Disclaimer: I do not own the High Musical franchise.


It all started with a stupid basketball game.

Now Troy was watching his Gabi flirt with other guys all because of that stupid game.

-Flashback-

It was a hot day in August when Troy and the boys decided that they had enough of summer vacation. Throughout the whole summer, the boys didn't even step onto a basketball court because of the scorching heat. So they decided to call up their girls and invite them to a picnic in the park. At the park, everyone had their fair share of food when the boys said they wanted to play some ball. Normally the girls would sit out and watch, but today they decided to join in the fun. At first Chad rejected the idea until Troy came up with the idea of boys vs. girls. It was the girls' turn to reject now and they came up with the idea of Couples vs. Couples. Troy, Gabriella, Jason, and Kelsi would make up Team Super Awesome, while Chad, Taylor, Sharpay, and Zeke would make up Team Fabulous. Team Super Awesome with Troy and Jason leading the team with 10 points each dominated the first quarter of the game. Then Team Fabulous made a remarkable comeback and took the lead of the game from Team Super Awesome. The score was now 21-15 at halftime. During the team huddle, Gabriella, Kelsi, Taylor, and Sharpay told the boys to share the ball since the girls never touched the ball the whole time they were playing. The boys nodded hesitantly. So the third quarter began and passes to girls started. The girls dropped the ball and threw the ball to the wrong team many times. The boys were frustrated and instantly regretted letting the girls play. It was the fourth quarter now and 30 seconds were left. Both teams were tied 30-30. The possession of the ball belonged to Team Super Awesome. Troy was driving into the lane when he saw that Zeke and Chad were preparing to double-team him, he took a quick side-glance and saw that Gabriella was open. He passed the ball to her and she finally caught it after about what seemed like 20 tries. He mouth the words 'shoot the ball' to her, but she wasn't looking at him. She tried to pass it to Jason, but the pass was short and Chad caught it. 10 seconds left...Chad threw the ball to Zeke who was standing inside the key waiting for the ball to come. Zeke did a slam dunk at the exact moment the timer rang ending the game. Everyone knows for a fact that Troy hated losing. Unfortunately Gabriella didn't know of a such thing when she walked over to Troy.

"Troy! Wasn't that a fun game?" Gabriella said with a huge smile.

"No Gabi," Troy said slowly and angrily. "This wasn't a fun game, we lost all because of your stupid pass. Gosh maybe you should've looked my way when I was mouthing 'shoot the ball'. We would've won!"

"Uh...Gabi lets go to the ladies room to freshen up, we don't wanna smell bad for the party at my house today," Sharpay said in a hurry, while trying to grab Gabi's hand to lead her to the restroom. "C'mon, don't want the smell to spread!"

"Wait Sharpay," Gabi said. "Troy, why are you mad that we lost? It was fair and yes I know I made that pass, but haven't you done something stupid that cost you a game?"

The gang knew Gabi had gone to far...Troy was pissed at her before, but now he was looking at her as if she were the enemy.

"I don't like to lose...I'm East High's basketball captain. Losing today or any other day is unacceptable. We could've won if you didn't have to be so stupid."

Gabi looked at Troy with disgust and hurt in her eyes.

"Troy, just calm down before you say anything you regret."

"No, don't you get it? Winning is the most important thing to me. I can't lose; I don't care who I hurt to win. It's just a part of me."

The gang glared at Troy. They never heard such a thing from Troy. Gabi was in tears now and stared at him with disbelief. This wasn't the guy she came to know and love. This wasn't her loving and caring boyfriend. This was a new person.

"Well I guess you lost twice today." Gabi said bitterly.

"What?"

"It's over, Troy. You lost the game and you lost me. I don't wanna be with someone who is so selfish and doesn't care who he hurts. You disgust me, I always thought you were different from those other jocks. I guess you showed your true colors today." Gabi said with anger in her voice. She then took off the necklace Troy gave her at the beginning of the summer and handed it back to him. Troy's expression was blank and his eyes showed his sadness.

"Gabi, c'mon...we can work this out, I love you and you love me, remember?"

"No, I loved you." With that, Gabi walked away leaving Troy and the gang speechless.

-End of Flashback-

He lost her for good. It was over. Troy walked over to the bar at the Evans house and asked for a beer. Well, his fourth beer in the last thirty minutes.

"Troy, you got to stop drinking," Chad said with a worried expression. "This is not good for you, I know it's been a rough day, but using alcohol to put away your sadness is ridiculous."

"Shut up Chad! I'll do whatever I want. It's my life and if I want another beer, then I'll have one."

Chad walked away shaking his head and the bartender handed Troy another beer when he heard Gabi's giggle. It killed him to see her with another guy, so he drowned himself with his beer. Somewhere in the middle of the night, Troy passed out of drunkenness. The next day he woke up with a killer hangover and nearly beat the crap out of Ryan Evans when he found out that him and Gabi were dating after the party.

Six months later, Ryan and Gabi were still going strong. Troy and Gabi didn't speak to each other after their breakup. Troy always told himself that he would talk to her, but he never found the courage to do so. After winter break, he found out that Gabi was graduating early to attend Yale. Three days before she was due to leave, he decided he needed to talk to her before she was gone.

"Gabriella, can we talk?" Troy asks nervously.

"Uh...sure."

"Look, Gabi, I know we are way past over, but I was wondering..." She cuts me off before I finish.

"Troy...I don't want to hear it. There's no chance of us getting back together. You had your chance and you never took it. I'm happy with my life right now. Ryan is the love of my life and I plan to spend the rest of my life with him. I'm sorry."

"Okay, but will you tell me one thing?"

"What?"

"Do you still love me?" I ask nervously.

I saw her squirm a little bit before she answered, but after a moment she smiled brightly.

"Troy. I will always love you, it might not be in the way you love me, but remember that I will always love you no matter what. You were my first love, I'll never forget you and I'll never forget the good times we've had, but I've moved on. There will always be a place in my heart for you though."

"Would be okay if we become friends then?"

"I think that would be a great idea." She said with a smile.

"So, I guess this is goodbye."

"Yeah...I'll miss you Troy." Gabi comes over and gives me a hug.

"I'll miss you too Gabi and remember to have fun." She giggles and hits me on the shoulder.

We exchange our farewells and I head to Chad's house.

I will always love her in a different way she loves me. I'll never get over her, as immature as that might seem. Even if it hurts me to see her with another person, I know I'm doing what's right by not interfering. When you love someone, you'll set him or her free and let them be happy no matter how hard it is to let go.