"The Pianist"

~Chapter Eighteen~

One week later

"I don't see what the fuss is about, Ryan." Sharpay says, smoothing the invisible wrinkles from her gown. Made of taffeta with streams of gold flowing down from her waist which is wrapped in a salmon colour fabric, her bodice is white- covered in huge, gaudy jewels of green, pink, blue and purple. Her hair done up in a 'do that is curled in a bun and braided halfway so it flows down her back. Her mask is...well honestly, he doesn't know what her mask is. He doens't even know what she is supposed to be other than an ugly whore who hates all in the kingdom.

"The fuss?" Ryan says, sneering at his sister and picking up the ugly, shit brown horse mask and staring at it's empty eyes. "it's ugly. I'm not about to wear this-"

"but you must!" Sharpay nearly yells, looking at him with eyes that aren't pleading in the slightest but commanding. He shakes his head, his hair barely touching his shoulders at the movement. "Ryan, you have the perfect face for that mask! And...what will the guests think of it if they see their hostess wearing a horse's face?"

"They'll think, at least she has the ass to match.." Sharpay flushes pale, his eyes widening at the insult and her hands balling into fists. Ryan, his eyes sparkling with his smirk, looks at her as she glares at him and sees her lips quiver. She has never had the ability to come up with a clever response to any sort of insult.

She isn't what one would call...witty.

"You are...you-you..."

"Don't think to hard, sister." Ryan says, "you don't want to wreck your hair."

"Oh!" She screeches, "fine! Wear what you want! I care not!" Without saying anything further, she turns and marches out of his room; slamming the doors as she goes. The sound so great that it echoes in his ears, but still, he smirks until his cheeks hurt and a throat escapes his throat. Sharpay is always an easy target.

And incredibly stupid.

Shaking his head, he goes to the door and calls one of the man servants to him and he requests a costume that no one would think a royal to wear, but for him to be with the woman that his heart desires- the woman whose kiss burns on his lips and makes him hard when she haunts his dreams - he must dress in this disguise. This plain tights and gray tunic. A servant. He'll just add a silver mask to go with it.

"I feel completely...naked." Gabriella says, examining herself in the large mirror in Lorana's chamber, her father is sitting- leaning on a cane that the healer had brought him -on the edge of the bed. Gabriella had requested her father be in the room, but when she is changing- which this has been the third time she's changed -she stands behind the room divider. Lorana giggles, knotting her fingers together, staring out the window to check the sun. She and David has at least four hours before the sun sets.

"You look beautiful, dear." She says, a smile gracing her lovely face. Gabriella shakes her head, her curls flinging everywhere. "I wish you'd let me put your hair up-"

"No." she says, looking down, "I don't want to-"

"You have a beautiful face, Gabriella." Lorana says, making the young girl look at her. Her eyes alight with a spark that only Lorana has, "come." she pulls Gabriella gently by her arm from the room divider to where her father can see. He stares with his mouth agape, this young woman is not his daughter; his daughter wouldn't wear the finest silks and satins, his daughter wears what he wears. Rags.

This is a princess. A princess who looks like Gabriella. "Gregor," Lorana says, "What do you think? Gabriella's hair...up or down?" Gregor eyes his daughter, seeing how beautiful she is and then he looks at her hair. Brown, long, much like her mothers and he smiles.

"Let me.." he says, grasping his cane and standing up while walking to her in the same fluid motion. Lorana smiles, nodding gently as she goes to sit on the bed, Gregor motions for his daughter to turn around and sit in the plush vanity chair as he leans on his cane, weaving his fingers through her soft locks. He's taken back in his memory to when Gabriella was just seven years. Marina didn't know how to do hair, and Gregor- having grown up with five sisters -learned from an early age. "Half up...the rest just laying on your shoulders..." Gabriella smiles, dipping her head in a blush.

"Papa...I feel so strange." He chuckles, shaking his head as he continues braiding a few strands in his hands. Lorana giggles, "is this your first ball, Gabriella?" the young girl bites her lip, unanswering, but her eyes giving her away. Before Lorana can speak, Gregor pats her shoulder and smiles at her in the mirror.

"You'll be fine, Sweeting."

"Thank you, Papa." She whispers, looking at her nervously knotted fingers, continuing to bite her lip. Yes, she anxious for this masked ball cause it is first one that she's attending, but she'll be attending with Troy. He asked her to accompany him...

he also kissed her when he asked such a question. Oh, that kiss...how his lips seem to mold to hers; his fingers sending tingles up her arms, rising gooseflesh on her arms. Making every tiny hair all over her body stand up on end like a soldier- and her tiny hairs aren't the only things standing erect. She can feel him, hard, long and...so erect, when he leans against her as they kiss. Why does she want to feel that again? Why does she want to feel...more than just that...?

"Done." Gregor says, taking a step back. "Beautiful." Gabriella blushes again, standing up; smoothing invisible wrinkles from her gown. It's a soft peach colour, matching her skin perfectly; around the square neckline is white with seams of gold, in the middle of the bodice to draw so little attention to her bosom is a small pink pin. She feels elegant. Like-

"Oh!" Lorana squeals, "Oh my Lord! Gabriella," she runs up to her and grasping her hands. "You look beautiful! All you need is a-"

"Mask." she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes! A mask! Oh! But I got such a better idea-Gregor Montez, are you laughing at me?!" Gregor stills and hides his face, but Gabriella sees her father's lifted cheek; he's laughing. Lorana rolls her eyes and steps back, "I have this mask that I haven't worn in years...and it comes with these beautiful angelic wings..oh, Gabriella you must simply wear them!"

Her eyes widen, about ready to protest, but before she can the older woman is already on the other side of the room, going through a trunk that looks centuries old. Gabriella turns to her father, "Under neath all these layers, I still feel naked."

Gregor smiles, "you just have to get used to it..." Gabriella smiles for a second or so, but sobers. "How's mama, papa?"

"She's..." he shakes his head, does he want Gabriella to worry? Nay, this is a night for her. She should enjoy it. Embrace it. "She's fine. I just need to leave by tonight..."

Gabriella smirks, "you can't stay away from Mama for more than a week or so, can you Papa?"

"You are correct, now...got to Lorana, before she pulls you." Gabriella giggle, picking up the front of her gown and walking over to where the older woman is now waiting; holding a white mask, embroidered in small beads that glisten softly in the firelight, and a small white feather between the eye holes- not too large to bring attention to Gabriella straight away, but just enough to compliment the medium wings that is dangling from her small hands. Gabriella puckers her lips, about to protest about the wings, but Lorana had put them on her before she can utter a word.

"Angelic." She says, smiling proudly, grasping Gabriella's hands. "My Troy will love you."

"But-" There is a knock on the door, a servant appears just as soon as Lorana calls out 'come in'. The servant, brown and bushy hair in wild curls, soft brown eyes and dark skin, clears his throat and notifies the three in the room that Troy awaits at the bottom of the stairs with David. Lorana claps excitedly, Gregor loops his arm with his daughter's and they all make their way out of the room and down the stairs of the foyer. Gabriella is standing in front of Troy, he's wearing a white tunic top and grey tights to match; a silver mask on his face that has no extraordinary beading or...anything over the edge to draw attention to himself, but then again, maybe it's the women that attend masked balls who draw attention to themselves.

"Are you ready?" Troy asks, after a minute of clearing his throat, oh how he wishes that he can see what she looks like. All he can see is her silhouette. Gabriella nods, her silhouette bobbing up and down, he feels her hand rest in the crook of his elbow.

"Yes..." she whispers, his stomach flutters at her nervousness. His father leads them both to the coach awaiting them outside. This is a night that Troy vows to make memorable for Gabriella, he wants her. He isn't denying that any longer, he desires her, and on some level...does she desire him? He'll find out. She'll be his.

That is of course...if he can keep his "dream" from happening first.

New chapter :) This is a part one to the Masked Ball, next chapter will be the actual ball *claps* it will be awesome!

Don't forget to review! I love your reviews!

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~Elena xxx