Be Mine

A story by JolieMarie

No one gives out candy hearts. No one likes them. I found that out today: Valentine’s Day. At my old school, I was labeled as the freaky math girl, but also that weird girl who gave out candy hearts. You know, those small sugary hearts that have words like, “Be Mine” or “Kiss Me” plastered on them. People at Sun High ate them, though. When I passed them out here, I didn’t expect to be the only person giving them out. I also didn’t expect to find them on the floor, stepped on numerously and thrown at one another as a sign of ‘fun’.

“I still can’t believe he asked me to be his Valentine,” Taylor gushed as she held her books to her chest, leaning onto the locker next to mine. She gave a dreamy sign as I rolled my eyes, turning the knob on my combination lock. She was bragging about her date after school ever since yesterday morning, when he asked her.

“Yeah, Taylor, that’s really amazing.” Not. Could someone please shut her up? I love Taylor; she’s a great best friend. She just needs to realize that when she brags about having a date to someone who is waiting for someone to ask her, it gets just a bit annoying.

“I mean, I was really shocked about it. He just came to the biology room and,” she signed. I knew the rest by heart, so when Taylor spoke again, I silently said it with her, though facing my locker. “It was all so magical. He came in with a magnificent white camellia. The day before, I had asked him if I was pretty, and when I saw that flower. My heart fluttered because the symbol of that flower means, ‘You’re adorable’. He then asked me to be his Valentine, and I couldn’t refuse.” She smiled as she turned to me, leaning her shoulder on the neighboring locker.

“Sharpay told me I’m too simple. She said that if he really liked me, he would have decorated the chemistry room with white and red rose petals, and then put a bouquet on each table. Then, he would have come in with a guitar and play me a song, singing his undying love in a beautiful melody. Personally, I think she expects too much. I don’t need a million roses. I just --” Taylor stopped, looking at me holding a red tulip. A note was attached to it by a red ribbon, and I was feeling the delicate rose petals.

“Who’s that from?” Taylor inquired. I lightly shrugged, opening the folded paper and reading it.

“To Gabriella. With love, your secret admirer,” I read, handing the rose to Taylor as I put my books in my locker and shut it. Teachers knew many students would be on dates, so they assigned little or no homework. I luckily had the teachers who assigned none. I didn’t have anything to do, though, so I asked my teacher if it was alright if she could teach me yesterday’s lesson. I didn’t understand it as well as I could, so she agreed to help me through it.

“Gabriella, you have to find out who it’s from.” I stared at her blankly before I walked to my Chemistry classroom.

“You’re not just going to let it go, are you?” I stopped and turned around, leaning on the wall.

“I don’t know, Taylor. I think I know who it may be, but I’m not sure.” I signed deeply, lowering myself to the floor and sitting down. She sat with me, though she put her bag underneath her to prevent getting her skirt dirty.

“Troy?” I nodded. “Well, if you think it’s him, ask him. Not like, ‘Are you my secret admirer?’, but flirt and make him think you like him. I know you do, so that shouldn’t be hard. Then, when he asks you, say yes. Simple.”

“Not really,” I said, moving my hands through my curls. “I really like Troy, but I don’t know if I’m ready for a relationship. I’ve got to focus on school--”

“Gabriella, believe me when I say this: You focus enough on school. More than I do. Loosen up. Troy won’t take you away from your studies.”

“Yeah, I know,” I answered. “It’s just, when I get into a relationship, I guess I’m a bit like Sharpay. I like romance. I can’t settle for a flower every now and then. I like things to be a surprise. It’s not like I’m expecting him to do that Chemistry room thing like Sharpay said, but I would like more than just a flower saying, ‘You’re adorable.’ I want to go on picnics in a field, or walk barefoot on the sand. I don’t know if Troy is willing to do that.”

“Gabriella,” Taylor huffed. “Get out of that stage; if you really like Troy, you won’t care what he does for you. Get that superficial being out of you and realize that not everyone is a hopeless romantic. I know this may sound rude, but if you won’t date Troy because he doesn’t meet your romantic expectations, you’ll be throwing something great away.” I signed deeply and stood up with Taylor.

“Yeah, I get what you mean. Well, time to have a grand ‘ol Valentine’s Day.” I waved goodbye to Taylor as she walked down the hallway. A familiar sound of the clacking of heels was heard near my classroom as the sound grew louder. Click, clack. Click, Clack. Turning the corner, I saw none other than Sharpay Evans exit our Chemistry classroom. She seemed slightly surprised, smirking a bit.

“My, my, Gabriella. Off to study for Chemistry?” I nodded a bit, my mouth curved into a small, polite smile. I pointed to the classroom with my finger.

“Yeah, I want to get the lesson better, and since I’m free today, I decided to ask her for a bit of a review.” Sharpay made a tsk sound, tapping the sole of her foot on the floor consistently.

“Sad, really. I mean, I know that you understood the lesson completely; did you already forget that you helped me during class yesterday?” My mouth formed an ‘o’.

“Yeah… Well, I know that you have no date, and this is your only excuse. I don’t mean to rub it in your face, in case that’s what you’re thinking. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for your situation. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a date to attend.” Sharpay started walking, but took a sudden halt and abrupt turn when she heard me mutter, ‘Sure, you’re sorry.’

“I really am, Gabriella,” the blond drama queen answered, raising her eyebrows, as if questioning me to speak again. She turned around for the last time and continued her way out of the school building.

Tugging self-consciously on my bag’s strap, I walked into the Chemistry classroom with hearing nothing but a large gasp from my mouth.

A simple aroma of spring rain floated throughout the Chemistry lab as bold, colorful vases held an ensemble of red, white, yellow, and cream tulips. A vase was centered on every table, petals in a variety of colors scattered across the black surface. Red and white rose petals laid softly on the waxed floor as I walked ever so slowly to the center desk. I made sure not to step on the petals as I got to the desk. A small, white dish laid on top, a rose petal resting beautifully on it with another object on top: a candy heart that read ‘be mine’.

A small melody was heard smoothly from the sound of a guitar playing gently in the near distance. Raising my head, I caught eyes with Troy Bolton, holding a guitar in his hands as he played a melody. Suddenly, his voice boomed as he started to sing.

Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings
The world, for once, in perfect harmony
With all its living things

Can you feel the love tonight?
You needn't look too far
Stealing through the night's uncertainties
Love is where they are

Throughout the song, Troy had been making his way to me. Stopping before me and putting his guitar on the table, he gave me his hand, fist closed, and opened it.

"Kiss me," I read aloud. Wasting no time, I put a hand behind his neck and pulled him to me, kissing him deeply on his lips. His arm moved around my frame, pulling me closer to him than we had been before. Troy was truly everything I could have hoped for.

A/N: Sharpay was helping. She was being rude but all in all, she was a pretty decent person. Had to keep her in character somehow. The End. Hope you liked it, Hearts in the Clouds. Song credits to The Lion King's Can You Feel The Love Tonight.