A/N: Sorry guys! This would have been out earlier but me and my computer had a serious falling out earlier today. I was writing chapter 15 of this story and was about to save it as I was going to go out for some food with the family :) but it crashed and completely lost everything. All 4000 words of it. So I nearly chucked it out of the window. But yet again thanks for the support it means alot :) I know alot of you are frustrated with how Troy + Gabriella aren't together but it's a part of the story, and its as strange to me as it is to you guys! I've never written anything where the two of them are not together before so it's definately different for me too!
It was a disaster.
The whole plan, the whole journey had been a total disaster. But the fact that things had gone wrong had brought a smile to Gabriella's face as weird as it had sounded. The rain was seeking vengeance on the 8 teenagers that were present. Taylor and Chad, Sharpay and Zeke, Kelsi Neilson and of course Troy had brought his 'new precious girlfriend' Demi. But Gabriella was generally a nice person, well she tried to be and she wasn't going to judge Demi. After all it wasn't her fault that she was going out with Gabriella's ex boyfriend whom she was still insanely in love with. Was it?
"Okay so who's fucked up idea was it to come here?" Sharpay asked with her hood tucked safely around her head and the slight peak of her dark hair was making an appearance. Still something Gabriella had to get used to though. Her teeth were clenched and chattering through the cold air. The 8 seniors had decided to gather in the largest tent to they could share 'body heat.' Which really meant that the people who were going out could basically have 'dry' sex and get away with it. And it was true in two out of three cases, Taylor was sat beside Chad, her head rested securely on his shoulder and his head was leant to rest on hers. And their hands were intertwined on his lap, and she was also wearing one of his sweaters. Sharpay was in Zeke's lap, they were so close the only way they would be closer was if she would melt into his skin. He had his arms wrapped around her torso.
But Demi and Troy didn't even look like they were going out. It was weird to Gabriella, foreign, different. After all when she and Troy were going out the two of them couldn't keep their arms from one another. If Gabriella was cold, well even if she wasn't cold he always had to be maintaining some kind of physical contact with her, even if it was just holding her hand. But Troy and Demi were sitting apart, well they were sat closely next to one another but Troy's hands were cupped together holding a cup of coffee, and the glances he was firing in Gabriella's direction went unnoticed by her.
"Well done Shar." Chad complained, his face set like stone from the cold.
Gabriella and her friend Kelsi Neilson were huddled together holding hands and cuddled together. Gabriella didn't like the cold, but it was weird that she was feeling it now because previously she hadn't, she had been numb to the cold. But now she was shivering. But she was here to enjoy the weekend. So she wasn't going to take the time to complain like Sharpay was.
"What I didn't think to check the fucking weather did I?" Typical Sharpay. She was the whole mastermind behind the operation and yet she was the one who was moping, moaning. Wanting to go home. "Jeez."
It was at that moment that Zeke's head lifted a little as it was resting on the top of Sharpay's and mouthed 'PERIOD' to the other 6 seniors, leaving Sharpay completely oblivious. There were quiet snickers echoing from the tent and Gabriella's mocha eyes sought out the hazel colour that was looking down to the floor. Away from her boyfriend. What? Why wasn't she insanely happy that she was sitting with Troy? But then her the mocha looked to the azure and as soon as she looked in his direction his eyes bored into hers and as quick as it happened he looked away. What was that?
But what confused Gabriella was the tense atmosphere that was hanging in the air, it was something that confused her. For all she knew there was no tension between her and anybody else but then she looked around and saw everybody just staring around in awkwardness. Gabriella bit down on her bottom lip and glanced over to Sharpay hoping to find some answers. Sharpay nodded at Gabriella slightly and then slyly motioned her head over to where Troy and Demi were sitting. Causing Gabriella to frown.
"Soooo Um...." Sharpay practically sung making everyone look into her direction probably silently thanking her for stopping the tense atmosphere. "Chad did you bring the DVD player?"
And then Chad bit down on his bottom lip and closed his eyes as if he was mentally kicking himself. "I sort of forgot."
Yup, point proven.
"Fucking fabulous. So we're sitting in a tent with no entertainment. When it's raining cats and fucking dogs. Does anybody even have a deck of cards?" Sharpay complained.
Gabriella stifled a giggle earning a glare from Sharpay. Gabriella surrendered holding up her hands. "I'm sorry but have you ever played a game of cards in your life?"
"Gabriella. Shut up." Sharpay insulted with a smirk on her face. "That is besides the point."
"Well we'll take the cars and go home? What's the problem?" Gabriella asked shrugging her shoulders and a smile appearing on her face. For the first time in a long time she was starting to feel like things were looking up. A few weeks ago she was left bleeding, open wounds leaving a trail of blood everywhere, but now slowly but surely she was being stitched together, by the people she was calling her best friends. Plus or minus a couple of people. But of course she wasn't giving any names.
"No!" Sharpay practically screamed. "This is about yo.... I mean us and we're having a weekend of fun."
The start of the word you didn't go unnoticed by Gabriella who rose her eyebrows and closed her eyes at the comment. "Shar you said it yourself its training cats and dogs and we have no entertainment."
Sharpay pretended to look hurt by the comment, her mouth gaped open and her hand flew up to her chest to almost cradle the organ that pumped blood around her small body. "You're not having fun?"
Taylor and Chad seemed to be entranced with their own conversation or whispers of sweet nothings into each other's ears. Gabriella knew that they were going to be making a run for it sooner or later. "Um it's clear that you're not."
"Of course I'm not it feels so awkward in this fucking tent that I need some air." Uh oh. Gabriella's eyes closed painfully. "Yes I said it. So now I'm gonna go outside and catch pneumonia." She added in a cheery tone and stood up quickly from her place on Zeke's knee and unzipped the tent and stepped out into the blistering cold and the wind immediately gushed through the open gap and made Gabriella shiver.
"I thought it was just me." Gabriella commented referring to the tense atmosphere.
"You alright?" Gabriella's eyes widened to saucers at the source of the husky voice that was concerned for her welfare. But what Gabriella then noticed how his eyes were locked with almost.... she couldn't pinpoint it, it was like a mixture of apprehension, fear and almost... love? But that was bizarre, but then Gabriella noticed how the hazel eyes narrowed and glared at her boyfriend before then turning to give Gabriella a look. A look that almost said 'if looks could kill.'
Gabriella nodded solemnly before gazing at Chad who seemed to be staring intently at Troy and Demi trying to almost read the thoughts that were going through the two of their minds but Gabriella didn't exactly need any super powers to know that Demi wasn't happy. It was written on the slight frown lines on her orange face. Gabriella almost mentally kicked herself for saying that. She had told herself that she wouldn't judge Demi, but it seemed that Demi had judged her. That she didn't like her. Gabriella wasn't stupid, she knew it every time she would pass her in the hallway or sit on the same table with her at lunch.
Demi didn't like her.
Gabriella cleared her throat. "I'm gonna.... get some air." She pointed to the tents opening and crawled out. But as soon as she began to crawl out of the gap and was immediately greeted by the bitter cold and she pulled the hoodie that she was wearing closer to her petite body. But before Gabriella climbed to her feet she heard the boom of Demi's voice asking Troy "What the hell was that?"
Great.
Fantastic weekend this was gonna be.
"SHAR?" Gabriella called, her hair was instantly soaked wet through and she could barely see where she was walking from the heavy rain that was pelting down on the ground. "SHARPAY?"
And then there was two startling hands that were placed on Gabriella's shoulders, causing her to jump out of her skin and turn around almost punching the person who was standing behind her. Only when realization dawned on her that it was Sharpay the fear subsidised. "Gotcha!" Sharpay screeched with a giggle. "HA"
Gabriella broke out into a grin.
"Come on let's walk and talk." Sharpay spoke rapidly and latched onto Gabriella's arm, the two of them walked through the rain that seemed to be getting heavier.
"Oh I don't know its raining cat's and dog's." Gabriella had to shout over the torrential weather.
"Ha fucking ha." Sharpay ran her hand through the air in Gabriella's direction causing her to giggle a little. "I like this." Sharpay commented honestly with her high cheek bones tight indicating her signature smirk was on her face. "The sound of your laugh. I'm gonna go all corny on you now so you should appreciate it."
"Oh my god, Sharpay going soppy. Did I just see a pig fly?" It was a rarity. Sharpay was normally so upfront so blunt, and if she had a problem with somebody then the poor person would know about it straight away. Like the previous moment in the tent where she hadn't even flinched to tell everybody else that there was an atmosphere. It was a side of Sharpay that Gabriella loved, but sometimes it did get a little annoying and most of the time it did more bad than it would good.
"Shut your pie hole." Sharpay playfully insulted. "But seriously, it's nice to see you happy again."
"I wouldn't say happy but, seriously trying. And hopefully I'll get there." Gabriella sighed deeply. She made a split second decision and reached up and pulled the hood down from her head, letting the rain drench her, although Sharpay was staring at her like she was an alien. "It's nice to just feel. I was so used to walking around like a shell, it's just nice. I can feel the rain."
"Yeah but if you can feel the rain what else can you feel?" The other thing about Sharpay was that she wasn't stupid. She may have acted stupid and may have lacked a personal quality called 'common sense' but she had an unusual incentive into other people's lives and could read people like a book, which was a bad thing when it came to Gabriella.
Gabriella stopped in her tracks at the edge of a hill and sat down on the top of it and hung her legs over the edge."Alot of horrible things. This is um, where I was sitting when I told Troy that my dad had cancer again."
"That was the last time we were here right?" Sharpay sat down next to Gabriella, she could feel the wet soaking through her jeans but she didn't care.
"Uh huh. We talked it through and we decided not to tell any of you because we were having a good weekend together." It was the first time she had told anybody this, not even Chad. She hadn't wanted to ruin anybody's weekend and she had told Chad that she had found out on the Monday that they got back, her mother had been involved of course and Chad's parents. She didn't want to upset anybody.
"Wow I never knew." Sharpay shook her head.
"Hey it's freezing out here what are you two doing?" Another voice entered the conversation. Both Gabriella and Sharpay turned around to see Taylor walking towards the two of them with one of Chad's 'wildcats' sweatshirts.
"Just having a chitty chat." The brunette commented before turning around and looking into what around 9 months ago was a beautiful view. And now you couldn't even see it because of the mist and steam that was condensing from the rain. "You wanna join us?"
"I'll take anything than being sat in that tent. It's like world war 3 seriously." Guilt immediately swept down onto Gabriella's small body. She had been the one to cause the argument with Demi and Troy. But she didn't do anything wrong did she? It wasn't like she was asking Troy to sleep with her or anything. Infact she didn't even open her mouth. She had just said that she had realized there was a tense atmosphere and Demi had stared at her like she had around 5 heads growing from her shoulders.
"They fighting?" Gabriella asked timidly.
"I wouldn't say fighting. More she's ranting and he's just sat there, like not even listening. Seriously Kelsi and Chad are really just watching in amazement." Taylor added with a chuckle.
"What about Zeke?" Sharpay casually asked about her boyfriend. Gabriella knew he was neutral in every single situation that he was faced with.
"He's gone into the other tent to grab food. Kind of trying to get out of it I think." Taylor took a seat on the other side next to Gabriella. "I don't even understand why she started having a rant at him. He just asked if you were okay."
"Oh whatever she can kiss my ass. Seriously I don't even like her. I just said that Troy could bring her out of common courtesy or whatever it is. It's making me angry having to see the two of them I really can't imagine how you're feeling." Gabriella could feel both pairs of eyes on her from either side.
But Gabriella stayed silent.
"Um, Gab I think that's your cue to say how you are feeling sweetie." Taylor reached over and placed a comforting hand on Gabriella's knee that she now hugged to her chest.
"It's kinda weird." Gabriella's eyebrows furrowed.
"We're a couple of weirdo's too so you can explain." Sharpay shrugged.
"Hey speak for yourself." Taylor retorted. "Come on."
"I don't know. It's like they're together but when we were in the tent I just I felt like he was looking at me. But I don't know I might just be imagining things. But even though they're together they don't act like it." Gabriella became frustrated with herself not knowing how to form words. She was 17 years old she had mastered the art of the English language around 15 and a half years ago.
"Like it's completely different with the two of them?" Sharpay asked quickly.
"No I just I don't know." Gabriella viciously pulled at the soaking wet grass trying to dissolve of her frustration.
"But honey, that doesn't answer how you're feeling." Gabriella hated being 'shrinked' , she hated that people would attempt to draw feelings out of her, feelings that she didn't like to talk about. She tried to repress all of her pain that she had been feeling but repressing it didn't seem to be working anymore. Thinking through it and maybe even thinking out loud were making her feel better. But she didn't tell anybody, she would more or less talk about it herself.
That changed when she and Troy weren't going out anymore. Gabriella had always been a secretive person, but when she had a bad day or was feeling bad Troy wouldn't bug her, he would just hold her and she would let herself be comforted by somebody else strength, and she would always let him pick her up off of the floor but now she didn't have that so she had to do it alone.
"It hurts, I'm not gonna lie about that. Knowing that it's really over between the two of us and it always will be. And it hurts to know that he doesn't want me anymore." She added a sad giggle and quickly felt moisture in her eyes threatening to fall down her face. "But I just want him to be happy and if he is then that's really all that matters."
"Even if you aren't happy?" Gabriella turned to glare at Sharpay. "Hey I'm sorry but, you can't always so selfless Gab you need to think of yourself for once in a while."
"She's right. It's hardly ever true but she's right. Have you ever thought about other guys or whatever?" Gabriella's eyes narrowed on Taylor, she immediately felt hurt by the comment.
"Tay it's been what 7 and a half months? Can you really expect me to be over a 2 and a half year relationship in that amount of time?" Well Troy had, so why couldn't she? That was the only thought that was circling her brain. Was there something wrong with her? Was she unable to deal with the heartache of breaking up? Because it had only started to fade a couple of months ago.
"Gabriella, Brad was with Jen one day and then over her and in Angelina's bed the next." Gabriella knew what they were getting at, the wanted her to move on from Troy, they had wanted that ever since he and Demi had gotten together and it had basically been finalized that Troy and Gabriella were no more. But she didn't know if she was ready to, she didn't want to let go. But she knew she had to. "Honey I'm gonna ask you something now and I want you to be honest with me, kay?"
Gabriella nodded.
"Do you still love him?"
The question was so easy to answer but yet so complicated. Yes. Her heart was screaming. Yes she did still love him, she knew she shouldn't. After all it had been 7 months there was no need for her to love him anymore he had moved on. He had a new fucking girlfriend for God's sake. "Yeah." But as soon as the words left her lips she tried to justify herself. "Look I know that I shouldn't okay. He's moved on. Whatever but it's hard. If I tell you guys something will you swear you won't tell anybody. Not even Chad, Tay."
"I promise." The two of them revealed.
"Um, around 2 weeks after Troy and I broke up. I'd just been to the hospital with my dad for some chemo and it went badly. He was throwing up and he was really sick. I um, I called Troy to come pick me up. And we went to his house and we um......"
"No way!" Sharpay knew what Gabriella was going to say but Taylor silenced her with her hands.
"You.... what... honey?" Taylor asked in a kind voice.
"We um... we slept together." Gabriella had never told anybody that before. She had wanted to, but after it had happened the two had agreed that they shouldn't have told anybody. She had kept it silenced until then.
"Oh god." Taylor's hand flew up to her mouth.
"I'll kill the bastard." Sharpay tried to stand up but Gabriella's hand immediately flew to her knee to stop her.
"Guys stop. It wasn't like he forced me trust me it was a mutual agreement. But we agreed not to tell anyone. I wanted to tell you guys trust me I did but I just.... part of me was hanging on y'know?" The tears pricked her vision. After the two of them had slept together she had hoped they would get back together, she really did but nothing had become of it. Troy had just said that he thought it would be best if they hadn't told anybody. But she didn't know whether it was for his welfare or hers.
"So he um.... slept with you and then didn't tell anybody about it so he didn't have to get back together with you?" Taylor examined the situation.
Gabriella nodded.
"So he used you really?" Sharpay said bluntly.
The words caused Gabriella to wince, she had never really admitted it but it seemed that he had. But every single syllable that had just left Sharpay's mouth stung. Gabriella's head hung down and she felt tears escape the prisons and make their way down her porcelain face. The other two girls must have noticed because there was suddenly a soothing hand on her back that wasn't there before.
"Gab I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just hate that he's hurt you. Okay?" By now the rain had subsided a little. And it was just slight pitter patter's on the ground. But Gabriella didn't care, she was already soaked.
"I know and I hate it too but you gotta move on don't you?"
Deep down that's what she was trying to do.
"Hey shit heads you're gonna catch fucking pneumonia out here get back over here now!" Chad ordered from the tent that was a few meters away from the three girls. Just as far away so they wouldn't hear a word that they had just been talking about.
"Let's go face the bastard." But Gabriella's eyes grew two sizes too big. "Don't worry I won't mention anything."
2 days had passed and Gabriella couldn't have been happier that she was going home. The whole two days had been filled with a tense atmosphere and awkwardness even between the people who were supposed to be best friends. Demi hadn't really breathed two words to Gabriella, but she didn't really know why. She hadn't done anything to offend her. But clearly she must have been intimidated by her. Like she had a clue why. But she wasn't going to lose sleep over it, she had lost sleep over more important things that wasn't going to be in there.
"I feel like shit." Sharpay complained her voice congested as she grabbed a pink sweater and shoved it in one of her bags.
"Me too." Gabriella moaned, throwing her head back.
Infact all Taylor, Sharpay and Gabriella herself had caught a cold, well it wasn't a cold it seemed more like flu. The previous day the three of them had been wrapped up in blankets all day, shivering even when the sun was out. But really who decided to go camping in the middle of February?
Troy was standing in the corner of the large tent with Demi. They had used the largest tent to sit in it together and Gabriella had left most of her sweaters and things in there, so while the gang were doing the last little bit of packing Gabriella was collecting her things.
"Oh shit I left my shoes in the other tent, I'll be back." Sharpay commented before rushing out of the large tent.
"Ohh god." Gabriella moaned, sitting down on the chair, feeling a little dizzy and holding her head in her hands.
"You okay?" Troy asked from the other side of the tent, but Gabriella's head felt too heavy that she couldn't even lift it. She couldn't find her tongue, she opened her dry mouth to speak but nothing came out. Instead she just stuck out her thumb in the direction of where the voice was coming from. "You don't look it."
Gabriella just put up her thumb again.
"Well if she wasn't attention seeking on Friday night then she wouldn't be feeling like this." Another voice insulted right from where Troy was standing. The voice caused Gabriella's head to shoot up but a round of pain shot through her neck and into her head.
"Dem.." Troy warned
"Excuse me?" Gabriella cut him off.
"You heard me. If you hadn't have craved the attention on Friday night you wouldn't be sick right now would you?" Demi said in a patronising tone.
Gabriella didn't know what was happening to her. Although she did feel a manic laugh slip through her lips. And then it happened again. "Well um... I guess we both know where we stand now huh?" Gabriella giggled again, although it was the furthest thing from funny.
Demi just nodded at her.
"Um... okay. So.... if you'll excuse me." Gabriella added sarcastically and began walking out of the tent.
The cold air whipped over her small body, making the hairs on her arms stand up. But she still let the giggle slip through her lips as she walked over to the edge of the hill where she hung her legs over again. Still giggling.
"Is this seat taken?" A husky voice asked from above her.
Gabriella stopped giggling for a millisecond. "Um, go ahead. Be my guest."
Troy folded his legs and sat down beside her, probably much closer than he should have been sat, their bodies were almost touching. "Gabriella I'm...."
"Don't apologize for your psychotic girlfriend its fine." Gabriella smiled and then looked out into the distance and she swatted away his apology with her hand.
"She shouldn't have spoken to you like that...." Troy began.
"Yeah she shouldn't have but you" She used her index finger to jab into Troy's arm at the word 'you' causing him to smile. "Shouldn't have to apologize for her. She doesn't like me I get it."
"Gab I don't think it's that..."
"Troy don't make excuses for her okay? I'm not jealous. Okay well I think I'd be lying if I told you that I wasn't the littlest bit jealous. But she seems strangely jealous of me." At this point Gabriella shrugged her thin shoulders. "I don't know why. I mean we're over but..."
"I kinda wanted you to get along." He shook his head slightly.
"Troy, we're not in a fairy tale okay? Not everybody gets along. And it so happens that you're current girlfriend doesn't like you're ex girlfriend. It isn't the first time it's happened. Trust me I won't beat myself up about it." She assured him.
"I know I just..."
"Don't worry about it okay? I don't need your girlfriend to like me to get through the day. It's just gonna be a little awkward that's all. Kinda feel sorry for you really. But whatever. I'm not sweating about it." Gabriella explained patting his thigh slightly.
"I'll talk to her..." He started, shaking his head.
Gabriella chuckled a little. "Troy don't try to make things right, and don't try and make excuses for her, you know this one really isn't gonna play out the way you want it too. So really don't sweat it."
"TROY CAN I TALK TO YOU FOR A MINUTE?" Troy's 'keeper's voice shouted from the tent the two of them had emerged from.
Both the seniors turned around to see Demi standing out of the tent with one of Troy's hoodies on her hands placed on her hips. Gabriella's eyebrows rose amusingly. "Oh she is not happy" She murmured causing Troy to smile a little. A smile that probably shouldn't have crossed his face. "You don't wanna keep her waiting. You should go."
And it wasn't the first time that Troy chose Demi over Gabriella.
But it was going to be that way from now on, wasn't it? And Gabriella had to get used to that.
