Two Lives
Chapter 13 – I Read The Gossip

The next day at school, Troy was just as much discussed, as he was the day before.
Gabriella cursed whoever was in charge of their schedules as she walked to find Sharpay and Taylor. She and Troy had only one class together each day.
"Hey Shar!" Gabriella said as she opened her locker to get her books. She and Sharpay had lockers next to each other and waited for each other every day.
"Hey Gabs!"
"Guess what!?" Gabriella said.
"What?"
"My parents and Troy's told us yesterday that we're spending Christmas together!" Gabriella squealed.
"Really!? So you get to spend it with Troy!?"
"Yeah!"
"Oh my God, that's so cool!"
"I know!" Gabriella grinned.
Just then, the biggest bitch at school, Courtney, and her followers (also called servants. Shh, don't tell them!), came up to them.
"So Gabriella, Troy has basketball practice tonight," Courtney said.
"I know," Gabriella replied, wondering why the heck Courtney was telling her that.
"Which means that you can't spend the afternoon with him!" Courtney said, sounding quite pleased.
"And?" Gabriella wondered where it was going.
"It's good for him, you're too clingy."
"He's my boyfriend! You don't have to come here and tell me how much time I can spend with him!" Gabriella told her, feeling the anger boiling inside of her.
"Won't you be feeling a little lonely?" Courtney said sweetly, pouting.
"Look here, little miss 'I think I think I am something'," Gabriella said. "Troy has basketball practice four times a week, and a game every other week. We don't spend all the free time together, but a lot of it. You have no right in coming here and telling me what I can do, and what I can't! And anyway, I have other plans tonight!" Gabriella tried really hard not to shout the words.
"Yeah, and what are you doing then!?" Courtney asked, trying to regain a little of the coolness she thought she had when she had come over to Gabriella.
"I am going shopping dresses with Madison! Because Troy and I are spending Christmas together."
Hah! Got ya, Gabriella thought.
"Madison who!?" Courtney asked, her expression a little shocked, as she had a slight clue on who Madison she meant.
"Madison Bolton?" Gabriella said, like there was only one Madison in the world.
"Ugh!" Courtney snorted and walked off, her 'gang' following.
"Wow, Gabs. Nice one!" Sharpay laughed.

"Ugh, that bitch thinks she's something, she doesn't have the slightest clue on what's going on my life and has no right to meddle in my stuff."

Taylor came running up to them, laughing. "So, I hear you're going shopping with Madison this afternoon?"
Sharpay and Gabriella looked at her, both wondering how she knew that.
"I just rounded the corner and I heard Courtney: 'Why is she going shopping with Madison Bolton! I tried for years to get her attention, but she never even noticed me!' And her servants were all 'Madison probably thought you were too good for her'." Taylor laughed.
"Hah! What an idiot!" Gabriella snorted. Courtney had really ruined the start of her day.
"Gabriella just told her off big time!" Sharpay said to Taylor.
"You go girl!" Taylor said to Gabriella.
"Am I really clingy?" Gabriella said, looking at her two best friends.
"What!? No! Gabriella, Troy loves you!"

"He does!" Troy said from behind their backs.
The girls turned around to see Troy, Chad and Zeke standing behind them.
"Have I done anything to make you doubt that?" Troy asked his girlfriend.
"No! No, don't you ever think that. I just…" she trailed off.
Sharpay decided to help her out. "Courtney told Gabriella she's clingy."
Troy looked at Gabriella again, seeing how sad her expression was. He pulled her in for a hug, and whispered softly in her ear. "Baby, you know I love spending time with you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Don't let what she said get to you. I love you more than anything."
Gabriella smiled softly against his chest. "I know."

*********************************************

Gabriella and Madison had just finished shopping, and sat down for a milkshake.
"Troy is not going to be able to keep his eyes off you," Madison complemented.
"Haha," Gabriella smiled.
"So how are you two doing?" Madison asked.
"Me and Troy? We're fine."
"Yeah, you sure look fine," Madison grinned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Duh! When you're together, you don't let go for even a single second."
"Oh," Gabriella giggled. "What can I say, we're in love!"
"Like really in love? Have you done it yet?"
"Like slept together?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah."
"Do you really want me to talk about your little brother's sex life?"
"Look, Gabs, I know I am Troy's sister, but I'm also your friend, please see me as the last."
"Okay, fine. Yes we have," Gabriella told Madison.
"Really?"
Gabriella nodded, and Madison burst into laughter.
"What?"

"You do know that our parents won't let you spend nights together, because they don't want you two sleeping together, right?" Madison said.
"Hey! Who said wrong-side-business has to be done at night?" Gabriella said, and Madison laughed at her "Australia" wrong-side-business quote.
"Okay, enough about your sex-life," Madison said.
"Agree! So is there anyone at your love list at the moment?" Gabriella asked, slurping on her milkshake.
"Nope. I'm waiting for the right one. I'm jealous at you, you know," Madison replied.
"Jealous at me?"
"Yeah, you and Troy, what you have. I've never had anything like that."
"Your turn will come, Madison. Trust me," Gabriella assured her.
"But you and Troy, you know, just looking at what you have, you've been together since you were really young, and see what all this time has brought you. And yet, you have your whole life ahead."
"I'm really glad I ended up with Troy, and yes, we were young, but that doesn't mean your turn won't come, because it will."
"You sure?"
"100 %."
"Then I guess I'll just have to trust you," Madison said.
"I guess you have," Gabriella laughed.
There was a silence for a minute, and Madison seemed to think really hard about something.
"Gabi? Are you and Troy really doing okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"I know that our families aren't really the ones to read the gossip, but I do. And I saw Troy with Madeleine Simons."
Ugh, great!
"He isn't cheating on me. He was just with her, so what?"
"They were holding hands, Gabi."
"I know. It's just that there's a whole story behind that part too, but he isn't cheating on me, really."
"Okay, I guess you're right then."

Oh crap, she doesn't even believe me.