Author's Note: Hey guys, ok just warning you guys...as you can see my chapters are taking more and more time, but a good point is that they are much more detailed and longer too. So I really hope you do not mind the tardiness of the updates and I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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?
The Truth is Hard To Accept
Chapter 17
"Did she change on the plane?" Taylor whispered to Gabriella as they followed the mob of kids.
"Probably, knowing Sharpay." Gabriella replied.
Taylor did a little mimic of Sharpay as Gabriella burst into giggles.
"You know, you really shouldn't be doing that kind of stuff in public," Sharpay snarled as she walked over to Gabriella and Taylor. The girls ceased giggling. "It could really ruin your reputation. Oh that's right, you don't have one." Sharpay scoffed as she laughed at her own remark.
"Hah. Well for your information I was-" Taylor started.
"Just leaving," Gabriella piped up as she dragged her friend away.
"What are you doing?" Gabriella asked quietly after they were out of earshot of Sharpay.
"I was about to show that little princess who's boss," Taylor replied hitting her fist into the palm of her hand. She slowly began to walk toward Sharpay with an evil grin.
Gabriella pulled Taylor back over by the hood of her sweater.
"Please let's not cause anything more with her," Gabriella pleaded.
"Fine, fine. But if I don't get her, karma will," Taylor replied with a smirk.
—
Everyone was circled around a medium-sized blonde standing in the middle of them. She tugged nervously at her microphone to see if it was working.
"Ahem, is this thing on?" She spoke into the microphone.
Everyone looked blankly at her. Her hazel eyes circled around the room nervously.
"Um...hello, I'm um...Kristen and I'll be your tour guide for your time in Washington D.C.!" She cooed apprehensively.
Total silence drew over the room.
"Well, I'll be taking you around the city and showing you the sights and such," She went on.
"Well duh, isn't what tour guides are supposed to do?" Interrupted Sharpay rolling her eyes. A few of her classmates snickered.
Kristen looked down at her feet. Gabriella could almost see her confidence growing thin.
Troy looked sympathetically up at Kristen. "Go on," he encouraged her.
Kristen's face brightened as she went on.
Gabriella smiled at Troy shyly. He turned around and smiled back, exposing his perfect white teeth. As Sharpay realized what he was doing, she quickly turned him back around giving a dirty look to Gabriella.
Gabriella's face fell. She looked back up at the nervous guide. She probably was in her mid-twenties, maybe younger. It was most likely her first real job, and it was already being ruined by Sharpay. She seemed to be good at wrecking people's lives.
Sharpay let out a long and loud yawn right in the middle of Kristen's closing statement.
Kristen stopped talking as she gave Sharpay a helpless look. Sharpay gave a fake smile back to her adding in a peppy little wave.
"So let's begin, shall we?" Kristen said leading the group to baggage claim.
Troy gave Sharpay a nudge.
"Sharpay, that really wasn't necessary," Troy said sternly.
"I don't what's necessary and what's not," Sharpay snapped.
Troy opened his mouth to speak but Sharpay put her finger up to his mouth.
"Troy don't speak, I speak for you," Sharpay said.
"Then I'd wish you'd shut up," Troy retorted as he walked away.
Sharpay's jaw dropped open, no one had ever talked to her like that before.
Meanwhile, Gabriella looked for her luggage spinning on the carousel.
She reached for her suitcase, but suddenly toppled down to the floor.
She unhappily picked herself up and brushed herself off. The next thing she knew, Troy stood there with her luggage in hand.
"Thanks," she said sheepishly as she took the luggage from his hand.
Troy smiled.
And so their journey began
—
Cross, Baylor. Room 215," Mr. O'Falley yelled out throwing them the room keys.
The nodded and headed upstairs.
"McKessie, Montez 315," He called to them, throwing them the keys also.
"Wait, but if you guys are together...then who are we with?" Kelsi asked pointing to Abigail.
"Evans, Nielsen, Siamen?" Mr. O'Falley chirped up.
"Yes..."Abigail said nervously.
"Since there wasn't enough room to give Ms. Evans her own private room as she suggested. You three will be roommates. 310," He said throwing Kelsi and Abigail a key.
Kelsi and Abigail looked wide-eyed at each other, then looked at Sharpay over at the check-in desk.
"What do you mean you don't have Egyptian silk sheets!?" She shouted at the clerk.
"This is a five star hotel ma'am," He replied coldly.
"I don't care how many stars your hotel has, I demand silk sheets!" Sharpay screeched.
The clerk rolled his eyes.
"Next please," He shouted out to the next person as they came up to him.
Sharpay gasped and gave him a dirty look.
"Well this should be fun," Kelsi said sarcastically as she turned to her friends.
Taylor grabbed her things and led the gang into the elevator.
Troy walked into the lobby just as Gabriella was about to walk into the elevator. This was his perfect opportunity.
He threw his things to Chad and headed up ahead to catch her before it was too late. Just as he reached her, the elevator doors closed and up it went.
Troy stood by the elevator and hung his head.
"Maybe next time dude," Chad said encouragingly.
"Yeah, next time," Troy mumbled unhappily.
Chad walked away and shook his head.
He had more work in for him then he had planned.
—
"Are you ready?!" Taylor asked excitedly as she placed the key halfway through the door.
"Uh-huh," Gabriella replied squeezing Taylor's hand.
Taylor turned the key. The door sprang open, exposing the normal cream-colored room.
Taylor and Gabriella smiled at each other happily as they flung their bags to the side and leaped onto the soft beds.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Taylor screeched.
"Yeah I know!" Gabriella replied happily.
"Come on let's see how Kelsi and Abigail are dealing with the she-witch!" Suggested Taylor, referring to Sharpay.
Gabriella chuckled as they both stood up and marched down the hall. Gabriella gently tapped her hand against the hotel room door.
Abigail flung the door open to greet them.
"Hey guys," she said gasping for air.
"What's wrong Abbi? Another panic attack?" Joked Taylor.
"No," Abigail hissed. "But someone else is having one," Abigail said rolling her eyes.
"Let me guess..."Taylor replied.
"Apparently we can't live without her cucumber refining mask " said Abigail quoting Sharpay's exact words.
"Well good luck with that," Gabriella said.
"Thanks, she's got us alerting the entire hotel," Abigail mumbled. "I'm sure you'll hear about what happened on the news tomorrow morning," Abigail said rolling her eyes.
"Well, we'll tune in, night Abigail," Taylor said with a chuckle.
Gabriella waved goodbye as the door slammed shut.
"Abigail! Have you talked to the manager yet?!" Sharpay asked frantically.
"No I-"
"You idiot! Get on it now!" Sharpay ordered.
Sharpay walked over to Kelsi.
"Kelsi!" She screamed.
Kelsi jumped in fright.
"Y-yes Sharpay?" She stuttered pulling her glasses up.
"Did you call the local drug store? Are they still open?" Sharpay asked impatiently.
"Um..." Kelsi said fumbling through the phone book.
Sharpay sighed.
"If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself," Sharpay hissed. She flipped open her sidekick.
"Alfonso, go to the nearest CVS and pick me up my refining mask," She said to her driver.
Kelsi and Abigail leaned in to hear how it was going on the other line.
"I don't care if your wife's in labor! When I say now I mean now!" She yelled into the phone as she shut it closed.
She sighed and laid down on the bed.
Kelsi and Abigail looked at each other awkwardly, then back to Sharpay.
—
It was 11:00PM. Everyone was in their rooms. Well, everyone was supposed to.
Troy snuck out his hotel door and crept out into the hallway. He silently closed the door and slowly turned around.
"Going somewhere Mr. Bolton?" Mrs. Darbus asked, with her arms folded across her chest. She tapped her foot against the hotel floor and her glasses were tipped at the edge of her nose.
"Um...uh yeah to see a um...I need a water from the..." Troy was at a loss for words.
"Well, Mr. Bolton. Go get your water, you have 4 minutes," said Mrs. Darbus looking at her watch.
"Thank you Mrs. Darbus!" a relieved Troy said running down the hallway.
He gave her and nervous wave before he rounded the corner.
"3 minutes," she informed him.
He ran off.
Finally he got to Gabriella's door. He stood in front of it for a few seconds, just staring at it. Then he lifted his hand to the door, about to knock on it. He took a deep breath but at the last minute, he chickened out.
He crept silently back into his room and sat on the bed. He rubbed his eyes and groaned.
—
"Sharpay wake up!" Abigail cried.
"She's not getting up Abbi," Kelsi said as she watched her friend from the chair across the room.
"Oh yes she is! We can't go down and leave her here! Trust me, as much as I would want to. Mr. O'Falley has strict rules of never leaving a man behind." Abigail whined.
"Well we've got to get her up somehow," Kelsi said.
Abigail bit her lip and smiled manically.
—
"Taylor you ready?" Gabriella asked poking her head from out of the bathroom.
"Yup," Taylor replied pulling a sweater over her head.
The two walked out the door and down the noisy hallway.
"Come on, let's catch the elevator!" Taylor said running up to the elevator doors.
Many of their classmates were also waiting at the blinking elevator. Including Troy and Chad.
Soon they heard a loud ding. All of them quickly looked up as the doors opened.
Taylor nudged Chad as he nodded.
The kids squished into the elevator. Gabriella and Troy were just about to walk in as their friends pulled them back.
"Why don't we wait for the next one," Chad suggested
"Yeah that one looks crowded," added Taylor as the doors closed.
"But it only had six kids in it," Gabriella pointed out.
"Too late now," Chad said reluctantly.
The next elevator finally came up and the doors swung open.
"After you," Taylor said leading Gabriella and Troy in.
"Aren't you guys coming?" Troy asked.
"We're going to take the stairs," Chad pipped up as the elevator doors closed.
"Phew that was close," said Chad. "But what a save!" He said congratulating himself.
"Yeah real smart, now we have to walk 23 flights of stairs Einstein!" Taylor whined as they headed for the stairs.
—
The dull elevator music played softly in the background. Gabriella and Troy stared awkwardly at the ceiling.
"Wonder what's for breakfast," Piped up Gabriella.
"I think eggs," Troy replied.
"Yum," said Gabriella dully.
"Did you get a good-night sleep?" Troy asked.
"I guess, you?" Gabriella replied.
"Yeah, but Chad kept groaning in his sleep about attacking basketballs," Troy said.
Gabriella giggled.
Suddenly, they heard another ding as the golden doors swung open exposing the gorgeous lobby.
"After you," Troy said backing out of the way to let her go through.
Gabriella nodded as they hurried out.
"I think it might take them a while to climb those stairs, you want to wait for them in the dinning area and get some breakfast?" Troy offered.
"Sure," Gabriella replied as they walked off.
—
"Come on Sharpay you look fine!" Cried Abigail dragging Sharpay out of the hotel room.
"No but I need my-" Sharpay protested.
"You need nothing let's go!" She said as she pulled her out.
"Well I would have been ready if you guys would have gotten my refining mask quicker!" sharpay snapped.
Then, Abigail lost her temper. She'd had it with Sharpay.
"So now it's out fault?!" Screamed Abigail.
"Abigail calm down," Kelsi soothed.
"No! I've had it wither her, Sharpay you are a spoiled, self centered, ungrateful little brat!" Abigail shouted at her.
Kelsi stood there dumbfounded.
"Well you ain't no saint yourself," scoffed Sharpay.
"That's it," Abigail leaped at Sharpay, but Kelsi held her back.
Sharpay's eyes widened in fight as she leaped away, escaping to the safety of the elevator.
"What came over you Abigail?" Kelsi asked.
"I don't know...but I liked it," Abigail replied mischievously.
—
Gabriella and Troy sat side by side at the dinning table munching on breakfast crescents and bagels. They sat looking through different brochures of sights to see in Washington D.C.
"Hey this place looks interesting," Troy said flipping through a brochure.
Gabriella leaned in to look at the pamphlet.
"The U.S. Mint Troy?" Gabriella asked with a chuckle.
"Hey maybe they'll give out free money!" Troy replied.
Gabriella rolled her eyes playfully.
"What are they doing?" Chad whispered to Taylor sitting a few tables away as they spied on the two lovebirds.
"I don't' know," Taylor whispered back.
"They're looking at different places to visit, and for some odd reason , Troy's looking at a U.S. Mint brochure," A confused Taylor said.
"Like a breath mint?" Chad asked curiously.
Taylor rolled her eyes in annoyance and continued spying.
"Troy!" Sharpay cooed racing over to him.
Troy looked down unhappily as Sharpay hurried towards him.
She let her hands rub against his chest as she planted a large kiss on his lips.
Troy broke away and gently shook his head at her.
A dumbfounded left Sharpay glared at Gabriella.
Gabriella knew that Sharpay only did that to maker her mad. But she wasn't going to giver her that satisfaction.
Abigail and Kelsi suddenly boomed in through the large doors as Abigail glared in Sharpay's direction.
"What happened with you two?" Gabriella asked as Abigail and Kelsi sat down to eat.
"Long Story," Kelsi mumbled.
Abigail stayed quiet as she glared at Sharpay getting food at the breakfast buffet.
Troy and Gabriella looked curiously at each other then back at Sharpay and Abigail.
"What's happening now?" Chad whispered.
"I don't know...they're not doing anything. Just sitting there," Taylor replied.
"Maybe we have more work cut out for us than we thought," Chad said.
—
"Ok gang, welcome to our first day of touring Washington D.C.!" Kristen cooed with energy.
The students were silent.
"Anyway, today we are going to explore the wonderful world of the old Supreme Court Chamber and the different court and political building in D.C. Plus, we're going to be doing some souvenir shopping along the way. So, shall we begin," Kristen said leading the group to the tour bus.
"Come on Troy, sit with me," Sharpay said pulling him toward a seat.
"Actually," He said breaking away. "I was thinking of rehearsing with Gabriella. Seeing as the play is coming up and all," Troy said.
"Troy! You my boyfriend. Remember! How could you go off sitting with another girl!" An angered Sharpay roared.
"I'll sit with you Sharpay," Derek offered, appearing out of nowhere.
Before Sharpay had a chance to reply, Derek bumped Sharpay into her seat as he plopped down next to her.
A reluctant Troy sat down with Gabriella as they began to look over a copy of the script.
"Eek! This is so exciting," Taylor chirped as they watched the 'soon to be again' couple swooning over each other.
"Ugh I think I had a bad pancake," Chad whined.
"How could you be thinking about food at this point?!" Taylor asked.
"I'm a guy it's what we do," Chad sneered playfully.
Taylor rolled her eyes.
—
"Everyone! You should be very excited to be here today," Kristen cooed.
"Excited isn't my exact choice of words," Sharpay sneered.
"Anyway, we're going to explore the old Senate so let's get going!" Kristen said brushing off Sharpay's comment.
The crowd walked through the hallways of history until their feet were about to fall off.
Troy and Gabriella hardly stopped talking the whole way through. Chad and Taylor were pleased at the work they'd done so far. Sharpay however was quite upset.
"Stupid Troy," Sharpay mumbled to herself.
"You say something?" Derek asked politely.
"No!" Sharpay snapped.
"Ooh touchy!" Derek replied walking up ahead.
"Hey girl," Derek greeted Gabriella as he kissed her on the cheek.
Gabriella looked curiously up at him. He put his broad arm around her shoulders.
'Well he hasn't done that in a while,' Gabriella thought to herself.
Troy gave Derek an inconspicuous glare.
"So Gabriella you wanna sit with us at the Hard Rock café tonight?" Troy asked Gabriella.
"Sure sounds great!" Gabriella said enthusiastically.
Now it was Troy's turn to get the dirty look.
"And of course I'll be sitting with you as well. A guy can't go anywhere without his girl," Derek cooed giving Gabriella a romantic look.
"Oh, I thought you were too busy flirting with other girls to go everywhere with your girl," Gabriella snapped taking his arm off her shoulders.
She walked up ahead angrily.
"What's her problem?" Derek asked Troy.
Troy looked down at his feet.
"I guess we won't be seeing you at our table tonight," Troy mumbled.
"Yes, yes you will," Derek snapped as he ran back up to Gabriella.
—
"Gabriella! You are not going out tonight looking like that!" Taylor said.
"What's wrong with how I look?" Gabriella asked.
"So much," Taylor replied flipping through Gabriella's suit case.
Usually, Taylor wouldn't really care who was wearing what. But tonight was special. The gang had come up with the perfect plan to get Troy and Gabriella back together.
"How bout' this little number?" Taylor asked holding up a light pink cocktail dress that came up to about her knees with a gorgeous flower print.
"Don't you think that's a bit fancy?" Gabriella asked unsurely.
"No it's perfect! Now put it on, it's almost time to leave," Taylor insisted pushing Gabriella into the bathroom.
—
The bus drove up to the Washington D.C. Hard Rock Café. Unfortunately, it was pouring outside but, that didn't stop them from racing off the bus.
Finally, they walked into the noisy building full of fresh smelling food and smoke. The entire restaurant was decorated in vintage pictures and giant guitars. There was even an old pink car hanging from the ceiling. Gabriella looked around in amazement.
"Here is good right?" Asked Troy as he put his things down, the rest of the gang followed.
"Wow, Gabriella you look great," Troy said in awe after Gabriella had taken off her coat revealing her cocktail dress.
"Thanks," Gabriella replied sheepishly. She sat down and began to look at the menu.
Chad and Taylor gave each other quick, knowingly glances before skimming their menus also.
"I think I'll have lobster tail," pipped up Sharpay.
"Do they even serve that here?" Asked Ryan.
Troy shook his head no and went on reading the menu.
"Want to split a burger with me Sharpay?" Troy asked. "They're pretty big here,"
"EW! I'm not eating a greaseball!" She cried out in disgust.
"I'll split a burger with you," offered Gabriella.
"Great! We'll do that then," Troy replied happily, giving Gabriella a smile.
Chad and Taylor exchanged huge but inconspicuous smiled. Their plan was finally working.
—
Soon after ordering, their meals came as they began to dig in.
Gabriella and Troy chopped up the burger and split it in half. They shared the french fries it came with.
Troy reached for a french fry as Gabriella did the same. They unknowingly reached for the same one as their hands gently touched. They both pulled away quickly and blushed.
Once they were all finished, they sat back and watched some of the people dancing around by the DJ.
When Gabriella and Troy weren't looking. Taylor quickly walked up to the DJ and whispered something in his ear. He nodded back to her as she returned to her seat.
Suddenly, the music to 'We'll Be Together' blasted over the stereos. It was one of Gabriella's favorite duets.
"Come on you guys get up there!" Urged Chad as he pushed them both up.
"No-I don't think we should-" Gabriella protested but it was too late. They were already up on stage and in front of the microphones.
Gabriella's part opened the song. She nervously took a deep breath and opened her mouth to sing.
"I'm not alone, even when we're apart I feel you in the air, yeah," Gabriella's gently voice shyly sang out.
"I'm not afraid, I know what you're thinking I can hear you everywhere," Troy sang leaning into the microphone.
"Some people say it will never happen and we're just wasting time," They sang in unison, their voices melted perfectly together.
"But good things come when you least expect them so I don't really mind," Gabriella sang as the music grew louder and more upbeat.
"We'll be together, come whatever not just staring at the stars just remember that no one else can tell us who awe are. We'll be together so don't ever stop listening to your heart. 'Cause I can't turn mine off," They sang the chorus as people began to dance around the stage happily.
The gang also went up to dance. All except Sharpay who pouted unhappily in the corner.
"Woah no," Troy added in.
"I can't pretend that this is a rehearsal for the real thing," Gabriella sang, her voice getting stronger.
"Because it's not," They sang in unison.
"And I know we're young but I can't help feeling what I'm feeling," Troy sang his voice echoing through the restaurant.
"And I won't stop," They sang in unison again this time looking strait at each other.
"Some things were meant to be and they'll be there," Gabriella sang.
"When the time is right," Troy added in.
"Even though I know that...I swear I wish it was tonight," Gabriella sang as the tempo began to rise as they led into the chorus.
"We'll be together come whatever not just staring at the stars just remember that no one else can tell us who we are. We'll be together so don't ever stop listening to your heart, 'cause I can't turn mine off," They sang together.
They began to dance around the stage full of energy as the audience began to cheer.
"I like what's happening to me, nothing else to say woah," Gabriella sang.
"Somebody finally got to me..." Troy sang, waiting for Gabriella to sing her part.
"Carried me away!" She sang hitting a major high note. The crowd roared.
Suddenly, the music grew silent letting their beautiful voices take the stage.
"We'll be together come whatever not just staring at the stars just remember that no one else can tell us who we are," They sang together as the music started up again.
"We'll be together so don't ever stop listening to your heart. 'Cause I can't turn mine off woah no!" Gabriella sang adding her own special touch to the lyrics.
The music began to slow down, signaling an end to the song.
"I'm not alone, even when we're apart I feel you." They sang together as the song finally ended.
Gabriella and Troy's eyes were locked on each other. Not even noticing the wild applause for them.
Suddenly, their faces moved closer and close. Gabriella could feel his warm breath on her cheeks. She quickly ran off as Troy followed.
"You guys did great!" Taylor cooed joyfully.
"Maybe you guys don't need me to coach you anymore," Kelsi said playfully.
"Come-on guys we weren't that good," Gabriella said modestly.
"Yeah you were," Everyone at the table said in unison. All except Sharpay and Derek.
Sharpay continued to pout in the corner. Troy came over to her sympathetically.
"Sharpay I'm sorry if I upset you with all this," Troy whispered in her ear.
She turned away.
"Come on Shar, don't freeze me out like this," He pleaded.
He leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek then went n chatting with Gabriella.
Sharpay fiddled with her star necklace that Troy had given her. She felt a weird engraving in the back. She curiously took it off her neck to get a better look at it. Sharpay closely studied it. Then she saw it.
' I will always love you, Gabriella.'
Sharpay felt a tear gently go down her cheek, she quickly whipped it away before anyone noticed. She stared at the necklace then up at Troy and Gabriella laughing together. She felt tears welting up in her eyes as she ran off to the bathroom.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Hope that I left you all on a good note on that last sentence. For mainly Troyella fans but to all you Troypay fans I respect you too and I hope you all continue to read and review my story. Hope you all liked this chapter. Keep on the look out for chapter 18!!
Please Review!
Breaking freexx