Chapter 9

Recap

"Troy, I really, really appreciate it but you shouldn't have bothered to buy something that for someone like me. That's too expensive and I just can't accept it." Gabriella said, putting the bracelet back to the box and handing it over to Troy.

"Gabi it wasn't a bother to me. I wanted to give that to you as my gratitude. Never in my life have I encountered someone that worked so hard to help me for my benefit and not just hers or his. Gabi I bought this bracelet for you." Troy said, a little upset that Gabriella wasn't accepting it. He just couldn't understand why she had to be so nice.

"Do you give something to everyone that helped you then?" Gabriella questioned challengingly.

"No, Gabi. Just you because you're different from anyone else I've ever met. You're kind, friendly, smart and you have the most amazing personality. Not to mention, beautiful as well." Troy said as they both took a pause, Gabriella avoiding eye contact with him.

"Gabi, I think I'm really falling for you." Troy said as Gabriella froze and held her pen tightly. She didn't want any of this to happen.

End of Recap

Gabriella panicked inside as soon as those certain words left Troy's lips.

"Very funny Troy. How can you fall in love with me? You came here just last July and its only the beginning of September. You can't say I made you fall in love in less than 2 months." Gabriella laughed nervously, trying to joke around with what he just said.

"Gabi, I'm not joking around. I'm serious. I love you Gabriella." Troy confirmed and Gabriella could've sworn that her heart stopped beating for a second. She suddenly stood up and started gathering her books.

"Troy you don't love me. You told me that you loved Isabella and that can't change in an instant. You still have feelings for Isabella. I know that." Gabriella explained and Troy sighed in half frustration, standing up next to her.

"Gabi but—" Troy said but she cut him off.

"You two have been through a lot and she's your best friend. Look at it this way. What are you gonna do if both me and Isabella are drowning and you can only save one of us? Who would you pick? The girl you've known since you were small or the girl you've met just two months ago?" She challenged.

"I'll save you both." He answered stubbornly.

"You can't. But your answer shows that you do want to save her just as much as you want to save me right? There's nothing wrong with that but I know that you will save Isabella first." Gabriella said as Troy sighed.

"What do you want me to do then if that ever happens?" He challenged but Gabriella just smiled.

"Then you save Isabella and I'll just die." Gabriella shrugged, trying to go pass him but Troy blocked her and rested his forehead against hers.

"Then I'll die with you." He whispered which made Gabriella's heart skip a beat again. She stared at Troy's sincere eyes and gulped silently.

"Ummm… I got to go." Gabriella said, pushing him a little and walking away quickly.

"Gabi wait!" Troy said, running and blocking Gabriella from going anywhere.

"Did I say something wrong?" Troy asked, also panicking inside.

"No." Gabriella said softly.

"Then why are you running away?" Troy asked curiously.

"I'm not running. I just need to talk to Sharpay about something really important." Gabriella partly lied. She was planning on telling Sharpay what Troy just told her.

"Gabi I know that I surprised you with what I said. If you want…. we can just pretend it never happened. I can pretend I never said that if you want me to. Gabi, I don't want to lose our friendship." Troy said quickly, not wanting Gabriella to walk away and never talk to him again.

"You're not losing our friendship Troy. Don't worry." Gabriella reassured her, desperately avoiding eye contact.

"You are still watching the swimming competition right?" Troy asked hopefully.

"Of course… why do you want me to be there anyway?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"Because you've become part of the reason why I want to compete." Troy admitted, blushing a little.

"Ohh umm.. thanks?.. I got to go, Troy. Sorry. I'll talk to you later." Gabriella said and practically ran away.

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Gabriella searched everywhere for Sharpay until she finally found her in the canteen.

"Shar! I've been looking all over for you!" Gabriella almost yelled, receiving weird looks from others.

"What?" Sharpay asked curiously as Gabriella dragged her outside of the canteen and into the hall.

"Gabi do you want to tear out my arm or what?" Sharpay asked and Gabriella finally let go off her.

"You're never gonna believe it!" Gabriella exclaimed, somehow excited to tell her best friend the news.

"What is it?" Sharpay asked, also getting excited.

"Ok.. don't react or anything ok? Well… Troy kinda told me that.. he loves me." Gabriella whispered softly but Sharpay sure caught it still.

"OH MY GOSH!! Are you kidding?" Sharpay squealed.

"Sharpay be quiet!" Gabriella demanded because they were attracting a lot of attention from other students.

"What did you tell him? Did you say you like him too? Are you guys going out now? Where is he?" The blonde bombarded with questions.

"Actually.. I kinda ran away.." Gabriella said sheepishly.

"YOU WHAT?!!!" Sharpay yelled and Gabriella quickly slapped her hand over Sharpay's mouth.

"Shar! Don't yell!" Gabriella pleaded.

"What the hell Gabs? Why did you run away? You rejected him, is that what you're saying?" Sharpay asked in disbelief.

"Umm.. yeah?" Gabriella said.

"Why?! You like him Gabs! Why didn't you tell him how you really feel about him?" Sharpay asked in bewilderment.

"Because I'm not ready. Troy's my friend and I love him. I don't want our relationship to end up like my relationship with TJ. What if he leaves me just like TJ did? What if he just disappears without a trace?" Gabriella said, her mind filled with uncertain questions.

"Gabi, your relationship with TJ was when you were still playing Barbie dolls! This time, its real Gabs! Its Troy. He's not gonna hurt you like your friend TJ did." Sharpay told her best friend.

"I can't.. I just can't… Isabella would flip if she finds out. No doubt that Ma'am Clara would force herself to be part of this as well. They really want Troy to be part of their family. Its only gonna cause pain." Gabriella sighed sadly.

"Gabi, be selfish for once in your life! You always think about others! Heck you even think about people you hate like Isabella and Mrs Lee. What about you?" Sharpay asked as the bell went and they parted ways.

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Its been 2 days since Troy admitted his feelings for Gabriella. They talked normally as if what Troy said didn't affect both of them.
"You got 97?!!! That's amazing Troy!" Gabriella exclaimed happily. Troy had been doing really good in his assessments and exams which made her very proud.

"I know!! We're the best! We're the best!!" Troy said, doing her happy dance right in front of Gabriella who was laughing her head off.

"Gabi, thank you soooooo much for everything! I would never have done this without your help… without you.." Troy said, adding the last part softly.

"Of course you will… Isabella will get you there." Gabriella said as Troy sighed.

"Maybe. We're just friends, nothing more." Troy informed her.

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That afternoon, Troy and Gabriella were both called to the Principal's office. Gabriella was shaking a little while Troy desperately searched his brain of the possible things he could've done to get both of them sent off to the office.

"Its gonna be ok Gabi." Troy whispered as they both took a deep breath and opened the door where Principal Rose was.

"Good afternoon Principal Rose." The two teenagers greeted in unison.

"Good afternoon children. Take a seat." Principal Rose said with a straight face. After both of them have taken a seat next to each other, Troy quickly spoke.

"Principal Rose whatever happened, it was my fault. Gabriella had nothing to do with it! Its all on me!" Troy said even though he had no idea what he was really talking about.

"Troy what are you saying?" Gabriella whispered in confusion.

"Troy you don't need to claim that it was your fault because nothing bad happened. As a matter of fact, I sent you both here to congratulate you. You're really doing well in your studies Troy. I'm very happy." Principal Rose announced with a huge smile on her face. The two teenagers on the other hand, sighed in relief.

"Thank you Principal Rose. But I couldn't have done that without Gabriella. She deserves all the credit." Troy said, smiling at Gabriella.

"That's why I called you both here. Since I can see that Troy can handle everything himself now, Gabriella you don't need to tutor him anymore. You're permanent record will not be damaged." Principal Rose announced happily but the smiles on Troy and Gabriella's faces were completely wiped off. They looked at each other with a sad expression on their faces.

After the two left the office, they couldn't help but feel a little sad.

"Ummm.. My mom is probably looking for me now. I should go home. Congratulations again Troy!" Gabriella said with little enthusiasm.

"Gabi, you can still tutor me." Troy insisted as Gabriella stared at him in confusion.

"But Principal Rose said that you can study on your own now. Why do you want me to tutor you still?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"Because I'm gonna lose my reason to see you." Troy said sadly while Gabriella stared at him.

"Troy you'll still see me. I'm almost in all of your classes!" Gabriella said, trying to cheer him up but it wasn't really working.

"Its not the same Gabi. You know that." Troy said with sincere eyes that Gabriella knew she would get trapped in if she doesn't leave.

"Umm.. I got to go. I'll see you tomorrow Troy." Gabriella said quickly and turned her back on him, ready to walk away.

"Bye." Troy said with a sigh.

As Gabriella was walking away, she couldn't help but smile softly.

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It was finally the awaiting swimming competition and the swimming pool benches were packed. Everyone attended and even some people from West High were allowed to watch. The swimmers finally appeared and they were amazed by how many people were there, except one.

"Where's Gabi?" Troy thought with a worried look on his face. He looked around the place and saw Sharpay sitting with some of her friends but Gabriella wasn't there.

The swimmers which included Zeke, Andrew, Bruce and Troy, all stepped up to their respective lane and so did the West High swimmers.

"Gabi where are you?" Troy whispered as he put on his goggles. The umpire held the gun, pointing up.

"Swimmers! Ready?" The umpire announced and the swimmers bobbed down, ready to dive.

"GO!!" The umpire exclaimed as all the competitors jumped on the water.

As soon as Troy hit the water, a certain brunette walked in, desperately trying to catch her breath. She had been running late to the swimming area hoping that she won't miss the game. She looked around the place and found a seat right next to Sharpay. She watched as Troy suddenly slow down in the water.

"Come on Troy! You can do it!" Gabriella thought and suddenly paused.

"Wait! I'm not supposed to be cheering on Troy. I'm supposed to be cheering for Andrew, Zeke and Chad. What the hell am I dong?" Gabriella thought, a little shocked by her actions. Everyone continued to watch while Sharpay cheered and yelled for Zeke. Troy and Andrew were both taking the lead but Troy kept on slowing down.

All the swimmers finally reached the end and everyone cheered for Andrew who actually came first. Troy on the other hand, had a frown on his face as he quickly got out of the pool and stormed to the change rooms.

Gabriella clapped for Andrew and suddenly stopped when he saw the look of anger and disappointment in Troy's eyes. She knew he wasn't angry at Andrew, he was angry at himself.

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Troy was in the change room talking with Coach Rick.

"Troy! What the hell is going on? You were winning at the beginning but Andrew was still able to beat you. You were close to being the last one to finish Troy!" Coach Rick exclaimed, shaking his head in disappointment.

"I'm sorry Coach. I'll work hard next time. I just have a lot of things on my mind." Troy said, determined to do good in the following swimming competitions.

"You better Troy or else I'll kick you off the team! If we ever lose because of you, its guaranteed that you're out!" Coach Rick exclaimed with a frown. He suddenly saw Andrew and his friends cheering for him and he decided to leave Troy who was staring sadly at Andrew's medal.

"Stop moping for something that you can't change anymore." Mr Joel's voice suddenly came out of nowhere, startling Troy.

"Where the hell did you come from?" Troy asked, a little freaked out.

"Why do you always think about things that you shouldn't be wasting your time on? Why don't you focus on the things that are really important to you?" Mr Joel said as he held onto his mop and bucket.

"This competition was important to me! I worked so hard for it!" Troy reasoned but Mr Joel just shook his head.

"I don't want you to regret things when the time comes. Pay attention to the things that really matters Troy." Mr Joel said exiting the change room.

Troy took 2 seconds for Mr Joel's statement to register.

"Mr Joel what do you mean by—" Troy jogged to where Mr Joel exited but he didn't find anyone there at all! He frowned in confusion and took one final look around the place, wondering how Mr Joel could disappear that fast.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! I hope you like this chapter. Please review.