"The Pianist"

~Chapter Eleven~

She tosses and turns, throwing the sheets and blankets about her small form and burying her face in the overly plush pillows. She groans, how can they expect her to sleep? How? Her father is in the next room wounded and there...there's a...an attractive man who she wishes would just..touch her again- stop that carriage before it goes any further, she mentally slaps herself. Sighing, she sits up in the bed...looking around; it's dawn- well, nearly, the sun has only thirty or so minutes to rise -and the maid who gave her this cotton gown (she didn't take the apron; that'd be too much) had suggested she get some rest.

Graciously, Gabriella accepted. Mistake that was to do, she can't sleep; not when everytime she closes her eyes she see's a pair of blue - pale blue - staring blindly back at her. Feels his hands on her. Feels her legs wrap around his strong sturdy waist when clearly she is alone in this bed. There is two things she must consider, one, she is slowly losing all her reasoning to becoming a lust crazed, love sick puppy and two, she is just going insane to the point where she thinks she must be committed.
Immediately.

"I'm losing it.." she mutters, running her fingers through her hair and tossing back the sheets; stepping on to the floor. Her fingers twitch, and her mouth is a small 'O' as she yawns, walking to the double doors. Where are Lorana and David? She hasn't seen them since...well, it was before she ran away...and now it's as if they had vanished off the face of the earth. She shuts the doors quietly, tiptoeing to the chamber that housed her papa; she needs to see if he's well.

She just hopes the Healer isn't there...he'd probably tell her to leave again.

And she really wants to see her papa. To speak with him.

Pain. That's what shoots through him every time he attempts a movement or makes one. Lying his head on the...very comfortable down pillows, he closes his eyes and takes slow, painful breaths; at least, it hurt less now than it did before. Damn wolves.."Where am I?" He whispers, opening his eyes to stare at the intricately painted ceiling. It was ...it's beautiful; clouds opening to the heavens to reveal angels flying out and the glowing, warm sun; so real he can almost bask in it-

"Papa?" He turns his slightly at the whisper, seeing the door crack open and then his daughter step inside. He feels chagrin fill him and he smiles like a fool, "Hey...Gabi..." his voice is hoarse, perhaps it's because of his injuries...and he's thirsty.

She goes to him, instantly curling into his side as if she were still a little girl; he embraces her tightly. "You scare me, papa...I thought that I...there was so much blood."

"Hey..." He whispers, making her look at him; he winces when his leg twinges. "I'm fine. Just fine...but how are you? Huh...you didn't come home."

"I got lost..." half the truth, but Gabriella think it's best not to tell her father of the wolves that had chased her up a tree and the two that had carried her here. "I'm sorry..."

"Is your leg bothering you?" She bites her lip, and shaking her head; holding him close to her. Gregor rubs her arm slowly, holding her close to him. He's grateful and thankful that she's safe and sound..but how did she get here? That's what he'd like to know...and she looks different. Seems different. The glow in her eyes...he looks up at the ceiling and frowns; pondering his questions. Yes, he's found his daughter...how is he to get home with her? Where in the woods is this ...castle? It looks like a castle...

"Papa...when you and mama first met...how did you court her?" He smiles, turning his head to her ever so slightly to keep from wincing. She's looking at him with bright, wide curious eyes.

"Have a man on the mind, sweeting?" She giggles softly, sitting up on the edge of the bed and taking his hand.

"N-no...just...well, it's just...I-I...maybe." He laughs softly, then groaning when his ribs protested. "He's the son of the couple who lives here..."

"You fancy him." It's not a question. It's a statement of fact, her father is always blunt about these sorts of things; and thus, forces the honesty out of her.

"I-I do...but he's...stubborn. Arrogant." Gregor laughs, again till his ribs protest against the strain.

"Sweeting," he cups her cheek, making her lean down so he can kiss her forehead. "Men...we're hard to know and hard to read..."

She shakes her head, "He-he wanted to feel my face-"

"Feel your face-"

"He's blind." Her voice is soft as she explains, Gregor nods and let's her continue. "I let him...but I put his hand on the smooth side...but he put his other hand on my marred...I-I...he made me angry." No need to say where all this occured, or explain the details of the 'such activities' they were doing that led up to this.

"Gabriella..."

"he asked where you were when...when I got this"-she moves her hair from her face, the scar is bigger than anyone other than Gregor, Gabriella, and Marina knows; going from her left eye, it travels down to her ear and then to her lips where it twists and puts her lips into a permanent half sneer. Gregor sighs, it's a fair question to be asked, but then he understands why she had gotten upset.

The questions does sound like an accusation. "Gabriella, maybe he didn't mean anything by it-"

"That's what he started to say."

"Did you let him explain?" She shakes her head, "no...I didn't let him." she looks down, playing with her father's fingers. He bites his inner cheek and makes her look at him.

"I think you should at least, let him explain, Gabi."

"But-"

"No buts...let him explain." A stern statement. He means it, she sighs, leaning over to hug him gently.

"I love you, Papa.."

"I love you always..now go; I'm not exactly fully recovered." She giggles, stretching a blanket over him and kissing his forehead before she leaves the room and leans against the door. Her papa says to let him explain; maybe she should apologize for losing her temper? She does feel foolish. Taking in a breath, she pushes herself from the door and starts walking to Troy's chamber, but stops in her tracks when there is a frantic, impatient knock on the door.

"Hello! Anybody!" she yells, her blond curls flying around her face and her green eyes narrowed in fatigue. "It is I, Sharpay Evans!"

"Sister," Ryan says, who is standing behind her with Adriana at his side, "must you yell...the sun has only began rising-" she whips around in a flurry of curls and fluffy dress ruffles; her eyes glowing heatedly as she crosses her arms.

"We came here to give Troy Bolton his invitation and damn it, we're going to give him it!" She looks to Adriana, "you!" the young girl jumps and looks at the woman from her lashes, fiddling with the hem of her shawl- it has a tiny emblem on the far corner; the Bolton crest.

"Y-yes?"

"Go around back and see if anyone is home. The garden shouldn't be gated." Adriana nods, taking a step toward the far right of the castle, but Ryan grabs her arm and pulls her back.

"No," he says, glaring at his sister. "Sharpay, she doesn't have to do that. She can wait here, patiently, with us-"

"Ha!" She scoffs, "she's a servant Ryan...it's what they live for. They like serving people-"

"keyword right there sister, 'people'...not spoiled selfish brats."

"Pig!" Sharpay yells, marching up to him, and slapping his face. "You dare call me that?! I'm your sister!" Ryan's cheek stung, but he doesn't reply; he doesn't show any emotion when he just bobs his head and grabs Adriana by the hand and they walk around the side of the castle together. He can only take his own sister in small doses.

"Yo-you didn't have to do that." Adriana says softly, he looks straight ahead but from an askance view, he looks at her.

"You don't need to do everything my sister says." She bites her lip, stopping in her tracks; and since Ryan is holding her hand, he stops too. He turns to look at her, "does...did she hurt-"

"No," he says with a smirk, "trust me, what I feel like doing to her all the time isn't what her slapping me feels like." Adriana smiles shyly, Ryan takes his hand away from hers only to lift her face to him. She's confused as she tilts her head to the side, "What are you-"

"You may look at me, Adriana." He says, unlike his sister, he addresses her by name. Suddenly, she's aware of how close they are standing together.

"but-"

"I'm not my sister..God, no, if that is true I'd probably take my own sword through my heart; you may look at me."

"Sharpay says-"

"I don't give a damn what she says or thinks...you're a person. Not a speck of dust."

"Bu-" Oh how incredibly low does she think of herself? Ryan growls, pulling at her arm and pressing her against the side of the castle and then bracing his arms on either side of her; his green eyes are all she can see. And then it's his lips all she can feel on her own.

:D A short chapter, yes. But I hope you all like it none the less, I know I'm a real bitch at updating...in the mean time, check out the story "Shades Of Memories" by Curious Girl. It's really great lol

I am super busy, but I'm trying to keep consistent with my updates; and that's hard to do when my boss suddenly puts me on a full schedule lol anyway, let me know what you think of this chapter.

I hate Sharpay, can't you tell?

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Review!

~Elena

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