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Chapter 3

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"Min, I don't know how to tell you this - but this is just something I need to do - need to say, before it kills me." came Troy's voice softly, gently.

"NO NO NO." came Darbus' voice and both Troy and Gabriella jumped in surprise. "This is a sweet, loving scene, you're supposed to caress her face Arnold, not just stand there!"

"I WOULD Ms. Darbus," he paused, lowering his voice so only Gabriella could hear, "trust me -" he smirked in Gabriella's direction before raising his voice again, "if moving on my crutches didn't knock down yet another piece of scenery." Troy said, gesturing with a hand at the pieces of plywood around them. He'd already hit several key pieces while backstage and had done so much damage to the tree that stage crew had forever banned him from stepping into the scenery area while injured. Ms. Darbus just waved her hands, as if to say 'details, details'.

"Now, we're going to try that other number from the top - and no Troy, I won't make you dance this time." That had been a disaster, to say the least. Troy hobbled over to his spot on the stage fairly swiftly - he was getting the hang of this crutches thing. "Now remember all, this is a scene full of anger and drama and truth and love and…" Troy stopped listening at this point. He knew what this scene was about - it was Arnold yelling at Minnie for being so conceited while Arnold himself flirted with other people and boasted. Basically, a key scene and Troy couldn't participate fully. He'd only known the gist of "Twinkle Towne" when Gabriella had roped him into auditioning - when he told her this, she protested, saying that he did it of his own free will.

Troy knew he had no free will when it came to Gabriella's eyes.

The musical was about two best friends who dream of glory and fame and who then don't realize how important they are to each other until they forget each other on the road to stardom. Troy had been surprised that there was such a twisting plot in a school musical, but Jason had reminded him that after all, Kelsey had written the entire thing.

"BOLTON!" Troy was started out of his musings by a shrill cry from Ms. Darbus, who was glaring at him fiercely.

"Sorry Ms. Darbus." Troy said automatically, sliding into position with a grace he had achieved through many, many clumsy and klutzy moments.

"Alright, if you're quite done daydreaming, we can begin," without waiting for a reply, Darbus signaled to Kelsey who struck up the opening chords to the scene. Gabriella stalked onto stage, script in hand, already in character.

"Arnold, what is the meaning of this…this…posse!" Gabriella's eyes were filled with righteous anger as she gazed at the many female extras brought in to fawn over Troy-turned-Arnold. Quite a few girls - surprisingly to Troy, unsurprisingly to everyone else - had volunteered to hang off Troy for free.

"I don't think you have room to talk, Ms. I'm Too Good To Remember My Best Friend." replied Troy, before casting a charming, smarmy smile at one of the girls who, he wasn't quite sure was really in character or just that crazy, swooned and then fainted. Gabriella laughed.

"I could say the same thing about you, Mr. Obviously Too Good For Anyone Else." She scowled at Troy before turning her back to him and folding her arms in a huff. Troy-as-Arnold brushed off the arms of the girls - he was getting a little worried that some of them really weren't in character - he stepped up beside Gabriella-as-Minnie. There were softer chords in the background now and Troy knew the song was coming and ran through the lyrics mentally, glad he still was on book for this scene.

"Once upon a time, we were best friends…" Troy sang, opening his arms wide, as though talking to Gabriella, who was - as she was supposed to - still stubbornly keeping her back to him. "Once upon a time, we thought you and me would never end. Once upon a time.." The chords went to minor, the tone of the song changed rapidly. "we were wrong." the last words were spoken fiercely as Troy settled his arms across his chest. Gabriella whirled and though there was a joyful brightness in her eyes, her face was hard - Troy knew his girlfriend was talented in many areas, but when they'd started acting, he was shocked at the obvious flair his Ella had for performing - not only singing but acting too.

"Once upon a time," Gabriella began, her voice sweet and soft, but Troy knew the song and knew what was coming. "we were schemers. Once upon a time," a sweet smile cross her face as she turned to face the audience, looking up at the ceiling, "you and me were both some dreamers. Once upon a time…" she paused, her face full of joy, before she whirled around violently to face Troy, planting both feet on the floor and both hands on her hips. "we were wrong." Those of the band who'd been conned into becoming the pit orchestra for the show struck up the notes for the full song.

This song was staged as apposed to choreographed so there were no dance moves, just timed and planned movement and gestures. Throughout the song, "Arnold" would point something out quite meanly to "Minnie" before glancing over her shoulder and sending a wave or a smile to his female band of followers. "Minnie" would scathingly comment on "Arnold" before occasionally shoving him or tripping him. Needless to say - Gabriella had to hold back on any shoving or tripping considering Troy's already uneven balance. Besides that, the scene went well, even if the group of girls crossed at the wrong time and several ensemble members who'd actually had choreographed moves managed to knock down a set of scenery. Darbus kept them after, but Troy was just glad it hadn't been this time. Gabriella hopped off the stage and waited patiently as Troy followed after, if much slower - but he always refused help, so she didn't push it. Laying down his crutches, Troy crouched before sitting on the edge of the stage then sliding off. He fetched his crutches and followed Gabriella up the wide aisles of the auditorium, smirking at her back as she unknowingly hummed the opening bars to "Once Upon a Time". She turned a corner and there was a soft 'oof' and Troy chuckled a little, turning the corner a little faster, expecting to see his girlfriend on the floor - she wasn't the most graceful of people when she was preoccupied.

But what he didn't expect to see was Jamie with his arms around a startled silent Gabriella.

"Still a bit clumsy, hmm Gabs?" Jamie asked with a brilliant smile on his face as he steadied a tense Gabriella. Gabriella inched away slowly, her face completely blank. Troy moved beside her, albeit slowly due to his crutches, unknowingly clenching his fingers into a fist. "Oh, Troy! Nice to see you again, we really didn't get to talk last time because, well," Jamie winced, "that was a nasty fall man - you doin' okay?"

Troy was…startled to say the least. He was expecting someone a bit more…malicious, he supposed. After all, all evidence pointed to Jamie injuring Troy on purpose. So was he really just a very good actor? Or was it all a mistake? Or…Troy didn't even know what. Life had certainly gotten a lot more complicated in a short expanse of time. "I'm okay man, a little tired of crutches, but okay." Troy replied, not betraying his confusion. Jamie laughed and Troy didn't know why it puzzled him, but it did. Maybe he was expecting a cackle or an evil scientist 'muwahaha' or something equally cliché, but it was a usual laugh.

"I get that. Anyway, I'm just here to drop off something for Gabs - when I told some of her friends I was coming to Albuquerque they put something together for her on the chance I saw her." Jamie reached behind him and pulled out a large sparkly card. He handed it to Gabriella, who took it hesitantly, but couldn't keep herself from opening it right then and there. She smiled gently at the notes inside from a couple old friends before tucking it away for a later inspection.

"Thanks Jamie, that's really nice of you."

"Aw, no prob Gabs - just doing my part as the dutiful friend. Oh, did you hear? You remember Gina O'Neill? Landon Edwards actually knocked her up - she completely had to leave school-" Troy blocked out most of this chatter, following as Jamie and his girlfriend walked down the hallway slowly, chattering about people from good ole Sun High. He supposed that there was still a very strong jealous streak in him and he wasn't the most comfortable with Gabriella hanging around with an old boyfriend, but there was something innocently naïve and…though he hated to say, ditzy about Jamie. He didn't seem to have a grasp on a bigger picture of… anything really. But if his impression was right and Gabi was right about Jamie being a bit too oblivious to scheme up something like putting Troy out of commission - then the whole 'jealous ex-boyfriend cliché plot' seemed…ugh, his brain hurt from over thinking everything. He decided to think about it later tonight - for now, he decided to just join in the conversation with Gabriella and Jamie who were now discussing how Jamie's new girlfriend's best friend was cheating on her own boyfriend with the captain of the football team.

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"So, why are you here in Albuquerque anyway?" asked Troy as he perched himself on the stone wall outside the school beside Gabriella who was munching her sandwich. Jamie shrugged.

"Well, our soccer team is actually in the next town over waiting to play a qualifying match for the high school nationals. But Gabi's father stopped by our hotel and most of us recognized him because there was this big fuss when he left Gabi and her mom when Gabs was little." Gabriella stiffened a little, but that was the only sign she was uncomfortable with this train of conversation. Troy settled a hand at the small of her back and she leant into the touch, relaxing a little. "So when he introduced himself, we weren't that surprised, but then he said he was going to go visit her and if there was anyone who'd like to come along - and of course the guys immediately started ragging on me about how I hadn't had a girlfriend since Gabi, blah blah - whatever 'cause it wasn't true - I told them about Mel, but your dad just kinda brightened at the idea of me being on good terms with you despite the fact we're exes.. It was seriously weird. So then your dad was like "why don't you come along then, say hello to Gabi for her friends" which I thought was kinda even more weird, but I was just like 'okay' and went along with it. Tada! You get me." Jamie finished with a flourish and a chomp of his slice of pizza that he had purchased.

Troy did not like this, not at all. So apparently Gabriella's father had sought both her and her mother and purposely brought along someone who Gabriella would either 1.) be willing to see, 2.) remember and/or 3.) trust. This seemed far too planned out for his liking, and by the looks of Gabriella's anxious face, for hers too.

"Oh!" Jamie said, his exclamation muffled by a huge bite of pepperoni. He swallowed hard. "He seemed really interested in whether I knew if Gabriella had a boyfriend - but he didn't even say boyfriend. He said like 'new important guy in my Gabi's life' - which was like…crazy stalkerish but of course I didn't know about your boy toy Troy here." He paused, obviously amused at the rhyme he made. "Anyway. So yeah, it was kinda weird." Troy almost smiled at the completely obvious statement, but his anxiety for Gabriella overrode any amusement he might have held.

The bell rang and Troy sighed before gathering up his untouched lunch and swiftly shooting it into the garbage can several yards away. Jamie whistled low as he watched it swish into the basket. "Nice one." Troy just shrugged and smiled a half smile before following Gabi back to classes on his crutches, promising Jamie they'd call him to ask how his game went, considering he was going back to the next town over. They waved goodbye before heading back in. Before they could step back into the busy hallways crowded with yelling and screaming Wildcats, Troy paused, stilling Gabriella with a hand. She turned to look up at him, biting her lip, her arms wrapped tightly around her books like a shield. She looked so vulnerable that immediately Troy managed to set aside his crutches and wrap his arms around her, leaning against the nearest wall. Gabriella dropped her books and just curled up in his arms. Neither of them spoke until Troy finally broke the silence.

"It'll be okay Ella, we'll figure this out." Gabriella sighed and Troy kissed her fiercely, trying to mask his own doubt and worry with love. Gabriella responded eagerly, ready to lose herself in the kiss. They managed to brush away their problems for a little while, but all too soon the late bell rang and they broke away, staring at each other.

"You sure?" she asked, continuing the conversation as though they hadn't just poured their souls out to each other.

Troy smiled down at her gently. "I'm Troy Bolton, of course I'm sure." he smirked, relieving some of the tension. Gabriella smiled tentatively.

"Arrogant." she replied.

"Geeky." he countered, a real smile on his face.

"Jock." she replied, sticking out her tongue and crossing her eyes.

"Nerd." he laughed, doing her one better before poking her in the side. She squeaked and pulled away, protecting herself from any surprise tickle attacks.

"Lazy." she replied stubbornly, but her eyes bright with laughter.

"Spastic."

The banter continued all the way back to their classes, and they took their detention for lateness with easy smiles, glad for at least a moment of laughter.

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Author's Note: Sorry for the shortness. Oh, a note. Next chapter probably won't be up for a couple days, as school likes to interfere in what I find important - aka - writing. :P

Jamie's so…I don't even know :P …but he's kinda fun to write - he talks like I talk. All scatterbrained and remembering things at the last moment and forgetting words as he speaks. :D Obviously you can tell having a conversation with me is quite an event. But those of you who don't trust Jamie? Well…Jamie's going to become a larger part of the plot (I think…I really have no idea where a lot of this is going) - but you don't have to worry about him betraying anyone - unless of course he forgets he's supposed to be keeping a secret or forgets to relay an important detail. -innocent look- But honestly, he's a good guy, if the epitome of the phrase "dumb blonde". Without being blonde.

By the by, I've had three things brought to my attention, two by a reviewer and one by one of my friends - and I figured I ought to explain. Firstly is the calling of 'Jason' - Chris in the first chapter. Yeah, that was just a lazy mistake. :P Then it's the practicing after there's a championship game when by definition, the season should be over - well my school is pretty crazy about basketball and we have regular practices all year around - not very frequently, but still. I figured that East High which is a basketball obsessed school would probably have a similar practice - perhaps even more intense. And lastly, my friend brought to my notice - Kelsey's name in the movie is actually spelled 'Kelsi' - my friend says she knows this because it's on Kelsey(i)'s bag somewhere. I didn't catch this, but if any of you with tapes (you lucky bums!) find it too, let me know.

I'll most likely go fix the 'Chris/Jason' thing, but I might just continue with the spelling of Kelsey that I have, as long as it doesn't bother any of you guys.

Anyway - you guys have been amazing reviewers, thank you so much…I have more than 600 hits already! This is crazy. Just some replies to some comments that need some replying too - you guys are far too funny for your own good - and mine :P

heather1021 - Hah, HSM has become one of my favorites too - but about Death Wish Love…I really don't know - it's just not doing anything for me any longer. Maybe one day I'll take it down and rewrite it - it's too much a part of me to let go, but I don't see myself doing anything with it soon - but I think I'll be writing a bit more HSM fiction - so hopefully that'll make it up to you. :P

ProfessorSpork - LMFAO. How did you know that was EXACTLY what I was thinking when I wrote the after scene in the hospital with Troy and Gabriella? My math teacher used to call me that when I hurt my arm, and I just burst into laughter when I read your review.

x High School Musical Fan x... - Hah, I'm sure if it could, it would accept your proposal. It loves you too. :P

Winter Sapphire - You are too sweet for your own good! Flattery will get you everywhere - and thanks for the compliment on my lyrics, I'm just glad they didn't turn out as badly as I was anticipating. :P I'm sure there are a couple mistakes through the story - I'm one of the worst editors of my own work known to man, but your review made my day(s). :D

Tawnykit - So adorable it calls for violence - my feelings EXACTLY. :P Lmfao - hopefully you won't want to gauge your eyes out when you read this chapter. Enjoy!

Keep the amazing reviews coming, all of you, I read every single one twice, they made the last couple of days so amazingly happy for me. Remember - the next chapter in a couple days, but updates should be pretty regular after that - I think I finally know where I'm going with all of this.

Hasta luego. Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.

-B