Again, I'm writing here because there are songs in this chapter that I do not own. Each song belongs to Lady Antebellum. The order of which they are in are "Can't Keep My Eyes Off of You," "All we'd Ever Need," and "Perfect." After you read this chapter, you may want to check these songs out to understand it all. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 10
Winter Formal
"I can't believe he's taking her to the formal," Sharpay shook her head as she sat down at the lunch table.
Alex nodded as she sat down, "Yeah, I didn't even know that he liked her."
"Well everything changed so I guess he likes her?" Sharpay shrugged.
Taylor looked at them, "Hey maybe he doesn't really like her. I mean, she is the head cheerleader and he's the basketball captain, it's kind of supposed to be like that. He probably just agreed to go with her since he had no other choice since him and Gabriella are still not friends and practically everyone else is still treating him like the outcast."
"Yeah you never know, that's a possibility," Alex nodded, "I mean, who wants to go out with her? But anyways, where's Gabby?"
~With Gabriella~
Gabriella was sitting in the music room all by herself. She couldn't be in the cafeteria with everyone. She was tired of everyone saying hi to her because they feel like they have to ever since everything that went down with Troy. She sighs thinking about what Nate told her a few weeks ago.
"Mom and Dad are getting a divorce," he looked at her, "you make Dad realize that he was strong enough to get out of that relationship."
Gabriella looked at him confused, "I caused the divorce? I didn't mean to cause any trouble at dinner that night."
"Gabs, you didn't," Nate shook his head, "you made Dad realize they him and Mom weren't in love as they used to be and she was different. He loved you Gabriella, he didn't want to give you up but he went with what Mom wanted but now things can be different. I think it's meant to be for them to be like this because they were never happy anymore especially for the past 5 years. When Sasha turned 2, it reminded Dad about you when you were that age and ever since then, he hasn't been the happy Dad I've known and that's when I realized how stupid I was to say that you ruined our family when really giving you up, ruined our family."
Gabriella had tears in her eyes, "What's going to happen with Anthony and Sasha?"
"Dad is going to try and take custody of both of them and give my Mom visitation rights," Nate wiped her tears, "now where is that Troy boy that you are in love with?"
Gabriella looked at him shocked, "What? Troy and I aren't even friends."
"That doesn't mean you can't be in love with the guy which I know you are," he smirked, "by the way since I'm your big brother, tell me what that boy did to you so I can beat the crap out of him."
Gabriella looked down, "It doesn't matter. Everyone at school already did it for you especially Chad. Nate, is it obvious?"
"What? That you love him?" Gabriella nodded, "Well yeah, I've noticed it at dinner and saw the way you looked at him with those sad eyes because I saw how much it was hurting you that you weren't friends anymore because you miss being close to him and now you are really hurting because you know that you have to hate him but it hurts to hate him because deep inside, you really love him and you don't know what to do."
"But how?" she looked at him shocked, "how can you know all of that when none of my friends can tell."
"Oh believe me, they know," Nate smiled softly, "it's kind of hard not to tell that you love him like that. That's why they are being harsher to him because they know the way you are feeling. Because whatever he did to you must really hurt you and it seems to me that you've been through it before and he promised he wouldn't do it either but did anyway and it hurt you more when he did it than the other guy because you were growing feelings for him unlike the other guy who you just liked as a friend. Am I right?"
Gabriella nodded not looking at him with tears falling down, "It's just too hard. It hurts Nate. I've been through it over and over in my life. First Mom and Dad giving me up, you keep breaking our plans, Mark leaving me out in the cold because he wants to be popular, and Troy doing the exact same thing when he said he wouldn't but the thing is, he did something worst that Mark never did and that was telling them the whole thing about me being a foster kid and why I was a foster kid. I didn't want people to know that, Nate. Half of the school was already hating me or feeling sorry for me and now every fucking person in that school is feeling sorry for me and acting like they are my friends when really they're not."
Nate scooted to the edge of her bed and grabbed her hands seeing her tears before giving her a big hug knowing she's been through a lot. He couldn't believe that he wasn't there for her when she needed a big brother the most. Gabriella cried in his chest.
As she calmed down, Nate pulled back and lifted her chin for her to look him in the eyes, "Don't let the kids at that school get to you, alright? You have your friends, you now have me, and you have now fives and a little girl that will do anything for you, don't forget that. We love you and that should be all that matters. You need to show them the real you, not the girl that's hiding at that school because you and both know that there's more to you than you show at that school."
Gabriella smiled slightly and Nate hugged her again.
She held back the tears that were ready to fall again. She wasn't going to cry again for them. She was done crying for the people that went to this school and Troy. Gabriella has heard that Troy was taking Brandy, the head cheerleader to the winter formal. She knew they weren't friends and that she shouldn't care about it but deep inside her, it bothered her like hell because she should be the one going to the formal with Troy Bolton.
Gabriella decided that she was going to go to the formal by herself, well not by herself but with her friends. That's all she needed. She didn't need anything or anyone else but her friends to be with her even though they all had dates. Sharpay was going with Zeke, one of the basketball players, Taylor was going with Chad who she's had a crush on for awhile, and Alex was going with Mason, another player that was on the basketball team. She had no problem going with them without having a date, as long as she had them.
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"Wow Gabriella," Sandy smiled, "you look beautiful."
Gabriella smiled softly as well blushing, "Thank you."
It was Friday night meaning it was the night of the winter formal. Gabriella didn't know how the night was going to go but she wasn't going to let anything get in her way from having a fun time.
The doorbell rung meaning her friends were here. Troy had already left before to go pick up Brandy. He didn't stay around to see what Gabriella looked like. He wouldn't be able to leave knowing she was going to dress beautifully so he had to leave beforehand. Gabriella wheeled out of her room, over to the door opening it to find her friends and their dates at the door with smiles on their faces.
"Wow Gabs, you look amazing," Sharpay squealed, "no guy will be able to take their eyes off of you when we get there."
Chad nodded in agreement, "She's right meaning you need to change."
"Chad," Taylor scolded but then smiled at Gabriella, "you really do look beautiful."
"Thanks girls," Gabriella smiled looking at them, "you all look great as well even the guys."
"I know, right?" Alex giggled, "They clean up pretty good."
Mason chuckled at his date's silliness, "Alright people, party awaits. Are we ready to go?"
"Yeah, let me just tell Sandy that I'm leaving," Gabriella turned her chair around to call Sandy, "Sandy, we're leaving."
Sandy came out to the hallway and gave Gabriella a hug and then pulled away, "Alright guys, have a fun time and you all better watch Gabriella or I'll send the boys after you, especially after you Chad."
Everyone giggled and chuckled at Chad's scared face. He nodded quickly knowing that the boys would hunt him down and he didn't want that. Chad grabbed onto Gabriella's handles and pulled her out of the house fast and wheeled her over to the car. Gabriella giggled at how scared he was of the boys. She always loved how everyone knew that too and they would use that for Chad to be a good boy.
"I still can't believe you are scared of them," Gabriella giggled as she slowly transferred into the car.
"Are you kidding me?" Chad shook his head like she was nuts, "You do remember what they did to me when I destroyed that soccer ball? I'm not letting that happen again."
Taylor rolled her eyes, "Oh so you don't want your baby to get shaved again? What was the big deal? It was actually a good change and plus hair grows back."
"Yeah well it didn't grow back fast enough," Chad groaned as he placed Gabriella's wheelchair in the trunk while everyone laughed at him before getting into the car with Gabriella.
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Troy was at the formal already with his date, Brandy who he didn't really want to take to the formal but there was no one else he could've asked. Well, he could've asked Gabriella but that would probably have ruined his chances of being her friend again. He tried to stay out of her way since the dinner with her family so she can see that he's trying but then again, what if that made it worse? He couldn't really worry about that right now. Right now, all he knew was Brandy was the most boring person to go to a dance with and the formal just started. So far, she only talked to her friends and not even really paid any attention to him not that he really mind because he didn't really want to be there with her but it would've been nice to actually have someone's attention.
Then suddenly the doors opened and a group of people walked/wheeled in. He looked at those people realizing that they were his old friends, well at least four of them were. He then saw her. The girl who had his heart. The girl he has been wanting since he moved her but made a fool of himself and sent her away. The girl that looked way better than his date. That girl was no one other than Gabriella Montez.
Sharpay looked around and noticed Troy's eyes on Gabriella and she smiled softly knowing that they were into each other, "Hey Gabs, you got blue eyes staring right at you."
Gabriella looked at her confused but Sharpay nodded towards Troy who was in fact looking straight at her. She smiled slightly but then Troy looked away when Brandy walked over to them. Gabriella sighed knowing that this night wasn't going to be as she planned but it was worth a try.
"Hey Gabs, you want to go sit at that table?" Alex asked taking Gabriella out of her thoughts.
Gabriella looked at her friends and nodded, "Sure."
"It's hard to see him, huh?" Sharpay whispered as she was walking beside her and Gabriella looked up at her confused, "Gabs, we all know that you like him, well really that you love him and how much you're hurting. I think it's time for you to listen to your heart more than your mind. I know your mind is telling you to not forgive him because of what he did but at least he's trying to go back to the way things were."
Sharpay sat down at the table and looked at Gabriella continuing on what she was saying, "He's still not Mark. If he was Mark, he would have started acting like a jerk and not caring of what he is saying. Yes, the day your friendship died, he was harsh but he didn't know what he was saying. That was a onetime think. We all know how you feel about him and we don't want to see you keep hurting because of it so please do us all a favor and follow your heart."
Gabriella looked at Sharpay and then looked around the table seeing that they were listening to the conversation as well. She sighed looking at them knowing that they knew the truth just like her brother knew the truth. Sometimes, she hated the fact that she was easy to read especially when it comes to her friends. She just didn't know what to do. Yes, her heart was telling her to forgive him and be friends with him again and maybe more but her head was telling her that he could hurt her just like he did a month ago.
She was taken out of her thoughts when Mark walked over, "Um hey?"
The whole table looked at him confused until Chad snapped out of it, "What do you want Richardson?"
"I uh came over here to uh apologize?" Everyone looked at him in shock especially Gabriella so he looked at her, "I mean, I never meant it to get this far out of control. You know, him telling everyone about your secrets and then what happened that day when you guys ended your friendship. I thought I wanted to destroy you and I did but it wasn't the way I wanted. After everything that happened, it made me realize what a jerk I've been for the past two years."
"No really?" Gabriella rolled her eyes sarcastically.
Mark sighed, "I know you probably won't believe me but you have to know, Troy isn't like me. If it wasn't for me, Troy would probably still be your friend and you two would happy but I didn't like it so I had to get in the way but now I see that you're not happy, he's not happy. Actually no one is happy so I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry and I should've never gotten too carried away. Enjoy the rest of the night."
Mark walked away from the table leaving every shocked. Mark Richardson just apologized? They never thought that would ever happen. This made Gabriella think more about the whole situation. How do I feel? I know I love Troy and it hurts hating him but he's over there with Brandy. What do I do? She kept thinking about this over and over again. There goes her night to just relax and forgetting her problems because that wasn't going to happen anytime soon and she knew it.
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Gabriella was now sitting alone at the table as her friends and their dates were on the dance floor dancing to a slow song. She took a sip of her soda before looking back out at the dance floor to see Troy and Brandy as well dancing. But to her, it didn't look like Troy was having that good of a time. Every couple of minutes, he would glance over to her and smile softly at her which she would look away because she didn't want to be caught staring at him.
Another slow song started playing and everyone stayed on the dance floor. She couldn't keep watching them so she just turned her chair away from them so she couldn't see them dancing. 'Them' mostly meaning Troy and Brandy. As she was about to take another sip of her soda, a male voice spoke to her.
"Gabriella Montez?"
Gabriella turned her head to her right to see a guy around Nate's age, "Yes?"
"Hi, you don't know me but I'm good friends with your brother," the guy smiled.
"Nate?" Gabriella was confused as the guy nodded, "Ok, it's nice to meet you?"
"I'm Trevor," the guy smiled, "but anyways the reason why I'm over here or at least this dance is because that's my band up there and Nate told me this was the school that you went to and also told me that you're an amazing singer."
Gabriella looked at him, "He did?"
"Yeah," Trevor nodded, "So he uh actually suggested that I would ask you to maybe sing a couple of songs with us? I mean only if you want to but I think it would be good seeing that you're alone over here watching some guy."
Gabriella glanced over to see Troy looking at her confused wondering who the guy was and she looked back at Trevor making her decision, "Sure."
"Really?" Gabriella nodded, "Ok then, that was easier than I thought it was going to be," he chuckled, "well just follow me."
Gabriella nodded before pushing her chair back from the table and following Trevor feeling eyes on her head knowing that it was probably Troy wondering what was going on but she just ignored the feeling. Trevor motioned to the ramp that was on the side of the stage where she pushed up herself. She looked around seeing everyone that was on the dance floor. The band stopped playing and Trevor took the microphone off the stand.
"Hey East High," Trevor started, "I know you're all like, why did you stop the music? But don't worry we're going to have music very shortly. We have a special guest that is going to be singing to you and you all know her. I believe her name is Gabriella Montez."
Everyone in the room gasped which caused all eyes go on Gabriella which caused her to get nervous. Am I really going to do this? She looked to see Troy smiling at her and she knew right then and there that she had to do this.
"So, if you would, please welcome Gabriella," he looked at Gabriella before placing the mic back onto the stand lowering it for her, "Gabriella, they are ready for you."
She gulped before going to the center of the stage but she looked at Trevor, "Uh, do you have a guitar that I could use?"
"Sure," Trevor smiled before grabbing an extra guitar to give to her, "here you go."
"Thank you," Gabriella smiled placing the arm strap over her neck and looked out in the audience who were still in shock even her friends, "Um I actually wrote this song so uh I hope you like it."
She took a deep breath before closing her eyes and started strumming the guitar for the music as the other part of the band started to play and opened her eyes when it came to the point for her to sing.
I know that the bridges that I've burned
Along the way
Have left me with these walls and these scars
That won't go away
And opening up, has always been the hardest thing
Until you came
Gabriella closed her eyes when it came to this part. So lay here, beside me, just hold me, and don't let go
This feeling, I'm feeling, is something I've never known
She then opened her eyes and looked at Troy while singing this part.
And I just can't take my eyes off you
And I just can't take my eyes off you
I love when you tell me that I'm pretty
When I just wake up
And I love how you tease me when I'm moody
But it's never too much
I'm falling fast, but the truth is I'm not scared at all
You climbed my walls
Gabriella closed her eyes once again.
So lay here, beside me, just hold me and don't let go
This feeling I'm feeling is something I've never known
She opened her eyes again focusing on Troy who was listening to the lyrics and looked at Brandy.
"I'm sorry but I just can't stay with you tonight," he then walked away from Brandy but kept his eyes on Gabriella.
And I just can't take my eyes off you
And I just can't take my eyes off you
Off you
Off you
So lay here, beside me, just hold me and don't let go
And oh this feeling, I'm feeling, is something I've never known
And I just can't take my eyes off you
And I just can't take my eyes off you...
Gabriella closed her eyes taking a deep breath holding her tears in. Everyone in the room didn't know what to do. They were shocked. But then Gabriella's friends broke into some clapping and then the whole room started and cheering. Gabriella opened her eyes to see everyone cheering so she decided to do another song.
"I guess I'll do another song but uh I'm going to need a male part," she looked at Trevor who had an idea in his head.
"Sure I'll do it," he smiled when he saw Gabriella getting the band ready for the next song but he snuck off the stage taking a mic with him walking over to Troy, "You Troy Bolton?"
"Uh yeah," Troy looked at him confused, "What's up?"
"You're going to need this," Trevor smiled giving the mic to Troy leaving him confused, "when you see Gabriella look at me to continue the song or just look like she's waiting, you start singing."
"Wait but I don't sing," Troy looked at him confused, "and I don't know the song."
Trevor shook his head and gave him a sheet music, "Nate had a feeling she was going to sing this song so he gave me this. Now I know you can sing, you look like a guy who can so have fun and get the girl you've been wanting. Later."
Trevor raced off before Troy could back down from his idea. Troy was left confused before looking at the sheet music studying the lyrics and realizing what they meant. He looked up to see Gabriella getting ready and he knew he had to get ready knowing this was going to surprise her.
Gabriella looked at Trevor who just got back on the stage and he motioned that he was ready. She nodded and looked at the band who started playing as she started strumming her guitar, then started singing.
Boy it's been all this time
And I can't get you off my mind
And nobody knows it but me
I stare at your photograph
Still sleep in the shirt you left
And nobody knows it but me
Every day I wipe my tears away
So many nights I've prayed for you to say..
I should've been chasing you
I should've been trying to prove
That you were all that mattered to me
I should've said all the things
That I kept inside of me
Maybe I could've made you believe
That what we had was all we'd ever need
Gabriella looked like she was done with her first part but kept playing so Troy took a deep breath to start singing his part. My friends think I'm moving on
But the truth is I'm not that strong
And nobody knows it but me
Everyone turned around to look at him in shock even Gabriella but she kept playing the guitar. She didn't know what was going on but she sort of liked it. She did picture the male part of this song be sung by Troy so she guessed it was a nice surprise.
I've kept all the words you've said
In a box underneath my bed
And nobody knows it but me
But if you're happy
I'll get through somehow
But the truth is
I've been screaming out..
I should've been chasing you
I should've been trying to prove
That you were all that mattered to me
Troy walked forward still singing as he reached the stage and got helped up the stage by Trevor who was smiling knowing Nate was going to so owe him later.
I should've said all the things
That I kept inside of me
Maybe I could've made you believe
That what we had was all we'd ever need
It was all we'd ever need
Gabriella:
Ohh
I thought it was all we'd ever need Troy:
I should've been chasing you
Gabriella:
You should've been trying to prove
Troy:
That you were all that mattered to me
Gabriella:
You should've said all the things
Troy:
That I kept inside of me
Gabriella:
And maybe you could've made me believe
Troy:
That what we had, girl
Gabriella:
Ohh that what we had
Troy:
What we had
Both:
It was all we'd ever need
It was all we'd ever need…
The band kept playing until the end but Gabriella looked up to look Troy in the eyes and Troy looked down at Gabriella. It's like the moment after Breaking Free in High School Musical. They smiled softly at each other as everyone started cheering like maniacs especially their friends. They looked out to see everyone smiling and then looked to the side to see Mark who was also smiling before they looked at each other. Troy leaned down to kiss Gabriella on the cheek and then whispered in her ear.
"I think it's time to get this party jumping," he grinned as he saw Gabriella's face.
Gabriella smirked, "I thought I already did."
"Oh believe me you did, but I think we need some jumpy music now," he grinned before taking the mic again, "Who's ready to party?"
The whole placed cheered and the band looked at him like he was crazy. Troy shrugged as he winked at Gabriella who giggled. She knew from this moment on, things were going to be ok. How did that happen so fast? She looked at Troy who was talking to the band and was smirking as he walked over to Gabriella to give her a piece of paper of what she's going to sing.
"Perfect day?" she looked at him shocked, "But how?"
Troy smiled, "I have my ways now get the party jumping Gabs."
She smiled as she playfully rolled her eyes as he jumped off the stage to give her some space as the band started play and she started to sing.
Went walking through town just the other day
With nothing much to do
As the sun came breaking down through the clouds
I'd never seen the sky so blue
I saw a Cajun man with a red guitar
Singing on the side of the street
I threw a handful of change in his beat-up case
And said play me a country beat
And it sounded like
Met up with some friends outside of town
They were headed towards the lake
I hopped into the back of a jacked up Jeep
Felt the wind upon my face
We got to the spot and the sun was hot
Everybody was feeling fine
So when we jumped on in for a mid-day swim
And we lost all track of time
It was a perfect day
What I'd give if I could find a way to stay
Lost in this moment now
Ain't worried about tomorrow
When you're busy living in a perfect day
As the moon came out and the fire burned
Everybody was singing along
To some Ramblin Man, a little Curtis Lowe
And all them feel good songs
We danced all night without a care
No place we'd rather be
Cause these are the days well talk about
When we lived so wild and free
It was a perfect day
What I'd give if I could find a way to stay
Lost in this moment now
Ain't worried about tomorrow
When you're busy living in a perfect day
We were sitting in the sand as he grabbed my hand
Then he leaned in for a kiss
I couldn't help but think with the stars above
It don't get much better than this
It's a perfect day
What I'd give if I could find a way to stay
Lost in this moment now
Ain't worried about tomorrow
When you're busy living
Feels like dreaming
Slowly drifting through this perfect day
Na-na-Na-na-Na-na-Na-na-Na-na-Na-na-Na-na-Na-na-Na-na
"And that is how we rock!" Trevor screamed into the mic as the music stopped, "Now we're going to let Gabriella go as I believe she still has some business to take care of."
Gabriella smiled as she rolled down the ramp and over to where Troy was, "Hi."
"Hi," he smiled and stuck his hand out, "my name is Troy Bolton, the biggest jackass that ever lived and is very sorry for everything he has done."
She rolled her eyes but giggled at his silliness as she took his hand, "I'm Gabriella Montez, the easy forgiving girl for a guy I can tell is very sorry for everything he has done."
Troy chuckled and knelt down to her size so he could look in her eyes, "So are we good?"
Gabriella pretended to think and giggled at Troy's face, "Yeah I guess we're good."
"Finally," he hugged Gabriella so tight she couldn't breathe, "That was the worst month and a half of my life."
Gabriella giggled pulling back, "So was this worst than your parents and sister dying?"
"Ok so not the worst but close to it," he chuckled as he stood up and held his hand out, "May I have this dance?"
"Of course you may," Gabriella giggled taking his hand.
Troy smiled bringing Gabriella over to the dance floor and started dancing with her. Sharpay and the gang smiled at them knowing that Gabriella was happy again. But this doesn't mean that Troy Bolton is getting forgiven so easily by them but they knew that Gabriella was happy now and that's all that matters. Now the last thing on their mind is: When will there be a Troyella?
Ok now this is the longest chapter that I've written so far. I think I'm soon going to stop saying that but this chapter deserved a long chapter. So tell me, did you like it? Of course you did..lol..Troy and Gabriella are friends again. What's not to like? Haha. Will there ever be a Troyella? Tell me what you thought of this chapter by writing a review.