He loved everything about her. How her nose twitched when she sensed something was wrong. How she could make a situation so funny in the worst of times. He liked her dark brown curly hair that only went down to right below her neck. He loved her sapphire blue eyes that tinkled in the nighttime. He could make the list go on forever but unfortunately there was one thing he hated about her. It was the fact that she was completely unavailable and he didn't stand a chance.

"Troy, what's up?" Gabriella asked as she placed her lunch tray down next to his.

"Nothing much." He answered looking down at his sloppy Joe.

"Are you tired are something?" She asked.

"Nope, it's the complete opposite." He mumbled hoping she hadn't heard him.

"What did you say?" She asked confused.

"Nothing that concerns you." He said finally looking up.

"Was that a joke Troy Bolton?" She asked confused again.

"What you don't like my since of humor?" He asked laughing silently to himself.

"Are you laughing at me?" She asked not amused.

"Maybe I am maybe I am not." Troy said thinking the answer was satisfying enough.

"Well I hope not. Cause no one laughs at my girl." A boy with light brown scruffy hair said as he placed his tray next to Gabriella's.

"He wasn't Chase I swear. Cause if he did he be knocked out cold." Gabriella said laughing.

"Really cause that's a sight I'd like to see." Taylor said as she and Chad walked over and sat down. Pretty soon everyone was laughing expect Troy.

"Listen you guys I'd really love to stay and have this chat about me getting beat up by girl but I have somewhere to go." He said leaving the table and not once turning back.

The way he said girl made Gabriella feel as if she were powerless let alone girls were just toys boys played with when they got bored.

"So Gabriella do you and Chase want to go on a double date with Chad and me?" Taylor asked seeing the hurt look on Gabriella's face.

"Sure sounds good to me. Is Friday okay with you babe?" She asked Chase as wrapped his muscular arms around Gabriella.

"Friday is great. At least a hope so?" He said unsure of the statement he had just announced.

"Is it good or not man?" Chad asked.

"No I can't go my mom and me are going to Nantucket to see my Dad." He said with some disappointment but more relief.

"Is everything okay? I went over to your house and I saw your Dad there he seemed fine." Gabriella said questionably.

"Did I say my dad I meant my grandfather?" He said sighing a heavenly sigh.

"I thought he leaved in New Jersey." Gabriella said not sure of why he was lying to her.

"On my mom's side." He said reassuring her.

"Dude, it was almost like you were cheating on her. But you're an honest dude so she trust you." Chad said.

Chase laughed nervously then left the table to make a phone call.

"I wonder what that was all about?" Gabriella thought as she finished her lunch. She glanced at her watch a third time then she realized that she should go find out what Chase is really up too. She left the table and searched everywhere for him. The pool, courtyard, basketball court, library, she had almost given up when she heard the cheesy laugh of his. She turned around the corner and sighed when she realized he hadn't lied to her but was on the phone. Although the phone call didn't seem as important to her she decided to listen in and see why he had be gone so long.

"Hey Vivian. Are we still on for Friday?" He said in a flirtatious voice. Gabriella thought he was probably just joking around. He did that often.

"Listen Babe, I'll bring my stuff and you bring that swimsuit of yours. I don't think you'll did it though." He said.

Gabriella stopped listening she didn't want to hear anymore. She didn't believe that he was cheating on her it was just that the only person she knew that was named Vivian was the head cheerleader at West High. The odd thing was Chase had always said that was his sister.

Gabriella went to her locker grabbed her books and went straight down the hall for history with Mrs. Anderson. She walked in the classroom and chose a seat in the middle with two seats on each side. One of the seats was for Chase and the other one was for Taylor. Taylor walked in shortly after and sat down in the seat Gabriella had chosen. Chase came in to the classroom late as usual but instead of sitting next to Gabriella he sat down next to Sharpay and Troy sat down next to Gabriella. While Mrs, Anderson was explaining the different ways of English grammar around the country Gabriella deicide to pass a note to Chase.

Chase,

Why didn't you sit down next to me babe?

What was that phone call with Vivian all about?

Xoxo

Gabby

She passed the note to Taylor who passed it to Sharpay who passed it to Chase. Gabriella watched him read it and smile as he tossed into his notebook. Before class was over she had received two notes one from Chase and the other was marked anonymous. The one from Chase read:

Gabby,

Don't worry people expect me to sit the back?

Besides I told I am joker I do say crazy things like that.

Chase

The second one read in a messy cursive there was a signature but the handwriting was smudged.

Gabriella,

Don't listen to him he's full of garbage.

His lies are extremely cheesy and make no sense.

Come to the pier at 7'00 on Friday night to see who her really is.

The second note was a little spookier but Gabriella did want to know why Chase had almost always canceled their dates. It was like he was seeing someone else. Gabriella chose not to believe that she knew he loved her more then anything. Sometimes it wasn't as obvious. She had decided to meet this mystery person on Friday night she wanted her what he/she had to say. It would be different if it were one of her friends or family members. Somehow, the idea of an outside person from outside your social group made Gabriella suspicious on the thoughts of their relationship. Gabriella walked out of East High and begun walking towards the bus stop when she heard somebody call her name.

"Gabriella, wait up." Troy called running through a crowd of many teenagers all trying to leave the school.

"What's up come to tell me what a girl can't do?" She said still mad at the comment he made earlier.

"Uh? Oh Gabby I am sorry about that. I have something to tell you about Chase." He blurted out.

"Can it wait I am going to miss my bus." She said trying to break away.

"I can drive we live practically a block away." He said as he pointed to a black BMW parked in front of the school.

"I guess." She said as they walked towards the car. Troy helped her in and in no time they were on the highway driving.

"What did you want to tell me about Chase?" She asked curiously.

"It's more about what he's been doing to you." Troy said as pulled the car over.

"What are you talking about everything is fine?" Gabriella said nervously.

"No it isn't and Gabriella you may not know this but he's going to hurt you?" Troy said at last.

"What do mean?" She said tears know falling down her checks.

He put his arm around her and finally said everything Gabriella had hoped anyone would never say.

"Gabby, Chase is a good guy or a least he seemed that way. Chase first of all that isn't his real name. He doesn't leave in Albuquerque. He isn't seventeen. You've probably guessed this but Vivian isn't his sister." He said pausing to look a Gabriella. She looked like she was trying to pull back the pain but couldn't because somehow she knew everything he was about too say was true.

"Gabriella he changed his name. He is from Michigan and he is twenty-three. Vivian is his finance not his sister. He was only using you to make Vivian jealous before the wedding. Which is his eighth by the way."

"How do you know all this?" She asked not wanting to hear the answer.

"How do I know all of this because his last name is Stewart?"

"What does the name Stewart have to with anything?" Gabriella asked slightly confused.

"My cousin's name is Andrew Stewart." He finished.

"That's impossible Troy a lot people have the last name Stewart." Gabriella said defending Chase or Andrew.

"A lot people don't" Troy didn't finish is sentence and instead he handed Gabriella a sheet of paper that contained some type of illegal document.

"Do you believe me know?" Troy asked staring into her sapphire blue eyes.

"Thanks Troy. Thanks for caring." She cried as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him until what seemed like the end of the world.