Chapter 4

When Gabriella was home Daniella wasn't.

"Mom where did Danni go?" she asked.

"Oh for a walk, she has been gone for a while."

"Ok, thanks." She walked upstairs and into her room. 'Oh man I must have pissed her off and Troy looked kind of mad at me. I didn't mean to do anything I couldn't help what I did and you know what there is no reason for me to feel bad so I'm not going to,' Gabriella said. She heard the front door open and steps coming up the stairs with a conclusion of a slammed door. Gabriella hesitated but then walked to her room. She knocked on the door.

"I'm going to go to sleep, goodnight," Daniella said.

"Hey can I talk to you?" Gabriella asked.

No answer.

She walked back to her room and went to bed.

Daniella sat down in front of her computer and signed on then changed into her pajamas. When she walked back into her room she had an instant message.

SuperStar17- Hey it's Sharpay

DanniBee- Oh hey

SuperStar17- Why did you leave today so soon?

DanniBee- I was just tired, I guess the jetlag is kicking in now or something

SuperStar17- Just wanted to make sure you were ok, you seemed a little pissed and sad at the same time

DanniBee- Don't worry about it, thanks

SuperStar17 – Ok well want to hang out tomorrow? I was thinking that we could go to the mall and do some shopping

DanniBee- Um I think I'm going to stay in tomorrow, but you are welcomed to come over

SuperStar17- Ok, I'll be over around one

DanniBee- Sounds great see you then, bye

Superstar17- Bye

Sharpay signed off

Daniella got up and turned the monitor off without signing off. She was almost asleep when the computer announced the she had a new message.

DanniBee- who is this?

BasketballGuy- Troy

DanniBee- Hi

BasketballGuy- So today after you left Gabriella started telling us about you and you know how you were when you lived in New York.

DanniBee- What exactly did she tell you?

BasketballGuy- Well she said that you were caught in school with cocaine and that you ran away from home when you were fourteen and got expelled from one school for fighting…

Daniella didn't see the rest because she quickly unplugged the computer without even closing her programs. She was embarrassed and pissed.

'How can Gabriella tell them that? I wonder if she did it on purpose. Oh man how can I go back to school when everybody thinks I'm a delinquent?' she thought She got up and sat on her bed. 'I'll just avoid everyone, yea that's the best thing to do.' She sent Sharpay a text message saying she was going to busy with certain things the next day. She went to bed and spent the whole next day at home without coming out of her room.

"Gabriella do you know what's going on with Daniella?" Dianna asked.

"No, where is she by the way."

"She left for school on the bus."

"Oh."

"Yes well hurry up, I need to get you there on time."

"Ok." She finished eating and they left. That was the routine for the week; Daniella would leave on the bus and Gabriella with her mom.

It was Friday morning and Troy was in school early because his dad, Coach Jack Bolton, had a faculty meeting.

"I'm going to be in the library," Troy said.

"Ok, I'll see you later." When Troy walked into the library it was empty. He set his backpack down and started wandering through the isles of books. He walked to the back and there was somebody sitting on the floor as he got closer he noticed it was Daniella. She looked cute with her hair straight and she was wearing a brown 'Abigail' Dress and beige cowboy boots with a brown crochet hat.

"Daniella?" he asked. She looked at him and quickly looked away.

"Hi," she said. He walked over to her and slowly sat down.

"So I haven't seen you around much this week."

"Yea, I've been kind of busy…with things."

"You're not avoiding me are you?" she shook her head. "Are you sure?"

"Should I have a reason to do so?" he didn't say anything.

'Should I bring up the dance?' He asked himself, referring to the Valentines Day taking place that night.

"So are you going to the dance tonight?"

"Sharpay told me you asked Gabriella."

"Yea, um we're going together, is that ok?" the bell rang and she started getting up.

"Yea that's fine, Ryan asked me and I said yes so I guess we'll see you guys there." She started to walk away.

"Wait, do you want to walk to class together?" she turned to him.

"I don't think so Troy, but I'm sure my sister will love to," she said in a cold voice. She turned back around and left.

"Hey Daniella," Sharpay said when she got to class.

"Hey," Daniella responded. Ryan walked in and sat down next to her. "Hey Ryan," she said.

"Hey, can't wait for tonight."

"Neither can I," she said with her brilliant smile. Darbus walked in and took her seat at her desk, the rest of the gang walked in soon after.

"Ok class, as you all know tonight is the Valentines dance. It starts at seven and will last till midnight in the school gym. Now I have passed by there and it looks lovely, so I hope you have a good time."

"Thank you," the class said.

"Well, I need to prep for the next 'musicale' so you may talk amongst yourselves, amongst yourselves," she said repeating the last part.

"I love your dress," Sharpay said to Daniella.

"Thanks, but the one I am wearing tonight is even nicer."

"I bet you'll look great," Ryan said. Daniella smiled at him and discreetly grabbed his hand.

Troy was sitting with Taylor, Chad, Jason and Gabriella, Kelsi wasn't there. He looked over to the back corner where the rest of the group was and noticed Daniella and Ryan holding hands.

"Hey do you guys know if they are together?" he asked without thinking.

"What? Who?" Chad asked.

"Oh never mind." Gabriella knew who he was talking about. She grabbed his hand and to her surprise he didn't snatch it away. He just turned to her and gave her a weary smile. After first period Daniella headed to chemistry, a class she had with Gabriella. She sat down in her usual seat and opened her notebook.

"Daniella can I talk to you?" Gabriella asked.

"I'm kind of busy right now," Daniella said.

"Daniella," the teacher called. Daniella looked at her. "Your counselor wants to see you."

"Maybe we can talk later, at the dance," Daniella said sarcastically. She left. When Daniella got home that afternoon she once again stayed in her room getting ready.

"Daniella it's your mother, can I come in?" Dianna asked.

"Yea." She walked into the room and Daniella was putting on her shoes. She was wearing sky blue just below the knees silky dress with silver ballet flats, her hair straight.

"You look great."

"Thanks mom."

"Now Ryan is downstairs with Sharpay and Zeke."

"Ok." Daniella grabbed her purse and was about to walk out but her mom called to her.

"Daniella?"

"Yea?"

"What is going on between you and Gabriella?"

"Nothing mom, don't worry about it." She walked downstairs.

"Wow you look incredible," Ryan said.

"Thanks, you do too."

"You do look great," Sharpay said.

"As do you guys."

"Yea well come on, we got my moms Benz outside," Zeke said. They left. Troy picking up Gabriella a short time after.