Study Hall
"Why do we need to know some of this stuff?" Chad asked tossing his pencil onto the table of the library obviously fed up with his Algebra 2 homework.
"Because…we need to graduate," Gabriella said not really able to come up with a better reason to need Algebra.
"Way to encourage me to do this stuff Scabs." Chad said sarcastically smiling at Gabriella who just rolled her eyes sighing.
"Well sorry I'm trying to get my work done I don't have time to make good comebacks." Gabriella said smiling back at her best friend.
"Fine but I'm bored and we still have an hour of study hall left…let's ditch." Chad said practically begging Gabriella.
"But I really want to finish this essay." Gabriella said pushing some hair behind her ear.
"And I really want to get out of here." Gabriella gave Chad a look which he just mirrored. Gabriella sighed dropping her pencil and looked at Chad.
"Where do you want to go?" Chad grinned and hugged Gabriella tightly before pulling back and saying simply.
"Food,"
"Lunch is right after this Chad!" Gabriella exclaimed getting a loud shhhh from Mrs. Fallstaff.
"So? I'm hungry now I can't wait another hour for that damn lunch line and half cooked food." Chad said being one hundred percent serious.
"Uhhh where?" Gabriella asked rubbing her face with her hands.
"I don't know, McDonalds?" Chad said not able to think of anything else. Gabriella looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Coach will murder you before you even park." Gabriella said with a light chuckle.
"No he won't season hasn't started yet. So come on, we'll be back by 4th hour for Women in Literature." Chad said with no interest in his voice. Gabriella nodded and started packing her things as Chad did the same.
"I don't get why you signed up for that class anyways." Gabriella said.
"Well I want to know things about women." Chad tried to defend himself but Gabriella only snorted.
"Fine, Taylor made me take it." Gabriella shook her head stuffing her things in her bag and standing.
"As I've said before, you are so whipped." Gabriella laughed shoving him slightly.
"Hey what about what you've done to Bolton? He's so whipped he lost his spine." Chad said standing towering over his friend easily and started heading out of the library.
"Well if that's the case I know you're the same. Though I think Zeke is the worst of all." Gabriella said lightly as Chad nodded in agreement starting to laugh as he thought about how Zeke was with Sharpay.
"Okay Sharpay has that boy wrapped around every finger and toe. He is in way too far to be pulled back…we should have a funeral for his man hood some day." Gabriella punched Chad's arm though laughing along.
"Yes we should plan that. I have to go by my locker for some books come on," Gabriella said grabbing Chad's sleeve and tugging him the opposite direction than where they were going.
Once at Gabriella's locker she spun the dial and quickly opened her locker. Placing her bag on the ground and knelt down next to it shoving some books inside. Chad leaned against a set of lockers next to hers and looked at her locker. A light smile came on his face as he looked at the pictures that were tapped up.
"I always knew you two would be together." Chad said softly as if to himself.
"What?" Gabriella asked looking up at him pushing her hair behind her ear.
"You and Troy, it was bound to happen." Chad said looking down at her and winking before pushing off the lockers.
Gabriella looked towards her books still on the shelf in her locker though not really focusing on them. Biting her lip she zipped up her bag and stood adjusting her sweatpants on her body grabbing one of Troy's old warm up jackets and putting it on. Looking around her locker once more Gabriella kicked her book bag out of the way and closed her locker. Picking up her bag she turned to Chad who was standing there patiently waiting.
"Why was it bound to happen?" Gabriella asked in a whisper as if there were open ears around.
"I don't know…I guess the way Troy treated you. Well after he realized that you for sure were a girl. He never tackled you as hard or wouldn't give you noogies and other things. He even blushes whenever you'd call, it's disgusting." Chad said making a face which made Gabriella shove him towards the wall as they walked.
"I'm so serious Scabs, though if I did have to choose a guy I would have picked Troy,"
"And why is that?" Gabriella asked looking over at Chad.
"Well if he did break your heart, I know where he lives…and more importantly where his favorite hiding place is…for if I have to kill him." Chad said giving Gabriella a wink which caused a giggle to come from her lips.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Where were you?!" Taylor yelled as she stood by the student parking lot doors her arms across her chest as Chad and Gabriella came in with large sodas in hand.
"Oh hey babe you miss me?" Chad asked cheekily bending down and kissing Taylor lightly as she shoved him away pathetically.
"No, I was wondering where you were." Taylor said trying to keep her voice strong as Chad wrapped his arms around her kissing her face lightly.
"Oh gosh," Gabriella groaned looking away.
"Oh shut up," Taylor said pushing Chad off her fully causing him to laugh and hand her his soda. Taylor looked at it a moment before taking it and getting a sip. She interlaced her and Chad's hands and they walked down the hall with Gabriella.
"Like I said, where were you?"
"Skipping for food," Chad said with a shrug.
"They have been calling you two of the PA for the last 2 hours." Taylor said looking from one to the other.
"Wow I didn't know we were celebs." Gabriella said lightly.
"This isn't funny! You two most likely have a detention," Taylor said as always concerned about the consequences of actions.
"Babe we'll be fine, I doubt they'd be too hard on us I mean they know who we are and who we know." Taylor rolled her eyes shoving the drink back at Chad.
"You can't use that to get you out of everything." she mumbled causing Chad to laugh kissing the side of her head.
"Of course not baby, see you later." He pulled away from her and started in the opposite of them saying goodbye to Gabriella before jogging away.
"I can't believe him sometimes." Taylor said shaking her head glancing back at her boyfriend before looking back at Gabriella.
"And YOU!" Taylor yelled with a smile that caused Gabriella to look at her with shocked eyes. "Just let him skip."
"He's very persuasive?" Gabriella said as more of a question.
"Oh gosh you all are the same," Taylor said nudging Gabriella as they walked towards their class which was a way away.
"So onto a serious note," Taylor said linking arms with her best friend which meant this was a heart to heart talk.
"Should I be scared?" Gabriella asked suddenly nervous.
"No, but the weirdest thing happened during lunch."
"Really?" Gabriella asked not really knowing what could have happened in the time she was gone.
"Yea, Crystal came to the table and asked Shar if you had given her, her dress back yet. Now of course I know Crystal is nosy but still. Shar said no and why should she care. Crystal just smiled and looked at her friends and said, she must not have gotten the stain out." Taylor stopped walking causing Gabriella to do the same, though the brunette wouldn't look at her friend.
"Now I hate Crystal as much as the next person and I'd love to know a reason for me to hate her more. Gabriella you're my best friend, and if anything that Crystal was talking about has to do with your behavior after homecoming I mean…" Taylor trailed off watching her friend with caring and concerned eyes.
"Taylor I –"
"Listen you don't have to tell me now, get to that when you do. I just want you to know that I'm here for you and I love you. As long as you promise to tell me later…I'm thinking girls night with movies and a huge no boys allowed sign." Taylor said with a grin that made Gabriella laugh.
"Of course, now let's get to class." Gabriella said dragging Taylor to class which is something that rarely happened.
Bolton Home
"Oh Troy I didn't hear you come in," Lucille said walking into her sons room as he started hanging up his clothes which is something he always did at the end of the week unless he forgot.
"Hey momma I just got in 15 minutes ago," Troy said with a grin coming over to his mom placing a kiss on her cheek. He moved back to the pile of clothes on his bed as Lucille leaned against the frame of his door. Looking around Lucille inspected the room and noticed it was insanely clean considering her son had been going straight to sleep or out when he came home that week.
"How's Gabriella?" Lucille asked causing her son to look up at her with a shrug.
"She's good, she and Taylor have been meeting with the coaches to be ready for season so…" Troy trailed off giving another shrug which made Lucille nod.
"I was just wondering since I haven't seen her around really since homecoming. Though it's obvious she was here to clean your room." Lucille gave Troy a look as he blushed looking anywhere but his mother.
"Okay you caught me!" Troy said holding his hands up laughing along with his mother. "She came over last night and yelled at me for my room looking like a pigs home then kicked up out so she could clean. Yea that's how this relationship goes." Troy shook his head before hanging more clothes.
"Well tell Gabriella good job and that she should come to dinner some time, I know her dad is out of town and she must be lonely. I miss her," Lucille gave Troy a pointed look meaning the message had better be delivered.
Monday
"Kelsi wait up!" Kelsi stopped in her tracks and turned in the busy hallway to see Gabriella coming her way.
"Oh hey," Kelsi said blushing slightly at all of the new attention she was getting from people looking over at them.
"Where are you headed?" Gabriella asked looking over at her new friend.
"Well I was just heading towards the Choir room, Mr. G allows me to use the piano since I have to get this music done for the musical." Kelsi said trying to make it seem like no big figuring Gabriella had better places to be.
"Really? Well mind if I tag along? I have a free and no one to hang out with." Kelsi hesitated a moment before nodding.
"Sure I'd love to have some feedback."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You know in all my years I have never been in here," Gabriella said softly as they walked into the choir room.
"Really?" Kelsi asked kind of shocked considering she almost lived here. Walking over to the piano she dropped her bag down before sitting at the bench. Gabriella pulled a chair up and sat near the piano watching as Kelsi got her notebook out along with a pencil.
"I went to one of the musicals once," Gabriella said suddenly trying to cut the silence.
"Really? What'd you think of the music?" Kelsi asked curious as to what she thought.
"It was amazing, I mean Oscar award winning soundtrack." Gabriella said pulling at the hoodie that she stole from Troy when she cleaned his room. Kelsi looked away with a blush.
"Thanks." Kelsi placed her music on the stand on the piano and placed her fingers over the keys before stopping and looking at Gabriella.
"Do…do you sing?" Gabriella sat up straighter shocked by the sudden question which is something she can really say she had never been asked. "I only ask since well normally some of the choir girls are hanging out in here and will help out. You're the only person here. I would sing but I get sidetracked that way." Gabriella nodded though she looked ready to pass out.
"It's for the spring musical, I mean it's a story about a boy and girl who shouldn't be together since people think they shouldn't be and that there are other people for them. It's like a modern Romeo and Juliet without all the death and everything. I mean two young people who truly love each other and are expressing it through music you know? So like I said…do you sing?" Kelsi looked up with hopeful eyes.
"Uh, no…I mean I never…the shower but nothing where another person could tell me that I could sing.." Gabriella said feeling nervous.
"Oh come on it'll be easy as playing sports." Kelsi said handing Gabriella a sheet of music. Gabriella accepted the music hesitantly and swallowed not quite sure what to do.
"Ready?" Kelsi asked giving Gabriella a smile that helped her calm down just a little. Starting to play the nice upbeat tune Kelsi started singing the first few bars.
"Na na na na,
Na na na na yea,
You are the music in me…."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You were fine!" Kelsi said as the two walked out of the choir room together.
"No I wasn't! I mean I was so nervous!" Gabriella looked around worriedly before looking at Kelsi holding her hands up, "My palms are sweaty!" Kelsi pushed Gabriella's hands down rolling her before moving down the hall fixing her hat on her head.
"Please you were fine, the next time we practice though I may have a way to actually make you sing." Kelsi winked at Gabriella who nodded before grabbing Kelsi's arm making her turn towards her with a laugh.
"What are you talking about?!?!" Gabriella asked alarmed by her statement.
"I said the next time so you heard me right,"
"Listen this was a one time thing! I don't just run around singing love songs or anything I mean come on! I would love to say YES!!!!!" Gabriella was cut off with a squeal when a pair of arms wrapped around her middle.
"Guess who," The mystery person whispered in her neck causing more giggles to come from her mouth. Kelsi stepped back some with a blush on her face feeling as if she was invading a personal moment between the two.
"Well I'll just be going," Kelsi said pulling her notebook close to her as she turned.
"Bye Kelsi!" Gabriella said as she was still being tickled by her boyfriend.
"Bye Kelsi!" Troy called out though it was muffled slightly since his face was still against her neck. Kelsi continued to walk before looking back at the two when they had calmed slightly.
Troy was looking down at Gabriella with this twinkle in his eye that you could see from a mile away. Their hands were interlaced and they were the only people around, even though the statement was literal, if there had been people in the hall all you'd be able to notice in that moment were Troy and Gabriella. Gabriella said something shaking her head which made a boyish grin come on Troy face as he moved his hand, never releasing hers, and pushed some hair out of her face.
Watching a moment longer Kelsi tapped her notebook with her pencil as she turned to walk towards her locker. Words were suddenly coming to her as she thought through everything then it hit her. Opening her notebook to the sheet she was working on she started writing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I feel like we haven't had a moment alone in two weeks and we still have things to discuss. Though we see each other everyday, how is that?" Troy asked as they wandered around the hall. Troy had his arm around Gabriella's shoulder with her right hand interlaced with his. Her arm came around his waist interlacing his left hand with hers.
"I have no idea…but I miss you," Gabriella said looking up at her boyfriend.
"I miss you too," Troy said looking down at her before looking forward as they walked.
"You know I've never been on this side of the school," Gabriella said softly looking around the abandoned hallway they were now in that didn't have any lockers or anything.
"Yea I've never been through here either…think it's a makeout place we didn't know about?" Troy teased.
"Who knows I mean it could really be…hey what's through here?" Gabriella asked breaking from Troy to a door that was painted white. Pulling and the handle it didn't budge.
"Babe we should leave it." Troy said moving closer.
"But, it says do not enter without staff. What kind of rebellious of students would we be if we followed the rules?" Gabriella asked winking at her best friend.
"Uh, not suspended ones?" Troy said as more of a question while rubbing the back of his neck. Giving the door one last tug Gabriella sighed giving up,
"Fine, we'll play it safe, but if fate has us come this way again then I say we break in." Gabriella winked at Troy before walking away.
Troy looked at her then at the door. He read the sign once again and then sighed following Gabriella.
"Hey," He called causing Gabriella to turn around giving him an innocent look.
"When did we become so rebellious?" Troy asked grabbing her hand once he was near.
"Oh I don't know maybe the time we went to second in the science lab. Or the time we stole from the lunch room. Or the time-"
"Shhhh, I don't want someone to hear and we actually have to pay for those crimes," Troy said putting his hand over her mouth looking around. Gabriella rolled her eyes and nipped at his hand causing Troy to jump away as if it really hurt.
"HEY!" He yelled holding his hand.
"Oh you poor baby," Gabriella said moving towards him shaking her head with a slight smirk on her face.
"Yea, poor me," Troy added with a pout,
"Let me see," Gabriella said taking his hand as Troy pushed against the wall of the still abandoned corridor. "I don't see anything," Gabriella said with a laugh.
"The hurt was right here," Troy said pointing at his lips, Gabriella smiled grabbed his belt loops moving closer to him.
"Want me to kiss it?" Gabriella said as if she were talking to a baby. Troy nodded as Gabriella stood on her tip toes and kissed him softly.
"Better?" Troy nodded again.
"I love you." He said dropping his forehead on hers.
"I love you too you big baby." Gabriella said rubbing her nose against his before their lips touched quickly turning into a makeout session.
So I know this chapter didn't address the homecoming stuff but I'm saving that for next chapter. I mean everything good happens at the dinner table...or after you're excused.
review?
xoxo Zoe