Thorn of the Rose Chapter 6, a high school musical fanfic

Gabriella ducked into school a few days before the callbacks and began to plan her next move. "Okay, okay…How do I get Troy and Sharpay to fall in love? I can't very well shoot them with arrows! Well…I could…but that would kill them…which would be bad. Okay, focus!" She muttered to herself, pacing in front of her locker.

"Maybe I could get them to pair off for the callbacks instead!" She clapped, "But how? Ugh! This is so frustrating!" She groaned, raking her fingers through her hair.

Just then a girl came in, grappling with her backpack and crutches. Gabriella quickly ran to her and grabbed her bag before she fell.

"Thanks!" The girl gasped gratefully, "I hate these things! I can't do anything!" She exclaimed.

While she was helping the girl, Gabriella thought of a plan; A perfectly simple but deviously complicated plan that would ensure that she would be out of the running.

Later on, during lunch, Gabriella walked across the balcony overlooking the cafeteria and pretended to be surveying for a seat. She glanced at Ryan and silently apologized for her next move then turned towards the staircase.

She pressed her eyes closed and slid off the top step so she tumbled forward and crashed down the steps, taking people out along the way. The whole room went silent as she finally came to a stop, crumpled on the ground.

Then pandemonium exploded; someone ran to get the nurse while Taylor and Troy sprinted to her side. Gabriella was a little disappointed that she wasn't in more pain, the most she'd done was painfully twist her wrist and she could feel her ankle swelling.

Ms. Darbus rushed inside and knelt beside her, "Ms. Montez, can you hear me?" She half-shouted into Gabriella's face.

Gabriella winced and bit back a sardonic remark, "Yes." She groaned.

"You, Ryan and you, Troy, help her up! On with it!" She demanded and Gabriella felt herself being pulled to her feet. She tested a little weight on her ankle and cried out while slipping again.

Troy and Ryan tightened their grips on her then Troy put his arm around her and lifted her up. Ryan slid his arms under her back to give extra support and together, they carefully carried her to the nurse.

While the nurse was wrapping her ankle, Gabriella started crying. She didn't think it would hurt this bad! Troy was sitting next to her, holding her hand while Ryan was leaning against the door, pinning her with his gaze.

When the nurse was done, Ms. Darbus came in and sat down on the other side of the bed. "Well, Ms. Montez, how do you feel?"

"Uh, okay, I guess." Gabriella whispered, clutching the blanket tightly.

"Do you want me to call your mother or do you feel up to finishing the day?" She asked gently. Everyone's eyes widened; no one had ever seen Ms. Darbus be kind to anyone before!

"Um, well, it's just…I'm supposed to rehearse with Troy after school!" She exclaimed, happy that more tears were spilling over.

Troy patted her arm, "It's alright, Gabriella, we can rehearse some other time!" He comforted.

"But the callbacks," She sobbed, "Are tomorrow!" She was gasping for breath now.

"Oh yes!" Ms. Darbus realized, "Well, my dear, we cannot have a star on crutches. I'm very sorry, maybe the spring musical." She actually did seem sorry too.

Gabriella started crying harder. Ryan looked a little upset himself but Troy looked relieved. "Oh Troy," Gabriella simpered, "I'm so sorry!" She gasped.

"No, Gabriella, it's alright! Don't worry about it!" He was getting uncomfortable.

"Yes, well, I'm sorry Troy. Unless you can find another partner, you won't be able to perform tomorrow." Ms. Darbus sighed.

"Well, what if Troy performed with Sharpay?" Gabriella silently apologized to Ryan again.

Ryan's eyes widened. "What?!" He demanded, staring at Gabriella.

Gabriella squirmed under his hot gaze and looked away, "I mean, Troy and Sharpay could partner together and maybe Ryan and Sharpay could still do their thing!"

"You're suggesting that Sharpay perform twice?" Ms. Darbus furrowed her brow.

"Well, only if Ryan really wants to audition. If not, she would only have to perform once!" Everyone turned towards Ryan, who was still only looking at Gabriella. Gabriella forced herself to look back.

"If Troy really wants to, I suppose I can step down."

Gabriella had no idea why, but she began to cry again.

"I, uh, well…" Troy stammered.

"Why, Mr. Evans! I'm surprised! Well, if that's what you want, then okay. Tomorrow, Troy and Sharpay will do their callback and if I am not impressed, Mr. Evans will have his chance."

"Wait, Ms. Darbus, only one night?!" Troy squeaked looking petrified.

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that…Well, today's Thursday so how about Monday. That gives you the weekend to prepare. Good luck, Mr. Bolton." She nodded curtly and returned to her classroom.

Troy sighed heavily, "Sorry, Ryan." He mumbled, "I should go tell Sharpay…" He slouched out of the room as well.

Ryan turned back towards Gabriella, "Do you want me to give you a ride home?" He asked quietly.

Gabriella gaped at him, 'I just took away his favorite thing to do and he still likes me?! Oh, wow…' "Don't you have class?" She asked, trying to sit up but falling back.

"Free period, I can sign us out and take you home and be back with enough time to still change my books and meander to class." He gave her a half-grin.

"Um, sure, okay, I guess." Gabriella struggled to a sitting position but her wrist gave out and she started to fall back again. Ryan stepped forward and grabbed her around the waist then gently lifted her into his arms, bride style. He lowered her slightly so she could lift her backpack then carried her out to his car.

While they were driving, Ryan turned on the radio and Corbin Bleu and Vanessa Hudgens' song Still There for Me came on:

Lately I've been thinking
About the things that we've been through
And I don't know if I'd be here,
If not for you

I had to take a little time
To try to work things out
And You should know that
I have never meant
To let you down

Cause I, I
Wanna tell you that I'm sorry
And I, I
Even when I'm not giving enough
And I'm taking too much
You're still there for me
Even when I got nothing at all
And I'm ready to fall
You're still there for me
There for me
There for me

Even when I can't be there for you
You're always there for me

Sometimes I know I can be
So hard to understand (It's ok)
Even when I'm lost
You show me who I really am
Life with me hasn't always been an easy ride
But because of you I've learned
To lose my selfish pride

Even when I can't be there for you
Oh you're always there for me yeah

Oh no it's love
Ooooouuhhh (Oooohhh)
It must be love
Ooohhh
It's gotta be real love (It's gotta be real love)

Even when I'm not giving enough
And I'm taking too much
You're still there for me
Even when I got nothing at all
And I'm ready to fall
You're still there for me
There for me
There for me

Even when I can't be there for you (When I can't be there)
Even when I can't be there for you
You're always there for me…

Gabriella listened to the lyrics and giggled at how much it sounded like her and Ryan. 'I mean, all I have done is try to take the lead from him then I kicked him out of the running and he's still nice to me! Goodness, I can't even stand myself at this point!'

Ryan glanced at her, "What are you giggled about?"

"Nothing." She giggled even harder.

"It doesn't sound like nothing!" He laughed, glancing at her again.

"It's just…the song and the situation and stuff!" Then she blushed, realizing what she had said.

Ryan hid his smile, "And here I was thinking you were giggling at me!"

"Never!" Gabriella replied, "I would never giggle at you…while you're around."

"Haha, very funny. Is this your street?" He asked, slowing down so she could look.

"Yeah…uh no!" She blushed harder.

"Way to know where you live." He teased, speeding up again.

"How about here?"

"Nope."

They continued like these for about five streets when suddenly Gabriella screamed, "That one!"

Ryan peeled out and cut the turn closely. Gabriella clapped a hand over her heart and closed her eyes.

"Are you alright?" Ryan asked, breathing heavily.

Gabriella nodded faintly, her eyes still closed.

Ryan reached over and took her hand, "We're okay." He whispered, squeezing her hand slighlty then letting go.

Gabriella opened her eyes and looked at Ryan, "Okay." She knew he meant they were okay in the sense that they weren't dead from a car accident, but she pretended he also meant her forced injury used to jeapordize him was okay too.

He pulled into her house and lifted her up again then carried her up the steps. Her mom wasn't home, she was working so Ryan brought Gabriella into the living room and put her down on the couch.

He handed her the remote and put her backpack within reach then without being asked, made her a turkey sandwich and brought her a bottle of water and some advil.

"Rest up, don't put weight on your ankle and feel free to call or text me if anything goes wrong." He instructed, writing his cell number on a piece of paper and putting it on the table in front of her.

"Thank you so much, Ryan." Gabriella grabbed his wrist and kissed the top of his hand. He stared at her for a long while, until his eyes blurred from not blinking, "You're welcome, Gabriella. Bye." He turned and walked out of the house, the sunlight casting an angelic glow around him.

Meanwhile, Troy had told Sharpay all about the conversation in the nurse's office. After she was done screaming and freaking out she turned to him, dejected.

"Okay, since I absolutely have to work with you, meet me at my house tonight around 5 and we can work on our song there."

"Uh, okay." Troy was so not looking forward to spending an evening at the Ice Queen's palace.

After Troy had walked towards his next class, Sharpay leaned against her pink locker and tried to evade a migraine, "We are so screwed…"

Well, there we have it! A little impromptu plan! I honestly have no idea where this came from and this was not my original plan, but it does conincide with the story and it adds so much flavor! Woooh! So, any ideas for what song Sharpay and Troy should sing? Maybe I should've saved 'Still There for Me' for them…Oh well, I'll think of something! By the way, the song's not mine, it's Corbin's and sorry if the lyrics are wrong, I didn't really feel like proof reading! Thank you for the feedback, please keep it coming! Much love!