Cinderella
Chapter Four: The Plan
A/N: Now, some of you are getting worried that Taylor has gone crazy and that this will have a sad ending, with Taylor in the asylum. Well, YOU'RE WRONG! This is just a surprising story. Keep you guessing, you know? Everything will turn out OK.
Disclaimer: Pfft, I wish I owned it.
Gabi spit out a mouthful of her latté. "What!"
"I said, is sneaking out leg-"
"I heard you!" She said angrily. "But you don't even have a date! Why risk so much just for a dance?"
"Gabi, I have to know if Chad likes me. I mean, I know it sounds lame, but if he only likes me as a friend, then I have to know!"
Gabriella looked frustrated. "Why don't you just ask him?"
I shook my head. "Gee Gabi, that might have worked on Troy, but not Chad. Chad's too closed up about his feelings. Besides, my parents will be out until 11:30 that evening. They wouldn't expect me to sneak out, so they left me home alone. You know I have no siblings to tattle on me. The dance ends at 10:30, it'll be easy!" I was practically begging now. I could see Gabriella starting to crack.
"Well, I still don't know, Taylor. I mean, sneaking out…"
I put on my famous puppy-dog face. "Please? You know I've liked Chad for a long time. This may be the only way to get together!"
She cracked. "Oh, all right! I'll help you in your evil plotting."
My face lit up. "Great! My parents are leaving at seven, the dance starts at 8:30, come over at 7:30, OK?"
Gabriella giggled. "Taylor, it's Thursday. The dance isn't for another week! Why are you planning so far in advance?"
I grinned. "Once a keener, always a keener. And the dance is on Friday, so really it's a week and a day."
We both laughed, and set to work.
ILUFHSM-ILUFHSM-ILUFHSM-ILUFHSM
The next day, I was feeling pretty satisfied with myself. Gabriella and I had ironed out all of the details for the plan, except one.
How would I disguise myself so Chad wouldn't recognize me?
As I walked into school, I brushed that detail off. Gabi was right; we still had a week until the dance. I got my books from my locker, and headed off towards homeroom. Luckily, I had Mrs. Darbus for LA later in the day, not that morning.
My walk to homeroom went without a fault. I didn't trip, rip my clothing, do anything embarrassing, or forget something. So far, my morning was going pretty good.
I sat down beside Gabriella, and continued plotting. Mrs. Darbus entered today in a swirl of pink polka dots, strips, and patterns, with the same perfume on. Troy was practically having an asthma attack in his seat. I felt sorry for him. There was only so much perfume one guy could take!
After the loudspeaker come on with the announcements, Mrs. Darbus raised her arms, cleared her throat, and once again, said, "Now, class. I have an important announcement to make." I squirmed in my seat.
"The dance," she continued, "Will be a masquerade!" (A/N: You all knew it was coming!)
I nearly ran up to the front of the room and gave Mrs. Darbus a huge bear hug. My day, no matter what happened, was now, officially, perfect!
Chad scoffed in the front row. I didn't care. Chad would never recognize me in a red mask and a red dress, since I never wore red! I will also tell him that I can't go to the dance. He won't suspect a thing.
Mrs. Darbus dismissed us to go to our next class. Mine and Gabriella's next class was advanced chemistry. This was good, because all we had to do was mix a solution and note the result, which we did in about three minutes. So we had the rest of the class to talk about our evil plot.
Gabriella leaned in closer to me, so we would be heard. "So, isn't it great that the dance is a masquerade! I mean, Chad will so not recognize you!"
"I know!" I squealed, (A/N: Sorry, I know Taylor would never squeal, but she is excited, OK?) "I mean, now we have all the details worked out!"
I was actually still quite surprised that Gabriella had agreed to help me. I mean, no offence, but she is a bit of a goody two-shoes, you know? But she's my friend, and that's what friends are for.
"Well, Taylor, there is still one more detail to work out," I looked alarmed, and she continued. "It's nothing big, just what name will you use? You can't say that your name is Taylor when you're supposed to be undercover, can you?"
I breathed a sigh of relief. I thought it was something big. "Hmm. It should be believable, but not to common. And definitely not to weird."
Gabriella started pouring in the suggestions. "How about Anna? Nah, to plain. Maybe Joyce? Nope, to weird. How about Zvingly? Nope, not believable."
Gabriella could have gone on for hours, if I hadn't stopped her. "How about April? That's believable, and not too common."
Gabriella's face lit up. "That's a great name!"
I giggled. "I'm glad you approve of my name. So, about the dance. Is Troy going to pick you up or what?"
Gabriella grinned. "I have that all arranged. I called Troy last night-"
I groaned. "So that's why your phone was busy!"
Gabriella glared at me, and then continued. "I called Troy last night, and told him I would meet him at the dance. He asked no questions at all, it was easy."
I sighed. "Good. But Gabi, you cannot let Troy in on the plan. He might tell Chad, or let it slip around him!"
Gabi bit her lip. I could tell she was having trouble agreeing to this. Her and Troy were close, and told each other everything. Finally, she agreed. "OK, I won't. But I don't like it!" she warned.
I grinned hard. "Thank-you, Gabi." I said in a sing-song voice.
Gabi laughed, and punched me gently. I looked quickly around the Chemistry classroom, to make sure no one was eavesdropping on us. Either no one was, or they were a really good actor. And Sharpay wasn't in advanced chemistry, so it was all clear.
The bell rang for our 10 minute break, and everyone was out the door in about 2 seconds. We rushed out to the hallway with the rest of the class, and hurried to our lockers. Unfortunately, I had Math and Gabi had Social Studies, so we went our separate ways.
Math was uneventful, as we were reviewing our previous unit. I had already studied for this test a week ago! I knew everything the teacher was talking about, so I daydrea- I mean, I let my imagination go free! (Quote from Mrs. Darbus in a previous class)
About halfway through class, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket (I had learned to never have it on ring). I looked around, and took out my cell phone. Luckily, I sit at the back of the classroom, so no one saw me. I flipped open my phone, to see a text message from Gabi. It said:
(The underlined is Gabi and the bold is Taylor)
hey whats up? ss is so boring!
i know! in math, we are reviewing. i know everything already!
lol. you smartie.
shut up! better smart than stupid.
i cant believe that you think getting called smart is an insult. what has chad done to you?
oh, shut up! n e ways, i am so freaking out over the dance! i know he'll recognize me!
you are so paranoid, lol.
well, g2g bi!
bi!
I snapped shut my cell phone with a sigh. Would this class never end?
Mercifully, the class ended minutes later. In lunch, I was having good luck, too. I got the last pudding, and the lunch was macaroni, my favourite. I sat at my table with Gabi. No one else sat with us because they were either sick, or at different tables. After finishing our lunches in five minutes, we decided to go to the library, and research different kinds of masks to wear to the masquerade.
As we stepped into the library, I saw a familiar head of shiny brown hair.
"Oh, no." I groaned. "I do not want to put up with her!"
"Hey, Taylor," Gabriella said as I turned to leave. "Didn't you say Tonya was flirting with Chad? Like, majorly?"
I sighed. "Do you have to remind me? Yes, she was!"
"Well," Gabi said, "Tonya already has a boyfriend. I don't think Chad knows that, but I remember, don't you? And she's with him over there. Canoodling, if you will."
I smacked my head. "That's what I forgot! Oh, my gosh, she is in major trouble."
I looked over and grinned evilly. This day was definitely working out to my advantage.
A/N: OK, that was chapter four of Cinderella. What do you think? Review, review and review! They make me feel good!