Gabriella blended into the atmosphere of the party by finding an empty table, and pulling out a paperback novel. As soon as she was getting acquainted with the characters, she was interrupted by a distraught Taylor.
"There you are!" Taylor exclaimed, "Why aren't you with Troy?"
"He's swimming with Sharpay," Gabriella explained, fanning out the pages of her book.
"Get in there and get him back! You're at an awesome party, it's finally summer vacation, and the boy you like obviously likes you back," Taylor told her.
Gabriella smiled. Troy did like her back. She could tell from the way he looks at her, the way he talks, and the way he smiles.
"I know," Gabriella started, "But I can't swim."
"Then get him to come to you," Taylor demanded.
"How do I do that?"
"Just walk passed him," Taylor laughed, giving her a wink.
Gabriella laughed too, "Sure, but what about you?"
"Oh I'll leave-"
"No . . . I mean, what about Chad?"
Taylor's face sunk as her eyes drifted toward her crush talking to a group of girls near the poolside.
"He's been talking to them all day," Taylor explained.
"You're better than them;" Gabriella told her, "Go show him something better."
"Maybe you're right," Taylor decided.
The two girls smiled at each other to say good luck, and then parted.
Taylor walked right up to where Chad was, but couldn't speak a single word. But Chad spoke up instead.
"Hey Taylor," he smiled, standing up and giving her a hug.
Taylor's heart skipped a beat as he put his arms around her. Maybe there was a chance for them after all.
Troy was sitting in the shallow end of the pool as Sharpay talked his ear off. He had already tuned her out a long time ago, and was just relaxing and enjoying the day.
"Are you listening to me?" Sharpay asked suddenly.
"Oh! Yeah sure," Troy said, realizing that she was talking to him.
Sharpay glared at him, but it changed to a sweet smile. Since they were friends, maybe Troy could ask her for advice.
"Sharpay . . . how do I tell the girl I like that I like her?" he asked shyly.
"Well, you don't get anywhere not saying anything," she explained, "Just tell me-her."
"But what if she doesn't like me like I think she does?"
"Oh I-she does," Sharpay insisted.
"I'm going to tell her," Troy decided, "Why waste anymore time not being together?"
Sharpay had a starry look in her eyes. Finally, Troy would be hers, unless . . .
At that moment, Gabriella walked passed the two, showing off her body in just her white bikini. Her brown curls swirled around her, causing the head to turn of just about every guy at the party. Sharpay's mouth was wide open, and to her dismay, Troy stood up and left her to talk to Gabriella.
Alone again, Sharpay held back tears. Troy only thought of her as a friend. She jealously watched the beautiful couple. They looked perfect together, making her hate Gabriella even more.
Gabriella watched Chad and Taylor sitting together, and she was happy for her friend. She noticed Troy coming in her direction, and hoped they would work out the same way.
"Hi again," Troy said, placing one hand on her shoulder.
Gabriella's face lit up from his touch.
"Hi again," she repeated shyly.
From the look in his eyes, it seemed like he wanted to say something more, but couldn't. Gabriella studied his face closely. He looked at her like no one else was there. The world could end and he wouldn't notice if she was still standing there.
In that moment of magic, they mutually pushed back their fears and words away, and met in a much-overdue kiss. It was simple but a passionate kiss of relief, and of promise.
Taylor saw them, and wished her and Chad could share the same. But his eyes looked distant, like he didn't want to be near her anymore.
"You can go back," Taylor suggested painfully.
"I'm sorry . . . I just have a lot on my mind now," he explained.
"It's fine," Taylor said.
"Can I still sit by you?" Chad asked smiled.
Taylor smiled back. They sat there in silence, and for some reason, she couldn't have been happier.
Sharpay returned to her house, heartbroken and upset. She had known Troy for years, but perfect Gabriella could just come along and push her aside. She had stolen both her lead role in the musical, and the boy of her dreams. There had to be a way to get her out of the way. She needed something, a trait or a fact about her to make her less appealing to Troy. No one was perfect, there had to be something wrong with her, and Sharpay was going to get to the bottom of it.
The party was buzzing with news of Troy and Gabriella's kiss. The two had relocated to a shady spot on Sharpay's porch. And since the one kiss, there were a lot more to follow. Troy had finally found the girl he was looking for, and was really happy. Everything was looking up for Gabriella as well. Troy had not found out her secret, and as the sun was dying down, it looked as if he never would.
"Troy, how come we didn't do this earlier?" Gabriella asked, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Because I'm a big chicken," Troy explained laughing.
"You should have known I wouldn't reject you," she pointed out.
"I know, it was just a weird psychological thing I guess," he said, twisting a strand of her hair around his finger.
"This summer," Gabriella started excitedly, "You and me."
Troy smiled, "Exactly what I was thinking: look out world, here comes Troy and Gabriella."
Gabriella smiled because Troy had used their names together. They were now Troy and Gabriella, like one.
Because the sun was dying away, some people decided to leave the party. About half or less than half of the original crowd was still there. The party had subsided and moved around a blazing campfire. Everyone was there except one, Sharpay herself.
Gabriella spotted her near the poolside, staring into the water. One single light was shining on her, like a spotlight. She seemed . . . sad, or troubled. Gabriella had never been close with her, even through the production of the musical, but still wondered if maybe she should talk to her since no one else had really noticed.
"Gabriella, I think I have to leave now," Troy stated.
"Already?" she asked sweetly.
"Yes, Chad is beckoning me," he laughed.
Sure enough Chad was waving him over in the distance. She saw him give Taylor a hug before parting to the gate.
"Call me?" Gabriella asked.
"Of course," he said, kissing her forehead and standing up.
"Goodbye," she said, looking up at how tall he was, and staring into his eyes.
"Bye," he departed, dropping her hand gracefully.
Gabriella couldn't believe how fast they had become even closer. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment for a little while, but then she remembered Sharpay.
Standing up, she gathered her things, and slipped her flip-flops back on. She walked silently over to Sharpay so no one else would notice, and prepared for the encounter she would soon remember with dread.
