DISCLAIMER: I do not own High School Musical or any related characters.

A/N: Okay, good news first. Exams are almost over! I have one more to go and then I'm home free, also school finishes next week. The bad news, although school finishes my sport commitments don't so I'll work on the story in between all of my sport. Any way I hope you'll like this chapter!

Chemicals React

CHAPTER 12

WHEN HAVE YOU EVER?

Gabriella sighed as she walked through the doors of East High. Her mind kept on returning to the previous day and, more importantly, Troy. She couldn't keep a small smile from slipping onto her face as she thought about his hand running through her hair. It had felt so nice, so, so nice. A small giggle escaped her as her locker came into view. Gabriella had never actually met anyone who could make her feel this, well whatever she was feelings she hadn't actually felt it before. Gabriella felt so……giggly and giddy. Not that it was actually going to last, Troy had a habit of managing to get her really annoyed within ten seconds of being around her. Gabriella grinned as she pulled open her locker.

"Hey Gabriella," Taylor's voice made Gabriella jump.

"Hey Tay, how are you?" Gabriella asked and honestly expected Taylor to start to cry or pour her heart out, instead she sighed and Gabriella turned to look at her.

"I'm okay, I'm over it." Taylor said sounding neutral and Gabriella studied her closely. She was lying, it was obvious, but Gabriella could also see some resilience and knew that while she was not over what had happened, she was doing her best and trying hard to get over it.

"Okay," she nodded and tried to sound convinced.

"I'm fine Gabi, really, you don't have to worry." Taylor insisted knowing that her friend didn't believe her at all. Gabriella nodded again, turning back to her locker and then spun back around when she heard Taylor's sharp intake of breath. Gabriella shot her an odd look when she saw that no-one they knew was standing there. Turning back to her lock, Gabriella reached into it, in search of her notebook. Suddenly, she felt someone poke her and she jumped, her hand hitting the top of her locker.

"TROY BOLTON I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" she yelled spinning around to slap his chest.

"Sorry," Troy laughed and she hit him again.

"That wasn't funny, first you bruise my knee and now you bruise my arm! Are you intent on torturing me physically and mentally?" Gabriella snapped at him and Troy shrugged.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" he replied and Gabriella rolled her eyes and turned back to her locker.

"If you feel the need to annoy me more then yes, I really want you to answer that." she replied sarcastically and turned back to him.

Gabriella suddenly realized that both Chad and Taylor were standing next to each other, looking the opposite way and realized how awkward the situation was. Especially since both Troy and Gabriella had forgotten that they were both standing there.

"Hi Chad," Gabriella greeted him and Chad grunted, Gabriella exchanged a glance with Troy and then looked at Taylor.

"Gabriella, can we go?" Taylor asked and Gabriella nodded.

"Um, can you meet me in the library at lunch and we'll put the assignment together then okay?" she said to Troy and he nodded.

"Alright, I'll see you then," Troy nodded and Gabriella smiled as she watched him drag Chad off.

"Sorry Tay, we kind of got carried away." Gabriella apologized to her friend who was still looking at the ground.

"It's okay." She replied and Gabriella bit her lip, unsure whether or not to believe her friend.

"Are you sure your okay?" Gabriella asked very concerned at the fact that her friend hadn't screamed at her for ignoring her and even more concerned that she hadn't started on her about the way she and Troy was acting.

"Gabriella I'm fine! Honestly, I'm just tired that's all," Taylor exclaimed and then wanted to take back what she said when her friend recoiled.

"Alright, I was just checking, you're kind of quiet," Gabriella held her hands surrendering to her friend.

"I'm fine, let's just get to class," Taylor said and Gabriella nodded and decided that it was better to let it go then to push her friend any further.

Gabriella turned the page quietly and began to read. He was late. Very late in fact. Suddenly she cracked a grin, truthfully if Troy was early she'd be very worried. She supposed it was one of his traits, along with annoying her and who knows what else.

"Hey," Troy slid into the seat next to her and Gabriella screwed up her face.

"You smell funny," she said and Troy chuckled.

"Your quick Montez, I've been at basketball and I figured you'd kill me if I was any later then I already am." He explained

"Bolton, if being late means that you'll smell like a normal person instead of a sweat band then I'm all for it," Gabriella said and Troy laughed and then an evil grin appeared on his face. Gabriella shot him a warning look; she didn't like the look on his face.

"Troy, if you do anything-" Gabriella let out a little squeal as he wrapped his arms around her and rubbed his face on her neck, using her as his towel.

"Now I feel so much better," Troy said removing his arms and stretching.

"Eww, Troy! That was disgusting! Couldn't you have used a towel?" Gabriella yelled hitting him; she was covered in his sweat and it felt so disgusting.

"Nah, you were closer." Troy settled himself into his chair and continued to grin as Gabriella wiped the last traces of sweat from her neck.

"Well, I feel honored." She said sarcastically and he laughed.

"Come on Montez; let's put this together before lunch is over." Troy said and Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Troy, can you pass me that piece of paper?" Gabriella asked after a few minutes of silent working.

"Which piece?" Troy asked confused and Gabriella rolled her eyes again.

"Again with the eye rolling?" he asked.

Gabriella didn't reply instead she stood up and leaned over him to get the piece of paper she was talking about. Troy suddenly became aware of how close they were and how smooth the skin on her back seemed to be.

"Got it," Gabriella breathed and Troy nodded mutely.

Gabriella began to pull back when she suddenly realized how close she was to Troy. She gulped and turned her head and found herself face to face with him. Gabriella breathing became shallow as their noses touched. She bit her lip as she felt his hand touch her face. It was the first time he had done something like that and it felt so……wonderful.

Troy's thumb was gently stroking Gabriella's jaw line as he looked at her carefully. She was so close now; he could tell her breathing was shallow by the short bursts that he could feel on his cheek. Troy wasn't so sure that his breathing was all that steady either as he moved closer to her lips.

"Mr Bolton, Miss Montez! If you continue I'll have to ask you to leave!" The librarian appeared out of no where and both Troy and Gabriella let out a frustrated groan, every time they came so close something had to interrupt.

"Sorry," they both mumbled and she walked away as Gabriella sat back down in her chair.

"Right, so, now all we have to do is staple it together and it's all done." Gabriella said not looking at Troy, she felt flustered. They'd come so close all over again and at school too!

"Sure," Troy nodded and looked up at the ceiling, he'd come so close again! Why did librarians have to exist? Suddenly, he felt his pocket vibrate and winced. He knew who it was.

"Uh Gabriella, I've got to go, so can you do the stapling?" Troy asked and Gabriella nodded.

"Sure, I'll see you later." She answered and watched as he walked out of the library.

Sighing she began to pack up. There was paper every where, they'd had a paper fight and, fun as it had been, the floor was a mess. Gabriella shoved all the paper into the folder that she'd brought, cast her eyes around in case she'd missed something and walked out of the library. She was about to turn a corner when the sound of Troy's voice drifted towards her. Gabriella paused and waited for him to speak again, he'd sounded really frustrated.

"Chad, you've known me for seventeen years, when have you ever listened to me?" Troy asked and Gabriella could picture him running a hand through his hair. The sound of his voice came again and she listened hard.

"I never said I didn't like her, why would you think that?" he asked and Gabriella frowned, he couldn't be talking about what she thought he was could he?

"Chad I repeat, you've known me for seventeen years, when have you ever listened to me about a girl of all things?" Gabriella froze as she connected the dots. There was no way; he wouldn't have done that would he? He wouldn't have talked Chad into not going out with Taylor.

"My fault? How? You asked me what I thought and I told you the truth!" That was all Gabriella needed to hear, she wanted to turn around and walk the other way but she was frozen to the spot.

"Fine, I'll talk to you later." Gabriella heard him hang up.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, when she reopened them he was standing in front of her.

"Y-you talked him out of it." she stuttered, Gabriella couldn't think straight, she wanted to yell at him, she wanted to slap him three weeks ago she would have done all those things without a second thought but now she couldn't do that because he'd not only hurt Taylor but he'd hurt her now too.

"Gabriella let me explain-" she glared at him, anger suddenly coursing through her veins.

"No," she hissed venomously.

"What you heard wasn't what you think," Troy tried again desperate for her too listen to him.

"When have you ever listened to me about a girl? Troy, if that wasn't what I think it was then you've never been late for anything." Gabriella spat at him.

"Gabriella will you please just let me explain!?" Troy shouted losing his temper.

"No, because when have you ever listened to me?" she shouted and then turned around and walked away, ignoring his frustrated yell. How could she have been so stupid as to think that he was going to be different then what she thought her was?

Troy watched her retreating back, cursing himself for doing something so stupid. How was he going to get her to listen?

A/N: I know it's been ages since I updated but as I said I had exams, I put a one-shot up because it didn't take that long to write, anyway, school finishes next Thursday so they should come sooner now cause I won't have any homework!