Gabriella's stomach was rumbling when she walked into detention. She was busy with student council and didn't eat lunch on top of the breakfast and the dinner she didn't eat last night. She felt like she was going to pass out. She made it to her desk and put her head down. She closed her eyes, sitting up slowly. She looked around. There was one other person in the class besides Troy, Gabriella, and Ms. Darbus.
"Welcome to after school detention. Get started on your homework and I will come around." Ms. Darbus said distractedly.
The room was quiet, her stomach grumbled again. She frowned, wrapping her arms around herself to hopefully keep the noise down. She reluctantly pulled out her homework. She dropped her trig book on her desk with a loud thud.
"Hey." She heard Troy said. She didn't even notice him sit in the desk in front of her.
"Troy, don't bother Ms. Montez until she finishes her homework. Please do yours." Darbus said.
"Come on Ms. D. I was just asking her a question." Troy said.
"One question then go back to your seat." Darbus said.
Troy nodded then turned back to Gabriella. He opened his mouth to ask her a question. He was cut off by another loud protest from her stomach. She blushed, putting her hands on her stomach. "Pepperoni or cheese?"
"What?" She asked confused.
"Pizza." He said simply. "Do you have a preference?"
"Cheese." She said quietly. "Why?"
Troy just winked at her. He got up. Gabriella watched him as he walked over to Ms. Darbus. They argued quietly for a minute. Her eyes followed Troy until he walked out the door. She frowned, wondering what he was up to. She decided to focus on her homework and not worry about him.
After she finished her Trig she pulled out her Spanish homework. She was about half way through when she smelled it. Pizza. Hot pizza. Her mouth started watering and her stomach grumbled loudly again. The door opened and Troy walked in with two pizzas. She turned back to her homework and fought to not stare at the pizza.
She held her breath when she heard somebody walk over to her. She looked up to see Troy holding a box and a plate. "Pizza?" He offered. She raised her eyebrow at him. He opened the box. "I got cheese."
"She let you leave and get pizza?" Gabriella asked.
"I bargained. I have to try out for that stupid musical." Troy said with a shrug.
"All that for pizza?" She asked, smirking.
Troy smiled. "Yeah. Your growling stomach was annoying me also. I saw you didn't eat lunch either."
"Were you spying on me?" She asked, trying to hide her smile. Troy just shrugged. "I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday. I passed out before dinner and woke up late." She said with a dejected sigh. "I'd love some pizza actually. Thank you."
Troy grinned. "You're nice when you're hungry."
"Don't bite the hand that feeds you." She said, putting her homework away for now. She took the plate and loaded it up with two pieces.
"That's it?" He asked. She rolled her eyes and grabbed another piece. He rolled his eyes back at her and put another piece on her plate before closing the box. She opened her mouth to protest. "I watched you scarf down a cheeseburger in less than two minutes in the fifth grade. Four pieces of pizza is nothing."
She scowled at him. She put a piece in her mouth to bite back the comments she was about to say. Her body felt better now that she was eating. She ate the first piece quickly, too hungry to savor it. She stuffed the second piece into her mouth, taking a big bite. She chewed carefully before looking up. She noticed Troy watching her. She narrowed her eyes at him. He grinned widely, putting a piece into his mouth.
She forced herself not to look over in his direction. She ate her pizza silently, getting up to throw her plate away. She asked Ms. Darbus if she could use the restroom. She slipped out of the classroom and washed her hands in the bathroom.
Troy Bolton was a strange boy, Gabriella thought as she took her time walking back to the classroom. She hummed to herself as she passed the music room. She felt an arm pull her into the room. She resisted the urge to scream and swung her arms instead.
"OW!" The deep voice said. Troy Bolton had let go of her arm and covered his eye.
"Why would you do that?!" Gabriella asked, taking a step back from him.
He rubbed his eye. "It was supposed to be spontaneous and sexy not a boxing match."
"What are you even doing in here?" She whispered before she turned around. "Wait, I don't even care. Look, I have to get back or else I'm getting detention for the month."
Troy sighed, blinking his eye dramatically. "You are so boring, Montez."
"Shut up." She rolled her eyes. She pulled open the door.
"Wait!" He closed it, pinning her against the door. He kissed her lips slowly before pulling away. "Think about me." He murmured softly as he pulled the door open for her.
She blinked at him. "Stop doing that!" She sighed, frustrated and ran to the next door.
Gabriella made her way back to her seat with an annoyed expression. She pulled out the rest of her homework and finished it within a half hour. She hadn't noticed Troy come back in or the fact that he sat next to her until she was finished. She put all her stuff away and picked up her bag.
"Darbus?" She asked softly, walking up to her desk.
"Yes, Miss Montez." She asked without bothering to look up.
"Can I go next door to work on my audition song for Cabaret?"
Darbus nodded enthusiastically. Gabriella made a quick exit and slid herself in front of the piano. She stroked the keys with her fingers as she played a melody that her fingers created. She hummed along to the melody until words started forming. She smiled to herself as she stopped to get out her notebook.
Creating something out of a couple of notes was her favorite part of music. She enjoyed writing lyrics and putting them to melodies. Some of her best songs just come to her organically. Her fingers slid across the keys to find the tune she just wrote. She scribbled in her notebook before putting the pen in her mouth and continuing.
Gabriella got lost in the world of her music, she played the song once through and stopped when she heard the door opening. "You know it's like five o clock, right?" Troy Bolton asked, sticking his head into room.
"Shit!" Gabriella muttered. "Why didn't anyone come and get me?" She asked, shoving her notebook into her bag.
"I thought Darbus would, but she forgot about you." Troy said, making a face.
She rolled her eyes at him. "Why are you still here then?"
"I'm waiting for Coach Bolton." Troy said with a shrug. "Then I saw your car still here and I thought I'd come find you and save you."
She let out a short laugh. "Save me from what?"
"My cousin." He smirked. "Or Darbus. I don't know."
"Why do you call your dad Coach Bolton?" She asked, slinging her backpack across her shoulder.
"I stopped calling him dad when I was seven. I guess I got used to it. He's been in full coach mode for the last eleven years." Troy murmured, holding the door open for her.
"Does your mom get annoyed that you call him that?" She asked, walking toward him.
He shrugged. "She doesn't really notice. My dad, on the other hand, insists. He is everywhere. He's at home. He's at school. I'm so fucking sick and tired of him."
"At least you see your dad. I haven't seen mine in weeks… I saw my mom for about an hour in the last week." Gabriella said with a shrug.
"That must be great." Troy said, stepping in front of her.
"Not when you have two bratty younger sisters that you have to be adult for." She said, taking a step to the left to move around him. He stepped in front of her. They did that little dance for a good minute before she groaned in frustration. "Troy! Stop!"
His face softened. "I'm sorry." He said as he moved out of her way.
She stepped out of the classroom then stopped in the middle of the hall. "For what?" She asked, looking back at him, waiting for him to join her.
"About your parents." He took three big steps to catch up with her. "Since I quit basketball, Coach Bolton hasn't said a word to me. He's just there."
"Why'd you quit anyway?"
He shrugged. "I hate basketball."
"Why do you come to Ms. Darbus' detention every day after school?" She asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Why are you so nosy?" He teased.
"You seem hell bent on destroying my relationship with your cousin. I might as well find out why." She walked with him into the parking lot.
Troy rolled his eyes. "I couldn't care less about Owen."
"Then what is your problem with me?" She asked, pulling her keys out and standing in front of the driver door.
"I have absolutely no problem with you, Gabriella Montez." He said, taking a step away from her.
"Are you bored? I don't get it, Troy."
"Bolton, Let's go." A loud voice boomed over the parking lot.
Troy turned around to see coach standing by the truck. "Well, I'll see you in detention tomorrow, Montez."
"Answer me, Bolton!" She shouted, grabbing his arm as he turned to leave.
He turned to face her with a smirk on his face. He pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips. "Tomorrow." He winked, before he jogged over to the truck.
Gabriella groaned loud enough to cause Troy to look back. She wanted to murder him, smack him and kick him in the genitals all at the same time. She got in her car and sped out of the driveway. She got stuck in traffic on her way to The Ridge, causing her annoyance to grow.
She parked her car and walked inside. "Gabi, you're late." Her mother said, with her arms crossed. "We have to be at a dinner at the Evan's estate in forty five minutes!"
"I told you yesterday that I had detention today. I have it for the rest of the week." She said, walking around her mother.
"I don't care, Gabriella. You have thirty minutes to get ready."
She continued her journey up the stairs and into her room. She put her hair up before she put on a dress. She slid heels on her feet before she took a seat to relax. Her mind seemed so full of things to remember she just forgot everything. Her mind was blank. She couldn't even figure out what day it was. The stress was getting to her and she had to figure out how to relax.
She definitely wasn't ready to face Sharpay. Sharpay only talked about theatre and when it wasn't theatre it's singing, dancing or how she made out with Gabriella's current boyfriend. It never failed. Gabriella wondered what it was this time. Gabriella didn't doubt it had something to do with Owen. Maybe it was time to dump him and move on.
Gabriella made her way down stairs to where her mother was waiting. "Well?" Gabriella asked, stepping down.
Her mother made a face. "Not that dress honey, the white one, come on Gabriella."
She groaned and stomped back up the stairs. "Why do I even try?" She asked out loud. She closed her door and pulled out the white dress she was sure her mother wanted her to wear. She slid it on her body and changed her heels.
The house was too quiet. Why did she have to go and not her sisters? She walked across the hall to Camilla's room. "Why aren't you going?" Gabriella asked, as she poked her head into the room.
"I'm sick." Camilla said in a fake, sick voice. "Mari has a book report and you know mom can't go by herself." Cami said with a smirk.
Gabriella groaned. "You suck, Camilla!"
"Sorry." Cami said with a shrug. "I hate that dress."
Gabi rolled her eyes. "Me too. Mom insisted."
"She needs a hobby that is not being a neurotic housewife." Cami said with a snort.
"Seriously." Gabi agreed. "I'll see you later."
"Have fun." Cami said with a laugh.
Gabi flipped her off as she closed the door. "Gabriella!" Her mother called from down stairs.
"I'm coming!" She yelled. "Jesus, save me." She murmured under her breath. She walked down the stairs.
"Aw! Honey, you look beautiful!" Her mother enthused.
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Can we go now?"
"Of course." Her mother tossed Gabriella her car keys. "You're driving."
She sighed. "Great."
Gabriella pulled up to the Evan's estate. She parked in their usual spot, getting out. Her mother met her at the door. "Remember honey, be polite-"
"And smile." Gabriella finished, rolling her eyes. "I know."
"Stop with that eye rolling, it's tacky- Hello Derby!" Her mother greeted Mrs. Evans with a stiff hug and an air kiss to each cheek.
"Maria! I'm so glad you can join us! You brought Gabriella, my princess was hoping you would. Sharpay is upstairs, dear."
"Thank you Mrs. Evans." Gabriella said with a polite smile. She walked into the mansion and found her way up the stairs. The last time she was here was when Sharpay threw a party. She drank too much. Her and Owen hooked up in the master bathroom. It was an interesting night and that was for sure.
"Gabi!" Sharpay shrilled from down the hall. "Oh my god! We have so much to catch up on!"
Gabriella nodded. "I'm sure we do."
Sharpay pulled Gabriella into her pink room. "First thing is first, aren't you just excited about Cabaret? It's going to be an amazing show! I love that it's a little risqué!"
Gabriella took a seat on the plush chair that was next to the bed. "Mhm, I'm really excited." Gabriella said half-heartedly. She studied her nails as Sharpay droned on about the show. Gabriella's eyelids started to droop but she shook out of it.
"Darbus told me Troy Bolton is auditioning too. I think he'll be a great Cliff Bradshaw. Ryan is trying to be the emcee but I guess we'll see about that. What are you auditioning for?"
Gabriella blinked a couple times, realizing that Sharpay had asked her a question. "Um, I'm not sure, Sally maybe or Fraulien Schenider."
"We should get Owen to audition!"
Gabi laughed. "Yeah, right. You'd have to do a lot more than make out with him to get him on stage."
"Exactly! That's where you come in." Sharpay urged.
"No, Thank you. If you want him in the show, you do it." Gabriella said rolling her eyes.
"He's your boyfriend."
"So." Gabriella said, pushing her hair away from her face. "That doesn't mean you haven't done anything with him."
Sharpay gasped. "I haven't done anything with Owen! Well… except for the time we made out in my room, but that was like the second day you started dating. That was in the past!"
Gabriella laughed, shaking her head. "You know what, Sharpay?"
"What?" Sharpay asked wearily.
"Thank you! Thank you for weeding out the losers, I appreciate it." Gabriella said, pulling out her cell phone.
"What? What are you doing?"
Gabriella searched through her contacts before calling her so called boyfriend and waiting for him to pick up. "Hey, baby." Owens deep voice came over the line.
"Hey Owen." Gabriella said, looking over at Sharpay. "What's up?"
"Ah, nothing. I miss you baby. What's up with you?"
"Nothing. I'm here, hanging out with Sharpay. Our parents are having some stupid dinner thing." Gabriella said, leaning back in the chair.
"Oh yeah, how's Evans?"
"She's fine, ya know? Talking about the show, how you hooked up, about our parents… the usual." Gabriella shrugged.
"Oh, that's cool. Wait! What? Hooked up?"
"Yep. I don't like cheaters, Owen. Even if it happened the second day we were together."
"Babe, come on."
"No, I'm not going to come on, Owen. I deserve better than that. Don't call me, I don't want to go out with you. Don't kiss me at school. Don't talk to me. I'll see you around, Owen." Gabriella said, hanging up.
Sharpay shifted uncomfortably. "That was harsh."
She shrugged, "It had to be done. So what are we having for dinner?"
"Thai food, I think." Sharpay shrugged. "So what should I wear to school tomorrow? My pink dress or my super cute pink pants?"
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "Pants I guess."
Gabriella's mind wandered off. She thought about Troy Bolton and his obsession with her. She had to admit he was cute. He bought her pizza without even asking. He was sweet, but they're all sweet at the beginning. She assumed if she dated him within a month he'd be sleeping with Sharpay. He'd get bored with her. They always do.
On the other hand, he sure can kiss. She might keep him around just for some fun. Maybe until she goes off to New York. She couldn't wait to be in New York. She didn't care if she was living in a crappy apartment. She just wanted freedom from her mothers condescendence and her fathers neglect. She felt back for leaving her sisters but there was nothing she could do about.
"Gabi!" Sharpay said, waving her hand in front of her face. "Mother just said dinner was ready? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm just spacing out." Gabi said, shaking her head. "Ready?"
"Ready." Sharpay said, standing up.
"Let's go endure another stuffy, boring dinner."
Sharpay joked, laughing. "Shoot me now." She locked arms with Gabriella as they made their way down the hallway.
"Seriously." Gabriella agreed, walking down to the formal dining room.
Hey, guys! Happy Monday and happy memorial day. I just want to shout out all the fallen soldiers and their families. My thoughts and prayers are with them on this day of remembrance. I hope you guys are liking the new story. Tell me what you think by leaving a review! Thank you always for reading!