Remember: Gabriella's and Taylors Outfit can be found by clicking the link of my profile!
Disclaimer: I don't own Letters to Juliet or HSM.
Inspiration: Girl Next Door by Saving Jane
Dedication: Clembo29 (for having the same bday as me! Happy birthday!)
Author: Alleycat
Story: A Love Letter to Troy Bolton
Chapter 6
Gabriella smiled as an idea struck her. "What's the principal's name?" She asked Taylor, seemingly out of nowhere.
She shot her a weird look. "Matsui even though I'm not sure why this is relevant," Taylor was quiet for a second. "Or even helpful."
"It is," was all Gabriella said before she darted down the hallway and towards the impending danger.
She was going too fast for Taylor to catch up with her but not fast enough that Taylor couldn't stay close. Luckily, both were wearing tennis shoes so their approach was made silent. Running in the halls in any school is strictly forbidden and would probably only exacerbate the situation. They reached the other end of the hall and the group in seconds.
"I am so sorry!" Gabriella exclaimed loudly, joining their group even though she was not invited. She effectively ceased all conversation. "I kept you waiting longer than I thought!" She said to the three basketball players who were now standing up.
The principal stared at her for a second before taking notice of her visitor id. "I apologize for my frankness, but who are you?" He asked sharply.
Gabriella turned as if just seeing him for the first time. "How rude of me," She put her hand out for a handshake. "My name is Gabriella Montez and I am visiting from New Mexico Prep."
He studied her for a moment before sliding his hand into her outstretched one. "I am the principal of East High-"
"Mr. Matsui!" She interrupted, almost in reverence.
The principal's chest puffed up a bit. "Seems like you have heard of me before," He made a clicking noise as if used to the recognition. "but I apologize for not having the same understanding. Why are you here?" He asked, much kinder than before.
"I was just interviewing the stars of the basketball team," She gestured to the three boys who were staring at her dumbfounded. "I hear you have a game today so I could not do it after school."
The principal nodded. "That's true but-" He began to argue.
"Sir," She interrupted again, her voice had a sickeningly sweet tone to it. "I know this is a bit unorthodox but do you mind if I ask you some questions as well?"
His mouth dropped open and a hand flew to his chest. "Me?" He repeated.
"Yes!" She admonished, as if surprised he would even doubt it. "Off the record of course but without you, none of this stuff would be happening! Such strides your school is making amidst budget cuts!"
"Crippling budget cuts," He agreed but then noticed his four students staring at him blankly. Matsui cleared his throat and straightened his tie. "Maybe this conversation is better suited within my office." He said with a twinkle in his eye.
Gabriella accepted his proposal to the new location and left without saying goodbye to Taylor and the boys. She did not want to draw attention to the fact that they were there when she had worked so hard to distract him from it.
"Man! That was amazing!" Chad announced and held up a hand to high five Troy with after they were sure the principal was gone.
Troy just looked down the hall moodily.
"Dude," Chad began to crack up. "Don't tell me you're jealous of our principal!"
"I am not," He protested before sitting back down on the ground. "I just didn't skip so she could hang out with Matsui!"
Taylor, Chad, and Zeke laughed at his childish behavior.
"And he was looking at her a little creepy!" He pointed out through their laughter. It only fired their response and Troy just huffed.
"Listen," Taylor began before kneeling in front of him so they were eye level. "I know Gabriella wants to hang out with you so she'll be back as soon as she can."
"Really?" He asked hopefully. This was coming from her best friend so it was unlikely that she would lie.
"Yes," She assured patiently. "Now all we have to do is wait." Taylor took a seat next to Troy on the floor after she wiped at it with her hands to make sure it was clean. She was wearing white sweat pants after all.
They waited only five minutes before Gabriella appeared back in the hallway. The five minutes was filled with awkward silences, secret glances (that Taylor actually noticed this time), and glances at the clock.
Even though five minutes is not a long time, Troy felt like it took forever. His eyes were trained on the end of the hallway so when she did start walking down the hallway he jumped up to greet her. His friends jumped up t0o because they thought Troy was freaking out but then they noticed the girl walking down the hallway.
"You are amazing!" Chad shouted down the hall, ignoring his friends' warnings to keep his voice down.
She giggled bashfully as she continued to walk down the hall.
"No seriously, we would've been toast!" Zeke agreed before giving her a one armed hug.
Gabriella accepted the gesture from the virtually unknown boy graciously. When she was released, Troy swept her up in hug and twirled her around. She was giggling again before he set her down.
Troy made sure to leave his arm around her shoulders. "You are amazing." Troy repeated the sentiment, but Gabriella felt the weight of his more clearly.
Gabriella smiled at him before announcing to the group "who's hungry?"
The three boys cheered.
Gabriella smiled before fishing out the keys in her purse. She did not want to make any sudden movements in case it cause Troy's arm to fall off. She liked it because it felt warm and secure. "We can take my car it's the closest to the entrance."
Taylor looked hesitant at the thought of actually leaving the school. This was not appropriate behavior for the class president and future president of the United States. "This has two weeks detention written all over it." Taylor told Gabriella but finally gave in after the encouragement from the guys.
Troy let his two teammates into the back seat. He motioned for Taylor to get in but she looked defiant and refused to get in. Troy sent her a pleading look, trying to convey how important the passenger seat would be. She sighed loudly but climbed in the back and next to Chad. Troy tried not to look triumphant as he closed the door.
Gabriella was watching him closely, curiously.
He avoided her eyes. "So where we goin'?" He asked while putting on his seatbelt.
"You guys tell me what's good around here?" She countered while starting the car.
"Joe's burger joint is good!" Zeke said from the backseat.
"All opposed?" Taylor asked. No one said anything.
"Then Joe's burger joint it is!" Gabriella stated before following Troy's directions.
"I can take the next person over here!" A pimply faced cashier called.
"That's us." Taylor noted before walking up to the guy.
The rest of the group followed her.
"Order anything you want, food's on me!" Gabriella called.
Everyone looked ecstatic except for Troy. "What's wrong?" She asked him quietly while the others were in front looking for what they wanted.
"You're not supposed to pay," Troy muttered. "They guy is supposed to pay."
"I guess," Gabriella agreed. "but that's on a date."
"Still," He protested. "It's not right."
Gabriella tried not to find his behavior adorable but there was no other word that could describe it. "How about you pay for me and I pay for you?" She offered while Taylor was finishing up her order. She was next.
Troy still did not look happy but nodded anyway.
Gabriella turned back to the cashier and stepped up when it was her turn. "I'm just going to pay for them and then he's" She gestured to Troy who was standing behind her. "going to pay for mine and his." She handed him her credit card before placing her order.
"Happy now?" Gabriella asked once they were walking to a table.
"Yes," Troy said, smiling brightly. "And thank you."
"I should be thanking you since you paid," She reminded him.
"Well then," He amended. "thank you for letting me pay for you."
"So," Chad interrupted their side conversation loudly. "I heard you live in Sunset Hills."
"That right," Gabriella said while setting her food down on a table, not sure where this was going.
"So when you gunna have a party?"
She laughed easily. "I'll have to ask my mom."
"How's the search going?" Zeke asked after everyone had started eating.
Gabriella swallowed her bite of burger before answering. "It's going really well. Thanks to today our search was narrowed to like ten girls since the class was so small."
"Nine actually," Taylor corrected. "because we all know I did not write that note."
"Seems like you're gunna find this girl real soon," Zeke commented with a glance at Troy, who was silent next to her.
"I hope so!" Gabriella replied enthusiastically. "Then Troy here will finally get a girlfriend." She nudged him with her shoulder playfully.
He raised his eyes from his plate and sent her a half smile before resuming his stare at his food.
Gabriella frowned before focusing on finishing her meal. She couldn't stop glancing at him worriedly out of the corner of her eye. She looked up to see everyone, including Troy, staring at her. "Huh?" She was sure that somebody asked her a question but she didn't hear the question either.
"I asked if you were still gunna hang around after you find this mystery girl." Zeke repeated.
She thought before she spoke. Troy would have a girlfriend, and as much as she was hoping it would work out, she couldn't see her staying around. He would need more time to hang out with the mystery girl. This matchmaker job was only supposed to be temporary. While she was more than grateful it brought her to Taylor, she could tell her and Troy were not meant to be friends.
Her feelings were never friendly towards Troy.
"I don't think so." At everyone's look, she backtracked. "I mean there is no reason, none that I can think of, that would require me to be around so often."
"But you and Taylor seem pretty close," Chad argued.
"She meant around you guys," Taylor corrected gently, sparing a glance to Troy Bolton.
He made no movement to show that he heard the conversation but her words were ringing in his ears. He continued to eat his food while he felt all hope that there could be a happy ending disappear. He concentrated on forcing the food down his throat to cover the lump that had appeared. He would do anything to avoid the sympathetic stares of his friends and the feeling of his heart shattering in his chest.
"Don't give up." Taylor whispered.
His head shot up and he noticed Gabriella's absence.
"She's in the bathroom." Taylor answered his questioning look. "She's new to this so you'll have to patient."
"But time is running out," He argued. "She's finding the girl faster than I thought."
"Never underestimate a genius." Chad muttered with a sly glance at Taylor, who rolled her eyes.
"I'll try and slow her down, but you will have to talk to her eventually."
"I know, I just have to make her fall in love with me first."
"Love?" Chad spluttered, choking on the bite of food he was currently chewing. Zeke began beating him on the back trying to get it dislodged. Taylor just watched the hoopla with a disinterested stare even though she found it humorous on the inside. "That's sounds serious." He choked out after he had taken a drink.
"You think I'm working this hard so she can forget me," Troy scoffed. "Crushes come and go, but I wanna keep her."
His friends stared at him in shock.
"Isn't it a little soon?" Zeke asked as soon as he got his bearings together.
"The heart has reasons that reason cannot know." Taylor reiterated, as if in a trance.
"Blaise Pascal?" Gabriella questioned, appearing out of nowhere. Everyone jumped at her sudden appearance. "Why are you quoting him?"
Troy's face turned red, wondering how much she had heard.
Gabriella sat down slowly, eyeing Troy's blushing face curiously. "Do I even want to know?" She mused, trying not to laugh.
"No," Taylor said passionately. "I wish I didn't know myself."
Gabriella nodded and shot Troy a secret glance.
The conversation became much lighter especially with Troy's input. He was laughing and smiling again as if he didn't have a care in the world. Gabriella didn't know if it was his recent attitude change but she felt drawn to him. It didn't help that he was physically gorgeous and had such a genuine personality. When he laughed, she felt her stomach react. When he smiled, her breath became short. And sometimes when he looked at her, she felt like she was the only girl in the world.
"Sorry to interrupt," Taylor said in a voice that did not sound apologetic at all. "But we need to leave soon if you guys want to be on time."
Taylor pulled Gabriella aside after they threw their trash away and were heading to the car. "You are so obvious!" She accused when the boys were out of hearing range.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Gabriella denied, but shot a sweet smile to Troy when he turned around to see why they were so far away.
He started to approach them but Taylor waved him away. "Oh please, you were staring at Bolton. Girl, you had hearts coming out of your eyes." She fluttered her eyelashes flirtatiously but mockingly.
Gabriella had no defense. "I thought we needed to get them to school." She reminded her.
"We will finish this later." Taylor promised.
She did bring it up again after they were walking to the entrance of the school. They had dropped the boys off at the entrance to ensure they weren't late and then tried to find a parking spot. It seemed as if the whole community was there and it took a lot longer to find a spot than they expected.
"Will you just do me a favor and admit it?" Taylor held open the school door and then trailed after Gabriella. "You like him."
"I do not," Gabriella began, but stopped when she saw the look on her best friend's face. "I'm not sure why it even matters!" She looked around to make sure no one was listening. "It won't change anything."
"It changes everything!" Taylor half shouted in frustration. "You can stop this farce of looking for a girl that doesn't matter and keep him for yourself."
"Please, a guy like" She paused, taking notice of the prone to echo hallway they were in. "him would never go for a girl like me. Plus, I couldn't do that to the letter girl.'
Taylor ignored the last part of her defense and stopped her from entering the gym doors. "That boy is like obsessed with you! How can you not see?"
"Have you ever heard that song from Wicked? The 'I'm not that Girl' song?" Gabriella questioned softly.
"Uh no," Taylor tartly replied, annoyed at her for changing the subject.
"Um it goes like don't dream too far" Gabriella began to sing the verse softly. "Don't lose sight of who you are, don't remember that rush of joy, he could be that boy I'm not that girl."
"You have a lovely voice," a third, unknown voice, complimented.
They both jumped and saw a blonde haired boy smiling widely. He had a red hat and shirt with black slacks on. "You were singing Elphaba right?"
"Oh, uh yeah." Gabriella stuttered, unsure of why he was talking to them.
"I'm Ryan Evans. I've never seen you around." He commented while holding out his hand.
Gabriella wondered if all students at East High were this inquisitive but shook it anyway. "Yeah I don't go here."
"She's my friend and I invited her." Taylor defended, not trusting the drama club boy.
Ryan's eyes shifted to Taylor, as if noticing her for the first time. "Hello Taylor." He said nicely. "Me and some friends were going karaokeing after the game. You in?"
"Uh," Gabriella stalled, not liking to hurt others feelings.
"C'mon you sing great" He encouraged. "and you can come too!" The last part was addressed to Taylor.
She smiled tightly. "How generous," Taylor remarked sarcastically.
"Well I-" Gabriella started trying to think of some excuses.
"Taylor!" Another voice called, interrupting her.
Taylor turned to see two of her friends heading towards them. One girl was heavier and the smaller one had glasses and a hat but both had brown curly hair. Both were wearing red.
"Martha, Kelsi meet Gabriella," Taylor gestured to her. "She's the girl I've been talking about." She turned to Gabriella and nodded towards them imperceptibly. "These are some of my friends I've been telling you about."
Gabriella nodded slowly until it hit her that these were two potential letter girls. "It's so nice to meet you!" She said much more enthusiastically.
"You too," Martha returned.
"The pleasure is mine." Kelsi responded then turned to Ryan. "Hey Ryan, what's up?"
He shrugged. "Just inviting these two ladies to karaoke with me after the game."
"That sounds fun!" Martha said. "Count me in."
"Me too!" Kelsi chimed in.
They turned to the only ones who had not agreed to go yet.
Gabriella and Taylor looked at each other. They both did not want to go but Gabriella wanted to find out more about the two girls as well. "We'll go!" Gabriella said happily.
"Go where?" Troy Bolton, in all of his pre-game glory, appeared. He was wearing his jersey with white sweat pants. His two lackeys weren't far behind in matching outfits.
Gabriella resisted the urge to swoon at the vision of him in his uniform.
Taylor was already getting annoyed at the constant, not to mention uninvited, interruptions. So when Troy appeared she was a hair breath away from throwing her hands up and screaming dramatically. But she didn't which showed why she didn't hang out with Ryan.
"Aren't you supposed to be, I don't know, warming up?" Gabriella asked, unintentionally avoiding the question.
He shrugged. "We have a little bit and I forgot to ask if you two wanted to come to the after party with us."
"Sorry," Taylor did not sound sad this time either. "we just made plans with them."
Troy made a face at the rag tag group. "What could you guys possibly be doing together?"
"I invited," Ryan started but paused. "uh I never caught your name." He smiled charmingly.
"Gabriella," She told him, unaware of Troy's reaction.
"Well, I invited Gabriella to karaoke and the rest is history."
"Why would you invite Gabby?" Troy asked, frowning. "You don't know her."
Martha's eyebrows rose at the familiar name.
Gabriella noticed her reaction and put it away for further thought. "I'm sure Ryan wouldn't mind if you came along to!" She invited smiling up at the basketball player.
"That sounds great." He said grinning back at the petite genius. Troy draped an arm around her, clearly marking his territory but continued to hold her gaze
Gabriella was too distracted by the affect his arm had on her and his blue eyes to notice the possessive gesture.
"What?" Chad shouted. His volume knocked them out of their trance. "Dude the party is for us! We can't just not go!"
"Who invited you?" Taylor snapped.
"Ohoho, I am so going now!" He retorted, in a clear challenge.
"Is Sharpay gunna be there?" Zeke, who had been quiet the whole time, asked.
"Of course," Ryan answered.
"Them I'm all for going," Zeke said, avoiding everyone's shocked stare.
Gabriella looked confused as to why a dog would be there.
Troy noticed and leaned down. "She's head of the drama club and Ryan's sister but a total ice queen," He whispered in her ear.
Gabriella ignored the chills she got, but since Troy still had his arm around her he could feel her shiver against him. He pulled her closer and asked "are you cold?" even though he knew she wasn't.
"Yes," She lied.
He chuckled.
"Bolton! Danforth! Baylor! What the heck are you guys doing up here?" Jack Bolton, in a suit, was glaring furiously at the boys. He looked like he had been punched in the gut when he saw who Troy had his arm around.
Gabriella noticed this and tried to slip away from Troy but his grip hardened. "Hey dad," he said as if he was talking about the weather.
OMG i am sooo sorry! I meant to upload this on friday but i went out on thursday night and it feels like i havent been sober or at my house in three days! Now im back at work posting a chapter lol! You guys did a great job reviewing and i wanted everyone to know it was because i was out partying that i didnt post not because you guys arent amazing!
Thank you for all the bday wishes!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter:
Hopefulextinction, anoddapple, xzanessaxtroyellax, bubzchoc, zan lil, xZANESSA4LIFEx, fairyvixenmaiden, k31969, clembo29, pamylz, nicolypoly, tee55, maccanut53, and kristenkay0606.
IMPORTANT-I have bad news: my schedule is going to summer hours so I work ALL the time! I guess I should be happy I even have a job (and I am!) but yeah I won't be able to update as frequent. So I guess lots of reviews and I'll update next Tuesday and if not, the Tuesday after that! If I have any spare time trust me I will update it faster.
Alleycat