Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter Seven: Facing Up
Continual irresolution
Keeps me shackled to the ground
I've been in dire need of revolution
For far too many days to count
I thought I was safe in my hiding place
But it sure is exhausting living in chains
It's paradoxical in every way
Nothing makes sense I can't tell love from hate
Nothing left for me to do
Right and left both bring me to
The center of my deepest fears
Where the truth is oh so clear
Embracing inescapable truth
And that's facing up to you
- "Facing Up" Kate Voegele
Gabriella's cab let her out in front of Taylor's apartment. As soon as she'd paid the overly attentive man, she dialed the passcode and buzzed herself in. Knocking on the apartment door she was immediately greeted by Taylor and a martini.
"You're the world's best friend." She grinned, taking the drink in her hand and following Taylor into the living room.
"Oh I'm well aware." Taylor leaned back on the sofa and picked up her own martini off the coffee table.
Taking a sip Gabriella sighed, "Heaven." She replied, kicking her shoes off and sitting down.
"So what's up doll?" Taylor quirked an eyebrow up as Gabriella rested her feet up on the other end of the sofa.
Gabi took a deep breath, "I'm a bad girlfriend. I'm a terrible person. And I don't mean to be, but I am."
"And why are we all these things?" Taylor asked.
"Cause I went to the gym with Troy and then followed it up with a small lunch date at this amazing out-of-the-way place. And when I got back, really late I might add, Ryan was pissed off sitting in my office and I lied to him. I told him I went to the gym and got a call about a last minute luncheon with some 50 year old scientist with a beard with a wife and kids and a grandchild on the way." Gabi took a breath and a long sip of her drink.
Taylor gaped at her, "You went out with Bolton and lied to Ryan about it?"
Gabi shut her eyes painfully, "And I had more fun with Troy that I've ever had with Ryan. Period. It was more comfortable than anything."
"You had lunch with Bolton." Taylor repeated.
"Can you stop repeating every God damn thing I say and tell me how to fix my problems?" Gabi moaned.
"I'm sorry, but I'm still on the fact that you had a date with Bolton."
"It was not a date."
"Sounds like one."
"Fuck you Taylor."
"Leave that to Chad my dear."
"Too much information!" Gabi's face scrunched up in disgust as she downed the rest of her martini. "I need another." She moaned.
Taylor laughed and got up, making her another martini. "Okay," Taylor handed her the deadly poison a few moments later, "damage control. It's simple. No more dates with Bolton."
"But what if I want to?" Gabi chanced a look up from her drink and at Taylor.
"Gabs, you're both seeing someone, what can you really do?" Taylor shrugged her shoulders to emphasize her point.
"Well what if I don't love Ryan?" Gabi glanced out the window, not liking her own question, but understanding that it might just be the truth.
"Gabriella," Taylor sighed and took a sip of her untouched drink, "I think that you're overreacting to the situation. I think that you think you don't love Ryan because you're going through a tough time. Right now Troy seems to be your outlet and you're taking out your frustrations and blaming everything on Ryan."
Gabi nodded, "You must be right, but there's just something there with Troy. And I don't want to stop seeing him. I don't love him, but I want to be friends with him. I can talk to him. You know you and Troy are the only people I can talk to. Like really talk to. And I like that I can get two opinions on my problems." Taylor's look was skeptical, "Plus he can tell me what Chad's thinking and planning and feeling."
Taylor's eyes shot up, "Okay, I guess I can condone you hanging out with Bolton if you're only friends and if you play detective for me."
Gabi giggled as she stood up, Taylor handed her the empty glass and Gabi went to make two more martinis.
HSMHSMHSM
Troy took another shot and missed. "Dude what the fuck is up with your game?" Chad frowned at him as he caught Troy's rebound.
Troy sighed and went to sit on the bleachers, "I got problems." He muttered.
"Really, now who could've guessed?" Chad asked sarcastically.
"Sarcasm does not help the situation!" Troy groaned, dropping his head into his hands.
"Okay then dude, what's up?" Chad sat down next to him.
"I made a mistake. A big one. One that's going to lead to lots of other mistakes. A never ending line of absolutely amazing mistakes." Troy groaned dramatically.
"Okay first you sound like Ryan. Don't. And second, what the fuck are you talking about Captain? You sound like you belong in a ward!"
"I went to the gym today. With Brie. And then took her to lunch. Then I lied to Sharpay about what I'd done all day. And I want to go out with Brie again." Troy sighed and looked up at Chad's shocked face.
"You mean Gabriella Montez? Ryan's girlfriend?" Chad's mouth dropped open when Troy nodded his head in confirmation.
"Holy shit dude. This is bad."
"Really? You're like one of those guys on CSI." Troy's voice was laced with contempt and sarcasm.
Chad held up his hands defensively, "I'm just saying is all. Anyways, you know you can't see her again right."
"But what if I really want to? What if I felt something with her I've never felt with anyone? What if I don't love Sharpay? What if I want to be with Brie?" Troy's voice was rising steadily.
"Whoa dude! You just met the chick, take a deep breath!" Chad advised.
"She's not some chick dude, she's real." Troy yelled at Chad who backed away, realizing his mistake. "Sorry." Troy muttered the apology.
"Okay I get it. You like her a lot. But you know it's just some fascination or whatever right?" Chad's 'comforting advice' came out as a question.
"Well no, I don't. That's the problem. I want to be with her. I want to spend time with her. And I didn't feel bad about lying to Sharpay about where I was." He paused, "Which was with you by the way."
Chad rolled his eyes, "No matter how bad it is I'll always be an available excuse for you, but dude, this is bad." Chad lectured.
"Really Sherlock? It's bad? You don't say?" Troy groaned and took the basketball from Chad, tossing it violently across the gym.
"Dude don't take it out on the basketball." Chad glared at Troy, who just rolled his eyes. "Wait a minute. Gabriella is Taylor's best friend. You can find out stuff…" Chad looked suggestively at Troy.
"Yeah I could dude." Troy absently stared at the gym door, as if he was willing Gabriella to walk through it.
"Then I totally support your decision to hang with Gabs." Chad nodded his head, giving a seal of approval.
"I didn't realize that decision had been made. Whatever though." Troy stood up and picked up his bag, "I got to go, Sharpay wants me home tonight." The two nodded and left.
HSMHSMHSM
The next morning, Troy sat in basketball practice fiddling with his phone. The coach wasn't there and he was running drills. Well supervising them as he debated whether or not to call Gabi and see if she wanted to have lunch again or not.
"Come on Captain!" Jason called from the court, "Join in!"
Troy looked up and sighed. "One second." His long fingers began to swiftly dial a memorized number and he walked to the corner of the gym.
"What's going on?" Zeke asked Chad and Jason.
The two boys shrugged, but it was clear that Chad knew what was up. A mixture of excitement and concern played over his handsome face, "Chad you so know what's going on with Troy." Jason accused him.
Chad help up his hands, "No I really don't know what he's thinking!" he protested.
"Right…" Jason and Zeke shook their heads in disbelief.
HSMHSMHSM
Gabriella was sitting at her desk editing an article and tapping her pen on the wooden countertop to a beat in her head when her phone ring. She jumped about a foot in the air at the sound. Picking it up she heard her secretary Kim telling her to pick up line 1, "A Mr. Troy Bolton's on the phone."
Gabi's heart began racing. "Thank you Kim." She took a deep breath before letting her slim finger press the 1 on the keypad. "This is Dr. Montez, may I help you?"
"Hey El it's Troy." Troy's voice shook slightly.
Gabi took a deep breath, "Hey Troy. What's up?" she tried to sound as confident as she could.
"I was wondering if you had lunch plans today?" Troy tried to sound sure of himself, like it was off the cuff and no big deal. He didn't think he was succeeding though.
"Hang on, let me just look at my schedule." Gabi's voice began to sound slightly distracted as she muttered to herself, "I really need to learn the technique of organization." She huffed out. Troy tried to hold in a chuckle as he listened to her shuffle around, "Hang on Troy, let me put you on hold while I find that damn folder."
"Sure thing…" Troy responded only to be greeted with the bad 'on hold' music.
"Kim?" Gabi stuck her hand outside her door, "Where's my day planner?" She asked tiredly.
"Right here Gabriella." Kim got up and handed her the little purple book. Gabi nodded her thanks before flipping through it. She picked the phone up and hit the 1 again.
"All that work to find out I have nothing to do today." She smiled into the phone as she laughed.
"So how about we meet at 1:45 at the same place. Think you can find it?" Troy's tone was slightly joking.
Gabi lightly huffed into the phone, "Are you questioning my fabulous sense of direction Bolton?"
"Yes." Troy teased.
"Fine. I shouldn't have a problem, but if I do you can say I told you so. 1:45, it's a date." There was silence at the other end of the phone. Gabi held her breath as she kicked herself for her choice of words.
"It's a date. See you then El." Troy smiled a little bit, liking the sound of that. Gabi agreed and said goodbye as the two hung up.
"A date?" Gabi looked at her computer screen blankly. Now she was definitely cheating on Ryan. But it was just a friendly date right? Like she and Taylor go on. Only it was with Troy. Who was incredibly sexy and perfect in every way. "Shit." She muttered under her breath. Well I guess I have to face up to the fact that I like this guy. And I'm not sure I want to do anything to stop it.
HSMHSMHSM
XOXO
MAS
