Closed Book
Disclaimer: I do not own HSM
AN: you guys are pretty lucky to get soooo many updates in just one day! It's cause I'm impatient so I just post 'em as I write 'em! Nine chapters in 3 days... I'd say thats impressive.
Troy Bolton
Gabriella just told me she likes me and without even thinking I told her I like her too. Wow.
"You don't need to say that just to spare my feelings" What will it take to convince this girl I like her.
I grab her shoulders and shake her lightly. "Gabriella! I like you okay? I really like you! What else would explain way I talk to you so much?"
"You're just incredibly polite." Good god women!
"No, I'm not. Have you even seen me have more than a 3 minute conversation with any other girl? Why are you trying to convince yourself that I don't like you when I'm right her telling you I do?"
"Because there is nothing to like about me…"
"You really don't see yourself clearly."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means look in a mirror! What isn't there to like about you! You're gorgeous, smart, funny, incredibly nice, care about everyone else and never cease to amaze me!" Did I just say that out loud? By the look on your face I would say that I did and that she's finally convinced.
"Well, you aren't so bad yourself." Which makes me wonder…?
"Why do you like me?"
"Hmm… I don't really know." Fair enough. "Kidding! I'm kidding! I like everything about you. You're the only person I've ever been able to talk to, like really talk to. You funny, nice, patient, everything. Didn't I mention before about how perfect you were?" It's true, she did yell at me for being perfect. I laugh at the memory.
Before I can reply she speaks again "Oh, and it probably doesn't hurt that you are incredibly good-looking"
"Thanks." Oh god, what am I supposed to say now?
Saved by the text! Gabriella's phone vibrated.
"Oh shit! It's my mom, she's wondering where I am. I'm never late after school. I gotta go"
And she's gone before I can finish saying "See ya."
I don't know what to do now. Do I ask her out? Do we continue on as if nothing happened? Should I have kissed her? What does she want? What do I want?
And the answer to these all these questions: I DON'T KNOW!
Maybe I should ask her what she wants. Maybe once I know what she wants I will be able to figure out what I want. Is that the right thing to do?
I guess I could ask Chad for advice…
This is not going to end well.
"Who is it?" Oh great, I caught him in a good mood. Who answers their phone like that?
"Chad, its Troy." I'm going to regret this…
"Oh hey man, what's going on?"
"Nothing really… do you have time to talk?" Man I sound like a girl.
"Is that Troy?" I heard that from the background. Sounds as if Chad's with Taylor; great.
"Yes it's Troy." Chad's talking to her now.
"Oh, give me the phone" Hmm, Taylor wants to talk to me…
"Troy?"
"Yeah?" Where could this be leading?
"Did Gabriella talk to you?"
"Yes…"
"What did she tell you?"
"Uhh…look Taylor it's kind of between me and Gabriella"
"Oh, so she told she likes you right?" How do girls do that?
"Uhhh…"
"Good. And you obviously like her too." Screw it.
"Yes."
"So did you ask her out?"
"Well actually that's why I called Chad"
"Did you listen to that sentence? You called Chad for girl advice? But anyways, you have to ask her out."
"Are you sure that's what she wants?"
"She's a girl. It's what she wants." But Gabriella isn't just a girl.
"Okay… thanks Taylor." I'm still not sure.
"No problem Troy. Hurt her and I'll kill you. I gotta go." She hung up. She needn't worry though; if I hurt her I'll kill myself.
So today is a new day and I am going to ask Gabriella Montez on a date. Wish me luck…
"Gabriella!" She turns in my direction and smiles.
"Hey Troy."
"So look, I was wondering if maybe you were free tonight?"
"I am" Yes!
"Would you like to do out for dinner or something?"
"With you?" No, with Chad. Yes with me!
"Unless there's someone else you'd prefer?" We are flirting again. I love the fine art of flirting.
"Hmm… you'll do." And just like that I have a date with Gabriella.
"Great, I'll pick you up at seven?" Why do dates always start at like seven or eight? I mean I usually eat at like four or five! Now I'm expected to wait until seven? Who made up these rules?
"Seven sounds perfect." No it doesn't; it sounds late. I'll just eat something small beforehand.
"See you then." She smiles and now I'm probably the happiest man on earth!
Okay, it's 6:30. I gave in and had a sandwich at 5. Oh well, I'm a guy I can eat all night. I'm dressed and ready to go; now all that I'm waiting on is the tick of the clock.
I swear it's been like 10 minutes yet the clock only says 6:32. This could go on for a while. Do you think she will mind if I'm early? Yes Bolton, you don't want to see too eager. Maybe I'll brush my teeth…again.
6:50. Perfect. I'm out of here.
I'm at her house. Deep breathe and knock.
There should be a law against looking the way she does. Maybe I shouldn't drive. I'm definitely intoxicated. I suppose the law only applies to being intoxicated by illegal substances? This just reinforces my earlier statement of how looking like that should be illegal.
"Hey." Her voice is beautiful too.
"Hi, you look great."
"Thanks, you too." I doubt anyone will be looking at me when she's by my side.
"You ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." She sounds nervous. Or maybe annoyed? I don't know.
"Let's go then."
It was nice to fall into regular conversation rather than being all awkward on the drive to the restaurant. I chose a restaurant not too casual but also not too fancy – I hate fancy.
"I don't think I can eat all this. There's just so much food" Oh man, don't tell me she's one of those 'I'll just have half of a salad with no dressing' type girls.
I took my eyes off her face to look at the plates for the first time. Man! That is a lot of food. I don't think I'll be able to finish it all. Sandwich was a bad idea. "Restaurants do tend to over-feed people"
"I have a confession to make." She doesn't like me. I knew it!
"Okay…"
"I ate earlier. It's just seven is so late and I was starving! I mean how was I supposed to wait seven hours from lunch time before I got another meal! I'm so sorry." I chuckled.
"Gabi, I did the exact same thing! The only reason I said seven for this date is because that seems like the automatic date-time you know?" This time she chuckled.
"So it's decided. All future dinner dates we have will be at a more reasonable time!" Future dinner dates? Good sign.
"Deal. Do you want to eat any of this?" Please say yes, I am still a little hungry.
"Yes! I didn't eat that much before we came."
"Same" We barely finished half of our food before we both got full.
"Finished?" I ask her.
"If I eat anymore it's possible I will burst."
"Alright." I see a passing waitress. "Excuse me. Could we have our bill please?"
"Sure thing. Or would you like to look at a dessert menu?"
"NO!" Me and Gabriella both yell and confuse the waitress.
"Just the bill then."
"Thank you." I turn back to Gabriella.
"Thanks for dinner Troy. I had a great time."
"You don't think this date is over already do you?"
"It isn't?"
"Of course not! You can't possibly think this is all I am capable of?" Give me some more credit than that!
"Honestly I didn't know what to expect."
"That's okay."
I pay the bill and lead Gabriella back to my car to make the second part of our date.
"Where are we going?"
"Just this place I know."
"You just moved here. How could you possibly know of any place?"
"Well, I was mad at my parents for making me move so I refused to help them move in. Immature, I know. Anyways, so I couldn't be around the house as they moved in but I didn't know anyone yet so I kind of went exploring. I came across this sweet little place and spent many hours there while my parents moved us in."
"Why were you mad to move?" It appears it's my turn for secret sharing. Unfortunately for her it isn't too juicy.
"Truth is, I thought life couldn't get any better than at my old place. I mean I had so many friends and everything was just perfect you know? Typical overused, spoiled teenager movie plot."
"Do you still talk to your old friends?"
"Not really… I did at first. But then I met everyone here like you and Chad. I realized that you guys are what friends are supposed to be and that my friends back home were just people. I didn't really like them. They weren't what friends are supposed to be. My friends here are real friends."
"But remember I'm not your friend."
"That's a good thing"
"Why is that a good thing?" She looks offended.
"It's a good thing because I don't date my friends. And because then the girl can't use that line 'I don't want to date you because it will ruin our friendship'. See problem solved…we have no friendship to ruin."
"But what if this doesn't work out." She would think of the negatives.
"I don't see any reason why it won't work out."
"Me neither" Smiles all around. "So, does this mean that we are officially dating?"
"If you want to be." I know I do.
"That is exactly what I want." Good.
"Well in that case I should cancel the rest of my dates lined up for this week."
"That's a joke right?" She had to ask?
"Of course!" We turn the last corner and my 'place' comes into view. "We're here."
I stop the car and look at her to catch every second of her expression.
"Oh Troy…" Ahhh. Just the expression I was looking for.
AN: What's Troy's secret place? How will dating go for them? Will they kiss? What will their friends think? Will Gabriella be able to stay open about her thoughts and feelings? Stay tuned…
