Please keep reading and reviewing!! Hope you are all enjoying the story thusfar!

Gabriella was sitting at her kitchen table when her cell phone began to jingle. Much to her disappointment, she answered the unknown number that she had hoped would be Troy.

"Gabriella, its Laura!" Laura's voice was suspiciously cheerful. Not the business-like tone she used during try-outs.

"I am so sorry to tell you that you did not make the squad. But Coach wanted me to tell you that there is always a possibility girls will drop before basketball season, and we may do tryouts again. We had to do that last year, but since you weren't here yet, I figured you wouldn't know." Laura carried on and Gabriella felt her stomach tie up into knots.

"Do you mind if I ask, who got the spot?" Gabriella asked, trying hard not to choke on her words. Please not Sharpay, PLEASE NOT HER!

"Sharpay Evans, she was the tall, blonde one." Laura described, as if Gabriella didn't already know who Sharpay was.

"Oh, well tell her congratulations, bye Laura." Before Laura even got one more word in Gabriella clicked off her phone. She was finishing up some math problems when she felt a large tear run down her cheek and watched as it plopped on to her homework. You didn't even want to try out, you are not like those girls anyway. It's all for the better. Gabriella shut her book and headed up to bed. All she wanted was for her mom to make her some tea and reassure her that everything happens for a reason. But unfortunately Mrs. Montez was out with Chuck. She thought about calling Taylor, but realized Thursday night was Chad night, actually most nights with Taylor were Chad nights. She crawled into bed, took a deep breath and picked up her phone. Come on Troy, please pick up. After several rings, Troy's voicemail answered. Gabriella hated talking to voicemails, she clicked off her phone and crashed into her pillow.

Gabriella woke up feeling fresh the next morning. She happily got into the shower and took the time to get ready. She knew it would be easier to get Troy to talk to her if she looked nice and had a little cleavage showing. She giggled to herself as she got dressed, this wasn't quite her style, but she was sure it would work.

"Ella! Breakfast!" Her mom called up to her. She finished sculpting her last curl and unplugged the iron. She walked downstairs to find a huge plate of pancakes sitting in front of Chuck. Her mood dropped about fifty percent of its perkiness.

"Morning kiddo! I made pancakes." Chuck, quit trying to kiss my ass.

"Thanks, I just want juice though." She replied, selecting a jug from the refrigerator.

"Ella, when do you find out about the squad?" Her mother asked.

"The captain called me last night, Sharpay got the spot." Gabriella choked back the lump that formed in her throat.

"Aw, bummer kiddo!" Chuck said sympathetically.

"I don't really care that much." Gabriella spat. "I gotta get going." She grabbed her car keys and headed out her front door. Don't let Chuck bother you, you were in a great mood when you first got up. She was getting into her car just as Troy's rusty pick-up pulled in the driveway. This day is already getting better. Gabriella collected her books and bag and happily sprinted to the passenger side door.

"Hey you!" Troy gave her a weak smile. Okay, maybe you are a little too perky. They took the usual route to school in silence. "C'mon Troy, talk to me." She pleaded fiddling with her "T" necklace.

"Gabs, we can't keep stuff from each other. I really wish you had told me that you were going to try out." His blue eyes were hurt.

"It was a last minute decision. Yes I was going back and forth about it, but it was something I had to do for me. It's not like I was leaving you out." She tried to reason.

"Please, just don't do it anymore. We've been through so much Gabs, I don't want to mess it up again." Troy smiled at her as he pulled into the school parking lot.

"No worries Troy, I didn't even make the squad." She surprised herself by giggling at the comment.

"WHAT? How do you know?" Troy shut off the engine in disgust. He had just watched Gabriella yesterday, she was better then anyone else there, even better then some of the current cheerleaders.

"Laura called me last night. Sharpay got the spot, which is fine. She fits in better with that group anyways." He couldn't believe how relaxed she was. He had only seen her cry once, and that was when she had quit Lava Springs, and had almost quit Troy. He still thought that she would've been a little more upset.

"That's bullshit, Gabs! You deserved that spot!" Troy banged his fist against the steering wheel.

"Troy, please don't get upset, I already did last night." She admitted, lightly touching his arm. He remembered being in his living room watching game tapes with his dad and hearing his phone ring upstairs. He ignored it because he didn't want to talk to anyone anyways. She needed me last night, and I just blew it off because I was mad at her. Some guy I am!

"Sorry I didn't call you back Gabs." He looked at her, feeling so bad for her.

"Not a big deal Troy." She smiled.

"Gabs, I think there is something else we should talk about. What Jason said yesterday in the gym. I—" Just as Troy was about to commit everything to Gabriella there was a bang on his window. Leave it to Chad.

"Hey you two, no making out at school!" Chad laughed. Troy and Gabriella both emerged from the truck. Gabriella was blushing because she hadn't kissed Troy since their last night at Lava Springs.

"Take your own advice!" Troy growled as Taylor came up behind Chad and planted a kiss on his cheek. Just then Sharpay glided by in a crisp red and white uniform, her hair high and bouncy, tied up with a red bow, and clean white cheerleading shoes guided her through the doors of East High. She didn't notice as Troy, Chad, and Taylor all gaped at her and then all turned to Gabriella.

"I know! Who knew that Sharpay would ever wear a shoe that wasn't at least three inches high!" She laughed at her own joke.