Chapter 22

3 Days until the Wedding

“Hey baby, sorry I’m late.” Gabriella panted as she ran up to Ryan who was sitting on a bench in the park. Her cheeks were rosy and puffs came out of her mouth as she tried to catch her breath. Her wavy brown hair was straightened and cut so that it rested on her shoulders.

“It’s no problem babe.” Ryan answered while getting up out of his seat. He stretched before leaning down and pecking her lightly on the lips. “I wasn’t waiting long.” He then proceeded to wrap an arm around her shoulders as they made their way down the sidewalk.

“You know when you first told me you were interested in me I didn’t really believe you.” Gabriella admitted, pushing his arm off of her shoulders and grabbing a hold of his hand. She squeezed it tightly.

“Why not?” he questioned. “What I said was true. You are a gorgeous, caring, sweet, down to earth girl. And those are a few qualities I like in woman.” Ryan reminded her and gave her a kiss upside the head. She giggled softly and brushed some of her hair out of her face.

“I’m glad we’re together though.” Gabriella sighed happily. “Even though it’s only been three days…” she trailed off with a shrug. She got up on the tips of her toes and kissed his cheek. Ryan wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her in the air before spinning her in a circle.

“I’ve always liked you.” He admitted after placing her back on the round. “It’s just that you looked so sad around Christmas Time-“he started.

“I’m sure you know all about that.” She muttered bitterly. Ryan placed a hand on her elbow to make sure that she got the hint to stop and face him. Gabriella brushed her hair away from her neck and waited to hear what he had to say.

“Even if people don’t think so, you did the right thing for you.” Ryan insisted before reaching out to stroke her cheek.

“You really get me.” Gabriella said softly; her eyes looked like tears were swimming in them.

“Isn’t that what boyfriends are supposed to do?” he questioned with a small smile.

“Only good boyfriends;” she took his hand again. “Unlike Troy.” Gabriella’s face started to harden. Her brown eyes narrowed and flashed with anger. Her nostril started to flare.

“Babe, you’ve got to let him go.” Ryan pleaded.

“I just hate that he chose Isabella over me.” She answered.

“You chose yourself over your own daughter.” He reminded her.

“Oh so now you think my decision was a stupid idea?” Gabriella snapped.

“I didn’t say that.” Ryan shook his head.

“But that’s what you meant.” She deduced.

“No it isn’t.” he replied angrily. “Maybe this is why Troy chose Isabella over you.” He muttered underneath his breath. Her eyes widened and she gasped in shock.

“What did you just say?” Gabriella screeched.

“You jump to conclusions so quickly.” Ryan explained slowly. “Maybe that’s why-“

“You’re such a bastard.” She cut him off.

“And you’re a bitch.” He exploded. To his surprise, the anger on her face melted to a smirk. She seemed to be enjoying his anger and the more he yelled at her the more excited she became.

“You’re right I am. And that’s why I waited in your house until everyone fell asleep so I could strip Troy and Sharpay naked.” Gabriella admitted.

“What?” Ryan gasped.

“Sharpay told me time and time again that she won’t drink and that she isn’t allowed to try it, even if she wanted to, until she was twenty-one or older.” She made a sickened face when she said his sisters name. “Sharpay always told me that she wanted her first time to be memorable. I knew that if I messed with their heads they would ‘forget’ that they had sex and they would do it again. And now, they might be pregnant and I get to have Bella.” She finished.

“You’re so wicked.” Ryan spat.

“It’s easy to pull it off behind my sweet innocence.” Gabriella brightened up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek when a senior citizen couple walked by them. The man and the woman smiled as they passed.

“You don’t even like Bella.” He reminded her. “Why do you want her?” he demanded.

“I want to cause Troy so pain.”Gabriella’s eyes darkened with anger. To Ryan they looked as if they went from brown straight to black. “About as much pain as he caused me through this whole mess. The only way I can do that is through Bella.”

“What will you do if you get her?” Ryan immediately regretted asking the question when he saw her smirk widened to a devious smile.

“When I get Bella,” Gabriella corrected him. “She’s going straight to another family. I could care less about the little problem.” She answered.

“You won’t win.” He glared.

“We’ll see about that.” She responded. Her watch started to beep a few times. “Oh, I promised my mom I’d take her to get her nails done. Don’t forget we have a date tonight at the café at seven.” Gabriella’s mood quickly changed into a bright and bubbly one before she skipped away.

---

“I told you I didn’t drink anything.” Sharpay crossed her legs and arms with a satisfied grin at her mother.

“But we would have noticed Gabriella in the house.” Sharon tapped her chin in thought. She was seated across from Sharpay and Troy, who were on the couch, and Ryan who sat diagonally from her in a chair. Bella shook her rattle in her face to gain her attention.

“Maybe you two drank.” Troy suggested. “That’s what adults do on New Years. Heck, that’s why New Years was invented.” He added.

“Sharon, honey, can you come in here for a minute?” Ryland shouted from the kitchen.

“Are you okay Shar? You look a little pale.” Troy muttered while placing a hand on her forehead and then moved it to underneath her neck.

“I’m fine.” Sharpay insisted. “Let’s get back to the arrangement of the wedding.” She suggested and picked up her note pad and a pen. Immediately she looked at the list and started to bit the pen in anticipation.

“How many things do we have left?” Troy rubbed his eyes slowly.

“A lot.” She moaned. “We already got a priest, a gazebo, and the flowers done. We just need to see how many people are coming.” Sharpay looked over at Ryan who was currently handing them a list of people who already knew and expressed interest in their wedding.

“I want it to be small.” Troy saif.

“But we always planned on my having a big one.” Sharpay moved her finger in a circle mentioning that it was a family decision.

“We’ll compromise and have a medium sized one.” He shrugged.

“Troy, we need you.” Sharon called out. Troy got up and stepped over Bella before heading into the kitchen. The minute he left, Sharpay tossed the notepad to the floor and turned towards her brother.

“Did you bring it?” she whispered.

“Yes, here you go.” Ryan nodded and pulled a plastic bag out from underneath the chair.

“May you come with me, please?” Sharpay questioned while looking at the small pink box in her hand.

“Don’t you want Troy to-“ he started.

“No, this needs to be strictly between you and me.” She interrupted. A look of fear flashed across her face. “Please.” She begged. Ryan nodded and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “How long does it take for pregnancy test to work?” Sharpay pulled it out of the box and started to read the instructions as the ascended the stair case.

“About a minute so we better do it and get rid of it before anyone finds it.” Ryan answered after reading the box over her shoulder. Sharpay silently reached out for his hand and he took a hold of it without question.