"IIIIIIITTTSSSS FRIDAY!!!" Rang over the loud speakers of the school as Troy Bolton dragged himself through the open doors of East. He silently cursed the man behind the microphone saying those words so loud as he made a mental note to subtly hint that Chad throw him in the garbage can at lunch that day. He was not feeling good and he had worn track pants and a sweatshirt that day and was not too proud to announce that he already smelt like he had swam in a vat of mud.

It wasn't his fault; his dad had woken him up early for morning practice in his front yard. When he groaned his complaint his dad just tore his blankets off and tossed his clothes at him muttering something about being lazy and not focused. By the time his dad let him out he had ten minutes to get ready and he didn't think it possible to take a 4 and a half minute shower so he simply dressed and wet down his hair before hopping in the passengers seat of his dads car, nodding and grunting at any question he asked him. This is how it was a lot of Fridays. It was a rule of thumb that Friday practice was supposed to be easy which meant everyone was in a good mood, everyone except Troy.

Friday meant morning practice for him. His dad felt it was a necessity for him to do it since practice that day would be so easy. As he walked through the halls he thanked the lord he had remembered to put some cologne on which covered some of the smell. He walked over to their morning table and sat down next to Gabi.

"Hey Troy," she said smiling as she kisses his cheek and then made a face, "Ew you're all sweaty," she laughed as he put his arms around her and enveloped her in a huge bear hug despite her protests of the fact that she would now smell like boy. He managed a laugh at this but Gabs could tell he was tired.

"Troy what's going on you look like you didn't sleep last night."

Troy groaned as Chad and Taylor walked up together as he uttered the horrid two-letter phrase, "Morning practice."

Chad took in breath sharply, "Oh sorry man, that's rough." He said as he sat down next to his own girlfriend as she pulled out her homework.

Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Troy that's ridiculous why is he doing this to you hasn't he ever heard of the phrase coming on too strong?"

"Obviously not, I have practice tonight too…after real practice." Troy said as he laid his head down on the bright red table. Gabriella ran her hands through his hair sympathetically.

"You might not want to do that," he smiled, "Do you not just remember that hug, I'm sweaty."

She smiled as she ruffled his hair, "I don't care." She leaned over and kissed his cheek before saying, "I'm excited about tonight."

Troy sat up, he had just remembered, "Oh ya tonight! Ya you best be ready by six." He laughed and remembered what he had planned for that night.

"Oh I will be don't worry, any hint to where we are going?"

"Of course not," and with that, the bell rang.

The thought of him getting to be with Gabriella managed to get him through not only school, but even practice. He jumped into the shower when he got home and actually managed to smell good before grabbing his keys and heading towards the door.

"TROY!" His dad yelled from the other room.

"So close," Troy whispered before walking into the extravagant living room.

"Be home by nine thirty at the latest for practice."

Troy rolled his eyes but agreed knowing it was no use to argue as he hopped into his car and driving to Gabs house. Was about to go knock on the door and say hi to her mom when Gabriella came through the door and hopped in on the passenger's side, leaning in to kiss him.

"Missed you," she said as he started the car and drove off. He smiled as they talked for while before he turned into the parking lot of the carnival. Gabriella gasped with excitement as the colors of the carnival blended together, everything was so bright and colorful Troy couldn't help but be in a good mood.

He parked and paid as they entered the place, holding hands and walking side by side. They walked around for a while before finally decided on a game. The giant bear smiled at them from above and Troy paid the man before taking the gun and trying to pop the balloons to win it for Gabriella. She laughed as he missed everyone but one which earned her a plastic ring.

"I suck," Troy laughed as he slipped the plastic ring on her finger, kissing the top of her hand after doing so. Gabriella blushed as he pulled her into another hug.

"I want to try," Gabriella said pulling out her wallet. Troy gently shoved her hand out of the way and paid the guy for her, which earned him a glare as she picked up the gun. She lifted the scope to her eye and aimed carefully, she shot the dart gun, which flew straight into the balloon, popping it.

"Well there is at least another ring," Gabriella laughed as she re aimed and shot, shooting the other balloon and popping it. Troy watched in disbelief as the man working the stand laughed at the fact that he was being shown up by his own girlfriend. He watched her pop every other balloon, to the shock of him and the man who according to his nametag was named Stan. He pulled down the huge bear and handed it to her as they walked off.

"I can't believe you won that," Troy said as they walked together, her clutching the huge bear that almost dragged on the ground.

"I claim beginners luck," Gabs laughed innocently as they walked through the site, "I'm sure you would have been able to do that too Troy…with a little practice," She smiled slightly in his direction as he poked her side and shot her a fake glare.

"Just for that," he said steering her towards a massive contraption, "you have to go on the Ferris wheel with me."

"Troy no!" Gabs cried looked up at the huge circular death trap.

"Oh come on Gabs, nothing is going to happen you'll be fine, I promise."

Despite her constant protests he managed to get her on the ride and strapped in next to him. The bear sat safely smiling at them with the ride attendant as the ride started. Gabriella squeezed his hand tightly as they were lifted into the air.

"Oh God," Gabs said as Troy put an arm safely around her laughing at her.

"Don't laugh!" Gabs said, "Heights is a legitimate fear you know!"

Troy tried to hide his smile as he nodded pretending to understand. Gabriella rolled her eyes and was going to move away but then the change of direction caused the wheel to give its default shake, making her cling to him instead.

Troy continued to tease her as they came back up around and although he would never admit it, Gabs was hurting his hand by squeezing it so much.

"You have to admit Gabriella, the view is amazing."

She did admit that quickly before sticking her head in his chest again.

"Gabriella you are being ridiculous it may be high but its safe, nothings going to happen."

Troy felt the irony of speaking too soon come into play as a loud crack was heard from down below and the ride came to a sudden stop. Gabs at first thought it was one of the normal sounds, which meant she clutched him harder and then settled down after a few seconds, but when she noticed it wasn't moving she slowly looked up from Troy's chest.

"What's going on?" she asked with a shaky voice.

"Uh…it seems as though the ride is…um…paused?" Troy said lightly despite Gabriella's panicked face.

"Oh my God, why are we stopped? Troy this ride isn't supposed to stop. Why are we stopped, are we stuck?" She looked really shaky as Troy took his hands in hers.

"Gabriella we are fine," he said from the highest peak of the ride as maintenance men tried to fix it below them. "Its just…routine maintenance…that's all."

"Troy I really don't think they do routine maintenance while people are on the ride."

Her eyes started to water as she looked down and let out a slight squeal. She breathed in deeply as a tear rolled down her cheek. Troy looked at her and wiped it away before taking her two hands in his.

"Gabriella, look at me, look at me," he said firmly as the teary eyed girl gazed into his eyes with her deep brown fearful ones. She sniffed back more tears as the guys down below could be heard calling for more help.

"We are going to be fine, we are going to sit up here and they are going to fix this, and then guess what?"

"What?" she asked, a few more tears falling.

"You are going to get off and laugh at what a big deal you made this, you are making yourself panic, now calm down," he shifted a piece of her hair behind her ears, "I'm here, and I am not going to let anything happen to you."

She nodded trying to calm down but letting more tears fall anyway, he quickly wiped them away and leaned in and kissed her. His lips brushed against hers as he placed his hands protectively around her and drew her closer to him. This innocent kiss lasted a few moments before he softly broke it and looked into her eyes seeing the once panic stricken face more calm and less teary eyed. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I love you Gabriella." He then looked up to meet her doughy eyed gaze as she leaned in and kisses him, "I love you too Troy," she smiled forgetting about where they were or how they got there or even her fear and just saw him and his gray blue eyes staring back at her. She felt her heart melt as he placed a hand behind her neck and kissed her again. The two were so engaged in their embrace that neither realized that the Ferris wheel began to move again, or they both realized and didn't care, either way they finally parted when it was there turn to get off. Troy grabbed the bear happily holding it for her as they walked a ways. His free hand took hers as he smiled, he hadn't remembered being this happy before as he looked up at the giant clock in the center of the carnival. Panic seeped into his veins as he did a double take and looked at the clock again, which read 9:20.

"Shit is that right?" he asked no one in particular as he pulled out his phone way worried than any normal human being should be. The clock was in fact wrong…it was actually 9:25. Troy groaned and pulled Gabriella in the opposite direction towards the parking lot.

"Troy what's the matter?" she asked concerned as they went through the gates of the Carnival and towards his car.

"My dad is going to kill me, I'm late for practice."

Gabriella gasped. His dad already hated her and she really didn't relish in the idea of giving him more excuses to do so. They pulled out of the parking lot and sat in mostly silence as Troy went a little too fast to get her home. He pulled in ten minutes later into her driveway.

"Bye Troy, and good luck, call me if you are still alive," she kissed his cheek and whispered, "I love you." She then walked into her house and waved as she closed the door. Troy waved back and smiled as she closed the door replaying that night's event in his head. Only for a second did he forget the reality of the situation as he quickly pulled out and drove five more minutes to his house. The car clock read 9:45 as he uneasily got out of his car and hopelessly made his way inside to find his dad sitting in the lazy boy. He stood up and walked over to Troy, who seemed to be more aware of how big his dad was with each step he took towards him.

"You're late," he said flatly as he was now face to face with his son.

"I know dad I'm sorry, I was out with Gabriella and—"

"Oh. I should have guessed she would have something to do with it, she is always making your priorities go out of check." He crossed his arms and laughed, though his face was serious.

"Dad," Troy said with a dangerous tone, "Gabriella is not a problem, she is fine and I would appreciate it if you would keep her out of this."

"She's a problem if she makes you late Troy, you can't just miss basketball like that. You have a priority to your team to be the leader, and she is standing in your way of a state championship by causing you to be late. Is that what you want? To lose the championship?"

"No," Troy said defeated.

"That's right you don't, and she isn't helping you achieve that goal, therefore, she is a problem."

"Dad she isn't a problem stop saying that!"

"Troy we aren't having this argument," his voice had been calm, dangerously calm, just how the beach is calm before a huge storm hits its shores, "Now get out there and practice."

"No dad we are having this argument, you can't keep treating her like this you don't even know her!" Troy was not usually one to yell his dad let alone anyone for that matter, but he was way out of line.

"I don't need to know her to know that she isn't good for you Troy yet you cant see that!"

"She is good for me Dad she is the best thing that's ever happened to me!" His face was beet red as he screamed at his dad.

"No Troy, the greatest thing that ever happened to you was basketball, now get out there and practice dammit." He grabbed his arm forcefully and pulled him towards the door in the kitchen leading out to the court.

"FUCK YOU I LOVE HER!" he screamed and caused his dad to stop in his tracks.

"You don't know what love is, and don't you ever, ever speak to me like that, Ill show you love." He violently pressed Troy against the wall and hit him, he hit him so hard Troy's head flew back and bounced off the stucco wall behind him. He lost his balance for just a second and by the time he regained it his dad was coming in for a second blow that seemed to hit harder than the first. He grabbed Troy's shoulders and forcefully slammed him into the refrigerator causing magnets to spray everywhere as he grabbed the handle to keep himself from falling. Fuzziness glazed over Troy's mind and he had trouble focusing on where he was and what was happening, he felt a blow to his ribs as he clutched them and slipped to the ground. Everything was growing darker as his knees hit the wooden floor below him, echoing in his head were the words that his dad spoke as he walked up stairs, "Practice is cancelled." At that point total darkness invaded Troy's mind and senses as he slipped into it, welcoming it instead of the pain.