Can't Help But Wait

Chapter 6

The next night was gang night. Not in the violent way but the entire gang went out for a fun night together.

Gabriella was sitting in the backseat of Taylor's car as the girls drove to meet the boys at the mall. Since it was a school night, they didn't wanna be out to late, so they decided on something easily simple.

"So did you talk to Troy after last night," Shar asked her.

"No," Gabriella said, looking out the window. "And I don't plan on talking to him."

"So you're just gonna ignore your best friend," she asked.

"Yep," Gabriella said, not feeling one bit guilty.

"Not a good idea," Sharpay suggested. "But whatever, your life."

They got out the car and walked to wear the boys were waiting by the fountains.

Troy smiled at Gabi but she looked the other way. Troy sighed as they started walking.

Troy walked up behind Gabriella. "Come on," he said poking her side lightly as she turned to glare then moved away.

"You can't stay mad at me forever," Troy insisted, poking her again.

"Who says that and stop."

Troy moved his arms around Gabriella's waist. "Brie, you know you wanna talk to me."

"No I don't," Gabriella insisted, folding her arms across her chest.

"Yes, you do," he replied, tickling her.

She cracked a smile, but the caught herself, trying to move away from him. He held her back and continued tickling her.

Gabriella, unable to hide her smile this time, started laughing and tried to fight his hands away. "Troooooooooy, s…top!"

"Make me," he smiled, as people started to stop and stare, thinking they were a couple.

"Troooy," she whined again, making more people stare.

He finally stopped and looked her straight in the eye. "I'm sorry."

Gabi smiled and pulled him into a hug. "Consider yourself forgiven, but you have to do something to make it up to me."

"Ahh," Troy groaned. "I knew there would be some consequences.

"Yes," Gabriella replied sternly. "Now, I want…shopping. One day out and you drive me wherever I wanna go."

Troy rolled his eyes, but nodded his head. "Deal."

"Yes," she said, wrapping her arms around him.

Sharpay sighed. "You guys are crazy. C'mon time to shop."

--

7 friends sat in the living room of Troy Bolton's house, wondering why they were here and where Gabriella was.

"Troy, what's this about," Taylor asked, mad that she was missing decathlon practice for what, she didn't know.

"Yea, man," Zeke added. "You called us here for some stupid meeting and I gotta get home to make that cake for my mom's birthday. And I promised her a cake so if mom doesn't get her cake…"

"Enough about the damn cake, Zeke," Sharpay snapped. "Troy obviously has something important to say or else we wouldn't be here."

Almost instantly the entire gang got quiet. No one said a word as they all turn to Troy expectantly.

"Um, thanks Shar," Troy said as she sent a big grin toward him in response. "Well, I got you guys here because of Gabriella, partly, and…Bryan. I um, Chad and I witnessed Bryan kinda cheating on Gabs while she was in Paris and I just get the feeling that he's gonna hurt her."

They all looked a little confused and Kelsi spoke up. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you know she thinks that he's Mr. Perfect and I don't wanna see her get crushed when it turns out differently."

"Did you tell Gabs this?" Jason asked.

"How could I? Plus I tried but Gabriella just shut me out."

"So that's what she was so pissed about the other night," Sharpay asked and Troy nodded. "She said you guys had a fight about you hitting Bryan but she didn't say why you did it."

"I….I had reason to believe that Bryan was hitting her," Troy said nervously. "I asked her about it, but she denied it, so when I decided to do something about it she got mad."

"You really think he's hurting her," Ryan asked, concerned.

"Yea, I mean the bruise…"

"She told us she walked into a door," Taylor interrupted.

Troy looked at her sadly. "You believed that, because I don't. I know her too well; I can see it in her eyes. And the worst part is she convinced herself that she loves him."

"Look man, if you truly believe that that jerk is hurting Gabs, we're behind you 100 percent," Chad said as the rest of the gang nodded.

"Thanks guys, just try to look out for her please, I don't wanna lose her."

They all nodded, knowing what do to. It was obvious that this was bothering Troy and they definitely didn't want him doing this all alone.

--

"Hey Gabi," Kelsi sang as she and Taylor walked into Gabriella rooms the next day. They pretended not to see Bryan sitting in the chair as they each gave her a hug.

"Ohh hey guys, what are you doing here?" Gabriella asked hugging them back, surprised.

"We came to hand of course," Taylor replied as they sat on either side of her on her bed. "Oh hey Bryan," she said, pretending she just saw him. Kelsi waved slightly.

Bryan nodded once to them. "Hey."

"We're not interrupting are we?" Kelsi asked, hiding the sly smile on her face as she glanced at Tay.

"Uh," Gabriella started, but Bryan cut her off.

"No," he said standing. "I was just about to go, I have plans. Bye baby." He kissed Gabriella on his way out. "Love you. Have fun ladies."

"Love you too," Gabriella called after him.

Taylor looked at Kelsi and made a silent barfing motion and Kelsi giggled.

Gabriella looked at her. "What?"

"Oh nothing, you guys are just really cute," she lied.

"Thanks I guess," She said awkwardly.

"Anyway, Gabi what's good these days?"

"Uh everything I guess."

"And how are you and Troy?" Taylor asked.

"Fine, guys what is this all about?" Gabriella asked a little confused.

"Nothing, we just wanna see how our friend is doing." Kelsi smiled.

"Ok," Gabriella said warily. "You two are up to something but I just don't know what yet."

They both laughed. "Silly Gabs."

She looked at them confused. "Um, ok."

"So," Taylor said, trying to strike up small talk. "You and Bryan have said I love you, that's nice."

"Yea," Gabriella smiled.

"It must feel awesome to be loved by such a great guy?"

"Yep, Bryan's really sweet."

"So, have you two taken the relationship any further?" Kelsi asked, curious.

"As in?"

"Sex," Taylor blurted out, unembarrassed.

Gabriella scrunched her face up. "No, I mean Bryan might be ready, I honestly don't know, but I'm not and he respects that."

"That's sweet," Kelsi cooed, keeping up her fake act. "We're glad you're happy but is there anything out there or anyone out there you'd like to try?"

Gabriella looked at her friends funny. "Umm…"

"There has to be someone out there you imagine being with," Taylor said. "Don't worry, what happens here stays here."

"Actually," Gabriella started as their faces lit up. "I'm not telling you, because you two are crazy."

She stood up and ushered them out the door. "Aww c'mon, there's gotta be someone," Kelsi begging, dying for an answer.

"Maybe, but you're not getting an answer so good luck," she replied leading them down the stairs and outside. "Bye ladies."

She closed the door and shook her head. "Crazy."