Chapter 3: An All New Low

Troy woke up the next morning and couldn't be less excited for school. With everything that had happened yesterday he really hoped for a better day, although he highly doubted that it would actually happen. He was still extremely pissed with what happened with Gabriella. He wasn't too worried though, it just meant he'd have to go to extra lengths to annoy her. As much as Troy hated talking to Gabriella, he loved nothing more than to get under her skin.

He slowly rolled out of bed and had a shower. When he was done his shower he walked into his room in nothing more than a towel wrapped around his waist. He started digging around in his closet trying to find his favourite red and white shirt. He looked through his entire closet and then moved to his drawer. He finally found his shirt buried at the bottom of his drawer. He pulled it out and saw something sitting in the bottom of the dresser. He pulled out the paper and saw that it was a picture of himself and Gabriella on the first day of middle school. He starred at the picture for a couple minutes before throwing in the trash. He didn't even know why he still had the stupid picture anymore. He closed his drawer and finished getting ready for school.

After he was done getting ready he said good morning to his parents, grabbed a quick breakfast and was out the door. When he was backing out of his drive way he saw Gabriella walk out of her house and get into her car. Troy gripped the steering wheel with anger. He couldn't stand her and he had no idea why anyone was even friends with her. She was the biggest bitch in the history of the world. He didn't care how nice everyone thought she was. He pulled his eyes away from Gabriella and finished backing out and left for school.

***

The homeroom bell rang and Gabriella found herself in the familiar surroundings of Ms. Darbus' class. Although she was sitting with her friends, she wasn't talking to them.

"Come on Gabs, talk to us," Taylor pleaded, as Gabriella sat there and continued to ignore them.

"Gabs, this isn't fair. We're sorry if you're upset that we didn't tell you, it's just we were going to we just hadn't found the right time," Sharpay explained. Gabriella's head snapped up and she locked eyes with Sharpay.

"It's not the fact that you guys didn't tell me," she replied. "It's the fact that you would even consider going out with his friends, especially you Taylor. You guys know what he put me through, what he did to me, how could you do this to me?"

"Gabriella," Taylor said firmly. "Are you even listening to anything you're saying," Gabriella went to protest but Taylor continued. "Everything you're saying is 'he' not they, 'he'. You need to get over this because believe it or not we do like Chad and Zeke, so we're going out with them."

"Ugh," Gabriella groaned. "It's just, they were always with him and did they ever stop him no!"

"Gabs please come on. You really don't want to start a scene or you know Darbus will give us detention," mentioned Sharpay, as she put a hand on Gabriella's shoulder.

"I don't care if I get a detention!" she exclaimed. "I mean my life already sucks, one detention isn't going to change anything."

"Gabs, please. Keep your voice down," Taylor begged.

"No, guys! How could you do this to me!"

"For the last time," Taylor began. "This is between you two, not all of us. If you want to hate Troy go ahead, but this has nothing to do with us. We're friends with them and if we want to go on a date with them we will," she hissed. Gabriella sunk into her chair and pouted.

"Whatever," she said miserably. The girls looked at Gabriella then looked at each other.

"Look we're sorry Gabs, we know you've been having a rough time. We should've been more sensitive," Taylor said softly. Gabriella looked up at her friends.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted that way. You guys are right; this is between me and Troy, so you guys are free to do whatever. If you want to hang out with them you have every right to."

"Aw Gabs, we love you," Sharpay said with a smile. "This won't change anything, I promise. Besides it's just one date." Gabriella nodded and smiled at her friends. "So was the supper completely horrible last night?"

"Oh, you have no idea," she replied.

Meanwhile, Troy had been having a similar conversation with his friends.

"I still can't believe you're going out with the bitch's friends," he sighed.

"Troy get over it, it's happening and they're nice girls. They all are. I don't know why you even hate her, you guys used to be inseparable," Chad thought out loud. Troy didn't respond and simply glared at him. "Anyways, how was the dinner?"

"Uh, the worst fucking dinner of my life," he replied.

"Really, why? What happened?"

"Well, to start," Troy went on and told his friends the entire nights' events. When he was done his friends just stared at him.

"Wait, why didn't you want her to make digs at you in front of her family?" Zeke asked confused.

"Because," Chad began replying. "Troy's parents don't exactly know why he and Gabriella aren't friends anymore."

"Why not? I thought you guys just drifted apart and your personalities started to clash."

"Nah, there's more to the story. And no I don't want to talk about it. It's ancient history. All that matter's now is that we aren't friends," he replied firmly. "Anyways, you guys excited for practice tonight?" The boys nodded.

"We've got to get the newbies knocked into shape if we want to win the championship game."

"No problem there," the boys agreed. Chad stood up.

"What team?" he yelled.

"Wildcats!" the team replied.

"What team?"

"Wildcats!" the class replied.

"Wildcats?"

"Get your head in the game!" the teamed yelled.

"Thank you Mr. Danforth. Now please take your seat," Ms. Darbus said as she walked in the room. Ms. Darbus went on reading the announcement until the bell rang.

"Remember class, auditions for the fall musical are approaching fast so sign up as soon as possible." The class groaned and walked out of class.

Troy stood off to the side of the class and waited for Gabriella. When he saw her come out he stuck his foot out causing her to trip.

"Have nice trip Montez?" he asked as she connected with the floor. Her books went all over the place. Chad bent down to help her pick up her books, but she slapped his hand away.

"I got it," she snapped. She stood up and glared at Troy.

"Why do you have to be such an ass all the time?"

"For the same reason that you have to be a bitch all the time."

"What the hell are you talking about? I was walking down the hall minding my own business."

"Well, maybe next time you'll choose another hallway so I don't have to look at you."

"I'll walk down whatever fucking hallway I choose to walk down thank you very much. Just because you have everyone else wrapped around your finger doesn't mean you have me."

"Trust me, if I wanted to have you, which I don't, I could easily have you wrapped around my finger," he pointed out.

"In your dreams Bolton," she snapped.

"Nah, I've got way better things to dream about. Now why don't you keep walking and get your fat ass out of my face."

"You're such an asshole!" she snapped before storming off. Chad turned to Troy.

"Seriously, what is your problem man? She didn't fucking do anything," he said in her defense.

"I was getting her back for last night," he replied coldly.

"Why, just because she was done pretending? Troy you're my best friend, but sometimes I just don't get you. It's no wonder she fucking hates you."

"What's wrong with you? You never minded the arguing before."

"Nothing's wrong with me and the arguing I don't mind, but that's called bullying. And it's called maturity, maybe you should discover it and grow up," Chad said and then walked off before Troy could say anything back. Chad walked down the hall until he found Gabriella and Taylor standing at their lockers.

"Hey Gabriella, um, I just wanted to apologize to you for Troy. That really wasn't fair," he said sincerely.

"Uh, thanks," she answered slightly confused.

"Look, I know we never really friends, and I did go along with Troy, but you've got to believe me when I say I've grown up and matured. I really don't think it's fair what he's doing to you. So I want to call a truce with you on my behalf," Chad offered. Gabriella looked up at him and searched his eyes for something, anything, until she realized he was telling the truth. "No one should have to deal with that, especially during senior year. It's supposed to be the best year of our lives," he explained. "Friends?" he asked, extending his hand. Gabriella smiled and shook his hand.

"Friends," she replied. Chad pulled her into a hug.

"I really am sorry," he whispered.

"You're forgiven."

While Gabriella and Chad had been having their conversation Troy had been standing at the other end of the hall watching and he was not pleased.

***

First period had started and Troy and Gabriella were stuck sitting beside each other in Chemistry class. Gabriella had been doing her best to ignore Troy; however it was getting a little difficult.

"Trying to steal my friends now too? That's sad; you can't make your own so you have to steal mine? You know Chad doesn't really like you, just this morning he told me he that you were a stuck up bitch," said Troy as he poked Gabriella.

"Why would I believe anything you say anyways? All that matters is Chad was man enough to apologize. Now would you shut up? I'm trying to pay attention," Gabriella snapped.

"Aw, is the nerd trying to listen?" he said in a baby voice.

"If you don't shut the fuck up I'll," she began but Troy cut her off.

"You'll what? Run to daddy and tell him?" he said with a smirk. "Oh wait that's right you can't." Gabriella felt tears sting her eyes but she refused to let them fall in front of Troy. Troy saw the hurt in her eyes and he knew he'd won. Gabriella brought her hand up and slapped him across the face.

"Don't you dare talk about my dad like that," she warned. "You have no idea what the fuck happened. You know why, because you were in your own little world and didn't care about anything unless it revolved around you. So you can just shut up." Gabriella raised her hand. "May I go to the washroom?"

"Of course," Mr. Chang replied and went back to teaching the lesson. Gabriella walk out of the classroom quickly and ran to the bathroom. As soon as she was behind the door, she slid down the wall until she was sitting and started to cry. She hated the way Troy could get to her; he knew her dad was a sore spot. Although he didn't know the story, or at least the whole story he still knew it got to her. Gabriella buried her head and her knees and continued to cry.

Meanwhile Troy sat in class trying to get the feelings of guilt to leave his head. Why do you even care? This is what you wanted; you wanted her to get mad? He thought. So, why do I feel so bad? Why do I even feel guilty, I hate her. Unable to overcome his feelings of guilt he raised his hand and asked to go to the washroom. He left the class he walked towards the washroom when he heard someone crying. He continued walking and as he got closer to the washroom he heard that the crying was coming from the girl's washroom. Troy had a good idea of who it was and he continued to feel bad about what he'd said. Before he thought about what he was doing he knocked on the door.

"Are you okay?" he called and then mentally kicked himself in the head. What was he doing, it was Gabriella Montez. He hated her more than anyone in the world. There was no way in hell he felt bad for her. He turned away and started walking towards the boy's washroom when he heard the door.

"What the fuck are you doing here when you don't even care? And don't even try and pretend like you do because I know for a fact that you don't," Gabriella snapped.

"You know what I don't even know, it was a reflex I don't even know why I did it."

"Wow, and you don't even apologize. Bolton you have officially hit an all new low and I swear to God if you ever bring up my dad again I'll kill you."

"Whatever," he replied coldly and walked into the boy's washroom. He didn't know why he even tried. Why did he even think of trying in the first place? It was Chad's fault, he thought. If he hadn't blown up at me this morning I wouldn't be second guessing myself. Troy sat in the bathroom for a good five minutes before returning to class. When he got back he saw Gabriella sitting in her seat. He looked over at her surveyed her face, she still looked upset. Why are you doing Bolton? You hate her! Troy shook his head and walked back to his desk and sat down. He saw Gabriella glance over at him and muttered,

"Jackass." Troy glared at her.

"Bitch," he muttered in response. Just then the bell rang.

"Alright class, read pages ten to twenty for tomorrow and answer questions one to ten on page twenty. You're dismissed." Gabriella got up from her chair and was out of the class within seconds. When Gabriella got to there lockers she saw Taylor was already standing there.

"Hey," Taylor said cheerfully as Gabriella came up to her locker.

"Hey," she responded emotionless, as she opened her locker. She pulled it open just as Troy came up to his locker. Gabriella immediately turned her back to him.

"Are you okay?" Taylor asked, concerned. "You look like you've been crying." Gabriella sighed.

"I'll talk to you about it later," she said as she grabbed her English books and shut her locker. "When certain people aren't around," she mumbled.

"Alright," Taylor replied. "Oh, and before I forget, don't make any plans for Saturday night, Chad is having a party and he invited us. I know it's usually not your scene, but you have to come," Taylor mentioned, with a hint a begging in her voice.

"Alright, I'll go," she replied sighing.

"You've got to be kidding me," she heard Troy mumble as he slammed his locker and stormed off towards English. Gabriella rolled her eyes but continued.

"But if anything happens, I'm leaving, alright?" Taylor squealed.

"Of course Gabs! I'm just glad that you're coming!" she said giving her friend a hug. "Now come on we've got to get to English class." As they walked off Gabriella couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe going to this party would actually be fun.

A/N: Alright, so here's chapter three. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I'm not too sure about some parts. Please review and let me know what you think, it's really helpful. I'll try and have Chapter 4 up soon. Thanks so much for reading and don't forget to review!