A/N: Told you we would be fast if you reviewed! But how come there were less reviews than for the chapter before that? Did we suck that much? REVIEW PEOPLE! :P
The reviews were amazing anyway! So we decided to update right away for you guys... but we are warning you, next one wont come up until the weekend cuz of school and all those other painful everyday obligations.
Now, it was quite sad that none of you picked up on our SWAC reference although one person did try. XxarlimeXx12 great try but it was not right, so shout out for that! :D
The reference was to one of the newer episodes "Cookie monster" the one with Selena was Camp Hip Hop but that's alright!
Disclaimer: Did we forget to put one last time? Damn! So! We don't own anything here yea? Just the words that you are reading is all…
Chapter 29
Previously:
"Are you ok Wildcat?"
***
"With you, I seem to be a different man. With you, I even forget Sharpay."
***
"I…I will be moving out sometime next week."
***
"Don't go to Sharpay. I won't let you."
***
"All the promises I made to you? They mean nothing! Nothing at all."
It was such a nice night. No, 'nice' wouldn't cover it. It was perfect! She had a brand new Gucci cocktail dress just hot from the catwalk in Paris and a great man beside her. Her hair was done the exact way she wanted and she looked better than any movie star. Yes, Sharpay Henney couldn't imagine a better night than this one. Her and Troy decided to go out and were currently heading towards one of the best restaurants in town. The chef there was the best one in the world and you had to book the seats about half a year in advance if you even wanted to get it. Not that she cared about that or about the food. Being famous and successful had its perks, especially if you were Troy Bolton. When she mentioned that she wanted to eat there, he only did so much as pulled out a phone, said few words and off they were towards there. Although, it's not like she would be eating anything. After all, this great body that so many envied wasn't there by itself.
"Isn't it so great Troy? To be able to go out like this in the evening and enjoyed each other's company?" Sharpay breathed in and looked over at him with a smile. However, her smile faltered a bit when she noticed he didn't even pay attention to what she just said. Instead, he was focusing on the driving but still with a far off look.
"Troy?" she asked again in a louder voice.
"Huh? Yea?" he snapped out of his trance and looked at her.
"Are you ok Troy Boy? You seem out of it." Sharpay asked in what she considered a caring voice and touched his cheek.
"No, yea, I am perfectly fine." Troy gave her a half smile and went back to looking at the road. The truth was, he wasn't that ok at all. What happened the day before cost him a big lack of sleep and he was sure he was going to get white hair from all that thinking and damning himself. It seems as though Gabriella had gotten the message because the next day, Troy found himself at home completely alone. All her stuff was gone and so was she. No note about where she was going or who she was staying with. Very unnerving and he couldn't help but wonder if she was ok, if she was safe. He thought that going for dinner with Sharpay might clear his mind and distract him from his thoughts but so far it didn't work.
"Well, if you say so. But you would tell me if something was wrong right?" Sharpay said even though she knew completely well that he wouldn't especially if it was about that Gabriella girl. Pulling to the restaurant, Troy gave got out and gave his keys to the valet who took it to the parking lot. Going towards the entrance where Sharpay was waiting for him, he suddenly heard a loud squeal. No, it was not a fan. It was actually Sharpay who squealed as she saw something. Someone to be exact.
"Oh my gosh! What a coincidence! Ryan! Gabriella! What are you guys doing here?" she asked with enthusiasm, was it fake? No one could tell. But few people around did turn towards her and glared, she most probably cause few of them ear damage.
At the mentioning of Her name, Troy quickly turned around and froze. It was, in fact Gabriella and, to his dismay, Ryan. What were they doing here?
"Lovely to see you here Sharpay." Ryan said with a smile while he had his hand on Gabriella's lower back. "Troy." He nodded at his 'opponent'. Troy couldn't find his voice, his throat was closed up and he felt like his tongue was sand paper so he just nodded, but that hand on her lower back didn't pass him unnoticed. Troy had to use all his will power not to take it and break it into two.
"Well, don't tell me you guys are going to eat here too!" Sharpay said, still in her annoying bubbly voice. Well, duh, what else would they be doing, standing in front of the restaurant?
"Yes, me and Gabi decided to have a pleasant night and go out for dinner, isn't that right?" Ryan answered with a chuckle and turned to look at Gabriella who, until this moment had her head down as she didn't dare to look up, in case the ice blue eyes would catch her gaze. She didn't know what to do, of course all eyes were on her and she could particularly feel His eyes boring into her. So she slightly nodded, still not daring to look up.
Gabi, that nickname made Troy clench his teeth. So he had a nickname for her too? And she let him? It made his stomach turn and twist with jealousy but there was nothing he could do about it right?
"I have an idea!" Sharpay exclaimed and Troy shut his eyes. No, no, no, not again. He prayed to God that it wasn't what he thought it would be.
"Why don't we all sit together? I am sure we could change the reservations and make them for four, right Troysie?" Sharpay looked at him and hooked her arm around his own.
"Uhm, yea." Troy said nervously, he seriously hoped that the restaurant was to full to find a table for four.
"N-no! That wouldn't be necessary, we don't want to intrude and ruin your perfect night!" Gabriella's head shot up as she spoke for the first time to object this awkward and unnecessarily painful meeting.
"Oh don't be silly! It is still perfect! You couldn't possibly ruin it!" Sharpay giggled. How did that girl know it was the perfect night?
"I don't see why not! Let's go because I am starving!" Ryan said and lead Gabriella inside first, followed by Sharpay who dragged the somehow slow Troy.
Everyone seemed to be against Troy tonight. Of course that for THE Troy Bolton, the restaurant had a table for four. So as they sat down, Sharpay immediately ordered the best bottle of wine they currently had and the small talk began.
"So, what made you guys come out tonight?" Sharpay asked.
"I decided to treat Gabriella today and we also wanted to celebrate something." Ryan answered and as he mentioned celebrating, looked pointedly at Troy who just glared back.
"Ooh! Celebrating huh? Did I mention you guys look so cute together? Don't they Troysie?" Sharpay giggled and put her hand on Troy's shoulder as she asked him a question that made Troy see red. No, his anger management classes weren't for nothing, so he bit his tongue and smiled.
"I wouldn't know, it depends on how you define cute because warm and fuzzy is not what I think I see. More like cold and sly is what I would say." Troy answered while looking straight at Gabriella, who by now was so angry that she was also looking straight at Troy. Once again, blue and brown met but this time, full of fire, ice and storm.
"Really? That is such a weird way of defining cute!" Ryan said with a fake smile. Sharpay was just looking at all three of them and particularly at Troy.
"Uhm, Troy! I just saw one of your movies the other day on TV! I couldn't help but think how brave and strong you are!!" Sharpay tried to change the subject.
"I wouldn't say that Sharpay." Gabriella said and Sharpay glared at her.
"Excuse me? What did you mean by that?" Sharpay asked in a hostile voice.
"What I mean is that I wouldn't say strong, I would rather say weak and cowardly than strong and brave." Gabriella faked smiled at her.
"Oh really?" Troy asked with an annoyed chuckle. "I recall someone telling me the other day that I was strong!" at that Gabriella laughed and looked at Ryan first then at Troy.
"That is called acting you should try it sometimes and maybe then Chad Dylan Cooper wouldn't get your roles."
"Burn!" Ryan mumbled while he fake coughed and he suddenly felt a kick under the table. Yes, it would cause pain to you too if $500 Christian Louboutin were stabbed into your shin.
"That's rich! Coming from someone who had to sell her body to someone in order to get her stupid stories even looked at!" Troy raised his voice, it wasn't that loud but loud enough to make some people around look the four of them.
"No listen you…" Ryan started out, angry but Gabriella put her hand up and stopped him. She was going to fight this alone.
"How dare you say that! I didn't sell my body to anyone! But you should look at yourself! Pathetic enough to lead a girl on and then leave her and run to the best friend who you had loved your whole life but she saw the loser in you and rejected you the whole time!" Gabriella said and stood up with anger.
"What the fuck are you saying? You don't know a single thing! I haven't lead you on! In fact…" Troy yelled and stood up too but Sharpay quickly intervened.
"The food is here!" she exclaimed loudly and clapped her hands. Both Gabriella and Troy, still glaring at each other, sat down with anger but didn't break their gaze.
"Troy! Guess what? I learned how to cook! What food would you like me to make tomorrow but I am warning you, I can't cook that well, so only middle class food for now ok?" Sharpay giggled and Gabriella rolled her eyes.
"He wouldn't know middle class food, he didn't know what was Mac and Cheese until recently." Gabriella mumbled but loud enough for everyone to hear. This statement caused Ryan to burst out laughing but he quickly covered it with a sip of wine.
"Sorry, they put a bit too much pepper in there, I sneezed." He apologized to them. Gabriella just smiled and took her napkin.
"Here, let me take this for you, you have a bit of…" She said and leaned to him to clean the spot on his cheek. Troy had to grip the ends of the table to hold still. The way her body leaned onto Ryan's and the way she took care of him…This was way too much and even those anger management classes weren't enough to hold this. He just prayed to God that the time moved faster so the evening would end.
"Thank you Gabi." Ryan looked at her appreciatively and nodded.
"Aw, aren't they cute together?" Sharpay cooed and looked at Troy again who was still gripping the table until his knuckles turned white. "Wait! You guys still didn't tell us what you were celebrating." She suddenly realized.
"Well," Ryan started and smiled and Gabriella who turned white and her smile immediately disappeared.
"Ryan…" she quietly pleaded but it seemed to quiet as Ryan still proceeded on.
"This afternoon, I asked Gabriella if she would go to Venice with me and, well, Gabriella said yes!" He beamed as Sharpay squealed loudly and Troy, similarly to Gabriella, turned pale white and sat frozen in his seat. What?
"That is great! I bet you will love Venice Gabriella! Italy is just amazing! And the city! Not to mention the shopping! Fabulous! I am jealous actually!" Sharpay giggled and smiled widely.
"I bet…" Gabriella mumbled with a tight smile.
"Speaking of which, I think it's time for us to go. Our flight is in few hours and we still need to pack." Ryan said and stood up.
"Thank you for the, uhm, lovely evening." He nodded "Gabriella, shall we?"
"Y-yeah" Gabriella said and stood up. She looked at Troy who was still white and staring at where she previously sat while Ryan helped her put her coat on.
"Well, have a great rest of evening." Ryan said and took Gabriella's arm.
"Oh, don't worry, we plan to." Sharpay giggled "have fun in Venice!" watching as the pair walked out of the restaurant, Sharpay turned to Troy. The sight made her heart break a little. Troy was staring at the retreating pair with evident pain in his eyes. It killed him to see them walk out and prepare to go abroad, just the two of them, alone.
"Troy?" Sharpay asked and shook him a little.
"Yea?" He immediately turned and looked at her.
"Shall we go?" Sharpay asked.
"Sure, let me just get the bill." Troy nodded and called the waiter to his table. After finding out, that the bill has already been taken care off, the two of the stood up and headed out.
"Do you want to stay with me? I mean, now that Gabriella is off to Venice, the house ought to be empty and cold." Sharpay suggested while they were waiting for the valet to bring their car.
"Uhm, I don't know Sharpay…" Troy started out, but he suddenly stopped as he realized she was right. Why would he stay in a house all alone anyway? "You know what? Maybe you are right! I will do that." He said while tipping the valet and getting inside the car.
"Really?" Sharpay asked in amazement. "That would be great!"
Getting inside the car, they drove towards Troy's house, so he could take some clothes and things he needed. The drive was weird though, the air around them was not at ease and Sharpay shifted uncomfortably. Troy was being weird again. Not paying attention to her and having that far off look.
"Troy? What is wrong with you?" she asked.
"Nothing, I am completely fine." He shrugged her off.
"Don't lie to me Troy. I know something is wrong. Tell me!" Sharpay said with a louder voice.
"Nothing is wrong ok? Drop it would you?" Troy said annoyed.
"No I wont drop it! Troy, I don't like it when you like to me!" she cried out and looked at him.
"Gabriella, don't…" Troy warned her with a low, dangerous voice. Hearing a sharp gasp from her, Troy turned to her. "What is it now?"
"Yo-you called me Gabriella…" Sharpay mumbled slowly.
"No I didn't." Troy denied quickly. He couldn't have…
"Yes you did! You said 'Gabriella, don't'…" Sharpay continued with an accusing voice and tears started to stream down her cheeks.
"Pay, don't!" Troy pleaded. "I am sorry ok? Don't cry! It's just…it's just I am worried about Gabriella. Going abroad like this, what if something happens to her? She can't speak English very well and she gets sick all them time. What if she forgets to bring her medicine with her? I am just so worried." Troy explained, thinking it would be better but he was mistaken. That was the last straw for Sharpay. She couldn't bare it anymore.
"Well then you shouldn't have let her go!" she screamed while crying hysterically.
She was right, he shouldn't have let her go. He shouldn't have allowed her to leave him behind like that. That is why Troy was currently running through the airport towards the check in area. How could he be so stupid? As soon as Sharpay yelled at him, and he realized his stupidness, he made a sharp U-turn on the road, almost hitting a truck, and sped towards the airport. He got there in a record time. Sharpay insisted that she would stay in the car so Troy could immediately run out and that was where he was right now. Running towards the check in counter.
He couldn't let her go! He didn't know what possessed him back at the restaurant! He should have stopped her right there and then, but nooo of course he had to be an idiot and freeze! Mentally kicking himself, Troy arrived at the check in counter.
"Hello, may I help you?" the woman behind the counter asked and looked up with a smile. Yes, as expected, she got star struck, but Troy didn't have time for stupid things like that.
"I need to know where is the plane to Venice as fast as possible." Troy managed to squeeze out while panting.
"Of course, one moment please." The woman quickly went back into her professional mode which Troy was very glad for. After a few seconds of typing into the computer, the woman looked up at him.
"I am sorry, but it seems like you just missed it, the only flight to Venice tonight just took off." She said with a sorry voice and pointed out of the window. Turning around quickly, Troy saw a plane on the runway slowly taking off. Running towards the glass window panes, Troy started hitting on them.
"No! No! No! No! Stop! Don't go!" He continued yelling, thus attracting many bystanders, some of them even took out their phones and started taking pictures. It's not everyday that you see an international star, trying to break the glass windows of LAX while yelling at a plane.
All his efforts were for nothing though, the plane still flew away, carrying Gabriella and happy Ryan inside and tomorrow, all the tabloids would probably have his picture on the front page. Walking back to the car, Troy sat down in the drivers seat and hit his head few times against the steering wheel.
"Guess it didn't go according to our plan huh?" Sharpay said sympathetically and rubbed his back.
"I really liked Gabriella you know? I don't think I ever felt the same about anyone, when I held her, when I made her laugh and when I saw her face while she was ice skating around." Troy said with a small smile while replaying his memories from before. "I am always so happy when I am around her, she makes me smile, she makes me do things I would have never done. I care about her so much, yet I cant even protect her, how pathetic am I? The only thing I do is hurt her!" Troy frowned and buried his face into his hands. Sharpay shut her eyes tightly for a second and then opened them again.
"Then protect her from now on. Don't hurt her anymore." She whispered and continued rubbing his back.
"I can't! She wont ever talk to me again and now she is with Ryan and they are both off to Venice!" Troy cried out and hit the steering wheel with his fist again.
"Don't think like that! I am sure she will give you another chance. Just go to her and apologize. You have to work hard to be with her." Sharpay said.
"I can't be with her." Troy shook his head and leaned back against the head rest, facing up.
"Why? Is it because of me?" Sharpay asked. When Troy didn't respond, she lowered her head and started playing with her fingers. "You know, I always knew that you were in love with Gabriella but I always lied to myself and denied all the signs that pointed to the truth. It hurt me too much to think that she had your heart." She continued while drops of tears slowly started falling down onto her hands. "I can't believe I was so selfish," she laughed half heartedly while sobbing "I only wanted what was best for me and I hurt my best friend in the process."
Troy didn't say anything, he just shut his eyes tightly and listened.
"I-I am letting go of you hand Troy."
It was happening, she was really going to Venice with Ryan. How the heck did they get to this point? Sitting in the plane in first class, Gabriella started wondering about whether or not this was a smart decision. Yes she wanted to get away and yes she never went to Italy before, but something was still holding her back. When she was walking out of the restaurant, Gabriella managed to look back and what she saw broke her heart. The look in Troy's eyes was enough to make her break down but she managed to hold it in. The way his eyes weren't blue anymore, they were stormy grey when he looked at them. The way his eyes revealed his soul and his broken heart. The way he managed to keep himself from killing Ryan. All that Gabriella picked up on during dinner and she could almost hear his heart being shattered into pieces when Ryan announced that she was going to Venice with him.
How much pain did she cause Troy? How much did the evening hurt him? How could she be like that? She loved him!
"No! Wait!" She suddenly yelled out upon her realization just as the stewardess was closing the doors of the plane. Everyone's eyes were on her and Gabriella suddenly felt unsure about what she was going to do.
"Gabi? Are you ok?" Ryan asked her in a lowered voice. Gabriella looked at him for a moment and shook her head. Taking all her purse and her cardigan, she stood up.
"I am sorry, I cant do this! I cant leave him like that and go to Venice! Please open the door for me, I want to get out." Gabriella apologized to Ryan and pleaded with the stewardess.
"I am sorry ms, but we cannot open the door now, it's too late." The stewardess apologized with a smile. "Now if you could please go back to you seat." She indicated gracefully.
"No I couldn't! Open the damn door for me and let me out! Or I swear I will…" Gabriella yelled out. It was enough to grab everyone's attention. Even the people who were at the very back and couldn't see her could hear her.
"Ms. Please…" the stewardess started again.
".OUT!" Gabriella screamed and the stewardess had no other choice but to dial a number and mumble something into the phone. Minutes after that, a noise could be heard outside and she opened the door.
"Here you go, hope you have a nice day." She nodded with a tight smile but Gabriella ignored her and ran out as fast as she could.
"Wait! Gabi!" Ryan yelled after her turning around, Gabriella saw that Ryan was trying to catch up to her.
"What are you doing Ryan? Why didn't you go to Venice?" she asked with wide eyes.
"Why would I go alone?" Ryan said and Gabriella just nodded and started running again. As soon as she was outside, she hailed a cab and quickly got in, Ryan following in suit.
"Can you go faster please?" Gabriella asked the driver for a hundredth time.
"Listen little missy, I am already going as fast as I can. If I go any faster, I would be breaking the law and pulled to the side by the cops." The driver answered annoyed. Taking out her wallet, Gabriella pulled out a $100 bill and threw it to the front seat.
"This might make you go faster." She hissed and the driver nodded.
"You bet…" he said and accelerated.
"Troy! Troy! Troy!" Gabriella ran inside the house as soon as the taxi pulled over at her house. Opening all the doors, she started frantically searching for the said person. However, he was nowhere to be found. Not in the kitchen, not in the living room, not even in his room. Coming back down sobbing, she found that Ryan was standing there in the middle of the doorway.
"I am too late. He already went to Sharpay." She cried out and Ryan hugged her.
"Shh… it's going to be ok. Don't cry." He started soothing her and led her over to the living room couch.
"If I didn't go from the beginning, he wouldn't have gone to Sharpay! We would both be here watching a movie!" Gabriella continued crying and Ryan did his best to comfort her. What they didn't know though, was that the person that Gabriella was crying over just came inside the house. Yes, Troy did return after dropping Sharpay at her house. He saw the lights on and he was happy, but the welcoming scene was not as he expected. Instead of Gabriella laughing and running into his arms, Troy was greeted with a completely different sight.
Ryan with his arms around Gabriella, while she rested her head on his shoulders.
A/N: Haha…What do you think about it? CLICK THE GREEN BUTTON! 3 xoxo
