Gabriella pulled herself together and took three deep breaths as she settled. On the count of three she made her way to the door only to watch it swing open and Chad step in. She became still as his eyes narrowed at her. "You alright?"
"I'm fine." She said in squeak, panic was settling in.
Noting no one else in the bathroom he let the door close behind him. "Are you going to tell Taylor about what happen earlier?" he said shoving his hand in his pockets.
Awareness of fear, Gabriella let out a breath. She was aware she was afraid of Chad because one he was a man and two because he had her cornered. Gabriella bit her lip and shook her head. "No," she said.
"Why not?" he asked,
Playing with time, Gabriella put her focus into him rather than getting past him and out the door. "I'm not sure she's going to be too happy with me if I do."
"So then that's it." Chad said with a raised brow. "You're just going to let it go?"
Practicing generosity, if she just gave him what he wanted, he might let her leave.
"Let what go?" The sound of Taylor's voice made them both jump. "What the fuck is going on?"
"Nothing," Chad and Gabriella said in unison.
"Nothing my black ass, are you fucking her?" she said leaning hard to push Chad against the bathroom stall.
"What?" Chad panicked and his voice cracked. "Baby what are you talking about?"
"Why are you in here Chad?" Taylor said shoving his head with her hand. "Is it her?" Taylor asked rising a hand to point to Gabriella.
"I don't know what you're talking about?" Chad said backing up a little. "But you need to chill."
"Don't you tell me to chill!" She said smacking the side of his head.
"Alright," Gabriella said bringing her hands up as calmly as she could manage. "Let's just take a deep breath,"
"Shut up Tramp," Taylor barked as she looked back at Chad. "Why did you follow her in here?"
"I'm leaving," Gabriella said letting out a breath and making her way for the door.
"Hold on," Taylor grabbed Gabriella by the arm and Gabriella stopped abruptly.
"Don't touch me." Gabriella said under her breath but audible. Pulling her arm free she continued to walk out the door and into the bar area. Her focus set for the front door everything else blurring out around her leaving behind the rushing sound of blood to her ears.
The door flew open behind her and Taylor came out furious. "Who do you think you are?" Taylor Yanked on Gabriella's arm to stop her but in two quick moves Gabriella reached for a taser from her back pocket and bringing it up to Taylor neck. "I said don't touch me,"
The bar when quite as everyone now turned their attention to Gabriella and Taylor. Chad, now behind Taylor and reaching around to bring Taylor behind him, stared down at the black device with caution. "She has a taser," he murmured as he took a few steps back.
The bartender was quickly at their side "Miss," The bar tender said sternly. "This place as a low tolerance for violence," reaching for the phone he watched as Gabriella refused to move.
Gabriella started to shake as she kept the taser and pointed at her attacker. "Don't touch me." she repeated. He was laughing at her mocking her attempt at bravery. "Stop it." She said between clenched teeth. Her hand jerked and everyone around her shifted as they took a step back.
"I'm sorry," Taylor said in a low voice.
"It's alright," Troy's voice sounded as he came to Gabriella side and looking around at all parties involved then back at Gabriella, "Hey," he said slowly.
She didn't move her focus. It was as if she was looking at someone only she could see. "Don't," she whispered.
"I'm going to call the cops." The guy behind the bar said.
"Just wait a second." Troy came closer to her side motioning to the bartender that everything was alright, "I'm right here, no one is going to touch you," Troy stood close but careful not to graze against her as he brought his hand over the one holding the taser. "Do you trust me?"
Gabriella's eyes shifted from what she was looking at to Troy and something flickered inside, as if in recognition of how close he was. Then there was a melting effect in her brown eyes and Troy could help but gasp as he saw her in such vulnerability.
"Do you trust me?" He repeated softer.
Slowly she nodded, and he dropped his hand slowly so there hands touched and he carefully brought her hand down using his other hand to take the taser and he shoved it into his back pocket.
Troy let out a breath and he raised a brow to Taylor and Chad in warning. "I advise that this argument is over for the moment." he said placing a soft and gentle hand on Gabriella shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Gabriella said again looking up at Taylor and Chad.
"It's not your fault." Martha came back taking Gabriella's hand, "Let's go outside," she said with a soft smile. "Get some fresh air."
Gabriella turned slowly and began to walk out of the bar but letting her go out ear shot Martha turned around and raised a brow at Taylor, "Before accusing anyone I suggest you take a long hard look at that blondie."
Troy eyes landed hard on Sharpay as she stood there with her arms crossed. Martha passed by his glaze and he his eyes shifted to Gabriella who was walking outside. People had turned around and they were going back to their conversations and Troy placed his hands on his hips. "Someone explain. Now."
"It's you isn't it." Taylor said staring at Sharpay, a frown came over her features as she let a tear roll down her face.
"Taylor we can explain," Chad said with a sigh.
"What's going on?" Troy said looking at Chad. "Explain what?"
"Why my boyfriend and your ex-girlfriend are screwing behind our back." Taylor said bringing a hand to her wipe her cheek.
"Tay," Chad went to place a hand on her shoulder and she blocked him, "Just don't." she said turning to face him. "We're done." She said with annoyance as she walked away through the crowd shoving Sharpay in the shoulder as she made her way out.
Troy eyes looked at Chad then at Sharpay. His stomach flipped and his insides began to twist. "You told me there was no one else," he said looking over at Sharpay.
When she didn't respond he turned to Chad. "And you're my best friend."
"Dude," Chad brought both hands to the back of his neck. "It just happened, we didn't mean to-"
"What in the process of being my best friend you happen to trip and my girlfriend's vagina broke your fall?" He said bring a hand up to his temple.
"Troy," Sharpay said in low voice.
"You have a lot of nerve, you know that?" Troy said instantly turning towards her. "You threaten me for having a slight interest in someone else and you're fucking him behind my back?" Troy looked back at Chad who had shoved his hands in his pocket. "You both deserve each other." He said with a frown as he turned to leave. "Go to hell."
Troy turned to leave his face greeted with the cool air of the night, turning to the right Taylor was leaning on the side of the building her shoulder shaking with sobs, on his left Gabriella and her friend were standing there quietly staring out into the street. With a sigh he turned right and came to Taylor's side placing a hand on her shoulder. "I seems like asking if your okay is the stupidest question in the world right now," he asked as he watched her wipe tears from her face.
"She was my friend Troy, how could she do this to me?" Taylor said between sobs.
"I know," Troy said pulling her to him for a hug.
Martha watched as Troy held Taylor close. "You know we have to work on your vocabulary." She said nudging Gabriella, "You said he was fat."
Gabriella looked up at Martha in disbelief. "I said nothing of the sort."
"Healthy?" Martha said with a raised brow. "You said he was healthy."
Gabriella looked over at Troy, "Well he is," she said with a shrug.
"No that man is a can of Campbell's chicken soup cause he is mmm-mmm good." She said with a giggle as Gabriella let out a hushing noise as she looked over at Troy and Taylor.
"What if he heard you?" Gabriella said looking back at Martha and nudging her.
"What if he had?" Martha said with a shrug, "He's hot, and guy like that, he knows it."
Gabriella bit her lip as she looked back at Troy and Taylor. "I wonder what's going to happen now?" she said looking back at Martha.
"I think you and your room mate are going to be really close." Martha said with a sigh.
"How do you figure?" Gabriella said looking over at Martha.
"Because now you both have trust issues," She said nonchalantly.
Gabriella rolled her eyes as she leaned back against the brick of the building looking out into the street and thinking about his blue eyes looking back at her and how they gave her Goosebumps. How just a simple touch of his hand and she was almost a light weight drunk off the sensations he sent zinging through her.
Troy came up to them with Taylor who was still sniffling following behind. "If we can all get along, I can give you girls a ride back to campus." Troy said with a sigh.
"Sounds like a plan to me."
Troy nodded and pulled his keys out of his pocket, "I'm parked around the corner." he said as he begun to walk.
Taylor came alongside Gabriella and took a deep breath. "I am so sorry, I should have known Sharpay was messing with my head." she said crossing her arms. "If you want I can find somewhere else to stay for a while until we can switch rooms or something?" she said between sniffles. Even in the street lights Gabriella could see her makeup smeared and her eyes puffy. She instantly felt horrible for her.
"You don't have to go anywhere," Gabriella said with a small shrug, "It's alright, like I said before, we're in this together."
Taylor smiled and turned to offer her a hug and Gabriella welcomed it, the feel of human contact for once not making her feel cold or distant but this time warm and close.
Up ahead Troy looked over at Martha, "Troy," he said holding out his hand. "You go to school around here?"
Martha smiled as she took his hand. "No, I go to Stanford. I'm Gabi's old roommate."
Troy nodded, "I see,"
They walked in quite for a while the murmurs of Taylor and Gabriella talking behind them. They were saying something about the need to go shopping to cleanse the room of all Sharpay and Chad essence. Sharpay and Chad. Chad and Sharpay. Troy twisted the idea of it all around in his head, either way he thought about he was still left with a bitter taste of betrayal. It was going to take some serious time to get other this. Troy shoved his hands in his pockets and let out a breath, "So how long was she with this guy?"
Martha narrowed her eyes as she looked at him in confusion. "Who? And what guy?" Martha raised a brow. "Salt and Pepper back there?"
"No." Troy said pushing the image further from his mind. After a moment Troy shrugged "The ex-boyfriend, the one who used her for a punching bag?" he said motioning towards Gabriella.
Martha looked back at Gabriella who was smiling at something Taylor said. "Is that what you think happened to her?"
"It's the only thing that makes sense," Troy said looking out at some of the cars passing by. "Someone hurt her, didn't they?"
Martha crossed her arms over her chest as she looked down at the ground, "yeah, someone her hurt,"
Troy watched Martha avoid his glaze. "Did he at least get what was coming to him?" Troy said as a fear settled in the pit of his stomach.
"He got 10 years, killed himself before he ever served a day of it." Martha said looking up at him. "He got to chicken out and what does she get?" Martha bit her lip. "None of it is fair."
"What happened?" Troy asked feeling his own throat get a little tighter.
"It's not my place to say." Martha said as they came to a stop in front of his car, "you're going to have to ask her that yourself.
Troy nodded as Gabriella and Taylor who were still talking came to a stop behind them as well.
When they got back to the dorm Martha suggested they watch Pretty Woman for a pick me up. Just as they were dividing Troy's hand reached out and to lightly touch Gabriella's catching her attention and motioning for to stay behind for a moment. When they were alone he eyes softened, "I believe this is yours?" he said pulling the taser from his back pocket. "You know technically I shouldn't be giving this back to you, seeing as how you just tried to use it on your roommate." Troy let out a sigh as he looked at it in his hands. "But … for you I'll make an exception." He said softer as he handed it to her.
"Thanks," Gabriella said taking it from him and putting it in her back pocket.
"You alright?" Troy said shifting his eyes to watch as Taylor and Martha entered the room closing the door behind them.
"I'm fine," Gabriella said with a small smile as she looked down at their hands, his hand held hers lightly loosely she could pull away at any moment."Thanks for everything, back there at the bar," she said not meeting his eyes.
Using his free hand he titled her face up to meet his and he brushed some hair out of her face tucking it behind her ear, enjoying the ability to finally touch her. To confirm that her hair was as silky soft as it looked and her skin as warm and electric as he thought it to be. His blue eyes glazed into her brown eyes and his eyes suddenly on spotted a faint scar by her left eye. His hand came up gently allowing his finger to touch the scar lightly. "What happened to you?" he asked in a soft voice.
Pulling away from him she bit her bottom lip as she lifted her hands to brush her hair back behind her ears. "I really don't want to talk about it," she said looking up again. "I better get back to Taylor and Martha," she said beginning to walk backwards and away from him.
"Wait," he said letting his hand fall to his sides as he took a step forward. "Remember where we are,"
Gabriella eyes narrowed as she stared at him questioningly. "What?"
"It seems like every time we take a step forward you take two back," he said coming up to her slowly. "I don't know, but I'd just really like to be the guy that doesn't make you flinch every time I come to close." He said bringing his left hand up slowly to touch her cheek and brush it with the pad of his thumb. "Just," he said paused as if he had so much more to say, and there was. There was so much he wanted to say, so many ways he wanted to say it but at the moment he couldn't think of anything else but the feel of her warm skin under his thumb. "Remember where we are." He finished his blue eyes bouncing from side to side taking her in as if she would disappear at any moment.
Gabriella nodded as she reached her hand up to take his. "Why do you care so much?"
"I already told you," Troy said with a smirk. "Those big brown eyes of yours are begging me too."
Gabriella felt a smile tug at her lips as she nodded. "I'll remember." She said before pulling away from him and making her way to her room before pausing to look back at him once more with a smile on her lips.