Chapter Four: Lunch invitations

[Troy's point of view]

I stood frozen to the spot looking up at the now empty corridor where the mysterious blond had just rushed off. She didn't want me to notice the scar on her wrist, the worry in her eyes made that clear. But what could be so bad in her life to make her want to cut herself? Did anybody else know about it? Was she trying to kill herself, or just relieve some emotional pain? So many questions ran around in my mind. Maybe Kelsi was right. Maybe this Sharpay girl was trouble, I mean do I really want to get involved with someone with who has no respect for herself let alone others?

...or maybe...

Maybe the scar wasn't intentional, maybe it wasn't her! People get scratches all the time. She could have just innocently caught her wrist on something.

Then why the quick get away?

As I stood there arguing with myself over the possibilities, I suddenly remembered why I was in the hallway in the first place, and checked my watch. Crap. I had been out here nearly 15 minutes and I was only meant to be putting a few books in my new locker. I jogged back to homeroom, luckily remembering the way (I really didn't want to be any later than I already was), then skidded to a halt as I reached the door and walked in, trying to act as casual as I could.

"Mr Bolton, what took you so long?" questioned the extravagantly dressed woman standing on the small platform at the front of the classroom.

"I uh... got lost." I muttered noticing a girl who hadn't been in the classroom when I was there earlier, the same girl I had the encounter with in the corridor. She looked up at me for a few seconds, chewing on her lip in an anxious manner, then quickly looked away and pulled her sleeves down past her hands, aware that I was trying to get another glimpse at her wrists.

"Well now your here, can you take your seat and stop trying to make googly eyes at Ms Evans?" My homeroom teacher, who I had previously found out, was named Miss Darbus, asked; which obviously earned a chorus of 'oooohs' and wolf whistles from the rest of the class. Sharpay on the other hand, sneered her nose up and rolled her eyes.

By this time I had turned a deep shade of red with embarrassment. Great, Troy, your first day and everyone already thinks you're a creep. I hurried to sit down in my newly assigned seat, second row from the back, with a fairly good view of the girl that had been running circles in my mind for the half an hour I had attended this school.

The last few minutes of homeroom dragged on slowly as Miss Darbus droned on about all the after school clubs, including the drama production which she seemed perhaps a little too enthusiastic about. As soon as the bell went indicating first period people started to rush out of the room, ignoring Miss Darbus' pleas to leave in an 'orderly fashion'. As I leant down to retrieve my bag a pair of pink heels stepped down onto one of the rucksacks straps. My eyes slowly made their way up her legs-her smooth tanned legs- and finally ended up at her flawless face.

I smirked as I sat up straight in my chair and took in the frown she bared "yes?"

She took a deep breath and whispered in an angry tone "If you dare tell anybody about what you saw, I swear it will be the last thing you ever do"

I raised my eyebrows at her and stood up, towering above her; at least 6 inches difference in our height. She looked up at me her eyes cold and glaring. "That's an awful big threat coming from someone so small" I said a cheeky smile growing, I had a feeling it would be fun to get her all angry and worked up.

"What you saw was none of your business!" She said jabbing her manicured nail right into my chest "Now I want you to stay away from me or I will make sure that your time at this school is a living nightmare!"

"Is that a promise?"

"Ugh. You are a jerk!"

I was right. It was fun to piss her off, plus she's hot when she's mad "that's nice. Now could you move, you're on my bag and I have a class to get to" The smile I added at the end of my sentence made her eyes grow twice their usual size and her jaw clenched furiously.

She took a step back, off of my bag turned on her heel and stalked towards the door, but then turned to me with that menacing glare and said "."

"So, I'll see you at lunch?" I called after her has she walked out of the room, I chuckled slightly as I heard her frustrated scream halfway down the corridor, then picked up my bag and headed towards the same way Sharpay had just left.

"Troy?" I heard someone call from inside the classroom I was currently trying to leave. I spun around and came face to face with a beautiful Latino girl, long dark hair, big brown eyes and a pearly white smile.

"Uh hi..."

"I'd listen to what she says if I were you, she has the kind of social status in this school that makes her able to tear you down within seconds. Trust me, she's not worth it"

"Sharpay? Nah, she seems like a blast" I said jokingly a smile playing across my face, we started to walk down the corridor towards first period, well I hoped I was going the right way, to be honest I was just following pretty girl I had yet to learn the name of.

The Latina giggled slightly and shook her head "she may look nice on the outside her heart is as cold as ice, people even call her the ice princess"

"Well that's... catchy?" I said screwing up my face "why does she act like that"

She shrugged and looked at me puzzled "no one knows. She's always been like it". I sighed and looked down at my feet as we continued to walk down the busy hallway. Someone must know why she behaves the way she does. The brunette girl looked at me, then quickly looked away as soon as I caught her eye, I smiled slightly. "I'm Gabriella, by the way. Um, you can sit with me and my friends at lunch... If you want" She said shyly, adding the last part on quick.

I started to nod then remembered how I had teased Sharpay back in homeroom "Uh thanks... I might take you up on that offer".

Gabriella stopped outside a door then smiled at me "this is my class, I'll see you around Troy" she said as she disappeared through the door and into the room. I looked up at the signs and posters around me, 'Biology'. Crap. How did I get to English from here?

TBC

I'm getting good with updating this Story... not so much my others but ey, it's a start!

Please review and tell me your thoughts/opinions and ideas. It would be much appreciated!

Alice xoxo