"Sharpay, can I ask you a question?" Gabriella rounded on the blonde as they walked down the sidewalk after school. After meeting Kirsti, Gabriella hadn't been able to concentrate for the remainder of the day. She was pretty sure she'd gotten a C on her Math test and when stopping at a McDonalds with Sharpay and Taylor she had ordered French fries and a shake instead of her usual salad.
"If your going to ask me if I think it's gross that you're dipping your fries in your shake, then the answer's yes." Sharpay curled her lip in obvious disgust. Embarrassed the darker haired girl shook her head and quickly swallowed the liquid covered fry.
"No, that's not it. It's stupid really but…it's a hypothetical question.", Sharpay nodded giving Gabriella a side long glance before she continued, "Let's say that you and Zeke broke up-"
"That won't be happening any time soon." she assured Gabriella rolling her eyes.
"I know, I know but, it's pretend, so pretend ok? So let's say you two did break up except then you started to re-think the situation. But then Zeke introduced you to his new girlfriend. His new girlfriend's a real-"
"Hey, Kirsti's nice." Sharpay cut in.
"It's hypothetical, Sharpay!" Exasperated Gabriella clenched her hand into a fist. Taking a deep breath and loudly exhaling she continued, "So you don't like this new girl. How do I get Troy back?"
"I thought we were talking about Zeke and I." Sharpay smirked resting one hand on her hip.
"I-we were! We are! We should be! Please help me." She ended up begging unceromoniously.
"Alright, alright I'll help you get Troy back, don't worry." The blonde held up her hands reassuringly. And, after assuring Gabriella, many times mind you, that she would call or come over as soon as she thought of something the two parted ways.
"Hey Mom, I'm home." Gabriella dumped her back pack on the floor and kicked off her shoes. Turning to see way her mother hadn't answered her she walked into the kitchen. Her mother sat at the table staring stonily at a plain white envelope. Looking up at her daughter she waved the envelope almost nervously.
"Your father sent us this."
Blinking, Gabriella took the envelope and stared at it reverently. Her eyes large she glanced at her mother.
"Don't worry, I know just what to do with this." Flicking a switch she fed the envelope to a paper shredder. "Now he's back where he deserves to be, out of my thoughts." She muttered.
"Gabriella Anne Montez! There was money in there!" Her mother ran to the shredder and looked forlornly at the small strips of green paper.
"We don't need his money. It's dirty." Gabriella turned her face haughtily, crossing her arms.
"You know as well as I do that we don't need the money, but we could use it. You could have bought a new pair of jeans or I could have pays some of our bills." Mrs. Montez reprimanded her daughter.
Still with her arms crossed obstinately Gabriella walked out of the kitchen, grabbed her back pack and stomped to her room. Where her phone rang.
"Hey Gabriella, should I wear a tie to the theater?" Troy's voiced crackled over the other side of the line, he must be on his cell, Gabriella's mind wandered even as her voice answered.
"Troy. You're going to a movie theater, no one wears ties to the movies." She tried to choke out a laugh but it sounded oddly strangled.
"Is something wrong?" She thought she could detect concern in his voice but then again, it could have just been the connection.
"Is something wrong? Troy when is anything ever right?" Gabriella could have laughed at how clichéd and stupid that sounded but she was too worked up to fully appreciated her lack of creativity.
"Oh God, Gabi did your Dad call you again?"
"Call? Oh no, he didn't call. It's too much work to call your only daughter, plus I'd probably run up the long distance bill! And Florida's too relaxing to worry about being in debt!" She had worked herself up now but Troy didn't mind, sometimes Gabriella just needed to vent. Besides he had some time until he could really be considered 'late' for his date with Kirsti. She would understand, Kirsti was just so nice like that. Was it any wonder he couldn't wait to see her again?
When Gabriella's mother walked up stairs she found her daughter lying in bed crying her eyes out over a soap opera with a cheesy plot, and whose actors and actresses needed some lessons.
"Honey your friend is here, why don't you blow your nose and wash your face." sShe suggested.
"But Mom, how will I know who Alejandro chooses? Jennifer or her evil twin sister Kirsti? I mean Kristina."
"Sharpay said it was urgent." In a flash Gabriella was out of bed taking the stairs two at a time stopping only to grab a tissue from the bathroom. She flung the door open and rushed out side, where Sharpay was examining her nails with a flier in one hand. She held it up and smirked.
"This is how you'll get Troy back."
So, let's review what we have learned so far. I own nothing but Kirsti (who is in no way shape or form modeled after a real person). Gabriella still loves Troy, or at least still has feelings for him. Her father isn't living with Gabriella and her mother and she resents that. She watches soap operas. Sharpay has a plan. And you need to review this fic! Please do.