A/N: I was inspired to write this morning. So I wrote Chapter 11 in about an hour. Hopefully you'll be pleased with this chapter. It truly breaks my heart about T&G's situation. But have some faith!
And as always, thanks for reading.
~Dee
CHAPTER ELEVEN: SAY IT AIN'T SO
Troy was miserable. Gabriella hadn't spoken to or looked at him since Monday. Every time he saw her at school, she was surrounded by Sharpay and the others. He almost stopped by her house last night but convinced himself not to. Hadn't he agreed to give her some time? Even though he had, it didn't mean he had to like it. But his mood changed as he realized today was Wednesday. Instead of free period, they would have their Family Living class. At least now Gabriella would have to talk to him.
Troy grabbed a bottle of orange juice out of the fridge and grabbed his backpack and TJ's carrier and headed out to his car. Maybe he could swing by and pick Gabriella up? Troy was contemplating if he should and decided to call her.
Gabriella picked up her cell after two rings. "Hello?"
"Hey Gabriella, it's Troy."
"Hey Troy," she said. "Kind of early to be calling me, don't you think?" She teased.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I was just wondering if I could drive you to school today. I'm in my car now; I'd be over at your place in 15 or 20 minutes." Troy asked before he could lose his nerve.
He could hear Gabriella sigh. "Troy, I don't think that's such a good idea. I'm on my way out anyway. I'll just see you in homeroom."
"Sure. No worries." Troy tried to remain cool. "Are you going to talk to me at least?" He added at the last minute.
"Troy, you know I can't go out with you. Why do you keep trying? It's just easier for me if we don't talk for a while, okay?"
"No, it's not okay." Troy told her. "It just doesn't make sense why you have to give up our friendship."
"After everything that's happened the last few days, I think it's safe to say that what's going on between us is more than friendship, Troy. I just need my distance from you for the time being."
"I still don't get it. If you feel the same way about me as I do for you, then let's be together."
"Troy, for the last time, I can't be with you. Not now at least." Gabriella stressed.
"Why?" Troy asked. "Give me one good reason."
"Why?" Gabriella scoffed. "How can you ask me that? You know very damn well why? You have an ex-girlfriend by the name of Sharpay Evans who just happens to be my very best friend. If you can't get past that, then there's nothing more to discuss here. I gotta go."
"Brie, wait!" Troy exclaimed. But all he heard was silence as he realized Gabriella hung up on him.
Troy leaned his head against the steering wheel and took a few small breaths. Why was it that every time he talked to Gabriella he was always managing to mess it up. There was nothing else he could do at this point. Gabriella was determined not to go out with him, but he knew behind those words that she didn't mean it. He needed to talk to Chad and Jason. Troy started up the car and headed towards the school. He had to get their perspective on the situation.
During the drive to school Troy couldn't get Gabriella out of his mind. There was just something about her that made him happy. She really was one of the coolest girls he knew. As he pulled into the parking lot, he pulled into his usual spot and observed the student body milling around the front of the school.
He smiled as he saw Gabriella walking towards the school. She was wearing dark jeans that showed off her admirable back side and a cream colored v-neck sweater that clung to her curves. Her long dark curly was hair was loose and cascaded down her shoulders. God, she looks good, he thought. Apparently he wasn't the only one to notice her. As Gabriella walked by, every guy she passed was watching her.
Troy's smile faded as he noticed Zeke Baylor make his way towards Gabriella and walked beside her. He felt like his heart was being ripped out and stomped on as Gabriella looked up at Zeke and smiled at him. He hated that Zeke guy. Who did he think he was? Gabriella and Zeke were still talking when he felt a tap on his passenger window. Troy looked over and saw Chad and Jason standing next to his car. He got out of his car to greet his friends. "What's up?" He smiled at them.
Chad grinned. "Like the view?"
Troy could feel himself blushing. "What are you talking about?"
Jason shook his head and laughed. "Bolton, you pulled up five minutes ago and all you've been doing is staring at Gabriella."
"Fine. Whatever." Troy scoffed. "Can you believe that dude?"
"Who? Zeke?" Chad asked.
"Yeah. Why is he even trying? She won't go out with him." Troy told his friends.
"Why? Because she's dying to go out with you?" Chad teased. "Bolton, she's done nothing but ignored you the past few days. How do you even know she's into you?"
Troy shrugged. "Gabriella's just being loyal to Sharpay. I know she feels the same way about me."
Jason looked at Troy. "It doesn't look like it." He nudged his heads towards Gabriella's direction. Troy followed Jason's gaze and felt his jaw tightened as Zeke and Gabriella broke apart from a hug. She waved good bye to Zeke and walked towards her friends who all seemed to be jumping up and down with excitement. This can't be good, he thought.
"Ouch." Chad observed. "Sorry man. I know you like Gabriella a lot, but maybe it's better this way. Let's head to homeroom." Chad clapped a hand on Troy's shoulder.
Troy shrugged it off. "It's not over." He muttered, as he grabbed his backpack and TJ out of his car. As the trio made their way to the front doors, Troy felt his shoulders sag. This was turning out to be a terrible day. First, Gabriella rejected his ride this morning. Second, she had hung up on him. And third, it looked like she was getting all cozy with Zeke. It was enough to make him want to puke. He just hoped that he was imagining things. Gabriella would never go out with someone like Zeke. At least I hope she wouldn't, he thought sadly.
Gabriella was still a little miffed at Troy from his call earlier. How could he not understand that they couldn't be together? It hurt her more than anything not to be with Troy. But she knew she couldn't let him come between her and Sharpay. Sharpay seemed to be doing a little better. She wasn't as bitter as she was a couple of days ago. She knew her best friend would never like the idea of Gabriella and Troy together. Gabriella would be crazy to think that Sharpay would give them her blessing. She just wished she'd found someone else to like, but she knew in her heart no one compared to Troy Bolton.
She got out of her jeep and grabbed her backpack and made her way towards the school. She felt self conscious as she noticed she was getting a lot of attention from the male student body. Maybe she should've rethought her outfit for today. But she loved the dark jeans she had on; they made her butt look good. She shook her head and smiled and kept on walking. She heard someone call her name and she turned to see Zeke Baylor walk up beside her.
"Hey Zeke," she said.
"Hi there." Zeke told her. "So, how are things going?"
"Not too bad. I'm glad it's Wednesday. Now the rest of the week should go by quickly, I hope."
"I hear ya." Zeke looked down at her and smiled. Gabriella had to admit that he was very good looking. But he wasn't her type.
"So how are you enjoying East High? Now that you've been here a week." Gabriella asked.
"It's pretty cool. I'm meeting a lot of cool people."
"That's nice to hear." Gabriella told him. They had stopped walking by now and were standing in front of the school. Gabriella could see Sharpay, Taylor, Kelsi, and Martha standing the main entrance of the school. They all had big smiles on their faces.
"So, Gabriella," Zeke started, taking a deep breath. "I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me this Saturday."
Gabriella was caught off guard. Her first instinct was to say no because of Troy. But hadn't she agreed to try harder to forget about him? Troy was right, why should she be miserable. She owed it to herself to have some fun even if it wasn't with the boy she really wanted to be with. "This Saturday?" She asked.
"Yeah, I was hoping we could go to dinner and a movie or we can always do something else." Zeke said.
"Sure, I'd like to. That'd be very nice. Thanks for asking." Gabriella smiled up at him, knowing how robotic she sounded.
Zeke's smile widened, showing two rows of perfectly white teeth. "Great!" Zeke exclaimed. He leaned down and gave Gabriella a hug which threw her off guard again. "I'll pick you up at seven then?"
"Sounds good."
"See ya later." Zeke walked away with a big smile still plastered on his face.
"See ya." Gabriella muttered after him with a small wave. She turned towards her friends and walked towards them. They were all jumping up and down. Gabriella rolled her eyes at them. "You guys are terrible, you know that?"
"Did Zeke Baylor just ask you out?" Martha asked excitedly.
Gabriella nodded. "Yes, we're going out this Saturday."
Sharpay's smile widened. "Oh my god! I can just see it now, you and Zeke are going to be the hottest couple ever!"
Gabriella rolled her eyes again and laughed. "It's just one date."
"Yes, but eventually one date will turn into more and then you'll have a boyfriend!" Sharpay continued.
Gabriella shook her head. "Please don't make a big deal about it. It's just one date. He seems like a nice enough person. I just don't know if I'm into him or not."
"Then why go out with him?" Kelsi asked.
"I don't really know him, so this would be a nice way to." Gabriella replied.
"Oh my god! What are you going to wear?" Sharpay asked. "We need to go shopping after school."
Taylor laughed. "I'm in for some shopping."
Gabriella looped her arm through Sharpay's as they made their way inside the school. "Shar, I don't need a new outfit for my date. I have plenty of clothes at home."
Sharpay and Martha chuckled as if sharing an inside joke. "Oh Gabriella, dear, it's clear that you haven't gone a date before. All girls know that a new outfit must be purchased prior to a first date."
Gabriella rolled her eyes again. "Trust me; I don't need a new outfit."
"We're going whether you like it or not." Sharpay said. The girls made their way to homeroom and chatted about numerous things. As they entered the classroom, Gabriella saw Troy sitting at his desk and it brought her back to reality. She didn't want to hurt Troy's feelings and she knew she should let him know about her date before someone else told him. She made her way to her desk and looked at the back of his head. Troy wasn't looking up at all as anyone came in and he kept his eyes on the top of his desk. She looked over at Jason and he gave her a small smile. She noticed Zeke wasn't in homeroom yet.
Just then Melanie Hartner came over to her desk and excitedly exclaimed in a loud voice. "Oh my god! You're going out with Zeke Baylor this weekend. How exciting?"
Great, Gabriella thought. She looked over at her friends and they shrugged, avoiding her glare. "Wow, news travels fast, doesn't it?" Gabriella asked sarcastically. She looked towards Troy's direction and saw his shoulders had tensed up and then slumped down as he heard Melanie.
"You guys are going to be like the hottest new "It" couple at East High. You are so lucky Gabriella. I heard that Zeke used to live in a mansion in San Diego and he's an All-State basketball and baseball player. And he loves to cook and bake. He's the whole package. You go, girl." Melanie babbled on.
Gabriella felt sick to her stomach as she heard all of this. She felt even sicker knowing that Troy was hearing all of it. "I don't really know much about Zeke." Gabriella replied lamely.
"The cheerleaders always thought you were crazy for turning down every guy that's asked you out. We just didn't realize you were so picky and waiting for the right one to come along. He's quite a catch – rich, good looking, and athletic. You've got really good taste."
"Melanie." Gabriella interrupted her. "As much as I appreciate your observations, there's no truth behind any of it."
Melanie looked at Gabriella and scoffed. "You think you're so much better than everyone, don't you?"
"No, I don't think that. I just don't need people to make assumptions about things they don't know about."
Melanie glared at Gabriella and made her way back to her desk. Gabriella looked down at her desk and sighed. She really hoped that everyone would get over her and Zeke's date. She was only going out with him to get over a certain someone. Like the truth about that would ever come out. She was hoping that Troy would look back at her or something. She kept staring at the back of his head, pleading with him to turn around.
As Ms. Darbus started the announcements for the day, Gabriella saw Troy lift his head up and slowly turned to his side until his eyes met hers. Gabriella gave him a pained and apologetic look. Troy just stared at her with his blue eyes and she noticed how sad he looked. It hurt Gabriella so much that she looked back down at her desk and blinked back some tears. She knew she wouldn't be able to hold it in if Troy stared at her with the same expression. How in the hell was she going to get through the next week of this project? All Gabriella knew was that no matter what, she was still unbelievable crazy about Troy. After learning about her date, how would he feel towards her now?
A/N: The title fo this chapter is "Say It Ain't So" by Weezer
