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Chapter 4: Only Fooling Myself

Well now it's etched in stone

That I can't survive alone

You have the missing piece

That I need so desperately

Yes I slip away to a day that'll never come

It's like a splash of water to my face

When I suddenly realize

That you could never find a place

For me in your eyes and

I don't know why I keep thinking

One day I'll turn around I'll see your hand reach out

I'm only fooling myself oh

But maybe when you smile

It means you'd stay awhile

Just maybe you'd save me now

- "Only Fooling Myself" Kate Voegele

"Okay, so tell me how'd you meet Tay?" Gabriella asked casually, she knew this, but it was always good to see what he'd say.

"Through a friend, Troy hit on you? Are you sure you didn't hit on him?" he asked

"Do you like your job? Yes I'm sure, he told me I'm all he' been thinking about since we met a couple of hours before." They continued to look as if they were having a normal conversation.

"Love it. How'd you and Troy meet? Through Ryan and Sharpay?"

"Do you plan on hurting Taylor? I was leaving my office the day we met at the bar and dropped all my papers, he ran across the street to help me pick them up. He ended up calling me while I was on my way to meet the girls. I figured I should go and put a stop to what I thought was going to happen."

"Never, I think I love her even though it's only been three weeks. She's the most amazing person I've ever met.. He called you?" Chad's eyes were as big as saucers again.

"What do you mean think? And hell yes he called me." Gabriella arched her eyebrows

"It's only been three weeks and I don't have the faintest idea what love is, I've never told a girl I loved her before because it never felt right. With Taylor it feels right. Does it feel like that with Ryan?" Chad poetically asked

She stared at him for a moment that was incredibly deep, "If it feels right then yeah, it's love if you think you'd go to the end of the earth for her then yeah, it's love. With Ryan? I thought it was. I'm not so sure anymore. In fact I'm beginning to think we might as well be friends with benefits, only the benefits suck because it doesn't feel right." Gabriella put her head in her hands.

"You don't love Ryan anymore?" Chad asked

"What I'm about to tell you does not EVER leave this balcony." Gabriella warned him. He nodded his curly head, "The moment I met Troy I felt something I've never felt before. It was like the piece to this puzzle that I've been feeling missing for the past month or so. I've been depressed and then I met Troy and I wasn't. Then I realized how wrong it is I feel that way, so I let it go. I'm back to that place. And Ryan, he doesn't notice or he doesn't care. I'm surprised I'm all he talked about. It usually is just work with him." She took a breath, "No I don't love him anymore."

Chad nodded and thought for a minute, he really liked Gabriella, she seemed to have both feet planted firmly on the ground. "So you don't love him. Do you love Troy?"

"How am I supposed to know? I've met him all of twice, but there was this instant connection." She closed her eyes, "But that could be just my brain looking for an excuse to get the hell away from Ryan. I'd never cheat though, I couldn't do that to Ryan, he's been an amazing boyfriend for the last three years."

"Um I lied." Chad admitted looking guiltily to the ground. Gabriella arched an eyebrow and nodded telling him silently to continue, "Ryan didn't talk about you, that was a lie to see what'd you say. He talked about work. A lot." Chad gave her a smile. "That's what Zeke and Jason said."

She laughed, a full laugh, "Not surprising or out of character." She shook her head, "I'm hungry, let's see what Taylor's whipped up."

Chad's eyes lit up, "Food." He mumbled in agreement. The two hugged and walked inside. Taylor had just put the food out on the kitchen counter in her usual serve yourself and sit wherever the hell you want manner.

"What'd you think of him?" Taylor asked, handing Gabriella another glass of wine.

"Taylor's he's a catch you should never let go. I was really impressed." She said sincerely.

The five sat down in the living room and Kelsi and Miley had the opportunity to grill Chad, though their questions stayed on track. When the night was over Chad offered to drive Gabriella home, which she gladly accepted. Once they were safely in the car they began talking about the dreaded subject on both of their minds.

"Keep me informed about how he's doing." Gabriella requested.

Chad nodded, "And let me know how you're doing." She and Chad stopped at her door.

"Thanks for the ride Chad," Gabriella nudged his arm as Ryan opened the door, "Taylor's made a good choice."

"So the best friend approves?" he asked hopefully

"Definitely!" She gave him a hug and he and Ryan shook hands saying goodnight.

"How'd it go baby?" Ryan asked when the door was locked behind her.

"It went well, he really loves her and she loves him. It's all good in my book. Guess I should start trying to remember everything she told me about her dream wedding in high school." She laughed as she got ready for bed, "I'm so exhausted, and tomorrow's going to be a long day." She crawled into bed next to Ryan and gave him a goodnight kiss and snuggled into him, falling instantly asleep, dreaming about a brown-haired, blue-eyed man.

HSMHSMHSM

The next morning Gabriella woke up early and got dressed to go to the gym. Putting her work clothes in her bag she grabbed two apples. Sighing she grabbed her car keys, she hated driving in New York, but she wanted to listen to music today. She jotted a note Ryan who was still asleep, grabbed her coffee mug and went to the parking garage.

She pulled into the gym parking lot and locked her little Audi Roadster. She walked in and put her bag in her assigned locker before hitting the treadmill, dropping the apple core in the garbage can on her way. She walked in and found an empty treadmill. Putting her iPod buds in her ears, she began running, slowly picking up her pace until she was going nice and fast, too lost in her music to see who had stepped on the treadmill next to her.

Glancing down at her watch, she began to slow down, until she finally stopped. Grabbing her water bottle she took a few gulps of it and got off to begin her walk to the locker room. "Hey!" she heard called behind her. Spinning around she came face to face with none other than Troy Bolton himself.

"Hi." She said, there was the typical awkward pause before Troy spoke again.

"I'm sorry about the other night, I just felt this…"

"Connection?" She read his mind.

Smiling he said, "Yeah, look I just wanna be friends with you. You know, go to lunch, hang out, have you come to my games, just do friend stuff with you." He rubbed the back of his neck before adding, "And Ryan of course."

"I'd like that, when's your next game?" She asked

"Friday." He grinned, "Will you and Ryan come?"

"No tickets." She shrugged.

He smirked, "Headed towards the locker rooms?" she nodded and he led her in the direction of the rooms. "Wait here." He directed. She frowned, but did as she was told. A minute later he returned with an envelope, "Two tickets, front and center next to Sharpay and Taylor." He smiled hopefully at her.

"Thank you Troy." She glanced at her watch as she accepted the tickets in his outstretched hand, "Shit I've gotta go get ready, I have meeting to get to! See you Friday." She ran off towards the women's locker room feeling giddy. This was good, she, Ryan, Troy, and Sharpay were all going to be good friends. Right?

HSMHSMHSM

XOXO

MAS