Never Felt This Way
.o.
Note: Thank you reviewers as always! You guys are amazing to take the time to review.
.o.
Ryan led Gabriella out into the hallway, his heart still beating rapidly. Merely touching her hand gave him goose bumps.
Where is he taking me? Gabriella wondered, excitedly. There was something so exhilarating about Ryan. Every time she spent time with him, she found out something new about him. He was so mysterious, so full of surprises. She couldn't wait to see what happened next.
.o.
Troy's hand gripped Sharpay's tightly as he forcefully dragged her out of the room and down the long hall.
"You're scuffing my flats!" Sharpay snarled angrily. Oh come on, she was secretly pleased that she now had Troy's undivided attention. It was pretty obvious at the fact that the corners of her mouth slightly turned up while she screamed at him dramatically. Go ahead, try to hide that smile.
Troy continued down the hall, ignoring Sharpay's screams. The more he ignored her, the more Sharpay screamed and the more Sharpay screamed, the more turned on Troy became. Um, ewww, TMI anyone.
Troy stopped suddenly in front of a door. He pushed the door open a crack. The room appeared to be a room for business meetings and organizations. The only pieces of furniture in the room were a long wooden table and a ton of regal leather chairs surrounding it.
Perfect, Troy thought. A private room, where we can sort things out.
Sharpay peered in the room, perplexed. What the hell? What is this, a conference room? I thought we were going to a hotel room or something.
Troy pulled Sharpay into the room and closed the door shut behind them.
Standing right in front of Sharpay, Troy yelled, "Why did you dance with that idiot Oliver?"
Sharpay glared at him and retorted, "Why did you ask Emma to dance?"
"Hey, I only asked Emma to dance because you were dancing with that asshole!"
Sharpay smiled, pleased with his answer. "So you only asked Emma to dance because you were jealous of me and Oliver?"
Troy turned red and managed to spit out, "And you weren't trying to make me jealous! Come on, you were practically mauling the guy!"
Troy grinned as Sharpay's face also turned a deep crimson color.
"Well it obviously worked!" Sharpay shouted, trying to recover from Troy's dig.
Is it just me or are things getting hot in here?
.o.
Ryan couldn't stop imagining what it would be like to kiss Gabriella again. This time longer, slower, sweeter.
You have to a gentleman, you have to be charming, you have to be romantic, Ryan told himself.
Do I know where we're going? He wondered still leading Gabriella through the hotel hallways.
Ryan looked to his left and spotted a pair of huge white doors, light spilling out of the crack beneath the doors.
He let go of Gabriella's hand and used both of his hands to pull open the giant doors.
So it's a ballroom. I can work with this. Ryan thought. Channel romanticism.
Gabriella walked into the ballroom behind Ryan. The entire room was done up in white and silver. Snowflakes hung from the ceiling and white roses were everywhere. Obviously a very romantic Christmas wedding had happened today.
"What are we doing?" Gabriella asked Ryan.
"You'll see," Ryan answered, smiling at her as if he had some wonderful secret.
Could he be any cuter? Gabriella asked herself, grinning back him. Oh, he can.
He walked over to a stereo and shuffled through the box of CD's. There has to be holiday music in here. I mean, it's Christmas. Aha! This is perfect!
Ryan placed the CD in the stereo skipping to number 7, one of his favorite Christmas songs, "I'll Be Home for Christmas".
Ryan walked over to Gabriella taking both of her hands and pulling her into the center of the ballroom.
"I know you were kinda uncomfortable about the whole salsa dancing thing. Even though, rest assured, you were great! But I thought it would be nice to do something a little more familiar, a dance you're comfortable with," Ryan said.
Gabriella smiled radiantly. How could Ryan have known how badly she wanted to just slow dance with him to a romantic Christmas carol? He was so wonderful, so perfect! Where had a guy like him been her entire life?
"May I have this dance?" Ryan asked her playfully, pulling her close to him.
Gabriella rested her head on Ryan's steady shoulder. Now this was more like it. She had enjoyed their salsa dancing to some extent, but truly the heat, the passion, the desire had scared her. She had no idea that she was capable of feeling that way about someone. This was sweeter, more innocent, more her style. She liked to take things slow. At least, she thought she did.
Ryan sighed happily, loving the weight of Gabriella leaning against him. He was so blissed out that without even realizing it he began to sing along to the song. He played with Gabriella's soft curls and cooed softly in her ear:
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Gabriella shuddered happily as Ryan's warm breath met her ear. She wanted to turn her head and let her lips capture his, but instead she savored the moment. I mean, how many guys in the world would sing softly and sweetly just for you, in a voice meant for only you to hear.
.o.
Troy looked Sharpay straight in the eyes, "So what if I was jealous." He stated it simply as if he had liked her all along.
It was rather sexy actually. So sexy, Sharpay couldn't hold back any longer. She grabbed his head, pulling him towards her and pressed her lips against his. She was gonna kiss him this time.
Troy was shocked, but rather pleased at the turn of events. He kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her waist. Suddenly, Sharpay pulled away. Troy looked at her quizzically and removed his hands from her waist.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"What does this mean?" Sharpay asked him.
"What do you mean, what does this mean?" Troy asked chuckling a little. "I'd say it means we like to kiss each other."
"Well yeah," Sharpay said sadly, "But I mean what does all of this mean? What are we?"
"I don't know," Troy answered truthfully. The guy was still torn between her and Gabriella. Come on; make up your freaking mind!
Sharpay had a hurt expression on her face now. What does he mean, I don't know? Don't you just know?
"Well until you know, don't bother me!" Sharpay cried angrily as she exited the room.
Troy watched her leave. He wanted to do something kiss her, hug her. Yet, maybe it was better that they have some space. It really wasn't fair of him to lead her on, when he had feelings for Gabriella. He sighed sadly, lowering himself into one of the leather chairs, contemplating his feelings.
Sharpay stormed down the hall, her flats clicking noisily on the wooden floors. She paused in the middle of the hallway, hoping to hear a certain boy's shoes clicking down the hall after her. Yet, the hallway was silent.
.o.
Ryan had had the best night of his life so far. Spending the entire evening with a beautiful girl, dancing! Even getting to kiss her. What more could a guy ask for?
Gabriella tucked her chin over Ryan's shoulder feeling completely relaxed. The music had ended a long time ago, yet they were still dancing. Ryan provided the music. He had been singing carol after carol from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to Hark the Herald Angels. And you know what, he was so much better than the CD.
Ryan chuckled a little bit and whispered into Gabriella's ear, "I can't think of any more songs."
Gabriella giggled and whispered back, "Kiss me Ryan."
"What?" Ryan replied, his voice low and shaky. He didn't know why he felt so nervous. He had just kissed her an hour ago.
"Kiss me," she whispered simply again, lifting her head up and facing him.
Ryan smiled at her weakly and did as he was told. His gentle hands cupping her face, he brushed his lips against hers.
How Gabriella loved the way Ryan kissed. It was so loving, so tender. He wasn't trying to eat her face off like she had seen guys at her school do to girlfriends.
Ryan pulled away from her after one kiss, wrapping his arms around her. They stood there holding each other, their foreheads touching, each wearing a goofy lovesick grin.
Gabriella leaned in and kissed his cute little nose. She had longed to do that.
Ryan wrinkled his nose a little after she kissed it and Gabriella laughed. He was so adorable.
Ryan smiled and kissed her soft cheek.
Gabriella sighed with pleasure and whispered, "I feel like I've known you forever."
Ryan nodded, "It's hard to believe we only met just yesterday."
"Where do you live?" Gabriella asked.
"New Mexico," Ryan replied. "You?"
New Mexico. How Gabriella hated that state! Memories of her having to move there and live there after this vacation swelled inside her. She had completely forgotten about New Mexico! She had been so preoccupied with thoughts of Ryan, she hadn't even thought about it the past few days. She refused to believe she would be living there.
"New York," Gabriella replied. Well it was the truth. In her heart, New York would always be her true home. It was where her heart was. Are you sure about that Gabs?
"Wow, I bet you get to go to all of the great Broadway plays!" Ryan exclaimed, excitedly, as the pair walked over to a table, sitting down. The thought that they lived so far away from each other saddened Ryan. But he hardly expected this would go much further. With his luck, Gabriella would wake up tomorrow and realize it was Troy she wanted, not Ryan. What had she been thinking?, she would wonder.
Gabriella smiled sadly. "Yeah." She would miss New York so much. No more subways, no more taxis, no more Central Park. What did New Mexico have anyway? Uh, hello! Ryan!
.o.
Troy banged his head down on the large table. He was an idiot! An absolute idiot! Why couldn't he choose? I mean he had to like one of them better. Besides, did he really even have a chance with Gabriella? It seemed Ryan was sweeping her off her feet. And now he had fucked up things with Sharpay. Now, he would just be a lonely loser. Sharpay would have that idiot Oliver and Ryan and Gabriella would be skipping around the hotel like little love birds and well… hey… what about that Emma girl?
Troy hopped out of his chair and ran back to the Banquet. Emma. Emma could work. Emma would solve his problems. If he could get himself to like Emma, then he wouldn't have to choose between Sharpay and Gabriella. He would just have neither of them and then everyone would be happy!
Happy? Maybe Gabriella since she never really liked you in the first place that much, but Sharpay! Hello! The girl would kill for you! She ain't gonna be happy with this!
.o.
Sharpay walked back into the Banquet Hall and sat back down at her table. Unfortunately, the only seat available sat her right next to Oliver. Aw shit, now she felt guilty. Guilty and angry and sad! This was not a very merry Christmas.
Oliver looked at her quickly and then glanced away. Poor guy, Sharpay thought. He really was kinda cute in a scrawny, innocent way. He had dark feathery brown hair that was short, and dark brown eyes. His skin was almost as pale as Ryan's. I don't think anyone can beat Ryan.
You know what, Oliver and Emma would make an adorable couple! I should set them up. I can make it up to them after what me and Troy did to them.
"Oliver," Sharpay began in a sincerely sorry tone (shocking I know) began, "I'm really sorry about earlier."
"It's ok," Oliver replied sheepishly. He then added quietly, "It was worth it to dance with you for a little while."
Sharpay couldn't help but smile a little at that. This kid was pretty cute and he seemed to like her a lot. Too bad, she was into Troy or this guy could've had a chance.
.o.
Ryan could sense she was sad. He wondered why. Oh well, time to change the subject.
"So are you an only child?" he asked.
"Yep," Gabriella replied, glad for the change of topic. "It's just me and Mom."
"That sounds nice," Ryan replied. "Being a twin isn't all its cracked up to be. Especially when your twin is Sharpay."
Gabriella laughed. "Yeah, Sharpay seems a little… intense."
"Well that's the understatement of the year!" Ryan replied jokingly. "You get used to her," he added.
Gabriella nodded. She was sure Ryan got to see a side of Sharpay she didn't really reveal to others.
Suddenly Ms. Montez poked her head into the ballroom and said, "There you are Gabriella! I've been looking for you everywhere. Say goodnight to Ryan," she added a small smile on her face.
Gabriella sighed sadly, standing up. She already had to go.
Ryan stood up as well, wrapping Gabriella in a sweet embrace and kissing her hand, suavely. "Tomorrow," he whispered in an exciting secretive manner.
"Tomorrow," she repeated as she walked away with her mother, smiling sweetly as she walked out of his sight.
Ryan sighed happily, and walked over to one of the huge windows in the ballroom. Looking out at the snow covered mountains, he thought about, what else, Gabriella. He couldn't wait until tomorrow. He reached up to adjust his hat and found only his short blonde spikes. I wonder if Gabriella likes me better in hats or without, he wondered.
.o.
Troy waltzed into the Banquet hall, finding Emma in a corner of the room, seated on a bench. He sat down right beside her, startling her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked shyly.
"I wanted to apologize about earlier. That was pretty messed up," he said his blue eyes looking into her green ones, hoping for forgiveness.
Who can resist those eyes? Emma nodded, giving him a small smile, "Its all right."
"Great," he said sweetly. "How about I make it up to you? Why don't we go do something tomorrow? What do you like to do?"
Emma smiled. Troy was really cute. He was really trying to make it up to her. "OK. How about we see a movie?"
"A movie! Perfect! Let's meet at the theater on the 9th floor at… say… 4. We can decide what to watch there."
"Sounds great."
Troy smiled and took her hand, squeezing it gently. She was pretty, she was sweet. He could like this girl right? He could forget about Sharpay and Gabriella.
.o.
Sharpay smiled at Oliver and kissed his cheek softly. He turned red and she giggled a little.
"You know what, I bet we could be really great friends," Sharpay said sweetly.
Oliver's face fell a little. He really liked Sharpay. He didn't wanna be just friends.
Sharpay looked around the room for Emma. She wanted to throw them together and see what happened. She finally spotted Emma, except Emma wasn't alone like she had anticipated. Sharpay wanted to scream at the sight of Emma holding hands with Troy. She couldn't believe him. First Gabriella, now she had Emma to compete with.
So she did the only rational thing she could think of: kiss Oliver.
Hell, I'm sure he enjoyed it, but was that really such a smart move?
Sure they could be friends. Or more.
.o.
Okey dokey, Troypayers don't kill me. Lol. Troypay is endgame still. So now, Oliver and Emma are like secondary characters, I'm not sure if they'll be all throughout the rest of the story. We'll see. And Ryella is really cute right now, not sure if they'll stay that way. It may get boring if I don't screw them up a little. Haha. Hope you liked it!