Chapter 6
*Lovesick
A/N: Hey readers! Here is the next chapter. Since it's the summer and I finally have time to update a lot more, I've got two updates for you! I've updated Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 for all you lovely readers! Might I add that Chapter 6 happens to be one of my favorite chapters so far. : ) I also would like to thank one of my readers (you know who you are) for pointing out to me in Chapter 5 there were a part in the story where Taylor and Gabriella were talking about hearing from colleges even though they're still juniors in high school. In high school, you get college acceptance letters after winter break as a senior so just to clear up the confusion, Taylor and Gabriella (along with the rest of the characters) are all thinking about the colleges they want to go too. None of them have actually applied or been accepted to colleges yet; they're just thinking about them since their senior year is approaching soon. I've made some changes to that chapter and the other chapters if you want to re-read them. They're just small changes so it's nothing to worry about. I hope you enjoy the next two chapters! I'll update the next chapter sometime next week. Please review! : )
Chapter 6 – New Changes
"Where are you taking me?" Gabriella giggled as she followed Scott up a stairwell. When they reached the top, Gabriella's smile faded when she realized that she'd been here before. It was her and Troy's secret hideout. Troy only wanted her to know about it. She wasn't about to run the moment though.
Scott sat down on the bench and gestured for her to join him. Gabriella sat down and smiled. "Last night was great. You're such an amazing girl and I want to have a shot at this. So I'm just going to say it," Gabriella held her breath, waiting for Scott to say the words that she's been wanting to hear. They were the words that would change the rest of her life with one answer. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
What Gabriella said next would change her life. What if she said no? Where would that leave her and Scott? Would Scott accept her even if it was just as friends? Gabriella glanced at Scott's perfect features but couldn't tell. This was it.
"Yes, I'd love to be your girlfriend." She said softly. A perfect smile stretched across Scott's features as he picked her up and spun her around. When he set her back down onto the ground, his fingers brushed across her face and stopped to rest on her cheek. He leaned down and kissed her softly. He then took her hand and they walked hand-in-hand back to the halls.
Troy walked down the hallway to his locker. It was passing period which meant he only had five minutes to get his books for Calculus.
Crap. Troy muttered, shaking his brown hair out of his eyes. He glanced up and saw students whispering as he walked by. What the hell? Troy thought. Could they be talking about him? His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. They couldn't be. He hasn't done anything wrong.
He shrugged it off when he reaches his locker. He opened it up and started digging around for his notebook and books for Calculus.
"Where the heck is my notebook?" Troy mumbled. To say he was having a bad day would be an understatement. It all just became worse when Chad came up to him.
"Hoops," Chad greeted when he reached Troy.
"Not now. I gotta get to class."
Chad looked at him before holding up his notebook.
"Thanks man." Troy took his notebook from Chad before shutting his locker.
"Yeah. So did you hear the big news?"
Troy glanced over at Chad. "What are you talking about?"
"The school's new "it" couple? Scott and Gabriella? They're now officially going out. According to Scott, he had asked her out on the rooftop garden, she said yes and now the entire basketball team won't shut up about it…"
Troy had already stopped listening to him. He could feel his heart breaking to a million pieces. She said yes to that jerk. Unbelievable. She was now falling in love with a complete liar.
"Hey, I gotta go." Troy mumbled as he walked away.
His life was officially screwed.
Ring! The lunch bell rand as the hallways filled with students making their way to the lunch tables. Scott stood in the front of the snack bar line ordering food for himself and his new girlfriend. When Gabriella came up beside him, his arm snaked around her waist, pulling her to him. He then handed her a tray of food.
"Aw Scott, you didn't have to buy me lunch." She said sweetly.
"Well since you're my girlfriend now, I want to be the best boyfriend I've ever had." Scott bragged, leaning over to kiss her hair.
"Aw Scott, you're just so sweet. Where do we sit?" She glanced around at all the empty tables.
"We sit right here," Scott set his tray down at one of the middles tables near the East High Wildcat Wall. "And you sit right next to me." Scott set her tray next to his and then sat down.
Gabriella smiled as she sat down next to Scott. Her stomach growled as she stared down at her tray of food. She had a fish sandwich, fries, a cup of strawberries, Hansen Peach-flavored soda, and a chocolate brownie. Delicious. She picked up her fish sandwich and took a bite.
"Mmm. That's one great sandwich. You have to try this. Here." She took a piece off her sandwich and turned to Scott. She then fed him the piece and waited for his reaction.
"Mmm. That is good. I should have gotten that." He glanced down at his hamburger. "But then again, I could just eat yours…" He teasingly reached over and tried to take her food.
"Oh no, you don't. That's my sandwich!" She tried to move her tray away from him but he started tickling her sides.
"Scott, stop it!" Gabriella squealed as she wiggled in his arms. She continued to laugh until he finally stopped and wrapped his arms around her waist. She titled her head back and smiled at him.
"I'm so happy we're together. It's been a while since I've had a girlfriend."
Gabriella brought her head back up and pulled herself out of his arms.
"What's wrong?" Scott asked.
"Nothing. I just…I need to know that you're going to be good to me. And that I'm not just going to be some girl that you're going to fool around with. Because if it turns into something like that, I'm breaking up with you. I have to be able to trust you, Scott."
Scott slid over and grabbed her hand. "Gabriella, I've changed and you know that. I don't want to be that guy anymore. I'm starting over for you." He brushed his fingers over hers and then kissed her.
Gabriella smiled and intertwined her fingers with his. Across from them, at the other table, Troy sat watching Scott sweet talk Gabriella what a pathetic idiot. He pushed his tray of food away before standing up and going to his locker. As he took some books out while shoving other ones in, he felt a light tap on his shoulder and turned to see a familiar blonde-haired girl with an overload of pink on her outfit.
"Sharpay, hi. What are you doing here?"
"Oh nothing. I just happened to be walking down the hallway and saw you here. Is everything ok?"
Troy grabbed the books for his next and closed his locker. " Everything's fine. I'm just frustrated I guess." He leaned against the locker.
Sharpay looked at him curiously. "Is it about Gabriella and Scott?"
"Yeah," He lifted his gaze to her. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason, just wondering," She paused. "Hey, we can hang out after school today and just talk if you want. My brother's usually never home until 6:30 and my parents until 7. So it'll just be me."
Troy considered this. There was no practice after school so hey, what the heck? It's not like anyone else is going to hang out with him. "Sure. I know my way to your house so I'll be over at around 4?"
Sharpay smiled. "Yeah, that's fine. I'll see you then."
"Yeah, you too," Troy started to walked away but then turned. "Hey, Sharpay?"
She turned. "Yeah?"
"Thanks for, you know, noticing."
She smiled. "You're welcome."
Troy then turned, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked away just as the bell rang. As Sharpay turned the corner, a mischievous smile stretched across her face.
"Step 1: check. You're in for a huge surprise, Troy." Sharpay said to herself.
Uh oh.
"Scott, it's not funny! I was only seven years old and that was tough skateboard to figure out." Gabriella giggled, leaning into Scott as they walked up the street to her house.
Scott laughed again. "I'm sorry but falling of a skateboard even a few seconds after you got on. That's just classic. At least you were okay though. That's all that matters."
Gabriella giggled silently. "So what's your most embarrassing moment?" She stopped at the bottom of the pathway to her house and turned to Scott.
"I don't have one. See, I'm perfect." He smiled.
"Oh, right," Gabriella laughed. "Everyone has an embarrassing moment. I will get it out of you next time though." She stepped forward, closing the space between them, and kissed him on the lips. Scott pulled her closer, kissing her back. After a few more seconds, Gabriella finally broke the kiss and giggled softly. "Whoa. Slow down there, tiger." She stated.
"I'm sorry. I got a little ahead of myself there," He stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow." He kissed her hair before letting go.
"Okay. Bye Scott." Gabriella waved. Once he was out of sight, she glanced over at Troy's house. Troy was walking across the lawn and to his car that was parked in the driveway. Gabriella raised her eyebrow in curiosity when she noticed his different clothing. The black skinny jeans were new, same with the blue polo shirt and, what, sunglasses? What the heck? He never wore sunglasses. Gabriella made her way over to Troy's car just before he pulled out.
"Troy," Gabriella called.
Troy put the brakes on and pulled his sunglasses off. They were aviator glasses. "Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing, I'm just wondering where you're going."
He squinted his eyes in the sun. "I'm going to a friend's house."
"What friend?"
"Sharpay. We're just gonna talk, that's all."
Gabriella's spirits suddenly fell. So he'd rather talk to Sharpay rather than his best friend. "Oh, okay. Well I guess I'll see you later then." She backed away from the car.
Troy put the car in reverse, backed up, and then shifted to drive. "Yeah, see ya." He put on his aviator glasses and drove away. Once he knew he was out of sight from Gabriella, he stopped on the side of the road and reached into his glove compartment. Underneath some papers and a first aid kit, there were small colored packets. Condoms. Troy picked one up and looked at it. It was the one thing Troy never told Gabriella. He didn't need too. He only had them just to be safe. It made him feel guilty though. Guilty that he was hiding something from Gabriella. But she's hid secrets from him too, hasn't he? Troy sighed and shoved one in his back pocket. Just to be safe.
He continued driving until he found Sharpay's house. After parking and turning the engine off, he sat there at the wheel.
"We're just here to talk." Troy said to himself. He took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. He walked up to the door and knocked. He was greeted by Sharpay who was now wearing a pink mini-skirt with white leggings and a pink tank top.
"Hi Troy. Come in." Sharpay greeted him with a grin. Troy stepped inside and looked around. Man, she had a nice house. Troy took a seat on the couch. A few seconds later, Sharpay sat down next to him and smiled.
"So Sharpay, why did you invite me over?"
Sharpay sat up a little straighter. "Because, now that Gabriella's out of the picture, maybe it's time that you explore your boundaries. " She slid her hand up Troy's chest and leaned in to kiss him. Troy didn't pull back; instead he relaxed into the kiss. He felt himself fall back onto the couch. His hand came up and rested on the back of Sharpay's neck as he kissed her again. Soon, however, he forced himself back to reality when he realized Sharpay's hands were trying to ease his shirt off.
"Sharpay, I can't," Troy pulled away and sat up. "I can't do this. This isn't right." He thought about Gabriella and winced.
"How isn't this right? I'm just trying to keep your mind off things." She straightened out her skirt.
"This is just making me think of more things. Things I'm not ready for and things that shouldn't be happening. I'm sorry, I just can't. I knew I shouldn't come here." He stood up and started towards the door. Sharpay stood up after him.
"If this has to do with Gabriella, she's in love with Scot. And believe me I know you have feelings for her. I see the way you look at her. She doesn't have those same feelings for you, Troy. She did at one point. Before the summer last year, all she talked about was you. She told me that if she could have you both ways – as a best friend and a boyfriend – that she would. But she's different now. She doesn't want to risk losing you as a best friend by telling you how she feels so she convinced herself to stop believing it. And eventually, she lost those feelings for you. She met Scott and now here we are. I'm just trying to be here for you."
Troy turned around and looked at her. "I know she doesn't want to be with me. I feel like I'm losing her. I appreciate what you're doing for me but I just can't do this. I'm sorry." He turned and opened the door. He glanced back one more time at Sharpay before closing the door.
Troy parked his car on the street of his house and got out. As he walked across the street, he could see Gabriella throwing out some old boxes. One of them caught his eye. Childhood memories. He jogged over to her.
"Gabriella, hey."
Gabriella looked up and smiled weakly. "Hey Troy. I was just throwing some things out and –"
"Why are you throwing away the box with things we did as kids? Those were special."
Gabriella looked at him. "Troy, this is all old stuff."
"Old stuff, huh?" Our friendship must be old stuff too now, right?"
Gabriella set the box down. "Troy, what has gotten into you lately? First, you're dressed in aviator sunglasses for Sharpay and now you're jumping down my throat about our friendship? Since when have you been so interested in Sharpay?"
"Oh, wouldn't you like to know. Sharpay's just trying to be a friend. You haven't been a friend since Scott came into the picture. And you know what? I don't need you anymore because I knew you were going to end up like this anyways." Troy suddenly stopped, regretting every word he just said. Gabriella took a step back like she had just been slapped in the face.
Troy stepped towards her and tried to apologize. "Gabriella, I didn't mean –"
Gabriella pushed him away. "Just stop, okay? Go away. I hate you." She tried to stop the tears from forming in her eyes but it was one use.
Troy looked at her. "C'mon. You know you don't mean that."
"Yes I do. I hate you, Troy. I hate you for doing this to me. You have no right to put that pressure on me. You need to accept the fact that I'm changing and you're changing. We're growing apart from each other and there's nothing we can do about it." She picked up the box and pushed it into Troy's hands. "Here. If you can make our friendship the same as the way it used to be before school started then let me know. I have to go." Gabriella ran up the steps and slammed the door closed.
Troy sighed and looked down at the box. For Gabriella to throw away a box that used to mean everything to her tells Troy that their friendship is breaking apart.
And Troy wasn't really sure he sure he could do anything to stop it now.
A/N: Great chapter, huh? I hope you liked it. It had a good chunk of things that were changing so that's why I titled it New Changes. I have a question for you readers if you want to answer: Do you think Troy's more to blame for the weakening friendship with Gabriella or do you think Gabriella's more to blame? Explain why if you want too. Feel free to answer! : ) The next chapter will have more drama and something will happen to Gabriella. Since you all waited so nicely, I have the next chapter up. : ) Please review! Ly! More chapter updates will be soon!
-Alyssa