Disclaimer I do not own High School Musical or any of its characters.
A/N: I always feel so awful about keeping these chapters from you for such a long time. I wish I had more time to update! But I love you guys for standing by me even though I take a while to update! Thank you so much for all your support! Enjoy…
Last Time…
"Yeah, it's a beautiful day outside. And besides I know you have practice. You've been such a great friend. I wouldn't want you to be late for practice because of me. I'll see you tomorrow Troy" Gabriella smiled and turned to walk out of the library.
"Bye Brie" Troy said. Gabriella turned around briefly to wave her final goodbye.
Troy let his head fall on the table in front of him. Friend. One syllable and a knife in the heart.
Chapter Eleven – A Basketball Game
Gabriella walked into the exuberant East High Gym with Lucas and Lily by her side. She barely recognized the usually folded up bleachers, which were now filled with excited fans. People were milling around as if they knew exactly where they should be.
She looked up into the stands, scanning it for Taylor, Kelsi and Sharpay, who all promised to meet her there. However she hadn't expected so many people to be at the basketball game. She managed to tell Lucas and Lily a description of the three girls in hopes that they would see them first. Sure enough they did.
"There!" Lily exclaimed, pointing into the stands. "Is that them? Third row?"
Gabriella looked up and sure enough, there were Sharpay, Taylor and Kelsi sitting up in the bleachers. Gabriella nodded and led her brother and sister to the section of the stands her friends were sitting in.
Just as the trio arrived at the stairs, which led up to the row Taylor, Sharpay and Kelsi were sitting in, Kelsi noticed Gabriella approaching them. She smiled and waved Gabriella over. Gabriella let her siblings go in front of her, making sure they wouldn't get lost behind her in the sea of people.
Gabriella sat down next to Taylor with the twins on her right.
"Gabs, we're so glad you came. You're going to love it!" Sharpay greeted excitedly.
"It's true. First game I came to I thought was going to be a waste of time, but it turned out to be a ton of fun. Since then I've been to almost every game" Taylor agreed enthusiastically.
"We'll see. I know that Luc here won't be able to keep his eyes off the game" Gabriella laughed, looking at Lucas, who was already mesmerized by the excitement.
"Oh of course. You two must be Lucas and Lily. It's nice to meet you. I'm Kelsi" Kelsi greeted. "And this is Taylor and Sharpay" she motioned to her two friends. Lucas and Lily smiled.
"So not to sound stupid, but where are the guys? Shouldn't they be warming up or something?" Gabriella asked.
"Nah, the game never starts on time anyway. The boys spend way too long in the locker room." Taylor explained.
"Because they're nervous?"
Kelsi shook her head, "No. The guys rarely get nervous, usually only before a big game. But this is just a friendly game, you know – so the other teams can come scope each other out"
"So that's why all the guys have been going to a lot of other games this week."
"Yeah, that's also why the West High skunks are here" Sharpay groaned, motioning her head across the gym to a group of boys who had just entered.
"Their mascot is a skunk?" Lily asked in disbelief.
Lucas rolled his eyes, "No. Jeez, don't you know anything? West High and East High are mortal enemies. They hate each other" he explained.
"Well it's really only West High that hates everyone from East High with a passion. East High just doesn't like the basketball team. I have no problem with anyone else that goes to that school, it's just the team. They're all a bunch of you know whats." Taylor explained. Gabriella nodded understandingly. Just then Lucas shouted,
"Look! It's starting!"
Gabriella turned her head to the basketball court. She caught the tail-end of the Eagles running onto the court. From the other corner of the gym the wildcats came running through a large banner. The gym erupted into cheers as the team made quick lap around the gym and began shooting baskets. Just after Troy made a lay-up, he glanced into the stands, his eyes quickly finding Gabriella's. He grinned brightly at her as he passed the stands. Gabriella smiled back, blushing slightly as Troy singled her out.
Taylor glanced at the two other girls sitting next to her, smiling as they watched the interaction between Troy and Gabriella. Taylor knew about Troy's feelings towards Gabriella, after all Chad was her boyfriend.
The attraction between the pair was obvious, but Gabriella always seemed to change the subject when the relationship between Troy and her was brought up. Despite the fact that Gabriella refused to admit that she was falling for Troy, Taylor could see it. Gabriella smiled so much brighter when it was aimed at Troy.
She had spent some time thinking about why Gabriella guarded her heart so carefully. Maybe she was afraid of being betrayed again since her mother left her. But Taylor couldn't help but wonder if there was something else, something that was preventing Gabriella from opening up to them.
Gabriella was such an amazing person; she just hoped that Gabriella saw in herself what the gang saw in her.
--
After a landslide win Troy, Chad and the rest of the team made their way out the locker room after showering and changing.
"We still got it!" Chad proclaimed patting Troy on the back.
"Hell yeah. We're gonna have a kick-ass season" Troy agreed as the group walked into the almost empty gym. A familiar group of people still sat in the third row of bleachers awaiting the arrival of their favorite players. Troy, Chad, Jason and Zeke dropped their bags by the bleachers before greeting the group.
Sharpay, Taylor and Kelsi jumped down to kiss their respective boyfriends while Gabriella hugged Troy.
"Great job wildcat!" she exclaimed happily.
"Thanks. Do I have you hooked?"
"I'm gonna have to say yes" Gabriella smiled.
"And what about Lucas and Lily? Did they enjoy it?" Troy asked.
Gabriella couldn't help but laugh as she motioned her head over to the court. Lucas and Lily were already playing a game of basketball and from the looks of it the rest of the gang was just about to get involved.
"Does that answer your question?"
Troy grinned.
"I want to show you something" he said suddenly, turning to face her. "Come with me"
Gabriella looked worried and slightly skeptical.
"I can't just leave Luc and Lily here"
"I bet you they won't even notice we've gone. The gang will take good care of them" Troy assured her. "Come on" he said, taking her hand. Gabriella glanced back at her brother and sister before she allowed Troy to lead her out of the gym.
--
Through the glass of doors on the far side of the gym a group of teenage boys watched the scene unbeknownst to the gang. The leader of the group was James Scott, the captain of the West High Knights and he was angry.
It wasn't because East High had won the game; it was because Troy Bolton had improved from last year. James had hoped that this year would be the year West High could finally steal all the glory from East High. Most of all he could steal the glory from Troy Bolton – the person who James Scott hated above all others. And now to make matters worse, not only was he playing better but he was happier as well.
"Who the hell is that girl?" he almost growled. "That girl" seemed to be the root of Troy's newfound happiness. James had watched Troy like a hawk during the game and he'd noticed that Troy had looked up at "that girl" more than several times during the game.
The very tall boy who stood beside James shook his head, "I don't know. I've never seen her before"
"Find out who she is."
--
Troy led Gabriella down the hallway until they came to the music room. She looked confused,
"What are we doing here?" she asked.
Troy smiled slyly,
"Well I believe that you and I have a deal."
"I have no idea what you're talking about" Gabriella said, almost laughing at the seriousness of his voice.
"You heard me singing. So you know what that means, it's your turn to sing for me." Troy grinned, patting the grand piano. Gabriella began shaking her head quickly,
"No, no. That's not fair. I didn't mean to have heard you. It just…I just walked up to the rooftop on Thursday and there you were, singing" Gabriella protested.
"Still counts" Troy reminded her.
"But but! You were good. Really good and I…"she trailed off.
"Brie come on, please" Troy said, squeezing her hand. Gabriella looked up at him, then back down at the piano, trying to make her decision. Taking one last long look at Troy, she sighed and made her way to the piano. She sat down on the bench and Troy sat down next to her. Taking yet another breath Gabriella placed her hands on the piano keys.
Pressing down, she began to let her fingers dance across the keys, creating the music. She took one last hopeful glance at Troy before beginning to sing,
I love the time and in between
The calm inside me
In this space where I can breathe
I believe there is a distance I have wandered
To touch upon the years
Reaching out and reaching in
Holding out holding in
Troy watched in awe as she sang so beautifully. Her voice was pure, sweet and absolutely breathtaking. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her figure as her fingers danced over the keys on the piano.
I believe
This is heaven to no one else but me
And I'll defend it long as I can be left here to linger in silence
If I chose to would you try to understand
It was then, as Troy listened to Gabriella sing, that he knew he had to make his move today. He needed to. He couldn't keep it inside any longer. She was the epitome of perfection and she need to be his.
Oh the quiet child awaits the day when she can break free
The mold that clings like desperation
Oh mother don't you see I've got
To live my life the way I feel is right for me,
Say it's not right for you
But it's right for me
Gabriella let her eyes close and her head fall backwards as the words flowed from her mouth.
I believe
This is heaven to no one else but me
And I'll defend it as long as
I can be left here to linger in silence
If I choose to
Would you try to understand it
I would like to linger here in silence
If I choose to
Would you understand it
Would you try to understand.
Gabriella let her hands fall gently from the piano to her jeans, which she began to rub nervously,
"That's it" she whispered meekly. Troy couldn't help but be completely awe-struck. The girl he thought couldn't amaze him anymore, just had. The tone of her voice was so beautiful, she managed to sing the song with a sincerity that Troy couldn't help but admire.
"That was amazing Brie" Troy said softly. Gabriella looked down bashfully twiddling with the hem of her shirt. Troy moved closer to Gabriella.
"I mean it. It was beautiful. Almost as beautiful as you" he whispered. Gabriella looked up as she heard his last statement, confusion written all over her eyes. She couldn't possibly have heard correctly. Had Troy just said she was beautiful?
Troy let his hand gently brush against hers,
"You're beautiful" he whispered again. "More so than anyone I've ever known. I think I'm falling for you" he confessed.
From the way Gabriella was staring blankly at him, Troy wondered if this had indeed been a good idea. Why had he listened to Chad? "She doesn't really mean she wants to be friends Troy, she just said that because she's afraid to confess her true feelings" Troy let his mind mock Chad's advice from earlier that day.
"I think I'm falling for you too" she whispered finally, her voice almost seemed terrified, but then she went back on her statement, "But, no you can't be falling for me. I mean I'm…" she looked down at herself, almost in disgust, "…me."
Troy's hand grazed the soft skin of her hand, "That's precisely why I have fallen. Because you never cease to amaze me, you're unlike anyone I've ever known. You're perfect" he said genuinely
Gabriella gazed up at him with glossy, vulnerable eyes,
"I'm a mess Troy" she murmured.
Troy, feeling brave, let his hand move up to her cheek and stroked it gently,
"It doesn't matter." He whispered. Gabriella felt a calmness come over her as Troy caressed her cheek. His touch seemed to make everything else slip away. All the bad in the world was gone and for that one moment in time all Gabriella could think about was how hard she was falling for Troy.
With each passing day she felt a deeper connection with Troy. Sometimes she found herself on the phone with him for hours, while Lucas and Lily were sleeping, talking about life and its fortunes and misfortunes. Not that their conversations were always extremely serious, they often had conversations which ended in the pair of them laughing hysterically. But what really got Gabriella was that whenever she was with Troy, she felt like the most important person in the world and she felt as if she had a place on this earth.
Troy's hand moved down her upper arm, then down her forearm, until it laced itself with Gabriella's hand,
"Be my girlfriend" he murmured as more of a hopefully statement than anything.
Most of Gabriella was screaming yes. But there was a tiny part of her that wondered if this was a good idea. Truthfully she was afraid. She was afraid of what might happen, she was afraid of opening her heart and she was terrified of her heart breaking. But as she gazed back at Troy's cerulean eyes she saw a trust in his eyes which she couldn't help but falter at.
"Yes" Gabriella whispered.
A/N: There you have it! Hopefully that was worth the wait! I'm hoping I'll be able update sooner next time because I'm really excited for the next chapter! It's going to be Troyella's first date. : ) If there are any specific things anyone would like to see happen, let me know and I'll try to weave them in! Thank you for reading, please review!
Oh by the way, the song Gabriella sang was called Elsewhere. It was originally sung by Sarah McLachlan, but the version I used was sung by Bethany Joy Galeotti. That scene was kind of inspired by the scene she sang that song in on One Tree Hill. I'll post both the scene and the full song just in case you want to watch both. Thanks again!