Author's Note: Yay! I broke 60 reviews today! Thanks to all of you guys!

Summary: After the call backs, Troy and Gabriella's relationship begins to blossom. But Sharpay wants Troy, and the part of Minnie. Will Troy and Gabriella be able to pull through? Or will Sharpay succeed?

A Fatefull Fall, A Silent Slap and A Carnival Kiss

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Chapter 8

Everyone was hurrying to the lunch line as the starving high school teens awaited their lunch. Gabriella had forgotten her's in her locker and was walking down the usually quiet halls of East High. Gabriella gazed upon the Wildcat basketball posters hung up on every wall of the school. She finally reached her locker gently opening it as a small slip of paper fell out. It brought back memories of those fateful days had between her and Troy. She opened up the paper as it read:

Gabriella,

Ms. Darbus scheduled rehearsal after school today.

Hope you can make it, we are going to run some of the scenes in the middle of the play

See you later

Kelsi

Gabriella crumpled the paper in her pocket, she heard down the hall another locker open. She squinted down the hall to see who it was. It was Troy. He was reading the same note as her.

He was shoving some books in his locker, Gabriella hadn't talked to him since the break-up. She finally decided to break the wall that stood between them, and walk over to say hi.

Gabriella took a deep, heavy sigh. She shuffled down the white tiled floor. She was about 10 lockers away when Sharpay ran up to him. Just my luck. Gabriella thought to herself, she ducked into an empty classroom. She would hate to make a walk of shame past them so she decided to wait there until they were gone.

She heard laughter amongst the two as she continued to listen in.

"So your coming to rehearsal today right?" Sharpay asked cheerfully.

"Yeah, I am," Troy replied happily.

"Except this time, your going to be the star. Instead of Gabriella," She sneered. "My sister told me she was very rude when she helped out with the play at the children's center,"

"Gabriella!?" Troy was shocked that Gabriella would do such a thing, he almost didn't believe it.

"Yeah, she's changed Troy," Sharpay said seriously.

"I guess your right." Troy put his arm around Sharpay as she did the same. They walked back to lunch together.

Gabriella came out of the classroom, her mouth hanging open. Gabriella never did anything to that snot of a little sister! She couldn't believe Sharpay could do such a thing. Actually she could. She did steal her boyfriend. But more importantly she couldn't believe Troy. For believing Sharpay and falling into her selfish little trap. Gabriella's eyes began to water but she had no clue why. Was it that she was still hanging onto the past?

—

Gabriella hummed the tune of breaking free as she walked to the stage door for rehearsal, the stage crew was fixing some lights. Large amounts of newspaper was spread along the stage floor. Blank walls stood above them, waiting to be painted. She spotted Kelsi talking to almost the entire drama club in the back of the room. She hurried to join them.

"So people today we are going to be working on our scenes then helping out the stage crew make the set. Everyone okay with that?" Everyone nodded their heads. "Okay then lets get started," Kelsi led everyone to the stage.

Gabriella noticed that Troy was walking, alone. She thought Sharpay was always early to rehearsal. And always with Troy.

Kelsi stopped the group at the foot of the stage, she looked around at the group that had been following her. She squinted at Troy with disbelief and a hit of happiness.

"Troy, where's Sharpay?" Kelsi asked.

"Oh, her and her brother got a case of food poisoning from the lunch today, but no worries it's not a bad one she should be back in school by next Monday." Troy smiled.

"Aww that's too bad!" Kelsi said trying to be compassionate but bursting with joy at the same time.

Gabriella smiled up at Kelsi, trying to hold back their laughter.

"Okay gang let's get started!" Kelsi said as she continued to walk up the stage. As they rehearsed the crew was working on the stage so it was very distracting. They had to raise their voices for each line they read.

"Minnie, run away with me!" Troy yelled.

"What?' Gabriella asked as she leaned into hear what he was saying.

"MINNIE , RUN AWAY WITH ME!" Troy raised his voice even more.

"What?" Gabriella asked again.

"Okay I don't think we can work with this," Troy said going offstage with Gabriella.

"Okay people take 5," Kelsi said.

Troy and Gabriella decided to work on their lines, together backstage where less nonsense was going on. The only problem was, Gabriella would never look Troy in the eye as they read the lines. There was no chemistry left in the two.

"Minnie, run away with me." Troy said for the fifth time that day.

"Of course Arnold," Gabriella replied.

It was time to rehearse the kiss, they hadn't done it before but Troy was leaning in as Gabriella was doing the same. Kelsi poked her head in the doorway.

"Okay guys you can come out now," Troy's face fell as Gabriella left hastily.

Thank God, Gabriella thought to herself. A part of her was saying thank god but another part of her was kicking Kelsi for ruining her perfect moment.

"Okay why don't we rehearse the next two scenes on stage, everyone good with that?" Kelsi asked.

Gabriella and Troy climbed up the steps to the stage to rehearse the next two scenes.

"Arnold do you really think this is a good idea?"

"With all my heart, I love you Ga-Minnie," Troy blushed.

"Well if you think this is a good idea then so do I," Gabriella said softly.

Troy walked down the stage to his spot near the audience, Minnie was supposed to be on top of a small sand dune on a beach, she was also supposed to jump into his arms as he would whirl her around. The two began to sing their song (A/N no hsm song that you might know a different song from the show) Gabriella danced joyfully around the stage as she was about to make her graceful leap into Troy's arms, Gabriella slipped on the wet paint splattered around the floor. Troy quickly ran up from his spot has he caught her just in time. Gabriella's legs were dangling from Troy's arms they looked deeply into each other's eyes. Both breathless and panting and unable to find words to speak. A large crowd rushed around to two as Troy gently let her down and let the crowd take her away. Gabriella quickly looked back at Troy with a smile.

After all of the commotion was over and rehearsal was ended Gabriella raced up to Troy in the wings of the stage.

Gabriella felt as rush as she jumped up and hugged Troy.

"Thank you Troy," She whispered in his ear.

He was in awe that she had hugged him let alone talk to him. Just because they had broken up didn't mean they couldn't be friends.

Gabriella let go and ran off. As Troy whispered "Your Welcome"

Troy was left dumbfounded, he wasn't sure Gabriella even knew he existed and she hugged him! But wait, he didn't care. Did he?

—

Sharpay's recovery took longer than expected. It took about 2 weeks before her return to East High, and she was not happy.

She stormed through the halls like an ugly thunderstorm pushing people out of her way. Ryan followed like her puppy. A brutal look was spread across her face as she neared Gabriella's locker, she was shoving books into it as Abigail waited her violin clutched in her hand.

"Hurry up Gabriella we're going to be late!" Abigail said bouncing up and down.

"I'm coming, I'm coming relax. We're not even going to the same class!" Gabriella let out a giggle.

"Gabriella Montez!" Sharpay yelled. She imminently slapped Gabriella across the face leaving a giant red mark on her cheek. Dumbfounded Gabriella held her burning cheek as she shoved her face in her locker and pretended as if she wasn't there. Gabriella so desperately wanted to fight back but it wasn't her nature, she knew she couldn't.

Abigail tried to hide herself behind Gabriella's open locker, shaking at the sight of Sharpay.

"How dare you steal my boyfriend!" Sharpay demanded,

"Steal your boyfriend?! You're joking right," Gabriella smiled angrily. (a/n if that's possible)

"No I'm not,' Sharpay sneered crossing her arms by her chest.

"Sharpay I should be the one who is talking! You stole Troy away from me first, not like I care, I mean I did but," Gabriella was rambling as she shoved her face back in her locker.

"Just listen to me you," Sharpay pushed her face by Gabriella's "You stay away from Troy, you hear me!" Sharpay ran off.

Gabriella was left in shock, she just wanted to slap that little drama queen upside the head. She closed her locker, hard and groaned angrily walking off with the frightened Abigail trailing by her side.

Gabriella raced angrily down the hallway with Abigail clutching her violin as she hastily followed.

Gabriella was murmuring something under her breath as she walked.

"Hey Gabriella," Troy said meekly as she passed him in the halls. She just grumbled as she walked past him. Sharpay watched from a classroom door with a smile of triumph.

—

Gabriella marched into math class and set her books on the desk. She took her seat, and placed her head on the desk using her arms as pillows, as Derek watched over her with a look of confusion plastered on his face.

"Gabriella?" Derek asked.

"Arg!" Gabriella said loudly but coming out in a muffled voice.

"You okay?"

"No, I am not okay!"

"Tell me what's wrong," Derek said kindly.

"Okay here's the story, Troy Bolton and I were going out and then dumped me for stupid Sharpay, only because she tricked him to thinking she was her type! Which she is so not! So anyway she is now like stay away from Troy when all I did was thank him when he saved my life!"

"Wow," Was Derek's only word to say to that outburst,

"Yeah I know," Gabriella slouched back in her seat and folded her arms over her chest."I can't believe myself," Gabriella said softly. "I have no idea what's happening to me, I'm losing connection to the people I care about most, I hate myself!" Gabriella sat flatly.

"Don't say that!" Derek put his hand over Gabriella's. "Your pretty and smart and sweet and funny, you shouldn't hate yourself just because things didn't go as planned," Derek smiled up at her. "For every wrong turn you make, there's a blessing on the next corner," He said reassuringly.

Gabriella pushed herself up and smiled back at Derek.

"Thank you," She said sweetly as he just smiled kindly back.

"Anytime,"

—

Gabriella waited anxiously in the crowded parking lot on the late Saturday afternoon. The clouds took over most of the sky, with a speck of light shining though one of them. The saw as people ran around her getting in line for the exiting rides. Little kids with giant stuffed teddy bears as their parents ran though the fun house for the millionth time. Gabriella finally spotted Taylor swimming through the mob of people. Gabriella waved her arms frantically, trying to grab Taylor's attention. She stood on her tippy-toes, still waving her arms in the air, Taylor finally spotted Gabriella and came rushing towards her.

"Gee, I didn't think so many people would show up for this thing," Taylor said as she regained her breath.

"I know, it's such a terrible day," Gabriella said looking up at the gray sky as a gust of wind blew her hair into her face.

"Okay, now let's go ride some rides. Shall we!" Gabriella and Taylor linked arms.

"We shall!" Gabriella and Taylor giggled as they walked off through the crowd.

---

"I swear after the fifth time we rode Motion in the Ocean, I felt like I was going to throw up!" Taylor said to Gabriella.

They continued to walk as they spotted Kelsi staring up at the biggest ride in the park. They didn't expect to see her here but they ran excitedly toward her.

"Hey Kelsi!" Gabriella yelled joyfully.

Kelsi jumped in fright as she realized that it was just Gabriella and Taylor.

"Don't ever scare my like that again!" Kelsi said giving her a playful punch in the arm.

"Someone's a little irritable today," Taylor said looking at Gabriella who nodded her head back then glaring at Kelsi.

"Sorry it's just," Kelsi paused and looked up at the tall ride with people hanging for dear life atop the steep carnival ride.

"That?" Taylor asked.

"Well, I'm not much of a ride person and I get scared easily, I don't want to be the only kid who hasn't rode this ride. I am trying to conquer it...with my mind," Kelsi stared into the ride as if trying to fight the fact that she was scared to death, which she was.

Taylor and Gabriella bust out laughing. "With your mind Kelsi?" Gabriella spit out the words while trying to hold in her giggles.

"Hey don't make fun of my techniques." Kelsi said turning towards them then returning her eyes to the ride.

"Kelsi the only way you are going face your fears is by going on that ride!" Taylor started to push Kelsi towards the line for the ride.

"But guys-" Kelsi stammered.

"Come on Kelsi, you can do it!" Gabriella began to encourage her scared friend.

"No I-"

"Tickets?" The manager of the ride asked.

Gabriella and Taylor handed in each of their tickets as Kelsi dug through her pockets to find some of hers.

"Uh-oh, no more tickets left, you guys have fun!" Kelsi began to walk away as Gabriella gave the man one of hers. Kelsi glumly climbed onto the ride as she sat between Taylor and Gabriella.

"Um..Excuse me sir, is this ride safe?' Kelsi asked the man as the ride began to go up.

"Nope!" The man began to laugh as Kelsi's mouth dropped open. "Chill I'm just kidding, relax!" The man began to laugh again as Kelsi sunk into the seat.

The ride slowly went up until it had reached the top, Kelsi looked down, she gulped.

Quickly the ride dove down as it returned back up and flipped upside-down Gabriella, Taylor and Kelsi screaming their heads off.

"This is so much fun!" Kelsi screamed

"Told you," The girls said as the ride took another plunge.

As they reached the top of the ride once more, Gabriella spotted Derek waving from down below. Gabriella quickly began to fix her hair.

"Taylor do I look okay?" Gabriella asked continuing to fix her hair.

"Gabriella! We're on top of a giant carnival ride and your fixing your hair!" Taylor rolled her eyes. "And I thought you didn't like him," Taylor said with a smirk.

"I don't," Gabriella ceased fixing her hair immediately after the remark.

Taylor gave her another smirk and went on screaming. The ride made a quick drop to the enlarging earth underneath them.

The ride goers walked off the ride peacefully as Kelsi jumped off happily.

"That was the best ride ever!" Kelsi cried.

Her hair was all fizzed like Eienstein's, she was hyper. Very hyper.

"It was okay," Said Taylor looking playfully at Gabriella.

"It was amazing!" Kelsi said as she dragged them towards the games.

—

The late afternoon turned into early nightfall as more of the younger carnival goers had left for the day. Gabriella and Taylor were wandering the carnival. The had lost Kelsi in a sea of cotton candy, and decided not to stick around for when her sugar rush crashed. Finally they saw Derek waiting in line for a ride. He left his spot to go greet them.

"Hey Taylor," Derek said as Taylor gave a small wave. "Hey Gabriella," He said in a soothing yet apprehensive voice.

"Well I am going to go find Kelsi see you two later," Taylor said leaving the two with a sly grin on her face. "Bye," Taylor said squashing in between the two.

"But Taylor I-" Taylor had already gone off, Gabriella was alone. With Derek.

—

"Yes! Another milk bottle knocked down!" Gabriella raised her hands in the air and hugged Derek.

"Your really getting good at this aren't you?" Derek said giving the man some money so he could play,

"What can I say I'm a natural," Gabriella replied giggling.

"Okay let's see if I can make this," He aimed for the 3 milk bottles piled on top of each other, he closed one eye and stuck his tongue out. The threw the little white ball for the bottles, a clank and all three were knocked over.

"Yay you did it!" Gabriella cried.

"Okay what would you like? You can have anything on the top shelf," Said the vendor.

"Um...Gabriella what's your favorite animal?

"Giraffe why?"

A large giraffe was pulled down from the top shelf.

"Here you go young man," The man handed him the stuffed animal.

Derek turned towards Gabriella and handed her the animal.

"Here Gabriella, I want you to have it,"

"Oh, Derek," Gabriella took the animal and went back to her quiet self as they began to walk home.

"So you have fun tonight?' Derek asked, some crickets chirping wildly in the background.

"Yeah, I did. Thanks,"

"Anytime Gabriella. Anytime." Derek said softly.

"Well this is my house," Gabriella stopped in front of it.

"Thanks for a great night, I really had fun."

"Me too," Derek said as he leaned into kiss her, Gabriella politely backed away.

"Bye," Gabriella raced in the house. Derek shuffled home on his heels as he said Gabriella's name over and over again.

Well how did you like this chapter? Sorry it took me so long, blame it on our Math teacher. Please review!

breaking freexx