A Chance At Happiness
Chapter Four
Gabriella watched (with much amusement) how Taylor chewed her lip and narrowed her eyes into thin air while her shoulders slightly hunched over. This was her concentrated face. It was their scholastic decathlon meeting and the group needed to think of a good and interesting fund-raiser idea. Without it, there would be no scholastic decathlon. The school would only put money in if it was necessary but Taylor had always been determined to have the decathlon stand on its own two feet.
"We just need one good idea. One that will ensure we get enough money."
It happened every time. They would meet, get frustrated when they couldn't think of an idea and then they would finally make a decision on a previous idea that had once been regarded as silly or unworkable. This day was no different and the group were in the second stage. It was only a matter of time until they would eventually decide on their fund-raising idea.
"Can we all agree now that we are not having a bake sale?" Charlotte (a girl who shared many of Gabriella's classes) asked.
"Definitely not." Michelle agreed. "Not after my disastrous cupcakes last year."
"How do you not cook cupcakes properly?" Marcus (a fellow decathlon with fiery, red hair) snorted. "I remember having to spit it out in the bin. Not to mention the amount of people that ended up vomiting them back up." Michelle tried to glare but the corners of her mouth had been pulled upwards into a smile. "It was disgusting...But funny."
"Off the topic, people." Taylor snapped her fingers to get their attention. "We need to think of this years idea. Lets not dwell on the past, okay?" Everyone nodded their heads. It was common knowledge to the scholastic decathlon group that Taylor could become rather on edge when it came to deadlines and today was the deadline to put in their fund-raiser idea.
"I still like the idea of a kissing booth." Michelle said and then resumed chewing on her pen.
"It's definitely one of the better suggestions." Taylor nodded her head and answered. "Okay then, well, who is in favour of the kissing booth?" Taylor and Michelle shot their hands up. As did three-quarters of the decathlon group -including Gabriella. "Brilliant, I think that settles it then. We'll host a decathlon kissing booth at the school carnival then. Now as captain of the team, I suggest that two of us do the accounting. I shall put myself up for that and, who else?"
"I'll do it." Amanda (a confident but unfortunately unattractive senior girl) said.
"Excellent." Taylor grinned. "The next thing we need, and I guess the most important, is the actual people to be at the kissing booth. I would say that...Four of us will need to do that. You can take shifts." The room went silent and the people nervously looked at each other. "Oh, come on. At least, someone wants to do it, right?" Taylor searched for just one person but no one put themselves forward. "Fine. I'll have to choose."
"That's not fair!" Thomas squeaked (he was still a freshman who's voice had not completely broken yet). A couple of others agreed with Thomas out loud and Taylor rolled her eyes and sighed. "You could abuse your powers." Taylor looked at the freshman with a bored stare and he cowered back but he had already planted the seed.
"Anyone who does it could abuse their power, Thomas." Taylor defensively replied.
"You could always spin round with your eyes close and whoever you stop at is the person you need."
"Or, you should stand with your back to us and throw a ball or something and the person who catches it is the one who is at the kissing booth!"
"That's stupid, Marcus...How about we have mathematical equations and those that fail to finish it in the quickest time are the people that take the shifts. It's logical, it's fair and it means that no one can abuse their powers."
"How about we draw from a hat?"
"Thank you! We finally have a good and sensible suggestion." Taylor exclaimed and mouthed a separate 'thank you' to Gabriella. She smiled in response. "Okay, we'll draw from a hat. So, everybody write your name on a piece of paper and we'll...We'll use Marcus' hat." Taylor didn't ask. She took Marcus' hat from his head (despite his grumbles) and brought it back to her position at the head of the table.
The scholastic decathlon members hastily scribbled their names on paper and scrunched them up to put into the straw hat. When Taylor had received everyone's names (excluding Amanda and Taylor for they were accounting), she shook the hat to mix the papers up and then took a name out. Everyone waited with baited and nervous breath.
"Michelle."
She shrugged. "Fine."
"Paul."
"Oh, man." A rather good-looking junior, although he had an odd shaped nose, threw his pen down with disappointment.
"Chris."
"Fuck." Taylor shot him a stern look and the senior quickly mumbled an apology.
"Okay, and the last one is...Paul?" Taylor looked confused for a second before throwing it down. "Right, who put this back in the hat?" Michelle snorted and then apologised but Gabriella could see that she was trying to hold in the laughter. "I'll do that again...Pie? For Christ's sake, who did this?" She asked and it was clear that Taylor was beginning to get angry.
"Sorry, Taylor." Marcus mumbled.
"Who else has put in silly names?" Taylor demanded.
"I thought it was funny!" Marcus defensively exclaimed. He looked shocked that Taylor didn't appear to get the joke, although most of the other members seemed to understand it."Pie...Pie! As in the number, Pi, not the food, Pie but it's spelt that way. It's like a pun, sort of!"
"I know what you were trying to do, Marcus. It's just not funny." Taylor told him and he looked slightly disheartened by her comment. But even Taylor cringed at how dorky their jokes could be. "Right then, the next and final person to be at the kissing booth is..." She swirled her hand in the hat, praying that no one else had put another silly name in there. When she opened it, her eyes excitedly gleamed and she smiled, "Gabriella."
"Wh...What?"
"Gabriella." Taylor read again and handed her the piece of crumbled paper for proof. Gabriella slowly took it and stared in shock. "Well then, now that we have our 'kissers' and accountants, the rest of you are assigned to making posters, banners, flyers and to post them around the school. I'll go inform Mr. Matsui of our arrangements."
Taylor practically flew out of the classroom and the others packed their belongings away. It was Michelle that walked over to Gabriella and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You'll be absolutely fine, Gabby."
"But I...People won't want to kiss me." Gabriella argued and she blushed.
"Gabby, we're the scholastic decathlon team, how many people will be wanting to kiss me?" Michelle laughed. "Look, it's a long shot for all of us. Remember though, it's not just East High students at the carnival; everyone's welcome. It'll only be a peck on the cheek or the lips. It's nothing to worry about. Who knows? You might even enjoy it." Michelle knew she was teasing Gabriella and she smiled when Gabriella's blush deepened. "Don't worry, like I said before, you'll be fine."
"Yeah...I'll be fine." Gabriella repeated.
News around East High travelled fast.
It had done the time Mrs. Western was fired because she was stealing school supplies and selling them off for extra money. It had been Mrs. Western's desperate attempt to pay her lawyer's fee after her messy divorce. Everyone knew about Tilly Baxter and how she tried bribing a teacher. In exchange for good grades, she'd give him "anything". And then there was the time Miss. Moor and Mr. Bexley had started up a secret relationship. In the first week, it was already old news to the East High community. For Gabriella, it wasn't any different and it only took an hour (at the most) for everyone to find out who was doing the kissing booth at the carnival.
And, of course, everyone meant Heather and Sharpay.
"Montez, you honestly think that people will want to kiss you?" Sharpay leant over her desk and whispered into Gabriella's ear. Gabriella always hated Geography because her teacher had a seating plan. A horrible one at that. Miss. Dawn had put Sharpay behind her and Heather to her right. "No one will want to kiss you."
"Only if they're mad or blind." Heather mumbled and Sharpay sniggered behind her hand.
"Problem, girls?" Miss. Dawn asked with raised eyebrows.
"No, Miss." Heather sweetly replied. "No problem, at all."
Heather and Sharpay were silent for a minute. "Just to warn you, Montez, people will be running away from you at the carnival." Sharpay muttered into Gabriella's ear. "The only way someone will be kissing you is if you pay them." Gabriella tried blocking them out. She hunched over and continued to write her answers and read the textbook.
Sharpay and Heather finally gave up on their teasing. They hated it when they didn't have the freedom to say what they wanted to her and their Geography teacher really didn't like whispering and, so, Heather and Sharpay were often the centre of attention when Miss. Dawn would threaten to give them detentions if they weren't quiet. But, when Gabriella thought it was all over for that class, a small and folded up note landed on her desk. She looked right – Heather was busy reading a passage in the textbook. She looked left – next to her was Tamsin Michaels. Gabriella hardly knew the girl, if at all. It couldn't have been her.
Then a twitch caught her attention. Gabriella looked passed Tamsin and saw Ryan gesturing for her to open the note. She cautiously reached for it (she was completely stumped as to what Ryan could have written to her about) and unfolded the paper. In that same, neat and rounded writing, it read, 'Are you really doing a kissing booth at the carnival?' Gabriella faced Ryan's curious face and silently nodded.
Ryan swallowed and his lips turned downwards into a frown. He looked upset, disheartened even. He had honestly hoped that it had been a joke or just another rumour in East High. He really didn't like the idea of strangers (really just the thought of people who weren't him) kissing Gabriella. He had clear intentions and Ryan planned for Gabriella to feel the same way. Just a little wooing here and wooing there. She would be putty in his hands. In Ryan's mind, it was the perfect plan! They would be the next biggest thing – bigger than Angelina and Brad! Although he would never tell anyone, Ryan had even fantasised about Gabriella walking down an isle in a beautiful, white dress.
He was a good guy and he could make Gabriella happy. He had first thought the kissing booth to be a fantastic idea, he could get a kiss from Gabriella and maybe (even boys had their visions) she'd feel the sparks and confess her love for him there and then. But, when he really thought about it, he realised that it wouldn't just be him that was kissing Gabriella. It could be anybody! And that simply didn't settle well with him. Gabriella could read from his expression that it wasn't his favourite idea.
Gabriella didn't really know if she should reply back to Ryan. Should she say sorry for partaking in the kissing booth? Although, she wondered, why should she apologise when it wasn't her fault and, honestly, it wasn't any of his business? He didn't own her (Ryan knew this himself) and she still had never given him any reason to believe their relationship was romantic. Gabriella wouldn't even call them friends! They hardly knew each other and Gabriella didn't intend on changing that. Gabriella continued to ponder, should she apologise? But the light, short buzzing from her jacket pocket stopped her thoughts.
'Hey, how are you coping at school? Got yourself a detention yet?'
Gabriella broke out into a smile. Not only had Troy been texting her rather frequently but he had even begun sending three kisses after every one. It sounded so girlish (three kisses, blah, blah, blah) and she knew it but it still made her feel giddy. She told herself that she shouldn't be getting excited about this but she couldn't stop her stomach from doing little back-flips whenever she saw his name light up on her phone. She begun to reply (even knowing that Miss. Dawn would give her a detention and confiscate her phone if she was caught – something she wouldn't have even considered doing because of the consequences!) 'Coping well enough and of course I haven't! I'm too good for that. Do I suspect you always got detentions when you were at school?'
Gabriella shoved the phone back inside her pocket just as Miss. Dawn asked for their work to be handed in. Since Troy distracted her, Gabriella scribbled the rest of her answer down – she didn't even care if it wasn't to her usual standard right then. All she wanted was a text back from Troy. She liked learning new things about him. He was intriguing and he seemed just as interested in getting to know her. Gabriella returned to her seat and hastily checked her mobile. No reply. Damn, she was becoming rather obsessive. It had only been a minute since she'd sent it. Give him a little time, Gabriella. She told herself and if her mind had eyes, they would have been rolling.
The class sat in silence for several minutes until the bell rang after everyone had handed in their work. Miss. Dawn's students (no matter what time of day) always departed quickly. Even Gabriella was eager to leave; it was always so awkward whenever they had to sit, doing nothing, in complete quiet. When Gabriella reached her locker and was away from prying eyes, she pulled her mobile back out again. She stood as close to the locker as possible to make sure no one could see her mobile.
One New Message: Troy
She would have squealed if she hadn't been in a public place! 'Me? Bad? Never! I would just stay in the detention room and keep Chad company. That's all. By the way, I'm finishing work early today. Do you want to meet up and get a bite to eat?' His invitation almost made her heart stop. Texting was one thing but meeting up? For Gabriella, it was kind of a big deal. It was easy hiding behind texts when you could think about your answers but when they'd be face-to-face, she might look like an idiot. He could realise just how much of a social loser she really was. Did she want him to see her stammering and stuttering over her words? Was it wise to meet up when she knew her mind would go completely blank and she would make it awkward?
'I'd like that.'
It was a risk she was going to take and she was going to enjoy taking it.
"What are you smiling about?"
Troy looked to his right. Chad suspiciously stared at him. "Nothing." Troy shrugged.
"Doubt that, Hoops." Chad instantly replied with a smirk. "Want to tell me something?"
"No." Troy shrugged again. "I just remembered something that was funny."
"What?"
"Oh, um, I forgot it now."
Chad narrowed his eyes with suspicion again but, then, he rolled his eyes. It was something Troy would absentmindedly do – forget things in a short space of time. Chad wasn't much better himself. Besides, it had been a busy day at the garage with unexpected cars rolling up with problems after problems. Troy was probably just tired.
"How is Matilda?" Troy casually changed the subject.
"Er...Good, I suppose." Now it was Troy's turn to look suspiciously at his friend. "What I mean is, is I haven't spoken to her for a couple of days. She's been busy, I've been busy, we haven't had much time for each other recently. I haven't even had time to call her."
"So, there's hope for Sharpay yet." Troy chuckled.
"Don't tell her that." Chad sternly warned. "I hardly know the girl and you are putting ideas into her head."
"I am not!" Troy defended.
"I should damn well hope not, Bolton." Chad replied but found himself with an amused smile. "And don't tell Matilda. She'd flip a fucking lid if she knew that another girl was interested." Chad sighed. "Sometimes she's just a bit too jealous."
"Getting too much for you?"
"A bit. Don't get me wrong, I still love her and everything but..."
"Well, from the very beginning I told you that she was the jealous type." Troy smirked and Chad threw a dirty rag at Troy's head – it only narrowly missed him. "What? It's true! It's been four years though, you lasted way longer than I thought you would." Chad chuckled.
"I even surprised myself." He replied.
"What about that other girl?" Troy curiously wondered. He turned and casually leant against a car bonnet. "The one from the park?"
"Uh, I haven't seen her." Chad quickly replied.
"But you want to." Troy smirked. He knew Chad and he knew the tone Chad had to his voice. It was the same one he had had when he first met Matilda. It was also the same tone he had when he wanted a car and a university scholarship and when he wanted to defeat the West High Knights in their final basketball game. Troy knew exactly what that tone meant.
Chad nervously cleared his throat. "I...I don't know. I did have a good time when I met her."
"I'm sure you'll see her again. You take Lambchop" (Chad's black Labrador) "for a walk every day! Just walk in the park every time. Never know, she might be thinking the same thing. Maybe then you will get some balls to ask for her number." Troy teased.
"I didn't ask for her number because I have a girlfriend. Remember?" Chad replied.
"It's just a number! It's not cheating!" Troy argued.
"Matilda wouldn't see it that way." Chad told him. "You know that."
"Fair enough. Look, I'm not trying to make you cheat on Matilda. You know, of all people, how I feel about cheating." Chad nodded. Troy did have strict morals about it for his own reasons. "But you clearly want this girls number. You might not even want to date her, you might just want her as a friend? Or, maybe, Lambchop wants a friend." Chad chuckled. Troy looked at the clock. "I'm finishing up early. You should, too."
"Yeah, maybe I will." Chad nodded.
Troy looked at the clock again. Little did he know, Gabriella was doing the same thing.
Troy wasn't used to this – being nervous that is. Anyone who knew Troy would tell you that he had always been rather confident when it came to members of the opposite sex. He supposed it was down to his captaincy in basketball and boxing. He was a leader and when they won, he was praised for days (weeks even) afterwards. If they lost, people would sympathise and boost his morale further. But looking at Troy now, while he waited for Gabriella, you wouldn't ever have believed he was nervous at all! He casually leant against his truck with his hands in his pockets. Hardly a position a nervous person would be in.
"Hi, Troy."
Troy swiftly whipped round when he heard Gabriella's sweet voice say his name. "Gabriella." He burst into a friendly smile. "Hi." Gabriella couldn't contain her own smile and for a few seconds, they both stood there, smiling. "Shall we go in?" Troy suggested. He nodded his head toward the entrance of Amber Lounge (a bar that Gabriella wouldn't stereotypically enter).
When they entered, Gabriella could hear the sound of pool being played. There were laughs and jeers and general chatter from all directions and she could see the bar where pints of beer were being passed over the table. Gabriella really wasn't used to these scenes. Was she even allowed in here? It didn't look like it got a lot of teenage customers. There were many young people but Gabriella would probably say they were twenty-four (at the very least). That, of course, excluded Troy who had seemed to notice Gabriella's anxious expression.
"If you don't want to be here, then I can take you somewhere else." He kindly offered. Troy had taken her hand to get her attention and to assure her that she was safe. Troy didn't want her to think he was untrustworthy or dangerous. "Seriously Gabriella, just tell me where you want to go."
Gabriella realised she hadn't responded to him the first time and quickly shook her head. "No. No, this is fine. Really, it is." Troy raised his eyebrows. It was a look that Gabriella interpreted to be Troy making sure she really wanted to stay and she wasn't just being polite. "I've never been here, that's all. I didn't even know it existed...Not what I was expecting, either."
"Gabriella, if you're uncomfortable-"
"Troy," Gabriella smiled at his concern, "I want to stay here."
"Positive?"
"Definitely."
Troy was finally satisfied that Gabriella did, indeed, want to stay at the Amber Lounge and he took her to a small booth. It had a round table in the middle and it had one long seat in a semi-circle (which had comfy padding over it) around the table. It was private and intimate but gave them a full view of the bar around them. The lights were dimmed around the bar except for the actual bar itself and Gabriella had to admit that it was rather a nice place (despite her first impressions).
"What can I get you?" A pretty, red-headed waitress (with tattoos up and down her arms) asked.
"Is a soda good for you?" Troy asked Gabriella. She nodded. "Can we get two sodas, please and I'll have a...Double cheeseburger with chips. You decided yet?" Gabriella nodded and ordered the same as Troy. "So, you're not like Kelsi then who always wants salad." He had a charming grin and Gabriella shook her head. "I like that."
"Um, so, do you come to this place often?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah, I suppose I do. My Dad knows the owner and I usually tagged along. I've always enjoyed it here because of the people but I began to like it even more when I noticed that not one person from East High knew about it. Or, at least, never came in." Troy explained and Gabriella found herself very intrigued. Why would the champion of East High want to get away from the people that loved him? Gabriella never wanted to see her peers because she didn't know them well enough.
"Why did you not want people from East High in here?"
"It was a place I had to myself. It's kind of selfish but I didn't have to share this with anyone else." Troy explained. "When I was at East High, everyone knew my business. I can't lie to you, when people first took an interest in me, I loved it. I loved the attention and the praise but it quickly wore off. It was boring because people didn't know me, they just knew my name and my face and something that may or may not have happened."
"You were like a celebrity."
"I suppose I was, in many ways." Troy replied. "I'd much rather be the kid that no one knew though." The waitress came back with their drinks and Troy and Gabriella thanked her before they returned to their conversation. "It's much easier to find your real friends when you're not known...Sorry, it sounds like I boasting about my popularity or something." Troy ran his hand through his hair with embarrassment.
"No, you don't. You're just telling the truth. I think it would have been worse if you claimed not to be popular at all when you really knew that you were." Gabriella replied with honesty. "I can't stand it when people do the pretend modesty thing when they're only fishing for compliments." Troy agreed.
"How come I never saw you when I was at East High?" Troy questioned – although it was more to himself than anything.
"I was the girl that stayed in the classroom for the better half of my freshman year." Gabriella explained. When she finished, she blushed when she realised how it sounded but that was what she had done and it better that Troy knew it now. "I wanted to make a good impression and I wanted the good grades."
"What about the cafeteria? I would have seen you at some point."
"Maybe you did? You just can't remember it." Gabriella shrugged. "But, my friend, Taylor and I don't usually eat the canteen unless it's raining or too cold." Troy's furrowed brow asked her to elaborate. "We sit outside. Drags less attention to ourselves."
"By sitting in a place that no one else does?"
"When you say it like that, it sounds like we do want attention!" She exclaimed and they both smiled. "It's like a secret place. It's on top of the school where the science club sometimes do their experiments on plants. But they don't go there often themselves. Taylor and I have never met anyone else on the roof so I expect that few know about it."
"I know." Troy said. "I used to go there when I needed to chill out at school. It's a nice place."
"Yeah, it is."
"I never knew others used it. If my friends knew I was up there surrounded by flowers...Well, I don't even want to know what my nickname would be then." Gabriella giggled. "Of all the times I went up there and I never bumped into you. Huh...You know, I wish I had. Met you before, I mean."
"You like to have your own space a lot." Gabriella pointed out. "First this place and then the roof."
"You make me sound anti-social." Troy chuckled. "But, sometimes you need to have some time to yourself. For me, being at school, there was never a dull moment. There was always something happening; something funny, something exciting, something weird or strange or shocking. You could never just have a boring day. Everything was constantly fired at you."
"It's the same for our year." Gabriella replied. "But I normally stay out of it. I'm not popular. I don't have that problem."
"You're not missing out on anything, trust me."
"How has your boxing training been?" Gabriella asked.
"Tough but good." Troy answered. "I was actually, um, going to ask you, er, something." Troy mentally kicked himself. Something? He wanted to ask her something? He nervously chuckled at his words and Gabriella couldn't help but hold an amused smile. "What I meant was, um...I was wondering if you would like to come to my boxing match?"
"Really?"
"Yeah." He smiled. She hadn't said 'yes' but she hadn't said 'no' either, that was a good start. "Don't feel like you have to come. I won't mind. It's probably not your thing and I really won't be offended if you don't want to."
"Actually, I'd like to watch your match." Gabriella shyly replied. Although it wasn't a date, he still wanted to see her again. Gabriella also found boxing interesting enough. Well, she did now. Troy seemed to make everything so much more exciting. "I think it'd be...Cool. When is it?"
"Oh, er," Troy appeared to be momentarily surprised that she had agreed, "this Friday. Tomorrow. It starts at seven at University of Albuquerque. We normally use their gym for our fights. Is that good for you?" Gabriella nodded. "Well, great. I'll make sure I get you a good seat." He nudged her gently and they sat in silence for a few seconds. Both with smiles on their faces.
However, the smile slipped off Gabriella's face when she realised something. She tentatively asked. "Will Sharpay and Heather be there?" Like a mirror image, Troy's smile dropped into a frown. He hadn't thought about that one. He hadn't even remembered that they weren't exactly...Fans of Gabriella.
"Er...I'm not sure. Sometimes they show up and sometimes they don't. I could...I could tell them not to come." Troy offered.
"No, I don't want to stop your family from coming." Gabriella said. "Maybe...Maybe I shouldn't come."
"No!" Troy exclaimed. He was very quick to say so and almost knocked over his drink in the process. He looked embarrassed for a second and then softly continued. "I mean, no. Don't not come. I want you to come. I invited you! Besides, my family have been loads of times and it's not like it's my last match. They can see me another time. Please," he looked at Gabriella with sincerity in his eyes. "I really want you to come."
Gabriella hesitated. She anxiously chewed her lip as she pondered. Should she go? Was it the best thing for her to do so? What if Sharpay or Heather found out? What if Kelsi found out? What would they say...What would they do? But, she did really want to see him play. Actually, she just really wanted to see him again. And he did invite her, as he had said. It would be rude to turn down an invitation...
"Okay." She said.
"Okay?"
"Okay, I'll come."
Troy broke out into a smile. "Great. I look forward to it."
"And you're sure you're alright with not having Sharpay and Heather there?"
"I already told you, they've seen me before and they'll see me again just not tomorrow." Troy cheerfully replied. "Look, I know those two can be very domineering and the things I saw last week at the diner...I...I just wanted to tell you that they're not always like that. I've never seen them like that...I'm not like that."
"I know."
"And I want to apologise on their behalf. They...They're high school girls that can sometimes be immature and say nasty things to people. Probably because they think they're being cool. I don't know but...What I'm trying to say is...I'm going to try and get them to stop. Not just with you but with everyone. I honestly never knew they said things like that to people and I especially don't want them saying those things to you."
"Troy, don't go to all that trouble. I'm used to it."
"But you shouldn't be!" Troy argued. "I don't want you to be."
"Well, thank you." Gabriella smiled. "It's very..."
"Noble? Heroic? Amazing?"
"I was going to say nice but they all work, too." Gabriella laughed.
The rest of the evening passed by in a blur. They laughed and ate and shared stories and then laughed some more. When it was time for Gabriella to leave, she really didn't want to go. She was having such a great time with Troy. For once, she was comfortable and not so anxious. But, she had school the next morning and if her parents knew she was staying out late, they would make sure she wasn't allowed to leave the house for a week. Fortunately, Louisa was keeping her secret like a saint – although Louisa never knew it was a boy she was spending time with.
"Thanks for this evening, Troy." Gabriella said. Troy had walked her to her car.
"You're welcome. I had a great time with you, tonight." He confessed and rubbed the back of his neck.
Gabriella agreed that they had, indeed, had a wonderful time and he paused, taking in her features under the dim street light. Her skin looked soft and her hair looked black in the night rather than its normal dark brown. Her nose was button-like and her cheekbones were more prominent than he remembered. Then, those eyes. They really were the window to Gabriella's soul. They were kind and caring and a gorgeous dark brown. Without really thinking, Troy leant down to her (Gabriella was rather petite against his tall stature) and kissed her cheek. His lips lingered and he could hear Gabriella's breathing slightly quicken. She had smelled so sweet, too; like roses or lilies or some sort of flower.
"Night, Gabriella."
"G'night, Troy."
"Gabby! Where were you last night?" Taylor dramatically asked. "I tried calling but you wouldn't pick up."
"Sorry, I was, um...I was out." Gabriella quickly replied.
It had been a little bit too quickly and Taylor's eyes suspiciously narrowed. "Where?"
"Just...Out."
A smirk pulled on Taylor's lips. "With a certain Mr. Evans, maybe?"
"No."
"Oh, Gabby, come on. It was Ryan, wasn't it?" Gabriella shook her head. "Gabs, I'm your best friend. You can tell me anything. I promise you that I won't tease you about it if it was Ryan." Taylor said, holding her hand over her heart and a grin on her face.
"I didn't see Ryan, last night."
"Then, where were you?"
"I told you. I was out. With...With my parents." Gabriella lied.
"Okay, well, I called your house phone yesterday and Louisa told me that your parents were at some charity event and you were out with a friend." Taylor replied and Gabriella winced. Damn, she'd been caught. "Now, Kelsi and Martha were doing something for Heather last night and I know that because they told me earlier that day and, so, the only other person I can think of is Ryan Evans..."
"It wasn't Ryan."
"Then, who?" Gabriella hesitated causing Taylor to sigh. "Why can't you tell me?"
"If I tell you who it is, you have to promise me you won't ever repeat it." Gabriella said and Taylor nodded. Gabriella's expression was so serious. Taylor nervously gulped. Who was Gabriella hanging out with? An ex-convict? A murderer? Who? "It's...It's Troy Bolton. That's who I was with last night. He took me out for dinner."
"Oh...Wow." Taylor stared. That was not what she had been expecting. "Wait, as in Heather Bolton's older brother?"
"Yeah, that's him." Gabriella quietly said with a nod of her head.
"Jesus." Taylor breathed out. Her mouth was agape and she furiously blinked with surprise. Then, all of a sudden, Taylor gave a broad smile and she nudged Gabriella. "Nice one. How did you bag him? He's hot." Gabriella giggled. She had been quite nervous about telling Taylor. She had worried Taylor wouldn't approve somehow but, clearly, that wasn't the case. "How was it? Last night, I mean?"
"Really good. Great." Gabriella beamed.
"No wonder you can't stop smiling today." Taylor nudged her again. "God, if Heather found out."
"But, she won't." Gabriella suddenly frowned. "You can't tell anyone. You're the only other person besides Troy and I that know. I want to keep it that way." Taylor nodded, swearing to keep secrecy. "Thank you. I don't even want to know what Heather would do to me if she found out. I mean, it's not like we're dating but I know she wouldn't be happy to know I was hanging out with him."
"Well, it sounds like to me that last night was a date." Taylor smirked. "You lucky thing."
Gabriella couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face.
girlwithbrowneyes:
Hello! How are you all? Thank you to all my readers and subscribers and, especially, my reviewers. Really, your reviews made me giddy. Thank you very, very much for reading!
Thank you to mbaby45, silenceeverything, SimpleThings, Bluebell140, pumpkinking5, sar7ah, Fairyvixenmaiden, ilovesmiles and icebaby26. Mucho gracias and mucho, mucho, mucho love!
Hugs and Kisses,
Olivia.
Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliation with the Disney/HSM franchise nor do I own any of the recognised characters; only the plot and my imagination.