Chapter playlist: Right here, Right now-Zac Efron&Vanessa Hudgens (normal version)
"No, thank you." The waiter continued persisting that we were doing her a favor. Well, not really me doing her a favor, more like Troy. She was beyond obsessed.
Troy looked uneasy about it, yet still kept grinning at her, leading me all the way outside of the café. It was extremely early still—about one o'clock in the afternoon. Apparently we were going to come home early.
"That waiter was freaking me out." Troy muttered as we exited, a look of dismay on his face.
I chuckled, following him back to his glamorous Audi, "At least she wasn't sending you death glares." I couldn't help but chuckle.
He threw me an apologetic smile, "Yeah, sorry about that. That.. kinda happens, a lot."
"Women flirting with you?" I inquired, amused by his sudden arrogance.
He gave me an absurd glance, "No, I mean, every time I take a female friend out, something like that happens. Fan girls.. are kind of crazy." He shivered. "Like, I'm completely flattered and everything. But sometimes I can live without it."
I rolled my eyes, "Surely you wouldn't survive without it."
He touched the button on his keys, unlocking the doors automatically, "Yeah, I guess. I wouldn't be anything without my fans." He opened the door for me, generously.
"Thank you." I slid in, admiring his car all over again. He slammed the door and headed towards the driver's side, sliding in also.
"So. It's still really early." He observed, starting up the car. He gave me inquisitive eyes, "Anything you wanna do?"
"Um.. I-I don't know." I stammered, seriously having no idea whatsoever. His response to this kind of shocked me. He just grinned, furtively, and began pulling out of the private parking lot.
"That's what I thought." I raise an eyebrow, not too sure how to react. He looked back to me, a playful smile on his lips, "So, you're not gonna ask how I get away with the private parking thing?"
I giggled, lightly, "Well, I'm sure it must involve your fame, or your money."
"Somewhat. But it's ridiculous. I mean, do you understand how useful these parking lots are?" He chuckled, getting back on the main road, between Los Angeles and Hollywood. "The first time I did it, I was so scared. I thought they were gonna toll my car."
"Yikes." I commented, caustically.
He didn't look back at me. "Seriously, Gabriella. I was a kid, I just got my license, and I didn't want it to get like vandalized by haters or something." He laughed, buoyantly. "Fortunately, they rarely noticed. Weird, right?" He flashed me a cute smile—melting my heart into pieces.
"How extraordinary." I faked a bored tone. "You are a celebrity, the heartthrob."
He acted as if he didn't even hear me, continuing on, "Eventually, I got caught. They asked me what I was doing, and I explained who I was and my problems. They were actually cool with it. How crazy, right? Now, they're just like whatever. I guess because I'm cool with most of the owners." He then scratched the back of his head, guiltily, "Though I did pay them.. just a little bit."
I smirked at him, "I knew it!"
"Oh, Gabriella, you act like I'm just all about my fame." He sounded so melodramatic, I wanted to laugh. He gave me innocent, genuine eyes, "Try and see passed the exterior."
I smiled at him, unable to resist his beautiful blue eyes. "Give me a new perspective."
As we arrived to the stop sign, he put his index finger to his chin, thoughtfully, well, more jokingly then anything, I'd assume. "All right... Snakes freak me out."
"Snakes?" I asked, a bit entertained. "Do you scream and cry when you see them?"
He rolled his eyes, "I scream like a girl. But, whatever." He looked embarrassed. "I'm also freaked out by heights."
"Heights? So you don't like roller coasters?" I frowned.
He cringed, not looking back to me.
"I'll take that as a no." I couldn't help but smile at him. "I dislike feet."
"Feet?" He snorted, his eyes flickering to me with aghast, his eyebrow raised. "That's... really, really random." I couldn't help but note the hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Well, new perspective right?" I giggled. "Unfortunately I don't like The Goonies."
He put on a disappointed look, "Aww, no. We have to change that."
"Well, we're going to have to change your fear of heights!" I gave him a cheesy smile.
He looked like he was going to throw up right when I said the word ‛heights'. I couldn't help but laugh at him.
"Gabriella—mission impossible." He assured me, looking back to the road. "However, I make excellent peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."
"Honestly? Peanut butter is like the greatest food ever created." I supported.
"Hmm." We were once again, driving by Santa Monica's pier. I glanced out the window, easily mesmerized by it's beauty.
"You're seriously the luckiest person in the world." I grumbled, watching the groups of people heading into shops. I examined some of their faces. They just seemed, well, ordinary, and they didn't seem excited, just indifferent. They didn't appreciate their environment. "Why do they look so .. spiritless?"
"You're really starting to become a chatter box, you know." Troy gave me another flash of his perfect, straight white teeth. I about lost my breath before he continued.
"Sorry. It's just.. I would be at the beach, happy all the time." I couldn't help but daydream about being there, 24-7. "Living here would be like a dream come true."
"Well, that's only one side of California." He interrupted my abstracted thoughts. "You haven't even seen the best part yet." We were arriving in Hollywood. I could vaguely see the sign in between the mountains.
"Are we heading back so soon?" I questioned, surprised that we were heading towards Beverly Hills, already.
Troy gave me a mysterious grin, "Well, I doubt that."
"You are so not mysterious." I chaffed, chuckling. "You just think you're cool because you have a nice car."
He gave me a serious frown, "Gabriella, new prospective."
"Oh, right, the Troy that's afraid of snakes and heights?" His lips formed into a smile.
"Something like that." He retorted, looking back to the road. "Did I mention I'm horrible at everything besides dancing and singing? Like, seriously, Chad beats me out on everything. It's discouraging." He chuckled. I could tell he was trying to lower himself to my standards. He was trying to make me believe he wasn't a celebrity. How could I believe that? He was impossibly perfect, with each and every move.
"I always dominate Chad in air hockey." I boasted, snickering.
"You're just one of those competitive girls aren't you?" He didn't seem upset, just fascinated. "No, but, seriously.. I suck at sports." He confessed. "I did everything when I was a kid—basketball, baseball. I just couldn't." "I remember I made a hoop, like once, in basketball.. and it was the other team's." Troy laughed, halfheartedly.
"And let me guess: your whole family was lined up, watching you in the audience?" I inquired, smiling at him.
He bit his bottom lip, "Yeah.. possibly the only time they ever came to watch me, too." His eyes flickered on me, pensively.
"Well, at least you found your calling, right?" I was now gazing out the window. We were riding up the hills, the extraordinarily, enormous hills. I was captivated, entirely. The sky seemed to of changed colors, suddenly a brighter blue, no clouds evident in the sky. The houses on the hills, well, they were mansions, just like Troy's. "How far up do you intend on driving?" I asked, noticing we were pretty high.
Almost on cue, he pulled into a little parcel that overlooked the hills, breathlessly. "This far." He gave me a brazen grin before turning off the car. He hurried towards my door, opening it for me. "Ladies first?"
I couldn't help but smile at him, getting out. He followed behind me, loyally, as we stood in front of the gracious hills. The only thing I could think of was how beautiful the scenery was. He was serious when he said that I hadn't seen the best just yet. This had to be the best. It was.. capacious, and hypnotizing. I wanted to just stare at it, for hours. I'd day dream about living like this—out in the middle of a place like this.
"So, nice view?" Troy asked, breaking the thunderstruck silence.
I couldn't hardly speak. "... Wow." I breathed, still enticed by the view.
It wasn't really shocking that Troy just sat himself down, right there, like a child, crossing his legs, Indian Style. He was such a kid at heart, despite how mature he looked. It didn't make much sense. But it definitely made me like him more.
I copied his actions, adjacent to him. "You celebrities have no idea how lucky you truly are." I whispered, still dazed.
His ocean-blue eyes caught mine, from the side, "Gabriella, you act like we didn't work hard to achieve this. Most of us do."
"Most. It just seems like there's a lot of discrimination in Hollywood. You have to be attractive to be someone." I murmured, pessimistically.
What he did next startled me. He grasped my leg, gently, his eyes still locked on mine, making my heart skip a beat, and my ability to speak seemed to vanish. "Not all celebrities are attractive." He seemed solemn.
"Yes, mostly." I glanced over to the horizon. "Like, I don't even think they'd let me make a CD. I'm not pretty enough." I never found myself even close to star material.
"Gabriella, are you serious? You're .. fine. There's absolutely nothing wrong with you. And I mean, you look good, even without make up on. You're just natural. I can't stand when girls are covered in make up." He looked disgusted by the mere thought. "I think you're cute." He winked at me—sending jolts of electricity into me, as usual.
I blinked, "As if. Just ordinary." He looked appalled by my comments.
He continued looking at me, "You have nice features though, I mean, you have cute freatures.." He obviously realized his mistake after saying it. He suddenly looked humiliated and turned around, smiling awkwardly at his jumbled word. I rose an eyebrow at him, and he suddenly turned red from embarrassment. I couldn't help but begin laughing, as so did he.
"Freatures?" I couldn't help but recall, laughing.
He looked so embarrassed, but he was laughing also. "Features, that's.. well, what I meant." He scratched the back of his head, uncomfortably. Honestly, I couldn't stop giggling at him. He was adorable.
"Well, Troy, you have cute freatures also." I kidded, looking down, giggling.
"Aww, great. Now you're gonna put that in my face all the time. I mean.." He looked at me with sincere eyes, "You don't need to do anything with yourself. You're attractive as you are."
I couldn't help but smile, euphorically. "Troy.."
"Hey, I was talking." He interrupted, folding his arms. I looked away, chuckling. "You have.. a cute nose." He observed. "Your lips are, nice." He must have been messing with me, but he looked so lost on words. I never realized how naive he was with words. He always came out as a suave type of guy to me. "And, your eyes are pretty."
"Are you doing an analysis of my features, Troy?" I grinned at him, suppressing laughter.
"Let me finish." He pleaded. "Your hair is... well, stunning." He chuckled. "Your ears are acceptable." I giggled. "Your body... well." He bit his bottom lip, racily. "You're proportioned, just right."
"Okay, plastic surgeon Bolton." I joked. "Are you done summarizing me?"
"No, it's your turn. You owe me." He gave me such a weighty expression, I released my giggles. "Hey, you're not supposed to laugh." He furrowed his eyebrows. "Just go with it, Gabriella." I mean, I was practically rolling on the floor, laughing.
"Have you done this before?" I asked, giggling.
"No. Do you understand how weird this is?" Troy let out a small laugh. "But you owe me." He gave me a frivolous glance, as if putting on begging blue eyes.
"Fine." I gave in, glancing at him, dreamily. It was funny, for a second, his eyes seemed to reflect the same expression. "You... have a nose."
"So I've come to notice that." Troy joked, stifling a laugh.
"Hey! I'm trying to think." I jabbed a finger at him, playfully. "Your nose is... well, it's not like totally weird, just normal. Not unique at all." He furrowed his eyebrows, faking a offended glance. "But it works with your features, perfectly. I mean, honestly, what can I say, Troy? You have perfect features." It was amazing—I could be so straightforward to him now.
"Oh, please." He rolled his eyes. "I know you've got something better. Perspective?" He reminded me, winking.
"If you stop winking like that, I may continue." I teased. "You have, well, cute lips. I mean, I hate when guys have really big lips. So it's okay." I grinned. "And your eyes.. are the best part about you. They're really hypnotizing."
"Oh, really?" He looked smitten.
"Yes. And... well, your ears, are just, there." I confessed, giggling. "I'm sure you already knew that."
"I was totally aware of that." Troy smiled.
"Good.. and well, your body.." I couldn't help but blush. Ugh, he was so muscular and faultless—so chiseled to perfection—symmetrical. He was like a mannequin. Or a Greek God, so graceful and sexy.
Troy interrupted my thoughts with a laugh, "Oh, Gabriella, blushing?"
"Oh, whatever, at least I'm not calling features freatures." I responded, pouting. He acted as if he didn't hear me.
"Well? Aren't you going to finish?" He looked persistent. "You.. weren't picturing me naked were you?" He must have been a mind reader. "You know, that's okay, I mean, we all have our moments."
"Troy." I shrieked at him, chuckling.
He just smiled at me, and then ruffled my hair, "Hey! Stop that." I cried at him, trying to push his hand away. I worked hard on that hair!
"I seriously like your hair, it's nice." He complimented, backing away, a look of infatuation in his expression. "You don't believe I like Sharpay still, do you?"
I looked up to him, bashfully. "Well.. how am I supposed to respond to that?"
He chuckled, his eyes sparkling, "You're supposed to say no."
I looked back to the sky, which still looked magnificent. I couldn't avert my eyes, once they caught onto it. I felt Troy's eyes follow mine, his eyes now on the scene in front of us. Right now, I couldn't explain my feelings. Everything just felt so perfect, so right. My heart was flying—truly. And I felt as if I was in some heavenly state. I've never felt so euphoric in my entire life. It just beat out everything.
"Can you imagine, what would happen, if we could have any dream? I wish this moment, was ours to own it, and that it would never leave. Then I would thank that star that made our wish come true. Oh yeah. Cause he knows that where you are—is where I should be too. Right here, right now. I'm looking at you and my heart loves the view-'cause you mean everything. Right here, I promise you somehow—that tomorrow can wait for some other day to be—but right now there's you and me."
The voice was so soft, so melodic, so perfect. I knew it belonged to him. My eyes flickered back to him, surprised.
"Kelsi has had that song stuck in my mind.." He didn't meet my eyes.
"Is that one of the songs she wrote?" I inquired, surprised. I had never heard it before.
"Yeah.." He answered. "I like it." I did too. But I liked anything that he could sing.
"I thought you didn't like singing?" I taunted.
"Well, what can I say, you are the music in me." He winked at me.
"Oh, come on." I rolled my eyes. "Seriously."
"Seriously." He assured me. "You're different. I can talk to you, I mean, for hours, about anything." His eyes were transfixed on the clouds. "It's awesome."
The ring tone to his cell phone—Viva La Vida by Coldplay went off, causing both of us to jump. Troy pulled it out of his pocket, standing up and answering it. I watched him, curiously. "What's up? ... Yeah. .. I'm currently with Gabriella in the hills. Why? ..." He suddenly looked annoyed. "Can't this wait? I mean, seriously.." His eyes flickered towards the sky in abhorrence. "Yeah, fine." He hung up.
"We gotta head back." He told me, holding out his hand. I accepted his hand. It was warm—comforting. He pulled me up to his height, where I could look into his eyes. I felt my heart racing at the intimacy between us. For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me, or something. But he pulled away, immediately, biting his bottom lip. I followed behind him, hesitantly.
"Are you upset about something?" I asked, in curiosity towards the silence in the car.
Troy's intoxicating blue eyes flickered over to me, as if I was insane. "Are you serious? Why would I be mad at you?" He didn't smile.
"I don't know—you're quiet." I observed, cutting off the eye contact.
He chuckled, "I got a call from People—they wanted to reschedule the photo shoot for tonight." Oh. I suddenly felt moronic for questioning him. "Sharpay was the one who called me and informed me." He frowned.
"Oh." My tone became dry. I didn't trust Sharpay, for anything. We sat in silence for a little longer.
"You know, my parents are going to love you." He suddenly looked constrained after saying this. "I mean.. like you, of course." He rubbed his temple. Did I make him nervous or something? It seemed before he wasn't this fidgety. I somehow, was getting over my stammering and my shyness. Maybe I was just intimidating because I didn't try and make him feel comfortable, like he did with me.
I just gave him a small smile. "I can't wait to meet them."
His discomfort was obviously put aside, he gave me a teeth-revealing smile, dazzling me as always with his beauty. "So, did you.. well, have fun today?" His smile faltered.
"Of course. I really enjoyed it." That I did.
"Well, that's relieving. I wasn't sure if you were into French food or not." He chuckled. "I know that waitress was freaky, but look passed the negative things, and we're all right. How do you like the hills?"
"They're extraordinary." I gushed. "And they made up for the waitress." I gave him a comforting smile.
Troy left for the People photo shoot immediately, as soon as we got back. It happened pretty fast. I watched him dart upstairs, change into a new set of clothes, and dash out the doors. I couldn't help but laugh in amazement—he was like lightning.
I headed to my room, overwhelmed by the days' events. I just couldn't help but smile when I thought about him. Maybe it was dense of me—falling so hard, so fast. I mean, I had just met him. Yet, I felt like I knew him so well. It seemed too good to be true. I had to of been dreaming. It was like a beautiful illusion—wasn't it? Reality was never miraculous like this. He even stammered a few times. He really did like me. I couldn't help but giggle at the way he observed my features. He was like a little kid. He was like a gorgeous, little kid. And he was so down to earth. I felt like he was my personal best friend—I felt like I could tell him anything. Well, except for the fact that I was practically madly in love with him.
I looked into the mirror, just singing to myself;
When you're close I don't breathe—I can't find the words to speak, I feel sparks.
But I don't wanna be into you, if you're not looking for true love. Oh.
No, I don't wanna start seeing you if I can't be your only one.
So tell me, when it's not all right, when it's not okay.
Will you try to make me feel better?
Will you say all right?
Will you say OK?
Will you stick with me through whatever, or run away?
Say that it's gonna be all right, that it's gonna be okay. Say OK.
I was interrupted by a knock on the door. I immediately stopped, freezing in place.
"Gabriella? It's me." It was Chad's voice—a voice that I haven't heard in awhile, at least, directed to me.
I got up, letting him in. "Hey." I greeted him, modestly, furrowing my eyebrows. He didn't usually come and talk to me.
"Look, I know I haven't been around much, and I'm sorry for that, with the whole Taylor thing. But.." He was looking into my eyes. "I couldn't help but notice what's going on with you and Troy."
I blushed, trying to fight a smile, and butterflies. "Yeah.. w-what of it?"
"I.. don't know." Chad looked skeptical. "He doesn't usually get involved. He's usually too busy with school or work. I've never known him to get serious. Though, I did tell him if he hurts you, I will wring his neck, personally." I laughed. "Everybody has noticed you guys hanging out a lot."
"Yeah.." I didn't know what to say.
"I just wanted to let you know—I'm here." Chad gave me a amiable smile. "You're still one of my good friends, Gab. You know if you ever need to talk about something.."
"Thanks, Chad." I smiled at him, grateful. "I know I haven't really been around much either. When my mom went ballistic, I just kind of ignored you all. But now.. it's different. I really like it here.."
"I can tell—you seem happy, for once." Chad looked beholden. "You have no idea how weird this is; one of my best friends, and my cousin." He chuckled.
"How did you find out?"
"Gab, I'd have to be stupid not to notice." He snickered. "Plus, he's been ignoring Sharpay like crazy. That's not like Troy. Usually he's like serving her." He made a face.
"I don't know why he'd want to be with me. I'm definitely not as extravagant as Sharpay. Though, I can't complain."
"Sharpay's as fake as that tan she has." Chad convulses, looking repulsed.
"That is so mean!" I lectured him, unable to hide my smile. "I just figured he'd be into another celebrity or something."
"Well, I think it's a good idea. I could get used to you two together." He grinned. "Just be careful. And go easy on him—he's not used to anything similar to commitment. He was red as a cherry when I asked him about you guys. And he kept saying ‛man', and scratching his head. When Troy does that, you know he's freaking out over something."
I couldn't help but giggle, just imagining Troy doing that. I couldn't help but feel so giddy just thinking about him. It was ridiculous—I felt so foolish, like a child again, as if I've never cared about anyone before him. I felt obsessed. I mean, I was so lured to him that it was impossible to resist him. How could you? He was like, a god or something. Everything about him seemed wonderful. Did he have any flaws? Maybe I was blinded. I didn't know. It seemed all so irrational. But the excitement, the elation, it's what kept me anxious. And just thinking about tomorrow made my heart go crazy. You know that feeling when you're smiling at someone—looking into their eyes, and you feel at such ease that you feel you've known them your entire life? Yes, it was like that. And when they smile back at you, you feel as if you've been drifted to heaven itself, as if you're flying, literally. You're floating—floating on nothing but passion. I must have felt some kind of fire, already, and it was absurd. Maybe it truly was love at first sight. Maybe I was really about to experience true love after all. Though I refused to scrutinize it too much. It'd only drive me into further madness.
"I'm glad you and Taylor are working out."
"Eh.. it's, well... she's an amazing woman." Chad's smile brightened tremendously at the mention of his lover. I couldn't help but beam at him, I was happy for them. And suddenly, I didn't feel envious of their relationship—their infatuation. My God, what could ever bring me down?
"She is. You take good care of her, you hear?" I pretended to scold him. He only cackled at me, patting me on the back.
"You pull my cousin out of his eclipse, and I will." I couldn't help but chuckle. He obviously found his cousin to be a bit oblivious to a lot of things. Though, I couldn't agree more.
"Yes, sir." I saluted him, jokingly. And before I knew it, he was out my door, heading downstairs.
I stood for a second, just releasing a few held in breaths from earlier today. I was still floating—cloud nine, more-so. I sighed, heavily, and flopped onto my ancient bed. I was exhausted. I found myself in a deep slumber easily. And of course, my dreams were filled with only one pair of irresistible baby blues.
END OF CHAPTER
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