"Did you talk to her about Chase?"Sharpay asked. Troy gave her the sheepish look. "I sort of forgot."Troy said as he rubbed the back of his neck."What? Did you chicken out?"Tia asked. "No… I went there and we didn't talk, it's just she hugged me and we made up… So, I forgot."Troy admitted. "Of course you did. We should have known Troy has no will power when it comes to Ella."Sharpay said as she shook her head. "Sorry but, I will talk to her. I promise and meanwhile I'm not going to let that creep out of my sight. I promise you guys and I promise to Gabriella that I would never let that guy or anyone else hurt her."Troy promised. "Okay…"Both girls said contentedly. If anyone would give their life just to protect Gabriella that would be Troy.

The next weeks, the two best friends have been distant. They talk but, only for a period of seconds before Chase can come and take Gabriella away. Chase has been having her all to himself not even Sharpay and Tia or anyone else could talk to Gabriella without interruption from Chase. This bothered everyone especially Troy.

"Hey wildcat."Gabriella greeted Troy with a tight hug as he came walking in the halls. "Hey. I haven't talked to you for awhile. I miss you."Troy said. "I miss you too. Tell you what, let's hang out after school."Gabriella said, she's been dying to hang out with Troy for the entire 2 weeks.

"I don't know about that…"Troy said quietly. "Why not?"Gabriella said, feeling slightly hurt that Troy didn't want to be with her. "It's just that you haven't had time for us since Chase."Troy tried to say without sounding so angry when saying 'Chase'. "I don't get it…"Gabriella said. "It's just that… now we all feel like you don't have time for us."Troy admitted. "What? You mean the time that I didn't show up to movie night once?"Gabriella said starting to feel a little angry. Troy rolled his eyes. "That happened 4 times in the past week, Gabriella. I can't keep it up anymore."Troy said.

"What is that supposed to mean that you don't want to be my best friend anymore?"Gabriella said. "No. I didn't say anything like that. All I'm saying is, you should at least make time for us, for me. The moment that boyfriend of yours stepped into our lives I haven't even had time to look at you!"Troy said. "That isn't true!"Gabriella defended. "Really? How many times have you jilted me to be with Chase? When was the last time you had lunch on our table! When was the last time we even had a real conversation!"Troy said. Gabriella was about to reply when she realized…

Troy was right she spent all her time with Chase that she forgot about the gang that she forgot about Troy too. How much it must've hurt all of them… If they did it to her she'd be mad too. She pursed her lips together. "I'm sorry… You're right but, one more chance and I promise I won't jilt you. I'll come."She swore as she tugged on Troy's shirt in emphasis. Troy stared at her pleading face before nodding his head and giving in.

"Hey Gab, Up for a movie tonight?"Chase asked Gabriella. "I can't. I'm hanging out with Troy tonight."Gabriella said. "Gab, I already bought the tickets."He whined. "Sorry, Chase but I promised Troy. I'm sure you could get one of your friends to go with you."She said. "Come on, Gab."Chase urged. "Sorry, Chase I really can't. I got to go. Bye."Gabriella said as she picked up her books and left. As soon as Gabriella was out of sight Chase slammed his fist onto the table in anger.

The doorbell rang and Troy raced to open it. Gabriella stood there in her movie pajamas and movie's in her arms. "You came."Troy said, surprised as he opened the door wider for Gabriella to enter. "I promised didn't I?"Gabriella said. Troy laughed as he watched Gabriella walk into the living room then he started running after her picking her up in his arms, twirling her around as she giggled and squealed.

Gabriella's head was laid on Troy's lap as they watched a movie before the door bell rang. "I'll get it."Gabriella said as she got off Troy and ran for the door. Troy waited patiently then he heard Gabriella say: "What are you doing here?"

Troy went over to check when he found Chase standing by his door step. "I'm here to pick you up."Chase said. "What?"Both Troy and Gabriella said. "I'm sleeping over."Gabriella said. "How the hell did you find my house?"Troy said as he walked to the door to stay by Gabriella. "You can't sleepover."Chase said as if Gabriella was a little girl and ignoring Troy. "Why are you her father? She's not a toy that you can control, Greyson."Troy retorted, on purposely calling Chase by his real surname. Chase sent him a pointed look and stepped forward, advancing at Troy. Gabriella stood there quietly in confusion. "Greyson? Who's Greyson?"

"No but, she's my girlfriend and what are you? You're just her best friend you have no power over her."Chase chimed. "You talk about her as if she's some freaking play toy. Well, newsflash you moron she's a person, a person who can make decisions for herself."Troy replied as he looked down at Chase. (Troy's taller and obviously stronger) "Both of you stop it, just so this finishes I'm going home. Chase will take me home."Gabriella said as she walked to the living room to gather her stuff. Troy looked at her in disbelief before following her into his house.

"You seriously can't be choosing him over me again."Troy said as he pointed to Chase as if he wasn't standing there. "I'm not choosing anyone, Troy."Gabriella said. "Whatever, just leave."Troy said as he shook his head and left into the kitchen.

Troy once again was left alone… Hurt. She chose him again that must mean I'm not worth anything to her. He was like a broken mirror now shattered to tiny little pieces and he decided before nothing was left to him that he had to separate himself, take away his ties from Gabriella, to leave her alone to her life and act as if they've never been friends.

Troy climbed up the tree, thinking it was the last time he would then knocked on Gabriella's doors. She stood up and opened it for him a small gentle smile forming on her face. "Hey wildcat. I was hoping you would come… Come in."She said as both of them stepped into her room.

"Gabriella, I think we should talk."Troy said. Gabriella nod her head in agreement. "Yes."She replied. Troy gulped as he looked into Gabriella's pretty brown eyes. "I don't think we should be friends anymore…"He said. Gabriella's mouth dropped as tears formed in her eyes. "Wh-what?"She gasped. "I don't think we should be friends anymore."Troy repeated. "Why?"Gabriella said, her voice slowly breaking. "Because…because I can't tell you…"Troy muttered. A tear fell from Gabriella's eye but, she didn't wipe it away, Troy cringed as he saw that. "what—This is about chase isn't it! Isn't it?"She suddenly yelled. "Yes! Yes this is about chase!"Troy yelled back.

"I-I knew it! How could you be so immature about this?"She cried. "I AM NOT! Can't you see that he's only using you!"He yelled. "How the hell are you supposed to know?"She retorted. "Because I'm a guy, Gabriella I know what runs in a guy's mind when you pass by!"He yelled. "What do you mean?"Gabriella said her voice slowly leveling down. "Nothing…"Troy muttered sheepishly.

Gabriella sighed, rubbed her forehead in frustration as she leaned towards her couch. "I don't want to fight anymore… Let's stop."She said calmly. "Yes, let's stop being friends."Troy miserably. Gabriella shook her and stepped towards him. "Troy, Stop saying that."She said as she looked up to his face. "It's only right, Gabriella. The time that Chase stepped into our lives nothing was ever the same, all we do is yell and fight. I'm tired."Troy said mournfully.

Gabriella gulped then again tears poured down her cheeks making Troy look away. "Are—Are you making me chose?"She gasped. "You don't need to because you already have…And you chose him."He said bitterly. "Are you talking about that fight with you and Chase? Troy, I thought we decided to forget about that."Gabriella said as she touched Troy's arm only to have him move away as if she carried some disease. Troy didn't want her to touch him; it made him guilty of what he was doing…

"It's not that easy to forget, Gabriella."Troy said as he slowly turned around but, Gabriella grabbed onto his arm desperately. "Troy, Stop! You're my best friend… I-I can't lose you…"She breathed. "Exactly! Your best friend for 5 freaking years! And still you chose a guy you merely knew for 2 months over me!"Troy said heatedly. Gabriella shook her head and held onto Troy tighter, tears started to continuously cascade down her cheeks she started to pant.

"Troy, You said so yourself! 5 years if being best friends! We can't let that end now! Don't do this… I need you."She said as she gasped threw her tears. "I'm-I'm sorry, Gabriella."Troy said soberly. Gabriella shook her head vigorously and held on tighter as if holding Troy would help bring him back to her. "Don't do this! Troy, Please! I can't do this without you!"She pleaded. "It's already done… I'm sure you can manage you still got Chase."Troy said dejectedly.

"No! No! Stop! You promised! You promised to always be there for me! No matter what! You can't leave me! You promised!"She cried. Troy gulped and dared himself to look into her eyes it was mistake… He pulled his hand away. "I'm sorry… Goodbye Gabriella."Troy said as he hurriedly made his way to her doors. Gabriella started crying hard as she sat on the floor.

The last look Troy saw was Gabriella sitting on the floor with her head in her hands, continuously crying. Troy hurried down before he could turn around and pull Gabriella into his arms and take everything back.

The two were heartbroken, Troy started to flunk every subject, he played worse at basketball… Without Gabriella his life was meaningless, it had no sense to do anything right anymore.

Gabriella would not eat, she wouldn't smile. She was deadpanned, like the walking dead. She talked to nobody and only replied in one sentenced words if needed. Every night she would look at photos of her and Troy and cry.

But, Troy didn't quite cut all ties… He watched over Gabriella from a distance and sometimes late at night he would go to Gabriella's while she was asleep, just watching her and wiping her tears away.

To Gabriella, life was just so dull, so boring, and so… pointless without Troy. It was like she just lost interest in the world.

I know it's a little short! SORRY! I think the next chapter will be better. Thanks for reading! PLEASE POST REVIEWS.