Sorry this took so long to get out, I've been busy I guess. Anyways, I hope you guys like this! This is now present day, and Gabriella and Troy will meet each other soon. I'm realizing that I'm making it seem like Gabriella thought she was in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship with him, but remember, Gabriella loves him like that, and she's his best friend, well was!

Disclaimer: Zac Efron likes to hide in my closet at night.

IT had been four years since Gabriella had walked into her former best friend's house to find it completely empty. Four years since Gabriella's heart had broken, and four years since she promised herself that she wouldn't ever let a stupid guy break her heart again. She had been reserved since Troy left, she barely talked to guys, other than the ones she already trusted, and she was quite fine with that. Looking across at her best friend Taylor, she could see that Taylor had her mind on something, and her, being nosy and prodding, wanted to know what it was.

"Tay," Gabriella started, when she had Taylor's attention, she continued, "what are you thinking about?"

She shrugged, and bit her lip. She knew that if she'd say what was on her mind, that Gabriella would have a go at her for prodding, but she also knew that Gabriella wouldn't shut up until she told her. "I'm just thinking, Gabs, just hear me out. You're lonely, you haven't even thought about a guy since...he left, and I think it's time that you get a decent boyfriend."

Gabriella rolled her eyes, she was seriously tired of this talk with her. "You already know my answer Tay, so why don't you just drop it?"

Her best friend just shrugged, not really offended by the remark, she was used to it. Taking a slow bit from her pizza, she chewed before answering. "I'll respect that Gabs, but you're going to have to let go of Troy sooner or later."

"I am over him." She retorted, sipping from her coke as she finished her notes for her AP Chemistry Exam.

Taylor laughed humorously at what her best friend said. "Please, we all know, even Chad knows that you're not over Troy. You guys were just best friends Gabriella, you're going to have to let him go, and realize that you're not in his life anymore."

As much as she didn't want to admit it, she knew that Taylor was right. She did need to get over Troy, but she loved him, even if he didn't love her the same way back. He didn't even have the decency to tell her that he was moving away, so that had to mean that his heart wasn't in their friendship. It hurt to think it, and she knew it would hurt even more to say it, but she had to get over him.

Taylor was right, she had to learn to let go, just because of a stupid friendship she had thrown away four years of what could've been the perfect relationship. She was so stupid.

Suddenly, she was furious with herself, with him, with everyone. She wouldn't listen to her friends telling her that if he cared, he would've called. She always made up an excuse, about how his parents might of forced him to give away his phone, or he was just too 'busy'.

Looking up at Taylor, she repeated the two words that Taylor never thought she'd hear, and the two words that Gabriella thought she'd never say. "You're right."

And from that moment, Troy Bolton was no longer considered apart of her life, for good.

-

TROY Bolton walked through the hallways of University of Southern California, his beige bag was thrown carelessly over his shoulder, and he was exhausted. The never ending classes were starting to get to him, and he didn't know if he could take them much longer.

"Yo, Troy!" He looked over his shoulder and suppressed a groan, right there was on of his good friends, Dakota Armstrong, who was also apart of the basketball team from his old high school. Miraculously they had ended up at the same college, which Troy still didn't understand.

Troy was excited, he really was. Today was the first day of practice for the University team, and he was quite anxious to meet the players. He was already dubbed team captain, and him being the way he was, he loved trying to decipher everyone's personalities.

Troy was a lot more personal than he looked, at his old high school, he talked to everyone on his team, and formed a special, unbreakable bond with them. He was a good guy, even though he looked like the typical 'lunk-headed basketball man'.

Just remembering that Dakota had called out to him, he sighed before turning around, offering his friend a small smile. "Hey D."

Out of breath, Dakota patted his captain on the shoulder. "Hey man, are you ready to see who's on the team for our freshman year?"

"Of course." Troy shrugged, as he walked to the gym. Dakota knew about his ways, but he respected them. As soon as anyone met Troy they immediately respected him. Respect was a big deal to a guy like him.

Troy felt kind of guilty, he had a promised spot on the team, along with Dakota, and a few others from high school's around the country, but most of these men had to go through weeks of intense workouts, and Troy felt like he took the easy road.

He hated the easy road.

"You should be, I was talking to our coach, and he said that this team looks more promising then any other year that he's coached." Dakota shrugged, the smell of sneakers, basketball's and freshly waxed floors filled his nose, and Troy couldn't help but grin. He loved the gym.

"Really." Troy said, not really paying attention. He had trouble with that sometimes, when he was excited about something, or when something had captured his attention, and someone was trying to talk to him, he found it very difficult to listen to them.

"Yeah, I know."

Fastening his gym bag on his shoulder, Troy looked at his friend and cocked his eyebrow. "Where is everybody?"

"Probably in the locker room Troy, unlike you, they aren't impatient and they can wait until they get to the gym to change into practice clothes." Dakota smirked, referring to the fact that Troy had been dressed for practice for at least an hour. He was just excited, it wasn't like you could really blame him.

Troy rolled his eyes. "Oh shut up D,"

Of course, Dakota shrugged and laughed. "It's your fault Troy, you always get so excited and expectant of things."

"Like you can blame me, this is the University of Southern California that we're talking about here. This has been my dream...ever since I could remember. I'd be a fool not to be excited."

"But, you could've been rational and changed with the rest of the team." He pointed out, before looking down at his clothes, and blushed, realizing that he too, had already dressed in practice clothes.

Dropping the subject, Troy shrugged and look at the locker room doors, leaning against a wall, he heard shouts and claps erupt as the door opened and out walked his new basketball team. The basketball team that he'd be in charge of for now on. The thought scared him. Sure, he'd dealt with a few high school teams, but college boys were different. He couldn't manipulate them as easily as he could with freshman and sophmore of his high school.

This was going to prove to be very interesting.

Running his hands through his hair, he blinked. He saw an afro of hair, and he could've sworn it looked just like his best friend's, well his old best friend, Chad Danforth's hair. It was natty, and curly. He gulped, before shaking his head. 'No,' He told himself, 'It's not Chad', he remembered that Chad had wanted to go to U of A.

When he got to see his face, it was confirmed. Chad Danforth and Troy Bolton were going to be on the same team.

And honestly, Troy didn't know how that'd blow over.

Suddenly a whistle sounded, and he could hear the coaches voice echo through the hall."Okay! Boys, get over here!" The boys immediately went to him, they were chattering about who their new captain would be. The coach had said he was one of the best high school basketball players in the country last year, and he hadn't been in the locker room.

Dakota, sensing that they should get over there quickly, grabbed Troy's arm and brought him over to the team. Hearing the footsteps, his coach looked at them and smirked.

"Well, Mr. Bolton, Mr. Armstrong, nice of you to finally join us."

Eyes snapped to his face, and Troy groaned, searching the crowd for Chad, brown finally connected with blue, and the smile that he thought he would see appear as soon as Chad saw him didn't come on his face. Instead, his brown eyes were blazing, like red balls of hot fire, and he looked like he wanted to kill him.

Troy took a step back subconsciously.

"Sorry coach, Dakota and I, we had already changed, and we didn't see the point in going into the locker room."

"Very well, come on, join the team." Once they did, he cleared his throat. "Alumni, this is your captain, Troy Bolton. As I said in the locker room, he was one of the best high school basketball players in the country last year. Since he knows more about the sport than most of you do, he'll be teaching you the plays. You will respect him, anyone who doesn't faces suspension."

Troy could've sworn he'd seen Chad roll his eyes. He didn't understand, his best friend was suddenly so hostile to him. Clearing his throat to speak, he ran his hands through his hair, a gesture that he always did when he was nervous.

"As coach said, I'm going to be your captain, and since we don't have a co-captain yet, I'm letting you guys decide." He paused, looking at Chad, he desperately what to make up with his old best friend. They did everything together as little kids, and for Chad just to 'throw it all away', was really...Troy didn't like it.

Chad, deciding to be smart, smirked. "Really, and how are we going to do that?"

"You vote." He said coolly.

-

AFTER practice, all of the boys went into the locker room, including Troy and Dakota. Chad couldn't believe the nerve on this guy! Chad could tell by the look on his face that he expected him to just be best friends again, but Chad had learned something in the four years since Troy left. He learned how to stick up for himself, how to be a leader, and he no longer took crap from no one.

Troy Bolton and his stupid little sidekick were not going to hurt him or anyone he was close to. Especially his girlfriend, or Gabriella.

As the name flashed through his mind, he let 'fuck' slip through his lips. He had totally forgot about her and how she might react. Troy had severely hurt her, and by the looks of it, Troy didn't really seem to care either. He was just a shallow prick, at least, that's what Chad kept telling himself.

Sure, he wanted to forgive him, honestly, he really, truly did. But he couldn't just forgive Troy and have them hang out like they'd use too. No, Chad was going to make him work at this friendship, one that he wasn't even sure he wanted to be in.

Pounding his fist into the locker, he sighed, changing back into his regular clothes. He was going to meet up to go see Taylor and Gabriella. He was still debating whether or not to tell him that he had seen Troy. He knew that it would be the right thing to do. But he wasn't sure how they'd react.

"Letting out some anger, I see?" He heard his voice, and he bit his lip.

"Well, since you're here, I'm going to have to find some way to keep myself sane." The words slipped through Chad's mouth before he could stop them.

Seeing the incredulous look on Troy's face, he immediately regretted it, acting like nothing was wrong between them, like Troy couldn't see how angry Chad was at him, he made the biggest mistake. "How've you been Danny?"

His nickname, that bastard used his old childhood name that he used to call him, and he expected him to have a response to that?

"MOM! Stop! You're ruining my afro!" The five-year-old caramel colored young boy exclaimed at his mother, who was trying desperately to smoothen out his hair. It was his first day of kindergarten and to his mom, he had to look perfect, which meant taming the hair that he refused to cut off.

"Baby, I'm doing this for your own good." She tried to reason with him, which was proving to be impossible.

"No, mom! My hair looks fine," He ducked out of her way, and she gave up, no knowing that her attempts would prove to be hopeless.

Rolling her eyes at her son, she sighed and led him through the hallways to his new school, she was scared to let him go. When he walked into the classroom alone, he'd officially be an elementary school kid. Her little baby was growing up and she didn't want to face the facts.

"Come on Chad," she said and stopped in front of his new classroom. "I'm not going to go in with you, but this is your new classroom. Your teacher is really nice, make some new friends, okay baby?" She kissed his forehead, and gave him a light shove, telling him to move along.

The five year old nodded his head, before he opened the door, immediately surrounded by a lot of kids and a nice looking lady, he smiled at his teacher.

"Hello there," she told him, kneeling down in front of him. "I'm your teacher, Miss. Bailey, and what's your name?"

"I'm Chad Danforth," He mispronounced his name, which she found to be cute.

"Okay Chad, I'm going to take your bookbag," He shrugged it off of his shoulders and gave it to her. "You go make friends with some kids, okay?"

He nodded, before he took in the room. Everyone had seemed to partner up already, and Chad felt left out. He hadn't ever had a friend to play with, since he had just moved here, and he wanted someone to call his best friend. Feeling someone tap on his shoulder, he turned around.

"Is that a basketball NBA shirt that you have on?" The boy gasped, his voice getting high pitched because he was so excited.

"Yes!" He said proudly, his father was an announcer in the playoffs and had gotten in for him. Chad would've worn it everyday of the week, but his mom said that it wasn't good for little boys to wear the same shirt everyday.

"That's so cool!" He paused, grinning at him. "I love basketball! My daddy says that I'm going to make it into the NBA."

"Mine too!"

"Maybe we can go together!" Chad said excitedly.

"As friends," Troy giggled. "I'm Troy Bolton, what's your name?"

"Chad Danforth, it's nice to meet you Troy..."

"You too...Danny." Since Chad wasn't an easy name for Troy, who had a stuttering issue, he came up with that for him. Chad had never been called that before, but he liked it.

"That girl over there...she's staring at you." Chad said to his new friend.

They both looked at each other before screaming, "Ew! Girls have cooties!"

SHAKING his head of the memories, he looked at Troy, and sighed. He knew that Troy didn't exactly deserve to be treated so foully, but he had hurt one of his closest friends, and he didn't even bother to tell him. As much as he wouldn't admit it, he was kind of stunned when he found out that Troy had left. Gone for good. Without a trace. It was kind of odd.

He bit his lip, and just walked away from him, he didn't want to give Troy the attention he was seeking, not on his first day seeing him in four years.

-

GABRIELLA heard her phone vibrate, knowing that she had a new text message, she sighed, looking for her phone, she couldn't find it anywhere. Searching through all of her bags, and the mess that Taylor had left when she was last here, she finally found it under a plate. She grimaced, before opening it.

Her hands flew to her mouth as she saw the words she'd never thought she'd read.

Gabriella! Chad just told me, Troy's back! - Taylor

Cliffhanger!

Okay this chapter isn't my best, and it's confusing and everything, but I just wanted you to see how really unaffected Troy is by his moving...or is he really? Maybe he's hiding it? What's he hiding? Chad missed him too, and I wanted you to see Gabriella finally throwing him away.

Sharpay isn't really going to have a huge part in this until the middle of the fanfiction, and you'll see why. I know that you guys didn't expect Chad to be hostile to him, but not telling the guy you've known since kindergarten that you're moving, is a pretty big deal. Well, to Chad it is.

Sorry this took so long to get out! I've been pretty busy lately...anyways, review please! Make my day! :)