Kat again. This is the main body of the date. There's a twist on the competition and a surprise for Gabriella and Troy towards the middle of the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own High School Musical or any of the songs used in the chapter. They belong to the artist and the artist's record label. (Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, and Drew Seeley)

CHAPTER FIVE

Confidence and A Kiss

The Dance Palace, Backstage, 9:30

Troy and Gabriella are backstage, just as Sharpay and Ryan are about to go on. Sharpay is doing the "trust" technique with Ryan. Sharpay looks over and see Troy talking to Gabriella.

Sharpay pushes Ryan aside and heads over to where Troy and Gabriella are. "You guys know that this is a solo competition, right?" says Sharpay teasingly.

"Really…," says Gabriella.

"Yes. They pick the best guy and girl to win. Hope you both don't have stage fright, wait, you can't. You're both in the musical. Toodles!"

Just as Sharpay is gone, Gabriella turns to Troy for comfort. "I don't know if I could do a solo!"

"Well, Sharpay did say that the best guy and girl wins the contest. I'll be standing right here, backstage. If you ever grow afraid, just remember: I'm rooting for you."

"Thanks, Troy"

On stage was Ryan. He's singing some jazzy dance number. Something expected from him. Just as he finishes, the crowd breaks into applause. Guess he's an old favorite.

The MC comes on stage to congratulate Ryan. "What an act. Ryan Evans. Give him another round of applause." The audience once again breaks into applause and Ryan walks offstage.

The audience calms down and the MC picks up where he left off. "Up next is our very own SHARPAY EVENS!" Then the MC walked off.

The song begins to play and Sharpay struts onstage. The song she picks to sing is a newer song called "Headstrong" by Ashley Tisdale. Sharpay walks back and forth on stage just like a real solo performer. She owns the stage.

Backstage, Gabriella and Troy watch Sharpay perform. Gabriella feels slightly threatened. She's afraid of making a fool of herself. She is just afraid to go on without Troy there to help her.

Troy, seeing Gabriella is deep in thought, puts his arm around her to calm her down. He knows she's worried about going on stage.

"Troy," Gabriella says quietly to get his attention, "will you be back here for when I perform?"

"Of course. Remember, if you feel afraid, you could just look back here and here I'll be."

Sharpay finished her song and the audience breaks into applause, much louder than Ryan. It's evident that Sharpay commands the stage.

The MC walks onstage and announces, "There we have her. Our own talented Sharpay Evans. Let's give her another round of applause." The audience breaks into applause as Sharpay walks offstage.

The MC started where he left off when the crowd finally subdued. "Now presenting a newcomer, TROY BOLTON!"

Backstage, Troy gives Gabriella a quick hug and walks onstage. The music begins as he walks onstage. He's singing a fairly new song called "Dance with Me" by Drew Seeley. It's upbeat and has some Latin rhythm. The audience seems to love him even though he's a newcomer.

Gabriella waited backstage as Troy sang. She listened to the lyrics.

"Trust in me take a chance/ Feel the tango will you dance?/ Dance with me."

"I trust that you will be back here, Troy," Gabriella said to herself. She waited anxiously while Troy finished the song.

The audience once again broke into cheer. Though she wasn't expecting it to be as loud as Sharpay's, but it was louder than what Ryan got.

Once again, the MC walked onstage as Troy took his final bow. "Wow, nice premier performance. Give it up for Troy Bolton!"

They once again broke into applause as Troy walked toward Gabriella.

Troy, seeing that Gabriella is obviously nervous, rushes to calm her. "Don't worry. The audience is great to newcomers." He wrapped his arms around Gabriella in a hug. "I know you'll do fine."

Gabriella broke away from the hug, though she didn't want to and looked into Troy's eyes and felt odd, a good odd.

As they looked into each other's eyes, Sharpay was off to the side, watching to see if her plan worked.

"Here it is," said Sharpay to herself, "that Gabriella girl will back out and me and Troy will be dancing together." Sharpay was unaware that Gabriella was going to go on stage and perform. She was also unaware about what would happen next.

Both of them feeling something in their hearts, moved closer together.

Troy had this weird feeling in his gut. After seeing Gabriella all this time, he finally wanted to kiss her.

Gabriella also felt weird and wanted to kiss Troy.

Their lips moved closer together until they finally touched.

Gabriella felt the softness of his lips pressing against hers. She wanted to remember the taste of his lips and the smell of his skin so close to her.

Troy felt the exact same. He felt as if he had found the one he was meant to be with. Gabriella made him feel at home in his heart.

The MC, onstage, announced, "Up next…"

The sudden call warned them that Gabriella need to go on stage. They both backed away slowly, wanting to savor the moment. Gabriella looked up into Troy's eyes.

"You'll do great!" Troy says confidently.

"If you're rooting for me, I know I will."

Hidden in the shadows, Sharpay is furious. She hadn't told them that the competition was for soloists, Troy wouldn't have tried to reassure her by kissing her! Sharpay stood there, mouth agape, watching Troy watch Gabriella walking on stage as the MC shouts, "… Miss GABRIELLA MONTEZ!"

Gabriella, though still slightly afraid, walks onstage as her song starts. The song she chose to do was "Let's Dance" by Vanessa Hudgens. The song is very upbeat and has romantic lyrics.

Gabriella opened her mouth to sing and is surprised that sound actually came out.

The audience started to clap along with the beat.

"Let's dance tonight/ Feels so right/ Hold me tight."

Gabriella motioned for Troy to come onstage and dance with her. She really got into the song.

"Let's dance right now/ Spin me 'round/ Shake me down."

Troy walked, well dance onto the stage and spun Gabriella around.

Next thing she knew, the audience was singing the chorus with her and the last chord to the song struck.

The audience broke into the loudest applause of the night as the MC walked onstage to announce the winners.

"Alright, will all the contestants come on stage." Pause. "The male winner of the night is… TROY BOLTON!"

The audience cheered loudly.

"Calm down, now for the female winner. She is… GABRIELLA MONTEZ!"

The audience broke into applause as Troy and Gabriella stood on stage together, holding the trophy in the center.

Off to the side is Sharpay. Standing next to Ryan, Sharpay is now even more furious. Not only did she beat her for the lead-role in the musical, get Troy to take her on a date, and kiss him, she won the spot that was rightfully hers, the winner of this contest.

"Now it's time for the winners to have their spotlight dance. Clear way!" shouts the MC.

The audience separated for Troy and Gabriella to dance. "Lips of an Angel" by Hinder came on.

Troy took Gabriella's hand, placed it on his shoulder, the other in his hand, and guided her in a slow dance.

"Troy, thanks for believing in me when I doubted myself," Gabriella said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"If I didn't, what kind of boyfriend would I be?"

"Are you serious? Are we… you know, boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Yeah, we did kiss you know and I do feel as if you are the one for me, Gabriella. When I'm with you, you make me feel at home in my heart."

"I know how you feel, I feel like that whenever you're around."

They danced in each other's arms until 11:30.

Troy was the first to notice what time it was. "We really should get going. You're mom did say to get you home by midnight."

"Alright. Just as long as you promise to call me tomorrow at 10:00."

"Promise."

They left the club, arm in arm.

Back at Gabriella's house, 11:50 p.m.

"Here we are, home sweet home, well at least your home," said Troy.

"Remember to call me tomorrow," said Gabriella.

"Don't worry. I will."

Gabriella gave Troy a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll count the minutes," opened the door and walked toward her house.

"I can't wait either." Troy watch Gabriella walked to the door, open it, but instead of going in, she looked back and blew Troy a kiss.

Troy, seeing the sweet gesture, gives her a heads up that he saw it and blows her one back.

Gabriella enters the house and rushes into her room, to recollect what just happened.

Troy takes one last look at the house and drives home.