Chapter 14
Troy sighed as he waited by Gabriella's locker. He had to apologize to her sometime. The sooner, the better.
When Gabriella came, she didn't even look at him.
"Hi," he said.
She ignored him.
"Listen, I am really sorry about…."
"Troy, sometimes apologies aren't enough." She turned to him. "You really hurt me."
"Well, the only reason I took Sharpay is because you took Ryan."
"I took him because you kept yelling at me! I can't have a relationship with someone who's always mad and screaming."
"I am not always mad. And I'm not always screaming."
Gabriella opened her locker. "Whatever you say."
"Gabriella…."
"Oh, and for your information, you didn't hurt me because you took Sharpay. You hurt me because you wouldn't listen to me and you weren't there for me. I needed someone who would understand. You definitely weren't that someone."
"I don't know what I can do to make this up to you."
"Neither do I. In fact, I don't think you can make it up to me."
"There has to be some way."
Gabriella looked him in the eyes. "Do you love me?"
"What?"
"I said, do you love me? Or, am I just some little petty crush you have? Or, on top of that, am I just a friend to you?"
"Gabriella, love is a really strong word…."
"I know."
"But no other option is suitable. You're not a petty crush, you're not just a friend…." He looked at her. "Do you love me?"
"I don't know Troy. Love is a strong word." She smiled at him. "You could say I am falling in love with you."
Troy looked at her.
"I'm still mad at you, but I can't control my feelings…."
Troy smiled. "How mad are you?"
Gabriella shrugged. "Not very…. You are sincerely sorry, so I have half-forgiven you."
"I'll make the other half up to you. I promise."
Gabriella moved closer toward him. They both leaned in close to each other.
"OH, TROY!"
Troy and Gabriella stepped apart.
"Hey, Sharpay."
"Troy, what are you doing over here? I thought you were going to come by my locker. You know, to decide what we're going to wear to the dance."
"What dance?" Gabriella asked.
"You haven't heard? The Royalty Dance, of course."
Troy sighed. "Sharpay, I may have changed my mind…."
"About what?"
"Going with you."
"But, this morning…."
"Yeah, but…."
"Troy will definitely be there…. With you," Gabriella said.
Troy looked at her.
"So, I'm guessing you two will be dressed as a prince and princess, right?"
"No, we're dressing like a king and a queen," Sharpay said, slightly offended.
"Oh, that's nice. I don't know what I'm going to wear…."
"Just wear something really ratty."
"Why?"
Sharpay took out a list from her pocket. "You're on the peasant list."
Gabriella looked at the list. There were the King and Queen, Prince and Princess, the Royal servants, the peasants, etc."
"Who mad this list?"
"The school, duh. That's why Troy and I should go together. We're the King and Queen."
Troy looked at Sharpay. "Well, you get a head start, and I'll meet you at your locker.
"Okay! Bye!" Sharpay walked off.
"Why'd you tell her I was going to go with her?"
"You already said that you were. Besides, you two are going out."
"Yeah, but…."
"Troy, the last thing I need is Sharpay on my back because you asked me to the dance. I'll be fine. Besides, I'm a peasant. I'm not worthy."
"Don't say that."
Gabriella gazed at him. "Well, I'd better go." She walked away.
Troy smiled to himself.
"Troy!" came a familiar voice. He turned around to see Amy.
"Hi, Amy."
"I am so sorry to hear about your aunt and uncle."
"What?"
"Your aunt and uncle. You know, the ones who just left this morning."
"What are you talking about?"
"Your aunt and uncle. Emmy's parents."
"They left?"
"Yes. They left the house and everything."
"Where's Emmy?"
"I've been doing work with her. She just went to the bathroom."
"How could they just leave like that?"
"They didn't want to put up with your cousin anymore."
Troy shook his head. "Do you think I could talk to Emmy?"
"Come with me."
Troy followed Amy to a room where two chairs were set up. Amy got a third chair out. After a while, Emmy came back.
"Emmy, your cousin, Troy is here."
Emmy crossed her arms. "Really? Because I couldn't see him!" she said sarcastically.
"Emmy, I heard about…."
"My dumb parents? Yeah, that's great."
"Emmy, don't start with me. Your parents just left. Don't you care?" "They didn't care about me, I don't care what they do."
"Emmy…."
"No, Troy! For once, listen to me! I understand that my life is screwed up! I understand that nobody loves my! I understand that I can never be good enough for you! But, you know what?! I don't care! I don't care about what you think about me! I don't care what others think about me, either! So, there!"
Troy felt tears in his eyes. "When did you ever get the impression that you're never good enough for me? Why do you think I don't love you?"
Emmy looked at him. "You are always disappointed in me."
"No, I'm not."
"YES YOU ARE! JUST ADMIT IT, TROY! YOU ALWAYS EXPECT MORE FROM ME!"
"Emmy…."
"Don't tell me that it's not true!"
"Emmy, it's good that you're getting out your feelings," Amy commented.
Troy looked Emmy in the eyes. "Is this how you really feel."
She nodded, trying to hide her tears. Troy stood up and hugged her. She didn't hug back, but she didn't stop him.
"Emmy, I'm sorry that you fell that way. I didn't know…."
"That's because you don't pay attention."
Troy stepped back and looked at her. "I love you, Emmy. You should know that."
Emmy looked back at him. "I can't say the same at the moment. I swore on an oath to my gang that I would never love anybody except them. Besides, why should I love you? You've never been there for me."
"Yes, I have."
"Well, you haven't for a long time!"
Troy wiped his eyes. "You're right. All I've been doing is yelling at you."
Emmy looked at him again. "Your yelling hasn't helped me."
He nodded, understanding her side of the story.
A knock came from the door. The principal came in.
"Mr. Bolton. Ms. Montez has requested your presence. Hurry."
Troy told Emmy he loved her once more, and then followed the principal.
"What's up?"
"Ms. Montez has had an accident."
"Is it bad?"
"Let's just say she may take time to recover."
Troy followed, not knowing what was wrong.