"I was thinking how nothing lasts, and what a shame that is."
"Some things last."

Benjamin + Daisy; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

"Kelsi wants to talk. And something's telling me she doesn't want to get back together"

Jason's solemn voice was enough to break anyone's heart. Troy lifted his head from tying the laces on his white sneakers. The team had just gotten done with a late night practice and he had just been in the shower. There was nothing that he loved more was to get all hot and sweaty in practice and then go to the shower and feel the water refresh his muscles and build his strength back up.

Troy coughed trying to rid himself of the guilt feeling that he knew why Kelsi wanted to talk and Jason didn't. He looked to Chad and Chad raised his eyebrows, portraying that he felt guilty as well as him.

"What do you think it's about man?" Chad coughed.

"Evans probably" He said with bitterness laced into every word. "I know I said I just wanted her to be happy but I still love her y'know"

How much of an awful friend was he? One of his best friends was totally broken up about his ex and he knew she was planning on being with someone else and he didn't say anything? He was a shit friend. No he was worse than shit. He was the worst friend ever.

"I know" Chad commented. Like there was anything else to say.

"Has she said anything to you guys?" Oh no. This was where the bad friend thing had to stop. He couldn't lie to his best friend. He couldn't. He wouldn't.

Chad stood from his place on the bench in the locker room and walked to his locker. "Nothing I wouldn't have expected her to say"

That wasn't a lie was it? Troy silently thanked Chad for taking this one. He had never been a good liar. And he was thankful that he wasn't. He couldn't get into trouble that way right? Jason seemed to nod solemnly. Thank god he bought it. He was still an awful friend.

"Zeke how's things with the ice princess?" Troy laughed at the nickname Chad had for Sharpay and had the same nickname for years. Of course she didn't like it but it didn't matter, Chad was a wind up merchant everyone knew that.

"As normal as it could be" Zeke sighed. Looking up with depressed eyes. "She's been kinda distant lately though"

Jason's eyebrows rose. "That's when you know something's wrong"

Zeke sent daggers to Jason's figure and spherical face. "It's like she's thinking about something"

Troy's eyebrows narrowed in confusion. She seemed fine the other night when they were together. Maybe she was having second thoughts about the whole no strings attached thing. But there were strings attached they were head over heels in love with each other. Even if neither of them would admit it.

"Zeke why don't you just grow some balls and ask her the fuck out" Clearly Chad liked the phrase that involved growing balls. He had picked it up and he was using it all of the time.

"Shut the fuck up man. I have but she says she doesn't want to ruin what we have" Zeke mimicked the bits that Sharpay had said to him.

Troy let a throaty laugh escape from his throat. Troy never had understood why Sharpay hadn't gotten together with Zeke, she would go mental if there were any other girls around and he would if there were any other guys, it was like they were together. They just weren't official.

"So what's the point?" Jason asked. Clearly he was a woman hater. And Troy couldn't blame him. Fortunately he never had a girl cheat on him before so he didn't have to be a woman hater.

"Jason" Zeke scolded. "Unbelievable"

Oh yeah did he forget to mention? Zeke and Jason themselves were like a married couple. They always bickered always argued over the little things such as Zeke's relationship. Zeke had always said that he was jealous that Jason couldn't get a hot girl like Sharpay.

"What she calls the shots doesn't she? She calls you when she wants sex. You fucking go around like her little puppy dog. She doesn't like you being around other girls. And when she's around other guys, fuck. Does Jimmie not come to your mind? Troy had to hang out with him a full week just so you wouldn't get charged. What is the point?" Clearly Jason had alot of issues, and they all boiled down to the opposite sex who had a vagina.

Troy laughed at Jason's outburst. It was so bitter, so not Jason. But so fucking funny. Chad was doubled over in laughter but the ironic thing was that Jason was right.

"Jason you seriously are unbelievable. I love her" Zeke scowled at Jason. Jason's bushy eyebrows rose.

"Love sucks" Jason commented and slammed his locker with vigorous force causing a loud slam.

"You done?" Clearly Zeke wanted a black eye because Troy could see it coming.

"Whatever" Jason mumbled and Troy bent his legs beneath him and standing on his feet waiting for the rest of the guys to hurry up.

"So how's Gabriella, Troy?" Zeke asked changing the subject completely.

Troy felt his face flash crimson at the thought of Gabriella. To say he liked her was an understatement. Troy smiled tightly, but he couldn't help that. Every time he was around Gabriella, or let alone even thought about her a smile flashed on his features. "You spend as much time with her as me"

Troy knew that was a lie. He knew he spent alot of time with Gabriella, well when they were together as a group but he couldn't pluck up the courage to ask her out officially, well on a date.

Chad chuckled. "That's bullshit and you know it"

Troy chuckled nervously and reached up to scratch the back of his neck. "What do you want from me?"

Chad shut his red locker and picked up his gym back. "What I want? I want you to grow some balls" He paused and started chuckling. Clearly the saying 'growing some balls' made him laugh along with everybody else. "And kiss her; ask her out or whatever because guys, they want to be on it"

Troy felt a tinge of jealousy and rage through his veins at the thought of other guy's hands on Gabriella's small body. He wanted her to be his, all his. But he was fucking scared! "What guys?"

Chad sighed but in the distance he heard a giggle erupt from Jason's mouth. "Like me"

Troy felt his fists clench. He knew Jason was joking. And he knew that Gabriella was hot, she was hotter than hot she was absolutely stunning and he couldn't let anyone else have her. He just wouldn't. Zeke, Chad and Troy all turned to glare at Jason.

"What? She's hot" Jason asked rhetorically. For the last time HE KNEW SHE WAS HOT! He really didn't need telling.

"She is. She is. Bolton you know what to do" Chad instructed.

"Chad what are you getting my son to do?" Came the voice of a more mature man.

And he stood before them.

And that was Jack Bolton.

Jack was the coach of the East High wildcats.

Oh... and Troy's father.

"I want your son to get himself some balls" Troy's azure eyes almost jumped from his head in shock.

"I'm sure there's nothing wrong with my sons balls Mr. Danforth. Troy do you want a lift home? I'm gonna be about a half hour you're moms making dinner" Chad was laughing at his best friend's behaviour.

Troy coughed a few times to deepen his voice again as he knew if he spoke it would be in a high pitched tone. "Um, I think I'll walk. If that's alright with you?"

Jack nodded his head. "That's alright. Just don't tell your mother. She'll kill me if she found out I let you walk alone"

It wasn't that far anyways about a 15 minute walk. He'd be fine. He could get things into perspective. Like how he was going to ask Gabriella out, after all he wanted it to be perfect. Just like her.

Troy rolled his azure eyes behind his eyelids. "I'll see you guys tomorrow"

"See ya captain"

And with that Troy walked out into the new fall air that loomed in Albuquerque. It was so much cooler than it was the week before. Troy was wearing his snow white jacket with the crimson stripe down the sleeves and his number 14 and BOLTON across the back.

He felt the cold air tickle over his built muscles, and from the corner of his eye he could see the crisp orange, brown and red leaves starting to fall onto the pavement. His legs were starting to burn from the intense work out session and he secretly wished he had waited that extra half hour for his dad to give him a lift home. He walked towards the park where he knew if he walked through he could get himself home alot faster.

But the only thing was that, the park had a reputation. Everybody who was anybody knew that it wasn't safe to walk through it alone. But Troy could defend himself right? He just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. His stomach was starting to rumble as he could smell the scent of food coming from people's house's in the distance.

He took a turning and ended up at the playground.

And he had to walk through there to get home.

He looked down at the floor to see what he was walking in but he suddenly felt a magnetic pull. He lifted his head up, to look in to the distance.

And there she was.

An angel sat on the swings rocking back and forth. Her black slender eyebrows were raised and her kissable lips pulled together in a smirk. "You look lost wildcat"

God was she trying to kill him? Her sexy voice was enough to just make him moan at that moment. His lips broke out in a grin before he looked at her intently. She was bound to be freezing. Her arms were wrapped around each other to guard herself from the cold. Dressed in a beige oversized jumper that tied around the waist and a pair of shiny leggings. Her hair was pulled back from her face the first time he had ever seen it like that.

But she looked stunning.

But she looked stunning whatever she wore.

"You shouldn't be here you know" Troy attempted to protect her; she flashed her perfectly straight teeth at him in a smile. "It's not safe"

Gabriella's tiny hand rubbed over the muscles of her biceps. "And yet you're walking through here"

Well he could protect himself! She was a 17 year old girl and like he promised her that he wanted to protect her. "I can take care of myself. Besides I wanted to get home quicker, but seeing as in you're here..." He closed the distance between the two and sat down on the swing and kicking off with his legs with a little force and picked his legs off the floor feeling the swing starting to rock back and forth. "So why are you here?"

Gabriella sighed deeply and adoringly leaned her head to the chain to look at him more intently. "Wanted to think I guess"

What did she have to think about? His auburn eyebrows narrowed in confusion. "About anything imparticular?"

Gabriella lowered her head and he watched the black curls follow. Her boney shoulders that were only covered by a thin material shrugged. "Just shit I guess"

Troy was too caught up in the moment to realise that it wasn't safe her being here, anyone could jump out of the bushes and trees that surrounded them. Especially if they were to see a hot girl like Gabriella. "Come on. I'm walking you home"

Gabriella giggled before shaking her head lightly. "Don't you have to be home?"

He had suddenly forgotten about his male instinct for food and it had been replaced by his male instinct for her. Just for her. "I think my mom can wait"

Gabriella gazed down at his hand that was holding the chain lifting him from the floor. "I don't want to get you in trouble"

God could she be any nicer? She didn't want to get him into trouble so she was willing to walk alone. "You won't get me in trouble. I'll call. Come on"

And with that he stood from the swing and lifted the heavy gym back up onto his shoulder. Gabriella followed by standing on her small feet but wrapping her arms further around each other. Troy suddenly remembered that she didn't have a coat. He dropped the white bag onto the floor and lowered his shoulder to take off the jacket.

Gabriella looked at him confusedly before it dawned on her that he was going to give her his jacket. "I don't..."

Troy shook his head rapidly and wrapped the jacket around her dainty shoulders. "I'm a gentleman" He smiled earning one back in Gabriella. She grabbed the hems of the jacket and pulled it around her frame, digging her head into the material.

"So will your mom be pissed?" Gabriella questioned as they started walking out of the park and onto the street.

"Nah, she'll live" Troy laughed and lifted the bag higher on his shoulder. "You shouldn't be out here you know"

Gabriella chuckled and Troy noted how her hands were still rested delicately on his jacket. "I've told you this. Neither should you"

Her lips were curved upwards in a sexy flirtatious smirk. She was actually trying to kill him. "And I told you this. I was trying to get home quicker." He attempted to flirt back with her.

Gabriella's shoulders vibrated as a honey laugh escaped from her throat. "Yeah, well, you don't have to walk me home"

Troy ran his hand through his now dry hair and smirked down at the brunette who was walking so close to him, but he wasn't complaining. "I think I do"

All of a sudden Gabriella's dainty arm slipped through his that was resting in his pocket. Even though her arm was covered he felt the sparks bombard through his body. "I told you I'd protect you" Earning a smile from Gabriella. He could feel her arm shaking lightly beneath his white warm up jacket. "How long have you been sat out there anyway?"

Gabriella's shoulders shrugged loosely. "Just a few hours"

Just a few hours? Just? Jesus no wonders she was freezing. "Fuck Gabriella. You could've got hypothermia y'know"

Why was he being so protective over her anyways? Oh yeah because she was fucking perfect. And she was sitting outside in a deathly park for a few hours. Gabriella giggled. Was she never unhappy? She was always giggling or laughing, chuckling. She always had a smile on her face, even now when she was fucking freezing. "It's fine"

Troy shook his spherical head feeling the hair sweep across his face. "So should I be worried that you're going the right way towards my house?" Her graceful voice questioned before a throaty laugh escaped.

"I know this town" He told her before nudging his hip playfully into hers. "Are you accusing me of being a stalker Miss Montez?"

Her hand raised and lightly squeezed on his bicep. His heart started to beat faster. "What would you say if I was?"

Troy bit down on his thin lip suppressing a groan that was threatening to originate. She was definitely going to kill him. He felt his member twinge and she was only talking, just flirting with him. He could only imagine what it would be like to... Now Troy she asked a question. Answer it. Answer! "You wouldn't be complaining"

Troy watched as Gabriella's eyebrows rose before she bit down on her lip almost seductively. "I never said I would complain"

And then Gabriella's feet came to a halt. Causing Troy's to do so. He looked to his right and saw Gabriella's house right before him. The lights on outside illuminating the entrance making it look so inviting. Gabriella unlinked her arm from his and started to walk up the stairs and the long pathway to her home. Her body turned around invitingly and she moved her head swiftly motioning for Troy to follow her.

Oh no. She was inviting him into her house. Was he going to meet her family? He followed her up to the porch and stood watching him intently. This was it. Troy was plucking up every single ounce of courage he had inside of him to kiss her. Kiss her on her doorstep. That would be romantic right?

"So this is me" It was like she wanted him to do it. The way she was talking, just how her lips moved sexily even without opening her mouth turned him on. "Are you sure you'll be okay walking? I can get one of my sisters to loan me their car"

Troy shook his head. He didn't even know what his tongue was let alone how to use it. He had to kiss her, he just had to. "It's fine." He whispered his voice raspy but his lips were turned into a smirk. He looked down to her lips, they looked so warm. So inviting, like his own thin lips were supposed to belong on hers. They were parted slightly so he could see a glint of her sparkling teeth.

He moved his gaze back up to her eyes, her own stunning brown were looking in his piercing blue, the lust inferno spilling out of both of them. They then moved down to his thin parted lips and back up into his eyes. Confirming that she wanted him to kiss her.

He craned his neck forward and closed his eyes; he felt a slight wind as hers did so to. Any second now their lips were going to touch.

And then the front door opened.

Troy never moved so fast in his life. His head moved back so far he thought it was going to rip from his neck. Gabriella's face looked to the door and her face looked to the floor flashing crimson.

"I thought I heard you" The mature woman's voice explained. A grin plastered across her face.

Gabriella laughed nervously she seemed to be moving her arms and head anywhere secretly hoping that this would all go away. He couldn't believe it. He had taken Chad's advice to kiss her or do something and her sister had interrupted. Fucking great. "You're pregnant. Aren't you supposed to be in bed or something?"

Troy's head moved down to the bump sitting on the older woman's stomach. He was avoiding looking at her, he couldn't look at her. He couldn't even look at Gabriella.

"Gabi, I'm the adult. You're the one that should be in bed." Then she laughed. Clearly she loved making Gabriella squirm as her face was complete tomato red. "You haven't introduced me to your um" She cleared her throat. "You're friend"

Gabriella's eyes shut and her hand moved up to her forehead. "Alyssa this is Troy. Troy this is my sister Alyssa" She didn't even open her eyes as she introduced the two.

Troy smirked at Gabriella's embarrassment and extended his hand to meet the woman's and shook her head firmly. His eyes looked into hers and he was trying to say I wasn't taking advantage of your sister. Hoping she had gotten the message she smiled warmly to him. "Do you wanna come in Troy?"

Troy looked to Gabriella whose chocolate brown spheres were practically out of her head and lingering in the cold air. Troy coughed lightly trying to find his voice.

"No that's okay. I've got dinner waiting for me so..."

Troy could have sworn he head Gabriella sigh in relief. He had never had a sister but he knew from being told that they tended to embarrass one another and clearly Gabriella didn't want that. Not tonight.

"Okay. Well some other time then" Alyssa stated, still smiling warmly at him. "It was nice meeting you Troy"

Troy grinned back at the woman. He clearly couldn't call her by her first name. He had just been caught almost kissing her little sister. "Um you too"

Alyssa smiled at the two, her gaze switched to Gabriella. "Don't be long. There's ice cream calling your name"

Gabriella beamed at her sister her face had calmed down to a pale pink colour now. Looking like she had just got alot of blush on her cheeks. And with that the door closed. Gabriella's teeth sunk into her bottom lip.

"Sorry about that" She whispered in a slight laugh. A laugh that portrayed her nerves and embarrassment.

"It's no problem. I'll see you tomorrow though right" Gabriella immediately nodded, a breath erupting in relief. Maybe she thought Troy had gone off her now he had been embarrassed infront of her sister. It would take alot more than that to fight Troy Bolton from Gabriella Montez.

"I'll look forward to it" Gabriella nodded. "Thanks for walking me home"

Troy leaned his head in. Not to kiss her on the lips. He curved his head and his thin lips caught her defined cheek. Gabriella smiled warmly at him.

"Goodnight" She whispered with a smile on her face that he knew was threatening to explode into a beam.

Troy turned on his heels and started to walk down the garden path, he turned around to see her still standing there watching him as he walked away.

"Goodnight"

A/N: I almost nearly didn't upload this! Because I havent wrote another chapter but I kinda like the reviews sooo... anyways, the next update might not be for a few days or something because I'm not able to write! I've had an accident earlier yesterday, I was horseriding and I came off the horse, I've got cracked ribs, whiplash, ive hurt my back and my head 'severe' internal bruising so the doctor said. Anyway enough of the life story! I will upload but it might not be until maybe Friday? Or it wil be Thursday if I feel okay.

Anways make my day and review!