–dodges the millions of objects being thrown-

I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!

Umm…basically, I'm sorry times 79823659781. :)

I know, I know. It's been like what, half a year since I've updated this? Oh, wait. Strike that. It's been exactly 168 days. O.o

Life's just been too hectic for me. And when I finally got a break from it, my computer died on me. Seriously. It's like fate is against me or something. Boo. You. Fate.

Haha. Yeah, I'm hoping there still are readers out there. If not, I'd be talking to myself, and that's just a teeny bit creepy if you ask me. Lol. Yeah, anyway. Just a small recap for those of you who forgot what is happening. Jacob's being forced to wear pink, and some green. Chad's visiting Troy for god knows how long (hehe. I still haven't written out the entire plot, okay? I'm working on it.) Troy's been deemed as Jacob's brother, was sort of normal looking in the last chapter. Girls are chasing him, and he ends up ignoring Gabriella unintentionally. Any of that ring a bell? If not, reread the earlier chapters. ;)

And…sorry if this chapter is little weird. My mind's all jumbled up with how I want to continue this. Plus, I'm kinda lost some notes I had on this story. Blah, yeah. Just read. :)

Oh, and chapter's dedicated to Lauren (LaurenPaitentOfZEOD) and horsesmakemehappy for pointing out the kink in last chapter's title. The initials were NFL, which in America stands for National Football League. Haha. Yeah…don't ask.

Disclaimer: I don't own HSM, Hannah Montana, Cody Linley, The Killers, or any other thing I refer to in this chapter. :)

The Mental Guy

Chapter 9- The Brightside

Nobody's POV-

He walked out of the bathroom, and jumped in surprise when he saw a brunette standing right in front of him.

"Hello, Troy."

Troy looked up, groaning inwardly when he saw yet another one of those snobby girls.

"No, I will not go out with you!" He immediately exclaimed. She giggled before shaking her head.

"Silly. I'm not here to ask you out."

He raised an eyebrow. "Seriously." She nodded. "Then what are you here for?" He asked skeptically.

"I'm here to get to know you!"

"Okay…" He trailed off looking for the nearest exit. Having found it, he made a run for it. "…bye now."

"Wait!"

"A, B, C, D, E, F, G…I wanna get you away from me." He began singing as he made his escape from her. Panting slightly, he arrived to the safe haven, the front entrance of the school. He pushed the door, staring at it in confusion when it wouldn't open. He looked at the sign and chuckled at his own stupidity.

Pull.

He shook his head at himself, and opened the door. He looked up, and grinned. Luck was finally on his side for once. He walked up behind the brunette quietly, as he placed his hands over her eyes, chuckling when she jumped slightly in surprise.

"Guess who?" He asked, using a tone of voice that was deeper than his own.

"I don't know a creepy kidnapper?"

He chuckled, as he removed his hands from her. "Wow, when did I go from being Pukey to being a kidnapper?"

"Aww, it's you Pukey!?" Gabriella exclaimed, feigning denseness. "Why'd you have to go and do that? You've crushed my hopes and dreams." She told him, dramatically pouting for effect. "I was hoping for someone else to whisk me away."

"Maybe I should've kidnapped you after all." He joked after rolling his eyes. "You would've been more ecstatic to see me when I came to save you."

She laughed, shaking her head. "But then you wouldn't be able to have kids anymore." He raised an eyebrow.

"What, why?"

"Because I'd kick you somewhere really hard and make sure I damaged it." She responded, grinning innocently. She laughed abruptly at his look of horror, and patted his cheek trying to give him some comfort. "So, where were you all day?"

He groaned, lifting his hand out. "You do not want to know."

"Come on, it'll be fair if you told me, seeing how you ignored me the whole day."

"I was not ignoring you." Gabriella raised her eyebrow and gave him a blatant look.

"Pukey."

"Okay, I was." He relented. "But I had a good reason."

She nodded. "Good. You can tell me that, while as you walk me home." The brunette began walking down the steps, motioning with her hand to tell him to come with her. He chuckled to himself, before following and walking in step with her.

"You know, I never said I would walk you home." She shrugged in response.

"I know, but yet you're still here. Walking me."

He couldn't argue with that.

--

"So all this time, you were hiding in a bathroom stall?" Gabriella asked, laughing exceedingly. Something she had seemed to be doing a lot lately.

He nodded his head. "Yeah, hard to believe right?"

"Really hard." Troy snickered.

"That's what she said!"

His snickering came to a halt, once he felt a slap to his arm. "Ow! Now that's just rude. You do not slap your walking booty." She laughed and shrugged.

"I can if I want, Booty." She stuck her tongue out at him, laughing when he did the same to her. "Now. Please continue your story."

Troy pondered what he was talking about for a moment. "Basically…those girls have long, sharp, pointy, vicious, flesh killing-"

"-nails." He finished, smiling bashfully once he saw her look of annoyance.

She giggled at him, shaking her head. "I'm starting to think you have a rambling problem." He laughed along with him.

"Well, I don't talk much at home. So sometimes, it just spills out. I can't control it."

"Ah, ah, ah." He interjected before she could open her mouth and say anything. "You haven't won yet."

She scoffed and let out a breath of annoyance. "Fine, but can we at least do the bet tomorrow?" She questioned, looking away from the sidewalk, and up at him. "I'm dying of the anticipation!" He laughed.

"Let me find a moment where the nail demons aren't surrounding me, and I'll call your name, okay?" Gabriella pursed her lips for a moment, before relenting to his suggestion.

"Sounds good." She smiled, when they reached her doorstep. "But just one thing."

Troy stared at her slight blush in question. "What?"

"Can I have a hug?"

"Umm…why?" He asked.

"No reason." She ducked her head down slightly. "I just want to hug my Pukey goodbye," She finished awkwardly. "Is there anything wrong with that?"

He smiled at her nervousness, and lifted her chin up slightly. "Nope, there's nothing wrong with it."

He answered, gingerly bringing her into a hug. Gabriella giggled at their evident height difference, before wrapping her arms around him. She squeezed him softly, smiling when she felt him do the same to her. He unwrapped himself from her, and took a small step back. "See you tomorrow, Gabriella."

"You too Pukey." She sighed, a look of happiness, and a small grin invading her face as she watched his fleeting figure.

--

"Hey Troy?" Jacob asked, opening the door and stepping inside.

Troy looked up from his canvas, and glared at his brother for interrupting his peace and quiet. "What?"

"Can I borrow one of your normal shirts?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Why, tired of people knowing your true sexual orientation?"

Jacob stared at him blankly, shaking his head. "I'm not gay. If I was, I wouldn't be going out with Sharpay." He pointed out, making Troy snort loudly.

"Who knows? You could be dating her to get to that Rain guy, her brother."

"His name's Ryan."

Troy shrugged, not caring at all. He stood up from his desk, and went to his dresser. He sifted though his shirts, grinning when he found what he was looking for. He grabbed it and threw it at Jacob. "Here."

"It's pink." He groaned, examining it closely. "And it's ripped."

"So?"

"And it says 'Yes, Idaho' on it." He stated, looking at the shirt in surprise. Troy laughed at his reaction, and shook his head, shrugging his shoulders.

"Seriously, what's your point?"

"It freaking has a picture of a garden hoe on- wait. Is that a…ew. I can't wear this shirt. It's stupid."

"It's not stupid if it's true."

"It's not true!" He gritted out of his teeth. "I'm not a fucking hoe."

"Sure you're not. Now can you leave? You've got your shirt." Jacob was about to retort, when he felt paint hitting his face. He gaped at his brother.

"Come on!" Troy raised an eyebrow.

"Would you like me to make you pink to match that pretty little number you were wearing yesterday?" He asked, raising his bottle of pink paint to make his point.

Jacob's eyes widened as he held his hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll leave."

He groaned, as he left the room, wincing at the sound that was made when Troy slammed the door against him. He went back to his own room, and threw the pink shirt on his bed. He stared at the shirt he was currently wearing, and groaned when he saw there was paint on it. 'Another good shirt ruined.' He thought wryly. He took off the shirt, and stared at the selection of clothing for the next day, and sighed to himself. He really needed to purchase some appropriate clothing, and hide them from Sharpay. He looked at the Idaho shirt, and toward the shirts his girlfriend had purchased for him.

Another day of stinking in his gym clothes, it was.

--

"So, how's the weather down there?" He asked cheekily leaning over her.

She looked up and threw him an unamused glance. "Ha-ha. Very funny, Pukey." He only shrugged in response.

"No, seriously. I heard the weather down below is much colder than it is up here." Troy nodded his head. "Simple sixth grade science, Gabriella."

"I'm not that short!" She exclaimed, offended. "I'm only a couple of inches shorter than you at most."

Troy smirked at her, before standing up and bending his knees so he stood her height. "This is you." He told her, before standing up to his full height. "And this is me." He immediately knew he had proved his point when she barely reached his shoulder. "You were saying?" He asked cheekily, laughing when she nudged him with her elbow.

"Shut up."

"Why should I?" He nudged her back. "It's true."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She responded, rolling her eyes. "Just you wait, once we get out of high school, I'll get a growth spurt and be recruited to the NBA." She joked, closing her locker door. "Oh yeah, then you'll be sorry."

He snorted. "What?"

"Are you planning on getting a sex change in the future or something?" She gaped at him.

"Ew! No, why?"

Troy laughed, shaking his head at her. "NBA is for men only, Sweetheart."

"So? I'll be so tall; they'll be begging me to play." She exaggerated, blushing slightly when she realized he had called her sweetheart.

"Sure, and when that happens, Chad will willingly straighten and tie his hair back." Before Gabriella could retort, she was interrupted by the guy they were talking about.

"Hey! No making cracks about the hair!" He exclaimed, grinning jokingly, as he walked up to them. "It's a precious thing, and it has feelings too you know."

Troy and Gabriella laughed when he patted his afro. "I'll make jokes at your hair's sake all I want." Troy stated smugly.

"No you won't." Chad snorted, making Troy raise his eyebrow.

"And why won't I?"

"Because if you do," he paused, thinking of some blackmail he had on his childhood friend. His face brightened up when he thought of something. "I'll tell her about Skyler."

He laughed loudly at the look of horror on his best friend's face. "You wouldn't."

"Oh, I would."

"Wait, who's Skyler?" Gabriella asked in confusion, looking at the mortified boy, and the smug one.

"Oh, no one special." Chad laughed. "Just Troy's-" He was cut off when Troy covered his mouth.

"No one. No one at all, Gabriella." He interjected.

Troy scowled to himself when he felt Chad licking his hand. He immediately retracted it, wiping the saliva on his jeans. "Screw you, Danforth." Chad only rolled his eyes in response, and he scrunched up his face in disgust.

"Eww. What'd you do to your hand? It tastes like soap."

"Maybe because I washed it?" He retorted, continually wiping his hand to rid of any access germs.

Gabriella laughed at the pair's interaction. "You two are crazy."

"We are not!" They dignified at the same time, only making Gabriella laugh harder.

"But hey, look on the bright side, you-" She shut her mouth, when she heard Troy's abrupt singing.

"I'm coming out of my cage, and I've been doing just fine." He sang, looking over at Chad and handing him an imaginary microphone.

"Gotta, gotta be down," He continued, shaking his head in all directions. "Because I want it all."

"It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?" The brunette laughed as the two began taking turn singing the verses.

"It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss."

"Now I'm falling asleep, and she's calling a cab." She interjected before Chad could sing his part. "While he's having a smoke, and she's taking a drag." She finished grinning proudly.

Chad stared at her with wide eyes. "You know this song?!" He asked in disbelief, making a face that amused both Gabriella and Troy.

"Of course." She giggled. "The Killers rock out loud."

Chad shook his head at her. "Dude!"

"What?" Troy responded with laughter laced in his voice.

"She knows the song!"

He laughed, nodding his head. "Yeah…what's your point?"

"No one ever knows it!" He exclaimed, still staring at Gabriella. She squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze, as she looked at Troy for help.

"Just keep singing Chad." Troy stated, adverting his attention from her. "You can gape over Gabriella later." He smiled at her when she mouthed 'thank you' to him.

Chad rolled his eyes. "Fine. Just ruin my fun, why don't ya. I get to start though!"

"Whatever." The other two laughed as Chad began singing again.

"I'm coming out of my cage…"

She laughed as Chad and Troy continued to sing Mr. Brightside together. It was such an old song. But she had to admit, it had a good tune to it. Plus, it had been one of her favorite songs back then. In addition to all of that, it was absolutely hilarious seeing the two best friends belting out to it.

"…she's touching his chest now, he takes off her dress now…"

---

"Jealousy turning saints into the sea. Swimming through sick lullabies, choking on your alibis." She sang softly, sifting through her bag. "But it's just the price I pay. Destiny is calling me. Open up my eager eyes. Cause I'm Mr. Brightside."

"Hmm, you know. I never knew you were a mister."

She jumped in shock when she heard his voice. She immediately stopped singing and laughed at his statement. She quickly motioned for him to sit next to her.

"What's up?" She asked, wanting to divert him from talking about her singing.

"Oh you know, the usual. Just taking off some girl's dress while smoking." She snorted at him.

"So you're the guy I'm jealous of?" She asked, playing along as he chuckled.

"Oh, yeah. I mean, just look at me." He responded, motioning to himself smugly.

Gabriella shook her head, laughing. "You do know you're quoting from Hannah Montana, right?"

"I am?!" She almost died of laughter at his immediate reaction. She nodded at him.

"Yes! That's what Cody Linley says in a couple of episodes he guess-starred in."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I'm gonna kill Chad. I swear, he was the one who told me that."

"Chad watches Hannah Montana?" She raised an eyebrow, as he shrugged in response.

"I guess so."

Troy laughed loudly, noticing something interesting. "Wait a minute, I just realized something."

"What?"

"You watch Hannah Montana too!" He exclaimed, pointing at her.

She gaped at him, shaking her head quickly. "I do not!"

"You so do," He chuckled. "That would be the only reason you know that stuff. I mean, any other normal person wouldn't notice that, much less care." He pointed out, smirking at her angry expression she was currently adorning.

"Are you calling me weird?" She asked, with her mouth open.

He nodded at her. "Mhmm, got a problem with it?"

"Yes! I'm not weird. I'm abnormal." She stated, making him laugh even more. "Get it right."

He stared at her, shaking his head. "It's the same thing."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is- bowk." Gabriella was cut off effectively when he stuffed a brownie in her mouth.

He laughed cheekily at her angry face, and got up before she could do anything to him. She looked at him in confusion, as she chewed and swallowed the rest of the brownie in her mouth. She stared with question evident in her eyes, when she saw him standing three tables away from her. She raised an eyebrow, after seeing him wave to her excitedly and brightly jumping up and down.

"What in the world is he-" She muttered to herself, evidently being cut off.

"Gabriella!"

And then it clicked inside her head. He had started his part of the bet.

--

Gabriella walked out of the library in a fuming manner. The last two hours of her day had not gone so well. First off, she lost the bet with Troy. No one had freaked out when he called her by her full name. A couple of people had stared in them in question, but no one really minded. Most of them simply didn't care. After lunch, she had gone into her leadership class only to find she had forgotten her project at home. Then, when she went to her art class, Troy was nowhere to be found, and as was the teacher. The entire class had to be moved into the library for a free period.

Currently, she was walking out in the hallways. She inwardly rolled her eyes when yet another girl was glaring at her. When she had been inside the library, almost half of the girls inside had asked her about Troy. It was completely aggravating to her. What was so interesting about him, that all of the girls had to know? He was like any other new kid, just last week. It wasn't her fault that she actually noticed him, and had gotten him to warm up to her. Beside, she had only been hanging out with him for a couple of days. She hadn't met him formally until then. It wasn't even like they were best friends or anything.

She walked outside of the main corridor, and looked for a vacant spot to sit and finish her work. She really needed to get some last minute work finished. She finally spotted a vacant spot under a near by tree, and sat under the shade, taking out the materials she knew she needed. She opened up her math book, and began skimming through the problems when a gust of wind blew by. She looked at her surroundings, taking in the serenity of the area. She smiled softly; she had always loved the windy weather.

She turned back to her math book, only to see it was gone. Her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, before she looked up to see a hand held out in front of her.

"What are you doing?" She asked, as she reached up to grab her math book back, only to have it taken out of her reach. "Troy!"

He shook his head at her, amused. "Take my hand." He told her, waving his outstretched hand a bit.

"Why?"

"Just trust me."

"But where would we go?" She asked quizzically staring at his hand, before looking at him.

"Somewhere." He answered, chuckling. "I promise I won't kidnap you. Well…technically I am, but I won't hurt you."

She laughed softly. "Yeah, right. I'm pretty sure there's a big van out there, ready for you to stuff me in." He laughed in response, as he held his hand right in front of her once again.

"Come on, I just wanna show you something."

With one look into his warm eyes, she couldn't say no.

If there are any readers who are still out there, THANK YOU.

Haha. Seriously. Thanks to everyone who's still following my work, and are constantly PMing me, bugging me to work on this. Really. From the bottom of my heart.

Once again, sorry for any mistakes. I wanted to get this out as quickly as I could.

P.S. Reviews would be lovely. :)