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Gabriella nervously tapped her fingers against her slip covered thighs as she waited for Pip to make one last minute adjustment to Gabriella's gown that she would be wearing that night. Not even twenty minutes before, Gabriella had checked in on her friends who were already dressed in their gowns, now having their hair done by some of the hair dressers Annette had come in for the young women. Taylor had chosen to wear a soft orange halter dress with a skirt that flared out while Tessa wore a dark purple sheath styled satin dress that flared out a little at her mid-calves and flowed on the floor a little. Sharpay though, in typical Sharpay style, had picked a pink strapless dress with lace and netting flowing out from the sparkly bodice, with a solid skirt underneath it all. 'They all look so gorgeous. I can only hope to look half as good and I think sadly they are all so much more excited than I am.'
She heard a laugh and turned to see Annette standing in the doorway of Gabriella's bedroom. "Honestly sweetheart, if you don't calm down I don't think you'll even make it from the self-induced panic attack you'll have."
Gabriella rolled her eyes despite the smile on her lips. "Gee, thanks Mom, that was all the encouragement I needed to hear. I'm just, I don't know, nervous about tonight's ball. Before you say it, yes, I've been to so many already over the years but this one, I don't know, my gut feels like this one is different. Maybe it's because Sharpay, Ryan, Taylor, and Tessa are here but it feels like a more pivotal moment in my life. You don't think Patrick is going to do anything stupid like propose in front of everyone downstairs do you?"
Annette heard the panic in her voice and immediately shook her head. "I don't think that is a worry. You yourself told me that Patrick knows that tonight is the night for you to have another look at who else is out there. He won't jeopardize his position with you and make himself look like a fool in front of all the elite that are already starting to come in for the ball. Plus, you won't have to worry too much as he knows decorum and will only be able to dance with you once tonight without gossip going around that you two are serious. You aren't serious are you?"
"No, not quite. Granted I haven't seen any other guy besides Patrick, Chris, Paul, the rest of the ballet company, and Ryan in the past two weeks really because of rehearsals. Oh God, the performance is next week! My best friends are going to see me horribly fail or fall flat on my face!" exclaimed Gabriella, feeling herself get even more worked up.
"Okay Gabriella, enough! You have to calm down," soothed Annette as she approached her daughter and laid loving hands on Gabriella's shoulders. "First, the ball is just a ball like any other. Go out there, meet people, just have fun. Have fun with your friends, that's why I asked them here. Second, the ballet sneak peek and premier is four days away, don't worry about it now. Between now and then, you have more rehearsals and you have your best friends here to keep you occupied when you aren't there rehearsing. Everything is going to be just fine, honest."
"I can only hope that you're right Mom," murmured Gabriella before she was distracted with Pip coming back in with Gabriella's gown, freshly pressed and altered.
Annette stood back and watched as Pip assisted Gabriella into the dark yellow taffeta A-line gown that was created especially for Gabriella. Instead of the gown having traditional straps, there was a single row of beige organza flowers stitched together and onto the front and back of the dress that continued across the front of Gabriella, over the sides of her Gabriella's shoulders, and ended in the back where the zipper was. The skirt portion of the gown flared out due to the petticoats underneath and had a side pleat on the right to create a more fluid look to the skirt. As Annette surveyed her daughter, she couldn't help but smile at the beauty Gabriella had become, especially over the last few years when she actually started embracing her more mature looks instead of trying to hide them.
'I think she tried hiding it for so long not only to try to draw less focus on her but also as a result of some fear of attracting the type of attention Riley had given her. Her no longer hiding her outer beauty now is only a testament of how far along she has come in getting over her rape,' thought Annette, a smile on her face as she saw Pip pulling the zipper up before she began to fix Gabriella's half-do and adjusting the tiara that adorned Gabriella's dark brown locks while Gabriella focused on somewhere else other than the three-way mirror.
"There, we're done now. It wasn't that bad Gabriella, don't give me that look," stated Pip, a grin on her face as she surveyed Gabriella's appearance. "Actually, if I do say so myself, this is probably my best work yet, especially getting your hair to curl so well tonight."
"I'd have to agree Gabriella, you do look gorgeous tonight. Why don't you take a look?" encouraged Annette.
Gabriella looked at Pip and then her mother before nodding her agreement, slowly turning her gaze towards the mirrors and gasping a little as she saw herself fully dressed and ready to be presented at the ball. "Wow, Pip, you are amazing!"
Pip laughed a little. "A true artist is only as good as her muse and that dear princess is you. You'll for sure be the focus of this ball, even if it wasn't intended."
A knock saved Gabriella from any further gushing from either woman and was followed shortly by the appearance of Stephen, who had a wide grin on his face. "Well ladies, I see you both are ready and lovely as usual. Lucky me I get to escort both breathtaking visions into the ball tonight."
"Oh Stephen stop," returned Annette with a wink. "You're making Gabriella blush!"
Gabriella laughed at this. "And yourself Mother," teased Gabriella. "I guess it's now or never huh?"
Seeing her parents nods, Gabriella quickly turned to Pip and gave her a quick hug and said her thank you to her for doing such a great job before she took her father's offered arm and walked with her parents down the halls and stairs, before they reached the main doors that led to the ballroom. Lauren and Edward were both there as well, clearly having waited for the rest of their family to make one big entrance.
Gabriella smiled at her grandparents and barely suppressed a groan as she noticed her grandmother doing a one-over on her before nodding her approval. 'Grandmother has lightened up recently, then again I haven't been home often enough to really notice, but I guess old habits die hard.'
Guests continued to be ushered through the side doors that were designated for the general list of invited guests to enter through while the music from the band that had been playing faded until there was no more music in the air. Gabriella swallowed hard and tried her hardest not to bounce on her feet as she was susceptible to do while she was nervous.
The traditional music that was all too familiar to Gabriella now began to echo through the ballroom, becoming louder as the doors in front of the family were slowly opened. Instantly, there was silence from the room except for the music that announced to the guests that the royal family was making their entrance. Gabriella was able to take in one more deep breath before they started walking forward, Gabriella hanging behind her parents as was custom.
'Maybe one day I'll have someone to walk with me. Who am I kidding? I know I'll have someone within the next year and a few months because of this mandate to marry by my twenty-sixth birthday but to who?' wondered Gabriella as she let her parents walk some distance ahead of her before she herself stepped into the ballroom, instantly feeling all the eyes on her. Remembering the expectations of her and her appearance, Gabriella put a gracious smile on her face as she continued to follow her parents through the crowd, meeting random people in the eyes while she smiled at everyone.
Before she could reach the platform where the thrones were placed at the opposite side of the room, Patrick appeared, looking sharp as ever in his black tuxedo with the traditional white shirt and black bowtie. "May I be blessed this evening to share in the opening dance with you Princess Gabriella?" asked Patrick, giving way to the more formal expectations of the evening.
Gabriella, sensing her grandparents' eyes on her especially, smiled at Patrick, inclining her head ever so slightly before she took his offered hand and they moved to middle of the dance floor where they joined other dancers who were already positioned to start the first dance of the evening. As the music started, Gabriella followed Patrick's lead, comfortable in letting her guard down with him as she allowed her gaze to sweep the room once before refocusing on him as his grip on her hand tightened before he spun her away from his body only to bring her back with a flick of his wrist. When she twirled back to him, Patrick placed a steady hand on her waist and smiled down at her.
"I had to throw some showmanship in there to make this dance unique from the many others you'll have tonight Ella," he whispered, making Gabriella smile more. "Have fun?"
"Like I always do when I'm with you," returned Gabriella, absently following his lead as the song continued on. "Speaking of fun, I need to introduce you to my best friends who are here from the U.S. They and my mother surprised me yesterday with their arrival. I know you'll like them."
Patrick nodded his head. "I'd be honored to, especially if they are anything like you Ella. Maybe after you dance with a few more gentlemen so it seems more appropriate? That is, if you get a break?"
Gabriella detected the insecurity in Patrick instantly and tried to give him a reassuring smile. "I most certainly will, as soon as I get a break then. Thank you for the dance," she replied as the music came to an end, leaving both Patrick and Gabriella bowing and curtsying separately before Gabriella was swept up by her next dance partner, Toby.
After twirling around the room with at least half a dozen partners, Gabriella finally found a break and managed to make her way over to where Sharpay, Ryan, Chris, Tessa, and Taylor were standing, mingling with a few other guests while staying together. She smiled at the sight of Chris and Tessa's hands intertwined together and let them know it by the grin on her face. "Enjoying yourselves?" she asked as she stopped in front of the group of five.
"Immensely! Gab, you look stunning tonight," exclaimed Taylor, being the first of the group to hug her before everyone else followed suit.
"Now I can see why you are so fit! Dancing so formally, constantly, must take a lot out of you," commented Tessa with a teasing grin on her face. "Chris here seems to be a bit shy about ballroom dancing."
Gabriella laughed and cocked her right eyebrow at her dance partner. "Aww, is Chris actually scared of ballroom dancing? I would never have figured he would be of any type of dancing."
"Shut up Ella, you don't want to make a scene in front of all these nice upper class people," murmured Chris, hoping those words would be the right words to keep Gabriella from teasing him further.
"Maybe she doesn't but I can't help but tease you. How can a ballerina not do ballroom?" asked Sharpay.
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Honestly Shar, a little tact maybe? Just because we've had private lessons since we were little doesn't mean everyone else has."
"I know you had the right intentions there Ryan but that totally didn't make me feel any better," teased Tessa with a smirk at Ryan's blush.
"And you two had private ballroom lessons why?" asked Chris, knowing only a little about the Evans twins.
Sharpay scoffed. "Because our family is among the few elite and truly sophisticated families in the U.S., not to mention one of the richest families in New Mexico. Of course Ryan and I had lessons. I can teach you some even now if you want."
Taylor and Gabriella laughed as they saw Chris give Tessa a worried look at this suggestion. Tessa though was the one that decided to push him. "Come on Christopher, gotta try to expand your horizons sometime."
"Was it me or did she just pull a Darbus without even knowing Darbus?" murmured Taylor, causing Gabriella to giggle more.
Sharpay placed her hands on her hips and started tapping her right toe against the floor. "Well?"
"All right, I'll take you up on your offer," groaned Chris, getting a pinch in the side from Tessa, who was barely holding in her laughter. "Thanks a lot Ella!"
Gabriella threw up her hands in defense. "Hey, I did nothing of the sort to push you out there! That is all you and your woman per se."
"Oh, I'm his woman huh?" questioned Tessa.
As the three women watched Sharpay escort Chris onto the designated dance floor, Taylor replied, "You know you want to be his woman. What are you guys anyway?"
"Major flirts?" offered Gabriella with a laugh at Tessa's blush.
"Shut up!" replied Tessa with a laugh, resisting the urge to playfully slap Gabriella as Tessa was well aware of the many eyes trained on them at the very moment. "And honestly, I think what we have right now is just fun. Yeah, maybe if things were different I'd want to be serious with him but there isn't much we can do with this distance and all."
"Preaching to the choir Tess," murmured Gabriella, giving her a bit of a sad smile before forcing another smile on her face as another suitor came by.
"May I tear you away from your lovely friends to have this dance Princess Gabriella?" asked a barely taller guy with sandy blonde hair and green eyes.
Gabriella gave him a little curtsy before she followed him onto the dance floor and started moving around with him to the music, trying to follow his lead, which wasn't as smooth as some of her previous dance partner's that night. She tried not to wince the times he stepped on her toes and definitely tried ignoring the quiet laughter she saw on Tessa's, Taylor's, and even Ryan's faces as they watched from the sidelines.
After him, there was another gentleman, and then another, all asking for the pleasure in dancing with her while Gabriella really wanted to spend time with her best friends who were sometimes dancing but mostly hanging out with each other. When Gabriella was dancing with her fifth dance partner since leaving her best friends, she started feeling the heavy presence of eyes on her, not the feeling she got knowing that lots of people were observing her but of eyes that were really seeing her, into who she was. She looked around for the source and landed on a pair of familiar looking brown eyes that were watching her from across the room while he nodded absently as he was supposedly listening to two young women next to him. Gabriella gave him a small smile before her dance partner moved her in such a way that she could no longer discreetly look in Patrick's direction.
As Gabriella moved onto her seventh dance partner though, she felt that intense gaze again, this time accompanied by an increase in heart rate. 'What in the world?' she wondered to herself as she began looking around the room again, seeing the concerned expressions of her parents and friends who had noticed her confused look. Gabriella closed her eyes momentarily, which she realized was a mistake as her partner took it as a sign that she wanted to be brought closer to his body, doing just that. Being the polite young woman she was, Gabriella gave him an apologetic smile and pushed gently on his shoulders to hint to him she wanted her personal space back but the guy just tightened his hold on her.
Just as she was about to forcefully push him away, Gabriella heard the one voice she hadn't expected that night, the reason why she felt a different feel in the air tonight. "May I cut in? A new song has just started and I do believe this is my dance," he said, smirking a little as the other guy reluctantly nodded, realizing that his song was over, and handed Gabriella's hand over to the next person.
"Thank you," she murmured, curtsying as was custom while he bowed before stepping towards him and positioning her arms as etiquette dictated for the current dance. "I was standing here, desperately thinking of how to free myself without making a scene in front of thousands of people and you saved me, as you are prone to doing still I see."
"Ah, see, I knew something drew me across the ocean to be here tonight," he teased, his blue eyes twinkling as he stared down into those familiar brown eyes he fell in love with years ago. Troy continued to keep them moving across the floor, chuckling a little as he watched Chad and Chucky surprise Taylor and the rest of their friends at that exact moment. "I think Taylor is much happier now."
Gabriella tore her eyes away from Troy's momentarily and grinned as she saw Taylor kiss Chad before realizing where she was and pulling away after only a few moments with a blush on her cheeks. Chad and Chucky both seemed to laugh with everyone else before they turned their attention out on the dance floor and waved at her, Gabriella lifting her left hand off Troy's shoulder to wave back before turning back to Troy. "You planned this to be a surprise for all of us didn't you Wildcat?"
Troy nodded his head. "We did but there's a bit more to this. Chad though has been missing Taylor like crazy so it's just in time that we reunited them. I think Chucky or I would have killed him had we gone another day with his pining for Taylor."
She let out a laugh, music to Troy's ears, causing him to grin. "So the shoe is on the other foot for our bushy haired friend. I love it," she replied, smiling more before she realized how well Troy was actually doing with the dance. "Troy, when did you learn how to ballroom dance, let alone get the confidence to dance without prodding?"
"Let's just say it's been an interesting past month," he returned, smiling back at her and savoring the feel of her being back in his arms, knowing in his heart that this was right. 'Now, just how to break it all to her.'
"Oh, and where are my manners? Hello kind sir and thank you for coming to the ball," said Gabriella, giggling as Troy rolled his eyes at her.
"Did you really just greet me formally?" questioned Troy, his scarred eyebrow quirked.
"Well, yes, I think I did but it was out of ingrained politeness. You, sir, are quite rude and did not even greet me," countered Gabriella with a smirk.
Troy, stumbled a little as he realized she was right. 'That's right idiot, mess up everything right from the start,' he admonished himself before he said, "My deepest apologies dear Princess Gabriella. May I be forgiven for such a treasonous act and be allowed to greet you properly before we catch up and away from the prying eyes as our dance is now done anyway?"
Gabriella looked around and let out a sigh of relief when she realized no one else was around, waiting for her hand for the next dance, which could have been attributed to the lessening of the crowd. "Meet me out on the terrace behind you in five minutes. I can't be seen going out with any male from the ballroom for decorum's sake."
Troy nodded his head as he released his hold on her waist, only to gently kiss the back of her hand before she slowly pulled away, a blush on her cheeks. She immediately turned and moved towards where she spotted Emma, Paul, and her parents while Troy walked over to greet their friends, who were barely holding in their excitement at seeing the two together again.
"Surprised?" asked Paul, a smirk on his face as Gabriella neared. "I bet you are."
Gabriella's eyes narrowed on him. "You had something to do with this didn't you?"
Paul shrugged. "All I will admit to right now is that Troy has my cell phone number."
Emma rolled her eyes at her husband. "Forgive his stupidity right now Gabriella. You know how he loves teasing you. I must say, you two had like instant chemistry out there again."
"No we didn't," returned Gabriella. "There's nothing more than friendship Emma. Actually, I wonder where Celeste is. I doubt he would have come here on a vacation without her, even if he was with his boys."
A look crossed Stephen's and Paul's faces unnoticed at this, both men glancing at each other before refocusing on Gabriella.
"Well are you happy he's here Gabriella?" asked Annette, curious as to how her daughter was handling her first love's appearance at a ball that was supposed to introduce her to new potential suitors, at least according to her grandparents.
"Of course Mom, why wouldn't I be?" returned Gabriella, looking towards the clock in the wall and seeing that it had been five minutes. "If you will excuse me, I need some air."
"I'll go with you," offered Paul, only to stop as Gabriella shook her head. "Are you sure?"
"I'm safe going out to the terrace on my own here at the palace, promise," returned Gabriella with a smile as she began to make her way through the crowd, one destination and one person only in her mind.
Troy tracked Gabriella's movement through the crush of people and knew that his time was here and that he needed to grab onto it before it slipped through his grasp. He turned back to their friends and smiled. "I'll be back in a little bit, okay?"
"But Troy," started Chad before Taylor discreetly elbowed him in his side. "Oww, what was that for Tay?"
"Leave him alone," she whispered as Troy gave her a grateful look and disappeared himself through the crowd.
"Am I the only one that wants to follow them out and eavesdrop?" asked Sharpay, knowing full well where Troy was going as she had just seen Gabriella exit the ballroom a moment before Troy left.
"Oh, I am so onboard with that idea!" exclaimed Tessa, both women pouting as Chucky and Ryan both placed a restraining hand on each girl's shoulder.
Ryan shook his head at his sister. "I don't think so sis. Leave them be to enjoy this, all right?"
Sharpay studied Ryan's face for a moment before sighing. "Fine, spoil my fun but if I miss some key gossip and have to read about it in a tabloid Ryan Evans, you are so in trouble."
"I'll take my chances sis," replied Ryan with a laugh.
"Anyone else see the old flame rekindle just now?" asked Tessa, seeing as she wasn't going to be able to investigate either as to what was going on outside.
Chris raised his hand. "I don't know about old flame but if Ella and I could pull that chemistry off on stage, we'd be a real success."
"What are you two doing in the ballet anyway?" asked Chucky, curious as to what Gabriella had put so much energy into over the past few months.
"Well, we're dancing-" started Chris before a familiar young woman from the ballet studio approached the group. "Hi Natasha."
"Christopher, we must show these old people how to really dance. Most of these people don't know a beat if it bit them in the nose. Dance with me?" she begged.
Chris looked at her before looking back at Tessa, who was purposely not looking at him. "Umm, I'm sorry Natasha but I can't. I promised this dance to this woman right here," he stated, wrapping an arm around a surprised Tessa. "Maybe another time?"
Natasha looked over Tessa before shrugging her tiny shoulders and leaving the gang. "Wow, is she a prima ballerina that dances with you?" asked Chad, getting that feeling simply by the way the woman walked, let alone how she knew Chris.
"Something like that," murmured Chris. "Well Tess, I think you got your wish. We better go dance before Natasha makes a big stink about me lying to her."
"Why Christopher, you have such a way of sweeping a woman off her feet," replied Tessa in a dry tone before she allowed him to escort her onto the dance floor and started smiling again as soon as he whispered a few things into her ear.
"Hmm, a Troyella version two?" asked Ryan, laughing with the others at his use of Troy and Gabriella's couple name that the tabloids liked to use. "Seems like they are headed that way."
"Could be," agreed Taylor. "What do you think those two are talking about outside?"
Sharpay shrugged her shoulders. "Who said they are talking? Maybe Troy has finally decided to be bold and ravish her out on the terrace to get her attention from all these males here tonight. Then again, he probably wouldn't be because of that stupid Celeste. Honestly, I know I have no reason to hate her but she so has ruined any chance those two have of finding happiness together."
"Where is she anyway?" asked Ryan, looking around the room and not seeing a single hair that could be Troy's fiancé.
Chucky and Chad both coughed at the same time, looking away from the other three who instantly grew suspicious. "You know where she is and what's going on out there don't you?" asked Sharpay, narrowing her eyes on the brothers.
"Maybe?" offered Chad, flinching as he felt Taylor's familiar hand on his shoulder, refusing to look at her because he knew that would be his undoing. 'We've done so well at secretly doing everything else, I can't break down now. Troy should be the one to tell them everything.'
"Chad, sweetie, what's going on?" asked Taylor as she moved around him and still found him evading her gaze.
As Chucky watched Chad try his hardest not to break, he soon found himself facing inquisitive looking Evans twins. "Hey, I'm not talking either!"
"Even under threat of severe pain and torture? I'm sure there's a torture chamber somewhere here," taunted Sharpay, getting that crazed look on her face that all the guys feared, including Ryan.
"Chucky, if you value your life, I'd consider giving it up, whatever it is," advised Ryan, instantly feeling bad for the other man.
"She can try all she wants, I'm not letting anything slip, not when you'll all know within an hour I bet, from the source itself," replied Chucky, taking a step back and putting Ryan in between him and Sharpay. "Come on Shar, let's go find you a nice prince of another country or something to keep you occupied."
"There's a prince here?" asked Sharpay, immediately distracted.
Ryan laughed at seeing Chucky's diversion work, giving Chucky time to slip away unnoticed by Sharpay, who was currently scanning the room for any man who looked remotely royal. When she looked back to where Chucky used to be, her eyes instantly narrowed again realizing he duped her.
"When I get my manicured hands on that guy," started Sharpay only to drop her sentence when a tall, lean man who looked to be about their age approached and flashed her a perfect grin. "Hello."
"Hello," he greeted. "May I steal you away for a dance?"
"Certainly," she readily agreed, taking his offered arm as they took to the dance floor alongside Chris and Tessa. Taylor and Chad soon followed allowing Ryan the opportunity to walk around the room on his own, eventually finding Chucky, who was talking with Stephen and Annette, and joining in on their conversation.
Gabriella found a not so well lit corner of the terrace to wait at while she gazed out towards the gardens. She felt foolish but couldn't help but grin as she thought of Troy coming all the way to Copanvy for the first time just to be at this ball with the others. They had continued to talk over the phone and through emails but just having him actually there with her felt so much better. 'Don't get too excited Gabriella. He still has Celeste, his fiancé and his current love. What do you expect to happen anyway? For him to come and rescue you again from the biggest responsibility you have resting on your shoulders? That is so not happening.'
"Hello Brie, fancy meeting you out here," came that familiar voice again, interrupting her thoughts. "Come here often?"
Gabriella laughed as she turned to face him. "Hi Wildcat," she echoed, feeling free enough out on the terrace to give him a proper hug in greeting. She noticed that both of them prolonged the embrace a little longer than was necessary but both seemed to not complain as they finally pulled apart. "So, whose idea was it to crash the ball tonight?"
"All of ours," answered Troy. "We wanted to see what your world was like and since the invitation was put out there by your mother, we figured coming wouldn't really be true crashing anyway."
"Good point," agreed Gabriella. "I still can't believe she arranged to have everyone here and managed to keep it a secret for so long."
Troy chuckled at the small pout that was currently on Gabriella's face. "Well from what I hear from Paul and Emma, you've been too busy to even remember the ball. I'm sure if you were that spaced that your mom could have snuck an elephant by you as a new pet and you wouldn't have noticed."
"Hey! I take offense to that!" exclaimed Gabriella before her stern look dissolved into laughter. "But that is sadly true. I see your point. I've just been so focused on rehearsals that I haven't even stopped to think about anything else."
"Ah, so you weren't just ignoring me this last week by not returning my calls," stated Troy, feeling a bit of relief.
"I'd never just ignore you, well at least these days," returned Gabriella. "Wow, now I'm super nervous about Wednesday."
"What's on Wednesday?" asked Troy, seeing the change of expression on her face.
Gabriella bit the corner of her lip for a moment before she decided to tell Troy. "Wednesday is the sneak peek, pseudo opening night for the ballet. Knowing my mother, she's arranged for all of you to go too."
Troy grinned at the idea. "So? Don't you want to know that you have a whole group of people cheering for you from the audience?"
"Well I like the idea of having the support but what if I fall flat on my face because Chris drops me or I miss a turn? It's going to be humiliating already, I don't know if I could do that with you all out there! I know for sure Chad would have a field day of any mishap he sees," remarked Gabriella, picturing in her head the bushy haired friend of theirs laughing uncontrollably in the audience while Gabriella blushed at running into someone accidentally.
"Chad laughs at anything and anyone, even if it is called for or not, you know that Brie. How about this? Will you feel better if I put an apple in his mouth to gag him so he can't be truly understood throughout your performance? Kinda like a barbequed pig?" offered Troy, loving that he was able to get her to laugh again. "I'll do it if it makes you feel any less nervous."
"As tempting as that is, I think that would make too much of a spectacle. Who am I kidding? I'm not some prima ballerina who is going to nail this on her first night," stated Gabriella, looking away from Troy and focusing on a star far above their heads. "I just wish that everything could be perfect in my life, that I'd live up to my grandparent's expectations and my own at the same time, that I would pull off this season's performances without a hitch, and that I would find the solution to all my problems."
'It may be cheesy Bolton but do it now, tell her,' his mind urged, preparing him to actually follow its advice when another voice joined their conversation.
"Ella, I thought I'd come find you. Your friend with the big hair, well I think he's your friend as he's been hanging around the rest of the people you have been with tonight, just got himself into a bit of a mess. He was fishing around the basin of the chocolate fountain for something he dropped and somehow ended up with the fountain tipping over and onto him mostly, along with some of the other guests. Your grandparents do not look all that pleased," informed Patrick, coming closer to where Gabriella and Troy stood. "I thought it best to find you to help with the situation."
"Oh God, yes, thank you," replied Gabriella, instantly running back to the ballroom in hopes of salvaging whatever trouble may be unfolding, leaving Patrick and Troy behind.
The two men stood there on the terrace for a few moments, sizing each other up, recognition clear in both of their eyes. Troy was the first to attempt to be civil by sticking his right hand out to Patrick. "I'm Troy."
"Patrick. Here on a visit?" returned Patrick while shaking Troy’s hand, hoping it would be a short one.
"Something like that," murmured Troy before remembering that Chad and Gabriella both probably needed his help inside. "I better go, sounds like my best friend needs me."
"Certainly," replied Patrick as he watched the brown haired man dash back into the ballroom. 'And so it begins.'