A/N: I hope you all like this chapter, i worked really hard to make it juicy and great, oh and after this would be the epilogue and that's the end. I hope you guys like this, and don't forget to REVIEW! when you are finished :D
G.K. Chesterson said "Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist, children know dragons exist, fairy tales tell children that dragons can be killed."
The cafeteria was decorated in shimmering red and gold streamers, the dance floor mainly consisted of freshman and sophomores-both doing pelvic thrusts that were too old for their ages. Seniors and Juniors either stood against the wall watching with bored expressions on their faces or they just merely sat at tables while getting lap dances from a good portion of the dateless female population.
The basketball team walked in, for once not in their lazy pair of athletic shorts and wifebeater shirts. No, they looked...relatively close to the picture of elegance but not quite. Chad still held a basketball in one hand and Jason chewed gum as if it was going out of style. Gabriella, walked stiffly as she wasn't used to wearing a tuxedo. Then again, she's not used to being inside a guy's body for crying out loud.
"Hoops," Chad said, laughing as a freshman tripped over a fallen balloon. "relax, I heard they got awesome entertainment this year!" she stiffly nodded, looking around for her body [which was currently being inhabited by Troy Bolton of all people], Chad groaned, seeing that making his best friend relax would be next to impossible. Guess this is the reason why he doesn't go to dances? Hm, maybe...
"Um, I want to uh...get some punch." Gabriella stammered, but already leaving the basketball team behind to endlessly flirt with scantily clad girls. She rolled her eyes.
"Looking for something Montez," good thing the music was loud, because she turned to see her body standing there with its arms crossed. "Nice penguin suit..."
She chuckled dryly, "Uh, your mom picked it out...nice dress...kind of something I would've picked out." Troy smiled, looking down at the white frock.
"Thanks, your hyper active friend-"
"Sharpay,"
"Yeah her," Troy said, continuing, "she must be addicted to shopping or something. Totally opposite from you." Gabriella nodded, clutching the small glass of punch in front of her and eventually an awkward silence smothered them.
"So..."
"So..." They said at the same time,
"Would you.."
"Would you.." once again at the same time
"You first..."
"You first..." and again, Troy shook his head, Gabriella's braided locks loosely swingly hit the small shoulder's that they framed. After taking a breath, he spoke again.
"You speak first." Gabriella gulped, and set down the punch, holding out Troy's hand.
"Would you like to dance?" she looked at him, Troy cleared his throat and nodded, grasping the outstretched hand.
It was kind of…odd, hard to tell who led who on to the dance floor as the D.J. changed songs to 'Love Me Tender' by Elvis Presley, Gabriella laughed, "I love this song…my dad would always dance me around the living room whenever this song played." Troy laughed with her as she had the memory.
"Sounds like fun," he said, moving Gabriella's hips slowly to the beat. Suddenly realizing how clumsy he was. Gabriella giggled, "what?"
"I should've told you that I can't dance…" Troy sighed,
"That's your body, in my body I'm a great dancer—sex on two legs, according to the cheerleading squad." Gabriella rolled Troy's baby blues and grasped her own wrist as she tripped over Troy's clodhopper sized feet.
"Sorry," she mumbled, Troy laughed.
"That…was tragically bad—hey!" he dodged the backhand that Gabriella aimed at him, and soon they were running through the dance floor and Gabriella used Troy's long legs and arms to her advantage and wrapped the latter around the waist that used to be hers.
"Caught ya," she said, but it came out as a husky whisper. And for a moment, they were entranced in each other's gaze, holding each other. Fully aware of the closeness and unaware of themselves leaning in; Troy smiled,
"Gabriella…"
"Yeah…"
like breaths that were released and forgotten, "OKAY!" Sharpay yelled, causing the two spring apart, well I'm sure you guys have awaited us to show you what the entertainment is tonight!" The whole cafeteria erupted in cheers and whistles.
"Well, originally it was my best friend only, but then the principal thought it was nice to have at least two, so the first one to sing would be SELENA LEWIS!" suddenly a girl wearing a low cut red dress strutted like a cat on the stage and grabbed the mike as the music started and the words flowed seductively out of her mouth.
I, I love you like a love song baby
I, I love you like a love song baby
And I keep hittin' re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat
Everyone danced and Troy cleared his throat, "Well, uh, I better get up there—or at least ready for my slot" He moved to walk and as soon as he did, Gabriella reached out.
"Wait." She called, Troy's calloused fingers wrapping around her thin arm. "I—"
"yes," it wasn't a question, as he walked back, their eyes connected. Gabriella felt Troy's throat go dry, and soon everything disappeared.
"I ...uh, I just wanted to wish you luck." Troy smirked, walking closer and smashing Gabriella's chest against his.
"You sure?" he asked, "that's all?"
"Uh…uh…" their heads leaned up against each other as Selena finished her song,
no-one compares
you stand alone
to every record I own
music to my heart
that's what you are
a song that goes on and on
as the words 'on and on' reached a high note, their lips touched and soon everything—every person, every sound but them and their awareness of each other—disappeared. Only when they heard 'GABRIELLA MONTEZ' being yelled over everybody, they jumped apart. Troy stared at her, feeling….different.
"Troy…" Gabriella said, but her voice was drowned out when the crowd cheered and she was grabbed by the wrist and dragged to the stage. "WHAT?" she yelled, Troy stood motionless, feeling the cold draft that was once her body pressed up against him.
When Gabriella was on the stage, Sharpay hugged her, "Hey buddy, remember make it sound sensual and …just have fun." And like that, she walked off the stage leaving Gabriella to shiver alone in the spotlight, she swallowed as the music beagan. She recognized it.
'what' she thought, looking around, suddenly her eyes landed on Troy, who sent her an apologetic look. She took a breath. 'this is for…you.'
Ooh ooh
Yeah
Cali cali cali California
I won't forget that day
The sunlight opened my eyes
First kiss on the beach was like paradise
Cali cali cali California
I won't forget that night
Palm trees swinging above
One touch and I knew it was
California love
I'm dreaming of a sunny place
Where the ocean waves fill up my mind
I forget about everything
And I just sit back and I really don't whine
She sang with an air of confidence that would make people think that she's done this before, but that's not the truth. The truth was, she was terrified, but she didn't succumb to her fear. She battled it. Her heart pounded like an 808 drum, but every time she found those startling blue eyes, she breathed easy and the song flowed effortlessly.
Texas heat it drives me crazy
But it don't matter cause in my mind
Troy felt a smile reached touch his lips, for the first time—in the glow of the spotlight—he realized how beautiful she was. Not just pretty, not just 'sexy', but heart stopping beautiful. His palms began to sweat, and when she sang the last note, everyone clapped.
He reached her when she walked off the stage, and he instantly wrapped her in his arms. "That was…"
"horrid?" she suggested. Troy sneered,
"Watch it Ella," Gabriella raised an eyebrow, "what?"
"You called me…."
"You don't like it…?" Gabriella shook her head, and hugged him tighter 'edge of glory' began pound through the bass and speakers.
"I like it. No one but dad has called me that, and it sounds good coming from…you" Troy smiled, grabbing her wrist and guiding her to the middle of the dance floor where they danced.
"I would love to hear you sing again. " he stated, Gabriella laughed, "you really can't dance can you?"
"Nope. Too much of my dad in me."
"Well let me help." Troy said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her up on his toes and they just slow danced under the dim glow of the streamer covered cafeteria lights. Gabriella smiled, as she sang
the edge
the edge
the edge
the edge
the edge
the edge
the edge
I'm on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge with you
"You most certainly are" Troy mumbled, leaning in and capturing her lips with his own; indeed, this was a night that neither of them would ever forget. Not in a million years would they forget.