inside front of Taylor's notebook.
Taylor immediately started to panic, but she was trying her best to play it cool. "Oh, it's….it's nothing" said Taylor as she hurried up and closed her notebook.
"If it's nothing then why are you stuttering and trying to hide it" said Gabriella with her voice rising a little.
"Look Gabriella, Troy wrote me a letter okay" said Taylor in a whisper as she moved in closer to Gabriella's face. "He just wanted to know how I was doing, since we haven't talked in a month. He wanted to make sure I was taking my medication and that I was dealing with my mothers death, okay. You know he was being a good friend,….or maybe you don't know" said Taylor, while snatching the packet out of Gabriella's hand as she began to write.
Taylor had hit below the belt, and she knew it, but she had to do what was necessary so that Gabriella wouldn't know the true contents of that letter.
"I thought that you and Troy weren't gonna be friends anymore?" questioned Gabriella obviously upset. Taylor could here her voice shaking, which made her feel instantly guilty about lying to her.
"We're not. I guess he just wanted to make sure I was okay" said Taylor, while she continued to copy down her notes, and making sure she didn't look at Gabriella.
"Well call me crazy, but I think that letter had a lot more in it than you are letting on Taylor. I'm sorry if I seem a little suspicious, but you two are known for sneaking around on me" said Gabriella trying to fight back the tears she felt rising to her eyes.
Taylor sighed, "Look I have apologized for kissing Troy, it was a mistake and we both knew it as soon as it happened. Nothings going on between us…nothing okay" said Taylor.
"Well if nothing is going on, let me read the letter" said Gabriella, trying to get her self together.
"What! Are you crazy!" yelled Taylor causing everyone in the class to stop talking and look at them.
"Yes I am!" yelled back Gabriella while standing up, "Prove me wrong Taylor! Let me see what was in that letter!"
"You want to know what was in the letter" yelled Taylor while standing to face Gabriella, "THAN ASK TROY YOURSELF!" she yelled. Taylor got her things and walked out of the classroom ignoring Mrs. Laurence yells to come back. She decided she had enough of East High for the day and walked straight out of the building and headed to her favorite place in the world.
Gabriella was taken back by what had just transpired. She felt the tears starting to sting her eyes as she ran out of the classroom and straight into the arms of a hard body.
"Gabriella what's wrong" asked Ryan.
"Nothing,…I need to find Troy" she said harshly.
"Well he's in the auditorium, watching the drama club rehearse" said Ryan.
"Thanks" said Gabriella as she ran away from Ryan and headed straight for the auditorium. Once she got to the auditorium, she quickly located where Troy was and walked straight up to him "TROY! We need to talk!" she yelled. Tears were still flooding down her face, but she could care less about how she looked, she was more concerned about her future with the only boy she has ever loved. Gabriella turned around and walked into one of the dressing rooms and started to pace while she waited for Troy to arrive.
"Gabriella what the hell is wrong with you?" asked Troy as he made his way into the dressing room and closed the door behind him. "You just come in rehearsal and yell at me and you're crying" he said with concern as he walked up to her and grabbed her face.
Gabriella immediately shoved him away and sat in one of the chairs located in the corner of the room. She crossed her arms across her chest as she was deciding what the right thing to say was.
"Gabriella" said Troy questioningly, while arching his eyebrow.
Gabriella looked directly at him. "My problem is you Troy. I love you too much,…I love you so much that it hurts" she stuttered as the tears started to come down in a heavy flow. "I know you're being dishonest with me….I saw that letter Troy, I saw that you gave her a letter and I want to know why" she said.
Troy closed his eyes and sighed heavily, "Did you read the letter?" he asked her.
"No,….but I have a good idea of what was in it, and it damn sure wasn't you being concerned for a friend!" she yelled. He just stood quietly as he watched his first love crying in the corner, he didn't know what to say, he was at a total lost for words.
"You have to make a choice Troy, it's time for you to be a man and make a choice! The decision has always been yours whether or not we would be together!" she yelled trying to calm down her crying, "You know where I stand, but I have know clue where you stand. Some days I think you love me and other days I'm not so sure, sometimes I think you just stay with me because it's comfortable!" she yelled.
"Gabriella…..let me explain" he said quietly.
"Explain what Troy! There is nothing to explain, either you want to be with me or you don't! You come find me once you have made up your mind!" she yelled walking to the door and opening it, "And not a minute later" she yelled while walking out of the door.
Troy couldn't believe what had just happened, he knew that breaking up with Gabriella was going to be hard, but it wasn't supposed to be like this. "What the fuck have I gotten myself into!" he yelled at himself.
"I don't know" said Mrs. Darbus, "but I would appreciate it if you and Gabriella would have your little teenage drama outside of my theater" she said ushering Troy out of the dressing room. Troy walked into the hall and noticed that Sharpay was standing in the doorway of her dressing room across the hall, shaking her head.
"You need to fix this Troy, and fix it soon, before you find yourself alone. Like she said the choice is yours".