Mo 9526 I would agree with that statement lol ;)
Gemstar rox- thank you, truly.
Thanks for the reviews everyone
CHAPTER 10
"I'm so pumped!" Troy ran ahead and jumped in the air, letting out an excited whoop that would wake the neighbourhood.
"Troy!" Gabi giggled, running after him.
"I can't wait for tonight…" He grinned, holding out his hand to Gabi as she caught him up.
"Me either." She pressed into his side briefly.
"Do you think your dad would notice if we fell asleep again?" He wondered.
She smiled at him. "I don't think he'll let us..."
"What doesn't he trust me" He joked.
"No, he's just being a good parent… for once." She added.
"Darn…" Troy's blue eyes twinkled as she hit him.
"Don't be mean. I'd like to…you know…sleep together again sometime." She hedged. "Is it what you want, too?" She wondered.
"Of course!" He smiled bemusedly, kissing her hand. "I am too excited to even think right now!"
"Troy, you know that people are going to look at me funny…" She warned.
"I can't wait." He beamed. "They're all gonna wish they were me."
"I doubt it…" She quipped.
"Well I'm gonna show you off like crazy anyway. You don't know how long it took me to get to this day…" He mused.
"How long?" She wondered as they stopped at her school.
"Long enough." He smiled back, leaning to kiss her cheek. "I'll see you after school."
"My dads picking me up so I can get my hair done…" Gabi explained. "I'll see you at seven when you pick me up."
"Okay, it's a date," he winked, turning to go, and then turning back. He looked right into her eyes and took her hands in his, tilting his head to kiss her. "I love you Gabriella Montez. You're my girl."
She smiled a silly grin and blushed. "I love you, silly billy. Go to school."
He grinned and ran off, complying with her wish. When Gabi turned toward school, Sharpay was stood behind her, about three feet away with her arms folded. When Gabi took a step closer the blonde turned and walked away, a determination set across her face that Gabi had seen before- when she was determined to win something.
/
Her hair was trained back into a beautiful, loose French plait, some curls appearing here and there to soften the look. It went all the way down her back. Her crown was topped with a small, sparkly tiara that matched her tiny drop earrings and refined diamante-set necklace. The dress was a deep, midnight blue and the ruched bodice clung to her curves, giving her some boobs where she didn't normally have much.
She smiled at that, lifting her skirt to see how it swished. It wasn't hooped but it was layered, like a princess' dress, all layers of white net under the deep blue satin. A black sash trimmed her waist in even more; her silver slippers really were something from Cinderella. She had never felt so much like a princess as she did now.
He scar was bared; it took several deep- and continuous- breaths to become okay with that. She had covered it the best she could with make up, but tonight was the first night she was not hiding herself anymore. She was revealing herself, with Troy, to everyone.
Her brown eyes were made up with matching deep blues, and highlights of silver, expertly. Joanne, who had done her hair, had done that, too. Her father had insisted she have a special night and she revelled in it.
But she was chewing her nails as she waited for Troy. He wasn't even late yet and she was panicking. So much could have happened since they parted and she had no phone to contact him with.
Sure enough, the limo pulled up outside, all long and white and perfect. Gabi awed at the beauty of it, and then ran back from the window as Troy got out.
"Is he here?" Philip asked, dragging back the curtain to check.
"Dad!" Gabi complained.
"Oh right, sorry…" He mumbled.
"Do I look ok?" She asked.
"Gabi, you look amazing. You always do." He complimented.
The bell rang and Gabi felt the nerves kick up in her tummy as her dad went to answer the door. Troy ventured inside, looking handsome in his tuxedo, his hair gelled back and his eyes wide with wonder.
"Wow look at you…" He whispered, holding her corsage gently in his palms.
She blinked and blushed, looking down. "It's a nice dress."
"You are so beautiful…" He said, coming over, his eyes bright with excitement, then he remembered his hands were full and he looked to the corsage sheepishly.
"Is that for me?" She checked teasingly.
"Yeah, do you like it?" He wondered, hoping the mix of lilac shades were right for her dark dress.
"It's perfect." She assured.
"Like you." He replied with a smile.
"You look amazing, Troy." She said shyly.
"Ok let's get a picture!" Philip enthused. Gabi rolled her eyes and turned her good side to the camera while they posed with their arms around each other, side by side and making funny faces. Finally, it was time to go.
"Have fun, I'll see you back here at 1am." He said to them both.
"We'll be here," Troy assured.
"Troy. Look after her." Philip asked.
"I will, sir." He nodded.
/
The ball was being held at East High girl's school and the hall had been decorated like Cinderella's boudoir- all pink and fluffy and dream-like. Gabi rolled her eyes derisively at the thought that Sharpay had organised this event- as if you couldn't tell!
She walked in with her hand on Troy's arm, wrapped around his muscles as she clung to him nervously.
"I don't think I can do this…" She panicked, seeing Chad come toward them.
"Hey…" Troy looked down on her and turned to touch her face- the side she hated people touching; only with him, she didn't flinch. "You can do this."
"Hey, partygoers!" Chad smiled at them and touched them each on the shoulder. "Gabi, I love your dress, you look great…" he smiled.
Gabi blushed. "Thank you."
Troy dropped his hand to interlink their fingers and he squeezed her hand encouragingly.
"Hey, buddy. What's the score?" Troy asked.
"You can't miss Sharpay, she's like a huge pink…thing!" Chad struggled to describe.
"Well, why doesn't that surprise me…" Troy remarked.
"Hey, come get some punch…" Chad wiggled his brows and Troy grinned at him.
"Awesome."
Gabi followed, darting looks around her nervously to try and work out what people were thinking- or saying- about her coming here tonight, uncovered, with Troy.
She twisted her lips, looking over her shoulder, sighting Sharpay standing with her gang, whispering behind their drinks and she felt the age old fear creep up her veins. She would not let tonight go unpunished if Gabi knew her as well as she thought. And for once she wasn't backing down. She was afraid; more so of losing Troy as a result of any game Sharpay had to play than anything else, but it was fear all the same.
"Hey…" Troy's familiar soft call brought her gaze back to him and she pressed her lips together apologetically.
"Hey."
"Don't pay her any attention." He commanded gently, leaning toward her to press his forehead to hers so they both went cross-eyed.
She smiled stupidly back at him, giggling as she did so. "Okay."
"Wanna dance?" He asked, leaning back.
She nodded and he took her to the dance floor, bringing her close as they circled the floor.
"I can't believe we're doing this…" Troy mused as the music slowed and they swayed side to side, closer now and gazing at each other, oblivious to all around them.
"Me either. I wasn't even going to come…"
"I never thought I would get you to," he grinned.
"You can understand why." She defended gently.
"But then we would have never had this moment." He argued, lifting his hand to cup her face.
"Troy…" She frowned, about to stop him from doing what she had dreamed of all those weeks ago. But it was too late, he was set on his path and his lips closed down on hers, kissing her softly, under the disco-ball, in the middle of the dance floor in front of all of their school friends.
"I love you, Gabriella." He said.
"Troy?" A sharp, high pitched voice broke them apart, Sharpay standing right beside them with her hands on her hips.
"Shar." He sighed, standing straight but not letting go of Gabi. She wriggled in his arms and put her head down, practically hiding in his chest.
"Will you dance with me?" Sharpay asked innocently.
"Gabriella is my date." Troy replied firmly, rubbing Gabi's back soothingly, then letting his fingers run over her plait.
"You know, I've been meaning to talk to you, Gabi." Sharpay addressed the smaller girl.
"Really?" Gabi asked disbelievingly, with sarcasm.
"Yes, I think we should start over, you know? We have our past and I know I wasn't a good friend. But you're with Troy now and I know what I did was wrong." The blonde girl appealed.
Gabi wasn't buying any of it. There was only one reason Sharpay would say such things- because she wanted to steal Troy from her and this was her way of duping Troy into thinking she had changed.
"You can have your dance, Sharpay." Gabi offered, walking away toward the drinks table.
"Hey!" Taylor greeted her, out of breath.
"Hey." Gabi helped herself to punch as a confused looking Troy danced with her arch enemy. She knew what he was thinking- he had denied Sharpay in front of her and now she had gone and given in to the blonde bully. Well, he'd have to deal with that because all Gabi could think was that while Sharpay was distracted with him, she didn't have time to plan her revenge.
"You look amazing, I love your dress!" Taylor enthused.
"Thank you, you look amazing too." Gabi smiled shyly.
"So…you and Troy…" Taylor arched a brow as the two girls faced each other, Gabi crossed one arm across her body, noticing Taylor's gaze flick over her scars.
"We came together." Gabi supplied.
"And?" Taylor beamed.
"And what?"
"That kiss!" Taylor goaded. "Are you going all the way tonight?"
Gabi looked at her patiently, wondering if Taylor thought she might actually tell her something like that.
"I hadn't planned to." Gabi remarked, feeling awkward.
"Honey, you two look amazing together." Taylor rubbed her arm and Gabi looked at her hand in contempt.
"Don't pretend to be my friend." Gabi accused.
Taylor opened her mouth in hurt shock and retracted her hand, lost for words. "I…I'm sorry…"
"Is everything okay?" Troy asked, standing behind Taylor having noticed the frosty atmosphere from five paces ago.
"Everything is fine." Taylor told him while she met Gabi's gaze. "I'm on your side, Gabi, I promise." She added, squeezing her hand before she walked away, leaving Troy and Gabi alone.
"What was that about?" He wondered.
"Nothing." Gabi sighed distractedly, and then focused on him. "Where's Sharpay?"
"Up there…" He pointed to the stage where the band was and Gabi noticed she was about to start a speech and there were awards lined up on her lectern.
"What is she doing?" Gabi wondered suspiciously.
"Eh-hem…" The microphone Sharpay was holding let out a scream of feedback until it settled. "Well, welcome students of East High Girl's School and West High's Boy's School…" She began.
"Wel-come…" A murmur replied to her call.
"I am Sharpay Evans and I organised tonight, so I have some awards we created to pass out seeing as this is as good as our prom…" She remarked, pursing her lips.
"This is weird…" Troy frowned.
"So, let's start with our votes at East High for 'Prom King'…a tightly voted category…" Sharpay snorted with laughter to herself as she unfolded a card handed to her by one of her cronies.
"It's you." Gabi guessed, bringing Troy's gaze to her.
"How do you…?" He began.
"Troy Bolton!" Sharpay called loudly, cutting him off.
"What?" He cast out, shocked.
"Go get 'em," Gabi smiled, tiptoeing to kiss his cheek.
He shook his head, flummoxed. "This is fixed…"
"Do you think?" She muttered when he had gone to collect his trophy.
"Okay 'Prom Queen'," Sharpay announced next, unfolding the card and placing a pink-gloved hand over her mouth in shock surprise. "Ohmygod! It's me! Sharpay Evans!"
"Oh, pur-lease…" Gabi rolled her eyes, watching as Sharpay linked arms with Troy, who was now wearing a fake crown and was carrying a staff.
"Oh…I almost forgot…" Sharpay cleared her throat, returning to the mike stand. "There is a special prize tonight, I made it up myself."
Gabi squinted, wondering what was coming next. She looked either side of her and found everyone was equally confused. Everyone except the Sharpay fan club in the corner who smiled knowingly.
"This award goes to the Ugliest Beast of East High…Winner, Gabriella Montez!"