Author's note: Hey, guys, I'm really, REALLY sorry. I hate to make you wait, but you know, with all this university, and homework, and exams, and housework, and dog, and work… I'm having a very crazy period; don't have any time for the story. And, unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to update it any time soon (more likely, not before January, but I'll try, promise). Anyway, here's my new chapter, I hope you'll like it. Enjoy!

Chapter 10

Troy was deadly nervous (again! It was becoming a really bad habit!). He couldn't believe the day of the audition had already come, and the fact that they had just one practice didn't make him happy, neither did all those Keith's advices, which he bombarded Troy with in the morning. All this "work with the audience, let the music fill you, sing with your soul, act natural…", but this final "oh, and don't forget to enjoy it" really killed him.

All this was getting on his nerves. Trying to distract himself from all this worries Troy started watching Gabriella. She was repeating the lyrics of the song over and over again, wrinkling her nose, which she only did, when she was extremely nervous. Troy felt such an urge to come to her and to calm her down, that he couldn't fight it. So he approached Gabriella and took the papers from her hands.

"Hey, Gabby, you know the words. Don't worry. It's gonna be fine."

Gabriella just nodded absent-mindedly at the comment. She wasn't ready, they weren't ready. They didn't practice much, they practiced just once, for crying out loud! And now she was really freaking out. And she had the right for that; after all, last time she was on the stage, she fainted. She knew it would be better because Alex would be with her. But … And why did she agree to perform in the first place? Was it her idea? Or was it Alex's? Gabriella actually couldn't remember. But was it important? NO, definitely, no. As long as Alex was with her, nothing really mattered.

That was SO ironical! Just not that long time ago she thought how ridiculous and unreal Bella's affection towards Edward in "Twilight" was, however, now… Now Gabriella felt the same way to Alex. She couldn't help but think how perfect he was. She looked at him from the corner of her eye. He seemed so calm, so confident and so strong, with him she felt safe, she felt … do people call it butterflies?

Troy never went for an audition for musical, especially in the theatre. Actually, he has never been playing in the theatre at all. And shooting in the movies and performing on the stage were different things. He imagined what would happen if he didn't get the role. And even more, what would happen if mass media learnt about it. Yeah, fancy that! "One of the most talented actors of the last ten years" can't get a role in school musical. That's really funny! But not for him, of course. So at the moment, Troy was just a bundle of nerves. But now wasn't the time to show the nervous side of his, he needed to seem confident for Gabriella. And that's what he was doing. Right now he was like a duck swimming in the pond: still- on the surface, but moving its paws up and down- under it.

It was already free period, meaning people were already coming for the audition, and Troy with Gabriella were among them, however for now they preferred to be unnoticed. Ms Darbus already gave another speech about greatness of theatre and how people can realize themselves on the stage, then the audition began, but honestly neither Troy nor Gabriella paid much attention to it. Gabriella was busy admiring her boyfriend, while Troy was thinking about one thing he wanted to do. Finally he pulled something out of his pocket and hid it in his fist.

"I have a surprise for you." Troy said unclenching his fist and showing a small locket lying in his palm to Gabriella.

"Wow, Alex, it's so beautiful." She gasped looking at the pendant he gave her. It was made in the form of the half- moon. It was silver and very dainty. She immediately loved it and wanted to put it on and to never put it off. "Will you help me?"

As Gabriella turned her back upon him Troy gently put aside her hair and hanged the locket on her neck resting his arms there for several seconds.

Gabriella felt shivers running up and down her spine, as it always happened, when Alex touched her. She looked at the locket, actually she couldn't take her eyes from it.

"It was my mom's." Troy said quietly. He was brooding over it the whole evening, this locket meant a lot to him, and this brunette girl with chocolate eyes meant a lot to him too. Even though they knew each other only for a week. He wanted her to have it, to have something from him. He didn't know how she would react when she finds the truth about him. But somehow it was a proof of how important for him she became. "She told me it would bring me luck."

"Alex" Gabriella couldn't even find words. "I… Thank you."

She touched the pendant again, even with more love and carefulness, as if it were the most priceless thing in the world, and looked at Alex. There was some sadness in his eyes, but she knew it wasn't because he regretted giving it to her; it was hard for him to remember his mother. She couldn't believe Alex actually gave the locket to her, it was so important for him, and still he made this gift. It meant… it meant everything. Gabriella started smiling without even realizing it, she never was so happy in her life (maybe only when Alex finally kissed her).

Troy glanced at Gabriella. She was stroking his locket smiling to some thoughts. He wanted so much to know what she was thinking about at the moment (and why he couldn't read people's minds?). The only thing he knew for sure- she liked his present. It really warmed his heart.

Suddenly this idyll was ruined when Troy heard Ms Darbus's question if there were any late sign-ups, Gabriella heard that question too as she immediately released the locket and looked at him with panic.

"You ready?" Troy asked gently touching her hand.

Gabriella just looked Alex in the eyes, and immediately she found herself being hypnotized by their intense blue color, she didn't even realize how she started to nod her head. She returned back to Earth only when Alex took her hand; it made her trembling start with new force, but that was pleasant trembling caused by his touch, not by fear. Together they stepped in light.

"Ms Darbus, we want to try."

"Oh, well, Mr James and Ms Montez, welcome to our theatre."

They came up on the stage, Gabriella felt a little knob forming in her stomach. She wanted so much to run away, but Alex held her tightly. Gabriella even started thinking whether he was holding her to give her strength or to not let her run away. However, it worked both ways, as she was still on the stage and she even mastered enough courage to look in the hall- luckily, there weren't too many people left in the theatre. Ms Darbus, Ryan and a very angry (of course, someone was impudent enough to come to Her theatre without letting her know, that's a crime) Sharpay Evans were on the front seats, Taylor was smiling at her reassuringly from the centre of the hall, and there two guys in the back. She couldn't make out their faces, but one of them was Chad, it was absolutely impossible to mix him with anyone else because of his hair. However, she had no idea who was he sitting with.

When Troy looked at the audience, he almost fell from the stage. His eyes found Chad and, to his horror, Keith. When his friend knew about the audition, he got that crazy idea stuck in his head- he wanted to see Troy singing on the stage. Keith kept buzzing the whole evening and morning asking, almost begging Troy to take him to school. However, all these attempts remained futile. And when Keith finally agreed that, maybe, it wasn't such a brilliant idea, Troy got this feeling that his tireless friend has come up with some plan. After all, it's Keith- a person who does everything to reach his goal. Sometimes Troy really wanted to kill him (very slowly and painfully).

Kelsey started playing the first chord peaceful music of which made both Gabriella and Troy forget their fears and put away all the thoughts.

It's hard to believe

That I couldn't see

You were always there beside me

Gabriella just stared at Alex. He was even more gorgeous than usually. He was born to be on the stage, he was so… there wasn't a word in the whole Universe to describe it. She still couldn't understand why, how on Earth HE could choose her.

Thought I was alone

with no one to hold

Troy watched Gabriella singing and couldn't help but think again how fantastic she was. He was really impressed. Performing for the first time, being nervous, and still not showing it at all. She was amazing. Troy touched her hand making her look him in the eyes once again and then they sang together their voices blending with each other.

But you were always right beside me

This feeling's like no other

I want you to know...

I've never had someone

that knows me like you do. . .

the way you do. . .

They were facing each other, Alex, still holding Gabriella's hand, brought it to his chest. It was beating fast, as fast as her own.

I've never had someone as good for me as you...

No one like you...

so lonely before I finally found

What I've been looking for

The music was still playing when Ms Darbus started applauding.

"Bravo! You definitely have the leading role." As soon as she said that, Sharpay screamed and ran out of the theatre with Ryan following her. But Ms Darbus didn't pay any attention and just continued. "Ms Montez, I'm really surprised. Mr James, I have no words. You are born to be on the stage. Have you ever thought about becoming an actor?"

"No, actually, no." Troy answered slightly shocked.

"You should think about it."

"Umm, thanks, Ms Darbus."

"Gabby, you were wonderful." Said Troy giving a slight kiss on her lips.

"You also weren't bad, Alex." She answered mockingly. Then she added this time seriously touching her locket. "It helped a lot."

"Hey, Gabriella, that was awesome." Taylor ran up to her and pulled her into a hug. "I'm so happy for you. You guys, you were just amazing! Brie, why didn't you tell me that you could sing? And I'm your best friend?! It was so… so. Why did you hide it?"

"If you give me a second to answer- I'll do that." Gabriella laughed.

"Ok, Alex, I'll steal your girlfriend, if you don't mind?"

"Sure, but on one condition- you'll bring her back to me."

"See you later." Gabriella barely managed to kiss Alex as Taylor dragged her somewhere.

Troy watched Gabriella disappear with Taylor, and when they did- he went to his friends. He really needed to have a "friendly" heart-to-heart conversation and to say these "friends" everything he thought of them. As Keith and Chad were standing not far discussing something Troy just grabbed both guys and pulled them to the boy's room.

"Have you lost your frigging mind?" Troy screamed when they were there. "You want everyone to know the truth?"

"I told you he would be mad." Chad grinned at Keith not really noticing Troy's anger.

"Yeah, he's so nervous." Keith replied in the same joking tone.

"Maybe, he should drink some debilitant or some tranquilizers?"

"You really think it will help?"

"Guys, will you, please, shut the hell up! I'm serious!" Troy exploded.

"Troy, it's ok. Relax. Man, nobody saw us." Keith tried to reason his friend.

"And what if they did? Have you two thought about it? Before pulling something like that? GOD! Guys, this is my life! It's the first time when people see real me. I've never enjoyed my life like now, since my mom's death! And shirt like that can ruin everything! Don't you understand?"

"Troy, I'm sorry. I really am. I was a jerk." Keith asked sincerely. He really didn't want to upset Troy. It didn't even occur to him at that moment that they can screw everything.

"Yes, Troy, we were total idiots. Sorry." Chad joined in apologizing. "But just for the record, it was Keith's idea." He managed to duck from the guy's clip on the back of his head.

"Ok." Troy sighed, these guys were impossible, and he doubted something could change them. He had nothing left but to accept it. "Never mind. Just let's get out of here." Troy said indifferently.

Seconds after the guys left the boy's room, one of the cabinets opened.

"So, Alex IS Troy Bolton…"

As usual, tell me what you think!