Chapter 14 - Noses Touch and Sorries Come
Gabriella, Sharpay and Taylor were all waiting at Gabriella's locker the following morning. It had been a late night for all of them, with having to find the perfect outfit. But it had been done, and all girls were sure that Troy was going to fall over when he saw Gabriella.
The boys had just entered the school, and Sharpay had nudged Gabriella to get her to notice. This was when Sharpay's plan kicked in. It wasn't just the dress she had to perfect, but her flirting too.
Sharpay and Taylor slowly walked away and the crowd started to fall into place with Troy's walk. His eyes searched for her in the crowd, but he couldn't see her. The students had slowed down their formation, and it wasn't good.
Gabriella took her chance, when she knew Troy couldn't see her, and the crowd was blocking her. She stood, hips jutted out, hand on her hip, strong stance. One loose curls fell over her face, and she flicked it away, a smirk forming on her lips.
The boys were getting closer, and she could see them coming into view. A few seconds later and Troy was at the front, standing about 10 steps away from Gabriella, looking at her with puzzled eyes. It was exactly like yesterday, except Gabriella had a different game plan.
They stood there, eyes connected. Gabriella could hear Sharpay and Taylor cough, and that was the signal.
Off she went, walking so slowly, she looked like an angel. Troy just watched as her legs swung, getting nearer to him with every movement. He sighed, she looked so beautiful.
She stopped just in front of him, and smiled sweetly, Troy looked in her eyes, and came into a trance.
She walked further, she was nearly touching him, and all eyes were on her, wondering what she would do next.
"Excuse me"
She whispered, but it was so quiet in the hall, that everyone heard.
His eyes took in her face, and he obeyed. He stepped to the left slightly, giving Gabriella just enough room to get through, At this the rest of the basketball players moved to the sides too, giving Gabriella her own path. She smirked to herself, and turned to Troy.
"Thank you,' she touched his shoulder lightly,'...so very much"
He looked at her, his eyes glinting, and she glared, telling him to play along. Again, he obeyed.
"Your very welcome, Miss Montez"
And with that, she walked away, down her created path, hearing the whispers fade as she turned the corner. The bustle started and she was soon met with Sharpay and Taylor.
"Good work, Girl" Taylor said, and she smiled.
As far as Troy was concerned, this 'war' was still on.
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She sat in the changing room with all the other girls at the start of third period. She could see what Sharpay meant. The girls were all dressed up, each conveying their own, unique style. She liked it. It was a good idea.
She stood up and straightened herself out. Her hair was lightly tied up, Sharpay had insisted she did it.
She looked to her left to see Sharpay and Taylor giving her the once over.
"I think our plan is going to work Gabriella" Taylor said.
"Yup,' Sharpay agreed,' Within moments of Troy seeing you, he should have hit the floor.
Gabriella just laughed at the comment. She 'high-5'ed Sharpay and Taylor. A few minutes later, Coach Henderson came and called the girls.
The three nodded at each other, silently giving each other good luck. Gabriella winked at both the girls, and they giggled.
The girls all walked into the hall, all feeling very excited. You could tell most of the girls were either on the dance or cheerleading team, which meant they loved dance. They all sat down in the bleachers, waiting for the guys to arrive.
A few minues later, you could hear the grumbles of the boys. The girls laughed as they saw them trudging over the hall to join the girls on the bleachers. None of them were happy, you could tell from their faces.
All the students babbled until Coach Henderson coughed, and all went silent.
"Good afternoon students. Now, I can see your all ready to go, and I'm sure you will enjoy this!"
Coach Henderson was trying to excite the boys, but it wasn't working. They all looked like they were about to go to hell.
"Troy keeps looking for someone, I bet it's you Gabi!" Sharpay whispered to her.
The two girls were hiding Gabriella, so Troy couldn't find her. They wanted her enterance to be brilliant, so everyone could see Troy's reaction. They didn't want him to be mocked, just to push him a little.
Coach Henderson continued.
"Now, usually we let the, so enthusiastic, boys choose the girls. But after last years events, we changed it."
Grumbles could be heard from the crowd of students.
"So, we have paired you up, and that should be ok"
10 minutes later, they were all out of the bleachers, leaning against the wall. Girls on one side of the hall, boys on the other. The coach was in the middle, with her microphone, shouting the pairs. It seemed to be going down the line.
"Sorry about this Gabi. We didn't know it was going to be like this"
Sharpay was still covering Gabriella, just in case luck came their way, and Troy was picked for Gabriella.
"Don't worry about it, it'll be fine"
Sharpay smiled, then her name was called out.
"Sharpay Evans and Zeke Baylor!"
Sharpay looked across at Taylor and went red. She joined Zeke in the middle, and greeted him, then walked away.
"So, I'm guessing Shar likes Zeke then?"
"It's pretty obvious"
Taylor laughed.
"Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez!"
The whole hall went silent. No-one thought that would be coming. She heard Taylor whisper "Yes!" but shook it off. Troy started to walk forward, but couldn't see Gabriella. Neither could the Coach.
"Gabriella?" The coach shouted.
"Go girl!" Taylor whispered as Gabriella came into view.
"That's me!" She put her hand up.
She walked forward, her curls bouncing over her shoulders. To Troy, she looked even more beautiful. But that wasn't hard. He couldn't keep his eyes off her.
He was in such a trance, that he didn't notice Gabriella was already in front of him.
"Don't start dribbling on me, ok?" She said.
He started to blush. She leant into him, and whispered into his ear -
"Close your mouth, you look like a fish"
He obeyed, and followed as Gabriella started to walk away.
Damn, she looks good, he thought.
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3 hours later, and Gabriella and Troy were sweating. They had been dancing non stop. He had found Gabriella was very experienced, so it wasn't that hard to choreograph. They had to perform in 10 minutes.
They had taken a dance studio, and were just finalising the steps.
"Ok, so it's turn, turn, slide and step. Hand-hand, left, spin and slide. Gracefully come up, run and jump into you, slide down and finish." Gabriella told Troy, who had been very good.
"Sounds like we've done it then"
"Yup"
And awkward silence came over them, and to their luck, Coach Henderson came in.
"You need to come back now, your on first."
They replied in unison, and came to the theatre, where they would be performing their piece. Before they started, Sharpay grabbed Gabriella and asked her what had happened.
"Nothing really, we just...danced"
"You just danced!"
"Yeah, what else was supposed to happen?"
"You were supposed to make him want you more than anything in the world, more than...BASKETBALL! I mean really Gabi, that was the plan"
"You guys, I don't think his world revolves around basketball, and anyway, are you wanting him to fall for me?"
"Eh, yeah"
"Well, he probably doesn't like me, like that" Gabriella replied, rolling her eyes.
"And as for the B-ball thing, his life is Basketball!" Sharpay laughed, and Gabriella joined on weakly. Is that really what they thought?
Sharpay and Taylor shrugged and walked off, leaving Gabriella alone with her thoughts.
It was true, there was something about Troy that she had seen. Something in his eyes. His dad was obviously big on basketball, and Troy liked the game, but something about his attitude told Gabriella, it wasn't his life. He wanted something...more. Something special.
"Gabriella, your on now"
She nodded and shook her shoulders, letting her nerves fall off them.
"Your nervous?" She jumped when she heard Troy from behind her.
"Not really, you?"
"What's to be nervous about?"
"Exactly"
The silence came over them again, then they heard Coach Henderson introduce them.
"Ok, Juniors, your first pair is Gabriella Montez and Troy Bolton!"
The crowd clapped as they entered the stage, and they turned to face each other, their starting stance. The gulped and smiled weakly at each other.
"You ready?" Troy breathed.
"As I'll ever be" Gabriella whispered.
Troy nodded at a small girl, named Kelsi, who was at the piano.
She started to play, and the pair found the beat. They swayed as one, their dance so beautiful, it looked like they had been dancing for years. Gabriella's head was spinning, she had no idea where the dance was going, but her feet were taking her. Troy felt the beat rise into him, and shake. She was so graceful, and he was determined to go with her. To the land where she was dancing.
Gabriella told herself, in her head, the steps. 'spin...and slide. Up...' she breathed in, giving Troy time to get into his place. Their eyes connected and he nodded, giving her reassurance.
"Run... and jump!" She landed on him, his arms holding onto her legs. She felt strong, like nothing could bring her down. But he did. She slid down his body, his arms eventually getting to her waist, and the music stopped.
She could feel his breath on his lips, as the crowd went wild. She smiled and he smiled with her. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and relaxed. Their noses were almost touching, and the world seemed to be drowned out.
"I'm sorry; about yesterday"
His grip tightened on her as he finished, almost as if he was scared she would run away. She smiled and replied.
"It's ok, I know you are. And...I'm sorry too"
They hugged and he breathed in the mango scent of her hair. They smiled as they parted, clasping hands and bowing to their audience. Gabriella glanced at Sharpay and Taylor, who both winked at her and she giggled.
Things were looking up. Finally.
I hope you liked this chapter. I did. I wasn't sure how to end it, and I'm not sure about how the next few chapters are going to go, but ti will come. Don't worry!
So, this may be the only update for a few days, maybe even til Saturday! If you want to blame people, you can blame my teachers, who have given me all these blooming test! I'm so stressed lol! But, if I do get a spare minute, I'll be sure to be writing!
I just wanted to say that all your reviews are amazing. I'm sorry I don't always reply, coz i get very busy, but they are all very much appreciated! Keep 'em coming :)
If you haven't already read my new one-shot 'Your Eyes Give It All Away', then please read! It is Troyella, but it doesn't seem it at first. So give it a go, and tell me what you think. Please?
Have a great week guys :)