Never Felt This Way

.o.

Note: Thanks for the reviews! Excited to see some new people are reading my story! Thanks so much! Both of the songs in this chapter are by Michael Buble! Thanks Michael! First one is Sway and the second is Save The Last Dance For Me. I highly recommend you listen to these songs on YouTube or something while you read so everything makes sense!

.o.

Troy walked quickly back to the dining hall his heart pounding nervously. Was Sharpay right behind him? He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes flickering over the expanse of hall behind him. He was alone. Sharpay must be in the bathroom still, he concluded.

He calmed a little as he walked back to his seat. Sitting down, he groaned internally when his mother turned to him, a worried expression on her face.

"Troy, darling where have you been?" she questioned. Then upon noticing his flushed face, she added, "Are you all right? You aren't coming down with something are you?" She reached her hand up and felt Troy's forehead.

"I'm fine, Mom," he muttered annoyed as he swiped her hand away. Could she possibly get anymore embarrassing? Oh, she could!

Rummaging through her handbag, she pulled out an old-fashioned thermometer and proceeded to stick the device in between Troy's lips. "Keep it in for a whole minute," she added sternly, as if she were speaking to a baby and not a junior in high school.

Troy rolled his eyes, and spit the thermometer out. He wasn't gonna keep this thing in his mouth. They were in public for God's sake.

"I told you, I'm fine," he said aggravated. He threw the thermometer back in the open bag on her lap and slumped down in his chair, his arms folded across his chest.

"Well, all right then," his mother muttered haughtily, as she turned back to the conversation she had been having with the others at their table.

.o.

Gabriella, who had been looking down pondering what Ryan had just asked, lifted her head back up and shyly looked into Ryan's eyes. His bright blue eyes danced with earnest eagerness as he awaited her answer.

Gabby gave him a huge smile and replied, "Sounds like a plan."

Ryan gave a huge sigh of fake relief and wiped invisible sweat off his brow. "Wow, for a minute there I thought you were gonna decline."

He smiled when she giggled. How he loved to make her laugh! It was odd how great he felt when he caused her to smile or laugh. He had never felt this way about anyone before. Could he really be falling for her?

"So, I'll come by your room say about… three-ish. There's a great ice cream parlor on the fifth floor. It's like an old-fashioned soda shop. It's amazing!" he babbled enthusiastically.

He looks so cute when he gets excited. "I can't wait," Gabby replied sincerely.

Me neither, Ryan realized. "Well I better get back to my table," he said sighing. Back to conversation about how wonderful the filet mignon is and how quaint the decorations are.

Gabby sighed as well. "Me too. But maybe we'll meet up again… later this evening," she added hopefully.

"Well we'll have to," Ryan replied his eyes twinkling. "You are my girlfriend for the evening. It would look odd if I didn't speak with you for the rest of the night."

Gabby blushed. She had completely forgotten about the whole thing. "Yes, very odd," she reasoned, nodding her head mock sincerely. "See you soon," she said, emphasizing soon.

With one last searing look, Ryan turned around and headed back to his table while Gabby sadly returned to hers.

.o.

Sharpay pulled herself up off the floor of the bathroom and sighed. I better go back now. She walked slowly out of the bathroom and down the hall. She reached her table and took a seat next to Ryan. She glanced over at Troy whose back was turned to her. She could tell that he knew she had come back in the room. His ears were tinted red with embarrassment. He must be as confused as I am.

"Where have you been Shar?" Ryan asked her.

"Oh, uh, the bathroom. Refreshing my makeup," she replied.

"By the way, Ry, you were awesome!" Sharpay added, leaning over to give Ryan a quick hug.

"Thanks," Ryan said beaming.

As soon as this moment passed, both of the Evans twins slipped into a comfortable silence, each sadly thinking about their parents. Ryan thinking about the fact that his parents were too busy to even acknowledge his performance and Sharpay thinking about the fact that her parents hadn't even noticed she had been in the bathroom for twenty minutes. And then they both thought, thank God they have each other.

.o.

Gabriella nibbled at the fancy meal before her wistfully watching the couples dancing about the ballroom section of the hall. How she longed to dance with Ryan. What a perfect Christmas moment. Slow dancing with Ryan to the pianist playing old-fashioned carols. She sighed happily at the thought of it.

Sharpay glanced over at Gabriella. She saw that she was admiring the pairs of dancers. Sharpay smiled and turned to Ryan, "Ryan, you should ask Gabriella to dance?"

"What?" Ryan said flustered, glancing over at Gabriella quickly. "I couldn't!"

"No you should! I guarantee she would say yes."

"Well maybe. I am her pretend boyfriend."

"What?"

"It's a long story."

"Okay," Sharpay said confused. "You can tell me later. Now go!" she whispered, giving him a small push in Gabby's direction.

Ryan propelled forward with Sharpay's push almost tripping, but regained his balance. He strode over to Gabriella.

Gabriella's eyes lit up when she saw Ryan heading over to her. Why is he coming over here?, she wondered excitedly.

"Uh, I was wondering if you'd like to dance… with me, you know since…" Ryan began but was interrupted.

"I'd love too!" Gabriella gushed out.

"Great," Ryan replied, sighing with relief.

He held his hand out to her and Gabriella took it, letting him lift her up out of the chair.

Still holding her hand, Ryan guided her over to the dance floor, finding an open spot.

When they reached the floor the pianist suddenly stopped. They glanced at each other, confused.

A man standing to the side of the dance floor with a microphone began to speak. "Thank you to our pianist, Melissa Grant. Now we have a very special guest who will be singing a variety of music for us this evening. Please welcome Henry Hutchinson."

Ryan and Gabriella clapped politely and noticed a whole band was being set up behind Henry. I guess the holiday music is over, Gabriella thought sadly. A poppy song with a mambo beat began to blast out from the band. This is not a slow dance, Gabriella thought nervously.

Ryan grinned. He excelled at fast-paced salsa dancing. The mambo, the tango, he could do it all. Wow, who would have thought all of those ballroom dancing classes I took with Sharpay would come in handy for anything besides school musicals.

"Ryan," Gabriella whispered. "I can't dance like this."

"Sure you can," he said encouragingly. "Come on, just follow my lead."

Feeling confident, Ryan stepped up to Gabriella, placing his right hand on her waist and holding his left arm out. Gabriella shuddered excitedly at Ryan's touch. Ryan met her eyes, smiling. "Now you put your left hand on my shoulder and your right hand will meet my left out here."

Gabriella did as she was told and as Henry began to sing, Ryan rocked back on his feet urging Gabriella to move her feet forward. "I go backwards you go forward, I go forward you go backwards," he instructed in a low voice.

Henry began to sing as the pair swayed to the music:

When marimba rhythms start to play

Dance with me, make me sway

Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore

Hold me close, sway me more

Ryan spun Gabriella out and then expertly pulled her back in, his hand on the small of her back as he held her close to him.

Gabriella fought back the urge to moan. Pressed up against Ryan, she felt ecstatic. She wanted to stay like this forever. Yet, Ryan pulled back, much to Gabby's disappointment and took both his hands in hers. He began to swivel his hips from side to side, his feet expertly moving to the beat, while Gabby tried to follow.

Like a flower bending in the breeze

Bend with me, sway with ease

When you dance you have a way with me

Stay with me, sway with me

Ryan guided Gabby's hands to his shoulders and he then brought his hands back to Gabby's waist, placing each hand on her hips. He leaned over and whispered into Gabriella's ear heavily, "You're doing great. Just feel the rhythm, move to it."

Other dancers may be on the floor

Dear, but my eyes will see only you

Only you have that magic technique

When we sway I go weak

Gabriella feeling more comfortable with the dancing, let go of her insecurities and began to move confidently to the music.

Ryan grinned at her. She was getting good. Now that she had let go of her inhibitions, he couldn't help but notice how sexily the Spanish beauty moved to the music.

I can hear the sounds of violins

Long before it begins

Make me thrill as only you know how

Sway me smooth, sway me now

The song continued on and soon the crowd was watching the blonde and Latina dancing together. They fit well together and the crowd could feel the passion and chemistry radiating from the pair.

Sharpay smiled. Ryan looked good. He always could dance so well. She knew by pushing him onto the dance floor, she could break him out of his shell. Gabriella won't be able to resist him now. I don't even have to worry about her anymore.

Troy watched Ryan and Gabriella. By the looks in their eyes, he could tell they wanted more than anything to just rip each other's clothes off. Why did he feel jealous about this? Did he still like Gabriella? But what about Sharpay? Arghhh, Troy thought angrily.

As the song came to an end, Ryan dipped Gabriella back smoothly and then brought her back up, bringing her back into him closely. They stood there, their bodies pressed up against each other, shining with sweat, He wondered if she could here his heart thumping wildly inside his chest. That was how close they were.

Their eyes met as they looked lustfully at each other. Both were breathing heavily, their hearts pounding in there heaving chests. They felt as if they were the only ones in the room. They didn't even notice the pairs of eyes that followed their every move. Uh, yeah, all eyes are on you, guys!

Ryan couldn't resist himself, he couldn't hold his emotions back. He was so attracted to her right now, so completely and utterly attracted to her. He was itching with the sexual frustration of it all. He wanted to rip that beautiful red dress of hers off right then and there. But hello, its not like he could!

Instead he settled for something a bit more innocent. Leaning forward, he captured her lips, his eyes closing with the sheer pleasure of it all. This was helping.

Gabriella gasped into Ryan's lips. She couldn't believe he was kissing her! She could feel that he wanted this, he needed this. The kiss was so powerful. She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the passionate kiss.

Holy crap, let's hope they can keep this PG, Troy thought bitterly. Why was this making him jealous? He didn't understand this at all.

Sharpay smiled devilishly. Oh I have absolutely nothing to worry about. Yet her smile faded when she saw how angry Troy looked at the couple's kiss.

Applause rung out from the Hall, the partygoers clapping for all of the pairs who had been dancing, but especially Ryan and Gabriella. The pair broke apart; each reddening as they finally (god they are so oblivious lol) realized everyone was watching them.

Well if anyone thought I was gay, they definitely know I'm not now, Ryan thought to himself, chuckling. So I just kissed Gabriella in front of the entire hotel? So what? I am her "boyfriend" after all.

Oh gosh, everyone just watched me have my first kiss, Gabriella thought. I hope it wasn't obvious.

Ryan grabbed Gabriella's hand and led her off the dance floor. "Follow me," he whispered to her as they walked into the hallway.

.o.

"That was so much better than Dirty Dancing!" a girl at the table next to Sharpay's exclaimed.

Sharpay giggled. Who knew Ryan would become such a stud!

The boy at Sharpay's table who had been staring longingly at her stood up and shyly walked up to Sharpay. He held his hand out to her and asked in a quiet voice, "Would you like to dance?"

Sharpay looked over at Troy who looked angered at the thought of Sharpay dancing with this boy. This is sure to make him forget about Gabriella.

"Love to," Sharpay said sweetly, taking his hand and letting him lead her to the floor.

She glanced back at Troy smiling smugly, and he glared back at her.

Two can play this game. Troy hopped out of his chair and looked around the room. Gabriella would have been the perfect person to make Sharpay jealous but she was nowhere to be found. He spotted a gorgeous girl sitting by herself. He walked up to her, flashing his signature smile. "Care to dance?" he asked, holding his arm out.

The girl smiled at him and took his arm. "OK," she murmured shyly, as he took her to the dance floor, purposefully choosing a spot near Sharpay and that bastard she was dancing with.

Both pairs began to dance as Henry began the next song:

You can dance-every dance with the guy

Who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight

You can smile-every smile for the man

Who held your hand 'neath the pale moonlight

But don't forget who's takin' you home

And in whose arms you're gonna be

So darlin' save the last dance for me

Sharpay flashed the boy a dazzling smile as they danced, causing him to blush furiously. Awww the poor thing has probably never had a girl like me pay attention to him. "What's your name?" she asked, flirting with him.

"Uh, Oliver, my name's Oliver," he answered stuttering slightly.

"Oliver," Sharpay repeated, biting her lower lip. "I like that name."

Oh I know that the music's fine

Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun

Laugh and sing, but while we're apart

Don't give your heart to anyone

But don't forget who's takin' you home

And in whose arms you're gonna be

So darlin' save the last dance for me

Troy glared over at Sharpay. She was doing this to annoy him. Troy took a look at the girl he was dancing with. She was very pretty, with her long brown hair and dazzling green eyes. He smiled at her. "I'm Troy. And you are-"

"Emma," the girl answered meekly.

"Nice to meet you."

He saw Sharpay brush her chest up against the lug's quivering body. Ok that's the last straw.

Fuming he left Emma and walked over to the boy, tapping him on the shoulder. "May I cut?" he asked, pushing him out of the way. He threw his arms angrily around Sharpay's waist and Sharpay shocked, placed hers around Troy's neck. I can't believe he just butted in. Poor Oliver. But Sharpay quickly forgot about Oliver and let Troy dance with her.

Baby don't you know I love you so

Can't you feel it when we touch

I will never ,never let you go

I love you oh so much

Sharpay shook herself. She couldn't give in so easily. She shrugged Troy off and walked back over to Oliver who had began dancing with Emma. "May I cut in?" she asked, grabbing Oliver's hands and placing them on her hips, resuming dance with him. Troy, shocked, stomped back over to Emma, and threw his arms around her waist, much to the girl's shock. Both pairs danced to the rest of the songs, looks of jealousy passing between Troy and Sharpay.

You can dance, go and carry on

Till the night is gone

And it's time to go

If he asks if you're all alone

Can he walk you home, you must tell him no

'Cause don't forget who's taking you home

And in whose arms you're gonna be

Save the last dance for me

'Cause don't forget who's taking you home

And in whose arms you're gonna be

So darling, save the last dance for me

Save the last dance for me

Save the last dance for me.

As soon as the song ended, Troy let go of Emma. "Thanks for dancing with me," he told her, sweetly. He felt a little guilty. But he was too angry right now to acknowledge his guilt. He charged over to Sharpay, grabbing her hand and pulling her away from Oliver.

"We need to talk, NOW!" he whispered furiously as he dragged her out of the room, leaving both Oliver and Emma stunned.

.o.

All right so some interesting things happened in this chapter! Haha. Hope you liked it! I thought it was time to heat things up a little bit more.

Next chapter: What will happen between our two favorite couples in the hallowed halls of the Lodge?