Nothing Still

Part Three

It was the day of.

Gabriella lay in bed, feigning sleep. She couldn't get up just yet. She just needed a few more moments of peace before delving straight into the deepest depths of her wildest nightmare.

Suddenly, the bed shook. Gabriella gasped and sat up bolt right. Ryan smiled devilishly.

"Good morning, Cinderella," he paused and took in her mane of messy curls, "You look darling."

Gabriella had already been squinting from the sudden cast of sunlight, but now she was just glaring. She felt her face might stay clenched up like that forever. It was the stiffness of the morning. She sighed and put a hand over her forehead.

"God, Ryan, what time is it?" she pleaded.

Ryan glanced down at his watch where he stood at the end of her bed. He looked back up with a smile.

"It's time to face the rest of your life."

He held out to Gabriella a cup of coffee he had been holding all this time. It smelled delicious and warm, inviting. But if she had to choose between facing her pain, thus foregoing the coffee, or sleeping off the pain—the pick was obvious.

"Oh good," she croaked, "Wake me up when it's over." Gabriella slammed back into her pillows and whipped the covers over her head. "Actually," she started once under the blankets, her voice muffled, "don't wake me. Just leave me alone."

"I beg you: don't be melodramatic about this. It's actually very annoying." Ryan sat down at the foot of the bed.

Gabriella glared from under the covers. "I'm sorry that you find my pain and regret so bothersome." Her voice was laced with bitterness. She kicked him in the leg. He swayed slightly, indifferent to it.

"Well, we can't all have my amazing show of apathy. It's tiring after some time—not caring about anyone but myself."

"Yeah?" she scoffed.

"That's why I'm here with you, Gabby. I mean, somebody's gotta get your lazy bum OUT OF BED!"

Ryan yanked back the covers so viciously, they didn't just fall off Gabriella, they were flung across the room. She uncurled herself slowly and looked at him with a blank expression of surprise. He stared back.

"You could've just said please."

Ryan smiled. "I'm not good with formalities."

"Clearly."

"C'mon," Ryan stood and held out his hand, "Get up."

Gabriella sighed. No matter how many feet-stomping, hair-pulling, crocodile-tear tantrums she could pull, it wouldn't deter Ryan. Not a bit. But more than that, it wouldn't change what was coming. It wouldn't make Troy and Sharpay break off their wedding. It wouldn't wash away the tortured love inside her. There was really nothing she could do.

-x-x-x-

She took a guttural breath; her stomach protruded as she exhaled.

Gabriella gazed at the mirror once again, hopelessly. Except this time, she looked gorgeous. Ryan had gone out and bought her a new dress for the ceremony. It was navy blue, a thick band around the high waist; the sleeveless straps ran down into a cupped v-neck, and hung slightly before her knees. Her hair was curled, voluptously, and rested on her shoulders softly. The only shred of black Ryan let her put on were a pair of strappy heels.

But on the inside she felt ugly. The hurting wouldn't go away. It drove her insane—she just wanted to let go; the weight of the situation was pushing on her chest, and it was bound to leave a nasty purple bruise. Right now, she wished Troy would simply disappear. She didn't want to want him, but of course, her heart had something else to say.

There was a tap on the door.

"I'm decent."

There was a tsk as the door opened, "That's too bad." Gabriella rolled her eyes. But when Ryan strolled in the room, she couldn't stop herself from gazing.

He looked so … suave. His fitted, designer tux was jet black and sleek. His hair was perfectly spiked, and his smirk of a smile made the temperature in the room spike too. Gabriella's brows rose without permission. She cleared her throat and tore her desperate eyes away.

"You clean up well," she said casually.

"No, I clean up extremely well."

"And you just ruined it," she shot him a look. He chuckled and came up behind Gabriella. They watched their reflection in the mirror. "We make a great team, I think," she commented quietly.

Ryan nodded, and pulled a small black box out of his pants pocket. He flipped open the lid and held it in front of her. Gabriella's mouth formed a soft 'O'. Inside were diamond stud earrings, glinting in the light.

"I figured you didn't have a pair, so I just—"

"Oh, Ryan, they're beautiful," she whispered. She turned around and flashed him a grin that could melt any man's heart. He had to roll his eyes.

"Hey, hey, don't get any ideas—I didn't get for sentimental value, I got them so your bare ears wouldn't embarrass us."

"Us?" Gabriella glanced up from backing the diamond in her left ear.

"Yes. You and me. That's what that means."

She smirked at him. He lowered his eyes in return. "What?"

Gabriella smiled and shook her head. She finished putting in the earrings and pranced closer to the mirror to examine their astounding beauty. A thought came to mind. She ran to her dresser and opened the wooden jewelery box on top. She rifled through it until she pulled out a modest diamond bracelet. She looked up to Ryan with a small smile.

"I think it's a perfect match."

Ryan followed after her and gingerly held the bracelet in his hand, his expression almost smug. He nodded slightly and handed it back. She snapped it on and ran to the closet to grab her black pocketbook.

"This is probably a bit tacky to ask—"

"Then don't say it!" she called from inside the closet.

"You know I can't resist. Where on earth did you get that bracelet, anyway?"

With a jolt, Gabriella ceased all movement. She was inside the dark closet searching for her bag in a pile of clutter when the realization punched her. It was Troy who had bought her the bracelet. She swallowed, picked up the purse and walked out of the closet. She looked at Ryan and shrugged.

"I don't remember."

"Okay, I'll pretend I believe you."

"That would be good."

Ryan rolled his eyes, swinging his arm towards the door. "Let's do this."

Gabriella sighed. "I have to go the the bathroom first." Ryan shrugged. "You can go, I'll just be a minute."

He grabbed his things and got into the car just like she asked. Gabriella walked into the bathroom, closed the door, and sat down on the toilet lid. And she began to weep.

Okay, I promise that you'll see Troypay and the wedding in the next chapter. Oh and I have extended it from a threeshot to a fiveshot, because I just have to. :P

Also, I would like to give a heartwarming shout out to RememberxDecember, lol. I mean, she's an avid Troypay supporter and yet here she is telling me how much she likes my Gabriella story. That to me, is an honor. So TY, kiddo, TY! :D

Okay, enjoy. And I hope it wasn't too short. :)