Chapter 12

Gabriella crossed her arms as she looked with distaste at the object in her driveway.

"Sharpay, you have got to be kidding me. There is no way I am riding in that."

"Gabi, come on. You know you really, really want to ride in my brand new car," Sharpay smiled as she looked at her car with pride.

"Actually I really really don't," Gabriella huffed.

"How can you not? It's beautiful. It's a new Mustang. I have an ipod input…you have to see how cool this is. Oh, and the cup holders are so cool…they pop out when you press this button."

"Awesome Shar. You know, we could ride in my car. It gets better miles to the gallon, and don't we want to conserve and help the environment?" Gabriella argued.

Sharpay looked towards Gabriella's white '98 Honda Accord and rolled her eyes.

"Come on Gabi. We can even drive with the top down," Sharpay enticed.

"No way! I would prefer to keep the top up if I'm going to ride in that."

"Gabriella Anne Montez! Get in this car right now! We only have five hours till you have to be back for your family barbeque. Now, get in!"

"Fine, geez," Gabriella muttered as she walked towards the car. "The Ice Queen lives."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Sharpay said as she got into her car. "You can get in you know…it won't hurt you," Sharpay told Gabriella, who was still standing outside the car.

"You don't know that."

"Get in."

"Are you sure you don't want to take my car? I have a tape deck with a CD Adapter. How cool is that? It's something you don't see everyday anymore. It could be like going to a museum," Gabriella said temptingly.

"Uh, I hate museums," Sharpay mumbled. "Come on Gabriella before I leave you here."

"Sounds good to me!" Gabriella said cheerfully as she turned to walk back inside.

"Oh no you don't! You said you wanted a makeover, and we are giving you one. Now, let's go," Sharpay commanded as she grabbed Gabriella's hand and pulled her towards the car, opening the door, and shoving her inside.

"It's pink!" Gabriella cried out.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Sharpay asked excitedly.

"No. It's the color of pepto bismol. It is a disgrace to all cars. How can someone even paint a Mustang pink? They should be arrested for that."

"Aren't we happy today? I'll just ignore that comment. You ready?"

"No," Gabriella muttered.

"Too bad. Here we go!" Sharpay said cheerfully as the sounds of Britney Spears blared through the speakers.

"You've got to be kidding me," Gabriella whined as they pulled out of the driveway.

Gabriella looked up as the top started to go down.

"Oh, heck no! Sharpay it's bad enough I'm in a pink car, listening to Britney Spears, on my way to get a makeover. Why does the rest of the world need to know?" Gabriella slumped down in her seat, in an attempt to make herself unnoticeable.

"Shush you. This is gonna be so much fun! Eeek!" Sharpay shrieked. "I'm so excited," she continued as she started clapping.

"Two hands on the wheel, please," Gabriella ordered. "Uh, I should have asked Taylor. What was I thinking?"

"Nope, you asked the best," Sharpay informed her. "So, Gabi," Sharpay turned down the volume and ignored Gabriella who muttered a 'thank God'.

"Yeah?"

"Why'd you change your mind? You talked to Troy right?"

Gabriella froze. She was hoping Sharpay wouldn't question her about her motives for getting a makeover.

"Um, yeah. We talked."

"And?" Sharpay probed.

"And, he said he loved me the way I was."

"Awww! That is SO cute," Sharpay squealed.

Gabriella grinned and rolled her eyes.

"So you told him about Katie?"

Gabriella froze once again. 'Crap, what do I say?'

"Uh, I decided to skip that."

"Gabriella," Sharpay said disapprovingly.

"I just decided that it's my own stupid feelings. Troy and Katie are friends, nothing more," Gabriella said as she knew she was still trying to convince herself of that fact.

"Gabi, if it's bugging you, you should really tell him about that."

"Maybe I will. I just don't want to make him feel bad about spending time with someone he gets along with so well."

"Okay, well I'm sure Troy would listen if you told him, and he wouldn't get mad at you for it."

Gabriella nodded as she gazed out of the car, afraid that Sharpay may see that she was still harboring those jealous feelings.

"So you never told me. Why'd you change your mind?"

"I guess I realized I want to wear some nicer, more girlie clothes once in awhile, you know? Just to see what I'd look like, and I'm curious to see how people will react. I mean, it's not gonna kill me to change a little bit."

"Well good! And for the record, you are gorgeous the way you are. But, when we're done, you are going to be even more gorgeous," Sharpay smiled. "And, that boyfriend of yours isn't going to be able to take his eyes off of you."

"That's the point," Gabriella muttered under her breath.


"That is SO cute," Sharpay gushed. "Gabi, your hair looks so good like that. Who knew you had such beautiful hair? Uh, I would kill for hair like yours."

"Thanks Sharpay, I think," Gabriella said as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

She had just gotten her hair trimmed slightly and styled. It still fell below her shoulders, but now her hair had a few more curls to it.

"Okay, now we have one more thing to do here," Sharpay informed her.

"And what might that be?"

Sharpay whispered something to Crystal, the hairdresser, who nodded and walked away. Sharpay turned to Gabriella and grinned.

"I don't like that look. What are you doing to me?" Gabriella demanded.

"You'll see," Sharpay grinned as Crystal came back with a few items in her hand.

Pulling the lid off of a container that was plugged into the wall, Crystal took a small stick and dipped it into the container. Gabriella's eyes widened in horror as she saw the gold dripping liquid on the stick.

"No way! Sharpay, what are you doing?"

"Just a little shaping," Sharpay mumbled as she carelessly flipped through the latest issue of People magazine.

"Shaping of what?"

"Can you lean back please?" Crystal asked politely as she reclined Gabriella's chair slightly.

Gabriella did as asked while still looking pleadingly towards Sharpay who still appeared to be engrossed in her magazine.

"Shar, why are you doing this? Please…I won't insult your car anymore."

"You know for hanging out with boys so much, and being such a tomboy, you sure are a wimp," Sharpay mumbled.

"That's hot wax," Gabriella tightened her grip on the arm rest as Crystal brought the stick with warm liquid towards her face. Feeling the hot wax being dabbed gently around her eyebrows, Gabriella felt herself grow more nervous.

"Okay, here we go," Crystal said excitedly as Gabriella rolled her eyes.

'I swear it's like Sharpay's even more evil twin.' Gabriella braced herself as she felt a small piece of paper being pressed onto her face.

"Just relax," Crystal encouraged as she lightly rubbed her arm. "It doesn't hurt that bad. And, it's over really quickly. Trust me."

Gabriella felt herself relax momentarily.

"AHH!" Gabriella yelled as the paper was quickly ripped off her face leaving a painful, stinging sensation.

"Wimp," Sharpay mumbled as she looked up for a second.

"I'm gonna kill you Sharpay."

"Love you too Gabs."

Gabriella winced in pain before shifting in her seat to sit up.

"Oh, we're not finished sweetie," Crystal said as she gently pushed on Gabriella's shoulder encouraging her to lie back down. "Just a few more times."

"A few!?" Gabriella exclaimed. "Crap, why did I agree to this?"

Sharpay smirked as she read the latest news about Brad and Angelina.

Ten minutes later, Gabriella walked out of the small salon after paying the cashier.

"I still can't believe I had to pay for that torture. I look like I got freakin' sunburned in circles around my eyebrows."

"Come on, we have four hours left to get you some clothes, shoes, make-up, accessories, and to get you back and dressed. We're running out of time," Sharpay grabbed Gabriella's hand pulling her into the mall.

Gabriella dropped her hand. "Sharpay, never grab my hand in public," Gabriella said as she looked around embarrassed.

"Oh come on, you let Troy grab your hand all the time."

"Yeah, 'cause it's Troy. I don't hold hands with girls. It's too weird."

Sharpay rolled her eyes in amusement.

"So where do you normally go to buy clothes?" Sharpay asked as she surveyed the many stores they were walking by.

"Foot Locker, Champs Sporting Goods, Sports Authority…"

"Gabi, Gabi, Gabi," Sharpay muttered, taking a deep breath. "Where do you buy clothes other than sports clothes? Like pants for instance. Where do you get yours?"

"Well other than basketball warm-ups, the only pants I get are Dickies or jeans from wherever."

Sharpay sighed out of frustration. "Ugh, you're no help."

Gabriella grinned at Sharpay's frustration.

"Oooo, let's go in here," Sharpay delightfully said as she pulled Gabriella into a teen girls clothing store."

Gabriella drug her feet as she gazed around the store, one she normally wouldn't be caught dead in.

"Gabi! This is perfect for you!" Sharpay squealed happily shoving a bright pink tank top at her, causing Gabriella to quickly take a side step to avoid her.

"No way! Nah-uh, no way will I ever wear pink."

"Oh, shush. It looks good on you! It matches your skin tone, see?" Sharpay held the pink shirt up once again, this time putting it next to her arm.

Gabriella looked like she was going to throw up. "Shar, there is no way pink matches my skin tone. Me and the color pink…we're enemies. It isn't happening. I draw the line at pink."

"Fine," Sharpay sighed much to Gabriella's delight.

Sharpay continued to browse through the shirts, as Gabriella sulked behind.

"Oh my gosh! This one is perfect! It's so cute, look Gabs!" Sharpay pulled the shirt off the rack and held it up.

"Nope."

"What? Why?"

"It has glitter," Gabriella said with disgust.

"And what may I ask is wrong with glitter?"

"Glitter is of the devil."

"Please explain," Sharpay said, slightly offended.

"Glitter gets everywhere. I touch that, and then it doesn't wash off. I dry my hands on a towel…it's on the towel. If by some miracle, I get it off…next time I dry my hands, it's back on. It's evil and it's a nuisance."

"You can barely see the glitter. It's only a little bit," Sharpay pursued.

"Nope. I draw the line at glitter."

"I thought you drew the line at pink."

"I changed my mind. It's now drawn at glitter."

Sharpay rolled her eyes, and dramatically placed the shirt back on the rack.

Five stores, seven outfits, a bag of makeup, and two and a half hours later, Gabriella and Sharpay began walking towards the exit.

"I still can't believe I actually own two dresses and three skirts now."

"What are you talking about Gabi? You own those dresses from dances."

"Yeah, that's different. Those you wear like once. These are 'everyday' clothes."

Sharpay rolled her eyes in amusement, before glancing to the right and darting into an accessories store.

"Sharpay, what are you doing? You promised we were done for the day."

"Yes, but that was before I realized we have not completed the ensemble. You need a purse, and you need jewelry."

"I'm gonna die," Gabriella sighed, slumping down onto a bench inside the store.

"You're not going to die. Come on," Sharpay pulled her up. "We're almost done."

Reluctantly, Gabriella stood up and followed Sharpay around the store.

"I can't believe you don't own a purse," Sharpay said as she handed Gabriella a small black purse they had agreed on.

"Well, I don't need one."

"Where do you put all your stuff?"

"My pockets," Gabriella replied simply as if it was no big deal much to Sharpay's annoyance.

Sharpay led the two over towards the jewelry section, and began to spin the jewelry stands around, stopping a few times to look at a specific item.

"Yay! These are perfect!" Sharpay squealed as she pulled some silver small hoop earrings off the stand. "What do you think Gabs?"

"Um, they're alright?" Gabriella said in more of a question than a statement.

"Here, let's see," Sharpay took the liberty of reaching out and pushing aside Gabriella's hair.

Gabriella held her breath as Sharpay got a questioning look on her face.

"Gabi, where are the holes in your ears?"

"I prefer my ears to be hole-less," Gabriella replied nonchalantly.

"What!? You have never had your ears pierced?" Gabriella shook her head. "How? Every girl gets her ears pierced. Mine were pierced when I was two."

"My parents didn't pierce mine when I was a kid, and I just never wanted to get them pierced."

"Why? All girls' ears should be pierced."

"God made my ears without holes…I don't know about you. If they were supposed to have holes in them, I think He would have made them that way," Gabriella smiled as Sharpay huffed in annoyance.

"Well, I am gonna make them that way," Sharpay said as she grabbed Gabriella by the arm and pulled her towards the counter.

"How can I help you two ladies today?" the middle age clerk asked from behind the counter.

"She needs her ears pierced," Sharpay answered as she dramatically pulled on Gabriella's earlobe to point it out.

Gabriella pushed Sharpay's hand off her ear. "Um, no I don't. Sharpay listen…I appreciate all your help today, but don't you think I've been through enough pain?" Gabriella pleaded.

"Gabi, either you let these people pierce your ears now, or I come in your room in the middle of the night and pierce them myself. Your choice."

"So, how long does this take?" Gabriella asked the clerk sweetly as Sharpay smiled victoriously.


Gabriella glanced over at her clock and saw that it was 12:30, meaning she had thirty minutes till she had to be downstairs for the barbeque.

"Gabi, that dress looks so beautiful on you!" Sharpay gushed as Gabriella walked out of the bathroom into her bedroom in a light blue sundress.

"Thanks Sharpay," Gabriella said with a hint of shyness.

"I'm so happy you decided to do this Gabi. Seriously you look amazing! Not that you didn't look amazing before, it's just now you-," Sharpay rambled on as Gabriella cut her off.

"I know what you mean Shar…and thanks." Gabriella and Sharpay exchanged smiles. "Uh, my ears hurt. How'd I let you talk me into this?" Gabriella pulled on her ear slightly looking at her reflection in the mirror, as Sharpay grinned.

"Okay, let's get your makeup done, and get you downstairs. I want to see Troy's reaction."

Gabriella smiled, reminding herself of why she was doing this. 'I mean, this is Troy right? I can't lose him. I have to do this, even if it is something I thought I'd never do.'

Twenty minutes later, Sharpay finished putting on the final touches.

"And there we go. Take a look," Sharpay encouraged as she gestured towards the mirror in the corner of the room.

Gabriella stood up and walked over to her mirror. She looked at her reflection in amazement.

"Wow."

"Do you like it?" Sharpay asked.

"Yeah, it's just…I look different. You think Troy will like it?"

"Are you kidding me? That boy will love it. His jaw will be on the ground all day. But the real question is, do you like it? That's the reason we did all of this."

Gabriella nodded, feeling slightly guilty for lying to one of her best friends.

"I like it. It just takes some getting used to."

"Well, I think you look gorgeous. Hot even," Sharpay exclaimed as Gabriella blushed. "Come on, let's go," Sharpay smiled in encouragement and opened Gabriella's bedroom door.


"Hi Anna!" Troy exclaimed as he walked into the kitchen.

"Hi Troy, how are you today?" Anna turned and gave Troy a hug.

"I'm good. How about you?"

"Doing fine. Thanks for asking Troy."

Troy grinned.

"So is Gabi back?"

"Yeah she got back around noon. She's upstairs with Sharpay, but they should be down soon."

"Can't go without your girlfriend for more than a few hours?"

Troy laughed as Sharpay walked into the kitchen.

"Nope," he replied seriously.

"Awww!" Sharpay squealed as Troy rolled his eyes.

"Hey mom, Emilee just woke up, so I brought her down."

Troy grinned at the sound of his girlfriend's voice. He spun around and suddenly was speechless, as his breath hitched at the back of his throat.

Troy stared as Gabriella grinned and blushed, before handing Emilee over to Anna.

"Wow…um…you look incredible."

"Really? You think so?"

Sharpay held in a squeal as she watched the two who didn't seem to notice that there was anyone else in the room.

Troy smiled as he nodded his head.

"I know so. You look gorgeous," Troy walked closer. "Beautiful," he added as he cupped her face with one hand, gently stroking her cheek before leaning down and capturing her lips.

The two were caught up in the moment, and broke apart suddenly at the sound of someone clearing their throat.

Troy turned and glared at Aaron and Adam as Gabriella blushed.

"Come on," Troy said as he interlaced their fingers. "Let's go somewhere where these bozos won't interrupt us."

"Bye lovebirds!" Sharpay called out.

Troy led Gabriella out into her backyard, up into the gazebo. Glancing around and noticing that everyone else was inside, Troy smiled and gently pressed Gabriella into the railing. Placing one hand on her waist, as his other was on the railing, Troy leaned down and captured her lips.

"You are so beautiful," Troy whispered against her lips, as they pulled apart.

Gabriella smiled as she played with the hair on the back of Troy's neck.

"Thank you. I'm glad you think so."

Troy smiled and kissed her forehead affectionately, before sitting down on a bench and pulling her into his lap.

The two teenagers just sat there in a comfortable silence, exchanging small kisses once in awhile, until Troy broke the silence.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Please don't get mad," Troy pleaded as Gabriella nodded. "Why all this change? I mean, I think you look great. But, I thought that before. And you've always been against this. So why?"

"I guess I just realized it wouldn't kill me to dress up once in awhile, you know?" Troy nodded. "I mean, this is so uncomfortable and I can't wait to change into my sweats later on." Troy chuckled. "But for now, it's fine, and kind of nice."

"Okay, as long as you're comfortable with this. I don't want you to feel like you have to dress like this for me or anyone else, okay?" Gabriella nodded. "Because I think you're absolutely beautiful no matter what."

Gabriella smiled as her eyes began to water slightly. She gently stroked Troy's cheek before leaning down and pressing her lips gently on his, before laying her head in the crook of his neck as he gently rubbed circles on her back.

"Hey lovebirds!" Troy and Gabriella looked up at Adam who was yelling at them from the doorway. "Come get some food, unless you'd prefer to stay out there and make out. Oww!" Adam yelled as Lucille smacked him on his head.

Troy laughed. "You hungry?"

"Yes!" Gabriella exclaimed as Troy grinned.

The two stood up and intertwined their fingers before walking inside to grab some lunch.

"So Troy," Aaron began as Troy sat down at the table. "What's with Gabi being all dressed up?"

"I don't really know, other than she said she just wanted to for some reason."

"Well she looks kinda hot," Kyle chimed in.

Troy sent Kyle a glare.

"Sorry," he muttered. "Not that I like her like that. I'm just saying."

"You know Troy, Kyle has a point," Adam said. "Gabi does look a lot different. You may have some competition at school now."

Troy froze. "Competition?"

"Well yeah, I mean guys have always thought Gabi was pretty, but you were the only one who's always seen how beautiful she really is. Now that she's dressing differently, it's more obvious to stupid, shallow guys," Adam informed him.

"Like Kyle here," Aaron chimed in as the four guys at the table began to laugh.

"What are you boys laughing at?" Lucille asked as everyone else began sitting down at the table.

"Nothing," they all chorused.

Gabriella walked over and took a seat beside Troy.

Troy grinned and leaned over giving her a kiss on the cheek, before protectively wrapping one arm around her waist.

As everyone chatted at the table and laughed at the story being told by Jack, Troy's mind was completely distracted by what his brothers and cousin had just said. Even though he was young and they'd only been dating for a few months, Troy couldn't imagine being without Gabriella. So he made a conscious decision that he was going to hold onto her even more tightly and not let anyone get in between.

AN: Hi everyone. Thanks so much for all the reviews. It means so much to me that all of you are reading this story. This was probably my favorite chapter to write, so I hope you enjoyed it. I'd love to read your thoughts on it. Thanks again!