I never let you turn around, your back on each other
That's a good idea, break a promise to your mother
Turn around, your back on each other
You say that I changed
Well maybe I did
But even if I changed
What's wrong with it?
I never let you go
I never let you go
I never let you go

'Never Let You Go' Third Eye Blind

"So, what happened to you yesterday," Gabriella asked Kelsi as they walked into Zeke's bakery the next day.

Kelsi sighed, "I don't know. I just freak out," Kelsi said as she peered into the shop. "What about you," she asked.

"Troy talked to me," Gabriella said to stunned Kelsi. "Yeah, I know. Crazy," Gabriella added as she opened the door.

"What did he say," she asked interested.

"He said," Gabriella started but stopped when she saw Chad and Zeke walk out. "I'll tell you later," she said.

Kelsi nodded, "Hey Zeke. Can I get a cup to go," she asked as she walked over to the counter.

"Sure, hazelnut," he asked as he pressed grabbed the pot. He saw her nod and poured the cup. He poured the milk and sugar in it and passed it to Kelsi.

"Thank you," she said as she rushed out of there. She walked backwards, "Sorry. I'm going to be late," she said as she knocked into someone walked. "Oh, sorry sir," she said as she looked up to see who it was. Her eyes widened as she saw Jason steadying her.

"You okay," he asked her.

Kelsi quickly drew herself from him, "Fine! Perfect," she said quickly. "Bye," she said as she rushed out of the store.

Gabriella smiled, "She'll come around. Just Kelsi being Kelsi," she said to Jason who grumbled in response.

She looked over to see Troy and Sarah walk in. She quickly turned her attention to Zeke who was balancing the cash register. She turned around when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. "Oh! Hi," she said as she looked at Sarah.

"Gabriella, right," she asked brightly.

"Yeah," Gabriella said. "Sarah?"

"Yes, nice to formally met you," she said as she held out her hand.

Gabriella took it hesitantly, "Yeah."

Sarah pointed to a table, "Would you like to sit with me? I'd love to hear about what you do," she asked as Zeke handed them both cups of coffee.

"Uh," Gabriella stalled. "Sure," she said slowly as she and Sarah sat down.

"So," she said as she smiled. "What do you do?"

"I run a nursery school," Gabriella told her. "It's on upper Manhattan."

"Really," Sarah said. "How young are the kids?"

"Six months to three," Gabriella told her.

"Wow. Really young," Sarah commented.

"Yeah, but they are the sweetest things," Gabriella told her. "Well, most of the time," she said laughing. "What about you?"

"Um, I work for the 'Times'," Sarah said.

Troy leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek, "She doesn't just work for it. She's the 'Sports Editor'," he said to Sarah.

"Oh, Troy. Stop," Sarah said as she lightly slapped him on the wrist.

Gabriella was momentarily dazed by their affection, "Oh really. That's. That's great," she said as she looked at her watch. "Oh look at the time! I have to go," Gabriella said as she straightened her red, v-neck, long-sleeve shirt layered over a white lace tank. She threw out her coffee and walked over to the door.

"Oh, are you taking a cab," Sarah asked a little disappointed that she was leaving. "Oh, you can share with us," she said as she saw Gabriella nod.

Gabriella glared at Chad, who started cracking up, "Oh, I couldn't. I really have to go. Bye," she said quickly as she bolted out the door.

"Bye," Sarah called out to Gabriella. "We should go to," Sarah said to Troy.

Troy put his arm around Sarah's waist, "All right. Bye," he called to his friend's as he and Sarah walked out the door.

"Awkward," Chad sang out as he, Jason and Zeke started cracking up.

"So, she asked to share a cab with you? And Troy," Taylor asked to Gabriella as she heard what happened.

"Yes," Gabriella exclaimed as she pulled up her grey sweatpants and pulled on the long-sleeves of her 'Giants' shirt. "It was so awkward!"

Taylor laughed as she put a bag of popcorn into the microwave, "Sounds like it. She was she, like bitchy," Taylor asked as she straightened her baggy grey t-shirt and blue pajama pants.

Gabriella pulled her long hair into a bun, "No! That's problem," Gabriella exclaimed as she watched Taylor's confused face. "I mean if she was a total bitch then I would feel okay about hating her. But she's just so nice," Gabriella said as she threw her arms up. "Is it so wrong to want to ring her little neck," Gabriella said putting her hands around an imaginary neck.

"No," Sharpay commented as she walked out of her room in pink pajama bottoms and a white tank top. She pulled herself onto on the kitchen counter and pulled her hair up in a messy bun. "I mean, if that was Zeke's girlfriend, she would already be dead," Sharpay told Gabriella while, smiling sweetly.

"Zeke? Are you into him," Taylor said looking at Sharpay in interest.

"No," she said giving Taylor a look. "I'm just an extremely jealous person."

Kelsi rolled her eyes and she walked out of her room and to the fridge. She pulled out a Diet Pepsi and popped it open, "Oh, please Sharpay. Your so in love with him!"

"I am not," Sharpay exclaimed to Kelsi. "Pass me one," she said as Kelsi threw a drink at her. "I didn't say throw," Sharpay exclaimed as the soda almost hit her face.

Kelsi rolled her eyes again, "Sor-ry." She pulled on the sleeves of her extra long pullover sweatshirt and tied her green plaid pajama bottoms.

"So what is up with you and Jason," Gabriella asked turning her attention to Kelsi.

Kelsi's cheeks were stained in a rose color, "Nothing! Nothing is going on with between me and Jason!"

"Oh please," Taylor said to Kelsi. "They almost kissed!"

Gabriella and Sharpay squealed at Kelsi. "What! Why didn't you," Sharpay exclaimed at Kelsi who's whole face was bright pink.

"Taylor was flirting with Chad," Kelsi retorted as she gave Taylor a look

Taylor gasped, "I was not!"

Gabriella turned to look at Taylor, "Oh! Yes you were," Gabriella said to as she saw her friend's face flush red. "Or you wouldn't be blushing!"

Taylor turned even redder as she poured the popcorn into two bowls and gave one to Sharpay, "Okay! Enough with our love lifes!" She went over to the living room and sat down on a couch. "Can we please start movie night?"

"Fine," Sharpay grumbled as she and Kelsi sat on one couch. Sharpay pulled her feet underneath her. "What's theme again?"

"Um, romance cartoon musicals," Kelsi said as she wrapped herself with a quilt. "I brought Anastasia."

"Aladdin," Taylor said as she popped a few pieces of popcorn into her mouth.

"Beauty And The Best," Sharpay said as she threw her movie over to Gabriella.

"Sleeping Beauty," Gabriella said as she popped the disc into the DVD player.

"What do you think of Chad," Taylor asked Kelsi as she sat behind the counter of her store.

"What do you mean," Kelsi asked her slowly. "Am I into him?"

"No," Taylor said. "I mean, like, do you think he's change?"

"Like, grew up," Kelsi asked. "Yeah, I mean we all have," she said as she unloaded a box of yoga pants.

"I don't know," Taylor said. "I mean, I never really thought that Chad would grow up, you know?"

"Yeah," Kelsi said. "I never really thought any of them would. In high school, they were all basketball-crazed and well, horny," Kelsi said giggling.

Taylor laughed, "You remember Friday night basketball games?"

"Oh my God," Kelsi said. "Those were the best! And then we would all go to the after party."

"And the boys would get totally plastered," Taylor said, cracking up at the thought . "I remember them all getting up with the basketball team and singing 'We Are the Champions' at the top of their lungs."

Kelsi laughed, "Oh, yeah. I forgot about that," she said as she hung up some clothes.

"Hello," a voice sang into the store.

"Oh, look at what the cat dragged in," Kelsi said placing her hands on her hips.

Sharpay gasped, "It wasn't that long since I've been here. Any way, I came to get you guys," she said. "Come on, we have to go get ready."

"Where are we going," Taylor questioned Sharpay.

"Dinner, at the guys' house," Sharpay said pulling Taylor with her. "We have to get there in a hour."

Kelsi rolled her eyes and began packing up. She watched her friends walk out the door. She turned around when she saw a man enter the store. She reached over to her phone and went behind the counter, "C-c-can I help you?"

"I need to you to sign," the man said gruffly as he passed her a form. She signed quickly. "Thanks. Your order will be in a week."

Kelsi gulped and nodded as she watched him walk to the door. She heart dropped as she watched him turn around. "Something else," she squeaked out.

"How many people work here," the male asked.

"Me," Kelsi blurted out. She watched him nod and walk out the store.

'Maybe I shouldn't have said that,' Kelsi thought to herself.

Sharpay poked her head in the door, "Kelsi! Let's move," she said impatiently.

Gabriella picked at her food as she looked over the silent table. The air was heavy with awkwardness as all the guests picked at their food, waiting for a conversion to flow.

"So," Chad said trying to relive the awkwardness. "Last night was fun," he said trying to bring up a topic.

Gabriella bit her lower lip as she snuck a glance at Troy, who was currently fascinated with his food. She let out a soft sigh causing everyone to look at her. Gabriella darted her eyes across the room and smiled shyly.

"So, Kels. Who was that guy in the store," Sharpay said trying to divert the attention away from her blushing friend.

Kelsi ended up choking on her water and coughing. Zeke, who was seated next to her, began to pat her back, trying to dislodge her water-filled lungs. Kelsi swallowed the water back down, "Wha-what?"

"Uh, that guy in the store," Sharpay asked, cocking her head to the side. "Who was he?"

Everyone turned at look at Kelsi in interest. Kelsi turned pink, "That guy? No one," she said quickly. "Delivery guy."

Chad let out a deep breathe, "So, Taylor. How is work," he asked her turning to face her.

"Good," Taylor said as she gave Chad a smile. "So, Troy. How is this Sarah," she asked Troy with raised eyebrows.

Troy cleared his throat, "She's good. I like her," he said as he saw a flash of hurt on Gabriella's face. He instantly felt guilty, "Um, Brie."

Gabriella looked at Troy as she heard his old nickname for her, "Yes?"

"Can I, uh, can we talk for a second," he asked her awkwardly.

"Sure," Gabriella said slowly as she got out of her seat. She followed Troy to his bedroom and closed his door.

"Kelsi," Chad asked as he turned his attention away from the ex-lovers. He saw her turn her attention to him. "So, can we hear about your past relationships," he asked, shrugging his shoulders.

Kelsi's eyes widened in surprise, "Huh?"

"Well, I guess you can tell them, Kels," Sharpay said to Kelsi as she offered her a half smile. She winced as Taylor whacked her in the arm. She turned towards her and glared at her. She saw Taylor give her a 'What are you doing' look.

"I think I'll need some wine," Kelsi said as she got out of her seat.

Gabriella leaned against the Troy's door and crossed her arms, "What's up?"

"I think we need a long over due talk," Troy said as he causally leaned against his dresser.

Gabriella sighed as she readjusted her red and white flowered top, "I guess we do."

"Look, Brie—Gabriella," Troy said catching himself as he said his nickname for her. "We're friends, right?"

"Friends," Gabriella said slowly as she gave Troy a confused look. "I guess so."

"I mean, because of me and you. And stuff," he said the last word slow and awkwardly. He tried to grope the right kind words.

"Stuff," Gabriella asked confused.

"Yeah, the stuff that went down in college," Troy said as if it was a question.

"Oh," Gabriella said slowly. "That stuff," she said as she thought back to their last conversion. She shook off the bad memories, "Yeah. Yeah, we're friends," she said as her voice rose a little at the last word. "Friends," she said assertively as she gave him a fake smile.

"Friends," he said nodding his head and smiling a little. "I guess we should get back to dinner," Troy said as he pushed himself off the dresser.

"Uh-huh," Gabriella said as she quickly opened the bedroom door, trying to get away from the uncomfortable room.

"So, your relationships," Zeke asked turning to look at Kelsi.

Kelsi saw Gabriella and Troy walk into the room. "Oh, thank God," she said to herself.

"Um, I'm going home," Gabriella said to her friends "Work, early shift," she said as she pulled on her jacket.

"I should too," Kelsi said as she quickly jumped out of her seat. She quickly put on her jacket and bolted out of the room.

"We should all," Taylor said as she laughed a little. "Okay, bye," she said as she walked out the door.

"It's been, fun," Sharpay said as she pulled on her coat. "We'll see you around," Sharpay said as she grabbed Gabriella by the arm and pulled her out the door.

"That was successful," Jason said as he cleared the table.

"Yeah," Troy mumbled under his breath.

Thank you so much for your reviews. I love to read what you guys think. Very awkward dinner. I'm slowly piecing Troy and Gabriella's break-up while, Troy and Sarah get closer. There is also more to Kelsi's failed engagement than meets the eye. I probably will use flashbacks to tell both Troy/Gabriella's and Kelsi's stories. So sorry for the lack of Zekepay moments. I will put more in the next chapter and start to blossom their relationship. Also, Chad and Taylor will get closer, Jason and Kelsi will dance around their feelings for each other while Sarah will learn more about Troy and Gabriella's relationship by a very blunt person in the next installment!

Review, Review, Review! And thank you for your comments )