Giggling, she took another sip from the bottle of vodka that Sharpay stole from her mom. If they were going to endure dinner, they were going to be drunk. Gabriella wasn't sure how she got roped into coming to Valentine's dinner at the Evan's house but she did. Between her and Sharpay the bottle was half gone by dinner.
Gabriella stashed the bottle in Sharpay's room as they got called down for dinner. They stumbled their way down the stairs. "Oh, Gabi, do you want to go to a party with me after this?"
"Hell yes." Gabi agreed as they took their seats.
Dinner was served and Gabriella was starving. She ate, making polite conversation, trying to feign sobriety. Her mom eyed her suspiciously throughout the meal. Dinner was really good or she was just drunk so everything tasted fantastic. She and Sharpay stumbled up the stairs in giggles after dinner. They dug through Sharpay's closet, getting changed.
"Mom!" Gabi said, followed by Sharpay in their party dresses. "Sharpay and I are going to a party. I'll be home late."
"Okay, Gabriella. Be safe."
"Come on." Sharpay said, pulling her out to the car that was waiting for them. "I need more vodka. Want a drink?" She asked, pulling out her little flask.
"Yes. I need all the fucking vodka after the shitty month I had. 2008 has not gotten good yet. Maybe when I'm in New York."
"What the hell is your problem lately?" She asked as she handed over the flask after she took a drink.
"High school sucks. I'm excited for the talent show though."
"Me too! Me and Ry are doing a number. Have you decided on your song yet?" She asked.
"No." Gabriella said with a small sigh. She took another drink before handing it back to Sharpay. "I'm writing one so I think that'll be the song I perform."
"How's Troy?" Sharpay asked, saying his name with disgust. She's been bitter toward him since he rejected her invitation to the dance.
Gabriella shrugged. "I haven't really talked to him."
Sharpay's eyes widened. "Why not?"
"We distanced ourselves from each other."
"So you broke up."
"Not really… We were never dating to begin with."
"But you practically were." Sharpay pointed out. "You guys made out all the time, he called you weird, cutesie names. What happened?"
Gabriella sighed. "Honestly, it's because I never really told him how I felt so he assumed I didn't reciprocate his feelings."
"You should tell him."
"I will soon." Gabriella said, reaching over for the flask again. "I just need to not think about him."
They pulled up to the party near U of A. They both climbed out and made their way inside. Gabi made them both strong drinks before they mingled with the college kids. She made a whole back story. She was an English Major, she wanted to be an author. She was in the process of writing the next great American novel. She was thinking about transferring to a school out of state. She just broke up with her boyfriend but wasn't looking for anything at all. She just wanted to be drunk and forget.
She lost Sharpay after an hour. She ended up in the basement on the couch with three girls. They were all sharing their love horror stories. "Okay, I have a question." Gabi said to the three girls. "Did any of you guys have high school sweethearts?"
"Yes." Claudia said.
"No." Rachel and Michelle said.
"Okay, follow up question… Did you break up with your boyfriends before you went here?"
"Yes and no." Claudia said. "He went to prison but we weren't going to break up because I was moving from Santa Fe, here."
"Why?" Michelle asked, shifting.
"I'm going to transfer to New York and my ex was thinking about coming or staying here. We broke up for different reasons, but I think we could have made it work long distance."
"Well did you ever tell him that?"
"No." Gabriella said. "I wanted him to do what was best for him."
"He probably assumed you wanted to break up." Rachel said. "You know because you're leaving."
"I miss him."
"Don't call him."
"Call him." Claudia encouraged. "Then fuck him and tell him to move to New York with you."
Gabriella sighed. "I don't know. I need to think about it."
"If you think, you're going to over think and you're going to be so unhappy. Just tell him how you feel. Put yourself out there and if he still wants to be broken up then you have your closure, your dignity and you can move on."
She took a sip of her drink, finishing the rest of it. She needed water. "I guess you're right." Gabriella said, getting up and adjusting her dress. "I'm getting water."
Gabriella stumbled up the stairs and threw her cup away. She grabbed a water bottle and walked outside. She sat on the curb and took a drink of her water. Her body was hot but it was kind of cold. She decided to call. Sharpay probably left her here anyway.
She looked at his number in her phone and pressed the call button. Her stomach fluttered in anticipation. "Hello?" Troy's sleepy voice made her stomach flutter again.
"Oh shit, did I wake you up? I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I had a nice depression nap. What's up?"
"I miss you." He sighed. "And I'm drunk."
He kind of chuckled. "You're drunk?"
"Yesss…" She said.
"On Valentine's day?"
"Fuck yes, especially on valentine's day. This holiday is stupid. Especially when the one person you want to be with you aren't really talking to."
"Where are you?" He asked.
"I don't know. My mom and I had dinner with Sharpay and her mom. Sharpay and I stole a bottle of Vodka and we drank half of it, ate dinner, then went to a party near U of A to drink more." She explained. "I'm sitting outside because I wanted to call you because I miss you."
"So you don't need a ride?"
"No, I do need a ride but I called you, specifically, Troy Bolton, because I missed you." Gabriella leaned her head on her knees. "I'll call a cab or something after we hang up."
"Absolutely not. I'm coming to get you."
"Why? You don't even miss me."
Troy sighed. "Where are you?"
"I already told you, I don't know."
"Gabriella, look at your location on your phone. Look at a street sign. Ask somebody."
Gabriella groaned as she hung up the phone. She found her location and sent it to Troy's phone. She was about to call him back but then the tears started welling up. Did he really not miss her? Why couldn't she just tell him how she felt for once? He was the first person to tell her that he loved her and she believed him. She felt him love her for the months that they were together as friends or whatever they were.
She wiped her eyes, hugging her knees tightly until she heard a familiar rumble from up the street. She popped up, grabbing her phone. She saw him pull up to the stop sign. She rushed over and watched him pull up to the corner closest to her, parking in a red zone. She opened the door and climbed in.
"Hi."
She didn't reply. She just closed the door, kicked her heels off and curled up on his bench seat with her head in his lap. He sighed at her silence. He shifted into gear and started driving. The drive was relatively quick. He parked but didn't make a move to get up.
"We're at my house." He said finally, looking down at her.
She sniffled, "I'm sorry for waking you up."
"It's okay. Are you ready to go inside?" He asked quietly. He tentatively brushed her hair back, stroking it slowly.
"No." She said quietly. "Is your dad awake?"
"Maybe. I told him I was going to pick you up."
"Fuck."
"Come on, let's get you to bed." He said softly, unbuckling his seatbelt.
"Wait." She said, sitting up. "Are you going to the talent show?"
Troy looked confused. He shrugged. "I don't know, maybe."
"I'm going to sing. Can you come? Please."
"I'll come."
"I need you to come, okay? I really want you there."
"Gabi, I'll be there."
"Promise me?"
He nodded. "I promise."
"Okay, Good." He slid out the truck and she grabbed her shoes and slid out after him. She walked barefoot up to the door. He locked his truck and opened the door for her. She inhaled deeply. She missed his house. It always smelled like fresh laundry and it made her so happy despite staying there under bad circumstances. "You okay?"
"I miss your house." She said, feeling the tears come. He slid his hand in hers. She missed his hand. She enjoyed his warm palm even if it was just leading her up the stairs. He dropped her hand to peek into his parents room. She turned towards the guest room.
"They're sleep- where are you going?"
"The guest room."
"Come on." He said, reaching out for her again. He took her hand and led her into his room. He sat her on his bed.
She looked around the room and nothing had changed. Well, mostly nothing. She noticed a picture on the wall. She got up to go look at it. It was right beside his TV, above his desk, next to his mirror. She looked closer. It was a sketch of them, colored in.
"I have some your leggings here and I have a shirt for you."
"What's this?" Gabriella asked.
"My late Christmas present from your sister. She drew it."
"Why is it framed on your wall?"
"Where else would it be?" He asked with a small smile. He held out the clothes for her. "Your stuff is in the bathroom if you still need it. I'm going to go down stairs and grab something to eat. I'll be right back."
She went into the bathroom to change. She wiped her face with her makeup wipes she left here. She brushed her hair before putting it up in a braid. Thankfully she didn't feel sick. She just felt tired and honestly kind of horny. She wanted to kiss him but she wasn't going to without asking first.
She grabbed the dress she was wearing and threw it down on top of the heels. She climbed in his bed. It was still warm from his nap on his side. She laid there for what felt like forever before he came back up. He brought her water. "Get out of my spot, cupcake."
"It's so warm." She smiled as she pulled the blankets up to her neck.
He closed the door behind him, shutting off the lights. "Well, scoot over at least."
She scooted over for him to lay down. "Can I cuddle with you or is that not allowed?"
"I'll allow it." He got settled. Gabriella curled up at his side as she covered him with his blankets. "You smell like a bar."
Gabriella giggled. "Sorry. Do you want to see if I taste like a bar too?" He grunted. She slid her hand under his shirt, settling at his side. "I want to kiss the fuck out of you."
"You're drunk."
"And stupid, and horny but who's counting."
He chuckled. "What are you going to sing at the talent show?"
"I wrote a new song, I'm going to sing that."
"Give me a preview?"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
"Because you don't miss me?"
"Who said?" He asked teasingly.
"Not you." She challenged, looking up at him. He hummed. "Did you have fun at Sadie's with Jessica?" She asked, scrunching her nose when she said the other girls name.
"It was alright… why? Are you jealous?"
"Fuck yes I'm jealous. I baked you cupcakes and you rejected me for Jessica." She spat.
"I really didn't know you were going to ask me. If you would have said something in the morning then I wouldn't have said yes. I couldn't take my yes back either."
"I hinted when I asked you if you got asked." She defended. "Then that stupid blonde bitch asked you. I would have killed you if you would have said yes to her. Murdered. In cold blood."
"Trust me. I would rather jump off the roof than do anything with Sharpay."
Gabriella giggled. "Can I kiss you now?"
He ignored her. "Why didn't you ask somebody else to the dance? I would have saved you a dance."
"I don't want one dance, I want all of them. I didn't want to go if I wasn't going with you." She said, shaking her head.
"What happened to the cupcakes?"
"Well after I gave you the s and the question mark. I gave Chad the other S and I gave your dad the A so I ended up with DIE for the rest of the day. I wanted to DIE of embarrassment but I have Julliard waiting for me."
He laughed loudly, making her smile. "God, how could you think that I don't miss you? All I've done is miss the hell out of you."
"Why do you think I would ask some other guy to a dance? I've been yours since September. I wrote you a fucking song explicitly saying that." She rolled closer to him, lifting his neck and taking what she wanted. She kissed his lips firmly. She parted her lips to sweep her tongue along his. She pulled away to settle back at his side.
He held his arm around her waist protectively. He laid there for a minute. "You taste like a bar too." She giggled, letting her eyes close and she hugged him tightly.
She paced back stage, wringing her hands nervously. She was closing out the show and she just found out about it. Sharpay was pissed but Mrs. Darbus insisted and wasn't changing her mind. She wore a simple dress, heels with her hair down in curls. Everybody was here for her. Her parents, Rose, her sisters, the Bolton's.
Sharpay and Ryan's applause was loud. She was nervous but she was ready. Her piano was being wheeled out on stage after the curtains closed. Mrs. Darbus came out down stage in front of the audience.
"Thank you. That was Sharpay and Ryan Evans. Ryan will be joining the Boston Conservatory Dance Division at Berklee. Sharpay Evans will be at the University of Albuquerque, Theatre major and helping run the theatre department next school year." The audience clapped again. "Wrapping up our night is one of our brightest here at East High. Miss Gabriella Montez is the yearbook editor, a key member of our Championship wining Academic Decathlon team, and the senior class Vice President. She has been accepted into The Julliard School in New York City in the Music and Vocal Arts programs. I am also proud to announce that she was been awarded with the world famous Millsman foundation scholarship for the academic arts, awarding her with 25,000 dollars towards tuition for each academic school year at Julliard. Introducing, Gabriella Montez."
Gabriella's heart dropped. What? She got a scholarship. This was incredible. The curtains opened and She felt a rush of anxiety. She rushed over to the piano as everyone clapped for her. She smiled. "How is everybody doing tonight?" The crowd cheered as Gabriella played the keys on her piano. "I just want to thank you all for being here tonight. Your support for East High's Art programs means everything to us students. I want to sing a song for you tonight. It's an original called My Everything."
Gabriella hummed into the microphone as she stroked the keys to her song.
"I've cried enough tears to see my own reflection in them
And then it was clear, I can't deny, I really miss him
To think that I was wrong, I guess you don't know what you got till it's gone
Pain is just a consequence of love, I'm saying sorry for the sake of us.
He wasn't my everything till we were nothing
And it's taken me a lot to say
But now that he's gone, my heart is missing something
So it's time I push my pride away
Cause you are, you are, you are my everything
You are, you are, you are my everything
I know you're not far but I still can't handle all the distance
You're traveling with my heart, I hope this is a temporary feeling
Cause it's too much to bear without you, and I know sorry ain't the cure
If I cross your mind, just know I'm yours, cause what we got is worth fighting for
Cause you are
You weren't my everything till we were nothing
And it's taken me a lot to say
Now that you're gone, my heart is missing something
So it's time I push my pride away
You are, you are, you are my everything
You are, you are, you are my everything
You are, you are, you are
You are, you are, you are my everything."
The applause was so loud it brought tears to her eyes. She took the mic from the piano and stood up at the end of the stage. She waved to her family, she blew a kiss to Troy who was standing and clapping loudly.
"Thank you everybody. Thank you to the Millsman foundation, it is such an honor to receive a scholarship from such a prestigious organization. I just wanted to say, yes, that was for you, Troy Bolton. Yes, I wrote it because I am in love with you. I love you." She looked over at Darbus' pissed off face for going off script. She giggled as she looked back at Troy who was smiling. "Give it up for our talented East High Student Body. Give it up for the head of our Art's department, Mrs. Darbus. Thank you for coming to East High School's 2008 Talent Show."
The rest of the students came back on stage. The audience cheered as they took the final bow together. She walked off the stage, handing the mic to a part of the stage crew. Gabriella grabbed her bag and stood away from everyone to try to get the butterflies to settle. They were still going wild as she made her way around back stage and out to the hall outside the theatre.
She was surprisingly greeted by her mom first. Her mom wrapped her in a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you, Gabriella. You sang beautifully."
"Thank you, mom." She said, smiling at her mother. When her mom pulled away, Rose was next to give her a hug. She didn't have to say anything. The tight squeeze said it all. Her father hugged her and congratulated her before her sisters hugged her tightly.
"Why did you have to announce to everybody that you love Troy? Everybody already knew that." Mariella said as the Bolton's walked over.
"Not everybody knew." Gabriella said as Lucille Bolton hugged her. "I missed you." She told the older woman.
"I missed you too, Gabi. You got your scholarship and that song was phenomenal." Lucille said, smiling at her.
"Thank you." Gabriella said with a grateful smile.
"So proud of you, Gabi." Jack said, hugging the both of us. Gabriella laughed as she pulled away.
"Gabriella, We're going to head home. We'll see you at home." Her father said for her family. She nodded, waving them off.
"We're going to head home too. We hope to see you soon." Lucille said.
"Me too." She said, nodding her head. She dug for her keys. She looked up to see Troy waiting for her. She zipped up her bag and put it back on her shoulder. She switched the keys in her hand. "Hi."
"Hi." He said with a small smile as he approached her. "Can I take you out for dinner?"
"When?" She asked, tilting her head.
"Right now."
She smiled, nodding her head. "Okay." They walked to her car. She put her stuff in the trunk and closed it. He put his hands on her trunk, blocking her in. "Hello."
"Your song was sad." He said.
"I've been sad." She said, quietly.
"I don't like the sad songs you write about me. I like the love songs better."
"Me too."
"I don't want you to be sad anymore. I want you to be happy... I want to go on spring break with you. I want to take you to prom. I want to kiss you at Graduation. I want to sneak off during gradnite to make out with you. I want to be your boyfriend."
"I want you to hold my hand and walk me to class. I want to go to your house afterschool to hang out. I want you to come to New York for Spring Break with me. I want all of the dances at prom. I want to have sex with you. I want to be your girlfriend. I want the best thing for your future to be going to College in New York. I want to get a shitty apartment together and figure out life. I never want you to think that I don't love you." She said softly, biting down on her bottom lip. "I do love you and I am so fucking scared because every time I thought I loved some they broke my heart. I know that if you break my heart then I will never be okay again."
"I love you and I know that I will never break your heart. If I don't end up in New York, I'm going to love the fuck out of you from a distance. We're still going to end up figuring out life together." He moved his hands from the car to her hips. He kissed her gently.
"You're my everything." She said, wrapping her arms around him.
Troy squeezed her tight in his embrace. "I was serious about dinner. I'm hungry."
Gabriella laughed in his arms. She pulled away to kiss his face over and over again. "Okay, let's go."
This story is wrapping up! Only three more chapters to go!
What kind of stories do you want to see next? One shots? chapter stories? I have maybe one or two one shots completed and I am working on multiple chapter stories. I'm not too sold on sharing them though. They've been kind of raunchy. LOL. Maybe i'll cut some of it out. Who knows.
A Big Thank you to everyone that has been reviewing lately! I appreciate your reviews so much! :)
Dont forget to review! :)
My Everything- Ariana Grande