Fuck Sharpay for getting home first.
Gabriella ran her fingers through her wet hair. She shifted her chocolate eyes to watch Sharpay on the other side of the room through the mirrored closet doors. By the time she and Kelsi had walked back from the gym, Sharpay was just getting out of the shower. Now she was applying some sort of gel to her rib-length blonde hair to make it wavy. Gabriella smiled as she looked back at herself and her dark wet waves. There was something she could hold over Blondie's head.
Yes. Because possessing wavy hair is a valuable trait.
Sliding the closet door open, she knelt down to find a pair of red flats to match the cardigan she had on over her Rachel Pally wrap dress. As she slid it on she caught movement in the mirror. Sharpay was rifling through one of her suitcases in a pair of skinny jeans and a white camisole. Gabriella rolled her eyes. If that was how Blondie wanted to make her first impression, so be it. She picked her Vera Wang Lavender Label ballet flats out of the closet.
"New Girl."
Gabriella turned to see Kelsi standing in the doorframe- hair already dried and straightened, wearing a pair of black leggings and a long-sleeved Rag & Bone raglan sweatshirt. Gabriella straightened herself up and slid into her flats, raising an eyebrow as they made eye contact. She could have sworn that there was a hint of mischief in her green eyes, but Kelsi looked over at Sharpay before Gabriella could be positive.
"Troy says he's actually skipping dinner so you shouldn't bother waiting for him outside."
Any trace of excitement left her face. "Oh. Um-"
"But he said something about meeting him at a river… Or a pond? It was some body of-"
Gabriella tried not to glare as Sharpay's face lit back up. "Lake?"
Kelsi pointed a manicured finger vaguely. "Mmm, that's it."
Sharpay smiled, pulling out a dark red knit sweater Gabriella guessed was Free People from her suitcase and sliding her arms into it. Gabriella looked over at Kelsi, who, sensing her disappointment, gave her an apologetic shrug. This was supposed to be her going on late night walks with Troy. Her pretending to be cold so that Troy would put his arm around her. Her kissing Troy under the stars.
Not that she was jealous of Blondie or anything.
She hadn't even realized that she had floated off into Gabriella Bolton dream world until Sharpay's voice disturbed her thoughts. "And he'll meet me?"
"He said you'd know the way."
"Right." Blondie bit her lip, her feet now covered with a pair of black Uggs. Gabriella's mind nearly exploded. She owned Uggs. She would have to make sure those things got nowhere near her Louboutins. "Thank you."
"No problem." Kelsi droned, seeming bored with the message she'd been asked to relay.
"I'll, um…" Sharpay started, looking from Gabriella to Kelsi. "Go now."
Gabriella lowered her eyebrows as Sharpay tucked her iPhone into her back pocket and scurried out the door. Die die die.
"Come on, let's get some food in you." Kelsi sighed at Gabriella's exasperated face and walked towards her, she linked her arm with hers and pulled her towards the door. Gabriella grabbed her phone from her dresser and gripped it tightly, pretending it was Sharpay's overly golden head.
/
Sharpay was thankful that the sky wasn't completely black yet as she took a few steps into the woods behind one of the school buildings. She wasn't sure if she knew exactly the way to the lake Troy had led her to earlier, but she figured she would manage. She stepped over a small log, practically bouncing with excitement. Troy wanted to meet her at his special place. He clearly liked her. It was the only explanation. Why else would he bring her to the place he had only ever brought his ex-girlfriend to. The thought of Tiara made her slightly intimidated, but if Troy thought that Sharpay was worthy enough to bring to the lake, maybe she had nothing to worry about.
/
"Who the hell does Albuquerque think she is?" Gabriella whined, unable to keep a cool appearance now that Sharpay was off gallivanting with Troy and Kelsi was the only one by her side. She ignored the whispers of the other girls coming from their dorms as they walked along the cobblestone path that led across the quad to the cafeteria. She could tell all of the Theory and Ralph Lauren clad students were trying to seem casual as they eaves-dropped on the conversation, hoping to learn information that would earn them gossip points when they retold it to their friends.
"Perhaps talking to Troy has given her a bit too much confidence." Kelsi said, sliding her phone closed and holding it in her palm.
"The girl can't even form a sentence around me. What does he see in her?"
"It's called transference. Because he had been with Tiara since what- age 13?- his affections have been pulled towards the first new object he sees after losing her."
Gabriella sucked in a deep breath. "So technically, if I, god forbid, had been the one to move from Albuquerque, he'd be wanting me and not Barbie?"
Kelsi nodded. "More or less. He doesn't really like Sharpay. He's just being drawn subconsciously towards her. Tiara had blonde hair, right? Well the way I see it, Sharpay's hair triggered some sort of… emotional time warp… that's transferring all of his emotions in the past to his psychological need to have a girlfriend in the present."
"God Sigmund Freud, did you do research or something?"
"I may have done a research paper on the topic for Psych last year, but that's beside the point." The corner of Kelsi's lip turned upward and Gabriella let out a soft laugh. "Troy hasn't been alone since freshman year. His brain is tricking him into believe that Sharpay is what he needs."
"But-" Gabriella let out a frustrated grunt. As accurate as the information was, she just didn't believe it. She couldn't. She wouldn't let herself. Even though Kelsi's words were suggesting that Troy wasn't really attracted to Sharpay in the least and it was all a mind game he didn't know he was a part of. And that was a very, very good thing. "I mean, Martha has blonde hair. Why wouldn't he just transfer onto her? Or one of the seniors? Lily or Brooke or-"
"Because he's used to Martha. To Brooke and Lily- who doesn't even have blonde hair, by the way. They're already a part of his life, as friends, not someone he finds himself attracted to."
Gabriella's eyes grew wide. She suddenly felt pathetic and useless. Two feelings she never felt. Nonetheless, if she did, they were not expressed through her voice or eyes. She couldn't help it. "So basically, it's the same thing for me then? I'm already in his life. He already sees me as a friend. And if he isn't attracted to me, then what the fuck chance do I have?"
Her voice squeaked as the sentence came out, and Kelsi grabbed her arm, stopping her walk. A few girls couldn't help but stare at the two friends as they walked around them. Gabriella pulled her arms away, crossing her arms over her chest. Kelsi's green eyes bore into her chocolate ones. "Gabriella Montez, I know you are not thinking of giving up. This girl is kicking you out of the race and you're just going to throw in the towel? You'd be killed in the modeling world, G. You know how many times I've had to fight for a job?" Gabriella blinked, finding it hard to believe that gorgeous Kelsi would have to even try to get a job. She was shorter than other models, sure, but what she lacked in inches she made up for in cheekbones. "Are you going to let this girl turn into Queen Bee as you become number two?"
Gabriella raised an eyebrow at her friend. "You're number two in the present."
Kelsi stood up taller, straightening her shoulders. "I know. And if you become number two I'll become number three. And I don't think I'd fit very well into Martha's small shoes."
A moment of silence passed. Gabriella stared at Kelsi. Kelsi stared at Gabriella. Then the two burst out into a fit out laughter. As soon as Gabriella could form a sentence, she nudged Kelsi's arm with her elbow, leading her back in the direction of the cafeteria. "Alright, you win. Tomorrow I'll launch my full scale effort on Operation-Goodbye-New-Girl."
"That operation could be in effect sooner than you think.."
Gabriella had no idea what Kelsi meant. But she absolutely loved the sound of it. The sooner Sharpay was out the better.
/
Sharpay reached the open space of the lake in about ten minutes. She knew the only reason she had gotten there was so fast was because she had become impatient and excited and broke into a sprint through the trees. It was amazing she'd even gone in the right direction. She took a few steps over the dirt and looked around, disappointed when she didn't see Troy or his perfection anywhere. Sharpay took a breath and walked towards the dock. She had probably left before he did, and the running didn't help the time difference, either. She pulled out her phone, maybe she could talk to Jimmie for a while before Troy came.
No service.
Sharpay bit the inside of her cheek. She had had service earlier that day. It had only been one bar, but still, it was enough to receive Jimmie's text. Suddenly she felt stranded. She walked towards the dock slowly, counting the dark, cold seconds until Troy would come and keep her company.
Hopefully he'd bring a blanket.
/
Gabriella pushed open the heavy oak door to the cafeteria, taking a step inside and out of the light drizzle that had started to fall from the dark, clouded sky above. She felt a cool breeze as the door closed and Kelsi stepped in beside her. Her dark eyes fell onto their normal table. She saw Ryan nodding over at the two of them, at which Kelsi flashed a grin. She saw Taylor's head buried in a different book than she had been reading at lunch. She saw Chad and Zeke too busy stuffing their faces to acknowledge anyone else. She saw Martha laughing at some story that Jason was using his hands to tell. Before she could take another step, she saw what could possibly be the best thing she had seen all day. Troy. Without Sharpay. Sharpay-less. Lack of a blonde lackey at his side. However you phrased it, it was amazing. It was like Christmas came early.
Ho, ho, hoe.
He was twirling a spoonful of sauce-covered pasta on a fork, looking at his bowl while nodding his head at Ryan, who was now explaining something to him. Gabriella stared at the back of his shaggy, brown head for a few more seconds, admiring him, before turning her head to Kelsi, who once again stood taller in a pair of black booties.
"I thought you said-"
"Sooner than you think, remember?" Kelsi whispered while texting on her phone, a smirk appearing only to disappear before walking to their table. Gabriella's lower lip dropped at her best friend's move.
Operation Goodbye-New-Girl-Via-Death-By-Bear-Attack. The name was long, sure, but the idea was brilliant. Gabriella was just jealous she didn't think of it first.
/
Sharpay felt like she had been sitting on the dock for hours. Besides the moon and the stars reflecting off of the lake's waves it was pitch black- and to be honest, Sharpay wasn't too big a fan of being alone in the dark. It was only when she pushed herself up from the cold wood that she felt a drop of moisture hit her cheek. She tilted her head upwards, catching a second raindrop on her cheek. At least I'm not wearing heels this time, Sharpay forced herself to think. And once she realized that that was the only good things about this situation she hurried over to a giant tree whose branches deferred the direct fall of raindrops on Sharpay's blonde head. Was this how she got back to Eastwood? She turned her head, looking at the other trees and shrubs. They all looked the same in this dim light. After minutes of debating which would lead back to her prison of a dorm room, she lowered herself into a sitting position. She leaned her back against a rough trunk of an old tree and pulled her knees to her chest. As if to make her situation just a little more horrible, she heard the howl of a coyote.
She leaned her face on her knees, trying to preserve what little warmth she had on the November night. Stupid girl, she cursed herself. Stupid lying Troy. Stupid Kelsi for giving me his message. Stupid Eastwood. Stupid mother for subjecting me to this. As the list grew longer Sharpay tilted her head back against the tree. It was then that the rain picked up it's pace, echoing it's fall against the leaves. She scoffed to herself.
"You have got to be kidding me."