CONQUEST

Chapter 3: Dance Class

Disclaimer: I own nothing

An: So heres the next chapter..hope you like, on with it...

Well here we are again
Throwing punch-lines, no one wins
As the morning sun begins to rise
We're fading fast
And we wont work this out
Jonas Brothers-Tonight

"What" I stuttered, looking like a buffoon

"I'll dance with her" he smiled, giving the dance teacher a look so smouldering I was surprised she wasn't hyperventilating

"That's ok" I managed to get out "I'm fine alone"

Troy gave a short laugh. Obviously he questioned my intellect, I was staring at him in what I hoped was hate, but probably was cross between hate and ogling, it didn't fare well in my argument.

"You can do the waltz alone" he asked, looking at everybody in pairs

"Better than I could do it with you" I said, finally dislodging the lump in my throat

"I seriously doubt that" he said, walking towards me

By now everybody was staring at me. I didn't like this. It was the first day of school all over again. But he kept moving towards me, I didn't know what to do. I wanted to hit him, but my arms were locked to their sides, I wanted to run but I was glued to the ground, I wanted to scream but I lost my voice again. So I was stuck here, and I would have to dance. With him. My mouth filled with bile. Words could not describe the hate I felt for him, he was cocky and arrogant and I believed now more than ever what Sharpay had told me on the first day, that he would say all the right things and do everything right just to get in my pants, though I never thought that he would try.

He turned away from me momentarily to murmer something to the teacher. She nodded, taking in his body with her come hither eyes and let him go.

"Where were we" he murmured, taking my hand

Sparks shot through me as his fingers traced over mine, it was hard to hate him when he did that. But I tried. What was with him, he was so nice all of a sudden, he was smooth talking me, doing all the right things, that made me hyperventilate. I preferred him when I couldn't stand his presence, I could hate him with such ease, I probably still could if I remembered how to breathe.

"Let go of me" I managed, pulling his hand from mine

"We're dancing" he said, following the steps the teacher was showing us

He pulled himself closer to me and it felt like I was being scorched. The heat searing through us was unbearable, I couldn't focus on what she was telling us, and I made mistakes everywhere.

"Gabriella focus" the sweet musical voice told me

I looked up, he had the most beautiful blue eyes "I told you I'd be better off alone" I spat, though I didn't want his arms to leave me

"And I told you to focus" he snapped, twirling me out, the way she had shown

"And I told you to leave me alone" I snapped, twirling into him

He grabbed me with such force, that I was practically stuck on him "I want to do this right, the waltz and the tango are the two dances we have to nail for next weeks competition"

"C-c-ompet-"

"Yes competition, did you not know, and you're ruining my chances of winning"

He looked so serious, he hadn't bothered to come here last week, I had no idea what his problem was. He never struck me as the type to give a crap about anything.

"I don't give a crap about dance, or about you winning some sick ass competition, you are the lowest of the low, I wouldn't even let you lick my shoes" I had found my voice, I was more glad than I had ever been to have found it, to have stood up for myself, even if it was just a whisper, he heard me loud and clear.

"Nobody ever talks to me like that" he whispered, his breath tickling my ear

"Well nobody treats me like shit and gets away with it" I smiled, for the benefit of the teacher

His hand grazed my side, electricity shot through me "I wasn't planning on it"

I looked up at him confused and angry, I no longer stared into his beautiful baby blues or allowed his touch to scorch me. It was only Monday's and Saturday's that I had to deal with dance, and after class I would ask if I could change partners, I wanted to make this as painless as possible. I didn't need any distractions, especially not one like him, not one that could make me ogle one minute and give a death glare the next.

We didn't speak until the end of class, and I focused on the steps to keep my mind from wandering. "You and me tomorrow" he growled in my ear

I whipped around, I wasn't planning on having him as a partner for very much longer. "What" I spat, trying to sound as angry as possible

"Well, you didn't focus enough today, so we're doing extra rehearsals until we get this right"

I shook my head in horror, he seemed to be enjoying this. It seemed like no challenge was too impossible for him. But I was going to make it very difficult for him

"No" I finally answered "I'm not going, twice a week is torture enough"

He laughed, this obviously wasn't going to phase him. He would drag me to that torture if it killed him. Why was winning so important?. I'd never won anything, and it didn't bother me.

"I'm not giving you a choice" he muttered, heading to the teacher

"Gabi" the teacher called "I think that Troy is right"

Her hips swayed as she moved towards us, if only I looked like that, I sighed to myself. She liked Troy and she made no secret of it, brushing herself against him as she flitted to his side.

"What" i spluttered again, this time they both looked at me questioningly

"I think that you and Troy should take the dance studio tomorrow, you guys need to rehearse" she gave the keys without question "These are a spare set, whenever you want just take it, I need somebody to win this year" she smiled, giving Troy a big hug

She left the dance studio in silence. And I followed afraid of what I might do if I stayed in his presence any more.

I stayed in my car for a few minutes, afraid to move. But eventually cold set in and I had to turn the ignition in order to get home. I took a shower as soon as I got home, washing his scent from my hair, washing away the feel of his touch from my skin and throwing my clothes as far from me as possible, I didn't need his over priced cologne any where near me, I had too much homework.

I got out of the shower and towelled my hair, making sure that any traces of him were gone from me. But to no success, he was in my head, he had moved in and he wasn't planning on leaving any time soon. I tried to focus on my homework, but to no avail, it took me twice as long to get it done, so I just took an old essay from my folder on the computer and changed a few bits and pieces and printed it off for English the next morning.

I pulled a brush through my hair and placed my hair in a neat bun, I didn't want to get sick. Finally I managed to get asleep, but something awoke me, a sort of oddly patterned tapping noise. Cautiously, I headed over to the window, looking out, my feet froze to the ground. It was Troy.

I opened the window, managing to find my voice. "T-Troy"

"I told you we had to rehearse"

"Its four in the morning"

"Do you think that matters" he said incredulously "I have to win this"

"Its four in the fucking morning Troy, I'm not going anywhere with you"

He paused to contemplate my response. He obviously expected me to jump right down there with him. I didn't even know that he knew where I lived. That was probably what he got off the teacher, I had a feeling that he could do that. I felt extremely violated by this boy, he was stalking me now, and today he wanted to practically rip my guts out.

"Go the fuck away" I groaned, I was too tired for this

"I'm not going anywhere until you come with me Montez"

I groaned, he obviously didn't want me to sleep. "How are you awake" I asked, suspiciously

"Coffee and other stimulants" he winked, cheekily

"What"

"Oh for fuck sake Gabi I've been asleep since I went home, now will you come the hell down"

I sighed, he wasn't going to leave until I came down with him, so groggily I grabbed a pair of bottle green skinny jeans and a loose fitting shirt and headed to the Jaguar he had parked outside the house. I had a feeling that this was going to be a long night