Closed Book

Disclaimer: I do not own HSM

AN: Nothing to say this time around…except that I am still amazed with how much I can write with this.

Gabriella Montez

Now that I have talked to my mother and figured out that I do like Troy, I have decided that this would be the appropriate time to go to my friends and figure out what I am supposed to do. I think I'm getting pretty good at this asking for help thing.

"Hello?" I decided to call Taylor first; she's not as scary as Sharpay.

"Hey Taylor, its Gabriella"

"Oh Hey Gabs! What do you need?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to have a girls' night with me and Sharpay because I am in dire need of some girl talk."

"Really?" She's sounds surprised. Is that a good thing?

"Yeah…"

"For sure! I say we hit Sharpay's house; it's stock full of all things girly for a girls' night!" Perfect.

"Great, I will call her now"

"Okay, see you later."

Time to call Sharpay…

"Sharpay speaking!" She would answer her phone like that.

"Hey! It's Gabriella"

"Did you finally decide to tell me who you like?" Damn, she hasn't forgotten.

"Yes and no."

"What?"

"I'm calling to ask if we can have a girls' night tonight at your house…?"

"OMG! YES! I will call Taylor" It is so easy to make Sharpay happy.

"Don't worry about it, I already did."

"Great! Come over at like 5 and we will have the best girls' night ever!!!"

I'm scared. I've been to girls' night before but never when it's about me! You can handle this Gabriella.

Walking up the front steps…

Knocking on the door…

"AHH!!! GABRIELLA!! Come inside!" She is way too excited.

"Sharpay calm down. It's just me."

"Yeah. But you like a boy and that never happens."

I walk in and see Taylor sitting down in Sharpay's massive bedroom. She looks annoyed.

"Gabriella, please never make Sharpay act like this again." I laugh.

"Alright Taylor, I will never like another boy again."

"You like a boy!" I look at Sharpay amazed that she didn't tell Taylor. She shrugs. "Forget what I said earlier. Like boys more often! Wait! Who is it?"

"Calm down guys. I will tell you. But you have to promise me one thing first. You have to promise me that you will help me, and you won't judge me."

"Gabriella, I had a crush on the chess club president." True.

"And I'm dating Chad." Also true.

"Okay, but just promise okay?"

"Promise"

"Promise" The look sincere enough. Time to reveal all…well all about Troy anyways.

"Okay, I like…" I can't look in their eyes. The floor looks like a nice alternative. "Troy."

"OMG! NO WAY!" Who was the one who decided to give a girl like Sharpay a voice like that?

"I totally said this would happen the first day didn't I?"

"You did. Of course that was before we even met him…"

"Who cares!? Now, what did you need our help with? This is fantastic." Ahhh Taylor. So supportive.

"OMG, you want a makeover don't you?" Where does she get this stuff from?

"Umm…no" Taylor hits Sharpay. She hits a lot of people. "I just don't know what I am supposed to do now"

"Tell him." What? I thought Taylor was the rational one.

"No. Absolutely not"

"Gabs, how else is this supposed to go anywhere?" Wow, Sharpay didn't scream at me.

"I don't know, that's what you guys are supposed to tell me"

"All we can tell you is that you have to let Troy know how you feel. There is no other way." Did they plan to take turns talking?

"Okay, but what if he doesn't like me back?" Now they are comforting me.

"Gabriella, you are an amazing girl and any guy would be crazy not to like you!" Thanks Sharpay.

"And also, how are you ever supposed to find out if he likes you back if you don't ask? Besides, being turned down isn't nearly as bad as you would think." I look at Sharpay for confirmation.

She nods. "It's true."

"Okay. I think I can handle that. Thanks guys." I truly am grateful.

And that's it for conversation about Troy. Thank god.

So now I'm at school and realized I forgot to ask Sharpay and Taylor one vital question. All I have to do is find one of them before I see Troy. Oh, there's Sharpay.

"Sharpay! Come here."

"What! I have to go find Zeke!" That's new. I just annoyed someone other than Troy. I like it!

"I don't care! Look you know that thing we were talking about your house?"

"You and Troy?"

"Keep your voice down Shar!"

"Sorry!" She whispered.

"Well I forgot to ask…when am I supposed to tell him?" Man this whole crush business makes you sound like an idiot.

Sharpay laughed at me. She actually laughed at me. I give her a death glare.

"Sorry Gabs. Just tell him when ever you feel you can." Real helpful.

"When did you get so insightful?"

"I always have been, just not when it comes to my own problems"

Hmm… that gives me some thoughts.

"Hey Gabriella." I don't even notice him come in because I am just that deep in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" I have almost got it…

"I GOT IT!" It was probably unnecessary to say that so loud.

"Got what?"

"I totally understand now! It's so easy!"

"Come on Gabi, the suspense is killing me" Wait a second…

"You just called me Gabi…"

"I did…do you not want me to call you that?"

"No, no it's fine. Everyone else calls me Gabs is all. Well except my mom, she uses Gabi."

"What do you want me to call you then?"

"Whichever is fine." He probably thinks I am even more of a nut now.

"Gabi it is then… now are you going to tell me your big revelation?" Oh right.

"Okay but I don't know if it will make any sense outside of my head."

"Try me."

"mmmkay. So I was thinking about something like all day and now this whole problems and advice thing makes total sense. I realized that everyone is full of insight and advice; everyone is capable of giving good advice when they want to. The only time people can't think clearly enough to give their advice is when it's about their own problems. When someone gets a problem it's like that just takes over their mind and they can't realize that the answers are in their own head! And the reason everyone came to me was because they thought I didn't have problems so my head would be nice and clear to give them the advice they need! I'm crazy aren't I?" It seemed like such a good revelation before…

He chuckles. At me? I can't be sure. "You are not crazy. And that was very interesting."

"Really?" Why does his opinion mean so much to me?

"Really." Okay that look he just gave me brought forward some other thoughts. I like Troy. I'm supposed to tell him this. What am I going to do?

He must have noticed the conflict in my thoughts. "What's up?"

"Oh, it's um nothing."

"Gabriella, don't do this again. I thought you were going to try to not keep secrets."

"This isn't a secret. Sharpay and Taylor know. I told them. My mom even knows. You just can't know, not yet." Did I confuse him? Probably.

"Okay…do you know when I can know?"

"No. Even if I wanted to tell you now I wouldn't. There are too many people around."

"Hmm… how about this: after school we go up to the rooftop and then after I will drive you home?"

"Uhh…"

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want."

"No! I have to tell you. I'm told it's the right thing to do. We will go to the rooftop and you have to force me to tell you! Okay? Promise me that."

"Okay… I promise?" He's clearly confused.

"Good. Oh but I will have to drive myself home I brought my car today." Unfortunately.

"Fair enough." It's a good sign that he looks disappointed right? I'm going to go with yes.

Okay, I'm sitting on the roof waiting for Troy. I'm very fidgety. Is it normal to be this nervous? Stay sane Gabriella. I hear footsteps. I see Troy. My heart rate is through the roof. Please don't notice! He is sitting next to me. How come simple things that I didn't notice before are now making me insane! He is sitting down next to me for Christ's sake! It's not that big of a deal. It's just Troy.

"Hey." He has such a dreamy voice. Did I just think the word dreamy?

"Hi."

Neither of us know what to say. Well I assume he is just waiting for me since I'm the reason we are here…

Fine! I'll talk.

"So, I have something to tell you."

"Go on…"

"Maybe I should just leave."

"Gabi…" I don't like his disapproving voice.

"What?"

"You are going to tell me."

"How about a compromise? I tell you if you tell me something first" Oh god, I'm actually going to go through with this.

"Deal. What do you want to know?" I don't want to be to straightforward…

"Your opinion."

"On…"

"Me." Maybe this will give me some much needed courage.

"You?" I nod, he exhales sharply. Good thing? Bad thing? Who knows…?

"Me." I repeat again.

"Okay, I think you are great. You are the most intriguing, interesting, amazing girl I've ever met." Okay, that makes me feel better. Way better. A smile spreads across my face. "Is that enough, or do you need more?"

"As much as I would love to hear more – trust me, I would – I do have to tell you this now before I lose my courage."

"Go on…"

"I think…I might…its possible" Good job. "That I might like you" There, it's out there. No taking it back. Oh god, he doesn't feel the same. Of course not. Why would he?

"Oh, really?" He's smiling. Smiling at me! After I told him I like him! Yay!!

"It's okay if you don't like me back; I just wanted you to know how I felt."

"Gabriella, calm down." Oh damn, he noticed my nerves. "I like you too" Did he just-?

"Come again?" Maybe he said 'I don't like you too'.

He chuckled. "I like you too."

AN: It is out in the open! What on earth will happen next? Only I know!!