"BOLTON, DANFORTH! The Coffee Room is mobbed! Take orders, now! Chop chop!" Fulton's voice echoes through the kitchen and Troy sighs. He was sitting on the counter, trying to eat his lunch, but that obviously wasn't an option right now. He hops down from the counter and follows Chad out the door with a notepad in his hand and a pen in his other. They walk into the Coffee Room to find a bunch of elderly women sitting there. Sick. He hated old women. They were so… boring. And disgusting, and they really smelled too. He doesn't even bother trying to fake a smile like he usually did. He wasn't up to that. It had been two days since Gabriella accused him of trying to get her fired and he hadn't said a word to her since. Why should he? He tried to be nice, but obviously she thought too low of him. But why did it matter to him anyway? She was so stupid and he didn't give a damn of what she though. At least he thought he didn't.
"Oh look at this one… isn't he handsome." Troy hears a voice break from his trance as he looks down to see an old pruney lady who smelled like carpet staring up at him. He tries to smile to humor her, but it doesn't work. "What's your name sweety?"
"Uhhh…" Troy finds himself at a loss for words as he looks over to see that Chad was getting the same treatment across the room. "Troy?" He says more of a question then an actual answer.
"Well Troy… we'd all like a nice cup of tea." She says and three other old lady's nod.
"Um… ok?" Troy states and the ladies laugh.
"Thank you dear." Troy slowly nods his head, feeling awkward and then just leaves without another word. He tells Zeke then watches as Chad shakes while he enters the kitchen again.
"Dude, I'm gonna kill myself before I become that old." He responds and Troy laughs. "Did you even notice that room doesn't even look like it should hold people over the age of forty?" He says and Troy cocks his eyebrow. What did that mean? That room just looked like a normal room. Didn't it?
"What the hell does that mean?" A voice comes from behind Troy and he watches as Cassie and to his dismay, Gabriella walking toward them. He feels his eyes narrow as the brunette looks down and tries to avoid Troy's gaze. Damn right.
"Where's Tay?" Chad asks and Gabriella points behind her shoulder.
"Fulton had to discuss something with her about one of the activities. Cas and I got the hell out of there before he could stop us too." She says and Troy feels her gaze on him. His eyes narrow again as she stares back at him, but then he moves them away from her. He didn't even want to make a stupid comment to her like before. Why should he talk to her?
"Anyways… what the hell do you mean about that room?" Cassie asks and Chad shrugs.
"I don't know. I just always thought that old people like rockers or shit. That room just looks like…" He stops and thinks for a moment not finishing but Troy smirks.
"It looks like something you'd find at a honeymoon spot. You know… for newly weds to fuck?" He says and thinks about it for a moment.
"He's right." Gabriella says softly and everyone looks at her with their eyes wide.
"Um… what?" Chad says looking at her as if he didn't recognize her. Troy had the same look on his face. She hadn't EVER agreed on something Troy said. It just wouldn't happen at all. But he suddenly remembers how much he hates her, and shakes his head, trying to get rid of the thought.
"Well… he is. I mean…" She says in a quiet voice. "There are leather couches and blankets everywhere. And the fireplace. I mean… someone could have sex right in front of the fire. It could be… I don't know… kind of romantic?" She says in an extremely soft voice and Chad rolls his eyes.
"Yea… if you like that sort of thing. I think I'll stick to the fucking room with Tay though." He says and Cassie groans.
"Way to be blunt man." Troy states.
"Chad… we didn't need to hear that." She responds and Chad shrugs. They suddenly get the orders and Troy walks in to the room again and ands the tea to the old people. He stands up for a moment and looks around. As much as he would never admit it… Gabriella was right. If he DID have sex, even though he didn't, it wouldn't be that bad to do it in there. But he didn't have sex, so he had no reason to worry about it. He quickly runs out of the room again and finds that Cassie and Gabriella were talking about something. Chad comes in at his heels.
"That was fast." Cassie states and both guys look at each other. They both shrug at the same time.
"I think I was aging just being in there!" Chad exclaims and shakes his head. "Sick…"
"So… you guys are going to the party tonight right?" Chad asks and Troy cocks his eyebrow. It was a Saturday, which meant that the Lava Springs was closed tomorrow. "You know… the one from that dude from West High is hosting?" He says and Gabriella nods.
"David. Right. He's got this really nice house and this huge pool. Yea I'm going." Gabriella responds and Troy looks down at the ground. Why did the name David sound so familiar?
"Wasn't that the guy you dated at the end of freshman year?" Chad asks and Gabriella nods.
"Yea… for like two months." She says and shrugs. "It didn't mean anything." She says and Troy feels himself look back up to see that she was looking at him. Almost as though reading his reactions. But he ignores her again, just like he had been doing for the past two days. "What are you up to tonight Cas?"
His cousin shrugs. "She's probably going to some old college party." Chad says and Cassie shrugs.
"That's what happens when you leave high school." She says and Troy sighs.
"I'm off early tonight. So me and Tay are leaving at 7:30 to head over there." Chad states and Troy nods.
"My shift's done at 8. I'll head over after that." He says and sighs. "I need a stress reliever anyways." He says and Gabriella's eyes connect up to his. "Or maybe like four."
"Four girls in one night?" Cassie asks and Troy shrugs his shoulders and glares at Gabriella for a second. She had a frown on her face and he smirks.
"What do you expect?" He says still staring at Gabriella, as if trying to tease her. "I'm Troy Bolton."
Gabriella was sitting on the edge of the pool with her feet in the water. Her mind was racing, and she couldn't help it. The sun was setting in the distance over the mountains and she looks at her reflection in the water. Why could she not get him out of her head? He hadn't said a word to her in the past two days and it was driving her up the wall. Why was she feeling this way? She would have much rather chosen him making his wise-ass comments to her instead of just ignoring her. But why the hell did she feel this way? She hated Troy! She had for four years for God's sake! This is what she's always wanted, for him to stop being an ass to her. She got her wish… then why did she feel so miserable?
She looks down at the white scar that was sitting on her thigh, knowing the answer to that question. Because it didn't matter if she and Troy hated each other. No matter what happened, he would always be a part of her. At least, the old Troy would. Maybe not this Troy, but her best friend would be. They had been through so much together, more than anyone could ever imagine. Gabriella trances the mark with her finger and sighs.
"For such a gorgeous girl, you look lonely." A voice comes from behind her and she turns around. Chase was standing there in an expensive outfit. "I'm sure you'd love my company."
Gabriella raises her eyebrows at his cockiness. "Um… alright?" She responds as he sits down next to her. His blond hair flips out a little and Gabriella sighs.
"So… why are you alone?" He asks and Gabriella shrugs.
"It's called my job. My shift's over soon." She responds and looks away. He was slightly annoying with his cockiness and she was sick of him showing off his money and thinking he was better than everyone else. And it was different from the way Troy did it. With Troy, it was disgusting, but in a way she liked it. What was she saying? Of course it was disgusting… right?
"Well… since you don't look like you have plans, I'm gonna take you out to dinner tonight." He says and Gabriella actually laughs at his cockiness. This guy was insane. He was cute, but not a Troy hot. Wait… did she just say Troy hot?
"Well, sorry Chase but I do have plans." She says bluntly and he nods.
"Ok well, how about tomorrow?"
She really didn't want to spend her only free day with him. So she shakes her head and sighs. "Tomorrow's not good either."
Chase laughs a little. "Playing hard to get huh? Well, I'm not taking no for an answer!" Gabriella sighs again and realizes that he was serious. He wasn't going to take no for an answer and she might as well go on ONE date, just to humor him. She nods and puts on a fake smile.
"Ok… we can have dinner here after my shift on Monday." She says and he begins beaming. Gabriella tries to smile back. This was the second time she had actually seen this kid and he asked her out. How weird is that? But he suddenly gets up from sitting next to her.
"Good. I'll see you then." He says with a wave and Gabriella realizes the only reason he came over here was to ask her out. She sighs and stares back into the water, thinking about what everyone was going to say when she told them she had a date with some stuck up kid. What would Troy think of her? But her eyes grow wide at that thought and she shakes her head. She didn't care what Troy thought of her. It didn't matter, she hated him… right?
Gabriella looks down at the phone that was sitting next to her and sighs. It was 8:30. Which meant her shift was officially over. All she had to do was quick drive home, change, and then head over near West High because that's where David lived. She takes her feet out of the water and stands up. She then looks in the dinning room and sees that there were still a few people in there, so she decides to head to the yoga/fucking room instead. She gets into the kitchen to find that Chad was standing with Troy, and they were both out of their uniforms. Chad smiles and waves at Gabriella as she walks over to the two. Troy immediately walks away, and Gabriella rolls her eyes.
"What's his problem?" Chad asks even though Gabriella was well aware that he knew about the fight between her and Troy two nights ago.
"Whatever. What are you guys still doing here?" Gabriella asks and Chad shrugs his shoulders.
"I'm waiting for Tay." He responds.
"So I have a date for Monday." She says and looks over to see that Troy was staring at her in the corner of his eye. That seemed to get his attention, but he was trying to make it unknown. Too bad Gabriella knew his actions like the back of her hand.
"Don't tell me you broke and are going out with Bradin!" Chad exclaims. "Gabs… I'm telling you to be strong! Don't fall for what Taylor and Sharpay say…"
"Not to mention the rest of West High." Gabriella responds, reminding herself of the pressure that was on her. "But no… it's not Bradin."
She sneaks a glance over and swears she sees Troy's body relax a little, but it could have just been her imagination. Why would he care anyways? He hates her… and she hated him. Well… at least she thought she hated him. Now she wasn't so sure. Chad cocks his eyebrow. "Who then?"
Gabriella shrugs casually. "I don't know, some rich member named Chase. He wouldn't leave me alone, so I said I'd go for one date." She says and Chad groans. Her eyes move over again to see Troy's face was hard.
"Chase? That annoying rich guy who always tells me I need to cut my hair because it's blocking his view?" Chad complains and Gabriella giggles. "I hate him! Gabriella Marie Montez I will not let you go out on a date with this guy. He's a prick."
"Let her do what she wants Chad." Gabriella hears a voice from behind her and sees her best friend walking toward them. She was wearing a nice top and shorts with her swimsuit underneath. Gabriella thought she looked great.
"Taylor… this guy has something shoved up his fucking rich ass." Chad says while Taylor kisses him on the cheek. "By the way… you look hot."
Taylor laughs. "Thanks Chad." She responds and then turns back to Gabriella. "Hey… I'm all for rich guys. He'll spend a lot on you."
Both girls laugh which makes Chad looks disgusted at them. "He wouldn't leave me alone, so that's the only reason I'm going. I just met him the other day anyways." She states and looks over to have eye contact with the piercing blue eyes. She doesn't say anything for a moment, and Chad and Taylor didn't seem to notice either. Troy's eyes narrow on her and she finally tears hers away from his. "I don't know, I'm kind of with Chad, but I thought I'd be nice and give him a chance."
Taylor nods and Chad shakes his head. "I still think he's a prick."
Gabriella laughs. "And that's why you're not the one going on the date with him."
She suddenly feels another person walk up behind her. "Sorry to break up the pow wow." Troy's voice echoes in her ear and she turns around. "But I really want to get the fuck out of here, so I might actually get sleep tonight for the first time in like four days."
Chad rolls his eyes. "Dude, the girls are gonna wait for you. I promise you'll find at least one to fuck." He says and Troy glares at him.
"I got to go anyways. I have to stop at home to change." Gabriella says and then starts to walk toward the locker room.
"Just wear that. He does have a pool." Chad says and Gabriella looks down at her red one piece and laughs sarcastically.
"Yea… a one piece… great idea Chad." She says and Chad shrugs.
"You're wearing East High colors… so it's gotta be good. You might as well just come to our school anyways, since you're supposed to be there." Troy and Gabriella's eyes lock. Everyone knew Gabriella was supposed to go to East High, but no one knew why. Well that wasn't true. One person did, and he was standing right in front of her with his eyes connected with hers. They stay silent for a moment, while Chad and Taylor start to talk about something else. But finally, Troy rips his eyes away from hers and looks at his best friend.
"Alright. I'm out of here. I'll see you at the party… maybe." He says and walks out the kitchen doors. Chad shakes his head and looks down at the two girls.
"He's been in a shitty mood ever since your argument." He tells Gabriella and she shrugs.
"Whatever. I'd apologize, but he'd just say some stupid comment or blow me off." She says and Chad shrugs.
"You know… you two are a lot more alike than you think you are." Chad states and Gabriella looks at him confused.
"Chad, they're polar opposites." Taylor says and Chad shakes his head.
"Nah… they just want you to think they are." He says and Gabriella still looks at him confused.
"We're not alike Chad." She says and he nods.
"Yea you are." He states and Gabriella continues to look at him with a confused expression on her face.
"Why?" She asks.
"Because you both don't want to make the effort to actually get along. Trust me; it takes more energy to hate Troy then to get along with him. If you wanna hate him… whatever, it's your business. But no matter how hard either of you try; you can't get each other out of your lives." He states and turns around and grabs Taylor's hand to start walking out the door. "So why try to fight it?" He asks with a wave and leads Taylor out the door. Gabriella sighs angrily and walks into the girl's locker room to get her bag and her keys.
"I hate it when he's right." She whispers to herself.
