Everybody knew that Troy was cheating on Gabriella, even her.
He would miss dates and go missing in class for some periods. Most people knew who he would be with beside the occasional cheerleader. Sharpay Evans.
They acted like they hated each other every day but kids had seen them sneak a kiss hear and there. But still with the constant rumors Gabriella ignored them and try to fake a smile every day and act like the perfect girl friend.
After this had gone on for some time Gabriella was breaking down.
She couldn't handle this anymore, the constant rumors the endless whispers were becoming to much for her.
Almost every day she would skip one or two classes, most during free period or science, and hide out in the drama room and just want to be alone.
" Why do I let myself be treated this way?" she said quietly.
" Because your afraid that you don't know what to do with yourself when he's gone."
She turned around in shock hearing another voice.
She turned to see Ryan Evans, brother and sidekick of Sharpey Evans, sitting in the corner of the stage.
" What are you doing here?" Gabriella feeling embarrassed to have been overheard.
" I work here during free period, fixing up the costumes and sets"
" How much have you heard?"
" Not much" Ryan said a little embarrassed that he had been eavesdropping, " just this last part and then sometimes a few sobs, I try not to listen"
By this time Gabriella's face had gone bright red knowing that she had been heard.
" Don't worried I haven't told any one about you being here and I promise I won't."
Ryan paused for a bit to see Gabriella wipe away her tears, this was the most they had spoken since she had started going to East High, she had always been nice to him though, not like the other kids who would usually make fun of him because of the way he dressed and always followed his sister everywhere.
" I better go and leave you alone" Ryan finally said.
"No! Please don't" Gabriella suddenly said when Ryan was walking away.
" Can you please stay with me a little, I could really use the company." Ryan, a little bit shocked by the invite pulled up two chairs side by side and helped Gabriella from the stage floor onto a chair.
" Thank you" She said as he gave her a glass of water
" Are here because of Troy?" Ryan asked with Sympathy in his voice and a twinkle in his eyes.
" Well yes and because of me" She said and looked down.
" Wait why you?"
"Because I am letting all this happen to me instead of just telling Troy I know that he is cheating on me and just break up with him. Instead I have to act every day like I don't know what is going on, fake a smile but get teard up on the inside."
By this time tears starting to well up in her eyes again.
Ryan sigh sadly.
" I know its hard for you, what you are doing every day takes allot out of you, I get that. But you have to understand that no girl should let somebody treat her that way. You deserve someone way better than Troy and I hope you get that very soon."
"I know!" Gabriella burst into tears. Ryan put his arms around her and she came closer to him and stayed like that sobbing until the bell rang.
" Thank you for all the advise and help, I am glad you said something today" Gabriella said as she hugged him good bye.
"It was no problem, just promise me that you won't let this go on for much longer"
" I won't" She said and they both went their separate ways into their own groups.

" Are you ok?" Troy asked when his girlfriend came to sit at their lunch table. " You didn't come to free period".
" Ohh I had to run home to get my report for Spanish" Gabriella said as she put her try down to sit next to her oh so hot jock boyfriend.
As Gabriella sat down she looked over to see Ryan sitting with his sister which was not out of the ordinary but what was, was that Ryan was looking at her.
She smiled and gave him a little wave and Ryan did the same.
" Wait why did I just do that?" She though to herself.
" Do I like Ryan?" She quickly shook it off and talked to the people on her table. Chad, Taylor, Zeke and Jason.
The only person she could acually talk to was Taylor. Taylor was always nice to her but hadn't been really noticing her pain because she was a bit to caught up in her studies.
Every now and again Gabriella would look at Ryan to find that he was looking back at her, she would quickly look away, smile and blush.

This went for nearly a month.
Ryan and Gabriella would meet sometimes in the drama club and talk about things that were happening in their life's.
Ryan told her how he hated to always be in Sharpay's shadow and how she would boss him around, send him out of the house a number of times and always make him do her homework because she was going out.
Gabriella was sure that it was because of Troy that Ryan was sent out of the house for. She didn't want to say anything but knew that Ryan knew that too and he did.
After their meeting they would continue with their regular life's.

One morning when Gabriella was having a particularly bad day after Troy had stood her up yet again she went down the stairs to see her mom holding a whole bunch of flowers and reading the card on them.
" Wow mom who are they from?" Gabriella asked still waking up.
" I don't know but they're for you!"
Gabriella ran down the stairs to read the card.
" To the fairest of them all, hope this will help melt all your troubles away. Love XXXX your secret admire"
Gabriella now wide awake read the card over and over, she was now wide awake.
" Do you know who they are from?" her mom asked.
" I have an idea" Gabriella said as she gave her mom a quick kiss, placed the flowers on a table and headed out for the school bus.
" Is probably Troy saying sorry for last night, and it fits 4 ex's as in Troy"
She thought to herself as she climbed into the school bus.
Troy didn't take the bus to school so she usually ended up sitting alone or next to Taylor, but she was out sick today.
The bus stopped and in came the most unlikely person to walk into the school bus. Ryan!
He is the type of person who drives to school.
He sat down next to Gabriella who was still surprised.
" How come you are taking the bus?" She asked
" Sharpay drove off without me, I guess I got her mad over something I said or did"
" What could you possibly have done?" Gabriella asked feeling suddenly her hand touch his, she jumped a little but felt very relaxed as they touched again.
Ryan blushed, " I just asked her where she had been last night, she said it was non of my business and we got into a little fight."
"Awww that's horrible, if you need a ride home today my mom is picking me up."
A smile covered Ryan's face
" that be great thanks. Your in an awfully good mood this morning, what happened?"
" I got some flowers today from a secret admirer and it just made my day" Gabriella said picturing the flowers in her head.
" Really that's great" Ryan said with a cheeky grin
" do you have any idea who they are from?"
" I think they are from Troy, it said on the card 4 x's and his name has 4 letters, so I am thinking he is saying sorry for missing our date last night. Who knows maybe things are getting better"
Ryan's smile faded.
" Are you ok?" Gabriella asked when she saw Ryan's face.
" The thing is that.. " he said but was cut of by Gabriella
" we're here, I am going to run and find Troy before class starts"
Ryan looked sad and started to walk out.
" Oh and Ryan, I'll see you later ok?" She said and ran off.
Ryan strolled off thinking he should've told her.

"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you" Gabriella shouted as she hugged her wonderful boyfriend and gave him a big romantic kiss.
" Wow.. To which do I own this honor!" Troy said after breaking away from Gabby.
" Thank you so much for the flowers and don't worrie I am not mad at you about last night"
Troy looked a little puzzled,
" aww I am glad you liked them, I just felt so bad about last night, my dad made me do a few runs because I missed practice"
Gabriella just smiled loving her boyfriend as he pulled her into another romantic kiss pushing her up against his locker.
She was so happy and thinking that maybe he was seeing how badly he treated her and wanted to start over.
Ryan Evans on the other hand knew that Troy wansent like that,
he didn't want just one girl, he knew he wasn't at practice yesterday and he knew that he didn't send her those flowers.
He just hoped that Gabriella wouldn't have to find out all of those things the hard way.

A few months past by and Gabriella felt that everything was getting better.
She felt as if Troy was spending more time with her and that all was well in the world.
She didn't skip classes any more but would still talk to Ryan, not as much as she would like to but
"Wait do I want to spend time with Ryan?" she thought.
Troy's birthday was coming up and she didn't want to think Ryan.
She only wanted to focus on Troy's present.
" Hey wait up"
Gabriella heard as she was walking down the halls to meet up with Troy after practice so she was pretty much alone in the halls.
Gabriella turned around to see a figure running after her. As the figure came closer she could make out that it was Ryan.
" Hey what are you doing here still" she asked as he made a stop next to her.
" I really need to talk to you about Troy" Ryan said almost out of breath.
" He's really changed Ryan, isn't that great?"
"Gabby I don't think you should trust him, I... I don't think he has changed"
"WHAT! Why would you say such a thing" Gabriella said taking a step back.
"Please just trust me on this Gabriella, I don't want to see you get hurt, he.. he is still cheating on you"
" Why should I listen to you, you don't know nothing about Troy, you just want us to break up so you can have him you big homo. Stay away from me"
and with that Gabriella ran down the halls as Ryan watched after her in shock at what she had said. But instead of running after her he just slowly turned away and went home.
Gabriella went to wait out side the gym.
She sat down and started crying.
"Why should I believe anything Ryan says, he's just jealous"
she thought, she felt bad though about being so mad at him he was just trying to help
" well he should've kept his mouth shut and just be happy for me"
Gabriella stood up and wiped her tears away as the door opened and wild wildcat came running and screaming out the door.
"What team, WILDCATS, What team, Wildcats, What team, Wildcats, Wildcats get your head in the game"
She heard Chad yell out followed by Troy coming out of the door. Troy quickly saw Gabriella, taking her into his arms and swinging her around before giving her a loving kiss.
" Happy Birthday Boyfriend"
Gabriella said softly as Troy put her down and took her hand.
" Thanks babe" he said and pulling her hand up to kiss it softly.
" So what are you doing tonight" Gabriella said giving him a little wink.
"Oh Damn, I completely forgot about that!" Troy said slamming his hand onto his forehead
" My parents are taking me out for dinner, family night."
"Ohh" Gabriella said looking down.
" I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow night, we can have diner at our favorite little Italian pizza and then have a walk in the park"
" I'd love that" Gabriella said lifting her face up now with a big smile.
"I have to take a shower now babe, I'll call you tonight ok" Troy said and gave Gabby a quick kiss on the lips.
"Love you" Gabriella shouted as Troy ran to catch up with his friends.
" Love you too" He shouted back and with that Gabriella went home to rap his birthday present.
She had gotten him a crystal ball with their prom picture inside and if he pushed play " Start of something new" would start playing.

"I'm going out tonight Ryan don't wait up"
Sharpay yelled as she was leaving.
"Where are you going?"
Ryan asked as he ran down the stairs to catch up with his sister
" You have been going out for the last 2 weeks every night"
" That is non of your business Ryan!" Sharpay snapped "
Mom and Dad are out on a business trip for the next 2 weeks and unlike you I have a life"
"Fine"
Ryan said and rolled his eyes and headed back upstairs and
slammed his doors just as Sharpay slammed the front door.

"Mom, I'm going out I might be late so don't wait up for me" Gabriella yelled from downstairs as she went outside.
" Wait hunny" she heard her mom call,
" I am going to work tonight so I wont be back till morning"
Gabriella nodded and kissed her mom on the cheek before running out.
She had just called Mr. Bolton to see if they had already left, he said that they were just leaving but he'd leave the door unlocked so she could leave the present for Troy there.
She made her way over to his house it was such a nice night she didn't bother getting a coat and just wore some sandals.
She made her way to his door steps and just like Mr. Bolton said the door was unlocked.
She put her keys on the table and headed to Troy's room. There was somebody in there.
She opened the door slowly.
The crystal ball with their picture fell to the ground and scattered all around her feet.
There were two loud screams , it was Sharpay's and Troy's.
"What the hell?" Troy said and he turned around to see Gabriella's face tears running down her cheeks.
"Oh my god" Sharpay said and quickly covered her naked body with Troy's sheet.
"Troy how..."
Gabriella whispered just high enough for Troy to catch it before she ran crying out the door forgetting her keys.
She ran as fast as she could,
her head was spinning so fast that Gabriella didn't know where she would go.
Her feet finally took her to the school were she knew she would be the only one there,
nobody was there on a Saturday just the school guard and the janitor.
Gabriella managed to sneak past those too and into the auditorium where she sat at her usual space knowing she could not go home because that would be the first place that Troy would look for her.
" Why oh why did I think he changed, he has been sleeping with...! I can't even say it"
She kept mumbling to her self between sobs.
"With Sharpay" She heard another voice behind her.
"Ryan what are you doing here, its Saturday"
Ryan came out from behind the curtains.
" Well Sharpay was going out and I figured I finish up some work around here"
When Gabriella heard Sharpays name she broke out a new set of tears.
"Ohh damn I'm sorry I didn't mean to.."
"It's ok" Gabriella said trying to wipe away tears.
"Why are you even talking to me? I was so horrible to you and said mean things that you don't deserve and all you were trying to do was protect me from Troy"
" People all make mistakes"
Ryan said and sat down next to Gabriella up against the wall
" You heard something you didn't want to believe and were mad, but now you believe me"
" Yes I do. Thank you so much Ryan"
She threw her arms around Ryan's neck hugging him for a little while before looking into his beautiful blue eyes, they gently moved closer to each other, they could feel each other breaths before their lips touching.
They were both very surprised but neither of them backed away. Ryan depend the kiss and Gabriella did not refuse. They finally had to come out for air. Ryan placed a few kisses down her neck. She pulled his head up and kissed him softly before laying on his shoulder.
"Do you want go get a coffee and try and forget about life"
Ryan asked before kissed the top of her head.
"Do you mind if we do it tomorrow, I don't want to go out right now, just head home"
"No problem" Ryan said and gave her a peck on the cheek.
Gabriella stood up and started to look for her keys.
" Damn I must've left them at Troy's place, I can't go back there and nobody is home."
"Uhhmm... you can stay at my place if you want to, nobody is home"
"I'd like that" Gabriella said and blushed"
Ryan stood up and lead her to his car.
" Are you sure it's ok if I stay the night" Gabriella asked as the car started.
" I am positive, but if you want I can get your keys"
" How are you going to do that, I don't want you to get involved"
"Hey Sharpay's my sister, that means I already am"
Gabriella gave him a little nod before reaching over and gave him a kiss.