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The next morning came sooner than Gabriella thought as she had been up most of the last night in her room, thinking about what was going on and trying to sort out her feelings. After she and Tristan came back from the movies, they curled up and watched some television together before Tristan excused himself to go to bed as he had a late morning flight. Gabriella had made an active effort to be more aware of how she felt around Tristan after her conversation with Troy and still felt that she was at square one with trying to figure out what she wanted to do.
Gabriella let out a large yawn and stretched as she sat up in her bed, running her fingers through her dark hair before she swung her legs over the edge and stood up. Immediately, Gabriella smelled the enticing aroma of breakfast being cooked and left her room to run downstairs, only to skid to a halt as she reached the kitchen. "You're actually cooking?"
Tristan turned around and smiled back at her. "Well, yeah. I thought you may be hungry and it's nicer to have a quiet breakfast for just the two of us than a diner on the way to the airport. I went out early this morning to pick up supplies. I offered for your mom to join us but she said she was meeting her girlfriends for coffee or something."
"Well that was sweet of you to offer," returned Gabriella, a smile on her face. "How do I know though that this food wasn't prepped by some chef that you've now hidden and packed in your suitcase from home?"
Tristan actually laughed at this. "Just because my family is well off and we have cooks does not mean that I can't cook myself. Not to mention that I tried but my mom wouldn't let me deprive her of one of her favorite staff members."
Gabriella couldn't help but roll her eyes at this. "Typical of your mom. She still upset you're sort of dating me again?"
"She'll get over it, just protective is all," replied Tristan. "That doesn't bother you does it?"
"Kind of," admitted Gabriella. "It's not like we're really in a relationship but it does bother me that she's against us seeing each other. How have you been getting out to see me then?"
"My own personal credit card, she can't say a word," returned Tristan, a satisfied smirk on his face. "I think, secretly, she's just glad I'm not blowing my money on drugs and sex."
Gabriella felt her cheeks warm at this and looked away. "Well that's good to know."
"Aww, Ella, did I make you blush with the word sex? You're so adorable," teased Tristan, causing Gabriella to let out a little groan.
"I'm going to go and change while you finish up cooking to avoid any further teasing. I'll be back in ten, is that okay?" asked Gabriella.
Tristan nodded his head. "Sure, I still have a few more pancakes to make anyway."
Gabriella dashed back upstairs to get changed and was about to go back downstairs when her cell phone beeped. She went to pick it up from her bedside table and smiled as she saw it was a text from Troy.
Morning Brie! Beautiful morning today, reminds me of you. Care for a walk?
'Hmm, a ploy to get me away from Tristan or does he think Tristan is already gone?' wondered Gabriella before she texted him back.
Morning Wildcat. Can't this morning, busy, maybe a raincheck? BTW, thanks for making me blush!
She pressed the send button and closed her phone, placing it back on her bedside table and went downstairs to find the table laid out with all the food Tristan had whipped together for them.
"Wow, impressive," commented Gabriella as she took in the pile of pancakes with freshly cut fruit on the side, bacon, and scrambled eggs with cheese. "And the house is still standing and fire free."
"Haha," got out Tristan before he backed a chair out and offered it to her so Gabriella could sit down before he scooted her back towards the table. "I just hope you like it when you finally eat it!"
"Only one way to find out," replied Gabriella as she helped herself to a single pancake, put fruit on top of it, and then cut a slice to put into her mouth. "Mmm, now that's good. Light, fluffy, and not at all burned."
Tristan grinned back at Gabriella as she continued to savor the bite in her mouth. "I'm glad you like it! It was a bit tougher than I thought it would be but I managed to do well. Oh, and that slightly burned smell in the air? I confess, I burned the first couple and they're in the trash. I'll take it out before I leave in an hour and a half."
Gabriella giggled at Tristan's honesty. "Well, at least I know you're truthful! Thanks so much Tristan, this is so nice!"
Tristan took a sip of orange juice from his glass and smiled back at her. "Anything for you Ella. Actually, would you mind if I came out next weekend? I think it's the last time I can come out for a while before football really starts."
"I'd love that," replied Gabriella. "Thanks for the warning this time too."
"Well, I figured you'd be smart enough to suspect a repeat visit so I may as well tell you. You sure you don't mind?" pushed Tristan.
"No, not at all. That's great! I'm just hope your mom won't mind," stated Gabriella.
Tristan shrugged his shoulders. "She can deal. So I do have a confession for you."
Gabriella paused her chewing on the piece of bacon in her mouth as she saw the intent look in his eyes at that moment. 'Uh oh, this could be bad…'
"I know you still need time and you're confused and you want to keep everything casual for now but I want you to know that I think I'm falling in love with you, deeper than before Ella," said Tristan, his voice husky with emotion.
"Oh Tristan," started Gabriella, stopping as Tristan put a hand up.
"No, please don't say anything. I know you aren't ready to say that back to me, if you feel that way at all, but I wanted you to know. I know you're probably going to see Troy at some point this week, especially as you go to school together, and I'm fine with that, I know you're a free agent. I just, I had to tell you Ella," stated Tristan, reaching out and holding her right hand in his. "Did I scare you?"
Gabriella slowly shook her head, making sure to keep her eyes downcast so he wouldn't see that she was lying at that very moment. 'It's not that I'm scared now that he's said those three words, more like I feel that much more pressured to choose now. I almost feel guilty having even talked to Troy via text this morning now.'
"Ella?" he asked, seeing that Gabriella was purposely looking down for a reason. "Please, look at me."
Slowly, Gabriella raised her head to look Tristan directly in his green eyes, seeing the concern appear there as soon as he saw her own troubled eyes. "I'm sorry Tristan."
Tristan shook his head, dismissing her apology. "No, don't be. I knew it was dicey telling you but I couldn't hold it in any more Ella. Come on, let's talk about something brighter all right? Do you remember in junior year how shy you were when I asked you to the Welcome Back dance? I still remember how adorable you looked with that blush on your cheeks with that shy smile on your face."
Gabriella cringed as she felt that same blush on her cheeks again at that very moment. "Seriously, you need to stop doing this to me, it's embarrassing!"
He chuckled at this, softly laying his hand against Gabriella's warm cheek. "Can't help it, you really are just too sweet when you are like this. I think though that's when I really fell for you, when I realized you were different from any other girl there."
"Because I didn't scream at being asked out by the stud on the football team?" questioned Gabriella, laughing a little as it was now Tristan's turn to blush.
"Well that but just, the way you quietly accepted and blushed even more when I grinned at you and kissed your cheek, like this," said Tristan as he leaned in and kissed Gabriella's cheek, chuckling some more as her blush deepened. "God, what I would give for more moments like this with you Ella. Sure I can't kidnap you and take you back to L.A. with me?"
"Definitely sure, but it's not like I won't see you for a while, you're coming back next weekend," pointed out Gabriella, a smile on her face from the anticipation of seeing him again already.
"True, but after that, I can already tell it's going to be too long," complained Tristan. "I guess we'll just get there when we get there right?"
"Exactly," confirmed Gabriella. "Now come on, let's eat this wonderful spread of food before it gets too cold."
Tristan grinned in response and dug back into the food on his plate, the two happily sharing the rest of their breakfast together and then doing the dishes together before Tristan reluctantly left for the airport.
Later that day, Troy was in his backyard shooting hoops when he heard a familiar giggle coming from his house. 'Oh boy, Sharpay is here and I have a feeling she isn't going to like what I have to say today,' thought Troy as he made one last shot before he heard her voice now outside.
"TROY!" called out Sharpay. "Break time, I'm here!"
Troy suppressed a groan as he turned around and put his best smile on his face. "Hi Sharpay. I didn't know you were coming over today."
"Well, I simply had to come over and show you my new outfit I bought this morning. Isn't it fabulous?" asked Sharpay as she twirled around so Troy could see every inch of her new designer skirt and blouse, which was of course, varying shades of pink.
"Umm, yeah, looks great Sharpay," murmured Troy as he placed the basketball back down on the court.
Sharpay immediately approached Troy but backed off at the last minute as she smelled his sweat. "Ugh, can you maybe shower so I can come closer to you? You stink!"
He actually found himself laughing at this. "Come on Sharpay, I've been playing out here for like an hour. What did you expect?"
"Something not so foul smelling clearly," complained Sharpay, wrinkling her nose. "Oh, I have a bottle of perfume in my purse here…"
"NO!" protested Troy, halting her from going into her purse and finding said perfume bottle. "That's quite all right."
"But seriously, you stink," whined Sharpay. "Like smelly gym socks or what I imagine they would smell like."
'God, is it me or has she gotten more high maintenance as time has gone on?' wondered Troy as he just shook his head at the blonde. "So, what are your plans for the rest of the weekend?"
"Oh! I'm off to a late spa day with Mommy. Our favorite masseuses weren't available this morning so we're going to go later. Don't worry, I'll look even more fabulous for you tomorrow at school," declared Sharpay, smiling now at Troy.
'Now or never Bolton,' thought Troy before he cleared his throat. "Actually Sharpay, I wanted to actually say something to you."
Sharpay's eyes instantly lit up at these words. "YES! I would love to Troy!" exclaimed Sharpay, instantly flinging herself in Troy's direction, forcing him to catch her before Sharpay kissed him soundly on the lips.
"Wait, what?" returned Troy, putting distance between their two bodies. "Sharpay, I haven't even said what I need to say to you."
"You don't have to! Of course I'll be your girlfriend Troy! We're going to so win Best Couple this year and everyone is going to be so envious of us, well they already are of me but we'll be like Brangelina at East High. Tropay!" squealed Sharpay, clapping her hands and jumping up and down.
"Damn, this is harder than I thought it would be," murmured Troy in a low voice before speaking up again, this time talking to Sharpay directly. "Actually, I wanted to tell you that I think that you are wonderful and all…"
"Of course you do," replied Sharpay with a grin on her face.
"…But I think it's time that we stop seeing each other, even as far as casual dating goes," finished Troy, seeing the immediate disbelieving look on Sharpay's face.
"You've got to be kidding. Troy, do you know how perfect I am for you? What I could give you?" demanded Sharpay, still half hoping that Troy was pulling her leg.
"I know what you've already shared with me this past summer, getting me play time with the Redhawks, having me promoted to assistant golf instructor, and introducing me to your parents and the alumni board but as great as that all is, I now realize that it isn't necessarily what I value the most in life right now. I don't mean to sound ungrateful here Sharpay, because I really do appreciate everything you did for me, but I just don't see you in my future that way. As friends, definitely, but I can't see you anymore in this way," stated Troy, forcing himself to then look at Sharpay, who had a murderous look on her face. "I'm sorry Sharpay."
Sharpay stared at him for a moment longer, letting that hard look on her face drop away as she started thinking of what she had at stake at that very moment, relaxing it so that it softened. "You don't know what you're doing Troy. I'm good for you, for so many more ways. Do you really think that Gabriella can do the things to you that I can? Not even just giving you scholarships and good paying jobs but also what I cause when I touch you? I don't see that mousy girl ever having that effect on you Troy."
Troy closed his eyes against the memories of Sharpay's hands on his body during the summer and successfully pushed them away with a shake of his head. "Sharpay, I mean it. It was great being with you this summer but this just isn't working out, it's not right for either of us. Yes, we did get rather intimate without going that far but that's not all I'm looking for out of a relationship Sharpay."
"Then what is it? What do I not have?" asked Sharpay, clearly getting more frustrated with the situation as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"My heart," whispered Troy, regretting his candid response as soon as he heard it pass his lips.
A hurt look crossed Sharpay's face, a look not many people have ever seen before. "Not even a little?" asked Sharpay, her normally loud voice very fragile sounding.
Troy hesitated before shaking his head. "I'm sorry."
He watched as a single tear rolled down her left cheek and took a step forward towards her only to have her quickly back up. "Stay away from me Bolton, I can't believe you're so heartless to tell me that I don't mean anything to you, after all that I've done for you, after all that I've done to your body!"
"Sharpay, come on, you make it sound like we had sex this summer or something! And you do mean something to me but just not in that romantic way," stated Troy while he stayed where he was, watching Sharpay slowly try to gather herself together again.
"We may not have had sex Troy but it's the furthest you've gone, you've even told me! She'll never let you go even that far with her, not when she's got another guy in her life. Please Troy, rethink this. You know I can make you ten times happier!" exclaimed Sharpay, looking him directly in the eyes.
Troy shook his head, dismissing the idea. "No, that's just it, you can't and that's no fault of yours. We just, we're not meant to be that way together Sharpay."
After a few moments of staring at Troy, Sharpay sadly nodded her head. "Fine, I guess that's it then. Can we still be friends then?"
Relieved at the turn of events, Troy quickly nodded his agreement. "Of course."
Sharpay gave him a watery smile before she leaned down and picked up her purse, which she had dropped to the ground at some point of their conversation. "Good. I'll see you at school tomorrow Troy."
Troy watched as the blonde left his backyard via the side gate and felt himself strangely relieved yet a bit guilty over what just happened. 'I didn't mean to be so harsh but I couldn't find another way to let her down that didn't reek of clichés and hurt feelings anyway. I hope she'll be okay,' thought Troy as he headed into his house to take a shower and relax his mind.
Sharpay slowed down her pink Mustang and came to a complete stop when she was safely several blocks away from the Bolton's house. She threw the car into park and quickly wiped the fake tears away off her cheeks, smiling at herself at her successful performance. 'As if I would actually let Troy go that easily. He's stupider than I gave him credit for if he bought that act. No, I plan on fighting for Troy tooth and nail, if it's the last thing I do.'
While refreshing some of her makeup, Sharpay smirked at herself in the mirror before she put her makeup away and picked up her cell phone. She dialed a number and waited anxiously as the phone rang, her French manicured fingers of her left hand tapping the steering wheel.
When the other line was picked up, Sharpay grinned. "Are you still interested in helping me out? … Good, perfect… Yes, the plan is officially in action as of right now, they'll never know what hit them."
After a few more minutes of planning, Sharpay happily slipped her cell phone back into her purse, throwing the car back into drive to head to the spa where she was meeting her mom. 'You may think you are rid of me now Troy but I always get my man in the end.'