Chapter 12
Ever since the pair auditions for the winter musical "Twinkle Towne" yesterday, I haven't exactly been feeling like...myself. Mom suggested that I was just nervous about the callbacks coming up next Thursday. However, I couldn't find any plausible evidence for that suggestion. I felt the reason I wasn't feeling, lack of a better word, together was more than that. It was deeper, like it was down in the very depths of my soul.
Then, I would think about Troy, and the feeling would become even stronger and more vivid than ever. But yet, I still didn't know why. I couldn't like like him. We're just friends. Friends that hang out together occasionally and just happen to be fantastic singing partners. There's nothing more to it. At least, that's what I think.
I recalled all of this to Taylor early the next morning in homeroom. After I had finished, Taylor looked straight into my eyes with an expression that clearly stated she thought I was clueless.
"Oh my gosh, Gabriella!" she exclaimed. "Why won't you go ahead and admit it to yourself?"
"Admit what," I said hopelessly.
Taylor lowered her voice.
"That you like Troy. I mean like like Troy," she said. "It seems more than obvious to me. You practically light up and get all giggly whenever he comes into a room. You're always talking about him or to him. Admit it, Gabriella. You like him."
I thought about this and looked down at the floor. Before I could respond, a light voice entered my ears.
"Uh, Gabriella?" Troy said, peeking into the classroom. "Are you in here?"
I turned around in my seat and looked straight into Troy's bright blue eyes.
"Oh okay," Troy said. "Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?"
I glanced at Taylor and replied, "Yeah, sure."
I slid out of the desk and walked towards him, Taylor stifling a laugh behind us.
He led me up to our secret spot on the roof and began to talk, unsteadily at first, but then with more confidence.
"Okay, um, I don't really know how to say this," he began, "but I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to, you know, go...out...with...me tomorrow night?"
Throughout the entire conversation he had avoided my gaze, but was now staring hopefully into my eyes, awaiting my answer. I knew what I wanted to say, he knew what he wanted me to say, but the words wouldn't escape my mouth.
I was utterly speechless. Troy must have seen my trouble with words at the present time, so he broke the silence.
"You know, if you don't want to, you don't have to. You can say no...if you want to, I mean," he said hurriedly.
"No, it's not that," I said. "It's just...I would love to. I...yes. Yes, yes, most definitely yes."
Troy's entire face lit up at my reaction.
"Really?" he said.
I nodded, smiling.
"Awesome," Troy said, smiling back. "I, uh, I'll call you. I'll call you tonight."
"Yeah," I said.
Troy took out his phone and handed it to me. I did the same.
"Here, put your number in," he said.
"You too," I replied.
He handed my phone back to me. I punched in the last number of my cell phone number and handed his phone back to him.
"Great," Troy said happily. "Well I have to get to Mr. Hughes about that Spanish assignment that was for homework. I didn't really understand it."
"Okay," I said. "I'll catch you later then."
Troy nodded, smiled, and took off down the stairs. I squealed with delight as soon as he was out of earshot and hurried down the stairs.
As I had reached the hallway , I collided with someone who was headed in the opposite direction and we both hit the floor.
"Ugh! Watch where you're going!" came a sharp, irritated voice.
I suddenly looked at the person I had ran into.
"Sharpay?" I asked.
It was unusual to see someone of such high stature on the ground and in such disarray.
"Gabriella?" she replied. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and then...well yeah."
"It's all right," I said, standing up.
I reached out a hand and she willingly took it. Ever since I had given her the note I wrote her, she had become even nicer than she had seemed to be in the letter she had written me. I pulled her to her feet once again.
"So, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Sharpay asked after she had straightened her outfit and hair.
"Oh uh," I said.
I wanted to tell Sharpay about what had just happened, but since Troy was the actual reason we had gotten so mad at each other in the first place, I decided to keep the date on a need-to-know basis.
"Just going to class," I replied.
"Oh okay," Sharpay said. "Actually, since you aren't going anywhere of that importance, would you like to come to the auditorium with me? I wanted to practice a little for the callbacks. The list is posted by the front door. I saw that you and Troy were also on the list."
"You aren't mad are you?" I asked.
"About what?" Sharpay said.
"That me and Troy are singing together?"
"Oh no, not at all," Sharpay said, laughing that I could ever think that. "Actually, I never knew Troy could sing. He always seemed so absorbed in basketball. Is he good?"
"Oh yeah," I laughed.
Sharpay giggled and continued, "Well, I could even help you practice your song if you want. And plus, I've actually got my eye on someone new now. But absolutely no one can know."
She lowered her voice to a whisper and leaned in closer to tell me who it was.
"Zeke," she said.
"Baylor?!" I asked in awe. "You can't be serious!"
"Well, I am," Sharpay said. "I'm not even sure why, but please don't tell anyone."
"I promise," I said sincerely.
"Now, you haven't answered my question," Sharpay said. "Do you want to come to the auditorium with me?"
"Sure," I said.
"Great," Sharpay said, smiling. "Let's go."
Once in the auditorium, I wasn't surprised to see Kelsi already sitting at the piano. She looked up once she heard the door open. She stood up and waved, surprised to see Sharpay and I walking together and not fighting.
"Hi," Kelsi said.
"Hey, Kelsi," Sharpay greeted. "Gabriella said she would come and practice with me, since Ryan is at home sick."
"Uh, okay," Kelsi replied. "Did you bring the CD for your song, Sharpay?"
"Yeah, Felicity finished it last night for me," Sharpay said gleefully. "You're sure it's okay that I use a CD right?"
"Yeah, it's fine," Kelsi smiled. "I'm sure it sounds better with the CD anyway instead of the piano."
"Great," Sharpay said.
"Who's Felicity?" I asked.
"Me and Ryan's rehearsal pianist," Sharpay returned.
I nodded. Why anyone needed a rehearsal pianist was beyond me. But if you're as dedicated and in-it-to-win-it as Ryan and Sharpay are, I suppose you would need one.
Sharpay handed Kelsi the bright turquoise CD and she put it in the player beside the piano.
"You can sing Ryan's lines if you want to," Sharpay said. "It's okay if you don't get them right the first time. We practiced all last night and I'm still not even sure if I know it. Just try your best, okay?"
"All right then," I said. "I'm ready for anything right now. Hit it."
"But before you do," Sharpay said just as Kelsi was about to press 'play', "don't sing the Spanish lines, because we aren't sure if we want those in there yet."
I nodded and Kelsi pressed 'play'. Spanish-style hip-hop salsa music flooded the auditorium. I waited patiently as Sharpay began to sing her first line.
I believe in dreamin' shootin' for the stars
I tried my best at Ryan's line.
Baby to be number one, you've got to raise the bar
I stopped and Sharpay started again.
Kickin' and a-scratchin', grindin' out my best
I sang the next line.
Anything it takes to climb the ladder of success
Sharpay and I were now singing together.
Work our tails off everyday
Gotta bump the competition
Blow them all away
Sharpay happily sang her next three words.
Yeah we're gonna...
I joined in, sang my solo part, and sang with Sharpay.
Bop bop bop, bop to the top
Slip and slide and ride that rhythm
Jump and hop
Hop 'til we drop
Sharpay took her solo and then I joined in.
And start again
Zip zap zop, pop like a mop
Sharpay stopped singing and I sang my four-words solo, with Sharpay jumping back in as I finished.
Scoot around the corner
Move it to the groove
'Til the music stops
Do the bop, bop, bop to the top
Don't ever stop
Bop to the top
Gimme, gimme
Shimmy, shimmy
Shake some booty and turn around
Flash a smile in their direction
Sharpay energetically sang the next three words with feeling. She was really getting into her song.
Show some muscle
I quickly jumped in and attempted Ryan's next part.
Do the hustle.
Sharpay giggled as there was a split-second music break and then we both began singing again after Sharpay sang her opening words for the chorus.
Yeah we're gonna
Bop, bop, bop
Bop to the top
I even got into the song as Ryan's next part approached quickly. I did little motions for each word, while still attempting to hold the music. Sharpay was laughing so hard, she barely had enough time to join in after I sang the short solo.
Wipe away your inhibitions
Stump, stump, stump
Do the rump
She followed my lead and motioned along to her solo
And strut your stuff
We both motioned together on the very last duet of the song.
Bop, bop, bop
Straight to the top
Going for the glory
We'll keep steppin' up and
We just won't stop (stop)
'Til we reach the top
Bop to the top.
We ended in a final pose with Kelsi laughing and cheering in a standing ovation.
"That was awesome you guys!" Kelsi said. "I don't see why you two do that song."
"Well," Sharpay said, "it would be fun, but I couldn't do that to Ryan. It would crush him."
"Yeah, I know," I said. "It was fun though."
The enjoyable moment was soon interrupted as the bell signaling class to start soon rang out.
"Ugh," Sharpay said. "We always have to be somewhere. Oh, Gabby, you and Troy come in here for free period and we'll practice some more okay?"
"Sure," I said.
I was so glad to have Sharpay as a friend, that I didn't even mind her calling me Gabby. After she had gotten her CD back into the case, Sharpay, Kelsi and I left together for homeroom. I couldn't wait to tell Taylor about all that had happened in less then fifteen minutes.
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