East High was a very spirited school as on game days people went all out in dressing up with the colors white and red in mind. And what really set them off is a win by none other than their basketball team. Everyone rushed down the bleachers and onto the court to congratulate them and no matter how weird Jason was feeling around Gabriella at the time, they always kept the same routine.

She would find him first as they would give each other huge hugs as the excitement was just starting. So even though Gabriella suspected something was wrong with Jason, she still went to him as she ignored all the other people around her. Once she spotted him and he saw her also, she ran over to him.

"You had an awesome game!" She cheered while throwing her arms around him.

He set her down after spinning around. It didn't matter if she lied to him in that moment because this is why he played basketball. To get a proud feeling in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't so that he could command people around, get popularity, or even win against the other team--even though those are all nice perks--but it was to get that accomplished feeling in his stomach. "I guess." He said modestly as if it was anyone else then he would be bragging about it.

A few cheerleaders walked by, and Jason's eyes were automatically drawn. Gabriella saw this as the air between them all of a sudden took a turn. She knew that he wanted to be with them right now, and he knew that she knew that. It wasn't because he was mad at her, it was because both of them knew that they would never be together like that.

"I'll uh…see you later Gabi." Jason said slowly as he would see her at the party afterwards.

"Yeah, yeah. Go mingle with the girls." She mumbled goodheartedly as he went off. They had a lot to talk about as Gabriella isn't stupid. She did know that something was off with him during the game. And even though he did have an awesome game, he just wasn't at his best, and she had a feeling it was because of the number on her skin.

Gabriella rolled her eyes while searching around the gym, and froze at seeing two icy orbs staring at her.

It was like the kids, parents, and teachers just parted for them as Gabriella slowly made her way over to Troy as to hide the excitement she had for him and the way he played. It's as if they were the only two there as the people around them were too wrapped up in each other to notice two people who shouldn't be together talking.

"Hey." Gabriella greeted in what was known to be a shy tone.

"Nice game Bolton!" A random person said while passing them and patting Troy on the back firmly.

"Nice three pointers man!" One of Troy's teammates congratulated him also as Gabriella smiled at how cute Troy looked with his cheeks tinting pink with all the excitement thrown at him.

"They make us seem like a hero or something for winning the first game." Troy mused as he caught Gabriella staring at him.

"Nah. You're just the person who scored the second most amount of baskets in the game." Gabriella looked at him seriously. "It was very cool to see."

"You think?"

"I know."

Gabriella was watching some of her classmates do body shots as they cleared off some of the counter in the kitchen to lay the person down so that people could be more comfortable.

Gabriella had an amused smile on her face as she watched Taylor lay down on the counter and Kyle the football player who asked her out at the homecoming dance get ready to take a shot off of Taylor's stomach. People were hollering and hooting all around as Gabriella took another sip of her beer before glancing around Zeke's kitchen again.

"Come on buddy, get in the partying mood!" Sharpay hollered over the music as she bumped hips with Gabriella. It was fairly obvious that Sharpay had her fair share of drinks already an hour into the party.

Gabriella forced a smile as usually she would be on the dance floor or talking with some other people, but when she walked into the party she found that she wanted to go outside to the back basketball court to look for a certain boy. A certain boy who she's tutoring as their conversation in the gym was cut short due to various different people rushing towards them and ushered them out of the gym to get to the party on time. As if they would miss anything. But Sharpay just had to insist that they had to start the victory off with a nice cold drink. And Gabriella couldn't resist.

"I am." Gabriella insisted falsely as Sharpay examined her carefully.

"You don't seem like it G."

"G?" Gabriella kinked an eye brow. "That's a new one."

"Well I like it." Sharpay said smugly as she looked around and perked up even more. "Oh look! There's the Fresh Fish!" Sharpay pointed like a little child.

"Fresh Fish?" Gabriella mumbled questionable as she looked at where Sharpay was pointing and saw Troy actually talking to Zeke. "Troy's Fresh Fish? Where did you hear that?"

"Prison Break season one. Duh." Sharpay rolled her eyes.

"That's for people in jail Shar. I think you need to drink some water honey." Gabriella cooed softly as she lightly put her hands on the blonde's shoulders and lead her around the kitchen island and to Zeke's fridge where she knew to be bottled water for the morning after.

"I'm not thirty for that." She resisted stubbornly.

"If you drink it then I promise we'll go talk to the Fresh Fish; not to mention your BOYFRIEND." Gabriella emphasized.

"Water me up G."

Troy had arrived at the party with a very energetic Chad. But as they had arrived they quickly were separated as each got pulled away by different people; much like how things happened between Troy and Gabriella. Chad got pulled away from Troy by some girl who was in their class to dance, and Troy was found by Jake and Dane near the refreshments.

But as people filtered in and out through the sliding back doors, the basement, and the living room; they got separated as Troy was meeting all kinds of various people. It was amazing at who actually showed up at some of these basketball parties. Troy must've had at least twenty people come up to him and pat him on the back while congratulating him.

Troy ventured out into the backyard and there he spotted Jason with a blonde cheerleader in his lap; basically giving him a lap dance. He had been so disgusted at seeing his half brother enjoying himself, and even more perturbed at finally realizing that it was Emma--the girl Chad was with only days ago--that he had to go back inside. He never meant to run into Zeke.

"Sorry man." Zeke apologized as he held out his hand in an offering.

Troy very hesitantly took it as they shared a guy handshake that no girl would ever understand. "No problem."

Both boys looked at each other awkwardly. Zeke had been one of Jason's closest friends for years, and he knew how Jason was around Troy. That's why whenever there was a confrontation between them, Zeke made sure that he was no where to be seen. He wasn't a physical person and hated being in fights as he was one who liked to hear both sides of the story.

"So…" Zeke drew out the word as he tilted his red cup towards Troy's own beverage. "That was some game, right?"

"Yeah. Like nothing I've ever played before." Troy agreed as from the corner of his eye he could see Gabriella; the person who he hadn't seen since the gym.

"I remember my first game like that. It's like you're on top of the world."

"Hey Zeke." Sharpay turned towards Troy as she walked over. "Fresh Fish."

"Fresh Fish?" Troy asked as Zeke avoided his eye contact at that. It soon became very obvious that it was a nickname for him. "A nickname?"

"Don't take it personal. It's what everyone calls the new person." Zeke tried to explain without putting blame on Jason or brushing Troy off as if everyone was against him. It was a lot harder being both of their friends than taking sides.

"I want to play pool Zeke." Sharpay whined as Gabriella finally came by her side carrying her barely touched water.

"Oh look! It's G!" Sharpay exclaimed happily as Gabriella winced and wiped her hand under her nose to clear the air. She had just gotten a clear whiff of Sharpay's breath.

"Hey." Gabriella greeted as her voice barely drifted over the music.

"What's up Gabster?" Zeke greeted happily, but he didn't get a response as Gabriella's eyes were stuck on Troy's icy blue eyes that never ceased to amaze her. There were so many things left unspoken between them as it was fairly obvious to Taylor and Chad that the two of them had an attraction to each other, as it was slowly being shown to Zeke and Sharpay also. Granted, Sharpay wouldn't remember in the morning, but Zeke could just feel the air shift around them as the two stared at each other.

"So we're gonna um…go play…pool. You two want in?" He asked as he knew that look the two were playing with. It was the look of they just wanted to be alone. Alcohol brought out the bluntness in people sometimes.

Troy ripped his eyes off of the beauty in front of him and shook his head as he had to swing his bangs out of his face. "Nah man. We're good."

Zeke was just going to sweep it under the rug. There was no reason for him to go running to Jason to tell him that Troy and Gabriella were talking. It wasn't like it was the end of the world.

"See you around then." Zeke said before draping his arm around Sharpay's shoulders and leading her off towards his basement where various noises were coming from.

They talked a little before the game. They made eye contact during the game. They talked a little after the game. But there was something different about this conversation as it was about that time the day before when they shared their first kiss.

Gabriella was already a girl who would speak her mind when the time was right. She was counted as being quiet and nice, but when something would happen and it was absolutely necessary to talk, she could. She was excellent at being the sane one in the group as she was probably the most rational one. But when alcohol was mixed within her system, she wouldn't wait for the right time. She liked to just get it over and done with.

"We need to talk." They both said at the same time as both of their eyes went wide in surprise.

Troy had been waiting. He had been waiting to see how she would react to the previous night. He hadn't planned on kissing her. That was for sure, but he couldn't deny in the pit of his stomach the attraction he felt towards her. He wouldn't lie. At first it was because of physical appearance. Who wouldn't find her attractive? But soon after he talked to her, he learned that there was more to her than meets the eye. And he didn't want to admit it, but with enough alcohol in his system, he was finding that he really, really liked her. And it surprised him since this would be the first girl that he truly liked since Lilly.

"Should we uh…go outside?" Troy asked as he remembered a little bench in the backyard that they could go to as it was situated close to the perimeter of Zeke's property and far enough away from his basketball court so that no one would disturb them.

"Lead the way." Gabriella said as they shared a smile before they ventured out to the backyard.

Troy couldn't deny it. He was nervous. Even with the alcohol in his system, he was on edge as there were multiple things that could go wrong. Various reasons having to do with Gabriella's decision in not wanting to pursue a relationship with him because of his half brother.

The nighttime air was surprisingly warm as the weather had been acting up lately in which it would be cold one day and warm the next. Gabriella was looking anywhere but at the back of Troy's muscular body as if she stared at Troy she was afraid that she would trip over her own feet due to being distracted.

No matter how brave she was feeling just seconds before when she suggested they talk; it all vanished as she came to realize that Troy wanted the same thing. If she was any other person then that would have comforted her, but it didn't as it was a scary realization that maybe something more could come out of this, and she really would need to make a decision between Troy and Jason.

"I know it's not the best spot, but it'll have to due unless you want to go for a drive, but even then that's not safe considering we've both been drinking."

Gabriella gave Troy a small smile. "No. This is fine." She sat down slowly as Troy sat down right next to her. It was an awkward silence as they were both looking straight and at the various kids near the patio in the back; a long ways away as Zeke's backyard was more like a park's playground cite. "This isn't even the Baylor's bench. It's their neighbors."

"Oh?" Troy asked as he sounded interested, but he was just buying time. It wasn't easy telling a girl that you potentially like her; especially with his messed up history with her best friend.

"They use it for second base when they play baseball back here." Gabriella elaborated for something to say.

They both sighed quietly as if taking in the nighttime beauty.

"I think we both know we didn't want to come out here to talk about this bench." Troy stated quietly as his thumbs continued to jab at each other in his lap.

"It was nice talking about it as a distraction though."

"At least we agree on one thing." Troy smiled as they both seemed to turn at the same time to look at each other. "That's a start."

"I guess it is…we're beating around the bush again. One of us is going to have to eventually talk about last night."

Each one waited for the other one to say something. Anything as once the ball got moving then it would easier to talk about as neither of them wanted to be the exact first one to talk about it. What if the other one didn't feel the same way?

"I've dated so many guys these past years." Gabriella said, and if it was any other night and she wasn't worrying about her mom, drinking at a party, and knowing that her best friend was acting weird for some reason, she wouldn't have said that statement like that. She would've told Troy in a more subtle way, but she just wanted to somehow work out what she was feeling as she was never put into this position before.

"Is this supposed to make a point or make me feel better? Because right now it's not happening."

"Just hear me out, okay?" Gabriella asked before she diverted her eyes away from Troy as she found it a lot more interesting and easier to look down at her hands than into his deep blue eyes. "I've gone on various dates, and I've had boyfriends more than I can count. I just…compared to last night, there was something different." Her voice was getting quieter and quieter as she was laying out all her feelings on the table. "Within our kiss, there was something that I can't even describe. It was short, it was sweet, and it was perfect. And you might think I'm a complete girl for saying this, but I liked it."

"I would hope you're a girl, or else we would have to have a very serious discussion here." Troy joked to keep it light hearted, but he couldn't as he saw her big brown eyes finally. Her lips were barely parted as her big curls were framing her face. "I liked it too."

"Where does this leave us then?" She questioned quietly.

"Well…I guess I can take you out later this week." Troy teased as if it would be such a big deal; which it was as neither one of them would admit it out loud just yet.

"And Jason?" Gabriella couldn't help but ask as it was starting to eat away at her again just thinking about her best friend and how he would feel about this.

"You want me to take him out too?"

"You know what I mean Troy."

He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "He's not my favorite person…by far." Troy added as an afterthought. "And I could probably make a list of why I don't like him, but considering you're his best friend, you're probably the only one who knows how he'll react. And I would help you deal with him, but it's probably not the best idea for us to be talking together anymore than we have to."

"He's gonna be mad." Gabriella whispered. "He's gonna be so mad that he's gonna hate me."

"No one could hate you."

Gabriella looked at Troy. "I bet you hated me before this year."

He looked away sheepishly. "It's not so much that I hated you. It's more like I only knew you as Cross's best friend. He friend who always stuck by him."

"And I'm still gonna do that. I may not like what he does or says, but he's been there for me, and right now he's going through something, and I'm not just gonna abandon him for someone else."

"And what if that someone is me?" Troy asked softly.

"Then sooner or later you two will need to get along because I can't be two different people."

Jason walked down the stairs as he had just left Emma in the bedroom as she was still getting dressed. He looked around the kitchen and instantly could point out any cheerleader as they were all still in their uniforms.

Various people congratulated him as he got himself a red cup and headed over to the keg for a drink. Jason spotted Zeke and Sharpay not far from where the keg was situated. "Hey dude, you see where Gabi is?"

Zeke by now had various other kinds of alcohol in his system, ranging from straight up vodka to jell-o shots. He was getting to the stage of barely able to stand.

"Yeah man!" He yelled extra loud to be heard over the music. "She's downstairs playing pool with Bolton!"

Jason's eyes narrowed as he thought he heard wrong. Bolton? Jason took a big gulp of his drink and finished it off within that time. He crinkled his cup and tossed it perfectly into the garbage can near the counter. He headed towards the basement door and down the stairs.

He knew he was distant with Gabriella lately, and that he was busy at the beginning of the party, but going off with the enemy? First they were hanging out at the library, but now they're actually hanging out at Zeke's house together? That was a big step in Jason's book.

He looked around as his eyes clouded over due to the smoke coming from cigarettes as people were allowed to smoke in the basement. The TV was on with a sports game on, the music from upstairs could be heard very little, and various different people were downstairs as usually this was the part of the house that was used for when Zeke held a party, but due to the good weather, most of the people were outside.

Jason saw Gabriella, Chad, some girl who he assumed Chad was here with, and Troy playing pool. They were all laughing about something as they didn't even notice that he came down the stairs. To Jason it seemed as if no one else down in the basement was noticing how weird and wrong it was for Gabriella to be conversing with Troy Bolton.

It was now the time to confront her about what he saw. There was no other time to do it as it wasn't a conversation he could put down on paper and pass to her during homeroom. It wasn't something he could bring up casually. It was something that scared the shit out of him as he didn't want to admit to himself that something was happening to Gabriella's and his friendship.

Things were changing; whether he thought they were for the better or worse, and he couldn't stop it. And even though it was the healthy way to talk about things, he all of a sudden didn't want to. Watching his best friend look so happy as if it was the most natural thing to do--laugh with Troy Bolton--she looked absolutely happy, as if there was nothing else wrong between them.

And he felt like he was losing her.

It was Gabriella who in the midst of listening to Chad tell a story and trying to knock a striped ball into one of the holes who noticed that someone was watching them. She felt eyes burning themselves into her body and she knew exactly who it was. She knew this would get around sooner rather than later as that was the reason why she stopped drinking when her and Troy came back inside over thirty minutes prior.

"Jason." Gabriella stated softly as that instantly got Troy's attention and he too stopped laughing to look up. Chad and his date, Molly soon caught on to what was about to happen.

"I'm gonna head out Gabriella." He stated before starting to leave.

"Jason don't do this." Gabriella pleaded as she instantly went after him; leaving Troy, Chad, and Molly behind.

"Don't do what?" He turned on her before they reached the steps; anyone who was in the basement could hear them.

"Don't walk away. You always do that!" Gabriella exclaimed as they both narrowed their eyes at each other.

"That's because it keeps me from saying things you don't want to hear." He snapped before continuing his walk up the stairs with Gabriella right on his heels. Jason had to push through several people to get near the front door. He heard his name being called out by some of the guys he usually hung out with, but he didn't stop or acknowledge them as he just kept on walking towards the front door.

Gabriella followed closely behind. It wasn't that she was angry. She was more so worried what this would do to their friendship. She knew what she was getting into as she was the one to suggest to Troy that they go play pool TOGETHER. It was a game in Zeke's basement where anyone could walk in and see them conversing together. She just didn't expect Jason to be one of those people.

"Where are you going?!" Gabriella shouted after him as they walked down the long pathway towards the street where cars lined the whole block.

"I'm going home. I'd rather deal with my father's bullshit than watch you with him." He snarled.

Gabriella spotted Jason's car up ahead and jogged to get in front of him as to stop him before he could actually reach it. She looked up at him through her big brown eyes and basically pleaded.

"Jason, please just talk to me for a minute."

"I can't." He said simply. It came out a lot more huskier than what he planned.

"Why not?" Her small voice asked as her eyes glossed over just thinking about the situation she got herself into.

Jason couldn't yell anymore as just by looking at his best friend and seeing the unshed tears in her eyes was enough to tell him to calm down.

"Because you're with him. Because you could have ANYONE else and you choose Bolton to hang out with. Because I saw you at the library with him last week and you were happy. But most importantly, because you lied to me. And it was tearing me up inside."

"Why didn't you tell me you knew?" Gabriella asked meekly while staring down at the ground; wishing it would swallow her whole as she was so naïve to think that her tutoring Troy wouldn't somehow get back to Jason.

"Because despite the fact that I can't stand the guy, I'm not stupid. I saw how happy you were. I heard you laughing, and it's been so rare to hear that in public since your mom and her brain tumor, and I just couldn't take that away from you."

"As oppose to right now and you walking out?" Gabriella snapped harshly.

"Yeah. Because that still doesn't dismiss the fact that you lied. I would've understood if you came to me and said 'I'm happy with Troy Bolton' and I wouldn't have liked it, but I would've learned too."

"You shouldn't have to learn too." Gabriella informed him with a darker tone to her voice. "And it was just tutoring. I told him that I wouldn't tell anyone because it was just tutoring!"

"Was? As in past tense?"

Gabriella looked at Jason through her glossed over eyes. She couldn't lie to him anymore.

"I can't help it Jase. I really, REALLY like him." She sounded desperate.

"I can't believe this is happening. You do realize that he has been our enemy since like, the first grade?"

Gabriella glared. "No. He's been YOUR enemy since the first grade. I've only known him for a couple of weeks.

"Good luck with that." Jason's tone did anything but wish her luck. "I have to go. I need some time to think."

"Fair enough." Gabriella said defeated. Jason and Gabriella shared one last look, and it was in that one look that Gabriella saw hurt, confusion, and sadness in his eyes. It was reciprocated in her own. "And Jason?"

Jason stopped before opening his car door and looked up again. "Yeah?"

"You played a good game tonight."

Author's note--I am so amazed at all the reviews I'm getting for this story. I never knew that so many people would like it. Thank you and feel free to reveiw again. They always give me that extra boost to want to write.