Chap 3. Dancing, Romance, and a Side of Trouble

Troy woke the next morning when his alarm clock went off. He got up, took a quick shower, grabbed a poptart, and went to school. When he got there every eye was on him, trying to stare him down. When he finally met up with Chad else he felt like he should be hiding under a rock. When he looked around he didn't see Gabriella.

He looked at Chad. "Have you seen Gabriella?"

"She's in the bathroom with Taylor. Some how they pinned the whole Sharpay-Ashley thing on her. I think the story was that Gabriella paid her to do it."

"WHAT! Whoever spread that rumor better stay away from me or I'll-"

"Not do anything if you don't wanna end up like Sharpay."

Troy looked around at everybody staring at him. "At least she doesn't have to deal with all these people staring at her."

Taylor walked up to them and immediately Troy started asking questions. "Where's Gabriella? Is she okay? What did they do to her?"

Taylor jumped back in surprise. "Whoa there. We were in the bathroom and some girls came in and started talking about her loud enough so that she could hear and she ran out of the bathroom and I went out to look for her but I couldn't find her."

Troy needn't hear any more. Be bolted off in the direction that Taylor had just come from. Chad put his arm around Taylor. "Well since we're alone now…"

"Don't even think about it."

"To late." Taylor squealed as Chad grabbed her around the waist and ran towards an empty classroom.

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When Troy got up to his spot he saw Gabriella on the bench crying. He went over and eloped her in a hug. He rocked her back and fourth and stroked her hair. "It's going to be alright." He cooed.

"N-no it's n-not." Gabriella sobbed. "F-first K-katie, now A-ashley!" She was crying so hard she was shaking.

"We can make it through this. I'm here with you don't worry. By next week this'll all be old news."

Gabriella sat up straight and wiped her eyes. "You're right. It'll just be hard. Everywhere I go, class, lunch, even the bathroom! They're there."

"I know, I know." the bell rang. "Shit." Mrs. Darbus' class was on the total opposite side of the school. Troy grabbed Gabriella's hand and raced down the steps, hall, and into Mrs. Darbus' classroom.

Mrs. Darbus looked up from what she was doing. "Ah Mr. Bolton and Ms. Montez, so nice of you to join us. I would also love to see you in detention." Troy sighed. He was going to miss practice again. His dad was going to kill him. He took his seat and a few minutes later Taylor and Chad walked in looking as though they had been doing something a minute ago. Mrs. Darbus did not look happy. "You two can join Mr. Bolton and Ms. Montez in detention." Chad slipped Taylor a smile and sat down.

When Mrs. Darbus went back to what she was doing Troy turned around to face Chad. "Do I wanna know what you were doing?"

Chad smiled. "Probably not." Troy rolled his eyes and turned around in his seat so as not to get into trouble. He didn't need another detention.

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Jack Bolton was working his team hard. He wanted to win the first game of the season, get off to a good start. He saw two players missing from his team. Troy and Chad. He walked up to Zeke and asked, "Where's Troy and Chad?"

Zeke looked a little afraid. "I… uh… I-I think they're in detention." No more needed to be said. Jack handed his clipboard to the assistant coach and marched out of the gym.

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Chad was asleep on top of a castle prop for the musical, Taylor right beside him. Troy and Gabriella were sitting next to eachother; Gabriella's head his shoulder and his head on hers. Mrs. Darbus was talking about something but Troy had stopped listening at, "Tardiness in class will not be tolerated…"

Suddenly the doors burst open and Coach Bolton came stomping into the auditorium looking furious. "DARBUS! WHY DO YOU HAVE MY TWO BEST PLAYERS IN DETENTION!"

"It's called crime and punishment Bolton."

"Not during my practice. You can make it another time. Just not now."

"It's not really punishment if they doesn't miss something they like now is it not?"

Coach Bolton nodded his head towards the door and Mrs. Darbus followed. Troy knew they were going to the principal's office. Coach Bolton turned around at the door. "Troy, Chad in the gym now!"

Not wanting to argue, Troy stood up and kissed Gabriella on the top of her head. He then walked over to Chad and whacked him over the top of his head causing him to jump and nearly knocked Taylor off the castle. He made sure she was steady then turned to Troy. "What was that for!"

"Come on. We have to go to the gym."

Chad leaned down and kissed Taylor's head then jumped off the stage and ran out of the gym with Troy.

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Troy and Chad had just gotten changed and into the gym when Coach Bolton. Came into the gym looking furious and started shouting at everyone.

They were doing a passing drill and Troy was zoned out so the ball came and hit him in the face. It was pretty funny to watch but painful for Troy. He clutched his nose as Chad helped him up. When he took his hand away he saw that his nose was bleeding. Coach Bolton came over and looked at it. "Go into the locker rooms and wash it off." Troy did as he was told.

When he was just about finished he heard the door open and expected to see his dad but to his surprise he saw Gabriella. When she saw the bloody tissues in his hand her eyes got wide. "Oh my God Troy! What happened!"

"I just wasn't paying attention when they through the ball to me and it hit my nose. It's alright now."

Gabriella came closer. "Let me look at it." Troy had no objections. She looked his nose over. "Looks okay to me."

"Yeah, but it still hurts like hell."

"Would it help if I kissed it?"

Troy smiled. "I don't know. wanna find out?" Gabriella stood on her tiptoes and kissed his nose then his lips. She went to pull back but he pulled her back. They were making out when they heard the door open and Troy's dad appeared. "Troy I was wondering if you were…?" he knew what he had walked in on. "Ms. Montez you do know this is the boy's locker room?"

"Dad she-"

"You should be out there practicing! Now move it!" Troy took Gabriella's hand and walked past his dad and out onto the court. Gabriella left the gym just as his dad came back out.

"What was that?"

"Nothing dad. She-"

"She's the reason you had detention and now you're going to skip practice just to make out with her?"

"Dad it's my fault to. I-"

"Mrs. Darbus said you and her came in class late. Together. Troy you can't do this. Not when we have our first game coming up."

"Dad-"

"I don't want to hear it. Get out there and practice! I don't want this happening again Troy. I don't want to see you running around with that girl-"

"That girl has a name."

"That's not the point! You can't skip classes just to be with her Troy! You see what she's doing to you? She's messing up your life!"

"She's-"

"I don't want to hear it! Go practice! Now!"

Troy, very frustrated, ran out onto the court to finish practice. Gabriella was not ruining his life. Ashley was. Why couldn't his dad see that?

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The week was over and Sharpay and, unfortunately, Ashley were back in school. It was a few days before homecoming and Ashley was clingier then ever. One time Troy had to remind her more then once that he already had a date for homecoming. One afternoon Troy was at his locker when he heard Ashley. "Hi Troysie."

"Ashley how many times do I have to tell you-" but when he turned around he saw that she was not alone. AJ (made him up), a guy on the basketball team, had his arm around her. she had a smug expression on her face.

"This is my date for homecoming. Of coarse, you already know who he is." AJ smiled a little. If he thought Troy was mad then he was wrong. Quite the opposite. Now Ashley would leave him alone. Though he did feel kind of bad for AJ.

"Oh… um… yeah. Well I've gotta go. Cya." And with that he turned and walked away.

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Gabriella was finishing an equation when Katie walked in with her group of cheerleaders. "Yeah. Like I was saying he gave me a note that said to meet him under that one tree out by the lake in the park and he asked me then." The group of girls around her started giggling. "Oh hi Gabriella. I was just telling them about how Jake (made him up) asked me out. Remember when we both liked the same guy? Michel Shockly. Of coarse I ended up with him. So who are you going to homecoming with? Nobody?" the Group of cheerleaders started laughing.

"Actually if you weren't such a ditsy bitch then you might have noticed that I'm going out with Troy Bolton. The best player on the basketball team." And with that she walked out leaving a disbelieving, and very angry, Katie behind.

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It was homecoming night and everyone was very excited. Troy was on his way to pick Gabriella up and boy was he nervous. He took a whole hour in the bathroom making sure he looked ok. He had brushed his teeth 5 times just to make sure he didn't have onion breath. He was dressed in a dress shirt with dress pants and shoes. He pulled into Gabriella's driveway and walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. When the door opened his chin was on the floor. Gabby had a spaghetti-strap baby-blue dress on that came to about her knees with white strap high heels and had her hair half up with light makeup on.

"Wow." Was all he could say.

Gabriella smiled and kissed his cheek. "You don't look half bad either. Come on. I don't wanna be late." Troy opened the door for her and then got in himself and they drove to the dance.

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When Troy and Gabriella got there they could hear they music from in the car. Once they went in they found everyone and started dancing. It was fun. After a few songs Troy started to get tired so he and Gabriella walked over and got punch. While they were talking someone came up and bumped into Gabriella causing her to spill her punch all over her. When Troy looked up he saw AJ.

"Oh Gabriella I'm sorry! Here, let's go get you cleaned up."

"No, it's ok."

"No I insist."

"Alright. Troy I'll be right back."

"Ok I'll be right here." And with that AJ grabbed Gabriella's arm and led her out of the gym.

Troy stood there and looked around. It was a slower song. He saw Taylor dancing with Chad, Kelsi with Jason, Sharpay with Zeke, and Ryan with Amanda. They all looked so happy. Then suddenly from behind him he heard the last thing he wanted to hear, "Troysie!"

He turned around and saw Ashley standing right behind him. "I… uh… well… um…"

"Did that Gabriella girl leave you?"

"Actually your date spilled punch all over her."

"Oh he's so clumsy. Will you dance with me since both our dates are gone?" she gave him puppy dog eyes.

"Well I was supposed to-"

"Great!" and with that she grabbed his hand and led him out onto the floor. She positioned his hands on her waist and her arms around his neck. "So Troy I was thinking. Why don't you ditch this Gabriella girl and we can go back to where we left off."

"No. I-" but Troy was cut off with Ashley pressing her lips onto his. He heard a sob behind him and turned around. He saw Gabriella standing there, a tear running down her face.

She took off towards the gym doors and Troy tried to follow but Ashley grabbed his arm. "You don't want her."

Troy turned around to face Ashley. His eyes showed all the anger in the world. "I not only want her, I need her." and with that he pulled out of his grip and out of the gym. He ran outside and looked all around but it was to late. Gabriella was gone.

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(A/N): DON'T KILL ME! PLEASE! I'LL UPDATE ASAP BUT I JUST HAD A LOT GOING ON SO I WAS DELAYED! PLEASE R&R!

mwah!

renee