Author's Note: Thought i'd get this posted before i forget again =S thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed the last few chapters, means a lot to me, you guys =) i am almost out of the chapters i've actually written so there may be a little bit more of a gap between them now until i finish writing my Glee story. But after that i shall be back and as HSM-orientated as ever =)

This chapter is dealing a little bit with what the rest of school thinks about Gabriella now that she has kinda come out. Some pretty typically mean stuff but that's kids for you =/

Disclaimer: I don't own a damn thing. It's so depressing =/

Chapter 15

I managed to escape Taylor once more at the end of Math. But that was only by pure luck. Miss. James made her stay behind to talk about her homework so I took the opportunity and ran, dragging Sharpay with me as we headed to our next class. We were moving so quick that I don't think anyone even noticed our fingers locked together tight. All they probably saw was a blur of blonde and dark hair as we darted into the classroom.

"Hey, guys!" My head shot up.

"Ryan! Thank God!" He was sat at his usual table at the back. No one else was here yet, didn't surprise me really, we had pretty much sprinted here the second the bell had gone. "You have no idea what kind of day I've been having!" I followed Sharpay as she dumped her bag next to her brother's.

"Clearly." He smirked as his eyes flickered to our joined hands and back to my face.

I blushed and was about to drop Sharpay's hand with a sigh when she tightened her grip. I looked at her, confused. "Shar-"

"I'm not letting go." My mouth opened and closed as I tried to find something to say. My brain registered the massive grin that had appeared on Ryan's face, and the fact that Sharpay had pulled me closer.

"B-But you… I…" I let out a shaky breath as she wrapped her free arm round my waist. "I-I sit over there." I managed to gesture in the general direct of my seat at the front of the class. She just smiled and leant in slowly, pressing her lips to mine, stopping my breath. My eyes slid closed and I felt myself wrap an arm round her neck.

I lost myself in the kiss then, all thoughts of Taylor and Kelsi and school… gone. Just gone. I run my tongue along the blonde's lower lip, making the girl gasp in surprise, allowing me to deepen the kiss. Her lips were unbelievably soft as they pushed against mine, I didn't fight her, I just let her in wanting nothing more than to lose myself in her scent, her taste… strawberry flavoured lip gloss… I smiled against her lips, deciding that strawberries were officially my all time favourite fruit.

I heard Ryan clearing his throat. "Umm so I guess I'm sitting at the front today!" I felt Sharpay chuckle against my lips, the sound vibrating and making me moan. She kissed me harder, nipping at my bottom lip. It's only when oxygen becomes an issue that we pull apart. She looks straight at me with dark eyes. "Wow," she sighs out as her breathing starts to return to normal. I whimper at the loss but she only grins, leading me to the seat Ryan had been sat in moments before. "Thanks, Ry."

"Anything for you, Sis. Oh and congrats, you two are so damn cute together!" He clapped excitedly, making Sharpay shake her head.

Together? Was that what we were now? We hadn't talked about it, not properly. We kept getting interrupted, whether it was by Taylor or the fact that I couldn't keep my hands off her for more than a few minutes at a time. I was sticking by what I said last night though. I didn't want to have to lock myself back in the closet just to be with her. Well… not that I really had that as an option anymore, but you know what I mean.

I wanted to be able to do this- hold hands, kiss her- in public. I didn't want to have to pretend I hated her anymore and have to wait all day until I was home to be able to be with her… it would be too hard. I'd told her how I felt on the matter so it was up to her now.

"Gabs?" I looked up to find her watching me intently. "You okay?"

"Yeah, 'Course. Just thinking." I glanced around us and realised that the room had filled up while I'd been lost in my own world. I felt like I was having déjà vu because there was that whispering and staring again. It was very unnerving to be the centre of attention.

"Ignore them." Her breath tickled my ear, sending a shiver right the way down my spine. I nodded, thankful that the teacher turned up and dove right into the lesson.

I was concentrating on copying down what was on the board when the note landed on my desk. I looked around to try and see who threw it but everyone was looking down at their books. I slipped my hand out of Sharpay's and unfolded it.

If you're gay does that mean Troy's available?

I rolled my eyes and scrunched it up. But then another one appeared.

Always knew there was something weird about you, Montez.

I frowned. It wasn't exactly nasty but I could tell it wasn't meant to be nice either. I scrunched that one up too. Seconds later, a third landed.

How about a threesome?

What the hell is the matter with people? Even more arrived after that.

Thought it was just the guys that Musical Theatre turned gay. Guess not.

Looks like you got a bad case of Lesbianitis. Hope it's not contagious, for your sake.

Can't get a guy so now you're turning to girls? Didn't know you were that desperate.

And those were just a few of the less explicit and derogatory ones. After the first couple of minutes of bombardment I just stopped reading them. I felt Sharpay's eyes on me; I'd managed to keep the notes away from her so far. I didn't want her to see them; it would only make things worse.

When the bell went I shoved the notes to the bottom of my bag as quickly as I could, thankful that I had a free period next so I could put them in the trash. I'd known that something like this would happen when I came out, but I'd hoped that I would already be in College and people would be more mature and grown up about it. Here everyone was just trying to keep their heads above water and would do anything to get in with the popular crowd. The only silver lining from reading all those notes was that by the sound of things, people either didn't know anything about Sharpay or they were still too scared of her to say anything. I was hoping that things would stay that way.

"Gabs… Gabs, are you okay?" I looked round to find that I had a blonde twin either side of me as I hurried down the corridor. "You haven't said a word since we got out of class."

I sent Ryan a smile but it didn't convince him. "I'm fine. Honest."

"You're a horrible liar, do you know that?" I just shook my head and held my folder tighter to my chest. "Was it those notes?" I ignored the question, hoping she'd let it go.

"Notes?"

"All through the lesson people kept throwing notes at her."

"What did they say?"

"I don't know, I couldn't see. Gabs, what did the notes say?"

"Nothing."

I heard Ryan snort. "Gabs, I very much doubt people just threw random bits of blank paper at you! So come on," He stepped in front of me, bringing all three of us to a halt in the middle of the corridor. "Start talking!"

"Ryan-" I started to tell him to mind his own but before I got any further someone had shoved past me, shoulder blocking me so hard I tripped and fell backwards. My elbows and hands took most of the damage but I still managed to crack my head.

"Gabs!" I felt two sets of hands grabbing me, helping me up. "Are you alright? Gabbie, talk to me, do you need to go to the nurse?" I couldn't help smile at Sharpay's worried tone, but when she pulled me to her, wrapping her arms round me, I also couldn't stop the embarrassment and fear that came bubbling up.

"I'm fine." I pulled away from her, hating the look of hurt that crossed her face. "I have to go."

I heard Ryan calling after me but I didn't stop. I wanted to get away, go somewhere quiet where I could think. The roof was too obvious, Sharpay would find me there, the same went for the Auditorium. Then it hit me, I had the perfect place…

Author's Note: Okay dokey, so lemmie know what you guys thought =) it's always nice to get some feedback. Anyways, Peace Out =D