PLAY IT MY WAY
PART ELEVEN – PUSH AWAY THE ONES YOU SHOULD HAVE HELD CLOSE
Disclaimer: I am a poor university student, not a millionaire like the individuals responsible for HSM would now be after the mass production of HSM paraphernalia plastered with Zac's soulful eyes gazing at me. The point being – I acknowledge that I am borrowing the characters and just playing with them.
Author's Note: Hello to one and all from Vienna, Austria. I prepared this chapter as I was travelling in Italy to the absolute jealousy of my beta reader who totally rocks my world. Random story - I was in Venice and there was a Disney store and We're All In This Together was playing on the TV and I went NUTS. It's one of my least favourite songs from both movies nevertheless it just filled me with inspiration and motivation haha.
This chapter is MASSIVE. Massive by my standards. Absolutely giant mofo. Part of me wanted to break it in half but then I thought, meh, nah, f-ck it. If you really have a problem with sitting and concentrating for long enough to read this then you can just break it in half at some appropriate half way point yourself. Also, I would like you to refer to my final AN. Yes that's right, rambling Pandora147 is back with her various explanations and justifications.
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Troy was lying on Gabriella's bed, surrounded by mounds and mounds of clothing items.
"What about this?" Gabriella mused, holding up a black strappy top with blue denim jeans.
"Isn't that what you just tried on?" Troy asked.
"No no. That was THIS top," Gabriella said, indicating to an almost identical black strappy top.
Troy closed his eyes. "Gabriella... we're only going to pizza and a movie. What's with the sudden freak out about what to wear?"
"I just want to look nice. It is a celebration after all!" Gabriella said defensively. "My team just made the national finals after all. Oh, and your birthday."
Troy grinned. "I love how my birthday is the afterthought."
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
"I thought the blue top looked really cute," Troy said, trying to speed the process along. He wasn't even sure if she had tried a blue top on, but with the number of tops she tried on, statistically, there had likely been a blue top among them all.
"Which blue top, this one, or this one?" She asked, holding two up.
"Umm… the one on the right?" Troy said, almost as though it was a question rather than an answer.
Gabriella sighed. "Well I prefer this one... but should I wear it with jeans or a skirt?"
Troy did his best to smile and respond without sounding annoyed. "I think that jeans are fine Gabi. Don't you think we should get going? We're meant to be at Chad's in like five minutes. I'm gonna take a bit longer to walk, remember?"
She smiled. "I won't be long. You're right, that blue top and jeans would be nice. I'll just put those on and then start doing my hair and make up."
She picked up the items and headed into her bathroom. Troy stared after his girlfriend in disbelief. START doing hair and make up?
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Twenty minutes later, Troy was sitting rather impatiently in the Montez lounge room as Gabriella pottered about, checking that the windows and doors were locked for the fourth time.
"We good to go?" he asked hopefully.
"In just a minute. I just want to have a quick glass of juice. I'm feeling rather parched. Would you like anything?"
"I'm fine, really," Troy said through gritted teeth, his annoyance evident. This had been Gabriella's third glass of juice since they'd arrived at her house.
Gabriella came into the room, clutching onto a glass of juice - which she then downed very efficiently. "Okay I'm just gonna grab one more quick glass. Must have been all the thinking today or something, leaving me dehydrated."
'Or maybe it was changing outfits eight hundred times,' Troy thought.
Gabriella's house phone began ringing, to which she responded with an excited "Oooh!" and dashed back into the kitchen to pick it up.
"Hello... uh huh... yeah... sorry we're just leaving... you know us girls, like to look our best. No, no it's fine. Excellent. Right then, see you soon."
"Who was that?" Troy asked suspiciously, as Gabriella came back into the room.
"Chad. Just checking where we were. Come on, let's go."
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
After the even paced stroll the three and a half blocks away to Chad's, they were finally rounding the corner into his street.
"Must be a party around here, there's a few more cars than usual about the place," Troy remarked.
They headed up the driveway, and Troy immediately reached for the handle to open the door. He was met by a locked door.
"That's weird," he commented. Normally they'd always leave the door unlocked if one of the others was coming over.
Gabriella rang the doorbell. Troy leaned up against the door, peering inside. He couldn't see any movement through the glass, or hear any noise.
"CHAD!" he bellowed.
Nothing.
"DANFORTH! COME OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!"
"Why don't we go around the side into the backyard? They might be out the back throwing some baskets or something, and couldn't hear the bell," Gabriella suggested.
"It's 'shooting some hoops' and okay," Troy said, feeling annoyed.
Troy was grumbling as he unlatched the side gate and headed around the side of the house.
"Fucking Danforth, trust him to get distracted when we're meant to be..."
"SURPRISE!!"
Troy stood motionless, mouth gaping, staring at the dozens upon dozens of East High kids who filled the Danforth backyard. Not only the so called 'pizza and a movie' crew of the guys plus Kelsi, Martha, Paula, Jacqui and a few other random basketball guys - but just about every single person who Troy had ever exchanged a conversation with at East High were present. A large 'Happy Birthday Troy' banner adorned the patio, providing a crystal clear clarification of just what was going on.
Gabriella kissed him on the cheek. "Surprise," she whispered.
"What the... how... why..." Troy stammered, completely flabbergasted.
"No party for YOUR birthday? Please," Chad scoffed. "PIZZA? While my parents are out of town? Really Bolton, give me SOME credit."
Troy was still utterly dumbfounded as he was surrounded by people slapping him on the back, shaking his hand and hugging him; all wishing him a happy birthday. He gradually began to process the events of the afternoon.
"So this is why you tried on like 87 outfits?" he asked Gabriella, suddenly amused.
"Well your dad was meant to act as the diversionary tactic while we set everything up," Zeke explained. "We figured he would give you a lift here. He was gonna pretend to be watching something on TV which he just couldn't leave from yet, and then have car trouble and… oh there, was all sorts of ideas being thrown around!"
"But of course you decided to walk to Chad's so I had to improvise," Gabriella added.
"I think I need to sit," Troy said vaguely.
He wasn't making reference to his leg; rather it just a reference to feeling shock. Nevertheless, Jacqui was very efficient to drag him over a lawn chair. Chad was quick to bring over a large stein of beer.
"Drink up dude," Chad said encouragingly.
Troy stared down at the glass, and then glanced around at the scatterings of high school students participating in various forms of underage drinking.
"To think, I was planning to study tomorrow," Troy remarked.
"Nuh-uh. Why do you think I spent the whole week making sure you were up to date with all of your work," Gabriella reprimanded.
Zeke and Jason led a crowd of Wildcats in a "chug, chug, chug" cheer, and suddenly beer indeed seemed like the far more appealing option than a Sunday study session. Troy raised his glass, and was met with a loud cheer as he downed a good half of the glass in one chug.
"Now, since you are injured, everyone is under strict instructions to make sure you never have to walk to get a drink," Jason said. "A drink will be provided at all times."
"And on that note," Gabriella announced, reappearing with a drink in each hand, handing one over.
Troy took a sip of the bourbon and coke she had made for him.
"Fuck Gabi, there's a lot of alcohol in here."
"You have to catch up," she offered as explanation.
He stared at her. "Were those orange juices at your house not just orange juices?"
Gabriella smiled mysteriously. "For me to know and you to… well… Not know. But assume. I suppose."
Troy quickly found himself surrounded by a group of friends, a mixture of basketball teammates; drama kids and various randoms he conversed with on a regular basis. Paula, one of his closer friends, was seated just to his right, and she became immediately concerned when Troy stood from his place.
"Where are you going?" Paula asked. "I'll get you a refill."
Troy glanced down at the beer Zeke had just brought him, and the double shotted bourbon and coke Taylor had just delivered not long before on behalf of Gabriella.
"I'm good with these," Troy said, amused by the offer nonetheless. "Just going to take a piss. If that's okay with you?"
Paula smiled sheepishly. "I'll let you do that."
Troy did his business but then took a moment to sit down on the edge of the bathtub and process. He was still in shock, after over a half hour of time to process the events of the evening. He couldn't even pinpoint exactly what he was so surprised about. When he finally emerged from the bathroom, he found a waiting Gabriella in the hallway.
"Oh sorry, were you waiting to go in there?" he asked.
"No, I was waiting for you," she said, and then commanded. "Come."
Gabriella led him by the hand through the hallway and into the 'off limits' Danforth dining room - hoping they would be granted at least a few minutes of privacy.
"What's up?" Troy asked her as they sat down at the table.
"Are you not happy we did this?" Gabriella asked directly. Her usual inhibitions were somewhat removed from the almost half a dozen drinks she had already consumed, including those at her house.
"No! No, it's awesome! Really. Totally stoked. Having a great time."
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong," Troy insisted.
"Well you're not totally here. I mean... you're here but... you're not. So I don't believe you."
Troy sighed. He knew that he'd been a little quiet as he'd been sitting with his friends, and it was particularly out of character with 'party Troy'. He'd just hoped that no one would notice anything was wrong. Trust Gabriella to pick up on his mood.
He sighed. "I just... I guess I kinda am just in disbelief still. That you guys did this. Put in all the effort and planning. All these people knew and managed to keep it from me."
"Well, you were worth the effort," Gabriella said a little shyly.
This comment was what made Troy realise just what he was so surprised about.
"I am? Really?" Troy asked bluntly.
"Troy, you're like the centre of these peoples universe. They worship the ground you walk on."
"I just... I know I've been kinda, well, absent. You know, over the last month or so. I guess I was thinking you guys were more annoyed with me. Let along to be in a mood to throw me a party," Troy said, speaking slowly as he fleshed out his thoughts.
Gabriella shook her head. "No one is annoyed with you. Yeah, you've been busy and we've all missed seeing you and hanging with you. But you're still Troy. Right?"
"Yes!" he said definitively. "I'll always be Troy."
Gabriella nodded. "Well, as long as you're Troy, people are still gonna want to hang with you."
He contemplated her words for a moment. "I guess."
"Now, enough of this silly talk. Let's get you a chair again, and some more alcomohol, so we can really par-tay!"
Gabriella stood up, and went to leave the room.
"Gabi, one second," Troy said, grabbing her arm and pulling her back gently.
"Yeah?"
"Um… are you okay being here?"
"How do you mean?" she asked.
"Just... well... I remember at Jason's party you were a little nervous about drinking and stuff."
"Oh. That. No, I am really truly fine. A lot has changed since then, I've changed since then," she pointed out. "I'm just really excited about having an awesome night with my friends... and my boyfriend. There's been a lot of stress lately, and there's bound to be a lot of stress over the next few months. I think we all need this night. I think YOU need this night!"
Gabriella was right. There had been a lot of stress and with Troy's near panic attack on Monday he knew that it was only the beginning of a long haul. He did need this night, he hadn't even realised just how much he needed it until that moment. There was only one slight issue remaining - one which he wouldn't dare bring up with Gabriella.
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Less than ten minutes later, Gabriella had disappeared into the yard and Troy had acquired his backpack and was now in the kitchen. Chad came into the room, just as he was standing with his box of medication in his hand, peering at the tiny writing on the side.
"Dude, what's going on?"
"It just occurred to me that I dunno if I should be drinking when I'm on these," Troy remarked.
"When did you last take one?"
"A while ago. I woulda taken one about now."
"Is it hurting? Your leg?""
Troy shook his head. "Not really, not when I'm sitting still. The alcohol might have numbed it a little. But I haven't had much yet, coz I was a bit worried about this."
"I reckon you'd be right."
"Maybe I'll ask Tay. She knows about chemicals," Troy mused.
"Why ask Tay when your girlfriend is even smarter?"
"Because Gabi would freak out if she thought she'd been giving me alcohol when she shouldn't have."
"True."
In perfect timing, Taylor came into the kitchen to acquire another premix drink from the fridge.
"Taylor! Just the woman I want to see!" Troy declared.
Taylor raised her eyebrows. "Are you confusing me with someone?"
"No. Read this," Troy instructed, shoving his medication box into her hands. "And talk to me about mixing with alcohol. I haven't taken one since about lunch time."
"Wow you're so responsible," Taylor said. "Most people wouldn't give a shit."
Nevertheless, she took the package and began to examine the contents. "You realise I'm no professional here. I haven't heard of half of this stuff."
"I just want a rough idea, Tay."
"Well technically, no you shouldn't be drinking. I can't believe I didn't think of that. Actually, I can't believe Gabriella didn't think of that. BUT… in reality, you should be fine I think, especially if the last one you took was that long ago. I guess it's really about whether you should be skipping a dose now."
It didn't take long for Troy to contemplate and make a decision. He was sick of being responsible.
"Fuck it," Troy declared.
Chad cheered. "Celebration shot!"
He glanced around, checking that no one else was in the area, before heading into the cupboard housing his parents spirits collection . He returned with a couple of shots of Baileys.
"Baileys?" Troy asked, raising his eyebrows.
"My selection is a little limited."
Gabriella came giggling into the room as Troy and Chad downed the shots.
"Oooh are you doing shots?" she asked excitedly.
"I like how you let Troy drink from the secret alcohol stash but not us," Taylor pouted.
"I did go into the stash while you were here so there's nothing stopping you from going into it," Chad said. "I don't care. Just don't advertise it."
"You wanna?" Taylor asked Gabriella.
Gabriella nodded enthusiastically. "What are we allowed to acquire?" she asked.
"For you two ladies, you can take your pick. There isn't a lot there that's good for shotting though," Chad said, gesturing. "Just make sure you save yourself for Zeke's now famous jelly shots, which I believe will make an appearance this evening."
Troy groaned. "You're never, ever gonna let me forget that night, are you?"
"Oooh tequila!" Gabriella exclaimed, sighting the bottle.
"Don't do straight tequila," Troy advised. "It burns."
"Do a body shot with lemon and salt!" Chad suggested enthusiastically.
"How does that work?" Gabriella asked.
"Maybe we should wait until later," Taylor said quickly, glancing at Chad slightly. "I might need a few more before I start doing shots. Especially body shots."
Gabriella pouted. "Fine."
The truth was, Troy was glad that Taylor had delayed Gabriella's shotting adventure. Knowing how many 'juices' she'd had at home, and having seen her with at least two or three drinks at Chad's in less than an hour - his concern was warranted.
"Come on, let's go back outside," Troy prompted, entwining fingers with Gabriella and leading her towards a group of people.
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
A couple of hours into the party, the alcohol was definitely taking its affect. Since making the decision to enjoy the party, Troy had somewhat taken advantage of the drinks service being provided by his friends. A glass or bottle wouldn't have less than a third left before a replacement drink was ordered.
It also didn't help that Troy was spending most of his time sitting down. He wouldn't realise just how much he had drank until he stood up again to move around. Then suddenly, the head rush would hit him. Troy couldn't remember the last time that he had sat around with a group of friends, laughing, enjoying himself - without some overriding pressure. It was a good feeling, a great feeling, and a feeling which Troy was enjoying each and every moment of.
"Troy! Your presence is required in the lounge room!" Paula called, coming out from house and into the backyard.
"Why?" Troy asked.
"Because I said so. Now get your crippled ass up and inside. And I'll get you another drink in the meantime."
Troy obediently followed the directions, and found his way into the lounge room to see a collection of presents sitting on the coffee table.
"Ohhh….. No I hate this part," Troy groaned, almost wanting to turn around and go in the other direction.
"What do you mean, you hate this part? It's the best part!" Kelsi said excitedly, bringing over another armful of presents and placing them down.
Jacqui steered him to sit on the couch. "Well you can't have a birthday party without birthday presents. The organising committee decided to get it over and done with now before everyone is too trashed."
"I'm not far away man," Troy said.
A small crowd was gathering, but not too many, predominantly the core crew of the closest friends. Troy spotted Gabriella standing in the corner, clutching onto her glass of vodka mixed with orange juice. He smiled at her and patted the couch next to him.
"Just so you know, you don't get my present til Tuesday," Gabriella informed him softly, as she slid in to sit beside him.
"That's okay," he said, squeezing her leg.
"Okay hurry up and open presents so we can get back to the party!" Zeke said.
Troy was a meticulous present opener, carefully peeling the tape back and folding the wrapping paper into a neat pile. Gabriella watched in amusement, a smile toying on her face.
"Mrs B saves Christmas paper every year, this is how he's been trained," Chad informed her.
Gabriella giggled. "That's so cute. Like mother like son."
Troy glared at Chad. "Thanks man."
The 'acquaintances' who had come along gave mainly silly little random presents - Troy found himself with a collection of basketball key chains and mugs and pens and notebooks. The cheer squad had all pitched in and bought him a collection of 'fashion items', including a beanie, cheap sunglasses and a t-shirt - which was refreshing to receive something un-basketball related. Jason, Chad and Zeke of course had taken the basketball route - but with a Los Angeles Lakers jacket and tickets for the four of them to go watch the local college team play.
Sitting surrounded by presents, Troy felt very humbled. He felt humbled that people knew him so well. That they knew what he was passionate about, his preferred clothing style. That they cared enough to take time of their week to go shopping for him.
He was pulled out of his reverie by Chad.
"Okay, Bolton, wait here," Chad instructed, and then disappeared into the kitchen, Zeke and Jason following.
"And here I was, thinking about going for a run," Troy called back sarcastically.
Troy narrowed his eyes, watching suspiciously as the lounge room was filling with everyone who was in attendance. But when Zeke and Jason appeared carrying one of the biggest cakes he'd seen in his life, sparklers and candles adorning the top, again clarity set in.
"Oh no…" Troy groaned.
And then they all burst into song. There were drunken Wildcats, cheerleaders swaying side to side with arms around one another, kids from the drama crowd singing theatrically, Martha bopping along as she sang, Kelsi's sweet voice. Beside him, Gabriella gazed adoringly as she sang shyly, but beautifully. Across from him, his three best friends in the world were singing in a loud, very purposely off key tune.
"… Happy birthday dear Tro-oy… happy birthday to you…"
"HIP HIP!" Chad bellowed.
"HOORAY!"
"HIP HIP!"
"HOORAY!"
"HIP HIP!"
"HOORAY!"
Troy had always found the 'make a wish' notion as you blow out the candles to be rather silly. What's the point in wishing for something? If you really want it, then just make it happen.
However, a little mystical intervention can never go astray.
As Troy closed his eyes and prepared to blow out the candles; he wasn't thinking about becoming a Los Angeles Laker; or doing well on his ACT exams; or catching up on his assignment work.
As Troy blew out the candles, he wished for something very simple.
He wished for everything to turn out okay.
Troy glanced around the room. As he sat surrounded by friends, Troy knew that it was a wish that could maybe actually happen.
"If you touch the bottom, you have to kiss the closest girl," Jason smirked, passing him a knife.
Troy glanced to where his girlfriend was beaming happily beside him, and very deliberately made a show of slicing through to the bottom.
"Whoops," he declared, and placed the knife down before pulling Gabriella into a soft kiss.
He was a little nervous that she would have been embarrassed about kissing so openly while every single person in the room had all eyes on them. But she surprised him by returning the kiss with a brazen hunger; amidst wolf whistles, cat calls and all. Troy looked up to see Jason and Zeke pretending to vomit.
"Only because it's your birthday did I let that PDA go on for so long," Chad warned.
Jason pointed to his mouth, indicating to Troy that remnants from Gabriella's lipstick adorned his face. Troy quickly wiped.
"Okay who wants cake?!" Paula called.
Paula, Kelsi and Martha had taken it upon themselves to assist by slicing, serving and dispersing the cake among the semi drunken teenagers.
"Um, where should I put all this?" Troy asked, motioning to his present haul.
"Don't worry about it, we'll look after it," Taylor said. "Take your cake and go outside."
"Yes mom," Troy said teasingly.
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Gabriella came teetering out into the backyard, clutching onto a pineapple flavoured vodka mixer drink.
"Gabri-ella!" Jason called in a sing song voice.
Gabriella smiled and headed over to where Troy was sitting with a bunch of friends. She was walking slowly and deliberately, keeping herself steady.
"Who wants to come and dance?" she asked cheerfully. "Taylor is trying to find some super cool music right now."
"Some 'super cool' music?" Chad asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Gabriella!" Taylor called, poking her head out into the backyard. "Chad has CHRISTINA his computer!"
Gabriella shrieked. "I love Christina!"
The boys were all staring at Chad.
"In my defence, Kayla downloaded it last year while we were going out," Chad mumbled.
Within minutes, Taylor and Gabriella could be heard from inside the house, singing 'come on over, come on over baby' at the top of their lungs. They came bounding back out after the song, approaching the boys.
"Chad, I love your Itunes," Gabriella declared.
"We don't," Zeke said, rolling his eyes. "Get this shit off."
"But we're having fun dancing!" Taylor replied.
"Oooh ooh!" Gabriella squealed. "Rhianna!"
Gabriella started to sway backwards and hips, her hips moving in what she probably perceived at the time to be a sexy dance.
"This time please someone come and rescue me…" Gabriella sang along with the track playing inside the house.
Troy couldn't tear his eyes away from his girlfriend. He was torn into parts. Firstly, she was serving as a rather interesting form of entertainment. Seeing someone so 'straight and narrow' on the way to drunkenness was always amusing. He also was a little concerned - although she hadn't tipped over to the point of making a COMPLETE fool of herself. More than anything though - he found her to be completely adorable. A Gabriella without inhibitions was a Gabriella who exuded additional confidence, who gave him looks of clear attraction, who randomly kissed him for no reason at all other than because she wanted to.
Troy somehow looked away from her, and then looked up to see Chad smirking at him. Troy stared at his friend, raising his eyebrows as though to ask 'What?'
"Hey Bolton, come upstairs with me," Chad said, grabbing Troy's arm and literally pulling him up from his chair. "It's good for your leg to get some exercise."
Troy rolled his eyes but followed his friend nevertheless. Undoubtedly Chad had something he wanted to say. And as expected, as soon as out of earshot, Chad began with a general opening statement which was very obviously leading somewhere.
"Gabriella looks hot tonight," Chad remarked.
"She took long enough getting ready," Troy commented.
Chad raised his eyebrows. "See, what a normal male would have done there is AGREED."
"Well it goes without question. Gabriella always looks hot."
"Much better answer," Chad said approvingly. "So, I think the spare bedroom will be free tonight, I have made it clear to people I DON'T want anyone upstairs but I think I can make an exception for you."
Troy stared at his friend for a moment in silence before saying, "Dude, what the fuck?"
"Oh come on. You and Gabriella have been together for a few months. You're tight. Things happen…"
"Not tonight," Troy said firmly.
"Well, don't say the offer wasn't there," Chad smirked.
"Seriously, dude, I don't even like you talking about it. Me and Gabi, we're tight yeah. But we're soooo not ready for that."
"You're not ready or she's not ready?"
"Well… she's not ready. But that means that WE'RE not ready," Troy reiterated.
"You sound like a girl."
"So you are encouraging me to pressure my girlfriend into having sex? Chad, that's not cool."
"No, I'm encouraging you to at least open the floor for discussion about it with her. To… to try something. Have you even felt her up?" Chad asked.
"There's more to life than sex, Chad."
"Sure there is. There's basketball. But seriously man, I mean not once while making out have you slipped your fingers up her…"
"We're not talking about this. I'm covering my ears." Troy put his hands over his ears in a 'hear no evil' pose, and began to sing. "We live in a beautiful world, yeah we do yeah we do, we live in a beauti…"
Chad pried his mates hands off his ears. "You're telling me that you don't even THINK about it? You're making out with a girlfriend as hot as that and you don't even think about it?"
"Of course I THINK about it," Troy said indignantly. "I dream about it, I wake up with evidence that I've dreamt about it and you know what I have to do about that… which again leads to more thinking about it. And it will remain that way until I am given some sort of indication that Gabriella wants anything more. Thinking. Dreaming. Non action verbs."
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Troy and Chad returned downstairs, and entered the kitchen to find Gabriella and Taylor giggling by the hard liquor bottle section. The girls clearly seemed determined to run amuck together.
"What you girls up to?" Chad asked.
Gabriella turned around, holding a little shot glass up.
"Cheers!" she declared, and threw the clear liquid back into her throat. She proceeded to cough and hack.
"Tequila?" Troy asked questioningly. "I told you not to do it straight."
"It was vodka," she answered.
"I said we should do body shots!" Chad said.
"Well go on. You have to demonstrate because I've never done one."
"Okay I will. Tay, you can be my body."
"I can, can I?" Taylor asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Well I can do it on Gabriella if you like…"
"No!" Troy said in a panic.
Chad smirked. "Didn't think so."
Chad retrieved the necessary ingredients – cutting a lemon into slices, finding the salt shaker and collecting some more shot glasses and the tequila bottle. They then carried the items into the lounge room.
"Okay Tay, sit on the lounge," Chad instructed.
He then sat beside her, and began by licking her neck slowly, eliciting a giggle from Taylor. Chad then shook the salt shaker, the salt sticking to her neck from the saliva. He then licked the salt, lingering and sucking for a bit, before taking the shot and biting into the lemon.
"You can do it from anywhere though. On their arm or if you do it on yourself, normally you'd do it here." Chad indicated to the pudgy area between his thumb and index finger.
Gabriella nodded, and then turned to Troy. "Troy, I need you to lie down."
"Why?" Troy asked warily.
"Because you shouldn't be standing on your leg anyway," she said.
"Sure, that's why," he said, rolling his eyes but nevertheless complying.
She kissed him for a while, and then pulled his t-shirt up, and moved down to lick his lower abdomen, just to the right of his snail trail.
'She's trying to kill me' Troy thought to himself. He actually felt his cock twitch at her touch.
Next came the salt and the even more so lingering, languorous licking up of the salt. Gabriella quickly took the shot, her instant reaction being to screw up her face and splutter, "Blech!"
"The lemon!" Chad urged.
Gabriella bit into the lemon, before nodding approvingly. "That wasn't so bad."
"Troy liked it," Taylor said.
Troy tried to remain straight faced, but glanced at Chad. The look on Chad's face was priceless. How apt that Gabriella would make such a suggestive move right after the boys had held such a conversation.
Gabriella stood up, wobbling a little. "You okay?" Troy asked.
She nodded, smiling happy. "Course! I want another shot."
"Gabi sweetheart?" Troy said. "You want to have a good night, don't you? You trust me? And you want ME to have a good night?"
"Yes, yes, and yes," Gabriella affirmed.
"Would you do me a favour?"
"Mmm?"
"Go get yourself a glass of water and eat some pizza."
Gabriella frowned. "Okay. I will. But only because you are my boyfriend and it is your birthday. Well. It's not your birthday today. Your birthday is Tuesday."
"Yes, yes it is."
Troy felt like he was talking to a small child - at which point it became clear that he did need to catch up.
"Right. Where's my shot?"
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Two shots and a refill later, Troy and Gabriella had stumbled back outside, leaving Taylor and Chad to put away the tequila shotting supplies.
"I think we need to put on some dance music. Get this party going," Taylor suggested. "Gabriella and I dancing to your embarrassing pop music is not obviously acting as a party starter."
"I don't have any of that on my laptop. I have a few CD's upstairs."
"Well then, let's go get them."
Taylor bounded up the stairs, leading the way. Chad pulled out one of his CD holders, and they sat down on the bed and began to flick through the covers.
Leading up to the party, there had been continual hinted references at the game played at Jason's party which had led to a serious making out session for Taylor and Chad.
There had been random eye contact throughout the evening, sideline glances, brushes of the hand.
Then there were the body shots.
As they looked through the CD's, Taylor made a casual suggestion. "Maybe we should everyone to play a game? You know, like at Jason's."
Chad looked her carefully in the eye. "If you want to make out, you don't have to use a game as an excuse. We could just make out, you know."
Taylor stared at him. "Do you want to make out with me?"
"Do you want to make out with me?" Chad countered.
"I asked first."
They stared at each other in silence for a minute, before Chad took a tentative step towards her, brought his hand up to cup Taylor's chin, and leaned forward to softly press his lips to hers.
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Gabriella teetered out into the backyard, nursing a fresh glass of orange juice - undoubtedly containing vodka within.
"Get a room!" she called.
Troy looked around at where she was calling. Zeke and one of the senior cheerleaders, Monica, were curled up on the hammock on the porch, engaged in a rigorous game of tonsil hockey.
"I thought you were going to take it slow for a bit Gabi," Troy remarked. "Did you eat the pizza like I asked you to?" His speech was slow and definitive - a sign that he was trying to remain in control when he very clearly was heading towards the stage of being drunk.
"Troy, I know very well that you have drank a lot tonight, so stop worrying about me!" Gabriella insisted.
"I've also gotten drunk a lot more times than you. Plus, you're a girl."
Gabriella giggled. "Good observation there. Anyway, there's just shot… one shot… in here."
"Oh. Right. Well that's okay then."
Gabriella smiled, then took a few steps closer toward Troy. She leaned over to him, nearly losing her balance, and he grabbed a hold of her arms to keep her upright.
"You're so cute when you worry about me," she murmured, planting a soft kiss on his lips.
"I am?"
"Mmm hmm."
She kissed him once more before finding her way upright again and wandering over to where a different group was.
"Drink some water!" Troy called after her.
"Stop fussing over her. She will be fine," Jacqui scolded, from where she was sitting not far from Troy.
"But…"
"Okay. I'm leaving here pretty early in the morning so I'm not drinking that much. I give you my guarantee right now that I will baby sit should the occasion call for it. Better she has the big first crazy drunk experience now while surrounded by friends than some other time. You just enjoy yourself."
Troy looked at his friend. He had been friends with Jacqui for years. He was fairly certain he could rely on her.
"You serious? Coz… I do want to make sure someone has an eye on her."
"I promise Troy. If I see you worrying about her again, you'll get an earful."
Troy grinned. "Thanks Jacqui."
He quickly downed the remainder of his drink, and then started in on the next drink which had been delivered and left on the table for him.
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Chad and Taylor's making out session had escalated from standing up, to sitting on Chad's bed, to lying on Chad's bed. The kisses were deep and probing and hunger filled. Hands were clawing at one another's bodies. Taylor's hands were running over his stomach and up his arms, clutching onto his biceps. Chad was groping at Taylor's ass, and even went so far as to run a hand up her body and over her breast.
However it was when Taylor's hand went below Chad's stomach and dared to run up his thigh and graze over his obvious erection when he pulled away from her.
"Uh… I think… I think we should stop," Chad said, his voice breaking.
"You want to stop or you think we should?" Taylor asked.
"I think we should stop because I don't want to stop," Chad said. "And… and you've been drinking and…"
"I'm not wasted like Gabriella. I'm very much so in control of my actions here."
"I get that you girls probably don't think that this… is appropriate. Given that we're not… going out. Or whatever."
"Don't think this the wrong way Chad, but who are you to tell me what I think and what I believe? I live by Taylor McKessie's moral standards, not anyone else's, not what society thinks is 'appropriate'."
"What are you saying?" Chad asked slowly.
Taylor paused.
"I draw a line somewhere. I'm not sure where. Umm…. I won't leave you… wanting? Does that…. Is that clear enough?"
Chad stared at her. "How much have you drank?"
"Enough to know that I want to do this. Not enough that you should feel like you're taking advantage of me."
"Right then."
And the making out resumed.
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Back downstairs, there was a young brunette girl whose mind was determined to make it upstairs. She could try being suave but she was struggling to walk in a straight line. So being direct was a whole lot simpler.
"Troy, come with me," Gabriella requested.
Troy didn't question the request, jt allowed her to pull him away from the group of Wildcats he was in the midst of discussing the NBA with in the lounge area.
"What's up?" he asked, as she was pulling him toward the staircase.
"I wanna show you something," she said.
They climbed the staircase in silence. A throaty "oh Zeke" came from the direction of the bathroom. Troy smirked, it seemed that Gabriella's suggestion to get a room had been taken. Gabriella pulled Troy into the spare bedroom, and then kissed him with a sudden fervour which surprised Troy. However in his alcohol affected state, he didn't question it, rather, he went along with it.
Without any conversation, Gabriella had steered them to sit on the bed. When Troy felt her trembling hand pulling at the buttons on his shirt, the concerned boyfriend within kicked in and asked why.
"Uh… Gabriella?"
"Yes Troy?"
"Umm. Why are you…"
"Don't you want me to?"
"Uh… that's irrev… irrev…." In his semi drunk state, as well as the additional shock of the moment, Troy was struggling to speak, the word coming out as a slur. He gave up. "That's got nothing to do with it. You're a little drunk. And so am I. And…"
Gabriella's hand, which had paused, resumed and was now undoing the third button from the bottom.
"And… and I don't think that this is the right time to be doing this," Troy managed to say in a flurry.
"All I'm doing is unbuttoning your shirt."
"Uh… the removal of clothes normally leads to other stuff."
"I heard you and Chad talking earlier. About… about me… and us… and…"
Troy's eyes widened. "Oh. Oh. Fuck. Shit damn fuck."
"It's okay. I just thought that since it's your birthday… and you have been so patient with me… and we're both mature young adults and everyone else seems to be doing it… and so maybe we should."
"Gabriella, I know you're drunk but surely even a drunk Gabriella has a sense of common sense remaining and knows that is not a particularly good set of reasons to be doing this."
She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm more than drunk."
"Not a selling point. Gabi, truth is, I don't think we're ready."
"That's bull. You're ready."
Troy sighed. "Maybe, but are you?"
"I don't care. It's all relative. Stop arguing with me on this!"
Even in the frustration of the moment, Troy couldn't help but smile and think to himself 'only a drunk Gabriella would say something like it's all relative.'
"This isn't gonna happen," Troy said softly.
Gabriella stared at him. "You don't want me."
"Oh my God that could not be further from the truth!" Troy exclaimed. "I knew I shouldn't have let you drink this much."
"It's fine Troy really. I understand. You've made yourself quite perfectly crystal clear."
Gabriella stood from the bed, and ran out the door, almost tripping and then struggling with the door handle. Troy groaned, and stood up to go after her.
"Gabriella!" he said, and grabbed her arm.
"Troy, can you leave me alone?" Gabriella asked, before stumbling down the stairs.
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Troy headed straight for the hard liquor cabinet, pouring a double shot of bourbon into a glass and skolling it in one go before heading into the backyard.
"Uh, did you and Gabriella have a fight?" Jason asked.
Troy sighed. "Why?"
"She came out looking for Taylor, and when she couldn't find her Kelsi became the second option and they disappeared and went up the road."
"Fuck. Is Kelsi drinking?"
"A bit, not much. They'll be right. What happened?"
"Don't wanna talk about it. Another beer?" Troy asked.
"Sure."
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Gabriella and Kelsi returned safely, at which point Gabriella refused to talk to Troy. By that point, he'd drank another five drinks in half an hour and was well and truly wasted. It was an interesting wasted though, different to normal. He wanted to be up and running around like normal; but he kept in the back of his mind that he was still nursing an injury so some control was required.
Chad and Taylor had disappeared, which Troy wasn't surprised about; and Zeke and Monica had yet to return. Kelsi, upon her return, had resumed her conversation with Jason. Ironic that Troy being the one with the girlfriend was 'partner-less.' He went in search of Gabriella again, but couldn't find her.
Soon he was approached by Jacqui.
"I put her to bed in the spare room," Jacqui informed Troy.
He sighed. "Vomiting?"
"Yup."
"Okay. She all right?"
"She will be. You've been there. She'll survive. Umm, Troy?"
Troy looked at his friend warily. Even in his intoxicated state, he could hear the hesitation in her tone. "What?"
"I dunno what happened with you guys but umm.. I think you should talk to her in the morning. She seems a little bitter towards you. I couldn't understand a lot, it was mainly drunken rambling. But yeah… just thought I should let you know."
Troy managed a smile. "Yeah. Thanks. You're a legend."
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
An hour later, a completely trashed Troy crawled into the bed beside Gabriella. She was completely out of it, fast asleep, lying flat on her back. Troy kissed her sloppily on the forehead, before collapsing beside her and falling asleep.
ZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZE
Author's note: Trust me to add a giant author's ramble at the end of a 7000 word chapter. Umm okay. I felt the need to address sex with Troy and Gabriella because I've built the characters around them as being more mature, as dealing with these issues. It wouldn't make sense to have Tay and Chad hooking up and Zeke off with a girl and then for the guys to NOT be saying to Troy - what's going on with you and Gabriella. So that's why I went there without GOING there.
I'm actually really excited about where my interpretation of Chaylor is going, I mean, it builds throughout PIMW and I'm thinking about a one shot and I use them a bit more in my next senior year story which at the rate I'm going I won't start working on until the damn third movie is out. However, I also acknowledge that my interpretation of Chaylor is a little unorthodox, particularly as I am semi trying to remain within the canon of characterisation. I can give you a whole list of little reasons why I decided to go that way, but in totality it was just a VIBE. The WAY that in HSM2, Chad says 'I'm gonna take that little hottie on a PROPER date'; the way Taylor looks back at him.
I don't know how many of you even particularly care about the B and C and D plot lines; I mean when I become too Troy centric a lot of you are just very 'more Troyella' so you probably don't really care about how I interpret Chaylor. But I am a very big believer in the role that the people around us play in shaping our relationships, how we look to our friends and their relationships to contrast with our own. This is particularly important in high school. So that's why I really am wanting to work on developing the sub plots in my next sequel, and I need to plant the seeds here. I'd really like your feedback on what you think about this aspect of it.