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We're soarin, flyin', there's not a star in heaven that we can't reach…
"Ugh…" Gabriella lets out, rolling over and shutting her alarm clock off. She slowly opens her eyes and rubs them, trying to get some of the sleep out. As she lies there, she thinks back to the conversation she had with Hunter on Saturday afternoon over the phone…
"Hunter, are you sure about this?" Gabriella asks, not believing what Hunter is saying.
"Gabriella, I'm positive. This is the right thing to do, I can't hold you back the way that I have the past few weeks I've realized. It was great, no fantastic, while it lasted, but I owe you at least this much," Hunter responds. "I'm going to make sure the right magazine gets a hold of this first to make sure it comes out with the least possible damage. I've already had my talk to Johnny about it all and he agrees."
'Johnny knows?' she thinks. "Great, so Johnny knows about this already. Hunter, seriously, think about this. Please, I just want to make sure you are 100% on this," Gabriella says into the phone.
Without pausing, Hunter replies, "I'm 110% on this Gabriella. It's the right time, for both of us, absolutely."
Gabriella wipes away a stray tear and nods, forgetting Hunter could not see her. "All right then. Good-bye Hunter," she says, getting up and walking over to her purse to squeeze her good luck charm in her palm.
"Break a leg tonight Gabriella, I know you'll do another phenomenal job. And listen, call me on Monday if things get too bad all right?" he speaks into his cell phone, ignoring one of his new co-stars who is trying to get his attention. "You don't have to go through this alone."
"Thanks. Good luck out there," she responds, hanging up the phone and sitting back down on her bed. 'Oh, this is going to be fun,' she thinks as she tries to picture Monday morning at East High after word of this gets out.
'And now it is Monday. Nowhere to run Gabriella,' she thinks to herself before getting up and preparing for the day. She takes extra care to make sure her light makeup looks very minimal and then chooses a pair of stylish jeans and a cute white top to go with it.
As 7:15 rolls around, Taylor pulls into the driveway and Gabriella gets in, busy already with what she was going to tell her friends. 'Taylor should know first,' she decides, turning her head towards her best friend.
"WHAT?!" exclaims Taylor. "You can't be serious!"
"Taylor, the road," Gabriella reminds her best friend as the car veers off the road, almost hitting the curb. "Just, take it in stride with me okay? It's going to be one of those attention and drama filled days, I can guarantee it, but I wanted to make sure you heard this from me, so you can help me rumor control. Most importantly though, I owed it to you to tell you first."
"Wow, Gabriella, I never even suspected. I should have though, as your best friend. You kept dropping me hints didn't you?" Taylor asks, switching between paying attention to the road and Gabriella.
"Guilty. I couldn't tell you outright but I was hoping you'd catch on," Gabriella confesses.
"You must think of me as a dense idiot by now! You sure you want to keep me on the scholastic decathlon team?" questions Taylor as they pull into the parking lot.
"Duh," Gabriella responds. "It wouldn't be nearly as much fun without my best friend there."
Taylor smiles at Gabriella as the two get out and walk towards East High. "You sure you are ready for this?" Taylor asks just outside the doors.
"Now or never," Gabriella responds. The two walk in and stop as all the noise in the hall stops at her appearance. "Or maybe not."
Taylor makes sure to stick close to Gabriella as they go to her locker, finding a copy of the magazine Hunter had hinted about waiting in her locker. Gabriella shakes her head and hands it to Taylor as she gets out her books for Calculus and Physics. She shuts her locker just as a younger girl comes up to her.
"Gabriella, I loved you in the musicale, you did awesome," she says.
"Thanks," Gabriella responds, relieved it wasn't what she expected.
The girl continues on though. "I also wanted to ask you something. If you and Hunter Smith are still dating, how is it possible for him to be gay?"
Gabriella gives her a confused look. "What do you mean? Hunter and I aren't dating," Gabriella straightens out. "He is gay, he has a boyfriend."
Not sure what to think, the girl holds up another tabloid that has pictures of Hunter giving Gabriella the bouquet of roses from Friday night. "Then what gives?"
"I honestly don't know but I can tell you straight from me that Hunter and I are not an item," Gabriella reassures the girl, puzzled by the conflicting stories.
Taylor follows Gabriella as she walks to Taylor's locker so she could get her own books out. "Is it me or is everyone super confused?" Taylor asks, pulling out her books and closing her locker.
"No kidding, if I didn't know the real story, I would be more than confused if I was into all this gossip," Gabriella says, looking up and down the hall to see everyone stare at her, some pitying, some envying, some just curious.
The two girls walk to Calculus and take their seats, finding students staring at them there as well. "I guess Hunter really did keep the news exclusive to that one magazine," Gabriella says, pointing to the cover of the magazine sitting on her desk. On the cover is a picture of Hunter Smith smiling at the camera with the news on the cover. There's a two-page layout inside talking about his experience with a picture of him and Liam, his boyfriend of over a year. "That would cause the confusion in the halls for sure."
A light bulb goes on in Taylor's mind. "I bet that's why people are giving you mixed looks! Some of them think you used Hunter for his status and blackmailed him about exposing his secret. I know that's ridiculous but I wouldn't run it by some of these low-energy thinkers, while others feel bad for you, maybe thinking you don't know?"
"Make sense," Gabriella agrees. "Seriously though, me blackmail Hunter? That is absolutely nuts!"
"Hollywood has seen much worse darling," Taylor says. "You going to be okay?"
Gabriella nods. "No worries here. I'm here to learn and to do that, I just have to shut out the external noise."
"There's my girl," Taylor says, patting Gabriella's hand before turning around as class starts.
It is the last period of the day and Troy is absolutely thrilled when Ms. Darbus gives them all a free period, a sign of her pleasure that the fall musicale went off so well. He finds the courage and goes over to Gabriella, who is talking with Kelsi in a corner of the room.
"Hey Gabriella," he greets.
She looks up at him warily. "Hi Troy," she returns. "Have a seat?"
Gratefully, he takes it and sees Kelsi get up at the same time. "I better let you guys talk," she says before going over to talk to Ryan a short distance away.
"Lots going on today about you. The musicale reviews, but also all these conflicting stories. You doing all right?"
Gabriella nods, smiling a little at his concern. "I'm doing all right. Great thing you pick up from acting is how to block out everyone else out to focus on your own thing," she answers.
"Good point. So, you can totally tell me to get lost, but I was wondering how long you've known about Hunter being gay?" he asks, forcing himself to ask before it ate him up.
"I knew that was coming," Gabriella says, looking back at Troy. "I've known for quite some time, back to the night of his launch party…"
"Listen Hunter," Gabriella starts, only to find Hunter placing a finger on her lips to stop her from going forward.
"Gabriella, I have something to tell you first," he says, a range of emotions in his eyes. "I'm telling you this because I don't want to see you get hurt and because I trust you quite a bit already."
"What is it? You're scaring me," she says, searching his face for a hint.
"Gabriella, I know I probably selfishly led you on a bit, thinking that I was into you and was interested in dating you. I did it because I wanted to find out more about you, to see if you were someone I could trust, and I found out I could. My tactics probably weren't the best but I needed to do it, I'm sorry," Hunter says.
"Hunter, you're rambling," Gabriella points out.
Hunter takes in a deep breath and smiles a little. "Guilty. Gabriella, what I'm trying to say is that, as much as I truly care for you and think you are an amazing woman, I can't date you."
"It's me, right?" Gabriella asks, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm not good enough for anyone it seems."
"No, you don't understand me. You are way better than anything I could hope for in a girl but, well, I don't date girls," Hunter blurts out, causing Gabriella to quickly wipe away a few tears that have escaped and look up at him. "I see that you understand me finally."
"You're gay?" she asks. "Really?"
Hunter nods his head. "I'd appreciate it if you kept it between us, I'm not quite ready for everyone to know; even my agent Johnny doesn't know. Neither do my parents. I have a boyfriend but we keep it very down low," he confesses. "I hope I haven't hurt you by any of this."
Gabriella shakes her head, tears gone and smiles at him. "I completely understand. You can't help who you are and who you love, I know that from experience. Sad thing is that I lost the love of my life because he thought I should explore this desire for me he thought you had."
"Guess that was partly my fault, sorry," he says, looking into her brown eyes. "I know I probably sent mixed signals, things that were planned but also not. I truly do admire you Gabriella. One of the few teenage girls around who is real, genuine, and very sweet. Innocent in many ways, which is refreshing as well."
Gabriella lets out a laugh. "Thank you, I think."
"When you get back tomorrow night, you going to call up good old Troy and let him know I'm no threat to him so you can get back together?" Hunter asks.
"I wish it was that easy Hunter," Gabriella confides. "He is adamant about me giving it a real try with you and won't consider taking me back if he doubts that I tried. Troy can be pretty stubborn and as much as I pleaded with him the day he broke up with me, he wouldn't accept anything less than his decision."
"Wow, sounds like a determined guy. I meant it though when I told you he was crazy for letting you go the other night. Troy really is certifiably nuts for letting you go like that. Are you sure then that he wouldn't take you back if you told him everything, even me being gay?" he asks, wanting to help Gabriella.
"No, I don't think he would. Besides, he has basketball on the brain again and I don't want to interfere with that with his possible scholarships on the line this year," Gabriella responds.
Hunter thinks for a few moments, wrapping his arm around Gabriella's shoulder and letting her rest her head on his shoulder in turn. After a little while, a plan forms in his head. "Gabriella, what if we made everyone think we were a couple?" he suggests.
"What?" Gabriella asks, picking her head up from his shoulder and looking at him. "What do you mean, make everyone think we are a couple?"
"Hear me out," he says, pleading for her to just listen. "You are sure that Troy won't take you back without him seeing you tried it with me or some other guy that's not him right? I have a problem myself which is more obvious here. Liam, my boyfriend, and I aren't ready for our relationship to be out in the news. We like our privacy, not to mention that Hollywood thinks I am a heterosexual heartthrob. What if we act like a couple for everyone? I'm not talking heavy making out sessions, just appearing together at events and at school? Holding hands, flirting, the light stuff. What do you think?"
"I don't know Hunter, this could seriously backfire," Gabriella returns, never being one for deceitful acts. "Plus, I'm not that great of an actress."
Hunter pulls a pout look. "You mean to tell me that now you know that I'm gay that you don't find me cute?"
Gabriella rolls her eyes at his expression. "Of course I do, but I don't think I can act like I'm in love with you. In truth, I didn't feel those sparks when we kissed like when I kiss Troy. I was going to actually tell you that I didn't think we were meant to date before you dropped your bombshell on me."
"Could be that you knew subconsciously," Hunter supplies. "So, what do you think? Think you could help me while I help you? I know it's a much bigger thing for you to act like my girlfriend to buy me and Liam some more time but I think I could help get you and Troy back together in some time as well."
Gabriella thinks for a moment and then slowly nods. "I think we can help each other, sure. So in essence, I'm going to be your beard right?"
Hunter sits back and stares at the girl next to him. "I'm impressed you know that term. Yes, you'll be my beard, my defense against any probing minds into my sexuality as well as my real relationship. You're positive you're in this 100%?"
"Yes, I am committing to you, here and now, I am in this for the long run. The way I figure it, I've lost Troy at this point so if I can help save another relationship by acting, it is the least I can do to maybe get some good karma back into my love life."
Hunter wraps Gabriella into a huge hug. "Thank you so much Gabriella, truly."
She pulls back and smiles at Hunter. "Hey, what are friends for? Of course, this is a little more than what I normally would do for my friends, but I think the cause is well worth it. I know how nervous you must be about the tabloids getting wind of your relationship and your sexuality. Hollywood, from what I have heard, is not the most forgiving place to be in. I promise I won't say a word of any of this to anyone to make sure it really isn't going to leak out too. If we're going to do this, I want to make sure everyone buys into it."
"Glad to have you onboard Ms. Montez. All right, ready to get going?" he asks, standing up and offering Gabriella his hand.
Gabriella places her hand in his and feels their fingers intertwine. "Guess there is no turning back from here," she says, getting up from the bench and following him inside.
Troy stares at Gabriella for a few moments, trying to absorb what Gabriella has told him of that conversation that started it all. "So you did all this for me, this pretending to date Hunter even though you knew he had a boyfriend?" Troy asks. "Why didn't you just tell me?"
Gabriella sighs, looking sadly at Troy. "I know you too well Troy. Had I gone to you the next day, as Hunter suggested, you would have still held me at arm's length away from you. You were so determined for some reason for us to have space. The thing that I want to make sure I bring up to you though is that after the kiss at the end of that duet, I knew he wasn't right, even before I knew Hunter was gay. As I told you on the day you ended things all those weeks ago, I have known for some time, especially since summer, that you are the one for me Troy."
"This is too much to take in Gabriella," Troy says, unable to just accept her story and not be hurt in some ways. "I have to wonder though, why did you keep telling me no, that we couldn't get back together if this is the truth of what was going on? You made it sound like you didn't want to break his heart."
"Think back to what I've told you Troy, each time we have had those conversations. I told you I had a commitment to him, which I did, and that life is not always what it seems, remember? I was trying to tell you, I was so careful with my words. It just wasn't my truth to tell," Gabriella says. "I couldn't tell you before Hunter was ready, I wouldn't ever dream of outing him to anyone without him being ready."
"So out of loyalty of your friendship, you let me remain miserable for weeks?"
"Troy, this isn't just about you and me. If it were, I would have been back in your arms the first time you started showing doubts about breaking up. I had a responsibility to Hunter to support him," Gabriella replies. "I had the opportunity one weekend to meet Liam and they were so cute together. I couldn't bring myself to settle on the suggestion of bailing on them before they were ready to come out for my own selfish reasons. I hope you can understand that."
Troy nods his head, not knowing what else to say. "I need some time to think about all this," he tells Gabriella, unable to look at her further.
"Troy…" Gabriella starts to say but stops as she slowly accepts the fact that Troy needed his space. She looks around and realizes the classroom is empty, even of Ms. Darbus. Gabriella looks up at the clock and sees that it was fifteen minutes after school let out. They were so deep into their conversation, they evidently missed everyone else leaving. "I guess there's nothing else I can say. I'll see you later," she says, whispering the last part as she grabs her bag and leaves Troy sitting at the desk by himself in the empty classroom.
"Hello?" Hunter says, answering his cell phone, seeing it is Gabriella. They had just taken a break from the scene they were filming for the movie for which he was grateful for now as he hears Gabriella's broken voice on the other line.
"Hunter…he…I don't think…we're not getting back together," Gabriella manages to get out. "Troy…he's upset…confused…can't blame him."
"Whoa, slow down Gabriella. You mean you told him everything and he's upset you didn't tell him earlier?" Hunter asks, unsure where the problem lay.
"Yes," she manages to reply, taking some deep breaths to calm herself down.
"Did he tell you that he doesn't want to get back together with you now in those exact words?" Hunter fishes.
"No," she says. "Just that he was confused and that he wasn't sure how he felt about everything. Hunter, I think I lost him for good this time."
"Gabriella, he's not stupid and he cares for you, a lot. The whole reason why I made the decision to come out this weekend was because I saw how happy you two were together, even when you were trying so hard to be just friends. People had to have been blind this weekend at the performances, at least Friday's, to not see the true, innocent love you share between the two of you. Just give him some time, he'll come around, I promise." Hunter hears Gabriella mumble something but only clearly hears the words Homecoming Dance. "Oh, that's this Friday isn't it?"
"Yup, and I'm planning on staying home," she replies. "I was saying that in a way, I'm glad I'm not going to the dance. With all the whispering and gossip going around, it would just be another chance for me to be the focus of the gossip mill there as well."
"That bad today at school huh?" Hunter asks, feeling guilty that he couldn't have been there to help her through it.
"Not terrible but there was mass confusion because you only gave that one exclusive lead to the one magazine. All the tabloids had pictures from the musicale night printed about us together. No one in East High besides our friends knows what end is up," Gabriella explains.
Hunter lets out a laugh. "Hey, you have to admit, it feels pretty good to dupe that bunch there," he says. "Seriously though, I think you should go to Homecoming. It's a waste for a lovely lady to sit at home on a Friday night."
"And go stag? I think not," Gabriella says. "I'd rather sit home and watch movies with my mom."
"As much as I love your mom, I am not letting you do that. Listen, I'll arrange it to go back to Albuquerque to make sure you go. How does that sound? Gabriella Montez, will you be my date for East High's Homecoming Dance?" he asks, waiting for a few moments for her response.
"If you really think you can come, then yes, I would love to be at the center of the gossip mill with you on Friday night. Pick me up at 7?"
"It's a date!" Hunter confirms, saying good-bye and hanging up the phone. 'Now, to get this entire plan in motion…' he thinks to himself before spotting the director of the movie and heading in his direction.