The next 2 weeks were torture for Troy and Gabriella.

Troy never saw Sharpay at the pool. He thought that it was because of what he said to her and now she's depressed or something. He felt bad about that.

As for Gabriella, she felt so empty without Troy. She remembered the good memories and the good feelings. She briefly forgot the bad memories and just broke down and cried. Then she told herself "Forget about it. He's not worth the tears. He cheated on you, remember?" She got a hold of herself and moved on.

Finally one day at work, Troy convinced himself that he needed her back. "I can't stand this! This is affecting me so much! I can't play basketball anymore for crap, I can't sing because my voice always breaks, and I'm just empty. I don't know what to do with myself. I have to realize the truth. I really want to sing in the talent show. There's only like 4 more weeks and if you wanna sing with her, you better get moving."

Then he formed a plan. An expensive and VERY dangorous plan.


That night, Troy went to the jewelry store and looked in the window. It was still there. He smiled and walked in.

Then he went to the club. He walked around back until he came to the door to the music room. He slowly looked inside the club.

He was right on time.

Gabriella had just gotten out her guitar and started talking to the show directer.

They were talking about how she would sing in the talent show.

Troy looked at the ground dissapointed. Then he held his head up at the thought of getting her back with what he was about to give her.

He was about to put his plan in action when Gabriella said "Ben? Can I sing a new song I wrote?"

Ben, the show directer, said "Sure! I would love to hear it!"

Gabriella started the song on her guitar and then started to sing:

Gabriella:

"Ooh no

Come with me, stay the night

You say the words but boy it don't feel right

What do you expect me to say

You know it's just too little too late

You take my hand, and you say you've changed

But boy you know your beggin don't fool me

Because to you it's just a game

So let me on down

Cause time has made me strong

I'm starting to move on

I'm gonna say this now

Your chance has come and gone

And you know

It's just too little too late

A little too wrong

And I can't wait

Boy you know all the right things to say

You know it's just too little too late

You say you dream of my face

But you don't like me

You just like the chase

To be real, it doesn't matter anyway

You know it's just too little too late

I was young and in love

I gave you everything but it wasn't enough

And now you wanna communicate

Go find someone else

In lettin you go, I'm lovin myself

You gotta problem

But don't come askin me for help

Cause ya know

It's just too little too late

A little too wrong

And I can't wait

Boy you know all the right things to say

You know it's just too little too late

You say you dream of my face

But you don't like me

You just like the chase

To be real, it doesn't matter anyway

You know it's just too little too late

I can love with all of my heart baby

I know I have so much to give

I have so much to give

With a player like you, I don't have a prayer

That's the way to live, yeah oh

It's just too little, too late

Yeah

It's just too little too late

A little too wrong

And I can't wait

Boy you know all the right things to say

You know it's just too little too late

You say you dream of my face

But you don't like me

You just like the chase

To be real, it doesn't matter anyway

You know it's just too little too late

After Gabriella sang, tears came to her eyes.

She put the guitar down and said "Ben? Can I get some air before we go any further?"

Ben said "Sure! That was beautiful! Take your time."

Gabriella smiled weakly and walked outside.

When Troy saw her coming, he quickly slid to the side to hide himself. He just looked at her for the first time in a month. Then he was about to put his plan into action, but then Gabriella started to sing:

"We're soarin', flyin',

There's not a star in-"

Gabriella heard a deep, framiliar voice singing

"Heaven that we can't reach"

Then he said jokefully "Isn't that my line?".

Gabriella just looked at him for a second, then said "Troy? Don't ever scare me like that again! What is wrong with you? And what are you doing here? The club's closed! You're not allowed here!"

Troy said "Tonight's Friday. The staff's allowed here until 10. You're a waitress and singer. I'm the lifeguard. We're both allowed here. Anyways, I need to talk to you."

Gabriella was furious that he proved her wrong, and she said "Don't get smart with me! And no! I don't wanna talk!"

Troy said "OK. I talk and you listen. Gabriella, the situation isn't what you think. I'm not cheating on you. Never did, never will. I swear to god, I was giving her CPR. She just made it look like I was making out with her. If you don't believe me, then just remember that Sharpay's the kind of person that makes you think one thing and she's doing something else. And why your birthday? That was one of the stupidest part of her little plan. If I was cheating on you, I would wait till like after your birthday. That's not a very nice present now is it?"

Gabriella was pretending to check out her nails while he was talking, but she was listening.

She heard every word. Troy noticed this, but he didn't know that she was listening.

He said "Gabriella? Did you hear me?"

Gabriella looked up at him without moving her head and said "You expect me to believe that? No, that's the stupidest part of your little plan! I know what I saw Troy! Don't try to hide it!"

Troy tried to explain before she got out of control and said "No, Gabby, listen-"

Gabriella lost it and screamed "NO TROY! I'M TIRED OF LISTENING!!! IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO LISTEN TO ME!!! I don't wanna get back together with you because everytime I think we're going going somewhere, someone comes and tears us apart, and, I just don't wanna go through that again!!!"

Troy cut her off before she went any further and said "You don't have to go through that again. You can trust me."

Gabriella shot back "Why Troy?!?!?! Give me one good reason why I should trust you!!!"

Troy couldn't hold it in anymore and he yelled "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!!!"

Gabriella thought her heart wasn't beating anymore. Here, standing in front of her, was someone who said that they loved her. Not a family member, but a real boy. A family member didn't have a choice but to love her, but Troy did.

Gabriella looked at him and said with difficulty "W-w-what?"

Troy said with tears in his eyes "I love my family. My mom, my dad, my aunt and uncle, and the rest of them. I love my friends. Chad, Taylor, Zeke, Kelsey, Jason, and everyone else. But you. I love you in a way that I never thought was possible. I thought I did before when we sang Breaking Free, when I won the game, when I gave you the necklace, but now! Now I know in my heart that I really love you. I've never felt this way about anyone. I told Sharpay that the reason I fell for you and not her was because you're smart, beautiful, caring, nice, generous, and everything else a guy could wish for in a girl! I told her that I didn't fall for her because she has a heart of stone! Yeah. I really feel like dating someone who blows off a date because she couldn't find the right outfit or because she already made plans AFTER I asked her out! I really feel like dating someone who I know is cheating on me. Yeah! I really feel like going through that! Come on! Think about this! What excuse do I have for cheating on you? Why would I waste all of that money just to fool you? Why do you think I pushed Derrick away when he spilled my shake all over you? It's because I wanted to protect you. Because my world revolves around you. Because I love you out of my mind. I'm not asking you to get back together with me. I just want you to know what kind of guy I am. I'm not asking you to trust me. I just want you to know the truth. Alright?"

Gabriella was stunned. She stood there, staring at him, completly speechless. Then she tried to speak, but she couldn't.

She tried again and again, until she finally gave up, closed her eyes, let her tears fall, and let her head fall into Troy's chest. She wrapped her arms around him and he stroked her hair.

Then he said "Gabriella. I'm here. I won't let you slip away that easily. I won't give up on you. I'm right here. You're OK. Alright? It's OK. I love you."

With every word he said, she just cried harder. Troy finally let his tears fall too. He felt her pain. He hugged her tighter and tighter.

He kissed the top of her head while she cried into his chest.


Back at the Evans house, Ryan was sitting in his room, finishing his book. He had 5 more pages to read. He stopped when his computer beeped, signaling a new email message. He opened it and groaned when he saw who it was from. Sharpay. He rolled his eyes, but read it anyway. It read

meet me in my rum. i need 2 talk 2 u asap:-)

He deleted the message and wondered why she didn't just walk over to his room and talk to him. But he got up and walked over to her room and knocked.

She said "Come in" from the inside.

She hated it when people just barged in.

He poked his head and said "When are you just gonna start walking over to my room and talk to me?"

Sharpay rolled her eyes and said "Second Tuesday of next week. Listen. I need you to spy on Montez at the club. See if she's still miserable. Take Pinkie with you."

Sharpay picked up her puppy Yorkie and handed her to Ryan. Ryan took the dog in his arms and asked "Why?"

Sharpay looked at him like he was stupid and said "So that we don't raise suspition! If you just go there without an explination, their gonna think that your spying! If they see you, say that your taking her for a walk! God! Sometimes I think your not even my brother, your so stupid!"

When she looked down at her nails, Ryan glared at her and walked out of the room, with Pinkie with him, thinking "You know what? Sometimes I think your not even MY sister. And I can't help it if I'm slow!"