Author's Note: Here's chapter ten! Enjoy!

Chapter Ten: The SecretKeeper

"Dude, you got to snap out of it!" Chad stated, and to prove his point, he snapped his fingers infront of Troy's face, and Troy shook his head, and gazed down at the T necklace, which stared right back at him.

It was last hour, and it seemed that Troy gotten himself into a trance after what happened between him and Gabriella. Troy just couldn't believe she broke up him over a stupid crush. Troy looked at Chad, and sighed.

"How can I?" he asked.

"You and Gabriella always make up, right? So it's no big deal." Chad stated.

Yeah, well, it looks like Troy and Gabriella won't make up anytime soon.

"I guess." Troy stated, and the guys sighed.

After the final bell had rang, Troy dashed out as fast as he could, avoiding looks from curious eyes.

"Troy!"

Troy turned around to find Sharpay standing behind him. Sharpay was the last person he wanted to see, after his break-up with Gabriella.

"Not right now, Sharpay.." Troy said, and for the first time ever in the history of East High, Sharpay's face clouded with concern, and there wasn't a trace of mean on her face. For a minute, Troy was abit freaked out, but he remembered something Gabriella had told him: even the evilest people had hearts.

"Troy, I know who spread that rumor." Sharpay replied.

"Let me guess: Ryan?" Troy asked, using Chad's ever so favorite guess at the moment.

Sharpay licked her glossed lips, and shook her head.

"No. My brother isn't that heartless, Troy. Even for him, that'd be the worst crime to ever commit." she explained, and Troy just looked at her.

"Then who?" Troy asked.

"Who else? Mario. No guy can stand his ex-girlfriend be seen with another guy, and that's how these things start." Sharpay replied.

Sharpay looked so out of character, that Troy felt his mouth hung open abit.

Didn't she just realize that she could have him? After all, wasn't this her dream to finally be with him?

Sharpay rolled her eyes at him.

"Don't look at me stupid, Troy. Even I can't stand and watch someone break the famous super-couple up. Besides, I'll get another chance...someday." she said, giving him a smile, but before she walked away, Troy stopped her.

"Wait..Sharpay, do you know where Mario is now?"

"I think he's in Miss Darbus' room." Sharpay said.

"Okay. Great. Thanks!" Troy explained, and disappeared down the hallway.

When he reached his destination, he knew Sharpay was right: Sitting in one of the desks was Mario, and he was working away at something.

Troy casually walked into the classroom, and looked at him.

"Hey." he said, as casually as he could.

Mario looked up from whatever he was doing, and rolled his eyes.

"What? Can't you see I'm busy?" Mario snapped, and Troy raised an eyebrow.

This was the guy that Gabriella had fallen in love with before him?

"Of course you have...so, I heard you were the one that spread that rumor about me and Sharpay." Troy stated.

"So what if I did? It gets you off my back, as well as Gabriella's. Basketball players like you shouldn't have to deal with girls like her, right? All your going to do is break her heart anyways."

Troy felt his fists clutch, and he looked at Mario.

"Unfortunately, that's not me. You and her mother can think what you want, but I'd never break her heart."

"Isn't that what you jocks do? Break innocent girls' hearts?" Mario asked.

"Not really. My parents raised me to be a gentleman. And not every jock is a jerk, you know." Troy stated.

Then Troy realized something: Mario didn't try to break up Troy and Gabriella for any other reason than the fact that he was jealous. Of their relationship, the relationship that he and Gabriella once had at some point.

"Your jealous, aren't you?" Troy asked, his anger draining away.

"So what? It's not like I have any chance with her anyway. If you really want to get back together with her, fine by me." Mario stated, grabbing his piece of paper, and brushed past Troy.

And at all that day, Troy finally smiled.