And now, Troy Bolton wants you.
Those six words rang in Gabriella's head and wouldn't shut up, like an alarm clock without an off button. He wanted her. A gang leader, and a pretty darn powerful one at that, thought she was his. This can't be happening. Gabriella thought, running her hands through her in a small panic. She had to breathe; he couldn't get to her in the house, right? Not when there were people around. No, he wouldn't dare touch her when there were people around, would he? That woman had been in the park, that's why he had left her alone. Gabriella's breathing began to even out again as logic took over her brain. Unfortunately, logic during panic wasn't one of Martha's strong points.
"Gabriella, I am so sorry. This is all my fault. I never should have left you out there alone. He wouldn't have seen you if I just went to Forever 21," Martha continued on her rant as Gabriella tried to tune her out. But finally she couldn't take it anymore.
"Martha!" Gabriella said in exasperation, finally succeeding in getting her friend to calm down. "Look, I'm sure as long as I don't go anywhere that I'll be alone, I'll be fine. He's a gang leader, he's not stupid. And I'm sure this is all just a rumor about the girls. So let's just relax and call Lena for some plans tomorrow because I want to see her, too," Gabriella smiled, and Martha smiled back apologetically before nodding and grabbing her phone to text their childhood friend.
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The next morning, Gabriella awoke to warm Miami sunshine streaming through her half-open curtains. She stretched as she sat up in the bed and smiled. It was the first time in nearly a month that she hadn't dreamt about the eyes-er, Troy Bolton's eyes, and she took that as a sign that things were going to be just fine.
She walked into the cheery kitchen and saw Martha had just transferred two helpings of scrambled eggs from the pan to plates.
"Morning sleepyhead," Martha giggled as she handed Gabriella her steaming plate of eggs and a fork. "Juice is already on the table."
"Good morning to you, too, and thanks," Gabriella grinned before smirking at her friend. "Now what did you do?"
"What do you mean?" Martha asked, flinching as she set the spatula down and followed with her own plate, but keeping up her innocent front.
"I mean since when do you wake up before nine 'o' clock to make me breakfast unless you've done something you know I won't like," Gabriella stated matter-of-factly, setting her plate down next to her glass of orange juice and crossing her arms.
"Well," Martha said, drawing out the word as she sat down and motioned the Latina to do the same. "On the bright side, Lena and I found a place to go tonight where you get to dress up!"
"Great," Gabriella smiled before becoming serious again. "Now what's the dark side? I'm not letting you out of this one, Cox."
"Whatever you say, Montez," Martha snapped back with a smile. "It's a fancy karaoke place down in the chain part of town. Lena said the food is amazing and we kind of already signed you up to sing a song. But you get to pick the song!" Martha threw her hands up to cover her face as she said the last part, fully expecting a forkful of eggs to come flying her way. After a moment of nothing happening, she cautiously lowered her hands and peered at Gabriella curiously. "You're taking this rather well," she said suspiciously.
"What can I say? I haven't sung in awhile, I guess I kind of miss it. And besides, nothing can ruin my mood today. I didn't have any dreams last night! Things are going to be just great this summer, Martha, I know they are," Gabriella smiled across the table before diving into the plate of food in front of her. She took a banana from the fruit bowl and set it next to her plate, still eating her eggs in the process, before she took a bunch of grapes in her hand and flung them at Martha. "But you still owe me," she smirked between bites.
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"Gabriella," Martha said in a quiet voice as the two girls entered the elevator of the building early that evening. The restaurant had two floors, one for only dining and one for the karaoke experience. "I know I said you got to pick the song, but just don't sing anything that'll take a dig at Bryan. You know Lena will ask questions and I know you don't want to even think about that jerk." Martha took her friend's hand comfortingly as she watched her Gabriella go off on her own somewhere in her mind for a moment, coming back when the elevator chimed.
"I won't, Mar, don't worry. I feel like a princess, nothing could ruin my mood right now!" Gabriella exclaimed as she twirled out of the elevator in her silky knee length sky blue dress. There were gold accents around the waist line, which the brunette had emphasized with a simple gold bangle and some teardrop gold earrings. She had kept her makeup light, opting for a golden shimmer on her eyelids, some mascara to make her eyes pop, and a soft shade of pink gloss on her lips. Martha had gone for a color nearly the opposite of Gabriella in a red floor length gown that was lifted by her silver heels. She kept her jewelry simple as well due to multiple silver designs on the dress, wearing chandelier earrings and a wrist of silver bangles. She had gone for the smoky eyes instead, along with some shiny red lipstick. Both girls had curled their hair and left it down. They paused once they reached the seating table, searching for their friend, Lena Hale.
"There she is," Gabriella said with a smile as she spotted her friend in a shock of neon green waving at them from a table near the stage. "Lena!" she cried as she ran over as fast as her heels could carry her and embraced her friend.
"Gabi! It's so great to see you!" Lena squealed back, just as excited, before she motioned to Martha to make it a group hug.
"Boy, am I glad we decided to drive and bring some extra clothes," Martha breathed out as they all sat down again. "These heels were the worst decision of my life. The other two girls giggled at Martha's woes as a waiter walked over and took their drink orders.
"Gabs, you don't know how excited I was when Martha told me you agreed to sing tonight," Lena gushed. "I haven't heard you since I moved down here freshman year."
"Yeah, Martha's just lucky she caught me on a good day, or there might have been a murder on Miami beach that didn't involve the Silver Stallions," Gabriella joked, feeling bold enough to refer to the gang in the process. She quickly regretted it, however, when she saw her friends' faces pale. "Sorry, guys, just a joke. I won't bring it up again."
"Nah, it's alright, girl, you're right, they're just another one of those wannabe gangs that we have all over the place. Nothing to worry about," Lena smiled as the waiter came back and took their orders.
"So, you sing between dinner and dessert, in case you were wondering," Martha smirked at her best friend.
"Let me get through dinner first," Gabriella groaned as the waiter approached with their food and they began to enjoy the delicious meal in front of them.
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"Dude, why are we here? We literally just ate."
"Chad, I thought you wanted a visual of her. And if I'm telling the truth here, I want a better one. Zeke hacked into their phones and she's singing a song tonight. I want some eye candy."
Two figures quickly slipped in the door and sat down at a vacant table near the back of the room, sipping the waters that were already on the table while they waited for Gabriella Montez to have her turn in the spotlight.
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"Since you won't tell us what you're going to sing, would you get up there so the MC can announce you?" Martha said, growing impatient after they ordered the sampler dessert, which was more than enough for the three of them.
"Fine, but you guys so owe me for this," Gabriella glared at them as she stood up and walked towards the stage, the eyes and their owner the farthest thing from her mind. As she stepped up onto the stage, she heard the MC announce her to the audience.
"Next up singing 'Brave' by Sara Bareilles, Miss Gabriella Montez!" Gabriella bit her lip nervously as the crowd cheered loudly and she heard a few catcalls from the younger male population. She started to sing the first verse as she locked her eyes on her friends, trying to work her way back up to the comfortableness she was used to when she was onstage.
And work her way back up to it she did. Halfway through the second verse, she had the crowd clapping along and she was ready to get them singing along once she launched into the chorus again. She let her eyes scan the crowd as she belted out the first few words of the chorus, eager to get to her favorite part of the song, the bridge. Some of the younger women were actually on their feet as Gabriella danced around on the stage, and she let her eyes scan the room as she finished off the bridge. And then she froze on center stage. There, in the back of the room, she locked eyes with the Troy Bolton. She knew there was a look of pure shock on her face and she watched him smirk in satisfaction at her reaction.
"Mine," he simply mouthed to her before he stood up and left the restaurant with another dark-skinned boy, leaving Gabriella completely stunned. As the door shut behind him, she realized she had been in the middle of the song, but the music had stopped. And everyone was staring at her. She dropped the microphone, causing loud feedback to ring throughout the room, and ran back to her table. She grabbed her bag and muttered a quick "let's go" to Martha and Lena before rushing out the door and to the elevator. He was following her now. She was afraid. She didn't want to be Troy's and she was more than scared. Gabriella Montez was truly terrified for the first time in nine years.