Chapter 1: Love Lost

Love is one of the world's greatest feelings. As a high school senior, I believed that I had experienced love quite a few times. It wasn't until I lost the person who meant the most to me that I truly knew what love was. Nothing could fill the hole that was left from losing Ryan. Not playing basketball, not singing, nothing. Gabriella has been one of my best friends since we met two years ago. Sharpay, since I fell in love with her brother. Knew Chad and Jason, since kindergarten. But they all knew that none of them could take away the pain and the hurt that I felt.

It all started last week. I had been higher than a kite that week because I knew that when Saturday finally came around I would have spent the last year being in love with the man of my dreams. Ryan and I started off on the wrong foot. Gabriella and I beat him and his sister out for the leads in the school musical. They in turn tried to sabotage us whenever they could. Eventually, they realized that we hadn't purposely intended to steal the leads and we all became friends. Ryan and I spent so much time together learning lines and blocking that we soon became great friends. We shared a number of secrets between us and he was the first person that I came out to. He was shocked at first. Who would have guessed that Troy Bolton, resident "Golden Boy", had a thing for the male anatomy? His response was that he felt the same way. It's no wonder we had such a great connection. From there our friendship blossomed into a relationship. And for the past year it has been the best thing in my life. Our relationship was in full swing the moment it began and had been bump-free for a year. Our friends were so very supportive of us and that meant the world to us, especially Ryan. It hurt me to think that someone would try to break us up in any way. That's why when news came that something happened to him, I was devastated.

Friday was the last time I saw Ryan. We had spent the day daydreaming about the other and not paying attention in our classes. In our science class, Ryan and I passed notes to each other. Sitting in between us was Kelsi and Taylor and they were less than happy to do it. But they had no choice because Ryan and I can be very pushy. It was great; the best way to describe our relationship was to say that we were at the peak of our honeymoon where everything was going perfectly. I wrote how much I loved him and he would write back how much he couldn't wait until Saturday. In no time at all our class was over and so was our day. I was hoping to drive Ryan home but by the time I got to my locker I saw Sharpay and Gabi hanging out. Over Gabi's shoulder I saw Ryan's bag and shot them a questioning look.

"He wanted to jog home." Sharpay said answering my glance.

"On a Friday?" I asked.

"He said something about strengthening his legs for a more grueling workout." Gabriella interjected raising her eyebrow.

I blushed a bright red and felt my ears burning. I couldn't help but smile innocently at the two girls. They in turn giggled uncontrollably.

"That was way too easy, Bolton. Right Gabi."

"Definitely, way too easy."

"Knock it off you two. I think I liked it better when you were fighting over me."

"Well then you wouldn't be having hot sex with my brother now would you?" Sharpay retorted, verbally kicking me in the balls.

"Wouldn't want to stop that now we would. Sliding my hands up and down his…"

"Eww."

"Okay, too much Troy. You win." Gabi yelled, declaring my verbal victory over the devilish duo.

"Anyway, I wanna go see if I can find Ryan. Maybe surprise him."

"Alright, by Troy Boy." Sharpay called leading Gabriella to her pink convertible.

I found my old pick up truck easily, in the empty parking lot. Jumped in, turned the truck on and jetted off to see my boyfriend. I followed the route he normally took but saw no sign of him. I glanced at the neon lit numbers to discover that it was almost 3:00. School gets out around 2. So I figured he must be close to if not at his house already. I took a shortcut to his house so that he wouldn't see my coming down the street from his bedroom window. Johnson, the security guard, ushered me into the estate. I parked near the tennis courts and walked the few yards to the door. This way it would be an utter surprise for him. I walked to the door and Inga opened the door. I told her to keep quiet and not to let Ryan know I was here.

She glanced at me questioningly, "Master Ryan has not come home yet sir."

"Really, did he say he was going somewhere after school."

"No, sir. We have no notice of any change to Master Ryan's schedule. Perhaps he rode with Mistress Sharpay."

"Perhaps." I said trying not to get anyone upset, but clearly knowing that he hadn't. I thanked her kindly and left to return to my truck. Once again turning the engine over and driving away. As I approached the gates to leave I saw Sharpay entering the estate.

She called out, "Hey, done already?"

"He's not here." I said with a mix of anger and worry in my voice.

"What do you mean he's not here?" She cried, clearly noticing the worry.

"He's not here, hasn't been here and I am worried sick. Ryan follows his schedule to the letter. He wouldn't just run off. I'm gonna go look." I said driving off, not patient enough to wait for a response. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw Sharpay pull a tight U-turn to search for Ryan too. I followed the familiar route back toward the school. Sharpay took a different turn, maybe knowing of another route that Ryan would take. I followed the route for another ten minutes when my heart dropped. I pulled my phone from my pocket, shaking horribly. I punched Sharpay's number into the phone and waited for her answer.

"Anything?" Gabriella answered.

"Come to the corner of Winter and Spruce."

"Why?"

"Gabi just tell her to get here." I said slamming my phone shut.

I saw the pink convertible whizz into sight. Sharpay stopped dead just like I had. The police lights were flashing. And inside I was breaking. Sharpay and Gabi both let out screams. It was the worst day of my life.