A/N: Here's the next chapter like I promised. I'm trying to get in as many chapters I can before I go back to school in September. So on with the story. Plus in this chapter the events will cause the P.O.V. to switch around a lot so I tried as best as possible to keep you guys from getting confused.

Disclaimer: I don't know why I even bother.

Troy parked the car in Gabi's driveway and ran around to open the door for her. She had been so accustomed to his gallantry that after a while she stopped trying to beat him to opening her door. They walked up to the door in silence, but Gabi could tell that Troy had something on his mind it looked as if he was about to say something, but couldn't.

"Troy would you like to come in, maybe get something to drink?" She asked him while opening the door. A wave of relief seemed to wash over his face.

"Yes, please" The two walked into the house while Gabi headed for a room that Troy presumed to be the kitchen.

"So what do you want?" She half-yelled from the kitchen.

"Whatever you're having is fine with me" He answered.

"Ok, while I'm down here why don't you go up to my room it's the second door on the right."

"Alright." And with that Troy started up to her room. As soon as he entered he could tell it was Gabriella's. The room was simple and sophisticated. Pictures of her at scholastic decathlon meets were all on her walls. Her walls were a pale pink color to match her bedspread. The room was neat and orderly, like he knew her to be. He made his way over to her bed and sat down. He looked at her nightstand and saw nothing out of the ordinary, her clock a book that he could picture her reading every night before she went to sleep and a picture. He glanced over the photo at first but then picked it up again. It was a picture of Gabi and an older man; they were dancing at what seemed to be a party. She seemed to be about 11 or 12 and still she was beautiful.

"He's my dad." Gabriella was standing at the door with their drinks and some popcorn in hand. "That was taken the night he died. It was at my aunt's wedding. The last time I saw him was during that dance. Right after he left to go home while me and my mom stayed back with her sister. He was killed in a car accident that night." Gabi was pouring her heart out to Troy while tears began to fall, making her eyes sparkle. Troy felt so sad for her he just wanted to run up to her and hold her and never let go.

"Troy I just miss him so much!" She started sobbing and set down their food. While Troy just ran up to her and took her in an embrace. He held on so tight while rubbing her back in a soothing manner and whispering small nothings into her ear. They were like this for about five minutes both of them cherishing the time they had together.

"Gabi why did you tell me this? Not that I don't mind it it's just…" his voice trailed off.

"Troy I feel closer to you than I do to anyone else. You've been a true friend to me, and as weird as this may sound I'm glad Anthony did what he did, because otherwise I may not have ever got this close to you." Troy was ecstatic he knew Gabi liked him, and he was glad that they had been together for this time, because if they hadn't he would have never known what it could be like to have someone that is relatable to him. In gaining Gabriella he had gained a crush and a friend.

"Gabi, I need to tell you something," Even though she was my friend I need to tell her this. "I've been thinking about this for a while now. Gabi you are so kind, and smart, and beautiful, you of all people do not deserve to be haunted by Anthony. These past weeks have been so fun for me. Getting to know you, spending time with you, I've seen things I would have never even noticed before if everything was the way it normally was." Troy was at a loss of words. He looked flustered.

"Troy I think I know what you're talking about." Gabi said with a smile.

"You do?" He asked, his voice and face were full of relief.

"I do and I feel the exact same way." Gabi felt full of courage and happiness right now. Troy Bolton had just told her he liked her and she told him she liked him. She looked up into his eyes. Those sparkling beautiful blue eyes they showed surprise and happiness and joy, everything she was feeling right now. They were so soft yet so intense and she felt as if they mirrored her own chocolate brown eyes. Nothing was being said, nothing needed to they both knew everything that mattered. Slowly they leaned in until they met in a soft kiss, unleashing all of the emotion they had been feeling. It was unlike any kiss either had felt, it was a real kiss, from someone they both truly liked, and needed in their lives. After what seemed to be a lifetime they both reluctantly pulled back.

"That was amazing" Gabi said breathlessly.

"Yeah it was," Their eyes lingered on each other and they found themselves leaning in again before Troy turned his head away.

"Gabi we can't it's too soon this whole thing with Anthony just ended 2 weeks ago and I don't want to rush you into anything you may regret later."

"Troy I love how considerate you are, but right now you just have to trust me. As long as we don't take it too fast I'm fine. Are you?"

"I'm great." Troy answered her with a goofy grin on his face.

"Well since you're great and I'm fine I guess we could get back to what we were doing then huh?" She had a suggestive look on her face. And with that they both resumed their acts, not afraid to let their feelings for each other show. After a while They both stopped.

"Gabi, as much as I would like to stay here with you I've gotta go get ready to go to Chad's." Troy said with a somber look on his face.

"Yeah, same here" She said with the same look on her face.

"So I'll see you later at Chad's right?"

"Yep." She answered him. And with a quick peck on the lips he was gone while Gabi began to pack.,

With Troy and Chad

Troy arrived at Chad's house 30 minutes later.

"Hey Chad, what's up man"

"Nothin' much just hangin' around." Troy nodded his head.

"So you wanna go out back and shoot some hoops"

"Yeah man, sounds good." The two boys headed out to the backyard. Every time Troy came to Chad's house he was in awe. He had a regulation size basketball court, Swimming pool, a mini-batting cage, volleyball net, a bunch of rollerblades and sticks for hockey, footballs, soccer nets and balls, and a big field to do just about anything in.

"Hey man what do you think about Gabriella?" Troy asked him.

"Well she's okay; I mean I really don't know her that well. I'd see her a lot with Anthony but ever since they broke up I've only seen her with you." Chad lied trying to make it sound as real as possible. "What's up with that anyway?"

"What's up with what?" Troy asked.

"You and Gabriella, what's up with the sudden interest in her?" Troy racked his mind for an excuse while Chad waited to see if he would crack and admit the truth.

"You know, I'm just trying to be nice to her. You know how Anthony can get weird sometimes and I'm just hangin' with her so she can see some other faces. You know?"

"Yeah, but aren't you gonna go for her?" Chad was really trying to get him to crack.

"What she just, broke up with Anthony why would I do that plus he's like one of my best friends, I can't go for her" Troy was really getting nervous. This was the first time he and Chad had talked about Anthony and Gabi.

"Well what ever happened to Anthony, it's like he disappeared, would you happen to know why?" Chad was really pushing it now and Troy could tell something was up.

"No idea man." Chad looked as if he was about to explode.

"That's it Troy!!" He actually exploded

"What's it?" Troy was really annoying Chad now.

"I know Troy"

"You know what?" Troy was eyeing Chad suspiciously.

" I know about Gabi and Anthony, I know why they broke up, I know how you got involved, I know everything." Troy was dumbfounded.

"Wha-…But…How?" He stammered trying to straighten his thoughts. He had promised Gabi no one would know until she was ready to tell and here his best friend was, knowing all of the answers."

"Here man," Chad tossed his phone to Troy who caught it with ease.

"This is a phone Chad. The voices won't come out because of magic, you have to call someone first." Troy was talking to Chad as if he were 4.

"Yeah man, I know what it is. Go to my texts." Troy scrolled down through his messages until he saw two in a row from Anthony. He opened the message and read it

Troy tell ne1 & u & gabi r dead I mean it. His eyes got wide as he read the message.

"What?" he looked utterly confused as Chad just looked at him.

"Read the next one" Chad instructed him.

Fine I'll play along I almost raped gabi u no u saw it. But no 1 finds out clear?

Troy couldn't believe it he just sat down on the ground trying to steady himself.

"Anthony sent that to your phone earlier today. I saw it while you and Gabriella were playing, I deleted the messages after I forwarded them to my phone."

"So you know now. You can't tell anyone do you hear me. Gabi made me promise."

"Sorry Troy but it's a little late for that I told Taylor right after I figured out." Troy threw his head into his hands and laid on the ground sighing loudly.

"Well what did you expect Troy? Taylor's her best friend.

"At least it's only Taylor" Troy tried to reason with himself. "It is only Taylor, right?" Troy was glaring at Chad and talking through clenched teeth.

"Yeah only Taylor." Chad said relieved Troy wasn't blowing up at him.

"Man it's so weird. I never know when Anthony is gonna show up again, you know he got busted for pushing up on her last week in the hallway. I have a feeling that something big is about to happen. You know?"

"Not really man. But what exactly is it you're doing?" Troy then explained everything that had happened with Gabi and Anthony and himself.

"I know you're a good guy and everything, but you hardly even knew the girl before and now you're her bodyguard, shouldn't someone else be doing this."

"No one else knows Chad, besides she isn't bad to hang around with at all. Actually…" He stopped short just to irk Chad.

"What?"

"I kind of made out with her before I came over here"

"Serious?" Troy just nodded. "So what are you guys like going out now?" Troy stopped, he didn't know how to answer that. He knew she liked him and he liked her, but that was it. They never really clarified what their relationship status was.

"Umm, I don't know really."

"How can you not know?"

"Well I told her I liked her, kind of. And she told me she liked me and then we made out. Oh well I guess I'll just clear it up tonight."

"Wait, Troy how'd you know that I invited them over here tonight."

"You invited them too. I told Gabi she could come and we could play some sports."

"What about Taylor?" Chad asked with an anxious face.

"Calm down your girlfriend is coming too." Chad blushed so much it was visible through his dark skin. "And from what I hear she likes you too."

"Are you serious?" Chad was staring down Troy.

"I swear man my sources don't lie." Chad was elated he had liked Taylor forever and could finally get together with her. The two continued playing until they heard a call from Chad's mom,

"Chad there are two young ladies here to see you." Troy and Chad dropped everything and sprinted through the house to the door.