Closed Book

Disclaimer: I don't own HSM

AN: So here is the second chapter… I hope you enjoy it :D

Troy Bolton

It's been about a month now and I still find myself asking similar questions every day. If the question asked is about anything that has to do with her personal life it's like she closes up and finds something else to talk about. Is she doing this on purpose or am I just paranoid?

"Hey Man. What's up?" It's Chad, maybe he knows something about Gabriella.

"Hey, nothing much… just thinking"

"About anything exciting?" Maybe if I actually knew anything about Gabriella I would know whether or not she is interesting.

"I wouldn't know"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chad probably isn't the best person for this conversation but I'm lacking options.

"I was just thinking about Gabriella."

"The Gabster? What about her?"

"It's just that I know like nothing about her. I know I haven't been here long but I just can't figure her out." It's truly really frustrating.

"There's nothing to figure out with Gabs. She is who she is. She is all about helping other people. If anyone ever needs advice or help she is always the one to go to. She never tries to stop listening to you to throw in her own problems. I have no idea what I would do without her."

Well I guess that's something but it still doesn't say much about her.

"I think I'm just being paranoid."

"Well if you ever do need anything I'm sure Gabs could help you out; she helps everyone" Great. But what if my problem was her?

I'm being ridiculous, why should I care about her or her life? Sure she's my friend but I shouldn't be trying to force stuff out of her. If she wants to tell me something then she would right? I hope so.

Fifth period. My class with Gabriella.

"Hey Troy." She greeted in the same tone she has been using since day one. Her expression doesn't reach her eyes, it never does.

"Hey Gabriella, what's up?" She is going to answer the same as always…

"Oh, you know… what's up with you?" See, there it is. Same answer everyday. She actually manages to give an answer, switch the conversation focus from herself and not reveal anything with one sentence. It's actually kind of impressive.

"Nothing really, I was just talking to Chad."

"Oh yeah, what about?" Her eyes tell me she's not interested but her tone and expression say otherwise.

"You actually." Here's where most people would ask what we were saying.

"Oh… that's nice." See how annoying that is?

"Yeah, he was saying that you are kind of the go-to for people in need of help or advice." Normally I wouldn't press anything without her asking but I'm getting fed up.

"I guess that's true." She's trying to look away and stop this conversation… not today you don't missy.

"So, I was wondering…"

"Are you going to ask for help? Because I'm really busy and I just…" Damn, almost got something out of her.

"No, I'm in no need of help. I was just wondering who you go to if you need help."

She's looking around for an excuse – I can tell.

"Well – I – uh,... have to pee!" She blurted that then ran out of the class. Strange…

Sigh, I really thought I almost had her there. At least I know she's human and uses the bathroom.

She didn't return again until Mrs. Darbus was into the lesson. She's tricky. I'm on to her now.

I know I said I wasn't going to pry and whatnot but what the hell? She makes me want to know. God life was simpler in L.A. There's a sentence you don't hear everyday.

It's my lucky day, Mrs. Darbus decided to give us seat work which means I get to talk to Gabriella.

"Hey" She won't look at me.

"Hi."

"So, whatcha working on?" Now she covers her work up and looks at me.

"uh… nothing." God, since when was school work personal?

"Oh, so you won't mind if we chat then?"

"Actually Troy, I really have to finish this." She just said it was nothing.

"Really, what is it? Maybe I can help."

"I don't think you can"

"You'll never know unless you tell me what it is" I know I'm being kind of nosey but desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Just drop it Troy okay?" She just took a tone with me. I know I haven't been here long but I have been her long enough to know that Gabriella Montez does not take a tone with people.

"Wha- did you just take a tone with me?" Apparently I was so surprised I asked out loud. Yes I know I'm an idiot.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"Don't worry about it. I was just…surprised"

"Let's just forget it ever happened."

"I don't want to forget" Oops…That was meant to be inside my head.

Now I'm the one to surprise her. Good, maybe I'll get a decent response.

"What?" She's clearly confused.

"It's just you always use the same tone of voice an expression and it never reaches you eyes. This means that it's not the way you are actually feeling. And then when you took that tone with me you actually had the emotion reach your eyes. It was interesting to see."

I'd like to see her respond to that without revealing something.

"My eyes? What do they have to do with the way I spoke to you?"

"Your eyes have everything to do with the way you spoke to me. You know how people say that someone's eyes are the window to their soul? Well it's totally true. A person's eyes tell you more about them than anything else. Even more than their words."

It's true. Gabriella's eyes are kind of different. They don't respond to situations. Well they didn't until she took that tone with me.

"What do my eyes say?" I can tell she's actually intrigued, it's in her eyes. And more importantly, she actually is talking about herself rather than everyone else! Progress!!

"Right now you eyes say lots of things. Your intrigued by this conversation, you're kind of pissed and then there's that thing."

"I'm not pissed"

"Just there, your words, tone and expression did not match your eyes which proves my point of your pissed."

She is pissed. Pissed that I'm getting to her. She won't admit it though, she's going to change the subject.

"That thing?" Told you so… although that question doesn't really make sense.

"What thing?"

"You said a second ago that there's 'that thing' you see in my eyes"

"Oh, that. It's just that thing that's always there. I'm not quite sure what it is yet."

"Yet?"

"Well I plan to find out."

"Oh, do you?"

"Of course. So far you haven't been co-operating though which is why I have taken such drastic measures." Why am I saying all this? I thought I said I was going to let her come to me if she had to say anything.

"I'm not following you"

"That's okay. So you didn't answer my earlier question." Maybe now she actually will.

"I probably won't now either." Or maybe not.

"I know, doesn't mean I won't ask though."

She sighed "I know.." This seems to have upset her.

"Why does it bug you so much?" Okay this wasn't the question I planned on asking but I want this answer more.

"There's nothing's bugging me." Right, and I'm the Queen of England…

"Sure there is. It bugs you when I ask questions about you." Geeez it's like my subconscious mind took over and is telling her whatever it feels like.

"It doesn't bug me"

"Did you not just listen to anything I said? If you are going to try and lie to me you are going to have to work on the eyes." Everyone's a bad liar if you just figure out how to read their eyes.

"In my defence; up until this afternoon I had no idea someone's eyes had anything to do with their lying skills."

"So you admit you lied about my questions not bugging you."

"No." This is definitely going to be a work in progress.

"It doesn't matter to me. Even though it bugs you I'm not going to stop asking"

"Why not?" Because I find you intriguing and want to know everything about you.

"Because I'm stubborn." That works too.

"Well, I hope you enjoy disappointment." Only when you're the one delivering it.

The bell rang signalling the end of class.

"See you tomorrow Gabriella."

Drama has officially become my favourite class.

AN: So there you have it folks. I kind of found that interesting. Did you?…. Review to tell me…