Gabriella grabbed her books from her locker, she'd been out of school for two days, and her perfect attendance was officially ruined. Closing her locker she felt someone shove her as they walked by. At first the action took her by surprise because no one ever shoved her. She was Gabriella Montez. People walked around her. Not through her.
Even though her East High t-shirt and jean skirt clung to body in all the right places no one was turning heads, nodding in approval or even staring at her chest. The whole thing made her feel as if she was suddenly horrendous, out casted and shunned. Gabriella was about to turn away and start down the hall when she got of glimpse of her past walking right before her eyes.
Aaron's arm hung loosely around Stacy as they smiled and waved at people with their bright smiles. Crocodile smiles if she ever saw them, Gabriella felt disgust swarm inside her as Stacy leaned up to give Aaron a French kiss in the hall and Aaron's hands took a firm hold of her ass, giving it a good squeeze for everyone to see.
Gabriella looked away and just as she did she saw Sharpay coming her way with a very bad expression on her face. "Why didn't you answer my call this morning?" Gabriella said shrugging her back pack higher. "At least warn me that I've become bottom of the food chain."
"Because we needed to talk face to face," Sharpay's voice was full of worry as she watched Gabriella, "This is really hard for me to say so I'm going to just say it-"
"Say what?" Gabriella took a deep breath.
"Gabriella, the other girls voted you out?"
Gabriella was silent as she looked back at Sharpay.
"Gabriella I plead your case as best I could but Stacy talked most of them into it. She said your personal issues were getting in the way of you doing your job, that you didn't respect the bonds of sister hood if you were so quick to fight one." Sharpay bit her lip and the hall way emptied as they stood there silently.
"Sibling fight all the time," Gabriella said with an exasperated motion.
"I know but Gabriella I was out voted."
"Your Co-Captain, doesn't your vote count like forty times!" Gabriella said with exasperated voice.
"I tired Gabs."
Shaking her head Gabriella walked past her and Sharpay let out a sigh as she turned to follow. "Gabriella we can fix this."
"It's whatever Shar," Gabriella waved her off stopping her from following as she stormed away stopping in mid hallway when she came into the sight of boys gathering outside the gym doors busting into shouts and fits as they read off the bulletin board. "ALRIGHT!" Eddie emerged from the group, "Gabs I made the team, I made the team!"
Gabriella sniffled back and blinked. "Wonderful, that's great," she forced a small smiled as she held out her arms for him.
"This is awesome, now you're going to be cheering for me," he said giving her a big hug.
"Yup," Gabriella said with a smile. "Looking forward to the big game, Go wildcats." she cheered mildly with a fist pump.
"We have to talk to mom and dad we can't leave," Eddie said turning around as Chad and Zeke horse played in the hallway. "Go wildcats!" he cheered as he ran to slap hands with Chad.
Gabriella nodded as she let out a breath, right about now moving far away was looking better and better especially if she got into Juilliard then none of this would matter. She could live in New York maybe slowly get to know her father or just avoid him all together. She didn't know yet, she had to rethink every part of her plan. Turning around she bumped into Troy.
"Troy."
"That's my name," he said quietly, eyeing her carefully.
"I have to go, Ryan is waiting for me."
"Not so fast," Troy gently reached for her arm, "Gabriella we need to talk?"
"Well, I can't right now," she said turning away from him.
"You can't just keep avoiding me," Troy said following her as she made her way to the auditorium. "Slowdown will you," he said running to keep up.
"Troy let's do this another time, I have other things on my plate right now and I'm sorry but you're not exactly a priority," she said holding out her hand, practically pleading for him to just go away. Everything was just too much to handle. Turning away she left him in the hall and walked to the auditorium.
"Finally thank god you're here," Ryan said as he walked forward. "And you," he jumped as Troy immerged from behind her.
"Troy?" Gabriella spun around and he shrugged his shoulder.
"I believe I was invited."
Gabriella shook her heard slightly as she continued to walk through aisle to get to the stage.
Ryan jumped up and down before waving them both on stage. "Alright let's get started, Troy you can sit by me," he said with a smile and a skip.
Troy arched his brow as he looked at the stage and took everything in. "What the hell am I doing?" he murmured to himself before making his way down to where Ryan was.
Gabriella dumped her back pack to the ground. People were moving around everywhere Martha with wardrobe and a few other students off to the side practicing a dance routine. It was as if they literally stepped out of the school and into a circus of performers.
"Alright I want to try something," Ryan said sitting next to Kelsi. "Let begin shall we,"
Kelsi nodded and looked at Gabriella. "Ready?"
"Ready," Gabriella said with a smile as she looked out into the almost empty auditorium.
The music started and Ryan smiled over at Troy, "I'll go first and then we'll bring you in after a few goes. Just so you can see how it's done."
Taking a deep breath Troy looked up at Gabriella and nodded.
The music started on Ryan's cue.
I got a lot of things
I have to do
All this distractions
Our future coming soon
Ryan looked up and Troy and smiled a tight smile as he nodded. His pitch was perfect like the many times before.
We're being pulled
Gabriella started in a small voice barely normal but heard.
A hundred different directions
Kelsi grimaced and Ryan closed his eyes as he adjusted his vocals. He tried to be louder, possibly deeper.
But whatever happens
I know I got you
At the same time both of them came close to hitting the same note. The music picked up a bit and Troy bit his lip as Ryan stood up. The pitch was off she was trying to raise to his pitch and he was trying too hard to drop down to her range.
You're on my mind
You're in my heart
Gabriella joined him and they both started walking to each other.
It doesn't matter where we are
Ryan came to a standstill as he braced his voice.
We'll be alright
Even if we're
Ryan and Gabriella both came to a single note.
Miles apart
Having had enough Troy climbed onto the stage and tapped Ryan on shoulder and nodded as Ryan took a step back. The music continued.
"He doesn't know the song?" Gabriella said looking at Kelsi.
"I'll manage," Troy murmured as he glanced around at everyone watching. "Just keep going," Troy said off handedly as he shrugged his shoulders. Gabriella crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
Kelsi hand strummed through the keys in one sharp flutter and Troy took a step forward.
All I wanna do
Is be with you
Be with you
There's nothing we can't do
Just wanna be with you
Gabriella arms uncrossed and as she looked at him startled, frozen like a deer in the headlights until she saw Ryan waving his arms about. "Sing Gabs, sing with him!"
People stopped moving at this point all eyes were on them and Gabriella felt the heat and energy coursing through her as she gathered herself quickly.
No matter where life takes us
Nothing can break us apart
Gabriella took a step back from his approaching stance.
You know it's true
Her voice jumped in with his in a perfect pitch.
I just wanna be with you
Hey….
Her voice became relaxed as she lingered.
Be with you….
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah…
Troy stuck his hands in his pocket as he sang to her with a smirk on his face.
You know how life can be
It changes overnight
It's sunny then raining
But it's alright
Gabriella twirled and came to a stop as she came face to face with him and turning towards the audience.
A friend like you
Always makes it easy
I know that you get me
Every time
Ryan jumped in his seat. "Give it to me big guys go big."
Troy and Gabriella faced each other and the music picked up with every word pushing them to outdo the other.
Through every up
Through every down
You know I'll always be around
Troy took a step forward getting closer to Gabriella than he'd been in the garage and she back away from him but their voice bellowed out through the entire auditorium.
Through anything
You can count on me
All I wanna do
Is be with you
Be with you
There's nothing we can't do
Just wanna be with you
Only you
No matter where life takes us
Nothing can break us apart
You know it's true
I just wanna be with you
I just wanna be with you
The room went up in roaring applause and Gabriella and Troy's eyes didn't drop from each other. "How am I doing on that priority list now?" his breath was harsh as the excitement rattle them both.
"This is theater people, this is what magic is!" Ryan voice echoed behind them.
Gabriella had nothing to say and for the fourth time since this boy walked into her life she felt his every being inside her and she throbbed with the starving need of his attention and approval. It wasn't until Kelsi came running between them speaking a mile a minute that she even noticed other people in room since she began to sing.
"I have a piano at home and we can rehearse anytime you need to after school, before school, during lunch or free periods."
Gabriella felt her head spinning as she took the papers from Kelsi hands the entire time his eyes were on her, he wouldn't look away and the blue of his eyes were burning into her skin. Chills ran down her spine and she turned from him looking nervously away pushing her hair back and making her way away from the stage.
She didn't need one more reason to stay in this town, leaving her family was going to kill her but now the thought of leaving him rattled her.