A/N: For those wondering, I just want to explain that this will be Troyella, but not in the way you're probably thinking. I want this to be somewhat different from all the other Troyella fics out there.
Chapter 1
"I did it."
Sharpay turned to glare at Gabriella, then went back to her makeup. "Yes, we know. Do you have to rub it in?"
"B-but…" Gabriella trailed off, a confused expression on her face. She, Sharpay, Kelsi, and Taylor were sitting in the auditorium. Rehearsal for the fall musical was in full swing, and Gabriella had once again snagged the lead. Troy, however, chose in the beginning of the year to focus more on basketball and his studies, so her co-star was Ryan instead. Sharpay, rather than being stuck with the understudy role again, tried out for the major supporting role just in case, so she was now the Rizzo to Gabriella's Sandy.
Literally. The play this semester was "Grease."
They'd just finished rehearsal for the day. Taylor was there to go with Gabriella to the meeting of the science club, and Kelsi had decided to try being on stage this year. She was only one of the minor Pink Ladies, but it was a start.
Gabriella snapped out of her reverie when Taylor snapped, "Do you even know what Gabby's talking about, Sharpay?"
"Of course I do," Sharpay huffed. "She's bragging about that high note she hit at the end of 'Summer Nights.' Which in my opinion was a little…shrill. I think the kids upstairs in detention could hear…I'd watch my back if I were you."
Rolling her eyes, Kelsi remarked, "I don't think that's what she was talking about. Let the girl finish, will you?"
"Thanks, Kels," Gabriella replied. "Like I said, I did it. I…I broke up with Troy. On Saturday, after his practice. I just wanted to let you know before it got around school. Well…see you."
Before she could take another step, Kelsi put a hand on her shoulder. "Wait…what? But you and Troy were so cute together!"
"Not as cute as me and Michael," Sharpay sniffed, referring to her current boyfriend, "But very cute. It is a shame. I didn't even know you two were having problems."
Glancing at Taylor, who was avoiding eye contact, Gabriella explained, "Well, we weren't really. We love each other and everything, but our schedules were just too hectic to have a relationship right now. I told him it wasn't working and…he agreed."
"You dumped him?" Sharpay shrieked, seemingly taking no heed that everyone else in the auditorium turned to stare at her.
Taylor groaned, then jumped in for her speechless friend. "Girl, are you deaf? They were too busy to have a relationship. The fact that she just happened to say 'it's over' first makes no difference."
"Hello? What teen magazines have you been reading?" Sharpay snapped. "You don't dump a great guy just because you're 'busy.'"
Crossing her arms in anger, Kelsi retorted, "What should have Gabby done, if you're such an expert?"
Sharpay was quiet for a second, then answered, "Make time for him, duh! Push around your schedule, maybe quit an activity…"
"Like the play? So you can swoop in and take the lead?" Taylor smirked. When Sharpay feigned surprise, she said, "Oh, please, you're so obvious. I heard you swindling Darbus in homeroom the other day, letting you reserve the Sandy understudy spot."
Gaping at Taylor, Sharpay exclaimed, "How could I do that? I'm playing Rizzo…"
"You'd let your understudy take that part in a heartbeat," Taylor interrupted.
Sharpay opened her mouth to protest, then noticed Gabriella trying to sneak out the door. "Hey, get back here, I'm not done with you yet!"
"Leave her alone," Kelsi pleaded when Gabriella stopped and turned around. "Her relationship did end, and it doesn't matter whether she was the one to end it or not, it still hurts."
Sighing, Gabriella said with sarcasm in her tone, "Gee, thanks for making a big deal out of this, guys. It's not like I feel extremely guilty about it already."
"Well you should! I still think you were too quick to dump someone who's been so good to you," Sharpay seethed.
Taylor narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "Give it a rest. A couple can't survive on one measly date a week."
"She could've made it work…"
"She, she, she! It doesn't sound like Troy put up too much of a fight!"
"That's 'cause he's too much of a gentleman!"
"You're just taking his side because you used to like him! I bet the second he wants to date again you'll be leaving notes in his locker!"
"You know what, maybe I will!"
"I wouldn't be surprised!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I think you know!"
"No, I don't!"
I have to get out of here, Gabriella thought as she watched Taylor and Sharpay argue back and forth. She made eye contact with Kelsi, who gave a helpless shrug. The two escaped through the auditorium doors, leaving their friends arguing.
"I'm so sorry about them, Gabby," Kelsi apologized, putting an arm around a shaking Gabriella. "They mean well, at least Taylor does. They just got a little carried away."
"I know, thanks. I've got to get to science club. See you tomorrow, Kelsi," Gabriella called as she hurried down the hallway.
Retying his sneakers, Troy tried to prepare himself for the last half-hour of practice. The last place he wanted to be was in the gym, listening to Chad ramble on about plays, but that was where he found himself that Monday afternoon. He didn't want to be there. He'd wanted to run right home, sulk, brood, and hurl a basketball at the backboard of the hoop in his yard until it fell clear off.
Instead he was chugging down a bottle of water and dreading when his dad, well, "coach" would yell at him next to focus on the game. Troy hadn't even bothered to tell his father that he'd just broken up with Gabriella. He wouldn't care, and besides, Troy really didn't want to let down the team.
"…so, what do you think? Troy? Troy? Troy?"
When Chad snapped his fingers in front of his face, Troy blinked several times. "W-hat?"
"Did you just hear a word I said?" Chad asked with an aggravated shake of his head. "I swear, you pay more attention to Gabriella when she's talking about…science."
Troy didn't attempt to conceal his frustration. "I'm sorry. I'll pay attention to your next rant."
"Dude, what's with you? You've been spacing out all day," Chad demanded, blocking Troy, who was making a beeline for the court.
Struggling to get around him, Troy snapped, "I don't feel like talking about it, okay? Let it go."
"Hey, I don't care. Every guy's got a rite not to tell stuff," Chad retorted. When Troy was about to sidestep him, he doubled his blocking efforts. "But if you're like this at the next game, we're gonna lose."
Troy glared at him. "Whatever, move out…" He paused when something he saw out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention. Ryan was running towards them.
What the… Troy thought in confusion. Even after the whole musical incident last year, he and Chad weren't really friends with this particular Evans twin. Come to think of it, they haven't been talking to Sharpay that much either.
So there was no reason Troy could think of that would explain why Ryan was in such a hurry that he nearly crashed into Chad when he skidded to a halt.
"What's up, drama dork?" Chad greeted, clearly annoyed at almost being knocked over.
Handing Ryan his hat that had fallen off, Troy added, "Yeah, what's going on?"
"Sharpay and Taylor are having a huge fight!" Ryan exclaimed. "Rehearsal was over a few minutes ago, and they just started hurling insults at each other!"
Troy raised an eyebrow. "And we care about this…why?"
"Because the fight was about you! And how Gabriella broke up with you. Which I'm really sorry to hear about, man," Ryan added quickly, softening his excited tone.
Narrowing his eyes at Troy, Chad said, "Gabby broke up with you? Dude, why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't want to," Troy retorted. "It's none of anybody's business. And she didn't 'break up with me.' It was a mutual thing."
"That's not what I heard," Ryan huffed.
Glaring at the two of them, Troy replied, "Well, she might've said 'I think we should break up' first, but to tell the truth I was going to do it eventually. She just beat me to the punch. Now if you'll excuse me…"
Chad grabbed his arm and dragged him back into the group. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Not so fast. Where is this coming from? You and Gabby were fine. What happened? Did she…did she not wanna put out?"
"No! I didn't even ask her!" Troy defended.
Smirking, Ryan pressed, "Then what happened?"
"It…we…" Troy paused. Saying 'we were too busy to have a relationship' sounded a little blunt and made them both look like jerks, but…it was the truth. "We didn't have time for each other anymore. And with exams at the end of the year, we knew it would only get worse. There, satisfied?"
Ryan let out a deep breath, trading worried looks with Chad. "Sorry, Troy. I'm sure you and Gabriella will get past this. Though it's gonna be weird not seeing you together. You two were tight."
"Thanks for reminding me," Troy snapped.
His face reddening, Ryan blurted, "Oh, no, I didn't mean…"
"Evans! What the heck are you doing here? Get off the court and stop talking to my players!" Jack Bolton shouted, blowing his whistle and signaling everyone to resume practice.
Once Ryan had run off, Chad looked at Troy with a concerned expression. "That's rough, man. But don't worry. You'll be over Gabby soon. Just say the word and I'll hook you up with a date."
Not responding, Troy pushed passed Troy, grabbed a nearby basketball and hurled it at the hoop's backboard.
