It's the Real Thing
AN: I simply HAD to put up this chapter... hopefully no one will complain, right? Anyways, I just want to thank everyone's who's kept with the story up till now! Okay, so I know it's only the tenth chapter, but let me tell you I'm totally overwhelmed by the response this story has gotten. I know, all writers say that, right? But that doesn't make it any less true. Now, on to the wedding! -plays Here Comes the Bride-
Please bear with me during this chapter, I really have no clue how Christian weddings take place, apart from the "I do's" and such…
Ahh, also, I'm aware I use some, um, "harsh" language at times… please tell me if this bothers you, and I'll cut it out.
mars.x – Oh no no! I'm sorry if I've confused you and anyone else, but Hailey is Troy's younger sister. Troy is twenty-five, Hailey is fifteen and their older sister is twenty-six. Ehehehe, I hope I cleared that up :)
Disclaimer: I wish… I own nothing but the plot and Hailey
CHAPTER TEN: A Misty Bridal Veil
Four months had positively flown by. Gabriella had been shocked to find that they wedding would be in mid-July. Four months wasn't enough to plan a wedding, was it? You were only married once! She wanted everything to be perfect, from the white lilies and pale pink carnations in her bouquet to the soft, dreamy music playing before she walked down the aisle. Now she paced up and down in her apartment, waiting for Sharpay to pick her up and drive over to the church.
Her white gown was simple, with a wide skirt and a beautiful white veil that was as soft as gossamer to touch. Gabriella clutched her bouquet close to her chest as if she feared it might fly away. A quick ring of the doorbell nearly sent her into hysterics as she dashed across the small apartment and yanked open the door to be face to face with her blonde friend.
Sharpay's brown eyes sparkled with laughter. "Gabs! Go easy," she giggled, reaching out an arm to steady the brunette. Gabriella fiddled nervously with a curl draped over her shoulder, suddenly looking terrified. Sharpay noticed her expression and frowned slightly.
"Gabriella? What's wrong?" She only shook her head in reply. How could Gabriella tell Sharpay that she was wondering why Troy had picked her? They barely knew each other, despite the fact that they were close now; but it was a friendly kind of closeness, not a romantic intimacy. She twisted her engagement ring a few times before taking a deep breath.
"I'm okay." The words came out in a soft whisper. "I-I'm okay."
Sharpay smiled sympathetically and rubbed her friend's back comfortingly. "Relax, Gabs, Troy obviously loves you. And you're pretty close to him, so there's no problem. Just go and have fun."
"How can you say that?" Gabriella exploded. "This isn't a party, Sharpay! I'm going to have to stand in front of a crowd of people and pledge myself to someone I've known for five freaking months! How messed up is that?" Her voice rose to screaming pitch and she wrung her hands frantically.
Sharpay watched her friend helplessly. "You know what, let's just go," she finally exclaimed, grabbing Gabriella's hand and dragging her towards the car, only pausing to lock up the apartment with Gabriella's own key.
Gabriella was on the verge of a nervous breakdown now and kept her hands on her face, covering her eyes as she wept softly. How had this happened? Five months ago she was just thinking about how she could get her newest story looked at by some publishers, and then Troy Bolton came into her life like a lightning bolt out of the blue. It was completely insane. Now she was getting married to him.
Fear constricted her throat. How had she never thought about how married life would be like? Where would they live? Would she be able to continue her same work pattern? Would she be dragged to random basketball functions as Troy's wife?
Sharpay noticed the alarmed look on Gabriella's face and tapped her shoulder gently. "Gabs," she spoke again, almost frustrated at her friend's antics, "please, please, please just calm down, or I might crash because of keeping a constant eye on you." Gabriella sighed softly and folded her hands in her lap, nodding meekly.
The church was smaller than Gabriella would have liked for her wedding – she had always dreamed of a big, splashy wedding in a big airy cathedral with Mr. Right waiting for her at the altar with love shining in his eyes. The scene wasn't quite as she had imagined – the twenty-odd people invited to the wedding barely managed to fit into the cramped space. Or so it seemed to Gabriella as she was whisked by the main hall into a side room to have finishing touches put on her.
She sighed irritably as a make-up artist, hired by Sharpay, dabbed at her cheeks with something or the other. After ten minutes of it, Gabriella snapped at the woman, "Look, this is a wedding, not a fashion show! Can you leave me alone, please?" The lady looked taken aback at Gabriella's harsh tone and scurried away hurriedly.
She began to pace again, her eyes closed. Whether she liked it or not, she was going to marry Troy Bolton in half an hour. She was going to be Gabriella Bolton. She made a face at the name, opening her eyes and staring down at her hands.
Her phone began to ring as she examined her hands, and she jumped slightly. A special ring tone she had selected for Troy's calls blasted through the small room.
This may never start
We could fall apart
And I'd be your memory
Lost your sense of fear
Feelings insincere
Can I be your mem –
She hit the "end call" button, silently grinding her teeth. How could Troy be calling her at a time like this? What was he thinking? A soft sound of amusement made her turn, eyes darting about nervously.
"That's an interesting song to choose for my brother." The speaker had pale auburn hair and intense blue eyes, just like her brother. Hailey Bolton coughed and moved forward, grasping the door handle to maintain her balance.
"Why'd you choose it?"
Gabriella stared at the wasted girl standing before her with a mixture of pity and amazement. "I… it's complicated," she replied feebly. "But I think it fits."
Hailey nodded slightly, swaying on the spot. "I think it does," she whispered. "More than you know." Before Gabriella could question her more closely about her words, she abruptly changed the topic.
"So you're going to be my new sister? I think I'll like you." She smiled sweetly at the brunette, and Gabriella felt a smile cross her own face. She walked towards the fifteen-year-old and paused a few feet away from her.
"Why did you come here?" she asked gently, ready to aid the girl in case she weakened and fell. Hailey shrugged.
"I wanted to see you before the wedding. Speaking of which, you should be going now, it's going to start soon."
A chuckle escaped Gabriella. "Well, aren't you the flower girl? You should already be there, you walk down the aisle before me, remember?"
Hailey grinned lightly. "Oh yeah, I forgot. I'll see you later, Gabriella." She turned and struggled with the door for a minute before prying it open and slowly limping down the hallway, towards the gathered crowd.
Gabriella watched her go with a feeling that she had just been touched by a miracle.
Troy waited next to the vicar at the altar, fidgeting with his cuffs. Chad stood next to him, holding the rings on a scarlet satin pillow. Being Troy's best man, he had taken it upon himself to keep the rings safe, and disregarded Troy's protests that someone else was supposed to have the rings. Chad was as stubborn as a mule sometimes, Troy reflected with an inward grin. He accidentally hit someone's number on speed dial as he shoved his hands deep into his pockets, but no voice issued through his pockets. The person evidently hadn't picked up.
Music began to play as the flower girl entered, leaning heavily upon the arm of the maid of honor, a tearful Sharpay. Every heart in the assembled throng went out to the thin, pale girl with brilliant blue eyes as she scooped out cream-colored petals from a wicker basket and tossed them about almost half-heartedly. Hailey was trying her best, but the effort winded her badly.
The music changed to the popular wedding song of "Here Comes the Bride", but there was no bride to be seen. Troy panicked. Where was Gabriella? Had she even made it to the church? Did she run off rather than be married to him? But she had said yes, hadn't she?
Sharpay gave him a look and mouthed, "she's here". Troy relaxed ever so slightly and shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and then back again. Everyone seemed to be looking around, wondering where the bride was.
A white figure appeared at the end of the aisle. Gabriella looked paler than Hailey and walked with a strange, jerky gait. Troy frowned slightly at her. What was wrong?
She paused when she reached her spot next to him and held her bouquet close to her heart, her eyes on her hands. She didn't meet Troy or Sharpay's worried gazes, or her parents'. The vicar looked irritated at her late arrival but began to intone the familiar words.
"Do you, Troy William Bolton, take Gabriella Anna Montez to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Troy took a deep breath. "I-I do." His voice quivered slightly, but other than that the words were clear. The vicar transferred his gaze on Gabriella.
"And do you, Gabriella Anna Montez, take Troy William Bolton to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Gabriella's reply was unexpected.
"Why, Troy?" she whispered, raising her eyes to finally meet his through her veil. "Why did you ask me to marry you?" Her words were soft and could only be heard by Troy and the vicar. The latter harrumphed crossly but kept silent as Troy opened his mouth to reply. Tears had blurred Gabriella's vision so she could only see the black of his suit, the brown-blond of his hair and the faint blue of his eyes. His chest felt painfully tight as he struggled to invent something on the spot.
"Because you, Gabriella Montez, are simply remarkable. Do you know that? Who wouldn't love you, Gabriella? I know this seems so, so rushed, but it feels right. And you can't tell me that you don't feel something for me, otherwise you would have never said yes." He felt so low, lying to her like this. She wanted reassurance, and all he was giving her was dishonesty. But surely, he would come to feel something for her soon? His powerful gaze held her eyes.
"I-I-I do." She stuttered far more than Troy had, but the words came from her. The vicar cleared his throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, for the first time ever… Mr. and Mrs. Troy William Bolton!"
The crowd cheered and clapped as Troy slipped a golden wedding band on Gabriella's ring finger, and she did the same. Both knew what they had to do now. Troy gently raised Gabriella's veil and looked straight into her eyes, comforting her with his steady gaze. He leaned in and pecked her lightly on the lips; their first kiss. Gabriella touched her fingers to her lips, her eyes still locked with his. It wasn't passionate or romantic, but both of them had felt a small thrill as their lips met briefly.
AN: Mehh, I hope I didn't disappoint anyone with this chapter. Poor Troy and Gabriella, their first kiss was at their wedding… heeheehee… it wasn't very romantic, was it? But there you have it, they're both still awkward with each other, remember! And Gabriella finally meets Hailey! Hurray!
Extra points to anyone who guesses the song that is Gabriella's ring tone for Troy and the band that plays it ;) I'll give you muffins! (Yum!)