Chapter 1

The End of The Beginning

"What are you saying Gabriella?" Troy screamed at her. They were fighting. The first fight in a long time. Things hadn't been going right, so Troy asked what was wrong. Obviously he didn't like her answer.

"I just don't know, okay?! I'm sorry!"

"You're sorry? My girlfriend, whom I love so very much I might add, is sitting here telling me, her boyfriend, that she thinks she loves someone else!"

"Troy, please stop yelling! You asked me what was wrong, so I told you the truth. I thought you of all people would understand!"

"No, I don't understand." He said calming down a little bit.

"This is not a choice I wanted to make, Troy"

"Well, choose. It's a simple question! Who do you love?"

"I can't! It's too hard!"

"How hard can it be?! I thought you loved me.. I guess I was wrong.." Troy looked down sadly.

"Troy…" Gabriella pleaded.

"I want you to choose. Me or this other person?" he asked, his eyes begging her to say it was him.

"…" Gabriella took in a deep breath, "It's… not you." She bravely said.

"Well, if that's the case, I'm leaving!" he yelled heading towards the door.

"I'm sorry.."

"No. Don't talk to me. If I want to 'talk', I'll let you know." He turned to the door, opening it all the way.

"Troy…I'm sorry. I do love you, I really do."

"Goodbye Gabriella Marie Montez" he slammed the door behind him.

All she could do was cry and cry and cry. She didn't go to school. She had let herself go. She hadn't eaten in 4 days, nor showered. She was in her pajamas and her bathroom and slippers. Her hair was like a tumbleweed that had gotten electrocuted. No sleep either.

She was surprised when no one came over to see what was wrong. Not even Taylor. Or her best friend…

'He probably told them all by now. I bet they all hate me for doing this to him.' She thought to herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. She shuffled along to the door, forgetting her current state.

"Hey Ryan…" she mumbled.

"Oh my…Gabs you look like death!"

"I feel like it."

"I didn't think it would be this bad…" Ryan rambled on.

"I'm guessing Troy told all of you what happened, right?" Gabriella asked sadly.

"Yes, he did. I'm here because Sharpay told me to come and give you your work and to make sure you were okay."

"Oh. I'm fine." She said shrugging her shoulders.

"You're not fine. Look at yourself. You're a mess! Gabs what's going on?"

"I don't know, Ryan." She cried.

"Hey, come here." He said walking inside and enveloping her into a hug. "It'll be okay. Whatever it is, you'll get through it."

"Does anyone hate me?"

"Nobody hates you. If you're wondering why no one came over, it's because Sharpay and Kelsi told them not to. So you can think." Gabriella froze when he said this.

"Oh."

"I think I know what it is…"

"You do?" she asked, curious to what he thought.

"Yeah. It's love. You're in love. But not with Troy. With someone you think io\s forbidden."

"How'd you know?"

"I'm not dumb." He simply answered. She sighed, "What do I do?"

"I know you don't want to hear this, but you have to choose…"

"I don't know how to choose."

"Think about it. Include all the circumstances. Even the…fight. Who would you choose then? That's the answer."

"You make it sound so easy."

"It is. Who is it?" When she didn't answer he continued, "Troy or…"

She cut him off almost immediately, "Not Troy."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She nodded, smiling, "It's the best choice. Not him. I pick her. I pick Kelsi."