East High – October 31 – 7:30pm

The East High Halloween dance was just beginning, music was playing and people were dancing. Cars were pulling up with students dressed for the occasion. There were angels, devils, nurses, surgeons, Freddys and Jasons every costume you could think of.

The gang pulls up in a limo that Sharpay has ordered each getting out and stretching. Taylor and Sharpay were dressed as Ginger and Mary Anne from Guiligans Island. Chad, Zeke and Jason were dressed as the musketeers, Troy was Robin Hood.

"Only they could make men in tights look this good." Sharpay said shaking her head at the guys as they conversed by the entrance.

"Yea, I'm shocked that they went through with the tights thing…they were so against it." Taylor said shaking her head always before sighing and playing with her pigtails.

"Gabriella Anne, get out" Sharpay said putting her hand on her hip. Sharpay was wearing a red wig and a floor length gold shiny dress with spaghetti straps. Taylor had on shorts and a plaid shirt tied in front showing off her toned stomach.

"NO." Gabriella said from inside the limo being stubborn as always.

"Gabriella.." Taylor whined.

"I look stupid."

"You look hella gorgeous! Now get your Latina ass out here before I pull you out!" Sharpay threatened causing Gabriella to sigh before sticking her leg out of the limo then grabbing the car to help herself out.

Gabriella was wearing red peep toe heels and a strapless v-neck white mini dress that showed off her toned legs and arms. Her hair was pinned in a bun with curls hanging down around her face. Her cheeks had a light shade of pink to them and her eyes with a light makeup look. She was stunning simply. She was a sexy Cinderella.

"I look stupid. Can we just get in the dark gym so no one will see me?" Gabriella begged causing Taylor and Sharpay to laugh linking arms with their friend placing her in the middle.

"Gabs you look gorgeous and Troy is drooling over you! So you have nothing to worry about." Taylor said giving Gabriella an encouraging squeeze.

"Yea, but if you get a stain on my dress I'll never speak to you again." Sharpay said as they walked pulling their tickets out.

"We wouldn't want that right?" Taylor mumbled sarcastically under her breath causing Gabriella to laugh.

"I heard that," Sharpay said with a glare.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hey," Gabriella looked up from her seat at a table in the back to Troy who sat down next to her.

"Hi," Gabriella said looking at her punch.

"How can Shar dance in that dress?" Troy asked causing Gabriella to look up and giggle. Troy had been dancing with Sharpay before Zeke wanted to interrupt.

"I really have no idea; I want to know how she wears those heels so long." Gabriella replied looking down at her feet which hurt and she was sitting down. Troy nodded looking at Gabriella as she looked back out at the dance floor. He took her in and stared at her boobs and her legs the longest.

"Want to dance now?" Troy asked looking at her with a smirk. Gabriella looked at the hat on his head then at him.

"I don't dance Troy you know that." Gabriella said looking at him.

"I know, but I think one dance with your boyfriend won't hurt." Troy said making a point.

"I just –" Gabriella sighed looking over at Troy just to see him giving her this innocent look that made her melt. "Ugh, fine Troy…as long as we're in a corner where no one will see us." Gabriella said looking him in the eye.

"Of course," Troy said with a grin.

"Fine," Gabriella said though not moving to get up.

"Well you kind of have to be standing to dance with someone." Troy pointed out.

"I know, it's just a lot…"Gabriella said softly before standing up and looking down at Troy. "You know if you weren't so damn cute I would have stepped on your toes for asking me." Gabriella said seriously, Troy stood and smirk looking down at her.

"I hope you don't step on my toes when we dance, that would just be painful." Gabriella laughed,

"Come on Lover Boy lets dance," Gabriella said grabbing Troy's hand and leading them to a corner of the floor that didn't have many people by it.

A slow song - Always by Atlantic Starr - came on causing Gabriella and Troy to get close, her arms around his waist, his around her lower back. They swayed to the music easily and Gabriella rested her head on his chest and he kissed her head.

Gabriella smiled softly listening to the lyrics of the song. Sighing she closed her eyes and just let the song play in her head.

Troy looked down at Gabriella with a look that said nothing but love. Looking around he noticed some people looking at them but not many. He ignored it and went back to paying attention to the girl in his arms. She wasn't normal and he liked…no loved that. She was his, for always.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gabriella snuck away from her friends towards the bathroom. Since the locker rooms were locked she had to use the one in the hall. Trying to keep from falling in her heels Gabriella didn't notice who was in the bathroom when she entered.

"Ew," Gabriella stopped while pushing the stall door open to see Crystal Haven and her pose with her dressed in witch costumes.

"I could say the same." Gabriella said with a glare.

"Oh touchy tonight aren't we Gabriella?" Crystal said with a raised eyebrow then turning to her girls she whispered "Must be the girl clothes I mean what guy is comfortable in them?"

"You know what Crystal I could whoop your ass right here,"

"Yes but you don't need another suspension on your record. I mean when senior year comes if we want to make daddy look good having a good record would be nice." Crystal replied with a smirk.

"What have I ever done to you?" Gabriella asked.

"It's more like who you've done." Crystal replied shortly though Gabriella got the point and looked down suddenly feeling awfully uncomfortable and turned towards the door but saw Crystal's girls blocking it. Shit, was Gabriella's only thought.

"You have a big red stain on your dress Gabriella," Rachel said pointing

"Where?" Gabriella asked looking down panicked about the dress since it wasn't hers.

"Right there," Sarina said before moving forward and turning Gabriella so fast she almost fell over.

Crystal then pours a half gallon jug of punch on Gabriella starting at the head allowing it to drip down. Gabriella stood there shocked as Crystal and her friends laughed.

"You look so much better in red," Rachel commented with a fake smile. Gabriella glared at her already feeling sticky from the punch.

"You look like Carrie, though don't come back and kill us all." Sarina added.

"Now I better go and find Troy, he deserves a great dance partner." Crystal said allowing her clowns to leave before her. She stopped and whispered in Gabriella's ear.

"It would be wise if you kept your mouth shut about this. It was coming and I think you knew. We have pictures and if that's not enough we know things…things that could ruin you more than you think. So clean up your mess, you thought you looked embarrassing when you got here, wait til everyone sees you now." Then they walked out leaving Gabriella dripping with a million thoughts running through her head.

Sighing Gabriella looked in the mirror at herself. She actually liked how she had looked earlier though she wasn't going to admit that. Troy told her she was beautiful countless times that night, now he would think she looked horrible. Tears stung her eyes just looking at herself, at Shar's dress.

"She's going to be so angry." Gabriella whispered shaking her head as tears started to fall. She wiped her eyes and looked at herself again.

"She's going to hate me." Gabriella sobbed without being able to stop herself.

Covering her face with her hands a moment Gabriella cried. She cried over how she should have stayed home that night. How she actually thought this might be a good night once she'd gotten there. How she let Shar give her one of her dresses. How she was never going to get the stain out. How amazing it was to dance with Troy. How embarrassed she was. How dumb she was for walking right into that one. How she should have just whooped Crystals ass.

Finally she pulled her hands from her face and stared at her punch covered and make-up running face. She closed her eyes not wanting to look at herself anymore and walked slowly to the door. Peeking out she checked for anyone in the hallway, then focused on the exit. She pulled her heels off and dropped them on the floor. Once in the hallway she looked down at herself again and took a deep breath already feeling tears in her eyes. Feeling ready to scream and throw things Gabriella sprinted out of the school and ran home at 10:45pm, barefoot, crying and covered in punch.

Costume dances are supposed to be fun my ass.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A small girl with glasses and brunette hair with curls stepped out of the bathroom stall she had been hiding in. Looking down she saw the puddle of red punch on the ground of the bathroom and sighed seeing the red heels at the door. Walking over the mess she grabbed some paper towel and soaked it with water and bent over cleaning up the spot as much as she could, also trying to keep her fairy costume clean.

Once she finished she threw the paper towel away and washed her hands checking her hair and reapplying lip gloss. Going to the door she bent over and took the size 7 red heels and walked out.

She would be returning these soon.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gabriella sat on her bed with her legs crossed looking at the ruined dress in front of her. Tears running down her cheeks she sprays it again trying to minimize it.

"This shit works on the damn commercial, why don't you work when I need you?" Gabriella asked rhetorically through a sob.

Finally done with trying, she ran a hand through her still wet hair from her long shower. She was wearing Troy's sweatpants having rolled the ban many times and his hoodie with socks on her feet that were covered in Band-Aids from running through the park. Standing she figured she'd have to go to the one person she didn't want to see too much at that moment.

Lucille.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Gabriella," Lucille said opening her front door to look at the girl who looked like she was having a horrible night. "What a surprise, come in sweetie." Lucille said moving to let her through. Once she was in the house Lucille bit her lip taking in the girl who was trying not to burst into tears.

"It's Shars dress…I can't get the stain out." Gabriella burst trying to keep a strong voice though she was failing. She held it up for Lucille to see, all she did was gasp when she saw it. The whole front of the dress was pretty much ruined.

"Oh Gabriella how did this happen?" Lucille asked taking the dress.

"I…I walked into the punch." Gabriella said looking down; Lucille knew she was lying though she wasn't going to push her.

"Oh Gabriella, where's Troy? Or Taylor?" Gabriella sighed shaking her head.

"They're still at the dance….they don't know…please don't tell anyone I was here. I don't want them to know, so please keep this quiet. If it needs to be dry cleaned I'll pay for it I promise," Gabriella said her voice cracking as she tried so hard to keep from crying.

"Gabriella," Lucille said more concerned with what possibly could have happened at the dance.

"No, I just…I have to go." Gabriella said suddenly running out the back door.

Lucille stood there with the red stained dress staring at where the girl ran to realizing she was only wearing socks on her feet. She'd asked Troy about this later.

November

Gabriella had turned her phone off at 12:30 which is when the dance ended. She knew her friends would be looking for her and she didn't want to talk to anyone. Her bedroom door was locked, as was her balcony. She didn't even want to see Troy so she didn't just pull the white curtains over the doors she pulled her dark purple curtains in not allowing anyone inside even sunlight.

The lights were off, so the room was pitch black. Last night was one of the worst days of Gabriella's life. For one night she wanted to fit in and have a great time. It's like she's a groundhog who has seen her shadow or a turtle who had gone back in her shell. She didn't feel like getting up and facing even her best friends. She was embarrassed and didn't want anyone to know what happened until she had forgotten about it. Everything about her was shut down. She slept and cried and slept some more just thinking of all the things wrong with her and the things that have happened to her.

2 Days Later

Gabriella turned on her nightstand lamp and picked up her house phone calling her phone to listen to her voicemail. She had 31 new messages.

Taylor;; Gabs where are you? We're waiting at the Limo get your ass here.

Taylor;; So I guess you left….what the hell you could have told someone.

Troy;; Gabriella…Where are you?

Sharpay;; Gabriella Anne Montez I swear to god if you don't call back I'm calling missing persons. This isn't funny.

Sighing Gabriella deleted all of the messages from Sunday not wanting to hear her friends anymore. She had skipped school for the past two days and she didn't care. This was her personal time she needed it.

Troy;; Babe, where are you? I miss you so much, please call me back.

Taylor;; Gabriella I'm worried about you, please call us back.

Chad;; Gabriella…god I haven't called you by your full name in a while…what's wrong? We're all worried…call.

Troy;; I have your homework, but whatever is going on with you, you know we can talk about it. I love you.

Taylor;; Gabriella, I am worried. Love you.

Gabriella deleted Mondays messages and moved to todays messages.

Sharpay;; I know I don't normally care, but Gabriella, if you still have a heart Troy is a mess. He doesn't know where you are what you're doing anything. I know Troy is your only boyfriend, but he's your best friend too. You love him Gabriella, please stop hurting him and come out. We love you always.

Gabriella felt tears in her eyes as she listened to Sharpay's message and just deleted the rest of the messasges not having the strength to listen to anymore like that.

She moved to go to the bathroom but stopped when she heard the front door open. Walking to her door quietly she listened knowing her dad was at the campus clueless to anything going on.

"Gabriella!" she gasped stepping from the door hearing Troy's voice.

"Gabriella open the damn door. Please babe just open the door, I know you're in there…I can feel it." Gabriella looked at the knob considering it but she wasn't ready quite yet. Maybe tomorrow just not today.

"Gabriella I…I don't know what happened at the dance. I don't think I want to know, whatever it is everything will be fine, I promise. I keep my promises you know that, but I can't – I can't help you if…if you don't come out."

Gabriella looked up at the door almost able to see Troy through it. Troy sighed placing his right hand on the door looking down as if seeing Gabriella. Gabriella lifted her left hand and placed it on the door, if there was a way you could see both sides of the door, you'd see that their hands were on the same spot of either side. The funny things love can do huh?

Troy smiled slightly as if feeling Gabriella on the other side, all he needed to know was that she heard him and was there and alright. Somehow deep in his heart he knew she was now, he knew she was alright just scared. Shrugging one of his old back packs off his shoulder he dropped it down.

"Here's your homework nerd."

Gabriella giggled beside herself and shook her head suddenly feeling like everything would be okay, like her promised. Maybe all she did need was him.

"Oh and Gabriella?" Gabriella looked up at the door

"I love you, forever." Gabriella smiled.

"I love you too Troy, forever." She replied without even thinking. Troy smiled obviously satisfied and kissed the door as if kissing her forehead. He sighed before turning to go down the stairs. Most would find something like that weird but these two had done this before, when Troy's uncle died.

Sometimes you're only strong when you have your other half.

I don't know if you like it. It just came to me, I typed this in an hour. There's a part two kind of so it'll be up soon. But Crystal is the bad guy if you haven't figured it out.

Review?

xoxo Zoe