AN – Hey guys! Look how fast I got this next chapter out for you all. I just wanted to say how sorry I am for making you guys wait a super long time for the last chapter, so I thought, what better way to say sorry then to update the next one fast? Si this chapter is dedicated to my loyal fans. I love you guys. Now I will say I don't think you'll be so lucky with another fast update, I have finals this week, which means study study study! But we will see, because after finals is break ;)

Okay, I'll shut up now and let you all read. Hehe.

Chapter 8

I woke feeling awful. My head was pounding, my throat was scratchy, and my nose was all stuffed up. Great, I got a freakin cold cause i was stupid walk out in the rain, in the middle of winter. I am such a genius. Why did I do that again? Oh yeah...Troy and my mom. Anyway, I so do not need to be thinking about that right now.

I glanced over to the clock; 11:15 it read. Well, I guess I have stayed in bed long enough. Even though I would gladly stay in bed until the blankets would just swallow me up so I don't have to deal with this drama that decided to come out last night.

"Joey," I called when I finally forced myself to get up, "now when you see me, you have to promise not to laugh, I know my hair looks like Frankensteins wife's, but you can't laugh."

I waited for his reply, but when I didn't hear one, I made my way to the kitchen to see if maybe he just didn't hear me.

"Joey?" No answer. Where could that boy go? I walked over to the counter to look for a note, and sure enough, there was one sitting there.

Ella,

Went out to get a couple things, didn't want to wake you. Nice hair btw. Help yourself to the food.

Joey 3

Aww, how sweet...not! Man, even when I am asleep he makes fun of my hair. I know I said before that our relationship didn't work out before because he was more like a brother to me, well I take it back. It was because instead of saying sweet things like "you look more beautiful getting up then going to sleep" or "you sleep like an angle" he would make fun of me.

Troy, on the other hand, says the cute things. Gabriella, stop it. We are not going to think about Troy and all the wonderful things he does, because, even though they are the sweetest things in the world, he can also be the biggest jerk, who has the worst taste in girls.

"Ella, you awake?" I heard Joey call as the front door opened.

"Yeah, I'm in the kitchen." I called back.

"Great, stay there. I brought something for you."

"Okay..." I said with confusion in my voice and then closed by eyes before I asked, "should I close my eyes?"

"If you want to," I heard, to a voice that did not belong to Joey.

I opened them fast, "Troy?"

"Hey Brie," Troy said.

"Wha-what are you doing here?"

"Joey told me you were here and I real-"

"I am going to kill him!" I yelled.

"Please don't be mad at Joey. He was only trying to help you."

"By ruining my trust and telling the person I don't want to see where I am." I ignored the hurt look on his face. What did he expect? That he would walk in and I would leap into his arms and say I didn't care what he did to me, that his friendship means more to me then a stupid fight? Well I am sorry, that is not going to happen.

"I know, Brie, I know what I did was unforgivable, but you need to know I didn't go back to hang out with Bianca."

"You, you didn't?" Well that was news to me.

"No. I went back to see our friends, to tell them you needed us."

"Liar." I said with venom in my voice.

"Wh-what?" He asked, clearly confused with my statement.

"I called Sharpay to ask if you were there, and she said you were talking to Bianca."

"Yes, I did talk to Bianca when I first got there, because she came up to me demanding an apology. I told her she didn't deserve one, not until she starts being nicer to you."

"And why should I believe you?"

"Because it's the truth, and I would never lie to you," he told me sincerely.

"Then why didn't Sharpay or Tay, or anyone else try to contact me?"

"I don't know. I do know that the reason I left was because Shar came up to me and told me you sounded mad at me. So that's why I left the party alone. I was on my way to your place, where I left you, and saw you in the park in the rain. I think you know what happened next."

"Fine, I believe you."

"You do?" He hopefully asked.

"Yes, but this doesn't mean I am happy with you."

"I know."

"So are you still with Bianca?"

"...yeah," he said after a short pause. Great, another little stab to my heart. What is it going to take for Troy to see that she is a nasty girl.

"Well I don't like her, at all."

"I know."

"And I never will."

"You don't have to like her," he told me.

"Why are you even still with her?" I couldn't help but asking. Sure we had this conversation not that long ago, and it ended with him being very defensive over her, but I just need to know again. I need to know what makes that horrible person so much better then me.

"I just like her, okay." No, not okay.

"But why?"

"Look, I know you don't like her, so you of course don't like her with me, but I really care about her. We spend time together after school when we both have practice, and we have some things in common, which makes it easy to talk to her."

"You told me you didn't even want to date her, that the guys set you up so you wouldn't be single."

"Yeah, they did. But now I like her. Why can't you just understand that?"

"Because you could do so much better then her!"

"Yeah, with who?" He asked me. I could see some kind of emotion in his eyes, it looked a little like...hope? I wanted to tell him me. I wanted to say it has always been me. I have been the one listening you your problems, I have been the one who stays up late watching chick flicks with you, even though you would never admit to liking them to anyone but me. I am the one you spend snow days with building snowmen and having snowball fights with. It's me. Me, me, me.

"I don't know, but I'm sure she's out there somewhere." Or right here in front of you.

"I never said I was going to marry Bianca. She is just someone to have fun with, go on dates with, until that girl comes to me."

"Whatever," I said. I am done talking about his girl. Whats the point anymore? It doesn't seem like he is ever going to dump her, so why should I keep breaking my own heart by talking about her all the time.

"Okay, so lets talk about your mom." Oh hell no.

"No thank you."

"Brie, just tell me what happened."

"She has been lying to me for six months. I always thought I was super close to her, I always told her everything, but she lies to me for this long! Why?" I sobbed that last word. Enough with holding a strong face in front of others. What my mom did really hurt me. I felt Troy wrapped his strong arms around me.

"Shh," he comforted, "it's going to be okay."

I Just stood there, with my head buried in his chest and his arms tightly around me. The tears kept coming. It was like the facet broke. Once they started to fall, I just couldn't stop them. Just like the other night in the bathroom. But his time, I had someone to lean on. Even if we have been having are problems lately, he is still the person I want most in my time of need.

"I am here for you," he whispered in my ear, "for as long as you need me."

"Thank you," I mumbled in his chest, sniffling a little.

I'm not sure how long we stood like this for, but I do know I have never felt more safer, or better, then being wrapped up in his perfect, strong arms. I never want him to let go. I never want him to be away from me. He is like a drug I am addicted to, but can't have.

"Let's go over to the couch," he softly said, while rubbing his hand up and down my back, in a soothing motion.

"Kay," I whispered back.