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Chapter 27: Operation: Basketball Lunkheads
Gabriella sat cross-legged on her bed. She was staring blankly at the page full of chemical equations in front of her. She groaned, putting her head in her hands. It was times like these that she needed Taylor. She loved the rest of her friends, she really did, but Taylor was the only one who could help her make heads or tails of this. If the two of them put their really confused brains together, they could probably figure this out. And even if they were in a fight their grades were still very important right? And who would want to mess with what's proven itself to work right? Well, that could perhaps be wrong.
Gabriella slammed the book shut with a thud and laid back. She closed her eyes and just let the peaceful silence and lack of chemistry in front of her face wash over her. Sitting up again she realized that there was no way she was going to get any of the chemistry done without the help of Taylor. And with chemistry being her only assignment left she couldn't let it loom over her head. Especially when it was one of her only distractions.
Making a quick decision, without weighing the pros and cons of the situation at hand, she grabbed her books, her purse, her keys, and her sweater and sprinted out of the house. Not saying a word to anyone.
Jack stood helplessly in the doorway as Gabriella backed out of the driveway quickly and tore off in the direction of Taylor's house.
Taking a deep breath, Gabriella walked up to the front door of the McKessie homestead. She simply stared at the white door for a moment, trying to come up with an argument that Taylor would listen to. Chad hadn't seemed to care, but then again he was Chad. Meaning he definitely wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. So he might not have seen her point. Someone more reasonable, more level headed, and all around smarter might understand where she was coming from. But then again Taylor led the parade to the fight. On the other hand she tried to stop what she was saying. And on a third hand it was technically Gabriella's own fault that the fight had started. And on a fourth hand everyone was being immature, Sharpay, Ryan, Zeke, Jason, Troy, and herself included. And on a fifth hand…
"I need to stop, I so don't have enough hands for this." Gabriella muttered to herself before taking another deep breath.
Raising her hand, she pushed the doorbell in quickly. She closed her eyes, immediately regretting her decision. Well it was too late at this point.
The door opened and the older woman smiled at Gabriella. "Hey Gabriella, are you looking for Taylor?"
"Hi Mrs. McKessie, and yes, Chemistry is killing me, I need the help of the ever brilliant Miss McKessie."
Laughing, Mrs. McKessie held the door fully opened, "Taylor's up in her room sweetie, just let yourself in."
Gabriella nodded her thanks to the sweet woman and waved a 'hello' to Dr. McKessie before heading upstairs. Seeing Taylor's door opened, Gabriella took a deep breath and lightly knocked on the opened door.
"Hey Tay…"
Taylor looked up, her eyes widening in shock at the face in front of her. "Gabs…" Well she responded and used her nickname, so that was at least a good start.
"Look Tay, I know we're well, whatever we are, but Chem is kicking my ass, which means it's probably kicking yours, which means we need to work together so it doesn't kick both of our asses."
Taylor had to smile at the logic. It was true. When one of them didn't understand, the other usually didn't. But if they put their brains together, they could usually get it. They were the only ones the other could work with and begin to understand the assignment, without killing each other.
"So what do you say, wanna make sense of this stuff?" Gabriella gave a small hopeful smile as she waved the dangerously heavy textbook in the air.
"Let's rock this shit Gabs." Taylor moved over on her bed, making room for Gabriella.
Two hours later the girls had an infinite understanding of balancing chemical equations. "God chemistry sucks ass right now…" Gabriella moaned dramatically.
"You've been spending too much time with Sharpay." Taylor giggled, poking Gabriella in the side. Smiling even wider when she squealed at the contact. "So Gabs…"
Gabriella noted the change in Taylor's tone, "Yeah, Tay?"
"Look I just wanted to apologize, I didn't mean what I said."
"Then why'd you say it?" Gabriella caught Taylor's eyes and noted the very guilty and apologetic look in them.
"I don't know, I mean while it might be true it's not your fault. It's just," Taylor sighed and ran a hand through her straight black hair, "I don't like that you were keeping secrets from me." Taking Gabriella's hands in her own she continued, "We're best friends, we tell each other everything."
"I just couldn't yet Tay. It was way too much. I mean it took me til like 3 AM yesterday morning or this morning or whatever to tell Troy." Gabriella grinned "And I mean it's Troy, he's like, no he's not like, he is the one, I just," She groaned, "I hate this. The only reason Sharpay found out was cause she basically tricked it out of me." Twisting her face up, "You know I love her to death, but I kind of hate her sometimes. And I flipped a shit when she told Zeke."
"But you know you can talk to me right?" Taylor looked up from her lap. Surveying Gabriella very carefully.
"I know, it's just. I talked to Chad today. I tried to make him understand that he can't just cut off ties with Troy because of this, but everything that's happened to me in the last couple of years, well it's been just so difficult and I don't really know how to explain some of it. And other stuff, I'm just not ready to talk about. To anyone. I'm not ready to put it into words quite yet, cause then it'll be so…" she stopped at a loss for words.
"Real?" Taylor tried, causing Gabriella to look over at her.
"Yeah, real, and I'm not ready to accept that reality yet." Sighing the brunette continued, "Forgive me?"
Opening her arms up Taylor laughed, "Yeah, hugs?" Giggling, Gabriella hugged Taylor tightly.
"Always Tay, always…"
The two girls pulled away from the hug with bright smiles adorning their faces, "So Gabs, that was my last assignment, and if I know you it was yours as well…"
"That it was Miss McKessie, that it was." Gabriella agreed, dodging the blow with Taylor's fluffy decorative pillow.
"As I was saying, would you like to stay for dinner and a funny chick flick?"
Basically jumping off the bed, Gabriella sprinted across the room to her purse, digging through the obnoxiously large bag, she found what she was looking for: her cell phone. Pressing speed dial number 4, she waited until she heard the deep voice of Jack on the other end.
"Hi Jack!" Gabriella's perky voice floated easily through the phone.
"Thank the lord, Gabriella, where did you go?" Jack's voice was desperate sounding.
"I'm at Taylor's, I was wondering if I could stay for dinner and a movie?" She heard Jack chuckle and could imagine that he could picture the puppy dogface she was giving on her end of the phone.
"That damn face works on me through the phone. And yes, you can stay, I'm guessing you two worked it out. Now we need to work on Troy and Chad…" Jack sighed.
"Tay and I'll come up with a kick ass plan! Thanks Jack! Love you." Gabriella practically sang through the phone, excitement radiating in her voice.
"Love you too Gabi." Saying their last goodbyes the two hung up.
"So Tay, we totes need a plan to make Troy and Chad best friends again." Gabriella giggled.
The giggle was infectious, "Totes?" Taylor questioned with arched eyebrows.
"Yeah I was visiting William and Mary and they totally say totes for totally…they have lots of strange traditions, like awkward Viking and everyone sails away…" Gabriella shook her head (that's actually true…my friend goes to W&M and she does that stuff now…to funny and cute).
"You're without a doubt the strangest person I know…" Taylor laughed.
"Really, I take that prize?" Gabriella stood up and bowed, "Thank you ladies and gentlemen, Gabriella Elizabeth Montez managed to take a title away from Sharpay Michelle Evans…Thank you very much!"
Taylor giggled, "And at this rate you're going to take most dramatic with you too."
A knock on the door brought the two girls out of their antics, "Gabi are you staying for dinner?"
The two girls looked up at the resounding and comforting voice of Dr. McKessie, "Yes please." They responded together, causing the older man to roll his eyes and shake his head, mumbling something about teenage girls and how he'd never understand them.
"Okay so Chad and Troy, our two idiot boyfriends…" Taylor giggled, which Gabriella caught onto of course.
Two hours, six pieces of pizza, two bowls of popcorn, a tub of chocolate ice cream, endless amounts of soda, and two movies later…the girls had a plan.
Operation: Basketball Lunkheads was on for tomorrow at noon….
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Mollie XOXO