A/N: Oh my goodness, I am overwhelmed by the amazing response I've had to my first fan fic on You are all so incredibly sweet to take time out and leave me feedback and encouraging me. I really am trying to be true to the characters and make things as realistic as possible. I don't think I need to make Troy into some kind of out-of-control crazy person for Ryella to work. I hope you enjoy this chapter :) R&R!

The Highest Bidder – Chapter 12

Kelsi got up from her seat to join Gabriella and Taylor. She had a bad feeling about Troy and Ryan being alone together.

Taylor looked over at Chad. He looked just as fearful as she did about what was going to happen.

Gabriella directed her attention to the cause of the situation. "Sharpay, why did you do that?"

Sharpay rolled her eyes. "Do what?" she replied, acting oblivious.

"Don't play dumb," Gabriella snapped back.

"Although I am sure it comes naturally to you," Taylor interjected.

Sharpay glared at both of them, but a smile spread across her lips. "Hey, I'm not the reason Troy Bolton wants to kill my brother. So if anything happens to occur while they are by themselves, it's on Gabriella."

"Don't you care about Ryan at all?!" Gabriella hissed.

"Apparently you do," Sharpay proclaimed, tilting her head with a smug grin.

All eyes turned to Gabriella at that comment. Getting out of her seat, Gabriella was ready to slap the smug look off of Sharpay's face.

"Ms. Montez!" Ms. Darbus shouted. "Get back to your seat immediately."

Kelsi quickly pulled Gabriella back to her seat. "It's not worth it," Kelsi whispered to her friend.

"But I bet it'd feel good," Taylor commented.

Gabriella sat down but her eyes still blazed with anger.

Meanwhile, in the hallway, Troy and Ryan were walking toward the auditorium, a wide gap between them.

"So are you still going to try out for the musical?" Ryan asked, knowing he shouldn't but too concerned for Gabriella to hold back. After seeing the disappointment in her face when Ms. Darbus announced the pep rally and pairs audition conflict, he wanted to make sure that Troy would still be there for Gabriella.

"That's none of your business," Troy growled in reply.

"Gabriella is really looking forward to being a part of the musical," Ryan pointed out.

"Stop, Ryan," Troy said, irritation growing as he started walking faster. "You really don't want to keep talking right now."

Ryan could hear the warning in Troy's voice but for some reason he couldn't keep his mouth shut. Picking up speed to catch up with Troy, Ryan added, "She's going to be really disappointed if you don't try out with her."

"Ryan . . ." Troy warned him again.

"She really loves singing," Ryan continued. "She's so good at it, but it's easy to see how much she loves it too. She could be focused on Academic Decathlon or something else, but singing means a lot to her. She just lights up when she sings." By now he was just rambling.

Troy took a deep breath, feeling every nerve in his body tighten with anger.

"I mean even after the stuff that happened this summer, I am sure she still wants to audition with you," Ryan said, finally catching up with Troy.

"She's MY girlfriend," Troy said, nearly shouting and turning abruptly. Eye to eye with Ryan, Troy gritted out, "Stop acting like you know her better than I do!"

"Th-that's not what I'm doing," Ryan denied, sincerely surprised.

"Ryan, I can see exactly what you're doing," Troy argued. "I don't need you telling me how my girlfriend feels." He turned and started stomping toward the auditorium.

"Maybe if you paid attention to Gabriella I wouldn't have to."

Troy's head snapped back instantly. A thick tension enveloped the hallway.

As soon as the words went flying out of his mouth, Ryan regretted saying it. He had no idea what possessed him to make such an inflammatory statement and his face turned white realizing what he just did. He pinched himself, but unfortunately, this time it wasn't a dream. Looking up at Troy, he apologized sincerely, "Look, I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that. I am just trying to look out for Gabriella, that's all."

"Well, don't," Troy snarled. "I'm her boyfriend. I'll look out for her." Troy continued walking toward the auditorium, his hands tightened into fists, barely containing his anger.

Ryan stopped walking. "Troy, I am not going to go after Gabriella. We're just friends." He felt it had to be said.

Troy turned on his heel. "Do you think I'm stupid? I know you want Gabriella for yourself."

"Gabriella's a great girl but she's with you. She wants to be with you. I would never try to break you two up," Ryan said. "I want her to be happy."

"Don't try to act all noble, Evans," Troy said, the muscles in his neck tightening.

"If being noble means caring about Gabriella, it's not an act," Ryan replied softly.

Feeling his anger overcome his restraint, Troy shoved Ryan against the lockers.

The sound of Ryan's body banging against the lockers echoed down the hallway, causing a few classroom doors to fly open.

The sensation of pain running along his backside caused Ryan's sense of self control to snap. "So what if I did like Gabriella?" Ryan asked rhetorically. "She loves YOU, Bolton. She chose YOU."

Troy's jaw dropped, shocked at Ryan's nerve.

Ryan clenched his fists, frustrated that the most amazing girl he had ever met was with the most oblivious jock he had ever met. "She would break her own heart to make you happy. Do you even know what you have?" Ryan spat at Troy.

"I love Gabriella," Troy stated, his eyes ablaze with anger. "Don't pretend you know what Gabriella and I share."

"You treat her like you own her. She is the most talented, kind, beautiful and intelligent girl in the world and you don't even appreciate her!" Ryan shouted, feeling anger he didn't know he felt rise up in his voice.

Troy's eyes grew wide with rage. "I knew it! I knew you were after her the moment I saw you two at the country club," Troy stated fiercely, jabbing his finger against Ryan's chest.

"Maybe instead of being worried about me, you should give Gabriella the respect she deserves and quit going out with my sister," Ryan countered.

The classroom hallways started to fill with East High students who were curious about the confrontation.

Troy's eyes turned dark and his hands clenched tightly. Ryan was a dead man. Troy raised his fist but before he could act, he felt himself being pulled back by two guys.

"Troy, get yourself together, man," Chad said, dragging Troy away from Ryan.

"You need to chill," Jason agreed. He had heard the commotion outside his homeroom and was surprised to find the team captain ready to punch out the Drama Club Co-President.

Troy shoved off his two friends. Realizing he had an audience, he turned and stomped angrily down the hallway.

Gabriella pushed her way through the crowd even though she was afraid of what she might find. By the time she got into the hallway, Troy was gone and Ryan was standing alone near the lockers.

All eyes were focused on Ryan who was standing nervously with his hands in his pockets. He had been on stage many times, but for once he didn't want the attention.

"Ryan, what happened?" Chad asked.

Ryan sighed. "Nothing."

"Students! Students!" Ms. Darbus shouted, entering the hallway. "Back to your classrooms immediately or you will ALL be in detention."

The students who had gathered in the hallway quickly rushed into their respective classrooms, knowing that Ms. Darbus would carry through with her threat. Gabriella felt herself being pulled back towards homeroom, though she wanted to find out what had happened.

"Go help Troy get some tables from the auditorium," Chad instructed Jason.

Jason nodded and ran down the hallway towards the auditorium.

Chad threw his arm around Ryan and asked, "Are you okay, man?"

Ryan winced, causing Chad to drop his arm. "I'm fine," Ryan lied.

Chad shook his head. "It's really bad for your health to go after another guy's girl."

Ryan smirked. "I'm not after Gabriella. I just think she deserves better from Troy."

"Better from Troy or better than Troy?" Chad questioned.

"Gabriella loves him. Who can be better for her than the guy whom she loves?" Ryan asked with his signature smile plastered on his face.

The defeat in Ryan's eyes was not lost on Chad though. Chad threw up his hands. "Hey I don't pretend to understand women, but just like you and I, they don't always know what's best for them."

Ryan looked quizzically at Chad. "Not what I thought you were going to say."

Chad chuckled. "Troy is my best friend, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he does. Maybe he and Gabriella just need some time apart. We're too young to be this serious anyway."

Ryan laughed. "Now that sounds more like you."

Just then the school bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom and the beginning of second period.

People started to leave Ms. Darbus' classroom just as Ryan and Chad made it back. Taylor looked questioningly at Chad, but he simply shook his head. Kelsi walked out, breathing a sigh of relief to see that Ryan was still intact. Sharpay left next, a satisfied grin on her face as she walked past her brother. She was followed by Zeke who gave Ryan a sympathetic smile before heading to his next class.

After the last few students left, each giving Ryan a token look of curiosity, Ryan and Chad walked into the room.

Ms. Darbus welcomed Ryan back with crossed arms and an angry glare over the top rim of her glasses. "I hope this behavior does not repeat itself, Mr. Evans."

"Of course not, Ms. Darbus," Ryan replied quickly.

Ms. Darbus gave Ryan a look of skepticism, but gathered her things and got up from her desk. She walked toward the door, but not before whispering to Ryan, "I hope you got in a good one for the Drama Club." Winking, she left the classroom.

Ryan's jaw dropped, surprised by Ms. Darbus' reaction.

Chad looked at Ryan and shrugged, not even attempting to figure out the drama teacher. He grabbed his bag and got up to leave, but noticed that Gabriella was still in the room. He was unsure whether to leave Ryan alone with Gabriella or not. Time alone might escalate the already volatile situation between Troy and Ryan. However, as the warning bell rang, Chad knew he couldn't be late to his next class. "See you later," he said to Ryan as he left hesitantly. Patting his friend's shoulder, he whispered, "Good luck."

Ryan nodded and watched Chad disappear into the hallway.

"What happened?" Gabriella asked as soon as Chad was gone.

"Nothing," Ryan smiled. "Troy and I were just having a debate about whether Sharpay or Darbus was more delusional." Ryan laughed uncomfortably, getting his bag from behind his seat.

Gabriella ran up to him and grabbed his shoulder, stopping him from leaving. "Don't joke about this, Ryan. Tell me what happened."

Ryan winced from the pressure on his bruised shoulder, but he forced his face to relax before turning to face Gabriella. "Really, it was nothing," Ryan insisted. "You should go."

Gabriella shook her head. "No, Ryan. If Troy did something to you, I want to know."

Ryan smiled softly, amazed at the kindness in her voice. "Look, Gabriella. Troy doesn't like me. We both know that."

"Did he hurt you?" Gabriella asked, a soft expression in her eyes.

"No, I'm fine," Ryan lied. Standing up tall as proof, he stated, "See?"

Gabriella eyed him skeptically.

Ryan shrugged. "I have to go or I'll be late for class."

Gabriella sighed, knowing that he was hiding something from her. Giving him one last glance, she said, "I'll see you later." Clutching her book, she walked past him and left the room.

Ryan took a deep breath and let it out, relieved that Gabriella couldn't see the guilty look on his face. Troy was right. He did want Gabriella for himself. He just had to figure out how to stop.