Disclaimer: If I owned HSM, I would've had Gabriella ditch Troy and date Ryan.
Chapter 4: Breaking Tradition
The next day, Gabriella entered the lunchroom, afraid. She glanced around as there were whispers. She took a deep breath and sat at an empty table. She glanced around the room. Taylor was sitting with Chad at the Jock table. Troy and Sharpay were sitting with the theater group and Ryan.
"She's so pathetic," Sharpay snipped to Troy. He laughed and put his arm around her.
Ryan looked at her, his heart breaking at her misery. Grabbing his food, he stood up and Sharpay's hadn shot out, grabbing hold of him. "Where do you think you're going ?" She hissed.
"I'm going to sit with Gabriella," he said.
She let out a chuckle. "Nice one, Ryan. Now, really, where are you going?"
"I'm sitting with Gabriella, I told you that already."
"Ryan, she's miserable and pathetic. You sit with her, she'll drag you down too. For your own reputation, stay here."
"Funny, Sharpay. See you later." He walked over to Gabriella. "Hey Gabby. Can I sit down?"
"Sure," she replied, quietly, staring down at her food.
He sat down in the chair right next to her.
"Why aren't you sitting with Sharpay and Troy?" She asked him.
He smiled at her. "I found someone more worthwhile to spend my time with."
She looked up at him, a smile tugging on the corners of her mouth.
"She's not here today," Ryan said, seriously.
Her smile faded. "Oh…"
He started laughing. "I'm kidding. I was talking about you."
Her smiled returned as she heard his laughter. He's cute when he's laughing… She thought.
Sharpay stood, a diet soda in her hand. "Watch this…" She whispered to Troy. She sashayed over to Ryan and Gabriella. "Hey, Ry!" She said, "accidentally" colliding with the back of Gabriella's chair. Her soda fell from her hand and spilled all over Gabriella.
Gabriella stood up, too shocked to say anything.
"Oops," Sharpay squeaked. "My bad." She turned to walk away but Ryan stood, grabbing her arm. "What's your problem?" He snapped.
She glanced down at her arm that was in his grip. "No problem. Let go."
"That's okay," he replied. "Gabby and I need to go work on our audition for the Spring Musical anyways."
Sharpay seemed surprised. "What?"
"What?" Gabriella echoed.
"You can't be serious," she hissed. "You and I have been performing together since Kindergarten. And you're going to perform with her?"
"You have a problem with that?" He shot back.
"It's tradition!"
"Screw tradition! Gabriella doesn't have a partner, remember? The boy wonder over there ditched her for you! Partner with him!"
"Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
"Yeah, my stubborn twin sister." He let her go and held onto Gabriella's hand. "Let's go, Gabby."
They ran into the music room and collapsed on the ground in laughter.
"Did you see her face?" Ryan asked, in a fit of laughter.
"She looked like she was going to have a heart attack," Gabby replied. She sighed. "Were you serious about what you said? About us auditioning together?"
"Of course," he said. "Sharpay has Troy anyways."
"But she's your sister."
"Who can find someone else to be her flunky. I know what everyone says. Sharpay is so full of herself that if she could play both parts, I would be out of a job."
"Yeah, I heard that too. But I don't see why. You're talented."
"You are too."
A smile invaded his face. "Please tell me that you haven't heard that other rumor."
"You mean about you being gay?" Her hand flew to her mouth. "I'm sorry, that didn't come out right."
"No, it's fine. I know that's what people say."
"I don't believe it though." She shot him a smile.
"Good." They stared at each other for a moment. They leaned in towards eachother, eyes closing.
The music room door swung open and Kelsi said, "Oh, sorry you guys."
They sat up quickly. "It's okay, Kels," Gabriella replied.
"I just wanted to see if you guys wanted to work on your audition."
"Sounds great," Ryan agreed.
AN: Bad timing… Anyways, please R&R!