Chapter 5
Gabriella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was insane how easily Troy got to her. What is the big deal with this guy? I hook up with boys all the time, no strings attached. What's he got that's different? Gabriella thought.
"Hey, Gabs!" Kelsi exclaimed, as she sat on an empty bar stool next to Gabriella, almost falling off. "What are you doing over here? We're all in that little alcove there!" Kelsi pointed to the alcove they had originally settled down in. Gabriella laughed as her friend tried to order a drink, although her words were slurred.
"Kels, had a bit too much to drink tonight?" she giggled.
"I'm fine! I don't know what you're talking about!" Kelsi cried. "Oh! By the way, there's this amazingly hot, hot, hot, guy over there! I think he knows you!" Kelsi giggled some more and then flounced away. Gabriella merely groaned and took another sip of her drink, feeling the alcohol warm her body. The music in the club was on that night, as Gabriella moved her hips slowly to the beats. She ran her hands through her chocolate locks, desperate to get the idea of Troy Bolton out of her head. She had no idea why or how he affected her so, but Gabriella suddenly felt the need to release her frustrations, and fast. As the music changed to a slower song, Gabriella opened her eyes in annoyance and flounced off the dance floor, joining Sharpay and the rest of her friends in their alcove. She had only been gone for an hour, yet their little area in the club was no doubt, the main attraction. Chad Danforth, a tall, athletic, basketball player for AU, had made his way over, bringing his friends, and went on to whisper in Taylor's ear. The two were more than occupied in a small corner of the club. Kelsi and Martha were busy pouring drinks for everybody, giggling and laughing at everything the boys said, while Sharpay…well, she was busy with her tongue down someone's throat. Gabriella smirked at the scene and sat herself down, accepting a drink from Kelsi. Again, she let the alcohol run through her body, feeling it heat herself up from the inside. She shivered slightly, and downed the rest of her drink. Suddenly feeling courageous and very brazen, Gabriella pushed herself off her seat and headed towards the bar. Slinking up behind a man she recognized from afar, she ran her hands up and down his back and tangled her fingers in his mass of hair.
"Here's what we're going to do. You and I are going to go back to your place and simply put, we're going to fuck," she whispered seductively in his ear. To place an emphasis on her last word, she bit at his earlobe, causing the man to sit up straighter.
"Uh…" he stammered. Gabriella didn't know if he knew who she was, but it didn't really matter to her. She wanted to do something, anything, with anybody, to get images of Troy Bolton out of her head. She wanted someone, but not him.
"Come on, Chase. I want it. So…badly," she whispered again, spinning him around on his stool and locking her eyes on his. Chase staggered back a little, before wrapping his arms around her and in that moment, Gabriella knew. It would be wrong and it wouldn't be satisfying, but it would be something.
Gabriella rolled over onto her back the next morning, groaning. Her head was throbbing and as she felt around under the sheets, she emitted a sigh of relief to find her clothes still intact. She clutched her forehead, as she sat up and looked around her, taking in her new environment. There was a stereo in the corner and a cupboard that was far too small to be hers. She gathered the sheets around her tighter as the door opened.
"Hey, you awake?" Chase Morgan's blonde head popped through the door and Gabriella gasped.
"Uh…yeah," she stammered. Making sure she did in fact, have clothes on, Gabriella stumbled out of bed and Chase entered the room.
"So…" he wrapped his arms around her waist and looked down at her. Gabriella swallowed. She was unsure what his touch meant, but she knew it didn't feel right at all. She gently unwrapped his arms from her and took a step back, making sure not to meet his eyes. She knew the look in them too well: confusion and disappointment, soon to turn into anger.
"Um, look, Chase. Last night was…" she started, wringing her hands as she thought of her next few words.
"Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I knew you'd come around," he finished off for her and kissed her on the cheek. Gabriella bit her lip in frustration. She didn't understand why he didn't get the message or the signals she was sending, it was clear that she was incredibly uncomfortable with the entire situation.
"Actually, I meant to say that last night was…well, it was kind of a mistake, Chase. Look, I was drunk and looking for comfort, but it didn't mean anything," Gabriella shrugged her shoulders and braced herself for Chase's reaction.
"What?" he asked.
"Chase, let's not kid ourselves. I'm not good for you and vice versa. We're better off as acquaintances, really," Gabriella explained, picking up her phone and stuffing it into her clutch she found on the side of the bed. She was used to these awkward conversations after one-night stands and after months of lying through her teeth, Gabriella had decided a long time ago that the truth might hurt, but at least it was better than feeding whoever the boy was some made up line. "I've got to go, I've got some things to sort out back at home. Stay in touch, Chase," Gabriella ran her fingers through her hair and kissed him on the cheek, leaving behind a dumbfounded and very confused Chase Morgan, struck by the sudden thought that he had, in the most subtle way, been dumped.
