Disclaimer- i don't own anything maybe if i did my mom wouldn't ground me hmmmmm just a thought which i hate by the way...being grounded i mean.

A/N- By the way i justed want to say Happy Birthday to mysupermanwillcome ...you mentioned it was your birthday month so here's to you. i dedicate this chapter to you.

Happy Birthdayyy!!!!!

Chapter 11- Changesssss

Soon school started and as school started Troy and Gabriella found themselves spending less and less time together. Troy's dad left and didn't come back. His mom didn't press charges maybe hoping that some fences could be mended later on or broken arms in some cases. Gabriella had started to fit in at East High finding a new best friend in Taylor McKessie who had immediately drawn her into the Scholastic Decathlon Team. Gabriella didn't understand why it seemed like as soon as school started Troy seemed to have no time to hang out with Gabriella. She barely saw him and he had even stopped working at the diner. She knew for a fact that Troy's friends didn't like her but she couldn't believe he would ditch her just because of them. Taylor would tell her that this was just the real selfish, conceited, lunkhead, basketball boy Troy.

It was the beginning of October and the past month had been hard for Gabriella as much as she loved Taylor she missed Troy. She had heard the homeroom announcements for ice hockey tryouts and she had checked the rule book over and over there was nothing that said a girl couldn't try out so there she stood outside the school ice arena ready to either humiliate herself or completely change everyone's view of her. She had brought her gear and was ready to roll. She opened the doors and walked down the stairs past the bleachers to the ice rink watching about 30 hockey players skating around the arena obviously running drills. She saw the coach standing in one of the team pit areas. Gabi dropped her gear gab alerting the coach to the fact that she was there. He looked over at her surprised and she stared right back. He walked over to her. He was a tall bulky man with a thick blonde mustache yet no hair on his head.

"You lost," he said looking over her curiously.

"If this is the hockey team tryouts then I am exactly where I need to be. My name is Gabriella Montez," she said sticking her hand out which he shook hesitantly.

"You do realize this is an almost all boy league right," he said.

"Yep," she said. The coach sighed heavily.

"I'm Coach Wilkins. What position are you trying out for," he said.

"Center," she said curtly.

"Hmmm very ambitious of you I like that. get suited up and get in there I'll send over someone to fill you in," he said and she sat down opened up her bag and started throw her gear on. She heard him yell to someone and when she looked up a guy she recognized from her chemistry class standing over her. He was tall and had shaggy brown hair that fell in his eyes and a smile that gave the feeling that he was always laughing.

"Hey I'm Nicky," he said smiling down at her.

"Gabriella," she said smiling back.

"You're from my chem. class right," he said sitting down next to her.

"Yeah," she said.

"I didn't know you played hockey," he said grinning broadly.

"Well I do. What position do you play?" she asked.

"Right wing…what about you," he said.

"Center," she said.

"Center whoa well you've got some tough competition," he said.

"Well I think I can take them," she said jokingly. He laughed and explained to her what they were doing. Soon they were both on the ice. The Coach had them run through a few drills then split them up into teams and had them play a few games by the end of the tryouts Gabriella was sweaty and sore but she felt better then she had since school had started. She loved hockey when she was on the ice she was at home this was her game.

"Well people good tryouts but you got to remember there is only room for 12 team members. Six of you will be my first string the rest substitutes. The roster will be put up tomorrow during lunch good luck," he said. Everyone changed and as she was walking out into the sunshine she heard Nicky come up next to her.

"Hey you were really good I mean really good the way you body checked Dylan and those goals whoa," he said.

"You weren't so bad yourself," she said.

"I hope you make the team it would be fun," he said.

"Yeah well hopefully it will happen. You are totally going to make the team though you were one of the best Wings they had," she said finally happy to have someone to talk hockey to. And they continued this all the way to Gabriella's house but instead of going home they went to the diner where for once Troy was but he was of course hanging out with Chad. Troy couldn't help but notice when Gabriella came in and he was surprised to see her with Nicky. He didn't know Nicky that well mainly because they hung out in way separate crowds. Troy couldn't help but wonder what he was missing out on as he saw Nicky and Gabriella talk excitedly.

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It was lunch the next day and the roster was not up yet and Gabriella was nervous. She was sitting with Taylor and Martha. She hadn't told either of them about the tryouts mainly because she was too afraid to say a word about it. Both were surprised when Nicky sat down at their table only Gabriella wasn't.

"I can't breathe," he said looking at Gabriella.

"Why hasn't he put the list up yet," she said watching the café door.

"Maybe we all suck so bad that he decided there isn't going to be a hockey team this year," Nicky said.

"Can he do that," she said and he shrugged as he downed his milk.

"Hockey team?" Taylor said

"Tryouts were yesterday and me and Nicky both tried out. The Coach is supposed to out up the list during lunch," Gabriella explained and Taylor shook her head in disbelief at her new best friend who just shrugged.

"Oh my god," Nicky said.

"What," Gabriella said.

"He's putting up the list," Nicky said and the both turned and watched as the coach put up the roster and walked out. They both stood up and with the whole café watching several people went to look at the list. Troy the realized what was going on, Gabriella had tried out for the hockey team. Nicky and Gabriella walked up but both stopped short of the list neither wanting to look.

"You do it," she said.

"No I can't… you," Nicky said and Gabriella stepped forward and looked at the list then turned around a huge grin on her face.

"Guess who the new Center and Right wing are for the East High Wildcats Hockey Team," Gabriella said.

"Sharon and Ozzy Osborne," Nicky said.

"Noooo us," she said.

"No way," he said and soon they were both hugging and laughing.

"Congrats Nicky," a voice said behind them and they both turned around.

"Thanks you. Guys got your positions," said Nicky to four guys standing behind them.

"You know it. Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend," the guy said.

"Oh yeah, of course. You guys this is our new center Gabriella Montez," he said.

"Gabriella this is Jeff he's goalie," Nicky said pointing to a big black guy, who was smiling at Gabriella making him looking gentle but still like he could kill her with a single movement.

"This is Quarter he's the left defense man," Nicky said pointing to a tall blonde guy with killer gray eyes.

"This is Reggie he's the right defense man," he said pointing to a gangly blued eyed brown haired guy who stood with a slant almost.

"And this is Will he's the left wing no where as good as me of course," Nicky said jokingly pointing to a guy with black hair, big green eyes and a smile that screamed bad boy.

"Hey guys," she said.

"So you're the new kid on the team," Will said.

"Yeah I guess," she said uncertainly she couldn't help but stare at Will who stared right back looking her over from head to toe.

"You were really good at tryouts yesterday," Reggie said speaking with a Southern tinge to his voice.

"Thanks you guys weren't so bad yourselves," she said.

"Why thank you Miss," Reggie said bowing slightly making Gabriella smile.

"Well best to get back to lunch hockey season means time to bulk up," Jeff said.

"Trust me you don't need to bulk up any Jeff," Quarter said.

"Ha-ha very funny Quarter you best watch your butt on that ice," Jeff said.

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"Why exactly are we going to watch hockey practice," Chad said to Troy as they both walked down the hall.

"Because I said so and you don't even have to come," Troy pointed out.

"Well maybe I am just curious to see what this hockey thing is all about," Chad said and they both walked into the hockey arena went down a little more towards the rink sitting on the bleachers.

"I can't believe she actually plays hockey," Chad said.

"Well she does," Troy said sighing.

"What are you guys doing here," Taylor said behind them.

"Watching some hockey," Chad said trying to appear cool and casual. Taylor raised her eyebrow at him and sat next to them watching the practice.

"She's really good isn't she," Taylor said as they saw Gabriella send a blind pass to Will who sent it to Nicky who sent it back to using a flip pass Gabriella who made a flip shot into the goal.

"Yeah she is," Troy said and Taylor looked at him knowingly and he looked away. They watched as the game continued. They couldn't help but wince when a guy named Freddy body checked Gabriella into the side board but she got up and kept going shaking it off.

Gabriella soon had her payback stealing the puck back and flip passing it to Will who scored a goal. Nicky yelled giving Gabriella a high five and she and Will hit their hockey sticks against each others. They watched as the practice continued and a body check sent Nicky flying but Gabriella went after the offending player and sent him flying with an incredible body check of her own and then stole the puck giving an assist to Will.

"Hey where the hell are my defensemen," Coach Wilkins yelled.

"What are defensemen," Chad asked and Taylor explained the fundamentals of the game to Troy and Chad.

"Whoa this is complicated stuff," Chad said.

"Not really," Taylor answered.

"Okay you guys practice is over shower up and be out here in 15 minutes," Coach Wilkins. A little while later the hockey team came out. When Troy saw Gabriella his heart sank she walked out with Will's arm around her and she was laughing at something he was saying and Nicky was smiling broadly at them. The team lined up in front of the coach who faced them surveying them.

"Well I have to say that was one of the best practices I have ever seen in my time at this school. You guys should be very proud. It seems new additions to the team are helping," he said smiling at Gabriella when he mentioned the later part.

"I definitely agree with you Gabriella is definitely one of the best players we have ever had and is I might add one of the cutest, too," Quarter said making everyone laugh and Gabriella blush.

"Okay Steven how about you hush your mouth for a minute," Coach Wilkins.

"Steven dude your name is Steven," Jeff said hitting Quarter on his back.

"You didn't honestly think my mother named me Quarter did you," Quarter said weakly.

"Anyways hopefully we will have a great season this year and remember first game is in 2 weeks time to get in shape and get your game up so no resting on your duffs. You can go now," Coach said. The team started to talk going up the bleachers laughing.

"Hey Gabi," Taylor yelled up to Gabriella making Troy wince.

"Hey Tay, I didn't know you were here," Gabriella said walking over to them. Troy shuffled nervously.

"Just watching you guys practice, you guys are really good," Taylor said.

"Thanks. Hey Troy, Chad," she said nodding her head at each of them. Chad nodded back at her. He still didn't like her that much but he had to admit she had game.

"Hey Gabi," Troy said and just those words rattled whole being making not want to be mad at him.

"Gabriella quick question," Nicky said coming up to them.

"Yeah what's up?" she said.

"Okay are you a vegan or allergic to anything I should know about," Nicky asked her.

"Um no why?" she said raising her eyebrows at him.

"Just checking because after every winning game the whole team goes out to eat so I have to make sure that we can all go someplace that agrees with each other. Like for example Reggie is a vegan while Jeff loves meat it's all about compromise," Nicky said smiling at all of them.

"If you start bothering her about her food preferences already Nicky we are going to find ourselves center less," Will said as he walked up to them. Nodding hello to Taylor, Troy and Chad his eyes coming to rest on Gabi who stared back smiling.

"Yeah well I don't want to go to a place that only serves pork and it turns out bam Gabriella's Jewish," Nicky said.

"What place only serves pork in this town," Will asked.

"It was an example idiot," Nicky said.

"Ok whatever see you guys later. Gabriella until tonight," Will said smiling his bad boy smile at Gabriella making her blush. Will went past them and went out of the arena turning around one last time to wink at Gabriella much to Troy's dismay. Apparently Nicky found this offense to.

"You have got to be kidding me," Nicky said.

"What," she said innocently.

"You and Will. Why, Gabi?" Nicky said as if he was in pain.

"What's wrong with that," she said of course Troy could think of a hundred things wrong with that.

"If you two were to have a fight our team would be ripped to shreds…shreds," Nicky answered.

"Don't worry this isn't going to hurt anyone," Gabriella said.

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Gabriella was in her room getting ready for her date with Will when Troy climbed up her balcony knocking lightly on the door before going in. When he saw Gabriella he felt his heart start to beat faster. She looked beautiful in a light pink sundress with her long brown curls going down her back. She turned and looked around at him then at the ground.

"What are you doing here," Gabriella said.

"Just coming by to say hey," Troy said.

"You haven't come by to say in almost a month," she said. He moved forward smiling at her taking her hand in his.

"Maybe I missed you," he said but he pulled her had from his taking a few steps back.

"Maybe I didn't miss you," she said.

"What," he said.

"You heard me Troy. Maybe I got tired of waiting around for you to decide that I could be fit into your busy schedule. I thought we were best friends but it seems like as soon as your "real" friends came back you couldn't drop me fast enough," Gabriella said close to tears.

"That's not true," he said weakly.

"Yes it is Troy. You and I both know it but don't worry I get it we are two totally different people don't feel bad," she said. Her phone vibrated on her nightstand and she picked it up and put it in her purse.

"Gabi," he said.

"Make sure you close the door on your way out. Bye Troy…bye," she said closing the door and going out to meet Will. Troy stared at the door for a few minutes his breathing shallow.

"I think I might love you," he said softly to the deserted room.

(A/N I am officially evil and I know troy said he didn't believe in love but don't worry in the next chapter he has a convo with our fav baker boy Zeke that clears up what's going on in his head. I am really sorry it has been forvever since i last updated but u hope you guys forgive me and i also want to say Thank you so much for your reviews from the last chapter there were great. i love reading your guys reviews they make me very happy. So Please read and review although you already read it so know all you have to do is click the purple button and leave a few kind words and I will love you forever lol also I wanted to know which Gilmore Girl character you wanted to make an appearance soon so please give me some ideas for that. Lets try for ten reviews again.)