Plutobaby494: It's aright, I am not dead!! Though that's what I would have thought, if I was reviewing this story. What can I say, caught up in life!!

Disclaimer: Do not own HSM!! I'm not that rich!!

ON WITH THE FICCIE

Chapter 7

The next morning Troy got up, ate breakfast, practiced basketball like nothing happened, like everything was normal. How Troy longed for everything to go back to normal, for his cancer to magically disappear and Gabriella would be meeting him after practice to go hang out, as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Out of all the things he missed, it was her that he missed the most, her voice, and her touch. His heart ached, along with the rest of his body, to wake up from this nightmare.

A cough brought his attention out of his musing and he was brought back to earth. He remembered, he was supposed to be practicing, but his head had other plans.

"You're getting sloppy" her beautiful voice said, commenting on his last basket that he had absently made, missing the hoop.

Troy laughed hesitantly, staring at the orange and black ball in his hands.

"I guess I am"

Gabriella walked over and grabbed the ball from him, and shot it, swishing it into the hoop.

The ball bounced a few times, before coming to a complete stop a few steps away from them.

"What's up Gabi?" he asked, his tone curious. The last time he checked, she wasn't talking to him. What was she doing at his house, acting like nothing happened?

He pinched his wrist to make sure this wasn't a dream that his subconscious had cruelly thought of, and would rip him awake before she tried to kiss him.

He was rewarded with a throbbing pain in his wrist and winced, remembering his fragile skin. He silently cursed his stupidity.

"Troy" she said, breaking him out of his musings yet again. He looked up at her.

"Last night, I went on a date, with Ben Adderson" she said, quickly, as if confessing a horrible sin.

Troy stared at her, as pain coursed though his heart. He bit his lip and looked at his shoes, willing the tears that had formed to stay in his eyes.

He nodded and swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat, he looked up and stared at the girl that had captured his heart, and was the only one who could make it ache so.

Her dark curly hair rimmed her heart shaped face. It hung messily behind her shoulders, suggesting that she had just woken up.

"Are you going to say something" she asked, scared of his silence. Her chocolate brown eyes stared longingly at him.

Troy could have hit himself, thought that would have been stupid now that he thought about it! It would hurt and probably just leave another bruise, just what he needed.

He swallowed, finally being able to control his throat muscles. He wanted to tell her that he was sorry for hurting her, that she was the only girl for him. Words sprung from his brain, but the only thing his tongue could form was,

"Did you have fun?"

As if she didn't mean anything to him! As if he hadn't sat up all night, his heart breaking as he thought of her date and if she was enjoying it? And longing to be the one sitting across from her.

She brought her gaze down to the ground in front of her, a disappointing look appearing on her angelic face.

Troy mentally berated himself. Hadn't he screwed up her life already!!

He opened his mouth to apologize, but her voice beat him to it.

"I did. He took me to dinner than and we talked. And he tried to kiss me!" she said looking back to him, to gauge his reaction.

Troy ground his teeth, as a bout of jealousy flowed though his veins. How dare he?

Troy took deep breaths, trying to calm down. Technically he had no right to feel this, he gave up the right!!

He breathed for another second. He hoped his anger didn't show in his voice.

"Oh"

He didn't trust himself to say anymore. Not while she was here.

Gabriella nodded, "Yea, but the thing is. I couldn't stop thinking of you!"

Troy bowed his head in shame. He had to let her go, as much as he wanted this girl back into his arms, he couldn't lead Gabriella on like that! She shouldn't have to go through what was inevitably coming.

"Gabi" he moaned, his heart breaking at the words he was trying to say, "I…

His breath hitched in his throat as he tried to form hi next words, tears started pooling in his eyes.

"This really is it, isn't it? You're really dumping me" Gabrielle said, cutting his silence off, her voice shaking. She didn't look angry like last time, just sad.

Troy looked up to find, tears falling down her face. He nodded, again not trusting his voice.

Gabriella sniffled, and wiped her eyes. Reaching under her shirt she brought out a silver necklace, with a small sapphire pendant on it. He remembered saving up for months to buy it for their anniversary.

She undid the clasp and walked over, hanging it out in front of Troy. He put his hand underneath the small gem and she dropped it into his palm.

"Goodbye, Troy" she said, than turned around and walked away, not turning back.

Troy finally let his tears fall, as he watched her retreating back. He clenched the necklace in his palm.

"I'm sorry, Gabi. But it's better this way" he muttered.

He turned abruptly and walked back towards his house, leaving the court behind.

"It's better this way" he repeated, in his head. That mantra kept repeating itself, as he walked back inside, suddenly in no mood to play basketball.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Chad came over on Sunday. They left in his green Sudan and drove into town, going to a movie together. Chad knew that he had a limited time with his best friend; he was not going to waste it!

All the way they chatted, talking about the current rumor floating around about Sharpay, they talked about the local basketball team and how they were sucking this year, stuff that they would normally be talking about.

Troy laughed as Chad broke out a joke his older brother had told him. And Chad couldn't help staring. It was so good to see Troy laugh or even smile for that matter. With the leukemia and things at school, Troy hadn't seen any point. And that's what scared Chad the most.

Troy seemed to give up; school didn't matter anymore, since he most likely wouldn't finish high school. It was heartbreaking to watch his best friend disintegrate right in front of his eyes.

They pulled into the parking lot of the theater, Chad turned off the car and pulled the keys out of the ignition.

Troy sighed, staring at the space ahead of him. Thoughts of last night flew thought his head. He had been trying to bloke them out talking to Chad, but once silence started they dominated his thoughts.

"You ok, man" Chad asked, after a moment of silence. Yes, Troy had taken part of the conversation, but it was like a part of him wasn't there.

Troy nodded, "It's finally over" he confessed, than told Chad about the events of yesterday.

After it was over, Chad looked back over the steering wheel. He wanted to tell Troy that he was being a complete idiot!! That he was wasting precious time with Gabriella, to share what time that he had. But this was Troy's decision and he had promised to keep this a secret, even though he wanted to go tell her, to correct Troy's stupid mistakes.

"You could still get her back" Chad probed. True, he couldn't say anything, but that didn't mean he couldn't try and change his stubborn friends mind.

Troy didn't answer at first, which gave Chad hope! Maybe he was finally getting though.

"No, I can't Chad" Troy said finally, crushing Chad's growing hope.

"Tro—

"Let's just go enjoy the movie" Troy interrupted, getting out of the car, successfully cutting him off.

Chad sighed and jumped out, following his friend.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Monday came around, and all the kids went back to school. Troy walked with his usual crowd of posse, slapping hands with people who he barely knew. It seemed that Troy had grown more popular with the musical and now everybody wanted to be his friend. The only difference was that Gabriella was not in his arms.

Sharpay winked as he passed, and smiled at him seductively.

He couldn't help but shutter when she had passed. He hoped that she knew that he, even though Gabriella was gone, was not available. And would not try and ask him out.

His posse gradually disappeared as they left in different directions, getting ready for the new school day. It was now only Troy, Chad, Zeke, and Jason walking towards their first period.

They passed Gabriella and his already broken heart, broke further as he gazed at her.

Ben Adderson, had his arm around her shoulders. She smiled until her eyes met his.

They stared at each other for a moment, before she quickly adverted her eyes to the floor in front of her until she had passed.

"Seems Gabi has a new boyfriend" Zeke muttered absently.

Both Jason and Chad elbowed him in the gut looking at Troy with worried eyes. Zeke grunted and held his bruised stomach than looked up at his friend, realizing his mistake.

Troy didn't say anything, but just walked into his first period class quickly. Chad glared at Zeke before following his friend.

TO BE CONTINEUD

Plutobaby494: Don't worry; the story is far from over!! I hope I can get the next one up soon, but we'll just have to see! But I do appreciate all the positive feed back, it keeps me motivated!!

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