Author's Note: Hey sorry It took me super long to write this, I wanted to make it as perfect as possible! Hope you enjoy
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?
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Open To Love
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Chapter 19
"Wake up sunshine!" Taylor giggled happily as she rolled Gabriella around until she awoke.
"Go away Taylor!" Gabriella mumbled angrily throwing a pillow at Taylor.
"Oh, now its on!" Taylor screeched as she began to pelt Gabriella with the fluffy white pillows.
Gabriella rolled herself out of bed and shuffled unhappily to the bathroom as she dodged the some hundred pillows being thrown at her. She stuck her tongue out at Taylor playfully as she shut the bathroom door.
She splashed cool water on her face to wake herself up. Her mind kept replaying last night's scene over and over again.
Everything was going haywire, with Sharpay's doing of course.
She wondered if Sharpay would ever realize if Troy wasn't kidding about what he had said. This was too much drama for Gabriella, maybe she would go to the Peterson school after all.
—
Gabriella and her classmates flooded out of the hotel. Many walking sluggishly out the revolving doors, while others jumped with glee from last night's caffeine overload.
Gabriella noticed Sharpay beginning to make a dash for Troy. Troy looked curiously at her, then went off in another direction.
Whispers circulated amongst the group about the Troy and Sharpay scandal.
But Sharpay, never heard a word of it.
—
"Gabriella? Sit with me on the bus?" Troy asked as he shifted his weight from side to side.
"Sure," Gabriella replied happily as they walked on together.
It was an awkward moment for the both of them, they were usually so comfortable with each other. But now there was tension. Gabriella's heart pounded as they filed into the bus. Gabriella and Troy slid into the nearest two seats, the bus began to slowly move onward.
"Gabriella-I've been dying to say this for so long...I still lo-" Troy was interrupted.
"Attention students, I'd like to remind you all to please keep our busses clean. And no more Dorito fighting boys in the back!" Kristen said pointing to Jason and Zeke who immediately dropped the bag of Doritos.
Kristen rolled her eyes and returned to her seat.
"You were saying Troy?" Gabriella asked, drawing her attention back to him.
"Nothing," Troy mumbled unhappily as he looked blankly at his sneaker.
Gabriella gave Troy a concerned look, Troy however didn't seem to notice.
Gabriella turned around and leaned her head against the window. Thousands of thoughts flooded her mind. Her eyes darted back and forth.
'What was he going to say? Did he still what? Love? Love me?!' Gabriella thought silently to herself. 'No, it could never be love.'
—
The bus came to a screeching halt as it stopped in a little courtyard. For the rest of the day they would be visiting memorials and other sites. Yet, they still had yet to attend the U.S. Mint. But, Kristen reassured Troy that they would eventually visit the museum. Sharpay was still dumbstruck and completely unaware of Troy's lack of friendliness towards her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be stopping for a late lunch, we will meet back at the bus at promptly 4:30," Kristen said as all of the hungry teenagers walked smugly off the bus.
Gabriella and Troy walked side by side as they searched for a place to sit and eat their lunch.
Taylor and Chad gave each other hopeful glances as they watched the two laughing together.
"So, have you given any more thought about going to that school?" Troy asked as the two sat down by a man-made stone waterfall.
"Not really, no," Gabriella replied as the wind gently blew her hair against her face. "I mean there are so many great opportunities there, while there was so many back at home too," Gabriella went on as she pulled the flyaway hair away from her face.
Troy gently brushed a tiny strand out of Gabriella's eyes and tucked it behind her ear.
Gabriella smiled meekly and looked quickly down at her sandwich before Troy could notice her blushing.
—
Derek, had grown so attached to his new infatuation with Sharpay that it seemed like he wasn't even there. He followed her everywhere and often made mental notes of her habitual activities.
"So Sharpay, what's your favorite food?" Derek asked curiously as she trailed after Sharpay whom didn't seem to acknowledge the question.
"Biscotti? I don't know why don't you go hang out with your girlfriend Derek!" Sharpay scowled at him.
"Oh, right well I could do that later. Don't you want someone to carry your things for you?" Derek asked eagerly.
Sharpay stopped dead in her tracks and whipped around.
"Actually, yes. Ryan has suddenly decided to disappear and I do need someone to carry these heavy bags," She said helplessly.
Derek immediately grabbed Sharpay's handbag and continued to trail after her.
"Look at that piece of scum. No, he's not scum, he's the scum you scrape off of scum," Taylor said furiously as she watched Derek desperately hurry after Sharpay.
"Taylor, focus on Troy and Gabriella now," Chad said gently taking her head and facing it towards the two.
"Right, right!" Taylor said calming herself. "Come, come! I have an idea," she said grabbing Chad by the arm.
Taylor quickly whipped out her digital camera as she called to Troy and Gabriella.
"You guys! Go over there I want to get a picture!" Taylor instructed as Troy and Gabriella moved in front of the cascading waterfall.
"Closer you guys!" Chad called out as he ran over to them and shoved them closer to each other. "Perfect." He said with a satisfied smile, as he ran back over to Taylor.
Without really knowing what he was doing, Troy's arm gently wrapped around Gabriella's shoulder as Gabriella's arm soon felt an urge to creep around his waist. It was Troy's perfect moment, he was going to do it, he was going to...
"Guys wait for me!" Sharpay immediately jumped onto Troy's back just as Taylor snapped the picture.
The moment was gone.
"Sharpay!" Troy said angrily pushing her off his back.
"But Troy!" Sharpay whined.
"No Sharpay," Troy rolled his eyes. He felt like a father, parenting a six year old. This was unbelievable.
"Troy! Don't you care about me anymore?" Sharpay asked childly.
"Of course, just because we're over doesn't mean we can't still be friends," Troy said, attempting to cheer her up.
Sharpay burst into hysterics.
"There you go again with your jokes! Hah!" Sharpay laughed again, loud enough for Gabriella to hear the fun Sharpay was pretending to have.
"But Sharpay I-!" But Sharpay cut him off by kissing him gently on the lips. She paused for a moment, then left.
"Let's go everyone!" Cried Kristen as everyone emerged from sitting and began to migrate towards the bus.
Gabriella got up and looked at Troy, who was in a total daze.
Troy's untamable mane of hair flew into the wind as his Caribbean sea-colored eyes reflected Gabriella's long black curls.
"You coming Troy?" Gabriella asked was the wind blew her hair across her face.
"Yeah," Troy snapped himself back into reality. "Let's go," He stood up as they both walked off together.
—
The clouds began to gently swift over the setting sun. The wind picked up as the wildcats began to shiver.
The sky grew darker as the lights around them began to illuminate.
Gabriella grew cold and bundled herself up in a tiny powder blue shall that she had stuffed in her bag.
She swayed herself towards Derek who was walking silently by himself.
"Hey," she said meekly.
"Hey," he replied back, his voice almost too soft to hear.
Gabriella took in a deep breath. "Derek I think it's obvious that we've grown apart in these past few months," Gabriella said, getting strait to the point.
"You don't say?" replied Derek, who seemed to have no interest in the subject.
"Sometimes, I feel you don't even notice me anymore," Gabriella said quietly.
"I notice you," Derek replied in a monotone voice as he stared out into the distance.
Gabriella inconspicuously rolled her eyes as Derek gave her a tight, un-romantic squeeze. He hesitated for a moment, then kissed her quickly on her rose colored lips. It was then she realized, that when he kissed her...she felt nothing.
—
"26 bottles of pop on the wall, 26 bottles of pop! You take one down and pass it around now there's 25 bottles of pop on the wall!" The wildcats sung cheerfully on the bus ride back to the hotel.
Gabriella and Troy however, were the only ones who weren't joining in on the joyful singing. Neither one of them was in much of a party mood.
"Come on Troy, sing along!" Chad cheered as he urged his friend to join him.
Troy shook his head no and went on staring into the dark night that lay on the other side of the window.
"Come on Gabriella, you sang in front of the entire school. This will seem like nothing!" Abigail said encouraging her.
Gabriella too, declined Abigail's request and continued to stare at the floor blankly.
Her mind drifted to the thousands of people mourning at the memorials. (A/N ugh I really didn't think it was necessary to include all the memorials, I'll put some in later in the story) It depressed her, she felt so spoiled sitting here grieving over almost nothing. But it was the feeling of nothingness that made her grief.
—
Later that night, Troy sat on the edge of his comforter watching a movie intently. He continuously watched a certain part in the movie over and over again. It was at least 4 in the morning, but Troy did not care. He was going to get it right this time.
Suddenly, Chad awoke groggily from his sleep and rubbed his eyes. He squinted into the tv screen, then at Troy.
"Troy, what in the world are you doing?" Chad asked, seeming a bit annoyed.
"Watching a movie," Troy replied calmly as if it were completely natural to be watching a movie at 4'oclock in the morning.
Chad trotted off to the bathroom and mumbled something to himself. With the sound of a toilet flush, he came back out and looked blankly again, at the television screen.
"Now I like Pirates of the Caribbean as much as the next guy. But at 4 in the morning Troy?" Chad asked perplexed.
Troy shrugged his shoulders and re-round the DVD again.
"And of all scenes to be watching over and over again!" Chad rolled his eyes and took a dramatic pose. "Elizabeth! I should have told you since the moment I met you...I love you!" Chad said as he interpreted what was going on in the movie. "Dude your crazy," He chuckled as he strode off to bed.
"Yeah, for her," Troy turned off the tv and went to bed.
—
The bleak day before transformed itself into a warm and sunny morning. The wind gently danced through the skies pushing the clouds away from the blinding sun.
There really was a truth behind the theory that the weather affects your mood. Because everyone was as bright and joyful as the sun was.
The students skipped happily towards the busses that morning. Instead of their tired, groggily shuffles.
Gabriella admired Sharpay's blonde, fluffy curls that morning. The sun hit it in just the right laces for it to blind you if you looked to long at it.
"Look at her hair, what does she have it professionally styled every morning?" Remarked Taylor.
"I kinda like it," Gabriella replied meekly.
Taylor placed her hand over Gabriella's forehead pretending to take her fever.
"Are you feeling ok?" Taylor asked. "It must be the weather. And since when have you been siding with Sharpay?!"
"I'm not siding with her, I'm just saying her hair doesn't look bad," Gabriella replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"Who are you and what have you done with Gabriella?!" Taylor shirked jumping back.
Gabriella laughed as they took their seats on the bus.
—
"Welcome to the United States mint! Please follow me through this door to my right," said a tall, gray-haired man.
Gabriella gave Troy a playful nudge as Troy's face gave an excited smile.
"I hope they give out free money!" Troy whispered in Gabriella's ear enthusiastically recalling their conversation a few days ago.
"Eek don't whisper it tickles!" Gabriella shirked with a giggle.
"Oh yeah, well does this tickle?" Troy asked as he ran up and grabbed her by the waist and began to tickle her.
"Troy...Troy stop!" Gabriella giggled trying to catch her breath.
She squeezed her eyes shut and lightly hit him on the arm. She laughed constantly.
"Ahem." Their little tickle-tackle was inturrpted by the tall gray haired man who stood before them tapping his foot angrily. "This is a museum not a playground," he said with a snarl.
Troy gently put Gabriella to the floor.
"Oh we're sorry sir," she said straightening herself up.
Troy gave her a quick, loving glanced. Then turned to look at the man.
"Don't let it happen again, I've got my eye's on you two," the man put two fingers to his eyes then pointed them at Troy and Gabriella.
When he turned his back they began to giggle.
"Anyway, good morning students. My name is Stan and I will be your tour guide today." The man introduced himself.
"Now for starters, does anyone know what a mint is?" He asked the group.
Sharpay and Troy's hands both shot up and once. Troy stood on his tip-toes trying to get Stan's attention.
"Ah, the young blonde!" He said pointing in Sharpay's direction.
She cleared her throat. "The thing that the maids leave on your pillow after they make your bed!" She said with much self-confidence in her answer.
"Yes.. But no in this case," He replied as he inconspicuously rolled his eyes.
Troy's hand shot up once more.
"Ah, our young fugitive," He said with a smart grin.
Troy shot him a dirty glance, then opened his mouth to answer. "It is the place where the government makes money." He said trying to be articulate.
Gabriella giggled.
"Yes! Very good," he said surprised as they moved on.
Troy walked ahead with a confident stride. Gabriella ran up to him.
"See told you I'm smart," Troy said sticking his nose in the air.
"Hey, I never said you weren't," Gabriella replied with a chuckle.
"I mean someone as smart as me, shouldn't even have to finish high school!" Troy exclaimed.
"M-hm, whatever you say Troy," she said with a giggle.
Before they had time to start another conversation Sharpay quickly pulled her aside.
"Gabi, my dear friend," She said kindly as she pulled her off to the side where no one could hear them. "You keep your little hands off my man!" She burst out. Gabriella looked wide-eyed at her.
"Sharpay I-I have no idea what your talking about," Gabriella replied meekly.
"Oh yes you do, I won't say anymore as long as you stop!" She said angrily as she charged away.
Gabriella silently walked back to the group, looking down at her feet sadly.
—
"Ugh how boring is this dude," Chad moaned. Looking over at Troy.
Troy turned to search around for Gabriella but she was no where in sight.
"Yeah, boring," Troy said, really not paying attention.
"This here ladies and gentleman is the first dollar!" Stan exclaimed unveiling a dollar bill, framed in an average black frame.
The group seemed less than excited.
Stan walked away unhappily as the group began to chatter.
Chad and Troy went up to the picture.
"The dollar would be so much more interesting if Jessica Alba was on it, instead of George Washington," Chad remarked with a chuckle.
"Yeah Jessica and George," Troy searched around for Gabriella again.
"Dude who are you looking for sheesh!" Chad said looking around he walked off towards Taylor.
"Tay, what's up with Troy?" Chad asked her.
"I don't know, but I could say the same thing about Gabriella. I can't find her anywhere!" Replied Taylor.
"Well looks like we've got a case on our tail sherlock McKessie!" Chad said happily.
—
Meanwhile, Kelsi sat silently on a bench tapping her foot and scribbling something on her paper. She looked down at it, as her glasses fell to the tip of her nose.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Abigail asked as she sat beside her friend.
Kelsi tilted her glasses back up to her eyes.
"Writing a duet for Troy and Gabriella, but don't tell them. It's a surprise, I want them to sing it as a little extra at the end of the musical," Kelsi said.
"Can I see?" Abigail asked reaching for the notebook.
"Kelsi gestured it out to her.
"It's not very good, but it's a start," Kelsi said shrugging her shoulders as Abigail read the song.
"Kelsi! This is amazing!" Abigail squealed.
"You think?" Kelsi asked unsurely.
"Of course! This is some of your best work ever!" Abigail squealed again.
"Thanks," Kelsi said modestly.
"And Troy and Gabriella are going to love it!" Abigail said.
"I sure hope Mrs. Darbus let's me add it in," Kelsi hoped.
"If she doesn't, then she'll have to deal with me!" Abigail said punching her fist into the palm of her hand.
Kelsi giggled.
A moment after Gabriella walked past them, with her head titled to the floor.
"Hey Gabriella," Kelsi said, but Gabriella ignored her.
"What did I do?" Kelsi asked Abigail once Gabriella had past.
"It's probably just a Troy thing, let me talk to her," Abigail said excusing herself as she ran over to talk to her friend.
Kelsi straightened her army-green messenger hat, and went on writing.
—
"Gabriella! Gabriella! Wait up!" Cried Abigail as she raced up to talk to her.
Gabriella moved at the same pace, ignoring her.
"Gabriella, what's wrong?" Abigail asked, once she caught up with her.
Gabriella hung her head down sadly.
"Gabriella tell me, please I want to help," Abigail said compassionately.
Gabriella looked up and stared at Abigail for a minute or two. Then, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her aside.
"Ok..."Abigail said aloud as Gabriella dragged her away to a small alcove in the museum. "Now will you tell me why your acting like this?" Abigail asked.
Gabriella looked up. Tears were gently streaming down her face, but Abigail knew she was trying to hold back.
"What happened?" Abigail asked softly.
"Once again, my life has been totally ruined by Sharpay," Gabriella said unhappily as she plopped herself down on a nearby bench.
Abigail slowly sat down to join her.
"What did she do now?" Abigail groaned.
"Just when I think that Troy and I actually have a chance, she goes ahead and ruins it!" Gabriella said, sniffing in her tears.
"Oh Gabriella," Abigail said patting her shoulder. "I'm so sorry,"
"That's it! I give up, Troy is her's I don't care anymore," Gabriella said crossing her arms.
"Now Gabriella, you don't mean that," Abigail said compassionately.
"Yes I do, I don't want to deal with this anymore!" Gabriella said.
Abigail looked at Gabriella softly through her glasses.
"If your going to let one person stand in your way of what you want, then your not the person I thought you were," A voice from behind them said.
Abigail turned to look, her eyes widened when she realized who it was.
Soon after, Gabriella turned around.
"Mr. O'Flalley?" Gabriella questioned.
"If you really like this boy, you shouldn't let one person stand in your way of true love," he said advised.
"But you don't get it I'm dealing with-" He stopped her.
"It doesn't matter if it is the queen of England! Gabriella, you have a voice. Learn to use it." He said walking away.
Gabriella looked at Abigail.
"And by the way, you are a beautiful, intellegent and anazing girl. Don't let Sharpay tell you otherwise," Mr O'Flalley said with a smile. Gabriella gave him a warm smile back as he left.
"Did Mr. O'Flalley just advise your love life?" Abigail asked perplexed.
"I think he did," Gabriella said with a smile. "Come on, lets go," Gabriella said grabbing Abigail to her feet.
"Great, more pulling!" Abigail whined as she let Gabriella drag her away.
—
"Ladies and Gentleman. We will stay in these areas until around 9o'clock so enjoy it while you can." Kristen said as she let the group walk around freely.
The orange sky was reflected in the reflecting pool by the Washington Monument. The sun hit the statue of Abraham Lincoln perfectly, everyone raced over for pictures. The cherry blossoms around the park were just about to bloom.
Gabriella watched her classmates race up the steps to the monument, but Gabriella knew better than them. The best time for pictures was after the sunset, so she waited by the cherry blossoms.
She at her reflection in the reflecting pool. Did Mr. O'Flalley really mean what he said? About me being beautiful, smart and amazing. She didn't know but she wasn't in the mood to analyze things now. She was still soaking it all in.
The wind blew her hair from side to side as she constantly put it behind her ear. She kept brushing cherry blossoms out of her black hair but it seemed impossible.
Suddenly, she saw a figure standing over her in her reflection. She quickly whipped around to find Troy, standing beside her.
He reached over and pulled the flower out of her hair and stuck it behind her ear.
"You missed one," He said softly.
"Than-" But before she had a chance to say anything more, he immediately leaned in to kiss her.
She was surprised and tense at first but then loosened up, Troy cupped her chin in his hand and passionately continued to kiss her.
Finally, they both broke apart.
"Gabriella, I should have told you this from the beginning, I never stopped loving you, and I probably never will stop." He said.
"Oh Troy," She said quietly.
"I mean I can totally understand if you don't like me anymore but-" But this time it was her turn. She stopped him within mid-sentence and kissed him just as he kissed her.
"So I guess that means you still like me huh?" Troy said with a smile.
Gabriella giggled as they walked off.
It finally happened.
—
Little did they know that they were being watched the whole time. Cheers and whistles burst out as they emerged to where everyone was standing. Gabriella and Troy giggled the entire time. But not everyone was as joyful.
The sun had already set, and people were returning to the Abraham Lincoln memorial for more pictures.
Gabriella walked happily on the edge of the reflecting pool, she never stopped smiling.
"I warned you Gabriella," an angry voice said from behind her.
"Huh?" Gabriella whipped around to find Sharpay standing angrily behind her.
"Sure, you come off as this sweet innocent girl, but behind that. Your devious," Sharpay snarled.
"Sharpay you don't understand," Gabriella said nervously.
"But now your going to-" Before she could finish she slipped and fell directly into the reflecting pool.
She emerged as she spat out water and screamed. Everyone around them was laughing hysterically.
Gabriella looked around at them, and then she did something she never thought she would ever do in her life.
She extended a hand to Sharpay. Sharpay glared at it for a moment.
"It's a hand, take it," Gabriella said extending it out further.
Sharpay looked around then gave in and took the hand and pulled herself to her feet. Sharpay carefully got out of the water as Gabriella handed her a towel, that was rushed over to by Kristen.
Sharpay gave a small smile to Gabriella, and Gabriella could have almost sworn that before Sharpay left her, she mumbled a small 'thanks.'
—
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Hope you all enjoyed that chapter!!!! Please note that this is not the end of the story! There is lots more to come!!
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