Alright Soo sorry for the Delay. i just havent had the energy with all the schoolwork i've had plus working. But i'm updating in my spare time the only problem is when i have time to write i just dont have then energy too or i dont know what to write and i just dont want to put something up to put something up.
But i was determined to put something up tonight which is why its like 430am and im just finishing this up and its extra long becasue i wanted to make up for not posting in soo long :/
I'll talk more at the end. So enjoy the Chapter :)
-Also thanks to everyone who has reviewed; it means a lot to me knowing what you think and you have no idea how much it makes me smile knowing people are actually reading my stories let alone actually like them lol
We were making our way up Troy's driveway and I was barely paying attention to where I was going as I was looking in my compact mirror the whole time to make sure that I looked just right for when I saw Troy.
"Gabriella come on, put the mirror away you look fine" Sharpay said to me trying to grab the mirror out of my hand
I was barely paying attention to her as I had other things on my mind like what I was going to say to Troy when I saw him. I mean it's not like I can just go up to him and be like 'Yeah so Troy, this is gonna sound super strange but I kinda wanted to know if you'd want to hang out sometime?'…
"So I don't get it, if you're not gonna have sex with Kyle tonight then why are you so freaked out about how you look right now?" Taylor asked me breaking my thought process
"I'm not freaking out; geez can't a girl just want to look nice for no reason?" I replied hoping they'd buy my excuse
"No I don't and you are freaking out" Sharpay replied to me
"You sure you don't want something to drink" Kate said to me holding a vodka bottle out towards me
"no thanks Kate" I replied shaking my head. Drinking was the last thing I needed to be doing right now, Drinking just always screwed things up for me and I don't want to screw up anything else in my life. I want a new beginning and not drinking is just the start of it.
Sharpay then came over to me kissing my cheek as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder
"Well great we have our own personal designated driver then" she said to me
"Yeah yeah" I replied to her
"alright enough talking I'm freezing lets go inside" Kate whined
"Yeah I agree" I said agreeing with her before heading inside. We could catch a movie or something; I mean I know it's been well years since we've hung out but... The lines kept running through my head and all I could think was that I didn't want to screw this up.
When I walk into the house it feels like I'm at a rock concert with how loud it was in there. Maybe it was because I'm not used to being at the party's sober but this one just seems louder than other parties I've been too. I just don't feel like myself at this party, I feel insecure like the whole room is staring at me. But I can't think about the rest of the room I have to think about finding him.
We make our way upstairs and I can't help but notice how every looks drunk already. It's weird I've known these people for so long but looking at them now they just look well not like themselves, like someone else has taken over their body. I keep wanting to just stop and stare at everyone but the only thing keeping my moving is Sharpay pushing my forward.
I then stop dead in my tracks when I see him but he's not alone. I literally feel like my heart just dropped to the bottom of my stomach, He's talking to Tess Carroll. I just can't help staring and wishing that I had taken at least one shot tonight because it probably wouldn't have hurt as much as it did seeing him talking to her. I just feel awkward like the elephant in the room that shouldn't have been in there.
I then turn around not standing to look at them anymore and go to talk to Sharpay but she's not there, I assume she probably went looking for Zeke. And that means that since she went looking for Zeke that in 3, 2, 1...
"Gabi" I turn around and Kyle's standing there, thankfully he doesn't try to hug me or anything. He's just giving me this look like I'm grossing him out or something "I didn't think you'd show up"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Well the way you were acting at school today I just assumed you wouldn't" He said to me like It was obvious and paused a moment waiting for me to say something but I didn't "So are you gonna say you're sorry for earlier, because I'm sure I can think of a way or two that you could" He said giving me this sloppy grin and I know that he's definitely been drinking now.
I suddenly just want to slap him in the face but I don't. How can he be acting like this after everything at school today, it's like everything that happened didn't faze him at all. It just disgusts me looking at him now and makes me wonder why I ever fell for him in the first place.
"Oh yeah, Well I'd love to make it up to you" I said sarcastically to him
"Really?" He replied to me obviously not catching the sarcasm and tried to wrap his arms around me which I allowed him to but I wasn't paying attention to him as much as the people behind him or more two people, Troy and Tess.
I don't know what Troy could see in her, I mean Tess is just annoying and has the personality where half the stuff she says just makes you want to look at her like she's crazy or something.
I then turn my attention back to Kyle and try to pretend like I actually want to be around him at the moment
"I think we should have a little one on one time" I say to him
"I completely agree" He said his words slurring
I then reach up on my tiptoes to his ear
"Alright well here is what I want you to do. There's a bedroom down the hall with bumper stickers on the door. Go in it and wait for me. Wait for me Naked. And I promise you that I will give you the best apology" I said with a wink that made him nearly fall over in shock
"Right now?"
"Right now" I replied to him.
He then let go of me and went off through the crowd to the room. I took all of me to just not burst out laughing. I suddenly just don't feel nervous anymore and I just have the urge to just not be afraid to talk to Troy anymore. I then turn to go over to him but my smile fades as I see that he's gone.
"Fuck" I muttered under my breath.
"I don't wanna hear those words coming out of your mouth young lady" Taylor said coming up from behind me "So what was that about?"
"It was just Kyle being Kyle" I replied "Anyways um have you seen Troy Bolton?"
"Who?"
"Troy. Bolton" I said louder
"Ahh the host, why do you care where he is, did you break something?"
"No I was just wondering where he was at so I could tell him that he throws a pretty good party"
"Ah yeah such a good party"
"Come on let's go look around for him" I say linking my arm with hers dragging her along. She not much use since she's kinda drunk but I'd rather not look all awkward walking around by myself.
I then look around spot a couple in the corner making out and an idea pops into my head and I walk over to them
"Hey guys, you know if you want some privacy there's a room down the hall with bumper stickers on it and the bed inside it is AH-MAZING. Trust me you should go try it" I told them convincingly and before I could say anything else they were on their way to the room and I was doing all I could not to start laughing all over again. Taylor looked at me like I was crazy.
"What was that about?"
"Oh um it's a Long story, don't worry about it" I say before dragging her along again.
I then stop hearing a scream and a burst of laughter. All I can think is please doing let it be happening again. Please don't let that be Martha. But then I hear a guy yelling "Oh my god dude put some clothes on"
"Oh my gosh you have to see this" Taylor says to me as she's looking towards Troy's bedroom
I then look as well and all I can see is Kyle making his way as fast as he can to the stairs as he's pretty much holding all his clothes in his hands except his boxers which he's currently wearing. He's giving people dirty looks as their all laughing at him and I have to admit I'm pretty much laughing at him myself.
Honestly I should feel bad for doing it to him but let's be honest, after all the shit he's done to me in the past he completely deserves it. I guess karma is a bitch.
"Yeah so I think it's safe to say that we're officially broken up" I say turning my attention back to Taylor
"Troy" She replied to me and my heart skips a beat
"What?"
"It's Troy" She replied again and I'm freaking out now. Could she really know my secret that I like Troy?
"I- um the whole Kyle thing has nothing to do with Troy..."
"No I mean Troy he's behind you. Weren't you looking for him?"
I then look around to him but I don't
"In there" She saying pointing towards a hallway like 10 feet in front of us
"Well come on then" I go to pull her with me but she doesn't move
"I'm going to find Sharpay" She replied to me and I nodded as she went off into the crowd and I went to look for Troy but was stopped by Shane and Haley.
"Hey you're in Shane's English class right?" Haley asked me "Do you know if they did anything important in class today? Shane couldn't be there he had a doctor's appointment"
I hadn't skipped class to go to Dairy Queen with Sharpay today so I had totally forgotten about the Haley, Shane, Charlotte drama. I'm looking at Shane right now and I just see this familiar look on his face, the same look Kyle would always have on his face. I think of Charlotte and our lunch in the bathroom the other day. I think about what Shane is doing behind Haley's back. I know I'm not Haley's biggest fan but he doesn't deserve her.
I just can't let him get away with what he's doing to her and the words just then start flowing from me like word vomit.
"Do you smell McDonalds?" I say and Haley looks at me weird
"McDonalds?"
"Yeah you know like a Big Mac?" I said looking straight at Shane knowing that's what he had every other time he was there with Charlotte and was probably what he had today as well.
"I don't smell anything" Shane said trying to change the subject
"Oh my god it's not my breath is it" Haley said cupping her mouth to make sure
"What's wrong with you?" I asked Shane
"What?"
"You know like what's wrong with you that you had to go to the doctors?" I said clearly amused watching him squirm
"Oh um nothing really my mom just wanted to have me get a checkup"
"Right... well I hope they were extra thorough" I said glaring at him but Haley doesn't see me look at him
"Um yeah I guess they were"
"You know I've been looking for a doctor to go to, you know especially one where I can get a Big Mac at"
"What are you talking about" Haley said now catching on to the conversation "What is she talking about Shane?"
Shane doesn't say anything he just glares at me giving me this look like stop it.
"I'm really sorry Haley, but your boyfriend is a slime ball"
"WHAT IS SHE TALKING ABOUT SHANE" Haley says not getting upset with Shane and he's trying to get her to calm down but nothings working and I know my work in this situation is done and I take my cue to leave knowing I've done what I needed too.
I make my way through the crowd not sure what to expect next, or well I should. I can't help but wonder if I should have done more to try and stop Martha but I haven't seen her yet to know if anything could have been done.
"Gabs!" I hear from behind me and I turn seeing Sharpay calling for me. I hesitate for a moment before heading over shaking the thoughts out of my head. I can't talk to Troy it was stupid for me to think that I could have.
As I'm making my way to Sharpay just as I reach her my eyes look over towards the doorway and there she is. Martha is standing there with that look in her eyes again and my stomach drops. When she sees Sharpay she goes straight for her to start the "You're a bitch" scene but I'm not going to let it happen this time.
I essentially charge forward taking her by surprise grabbing her by the arm and pulling her away from everyone and into the nearest bathroom.
"What are you doing?" I ask her
"It's a party I'm socializing" She replied to me "I'm allowed to be here you know"
"No I mean what you are really doing here, because I'm pretty sure you're not here to party"
She takes a slow deep breath before replying
"I-I came to tell you something. Or well I came here to tell you, Sharpay, Kate, and Taylor that..."
"That what?" I knew what she was going to say but I wanted to hear her say it
"You're a bitch" she said more softly then I thought she would
"I'm a bitch" I said not really mad just essentially restating what she had just said "Listen Martha. I know we haven't always been the best of friends or even really friends at all but the stuff we did to you we didn't mean anything by it. We didn't really think when we were doing the stuff it just kinda happened in the moment."
She glared at me a moment
"You know you haven't always been nice to me" She replied
"I-yeah I know and I'm sorry for that" I replied
"Just the stuff you guys have done to me in the past it's hard to forget, I mean the nickname Cocky and then hacking into my email and posting the stuff to the entire school..."
"We didn't hack into your email" That was the truth; to this day we still don't know who did. Some person hacked into her email and found these conversations she was having with some guy and posted them to the entire school.
"Yeah but you started the rumor that I lost my virginity for a pack of cigarettes"
Actually that was Taylor but I don't argue with her
"You know my sister heard that rumor and told my parents. I don't even smoke, I mean I've never even kissed a boy" she said softly
"Look I'm sorry ok, I know we've done horrible things to you in the past and we can't take them back. Trust me I would if I could. I just I want to apologize and I want to make things better between us. You know the candy canes you got today"
She looks at me with a glare in her eyes
"I knew it. What was that another joke to tear me down?"
"What? No of course it wasn't" I said seriously
"OH poor little Cocky she has no friends and no candy canes so let's fuck with her and send her a bouquet of them" She said bitterly. I didn't expect her to react like this at all.
"I wasn't trying to fuck with you. I was just trying to be nice..."
"Cut the crap Gabriella. Just tell me what the real plan was. Was it to make me think I have a secret admirer again and then laugh when I realize it was no one again. Make me realize that I have no one." She then stops a moment looking at me "Or maybe you didn't have a plan. Maybe you just wanted to remind me how I have nobody. 'Maybe next year?' Right"
At this point I'm just trying not to cry from frustrations.
"I swear to you Martha that I was just trying to do something nice for you for once. That's it no tricks no mean things"
"Make me feel better?" Martha said "You don't even know me. You never knew me and you can't make me feel better no one can"
Listening to her just makes me think of the other day when I was talking to Troy and telling him that I couldn't be fixed. I realized I was wrong, everyone can be fixed; it just has to be that way. I just don't know how to convince Martha of this.
"You know I used to be friends with Sharpay. I even have this part of a best friend necklace that she gave me. It said Best friends forever when you put it together."She told me.
I wanted to ask her what happened between them but I couldn't. As long as she was still talking to me I knew that she was safe and alive.
"That was right before her parents got divorced. She was just so sad all the time and I would go to her house to sleepover and we'd hear her parents arguing and we'd go under the covers in her room and just try to make the best of things. When we'd sleep I would just hear her cry and she would have horrible nightmares where she'd wake up screaming. It got so bad to the point where we had made this plan for her to move into my house and I'd sneak her food every night. But of course our plan didn't work." She trailed off and I felt my heart sink for her "Its funny thinking about it now. We used to do everything together. But then Fifth grade came along the nickname started because of Sharpay saying I did it when it was her the whole time.."
"If you knew it was her then why didn't you just stand up for yourself and say something?" I asked her
"She was my best friend, I just she was so miserable back then and I thought it would pass"
"Martha-"
"It doesn't matter anymore.." She said and went and left the room before I could stop her.
I went to go after her but there were a bunch of people outside the bathroom arguing over who was going in next.
I'm standing scanning the crowd hoping I'll see Martha or even Troy when a voice shakes my thoughts
"You are unbelievable"
I turn and it's Shane
"You know what you are. Gabriella Montez you're a bitch" He said to me and I just shrugged it off
"So I've heard. Trust me"
I then force my way past him and end up bumping into someone else
"What the hell, seriously" I then look up and it's Troy in front of me
"You're here" He said to me smiling from ear to ear
"I said I'd come didn't I?"
"I mean that I knew you'd probably be here but with Sharpay or someone else. But I looked by her and you weren't there and I guess I was looking for you. I mean not like stalking you or anything just curiously looking for you and maybe talk to you when I saw you.."
"Troy" I said breaking his train of thought. I've been waiting to talk to him all night but right now isn't the time. I need to find Martha. I look at him and he has the adorable look on his face and I'm almost tempted to not leave and just stay him with him but I know that I can't. "Look I'm sorry I can't talk to you right now." I say and see the disappointment show up on his face.
"But-"
"I'm sorry" I say before turning and heading outside. I start walking around looking for Martha and just hoping I find her sooner rather than later. The one thing I'm grateful for is I came a little more prepared tonight wearing a fleece jacket and flats rather than heels.
I make my way over to Sharpay's car and look through my bag grabbing the keys out of it and a wave of relief comes over me. If Sharpay can't drive the car then she can't hit Martha. I then grab a flashlight and go looking for her once again.
I'm walking more and more away from the party and with every step I'm more worried I won't find her. All I can think is I hoping talking to her earlier will be enough to stop her. I just have to think that it will be different this time.
I then walk a little further and I spot her ahead of me. There are cars speeding by scaring me but I keep going in spite of it knowing I have to get to Martha. She's about to jump in front of the car and I start running as fast as I can to stop her.
"Martha!" I say trying to reach her in time.
As she jumps I grab onto her pulling her back and causing us both to fall on the ground as the car driving by honking its horn like it's annoyed with us for attempting such a stupid act.
"What the hell are you doing?" She asked me annoyed
"What am I doing, what about you. Trying to jump in front of random trucks I thought you were waiting for Sharpay-"
"Sharpay? As in Sharpay Evans?" She said looking at me confused "I don't know what you're talking about but this has nothing to do with Sharpay or any of you"
Now I'm the one confused. I thought she was doing this to get revenge on us but then it hit me she didn't care who it we just happened to be the one she went in front of every time. It was by chance not choice.
"But why are you doing this? What's the point?"
"There really isn't one. I just I was always afraid to tell you how I felt about you but now I'm not afraid anymore. I'm not afraid of anything anymore not even.." Not even death. That's what she was going to say but she didn't
"This isn't the way." I tried to reason with her
"Please just leave me alone"
"What about your family? Your sister?" I said once again trying to reason with her "Please I can't let you do this"
"It's too late" She said and before I know it she's thrown herself in front of the car once again and it takes me a moment realize that I'm the one screaming again.
It's about 2 hours later when I'm now parked in Sharpay's driveway. It's just me and Sharpay now as we've already dropped off Kate and Taylor. It's been quiet the whole ride in the car.
"What I night. I mean I never would have thought.." Sharpay said breaking the silence "and you were there"
Yeah I was there. I was there when the police came and the ambulance, the people from Troy's party, all standing by me watching, staring wondering what was going on. I heard the whispers people thought she was drunk or on something, but I knew the truth.
"And she didn't say anything or have an explanation?" Sharpay asked me
"I don't think you can explain something like that, but I guess we'll never know right?"
"Right… well um thanks for taking me home" She said to me "You'll be ok right?"
"Yeah I'll be fine" I replied and she went to leave but I stopped her "Shar"
"What?"
"Martha told me about what really happened in 5th grade" She doesn't say anything "She told me it was you"
"And what you believed her"
"You know how everyone called her Cocky after that. Why didn't you just tell the truth that it was you. Why did you tell everyone it was her? Why'd you let it get that far?"
"I didn't think it'd last" She replied after a few moments of silence "I thought she'd eventually tell someone, you know? But she just took it"
I then nod knowing I shouldn't push it anymore. She knows she messed up and there's no point in making her feel worse than she already does. She then got up getting out of her car and I did as well and handed her the keys once I got over to her. I then saw head light coming from behind me and I knew who it was.
"You're good getting home and everything right?" She asked me and I nodded
"yeah I'm sure" After everything that happened just the thought of sitting next to Troy for the whole 15 minutes back to my house just made me feel a little better.
"You know I'm sorry about everything" she said to me right before I left and I knew she wanted me to tell her it was ok but I didn't
"People would like you anyways Shar" I said to her but I wanted to say If you stopped pretending but I didn't.
"Thanks" She said and I made my way down the driveway to Troy's car where he's waiting for me.
He opened the door for me and we made our way to my house. He didn't really say anything the whole time but I was ok with it. I was ok with just being in the car with him. Soon we were driving down my street and were finally at my house.
"Thanks for driving me home Troy" I said softly to him
"It was my pleasure" He replied with one of his lines that only he would say "are you sure you'll be ok?" He said to me trying not to sound overly concerned. I Just nod in response not sure what to say.
We sit in silence a few moments, I really don't want to leave him just yet but I don't know what to say to him either but I know I need to say something
"Everything tonight was terrible except for this"
"Except for what?" He replied confused
I make a gesture with my finger essentially saying you and me
"Ella" He said looking into my eyes and reaching his hand up putting it on the side of my face and I melted a little feeling the softness of his hand on my cheek. He then suddenly drops it. "Sorry"
"No.. It's fine" I said
"It's just ugh it's awful"
"What's awful?" I asked him confused
"Everything that happened tonight. I mean it's just not the right time and you're with Kyle."
"I'm not with Kyle anymore"
"You aren't?" He says with some shock in his voice and I shake my head "well um that's good then because.." He started to say and I watched his eyes as they wandered from my eyes to my lips
"Because?"
"Because I really need to kiss you right now" He said and then leaned forward putting his hand gently on the back of my head and kissing me. The first thought in my head is how soft his lips felt against mine and my eyes close as I kissed him back. I feel lost in the moment and that nothing could possibly go wrong now that I'm with him. As I'm kissing him I feel him pushing a lock of my hair behind me ear as he keeps kissing me. I feel and hear him saying my name as he's kissing me and all I can think is right here and now is the first and only kiss that's ever mattered in my life.
He then pulls away a few moments later his hands cupping my cheeks as he's looking into my eyes
"Wow" He said trying to catch his breath
"Yeah" I said not able to have any words come out
We stay there in silence a few moments just looking at each other just being there in the moment. We were both just happy in that moment.
"I really like you Ella" He said softly
" I really like you too" I replied but in the back of my mind now the negative floods in. Tomorrow, will I even have a tomorrow. I try to push the thought from my mind and focus on Troy again. I close my eyes as I realize how tired I really am.
"Come on your tired, let's get you inside" He said kissing my forehead "you need to sleep"
He then got up coming over to my side and helping me out. He walked me up to the driveway as the snow came down on us from the sky. He looks at me
"You have snow in your eyes" He said gently brushing the snow from my eyelid "and your hair" He said putting his hand through my hair to the back of my head once again looking into my eyes.
"Troy" I said wrapping my arm around his neck looking back into the eyes that were looking into mine "Do you ever get the feeling when you're afraid to fall asleep?"
"Yeah sometimes I'm afraid of what I'd leave behind" He said before leaning in and kissing me once again.
There's something I love about kissing him. It's like when we kiss the world disappears and its only me and him. It's like we were made for each other the way our bodies fit together like puzzle pieces. I realize I don't want to leave that feeling behind. I can't imagine losing that feeling. But what scares me the most is getting to finally feel this just to have it be forgotten when tomorrow comes around, if there's a tomorrow for me or a real tomorrow anyways. All I can do at this point and hope and believe that on my seventh day all that I've done will be enough and those were my last thoughts before the darkness took over in my dreams once again...
Ok So I quite liked parts of this chapter i felt it got kinda crappy at parts because i was rushing but iLOVE the end :)
Also in case it wasnt obvious the story will be ending soon, theres a few chapters left and i'm gonna try to make it as long as i can while keeping it interesting or if anything make a sequal -so let me know if you'd want a sequel and any ideas you may have for one if you'd want me to write a sequel!
Please Review; As you know it means a lot to me and Be Honest i love to hear your thoughts :)
Thanks for Reading!
-Heather