DISCLAIMER: I do not own High School Musical, the songs, the lyrics, the characters etc. It I did, I would drop out of uni and instead be out rolling in my cash, and in the process of producing many M rated sequels starring a scantily clothed Zac Efron. I do not have association with Sixpence None the Richer or the creators, writers, actors, producers etc. of 'Grease'
AUTHOR'S NOTE: There is a ridiculously long authors note at the conclusion of this chapter that I would really appreciate it if you read.
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Chapter 21 – Silver Moon Sparkling
Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon sparkling
So kiss me
- Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer
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Friday morning at 7am, the East High scholastic decathlon team were seated in the science lab they typically met to practice in. Littered across the benches were textbooks, pens, pencils, paper, rulers, calculators, beakers, Bunsen burners, compasses and a whole lot more.
Taylor had directed a great deal of time and energy into creating the ideal team for the scholastic decathlon. She sourced team members not only from the Chemistry Club, of which she was president, but from other speciality areas. She had participated in the competition the year before and heard stories from the year before that. East High seemed to always field a team strong with science and maths, and solid with other disciplines. However they needed to be more than solid. Between herself, Gabriella, Freddie, Jeremy, Jenna, Casey, Kim and Karen, they studied and excelled in nearly every mainstream subject in American high schools. And Martha was an ideal replacement for Freddie in his absence, not only was she intelligent in a broad range of subjects, but her strengths lay in the humanities, as did Freddie's.
Mr Davis, the head of department from the mathematics faculty was the team supervisor. However the nature of the contest was one where the students were to prepare independently from direct teacher assistance. Gabriella therefore had taken on a big role in helping her team mates to prepare. Gabriella's previous experience in the scholastic decathlon competition – having been a key member of the national champions the previous season – was invaluable to the East High team.
In the first round, Taylor suspected that maybe she'd come up with a winning formula in her team selection. They'd done incredibly well in each of the ten segments. But she'd been afraid it was just luck. But now in the second round when East High went into the lead from the beginning and only increased the winning margin further as the competition went on, Taylor couldn't help but look around at her team mates that morning and believe that maybe, just maybe, they could do really well this year.
"Guys, we are so ready for this," Taylor said confidently. "I can just feel it. Can't you feel it? Can't you feel that we're ready?"
The team looked back at her dubiously. "Uh… I feel a little cold," Jeremy said meekly.
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Taylor's right, there's nothing else we can do to prepare. We are ready."
"Should we meet at lunch?" Martha asked.
Gabriella shook her head. "No. Guys, you're all so tense – you need to relax. If you're stressed then you're not going to be able to think efficiently. So we're not meeting at lunch.
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Despite Taylor's early morning confidence, her nerves got the better of her and by lunchtime, she was a wreck.
Gabriella came into the lunch area after going through the cafeteria line, and sat down next to Troy. Taylor was across the table, eyes closed, muttering to herself.
"Uh Tay?" she asked tentatively.
"I wouldn't," Chad warned. "I tried to talk to her before and she snapped at me."
"Oh my God… I can't remember the 19th element on the periodic table…" Taylor said suddenly, her voice filled with horror.
"It's potassium. You need to calm down," Gabriella said soothingly.
"Says she who was in the team who won the national championships in her sophomore year," Taylor replied bitterly.
"Taylor, we are ready for this. There's nothing more you can do."
"You don't get it Gabriella. This is my thing. Science, math, history. Being smart. It's all I have. But I don't even do that brilliantly. I mean maybe in comparison to lots of people I do but then there are people like… well, like you out there. And I don't even begin to compare. We never made it past the first round until you came here. I don't want you to be pulling the team through – I need to be a part of it."
"This is a team competition. If I got everything right and you guys got everything wrong, then we wouldn't make it through. We didn't win the first round because of me – it was because of the whole team. And because of you – because you inspired everyone and motivated everyone to work really hard to prepare. Just like you've done this round."
Taylor nodded, close to welling up. Spontaneously, she threw her arms around her friend, hugging Gabriella tightly.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
There are some people in the world that you forge an instant connection with. Kindred spirits or bosom friends as Anne Shirley might call them. In that moment, Taylor was reminded that Gabriella was one of those people. Someone who had come into her life and was able to say all the right things at the right time to make the world seem like a better place.
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"Welcome to the third round of the Albuquerque division of the National Scholastic Decathlon Competition," the chairperson announced. "Competing this evening we have East High School against Albuquerque Girls College."
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East High were in the lead by 25 points at the half time twenty minute break. It was a crucial time to be in the lead, because following the break was the round where the teams would take turns picking from subject areas; the team in the lead being able to select first. Once a subject area had been selected it was no longer available. So there was a positive vibe among the East High team.
Gabriella had the biggest surprise of her life when she saw Troy step into the room, glancing around tentatively. She headed towards him. Troy broke into a grin seeing that she had spotted him.
"What are you doing here?" Gabriella asked, clearly shocked.
"Darbus gave us an early mark. I think she was going to see a play tonight. My dad is at a meeting so I thought I'd hang around and wait for him to get a lift and where better to hang out than trying to soak up some knowledge by watching the smartest kids in school at work. Looks like you guys are going well."
"I never count my chickens before they hatch," Gabriella said.
"Right… I'm getting weird mental pictures of you laying eggs," Troy joked.
Gabriella giggled. "Listen I have to get back to my team."
"It's cool. You go. Good luck."
"Thanks," Gabriella said gratefully.
"If everyone could take their seats, we will be recommencing the proceedings in just a few minutes," the announcer declared.
Miss Montez saw Troy glancing around, trying to decide where to take a seat. She waved to him, beckoning him to come sit with her. Troy smiled gratefully and went over.
"Hi Miss Montez," Troy said. "Rehearsals finished early so I thought I'd come see what all this is about."
Elena smiled. "Prepare to be astonished. I've come to almost a dozen of these things and I never fail to be blown away by just how brilliant these kids are."
Elena was right. Troy was completely mesmerised. It was like a cross between a sports match and a game show, with school work that was far, far above his head forming the questions. During written questions, he could barely keep up reading what was being written by the contestants on the whiteboard before they would finish. He would still be trying to comprehend what the questions were being asked and they would already be answered and have moved onto the next question.
Despite the fact that he understood very little of what was going on, it was gripping. You could feel the tension in the room. Looking at Gabriella, he saw the glint in her eye. The competitive glint. He recognised it as being just like how he felt in relation to basketball. He knew that Gabriella was in her element. It fascinated him how smart she was. How her brain worked, to just be able to so easily work out these solutions. To reel off facts and figures and information with diligence and passion.
Following each triumphant question, she would very genuinely shake the hand of her competitor, congratulating them on a good job. It was like a light switch, flicking on and off between nice, polite Gabriella; and steely, competitive Gabriella.
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The East High team was surrounded by teachers, friends and parents as they celebrated their victory.
"Oh my God we're in the Albuquerque final," Taylor repeated over and over in complete disbelief.
Troy observed the scene from afar for a moment, and then went down to join the celebration. He gave Taylor a quick hug and congratulations before touching Gabriella's arm gently. She had been in a conversation with Kim and her parents. She turned around, beaming happily at him.
"Congratulations Wildcat," Troy said with a grin, hugging her tightly.
"Thank you," Gabriella responded with a giggle.
"My dad just messaged me, he wants me to go meet him at his office now, so I can't stay and talk. But seriously, you guys were amazing, I am so, so proud."
"Thank you for coming, sorry if you found it boring," Gabriella said apologetically.
"It wasn't," Troy said genuinely. "Not in the slightest. Anyway, I'll call you later on okay?"
Troy called out his congratulations to the rest of the team before heading out the door. Gabriella watched after him, but her faraway gaze was broken when she was almost knocked over by Taylor giving her an excited hug.
"Oh my God we're in the Albuquerque final," Taylor squealed.
Gabriella laughed. "Yes, you've said that already."
Elena Montez came over at that moment after being in a conversation with some of Gabriella's teachers.
"Miss Montez, I just wanted to thank you for moving to Albuquerque and bringing Gabriella into my life," Taylor gushed.
Elena laughed. "I'll pass on the thank you to my company for transferring me here."
"My mom wants to take me out to dinner – a celebration thing. I know I suggested that we hang out tonight – but I have to bail," Taylor said regretfully to Gabriella.
Gabriella smiled. "It's okay, I know how it is."
"I feel bad though… "
"Well you should," Gabriella joked. "No really – you enjoy your dinner."
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Two hours later, Gabriella was sitting at home alone in her room. It seemed kind of depressing really, she was so excited about their win and she was disappointed that her tentative plans with Taylor had gone out the window. Still, there was a silver lining in the form of her ringing phone, and the familiar photo which popped up on the screen.
"Hey," Gabriella said, pleased that he had called.
"Hello there miss. You should be out celebrating, not answering your phone."
"Should be. Tay and I were going to hang but she had a family thing."
"That sucks. But it also works out well for me because I am bored out of my mind," Troy informed her.
"So that's all I am to you, someone to talk to when you need to pass the time?" Gabriella joked.
"Now you KNOW that's not true!" Troy insisted.
"Don't you have any homework?" Gabriella asked.
"Not really. Not a lot. Besides, I don't feel like doing homework."
"You could practice your dancing," she suggested with a giggle.
"After this afternoon, no thank you," Troy said with a shudder. "I hope I never have to endure Sharpay's instruction without you by my side ever, ever again." He then had an idea come into his head, not sure if it would fly but figured it was worth a shot. "I'm sick of my house. I feel claustrophobic here at the moment. Maybe… can I come over to yours?"
Gabriella paused. "Oh… I don't know…"
"We could just watch a movie. Okay, so you don't want me sneaking onto your balcony, that's fair enough. But I'm suggesting downstairs, in the living room."
She sighed. Gabriella would be lying if she said that she didn't want to see Troy. She always wanted to see him. And she too didn't particularly feel like doing any homework. She had spent the whole afternoon exercising her brain. "Let me go ask my Mom. I'll call you back, okay?"
"Excellent!"
"Don't get too excited, she hasn't said yes yet," Gabriella warned, before hanging up.
Gabriella took a deep breath and headed down the stairs to where her mother was filling out some paperwork in the study.
"Mommy?" she asked sweetly.
Miss Montez looked up sharply. Gabriella only said mommy in two situations – when she was scared, or when she wanted something. "Yes Gabi?"
"Umm… would you mind if Troy came over and we watched a movie?"
"Didn't you just get home from seeing Troy?"
"Yeah but…"
It delighted Miss Montez that her daughter was coming out of her shell, making real friends. She even didn't mind that she was dating – well, not much anyway. She'd only met Troy a few times, but what she'd seen so far she approved of very much. And she much preferred the idea of the two of them spending some time under her watch than gallivanting about at night all the time.
"Okay. Just make sure that Troy's parents know he is here," she agreed.
Gabriella quickly called Troy back.
"She said yes," Gabriella informed him.
"Okay see you soon," Troy said, and hung up.
Approximately seven and half minutes later, the doorbell rang. Gabriella expected soon to be more like half an hour – she had been planning to go change her clothes and fix her hair up.
"Holy crap you were fast," Gabriella said, opening the door.
"I rode my bike," he motioned to where his bicycle was on the lawn.
"I didn't even have time to fix my hair," Gabriella complained, bringing her hand up to tuck strands of haphazard hair behind her ears self consciously.
"You look beautiful the way you are," Troy declared, as he stepped into the house and slipped off his Vans. "Anyway I wasn't sure what movies you have so I brought a bunch with me."
Elena Montez came out of the study upon hearing voices in the hallway.
"Hello again Troy," she greeted him with a smile.
"Hi Miss Montez," Troy greeted her.
"Gabriella, you never showed Troy around the house when he was here last weekend," Elena pointed out.
Troy grinned, finding it amusing that Gabriella's mom, just like his own, had prompted her to show her guest around. In a similar fashion to the tour that Troy had provided of his own house, Gabriella showed Troy the dining and living areas, kitchen, her mom's study, and then headed up the stairs.
"And here is my room," Gabriella announced loudly for her mothers benefit, and then added in a whisper, "which you have never seen of course."
Troy smiled mischievously. "And so here we have where the freaky math girl studies her freaky math."
"And as of late, has visits from sexy basketballers late at night," Gabriella giggled.
"Sexy?" Troy enquired, taking a step towards her. He placed his hands on her waist, and went to lean forward to kiss her.
"Gabriella!!" a voice called up the stairs.
Gabriella quickly stepped away from Troy, rolling her eyes. Way to ruin the moment.
"Yes mom?" she called back.
"I'm putting out some snacks for you two in the living room!"
"This is her hinting that she wants us within earshot downstairs," Gabriella said softly to Troy with a sigh punctuating the sentence.
"Then I think that we should comply and go back down."
"You just want to impress my mom."
"You're exactly right," he replied bluntly.
She giggled and led Troy back downstairs. Her mom, in a very mom-ish fashion, had left chips and lollies, as well as apple and carrot slices, on a tray on the living room coffee table. Elena came back into the room and put down two glasses and a bottle of soft drink.
"I'm just going to be in the study if you need anything," Elena told them.
"Thank you so much Miss Montez, this looks fantastic," Troy said politely.
Troy pulled a bunch of DVDs out of his bag. "I don't own a lot that you would like. But luckily my mom really likes movies so I raided her collection."
Gabriella pored over the selection. "Oooh Grease!" she exclaimed. "I haven't seen this in ages!"
"More singing and dancing?" Troy asked with a groan.
"You wouldn't have brought it if you really hated it that much."
"Damn you for always being right Gabriella Montez."
Gabriella smiled cheekily as she popped the DVD into the player. She then seated herself on the couch, patting the seat next to her for Troy to join her. Without a thought or a moment of contemplation, the couple joined hands, fingers entwining.
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Danny was in the midst of singing 'Oh Sandy' at the drive-in when Miss Montez called, "Gabi?" and stepped into the room.
Gabriella quickly let go of Troy's hand, and reached for the remote to press pause.
"Yes?"
"I'm going to turn in. Once your movie is finished, I think you should say good night and do the same."
It was a very pointed comment. Without saying it directly, it was implying – no hanging around talking and doing whatever else it is you do with each other.
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Okay. Good night."
"Good night Miss Montez," Troy said politely.
"Good night Troy."
Gabriella waited until her mom's steps had echoed up the stair case before taking Troy's hand again.
"Gabi," Troy mused, trying out the sound of the nickname. She had always been Gabriella to him.
"Only my mom calls me that.. and… and my dad used to call me that. I like it."
Troy blinked. It was the first time he had heard Gabriella reference her father.
"It's cute," he said gently. "Is it uh… is it reserved for parental types or… could I use it if I wanted?"
"It's reserved for special people. So… yes. You can use it. If you like."
Gabriella quickly reached for the remote and pressed play. She was very aware that she had brought up her father for the first time and didn't particularly feel like elaborating. Troy brought her hand that he was holding to her lips and softly kissed the back of her hand. He was trying to silently communicate that it was okay. That he didn't need to know until she was ready to tell him.
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Troy and Gabriella stood outside on the front doorstep.
"The moon is really pretty tonight," Gabriella said, staring up at the sky.
"Yeah, of course there are clear starry moonlit skies this Friday," Troy grumbled. "It will probably rain tomorrow night."
Gabriella giggled. "Doesn't matter, the bowing alley is indoors."
"Very true. I'll pick you up around 6:30? And don't forget to wear something with bit of white – it'll glow and stuff and look funky," Troy suggested.
"Mental note, wear white, that I can do."
"So uh… good night Gabi," Troy said, emphasising her new found nickname with a grin.
Lips gravitated together for a soft kiss as though it was the most natural action in the world. However it was Gabriella who made the move to part her lips slightly. She'd set her mind the weekend before to make the kiss happen, and she was determined to follow her gut. Taylor had told her to go with the flow, to do what seemed natural. It no longer seemed natural to kiss Troy and allow it to just be a soft closed mouth kiss on the lips – as lovely as it was.
Troy responded, and tentatively brushed his tongue against hers, all the while worrying that he had misread the signal. He pulled away, lingering just inches away.
"That okay?" he asked softly.
She responded by initiating another kiss, tongues entwining briefly once again. It was a strange sensation – nice, but strange – having something foreign entering your mouth. She still felt awkward and hesitant, not sure exactly what she should do. Troy sensed her hesitation, and not wanting her to pull away like the previous times, he took the commanding role, stroking his tongue lightly against hers. It didn't last long, only for a few seconds.
"You sure this is okay?" Troy asked anxiously.
"Yes… just… sorry. I know I'm not good at this," she apologised.
Troy rolled his eyes, finding her comment ridiculous. He smiled soothingly. "Bull shit. Besides… practice makes perfect. So there's always tomorrow night."
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Preview for Chapter 22…
"You don't need to be so tense every time we do that," Troy said softly. "Just… relax."
"Just because you've probably kissed hundreds of girls," Gabriella commented aloofly.
Troy had been waiting for this conversation to happen.
"Hundreds? You give me a lot of credit Gabriella… I'm only sixteen."
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you so much for all of the reviews and birthday wishes guys! Love you all :-) It was really great to hear from some different people, and awesome to see that some of you have just came across my little story here. Hopefully I keep hearing from you all! Also loving the constructive criticism and have taken quite a lot of bits and pieces from you guys on board and hopefully you will see gradual improvements in a few areas. So bring on the feedback – seriously!
So for my 22nd birthday my friends got me the Jason Nevins remix album of the HSM2 sound track (which by the way is absolutely awesome cruising around in a car with subwoofers) and the HSM All Access book. My friends completely rock and I have no shame in receiving such presents at my age haha. BUT the All Access book has created dilemmas in that it goes into detail with stuff about the scholastic decathlon and the official dates for Twinkle Towne and all sorts of stuff which render my story completely wrong. Which is annoying because I was very adamant that I wanted to stick fairly perfectly within canon. If you consider such merchandise to be a part of canon. Sigh. Anyway…
I originally had this chapter divided into two; but I didn't want the decathlon taking up a whole chapter seeing as its pretty boring as it is. So I shortened the decathlon and combined it with the second half, this half being the part I think you will all have enjoyed more.
I wrote this chapter and had also written a later chapter featuring the decathlon; before I received the All Access book and I really don't want to rewrite this stuff. I have taken significant creative liberty in relation to the structure of the scholastic decathlon competition. I did research the 'academic decathlon' which appears to be the premier academic competition in the US. However the little that we saw of the competition in HSM1 seemed different to how the real life version runs. So I just decided to make up my own set of rules; it's sort of a mish mash of a whole bunch of competitions I've been a part of throughout my years as an academically inclined individual (aka a freaky nerd girl… not math girl, I was never good at math…) So not only will the way that I am depicting this competition contradict the real life competition, but it also contradicts information in the All Access book. I have to come to peace with that and so I hope this doesn't annoy anyone else who is a stickler to details like this. It's not really in this chapter that you will notice the discrepancies, it's more so in the later chapter that I've written.