CHAPTER 14: DANCING AND CONFESSING
THAT NIGHT
"Is that Ashley Nelson?" Robert asked in shock as they all sat down to dinner in the hotel restaurant. They all turned around to see Ashley and an older man, most likely her father, walk in.
"Yeah, I saw her today, she's staying here for the week," Troy replied.
"Well that's a coincidence," Robert replied with a smirk on his face.
"What's that look?" Troy asked.
"That you and your future girlfriend are staying the same hotel," Robert smirked. Gabriella froze and tried not to roll her eyes.
"She's not my future girlfriend. She's too…blonde for me," Troy replied and Gabriella couldn't help but smile.
"Well she is coming this way, as is her father who is on the board of the school," Robert said.
"Robert," Maria scolded.
"What?!" he asked defensively leading her to shake her head and Gabriella and Troy to laugh.
"Well fancy seeing you here," they all turned to see Ashley and her father standing there.
"Hey Ash," Troy greeted.
"Hey Troy, what's up?"
"Nothing, just eating," he replied and she nodded.
"Hey Gabriella, coach," she said looking at both of them.
"Hey," Gabriella replied.
"Hey Ashley," he said then looked at her father. "Alan, how are you?"
"Great, what about you?"
"Wonderful," he replied. "Have you met my wife Maria?"
"No we haven't," Alan replied. "It's nice to meet you."
"You as well," she replied shaking his hand.
"And this is my daughter Gabriella," Robert introduced and they shook hands, "and Troy Bolton."
"The new basketball player from Los Angeles. It's great to finally meet you," Alan said, shaking his hand.
"Thank you, you too sir," Troy replied.
"So how's the team looking?" Alan asked.
"Wonderful. I think we have a great chance at winning States this year," Robert replied.
"That's what I like to hear," Alan replied.
"How's your team doing Ashley?" Robert asked.
"Great. Thanks for asking. Anyways," she said turning to Troy and Gabriella. "I was invited to this party at this teen club in town, I was wondering if you guys wanted to come?" Troy looked at Gabriella who shrugged as if saying might as well, before turning to her mom and dad.
"Can we go?" Gabriella asked.
"Sure, as long as your home at a reasonable time," Robert replied, knowing if he said no the chances of Gabriella forgiving him quickly wouldn't be as high.
"Great! Me and a bunch of people are meeting in the lobby at 9:30," Ashley replied.
"Ok," they both replied.
"Well we'll leave you to eat, it was nice seeing you, and meeting you all," Alan said.
"You too," they replied.
"I'll see you guys later," Ashley said and they walked off.
"Well that was nice of her," Maria said.
"Yeah," Gabriella replied, genuinely surprised as well.
--
Troy walked into the bedroom to see Gabriella kneeling by the drawer grabbing things and throwing them over her shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Troy asked confused.
"I have nothing to wear!" she exclaimed and he rolled his eyes.
"I really doubt that," he replied.
"I'm serious! I didn't bring anything for a club," she replied annoyed. "Maybe I just shouldn't go," she sighed in defeat.
"No!" Troy exclaimed a little too quickly and she looked at him confused. "I…I mean it will be fun."
"I know, but I don't have anything to wear," she said sadly. Seeing the look of disappointment on her face made his heart sink. He thought for a second and then suddenly an idea came to his head.
"I have an idea!" he exclaimed.
"What?" she asked confused.
"Ashley! You guys are about the same size, I am sure she will have something for you to wear," he replied and she looked at him like he was crazy.
"I've met the girl twice Troy," she replied.
"So, this is the perfect opportunity for you to become friends."
"Yeah well what makes you think she will want to help me?" Gabriella asked.
"I know Ashley looks like your stereotypical bitchy popular girl on the outside but she really isn't. I'm sure she will help you. I wouldn't have brought it up if I thought she wouldn't," he replied.
"Fine," she sighed and he smiled. He called Ashley who said she would be glad to help and before Gabriella knew it she was knocking on Ashley's door.
"Hey," Ashley smiled opening the door.
"Hey," Gabriella replied.
"Come on in!" Ashley exclaimed sweetly and Gabriella did as told.
"Thanks for doing this," Gabriella said.
"No problem!" she replied and Gabriella smiled. Maybe she was wrong about Ashley after all. "But first!" she said excitedly bouncing onto the bed. "Sit!" Gabriella sat on the bed confused.
"So spill girl how long have you liked Troy?" she asked and Gabriella froze.
"What…what…are you talking about?" Gabriella stuttered.
"Look Gabi, is it okay if I call you Gabi?" Ashley asked and she nodded. "I know there is a lot of talk about me and Troy. But I promise you we are JUST FRIENDS. We've talked about it a lot. And we've become so close that I cant imagine him as more than a friend. He's more like a brother to me."
"So you don't like him?"
"No!" she exclaimed and Gabriella smiled slightly. "Now talk girl." Gabriella giggled and blushed.
"I dunno we weren't really close until this week. But I've had a lot of fun with him, for some reason I just feel like I can be myself around him," she replied and Ashley smiled. "How did you know?"
"The look on your face when you saw me talking to him," Ashley replied and Gabriella blushed.
"You won't tell him will you?" she asked nervously.
"Of course not! Now let's find an outfit that will make him drool," Ashley exclaimed and Gabriella giggled.
"Perfect!" Ashley exclaimed 5 dresses later.
"Are you kidding me! This is so short!" She exclaimed looking at the red mini halter dress she was wearing (pic in profile).
"That's the point. Plus this is Miami, anything goes here," Ashley replied and Gabriella rolled her eyes. "You are wearing the dress. Now come on we still have your hair and make up to do."
"What?"
"Do seriously think I am going to put you in the perfect dress without the perfect hair and make up?" she asked. Gabriella laughed, considering she sounded so much like Sharpay.
"Of course not, I mean that would be like approaching a felony," Gabriella replied sarcastically.
"Exactly, now sit," she replied. A half an hour later Gabriella was looking at herself in the mirror in complete shock. Ashley had flat ironed her hair and pulled it back so it was half up half down with two pieces framing her face in the front. She had applied smoky eye shadow, mascara, blush, and light pink lip gloss onto her face. The outfit was completed with a pair of white pumps.
"Oh…my…god," Gabriella said.
"You look hot," Ashley smiled.
"If my father saw me right now, I would be dead," she replied.
"Well then let's hope we don't run into him," Ashley said. She had just put on her dress, which was a fitted striped tube top dress (pic in profile), for she had done her make up and hair before Gabriella came over.
"Wait before we go, no night is complete with out a Facebook photo shoot," Ashley said and Gabriella laughed. They took a few pictures posing by themselves, and then together. "Now let's go!"
"Ok," she replied. They both grabbed their clutches (Gabriella's was borrowed from Ashley) and left the hotel room. With their arms linked they walked downstairs receiving multiple stares from men walking by.
"I told you," Ashley said to her as a guy stared at them and she giggled. They turned the corner into the main foyer of the lobby to see about 10 teenagers. Meanwhile, Troy stood in the lobby with the other teenagers waiting for Ashley and Gabriella to arrive. When he had come down to see that they weren't there he walked up to the group and asked a guy named Brian if they were the group going to the club. He said he was and it turned out he knew Ashley.
"Oh there's Ashley," Brian said and Troy turned around and his jaw immediately hit the floor.
"Hey boys," Ashley smiled approaching them.
"Hey Ash," Brian replied. Meanwhile Troy was still looking at Gabriella in shock, which made her smiled. Ashley looked at Troy and smiled at his reaction.
"Ella…you look…wow," he said in shock and she giggled and blushed.
"Thanks," she smiled and he smiled back.
"So are we ready to go?" Ashley asked.
"Yep," Brian replied. Everybody was introduced to one another and then they made their way out of the hotel. The club was only a few blocks away so they decided to walk. Brian and Troy were walking behind Ashley and Gabriella who still had their arms linked and Troy could not take his eyes off Gabriella.
"Well I know who you wanna get with tonight," Brian smirked and Troy blushed, laughing lightly.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yeah," Brian replied in a 'duh' tone.
"Wonderful," Troy mumbled sarcastically and Brian laughed. Just then two guys who looked like they were in their early 20s approached Gabriella and Ashley. Troy's blood boiled as he saw one look Gabriella up and down. Without a second thought he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, which slightly shocked Gabriella.
"Back off man she's taken," Troy said firmly. Gabriella couldn't help but smile, as did Ashley.
"Well that's a shame," one said.
"What about you sweetheart," the other asked Ashley.
"Yeah, she is," Brian said coming up to Ashley's side, sliding his arm across her waist.
"Your loss," one replied before they walked away.
"What was that?" Gabriella asked Troy.
"Did you want him?" Troy asked.
"No," she replied.
"That's what I thought," Troy replied.
"Come on! Let's go!" Ashley exclaimed who had already started walking with Brian. With that Gabriella and Troy followed them, walking side by side. They arrived at the club a minute later and were immediately let in. Ashley immediately pulled Brian onto the dance floor, but only after giving Gabriella a look that says 'go for it'. She looks up at Troy and as she is about to speak he cuts her off.
"Do you wanna dance?" he asks a little nervous.
"Yeah," she replied smiling widely and he smiled back. She made her way to the dance floor, and smiled when she felt to hands on her waist. Once she found Ashley and Brian she stopped and began to move to the music. Troy immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and began to move with her. As they began to dance to dance to Britney's 'Gimme More' Ashley made eye contact with Gabriella and gave her a knowing smile, leaving Gabriella to giggle and blush. A few songs later Miley Cryus' voice began to play through the speakers. The girls squealed as See You Again began to play. They began to sing every lyric and dance with more energy making the boys laugh. Suddenly Troy turned her around and she laughed. She continue to giggle as he sang every word to the song and twirled her around. After the song ended Flo-Rida's 'Low' blasted through the club. Gabriella turned around and began to grind up against him. Ashley was doing to same thing to Brian and just like most of the girls in the club they bent their knees and got low as the words "Shorty got low" were sang. Brian and Troy smiled at each other, signaling how happy and lucky they were. This continued on for the next few hours, until the party ended. Gabriella and Troy walked out hand in hand, fingers intertwined, with the rest of the group, completely high on energy. The whole way back to the hotel they laughed and sang, attracting a lot of attention to other locals and tourists. Finally they arrived back at the hotel and one of the kids immediately invited everyone up to their room. Just as Troy was about to say okay he looked out the window to see the beach.
"Hey, do you wanna take a walk on the beach?" Troy asked Gabriella.
"Sure," she smiled.
"Ash, we'll see you later, we are gonna take a walk on the beach," Troy said and she smiled, especially when she looked at Gabriella who was also smiling widely.
"Okay, but I better get a call tomorrow with details!" she exclaimed and they both laughed and blushed.
"Goodnight Ashley," Troy said. She laughed and walked off with the rest of the group. Gabriella and Troy looked at each other and smiled before making their way towards the beach.
Ahhh! I know you probably hate me for leaving it there but I promise I will have the next chapter up tomorrow! I'm gonna start writing it now. Please review!!