Author's Note: Thanks for all of the reviews, they make me very happy. It has also come to my attention that readers are confused as to if Troy and Gabriella will end up together. I would like to think the answer is obvious. I just want it to be kind of dramatic so that the story is enjoyable and longer. Also I want this story to be of how the two find love in each other rather than a story of their romantic relationship. I hope that makes sense.

Also this chapter is the reason why the rating is T. There's going to be a little cursing. Just a little heads up. If it makes you uncomfortable, sorry.

Anyway, on to the story!

Royal Heartache Chapter 4

Two weeks. It had been a freaking two weeks since she had last talked to Troy. This was ridiculous. Here she was at the royal palace picking the color scheme for her engagement party, when she didn't even know if she actually was getting engaged to the man of her dreams or not. The king and queen automatically assumed that the plan was a go and started preparing right away.

Gabriella should have been happy, no she should have been ecstatic but she wasn't. Troy had never given a straight answer on whether or not he would get married to her. If that wasn't enough he never showed up to plan anything, never returned her texts or phone calls, whenever she would go to his quarters she would be told that he wasn't there. She couldn't help but think that he was avoiding her.

"Dear, what do you this of this color? Oh wait. Did you want the theme to be yellow or red?" Gabriella snapped back to reality.

"The color? I'm not really sure. Whatever you think is best will be fine." Honestly this was the last thing she wanted to be doing right now. She hadn't even received a formal proposal! Why was she here planning an engagement ceremony and party when no one even knew if she was going to get engaged or not! This was total bullocks!

"Gabriella, dear, are you alright? You seem to be distracted whenever we're planning or whenever you're here for that matter. Please, do tell me what's wrong." She had tried her best to keep her emotions under control and plaster a nice smile on her face in front of the queen, but apparently it wasn't working out so well.

"It's just….I feel like we are rushing things. I mean it's not like Troy has officially agreed and proposed. And I don't want for you to plan all of this if it might not happen. I just don't want to waste yours or anyone's time." The queen could hear the sincerity in her voice and also the sadness.

"Gabi, is there something going on between you and Troy? I thought the happiest would be you two."

"That's just it your majesty, there is nothing going on between me and the prince. We were never together so this will all be a waste." The sadness was evident in her voice.

"Gabriella, don't worry, he will come to his senses. I don't want anyone else to be my son's wife and the future queen of England besides you. Just don't worry about it too much; we wouldn't want to you to have wrinkles by the end this year." She had to admit this made her feel much better. "And if you want, we can slow down the planning a bit until everything is official. In the mean time why don't you try talking things over with Troy."

"Thank you that would be wonderful. Taking things more slowly seems like a better plan. And regarding Troy, had he actually been outside the palace or has he been purposefully avoiding me. Every time I go to talk to him, they tell me that he's not there."

"Now that I think about it, where could that boy be? I haven't seen him around in weeks ever since that lunch we had together. Well I will keep an eye out for him. You should go home and try to relax. Remember, only you will do." The queen gave the countess a reassuring smile.

Gabriella nodded her way and slowly prepared to leave. "Thank you so much for everything your majesty. I really appreciate it. I guess I will see you soon whenever you feel like you need someone to talk to." With a small smile she left the room and made her way through the winding hallways towards her car when she saw a familiar face.

Troy was feeling great, no he was feeling better than great, he was high atop cloud nine. He found himself whistling and skipping through the palace towards his quarters. Nothing could dampen his mood that is until he bumped into a petite brunette who had happened to be making her way to the parking lot. He couldn't say he was happy to see but he wasn't sad either, he was indifferent.

"Hey. What brings you to the palace?"

"Hey. Well, you mother asked to see me again so… I haven't seen you around these days. Where have you been?"

"Around I guess. Wait what do you mean again? Have you been coming here a lot?"

"Oh. Well…" Gabriella had no idea what she was supposed to say in this situation. What? Should I tell him that I was here planning our engagement party when he hasn't even asked me to marry him! The conversation was awkward enough already. "You mother has been busy planning all of these events, she just needed a hand."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense."

"Troy, we really need to talk." She couldn't do it anymore. She needed a direct answer no matter how much she didn't want to hear it. I mean she couldn't keep wasting the queen's time and she needed time to gather herself after the inevitable happened.

Troy didn't want to have this conversation with Gabriella either. Now he wished he could conjure up the happiness that he had just had. Here goes nothing. "Yeah, I guess we do. Come on, let's go to the garden."

The garden at the Royal Palace was as beautiful as it was big. And let's just say it was huge, probably as big as the palace itself. It was split into many different sections all containing something different. One part held the tennis courts and other sports complexes while another part held a large fountain surrounded by flowers of all different shapes and colors. The garden also held a pond in the corner with little row boats and a big willow next to it. The grounds were the perfect place to be on a nice sunny day, and that's why Troy brought her here. There was no better place to talk than the garden.

"Look I know it's really awkward right now with the whole engagement thing. But I really don't want you to think that I've been avoiding you or anything."

"Where exactly have you been? I've been around here for two weeks trying to talk to you."

"I've been kind of busy with some things." he said scratching the back of his neck.

"Oh…"

"Well, about the engagement thing, I feel like I have to apologize on behalf of my mother. I mean it was weird for her to jump into the situation. I mean I know my position holds a lot of responsibility, but I feel like my marriage of all things shouldn't be controlled by my parents."

Ouch. That hurt. Gabriella knew what she had to say. Even though her heart was telling her not to her mind kept telling her it was the right thing to do. "Troy, I get it, you don't want to marry me. It's fine I totally understand. I mean let's just pretend like it never happened."

"It's not so much I don't want to marry you… Wait what?" Troy looked at her in amazement. Usually if the king and queen pushed something, courtiers weren't the first to go against orders. "Really? You're fine with pretending like it never happened?"

NO! I'm not! I hate that I just said that, and I hate you even more for making me say it! "Yeah. But I call that you're the one that has to tell your parents."

This made Troy laugh. Leave it to Gabriella to be cool with an awkward situation and even make a joke out of it two seconds later. "Thanks Gabs, I knew I liked you for a reason." He said giving her a little wink. Her heart fluttered but fell and shattered on the ground all within seconds. "It's nice to have someone who is always on your side, so thanks for always being there."

"No problem." I'll always be here for you no matter what happens. I lo-

"Speaking of which, I have something to tell you." Gabriella gave her friend a questioning look. Somehow she knew it was going to be something bad. Something really bad.

"What?" she asked apprehensively.

"I think I'm in love."

WHAT THE F**K! Did he just say what I think he said? She tried to keep her voice as even as possible. "What did you just say?"

"Gabriella, I think I'm in love!"

"With who?" she couldn't keep the tinge of sadness penetrating her voice. This did not make sense…

"Her name is Hannah, and she is the most amazing girl I have ever met in my life! She's beautiful, she's smart, she's witty, and most of all, she has the most beautiful eyes."

I feel like I'm going to hurl. Deep breaths Gabriella, deep breaths, don't freak out yet. In and out, in and out, you got this. She cleared her throat and asked with a fake smile, "Who is this Hannah and why have I never met her before? Whose daughter is she?" with every word she said she could feel the pain multiplying.

"It's actually a funny story, how I met her that is. After that ridiculous lunch with you and my parents I went driving to clear my head. But me, being a deep thinker, forgot to look at the road for like a second and I rammed my car into hers. Best mistake I ever made."

Gabriella's vision began to blur and she could feel the hot tears form in her eyes. Breathe Gabriella Montez, breath, you will not cry in front of Troy for any reason. Once again she tried to look happy for her friend. "Wow what are the chances of that! Meeting a noble while driving, much less ramming into one."

Troy's smile faltered a bit. He guessed he should say something. It was his best friend! He couldn't lie to her. "Well, she not exactly a noble."

Her eyes got wide. "What? What do you mean she's not a noble?"

"Well there isn't exactly a rule that states I can't go out with a person that's not of nobility."

"Yeah, there isn't but- wait, you're dating her?"

"Duh, that's why I'm telling you. Why else would I tell you all these nice things about a girl?"

"Oh…wait, let's go back to the not a noble part. So you're telling me that you're going out with a girl who doesn't have a title, right?" he nodded, and she couldn't believe this nonsense. "Do her parents have one then? Or are they at least from a good family?" as Troy's expression got sadder she knew this was bad, no this was beyond bad, this was horrible!

"I don't think that money or titles should come in between love."

Did he just say love? Gabriella was breaking apart. "You love her?" it came out as a whisper.

"Well, I don't really know because I've never been in love, but I've never felt this way about anyone before."

All she could do is nod her head. She took a deep breath and told the biggest lie that she could possibly tell. "I'm happy for you. Umm, I have to go. I'll talk to you later?"

"Thanks and yeah, I'll talk to you later. By the way, I would love for you to meet her."

Once again she nodded gave the fakest smile she had ever made, swallowed her tears, gave Troy one last look, turned around and walked away.

She had made it to her car without crying, but once the door slammed closed and she was surrounded by four tinted windows she started crying uncontrollably.

How could this happen? If it wasn't bad enough that he didn't like her, why did he have to like another girl? Why did there have to be another girl? Now Gabriella knew that she had no chance. There's no way he would marry me when he has someone else in his heart. He would never do that to himself. But what she couldn't get over was why the other girl had to be a commoner. If you had to choose another girl over me, why did it have to be a girl below me? Why couldn't it have been a girl more deserving or more appropriate? Now you're going to have to go through hell with your parents. You stupid idiot, why? Why did it have to be someone that's not me?

Gabriella speed dialed her other best friend, the one that wasn't shredding her heart into little pieces. "Sharpay, we really need to talk and drink, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

Even though the princess was having an intimate moment with her boyfriend, she could hear the desperation in Gabriella's voice. "Yeah, okay. Do you want me to call Tay?" Gabriella nodded into her phone. Even though she didn't say anything Sharpay knew. "SO I'm guessing it's hard liquor tonight?"

"You know me so well." Gabriella took deep breathes and sped down the familiar route towards Shar's mansion. When she pulled up to the driveway, she saw that Taylor's car was already parked and empty. She walked into the house, up to the open bar and took the shot that was waiting for her.

"Honey, what the hell happened? You look like shit." Unfortunately, Sharpay wasn't lying. Gabriella's eyes were puffy, her face red, and her make up running all over the place. "Tell us what happened."

The brunette said nothing; she grabbed another shot and swallowed it down. Then another and another until Taylor grabbed her arm. "Tell us what's wrong."

She started crying again, like a little baby. She wept and wept and all her two friends could do was sit there, watch and down some shots themselves. After what felt like centuries she finally spoke. "It's over, my wish, my dream is never going to happen. Everything I ever wanted in life is going to some other girl and I'm going to be left with nothing! I hate him! I fucking hate him! I hate you for leading me one. But you know who I hate more than you and him combined? Me. I fucking hate me!"

"G. Did you say what I think you just said?" she nodded.

"Yup, my Troy, MY fucking Troy just told me he loves another girl." When Gabriella said it out loud, it seemed more official and all she wanted to do then was get drunk.

Her two friends looked at her in shock. There was no way that Troy loved another girl. It made no sense! It was like telling someone that the earth was flat, it didn't make sense. And even if what Gabriella said was true, why didn't any of them know about this other girl. Troy was not eh kind of person to hide such a big secret like this.

While Sharpay and Taylor were mulling over these bizarre new developments, the heartbroken girl had gotten her hands on a couple more shots, she was now drunk. "You wanna know the best fucking part?"

The two sober girls knew it was bad when their friend started cursing. It meant one thing, she was angry and drunk, and with Gabriella, that was a lethal combination.

"I saaid! Do you wannnaa know the best fucking part?" She was slowly starting to slur her words. "The other bitch is a lowly commoner! She doesn't have a title or money; she's just some girl he rammed into on the street! How fucked up is that?"

If Taylor and Sharpay weren't appalled before, now they were. "You have got to be shitting me."

"Wait, so you're telling me that Prince Troy, the next king of England, is ditching you, Gabriella Montez, the Countess of whatever, for some girl? Is he crazy? His parents are going to fucking kill him when they find out!"

"Well serves the bastard right. I hope his parents scream, yell, and do everything I want to do to him but can't. I can't believe that he would do this to me! It's me! I'm G. Montez! I'm nice to everyone! I'm smart, I'm preeetty, I donate to charity, and I'm a good-ass girl! What the fuck am I missing?" at this last part the 20 year-old started crying again. "I'm a good girl…"

"I know you are honey. And don't you worry; we're going to help you. Whether it's stealing Troy back or making his life hell, we'll be here for you."

"Awww guys! I knew there was a reason why I liked you!" at that moment, Gabriella realized that that was exactly what he had said to her earlier. This made her cry even more.

Taylor and Sharpay looked at each other, unaware of what made Gabriella cry harder, but nonetheless knowing they were in for a long night.

Troy you better look out, I'm going to make your life hell to the point that you're going to wish you never met that stupid girl. Sharpay always had her friend's backs. You betray my best friend; I'll make you pay for it. And she knew there were a bunch of people willing to help her cause.

Watch out Troy Bolton, there will come a day when you wish you had just gone for Gabriella Montez. I'll make sure of it.

Even though Gabriella didn't know it at the time, she will later discover that having Sharpay on her side is actually helpful.

Author's Note: Yes, another sad chapter. I know, you don't need to tell me. But at least there is a ray of hope in Sharpay ;) Well I hope you like the chapter, please continue reviewing, and I will update soon! Thanks!

~ callmetrue