She froze. Most definitely froze because she was scared, scared that he felt the same way. The kiss was absolutely perfect to the degree that she would describe it as a heavenly sensation, he was perfect; just like Matthew. He was absolutely modest, fantastic, and kind; just like Matthew. But if promises meant anything to anyone, she could understand if it didn't mean much to Troy; just like Matthew. She could always wish that he didn't feel the same way, that way she could daydream the most absurd fantasies all she wanted without fail. But when did her wishes actually ever come true?
The seconds began ticking slowly, each one lasting an eternity as his crystal blue orbs stared at her with a hopeful expression, but on the inside, she felt her heart breaking for the him, for what she was about to do.
"Falling for me? Troy you can't be serious?! Come on, please don't lie to yourself or to me for that matter. It's not a funny joke anyway." Gabriella attempted to then put on the fakest smile she could muster and act as if she believed it was all a joke.
But Troy, if he knew that she was pretending, he didn't let on. He didn't say anything, he just stood up and took a perfect breath-taking dive into the pool and left her standing there alone.
The remainder of the gang watched in shock as Gabriella gathered her clothes, put them back on and walked out of the pool area, and it seemed that Troy didn't even care. The romantic scene that they had just witnessed moments ago had disappeared into a breath of air and had unfolded. They all sat there bewildered as Gabriella disappeared and Troy reemerged from his dive and walked towards them.
"Troy, you have just made the stupidest mistake in your life, I hope you know that." Sharpay said simply.
"Not really, as far as I'm concerned, I will never regret what I just did. Who are we kidding, we know that deep down her insides churn at the sight of me, Chad, Jason, Zeke and the rest of the Earth's male population. Who is she trying to fool? SHE'S STILL A MAN-HATER AND DAMN RIGHT I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE MATTHEW DID!" He bellowed in return as the other hotel guests at the pool were looking towards the group teenagers confused at the commotion.
"You're right. You're making a different mistake, a far worse one that Matthew ever made. Even though he left her, you melted a lot of the ice guarding herself, but you know what Troy? You just let her build a barrier around her heart once more. If she couldn't trust her best friend since childhood, how do you expect her to trust the rest of us Troy? How Troy? She was changing her attitude and you just let her go!" Sharpay fired back.
"You know what, it isn't worth arguing with this dimwit if he'd just let Gabriella leave like that. You let your ego get in the way of how your heart was feeling Troy and you know as well as the rest of us that you'll regret it soon. Now I'm going to find my sister before she does something drastic. Even if she's a man-hater or if she's not will never change the way I feel about her!" Paul said as he ran out of the pool area and through the pool doors that Gabriella had previously gone through.
He kept running, looking for her, his only twin sister. Even though he'd never admit it aloud, he had admired her for going so long with a plan, even though it was killing her on the inside, and even though Troy kept sneaking into her heart and making her regret the plan in the first place.
"Gabriella! Gabriella, where are you?" Paul called as he kept turning his head in all possible directions. And even though the rain started drizzling, then as each drop become harder and more forceful, he never gave up looking for her.
At least he found her, leaning against a large oak tree at the local park about two blocks away from the hotel they were staying at. He sprinted up to her and took her into an embrace.
"I was worried about you sis, I'm glad you're safe." he whispered into her ear.
"You know what I love about the rain Paul? I love walking in it because no one knows that there are tears on my face. The raindrops fall from the clouds as teardrops fall from my eyes. Water meets water and nobody knows." Gabriella held tightly onto her brother and let all of her tears continue to pour.
"Shhh, it's okay Gabi. I know you are afraid and I will never let you go through this alone. I promised you that when all crashed down, I would always be here with you to pick up all of the pieces."
Gabriella loved her brother, more than anybody in her family. Even though she had been raised by her mom, and had been recently living with her dad, there was always a comfort in her brother's arms that even she couldn't explain. He made her feel safe when her world was being torn apart, just as both Bolton brothers did. But the difference was Paul was her brother to have forever, he wouldn't leave or hurt her just like the other guys.
"You're the best brother anyone could ever ask for Paul, thank you. I'm just this girl who liked a boy way too much for my own good. I thought I learned after Matthew. I thought being a man-hater would cure me."
"It's better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all." Paul reassured her.
"But I knew, I knew that he would end up hurting me, but I didn't want to believe it. I should have stayed cold that way I could have never gotten hurt because I would have never had anybody close enough to hurt me. I'm so stupid, my plan was just some huge mess. I can't believe I thought it would work!" Gabriella wailed as her tears increased the flow on her precious face.
"If you were a man-hater, then you wouldn't trust me right now. I would have to try much harder than Troy to melt the ice around your heart. But remember, even if you were still a man-hater, I would still love you the way I love you now. You are a part of my family after all."
"I love you too Paul. But I wish that I never fell for what I thought was real."
"He thought you were a man-hater. He screamed that your insides churned when you were near the guys. He claimed that he never wanted to make the same mistake Matthew did. Troy's wrong. He's wrong and he's just afraid to admit it."
"He knew?"
"I guess he did."
"Then I wonder why he pretended that he didn't. Why would he act as if he had no idea if he had all the idea?" Gabriella questioned as she stifled her tears. She was stronger than crying over someone like Troy.
"I told you Ella, he regrets what he said. He's just afraid to admit it, and you know that it's because he's falling for you."
"That's the problem, I'm over him."
"Just follow your heart."
Gabriella grinned at her brother as the sun shone through the parted gray clouds.
"Paul's right. You are some stupid dimwit, you just won't admit it, but we all know that you have in fact fallen for Gabriella Anne Montez." Kelsi concluded.
"No, I haven't fallen for her. And even if I did, she wouldn't feel the same way, you heard the whole conversation, she thought it was all a joke!" Troy replied stubbornly.
"Did you ever think about how she feels? She's finally letting us into her life, you tell her you've fallen in love with her and she's scared stiff. She's got a lot on her platter considering she just recently added two family members that she had never met in her life before." Sharpay stormed into the conversation.
"Troy-boy, you're just plain stupid and I will laugh my ass off once Gabriella finds a guy that truly cares about her because you sure as hell don't." Taylor laughed as a horrified expression was evident on his face.
Hook, line, and sinker, he's just too stubborn to admit he cares about her that way.
Sharpay caught on to what Taylor was doing. "Oh, I know what you mean! There's that amazing football captain David Liander, he and Gabi would make a FABULOUS match, right guys?"
By then, the rest of the gang had figured out Taylor's plan to admitting how Troy felt.
"Definitely Davella." Taylor agreed.
"Yup!"
"No, no, no, no! TROYELLA sounds much better than DAVELLA!" Troy exploded.
"Man, you do care about her." Chad said.
"Of course I do. I might even love her!"
It snapped in Troy's mind the plan the gang had formed. They had tricked him into admitting his true feelings for Gabriella!
"Then don't just stand there, go find her!"
Finally, Troy Bolton had listened to his heart and not the piece of his mind pulling him back to the pool instead of Gabriella. He sprinted faster than he ever had when they had to run track in PE, so fast in fact that he forgot to put on a shirt. Not putting on his shirt called for countless girls attempting to catch his eye, but at that moment in time, he only had eyes for Gabriella Anne Montez, the girl of his and his brother's dreams. He sprinted for what seemed like the longest six minutes of his life as he finally spotted Gabriella talking to Paul. He saw they were talking and decided to slow down in case it was important.
But as he approached, he heard a little bit of their conversation.
"I told you Ella, he regrets what he said. He's just afraid to admit it, and you know that it's because he's falling for you."
"That's the problem, I'm over him."
"Just follow your heart."
Troy realized at that moment, he finally followed his heart, and she had let him go. He lost his chance. He knew he lost the best thing in his life and was definitely regretting it. Against his mind's constant protesting, he decided to make his presence known to the two twins.
"I went looking for you so we could talk, but I guess you would much rather be a part of Davella." Troy said as he held back the tears building up in his eyes. Everyone knows guys don't cry.
"What the fuck are you talking about? Gabriella had never said anything about a 'Davella' whatever that is. It sounds like a smoothie gosh damnit!" Paul exclaimed to the blue-eyed teenage boy.
In her chest, her heart was racing. She wasn't over him, but her coldness was seeping back into her mind, her soul, her whole body. Her gentle face was beginning to mold into the she-devil once more, but she tried, oh how she tried to return to her normal facial expression. And for that moment, she had actually succeeded.
"Wait!" Troy expressed in a confused tone. "Gabriella, you don't like David Liander, the football captain?"
"She never said she did." Paul replied, not letting Gabriella let a word out in fear that one emotion would overpower her voice. For all he knew, she could burst into tears or let the venom seep out through her sweet, angelic voice.
"Then Gabriella, we truly need to talk to sort all of this out. Paul could you please excuse us?" Troy asked.
"Sorry, where I am, my brother is and that is my final word on the matter." she replied.
"Then so be it if that's what it takes to talk to you." he responded.
Was she truly losing control of her emotions, remolding into a man-hater once more? Was she actually going to go through with her plan? Would she want to go through with it? Did she want to stay this Gabriella, or the one everyone had known the past year? Was she actually going to talk to Troy? And most importantly, was she falling in love with Troy Bolton?
So many questions with no answers available. So many things swarmed her mind, yet she had to take it all one step at a time.
Step One was talking to him.
I hate it when you're blue
And how I cared for you
Hate the way my heart desires
And I hate those sleepless nights
And the pain I kept inside
But I keep on
Pretending it's alright
But we can never be
More than friends
And it hurts me
Every time I close my eyes
All I see is you
Author's Note: Like it, hate it, more drama, less drama? I was listening to the song Heartbreak Song, which by the way is completely irrelevant to the title, when I was writing this chapter because it's such a sad and beautiful song that helped me write a lot of the emotions in this chapter. My review goal is 240, think that's possible?
P.S The person with the best overall review for this chapter will make a "guest appearance" in the story and be included for a dedication for the chapter they appear in. All of your criticism, commentary and comments are much appreciated and I take into account what some people have suggested!