After-Party

"Something was up with Troy at the match, he saw this old…" Ellie started as she slow danced with Max. They were at Melissa's house, were the after-party was being thrown.

"Ellie…"

"What?" she snapped at him. She knew exactly 'what'.

"Stop trying to change the subject, he's going to find out sooner or later, it won't be long before Shannon says something to Tom," he told her as they moved as one.

"What have you told her? Shannon…I mean." Ellie asked, wanting any help she could get in breaking up with her boyfriend of one year. She had never been that much into Tom but he was nice and made her laugh, but she had to admit he was extremely thick.

"I told her that it just happened and we didn't plan it and that I never meant to hurt her. Then she asked I was in love with you," he said the last part casually as he spun her around slowly. He rolled her in so that they were breathing into each other's faces.

"And what did you answer?" she asked with a cheeky smile.

---

Tom watched as his girlfriend and her best friend talked as they dance in a close embrace. He was racking his brains, thinking about who the guy could be. He found himself fearing the moment that would soon come, when he'd asked Ellie out he never thought he'd end up falling so hard for her. Was it love? He didn't really know, but he really didn't want it to end. As to the guy who was taking her away, the minute he found out who the jerk was he'd make him pay for taking something that wasn't his. His eyes turned to the spot where his still girlfriend was still dancing.

"You finally figured it out?" asked Shannon as she followed his gaze.

"Figured what out?" he asked dumbly, looking at the Latin girl.

"You're the living image of a Hollywood jock, you're looking at them and you don't even realize!" she stated in disbelief. How could the boy be so blind?

"Looking at who?" he asked, and then realized who she was referring to. "You mean Ellie and Tom?"

"They're basically kissing, Tom! How many times have you and I been told that it was stupid to go out with them? How many times have people told us that they were meant for each other and we were standing in the way of fate? How many people have been sure that they'd end up together before graduation?"

"What are you talking about? They're Ellie and Max. They're like…it's not…I…" he mumbled. The more he tried to find words, the more he came to realize that Shannon's words made perfect sense. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. He looked at the spot where the two teenagers had been dancing to find that they were leaving, laughing and holding hands. He felt his stomach lurk at the sight, how could he have been so stupid? He followed, them, fury running through his veins.

At the Montez House:

Kelsi followed a panicked Gabriella into the had managed to find Gabriela and drived her home. Gabriella ran up to her room andstarted throwing clothes into a bag, mumbling stuff to herself.

"Gabby, stop it," she said, calmly, hoping that her best friend would listen to her. However, Gabriella was in her own little world of guilt and secrets. She kept on throwing stuff into the bag in no apparent order.

"Kelsi, can I talk to her?"Said a calm voice from behind. Kelsi turned around, stunned to hear that voice. Gabriella didn't stop; however, it was like she hadn't heard the voice at all.

"I don't know if that's an amazing idea, Troy. How did you get here anyway?" she asked while Gabriella's panic attack continued.

"Kelse, I showed him the way, let him talk to her," Ryan said from behind Troy. Kelsi looked disapprovingly at her husband but walked out of the room. Giving the still married couple some privacy.

Troy looked at Gabriella, who was oblivious to his presence, she was shaking badly and she wasn't herself at all. Troy knew what to do immediately, she had been in the exact same state when she had been told that her mum had died, she was in her own little world with a clear objective. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, she tried to resist and get out of his grip but he was too strong. He was angry at her but to have her in his arms was something he would have killed for anytime, he couldn't quite believe it was her standing there.

"Gabriella, stop!" he told her, but she kept on resisting.

"Gabs, please, listen to me. It's gonna be okay," he said calmly and with a sweet voice. "I'm here, it's okay."

She stopped and started crying hysterically against his shirt. She could feel all the lies she had told eating her insides up, she could feel the guilt corroding her.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she repeated once and again. Troy sat down with Gabriella in his arms and, running his fingers through her hair, he consoled her; he wasn't stupid, he knew this wasn't all going to be smiles and happily ever afters', specially not until she gave him the answers he needed so much but right now she needed him and he was here, even if she really didn't deserve it.

"If I tell you, you might freak out," Max said as he lead Ellie to the front of the house, where the two of them could be alone.

"So, you said yes?" Ellie asked seductively as she ran her hand through his hair.

"Maybe, maybe not," he joked mysteriously as he smiled widely. But soon the smile left his face as a fist connected hardly with his jaw.

"Tom!" Ellie shouted. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Ellie stay out of this," said Max as he stood up from the ground and looked hardly at Tom.

"Don't you dare give me that macho-fight shit, Max Evans! And as for you, Tom, I've asked you a question," Ellie shouted, standing in between the guys.

"So, let me get this right, cheating's not enough for you, is it? You can't even let me beat up the guy who thinks he can take you even if you belong to someone else," he stated, his fist clenched and ready to hit his opponent again.

"Don't talk to her like she's a possession!" shouted Max from behind me.

"Max, get out of here!" Ellie ordered, getting a confused glance from the teenager. "I said get out, this really has nothing to do with you. I need to speak to Tom."

"I'll wait for you in the car," he told her but she shook her head.

"I'll go walking, my house isn't far away."

He left and Ellie looked at Tom with guilt spread across her face.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she told him.

"Why?" he simply asked. No drama or crying or silliness, just a simple question.

"It happened once and then again and I only thought about myself. I never meant to hurt you but we knew it really wasn't going anywhere right...our relationship, I mean...it's not like we were really going to make it through senior year. You agree?" Ellie asked. It was true, she never thought her and Tom would make it past a month but they managed; however, senior year was a whole new story.

"Yes, you're right," he lied, putting a fake smile on his face. "It's not like it really meant much did it. I'm sorry about my reaction."

"Friends?" she asked hopefully.

"Sure, see you around," he told her, walking away. Ellie watched him walk away and was extremely glad they both stood on the same line. What she didn't know is that, as he walked away, he raised his hand to his face and swiped of the tears that were falling because of her.

We'll get more Troyella fights in the next chapter,

Maybe even some Ryelsi (or whatever you call them),

As long as you want it, that is...

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