Hey guys

Hey guys! Sorry for not updating for like, a month! School's swamped me with homework. Good news is I've finished one of my other stories, so now I will be able to mainly focus on completing this one.

I hope everyone's heard Vanessa's new single off her upcoming album! The single was released on Disney Radio, named 'Sneakernight', and it sounds SO hot!! It's an awesome song to dance to, and definitely a completely new sound coming from Vanessa. If you haven't heard of it yet, I've made a music video accompanying it, and the URL is on my profile.

Vanessa's upcoming album will be entitled 'Identified' (which is also a song on the album). The release date for her album is June 24 so make sure you mark that on your calendar!! There is also a gorgeous promotional picture for her album. She looks beautiful, the picture URL is also on my profile.

The HSM3 cast is currently in a secret location rehearsing for the upcoming movie. They are in Salt Lake, Utah, rehearsing and filming for HSM3: Senior Year, which will be out for a theatrical release late October this year.

Disney has stated that they are writing the script at the moment for a HSM4. However, chances are the original casts will not be in it, and it will be made for a TV movie as opposed to theatres. Writers have expressed that they know it will be harder to get the original casts to return for HSM4 but they are hoping for some. Zac and Vanessa have already released a statement saying chances are they will not be in the fourth instalment. However, as we all know, there had been casting for new characters as the younger versions of the characters, so perhaps they will be in HSM 4 instead.

A rumoured track listing for HSM 3 is now on my profile. Again this is RUMOURED so nothing's for sure, but it's sounding awesome! It has also been reported that for those of us worried about Troyella in HSM3, don't worry, there's going to be a VERY cute duet for the couple, as well as a touching finale as the Wildcats head to college.

A Pinkie Promise

Chapter 14: Things are changing

The night did not go as Alex had planned. Not at all, and Alex Ricci was not one to have things not go his way! He was sitting calmly on a chair in the living room, as everyone had crowded around Gabriella and Troy's present for Sharpay and Zeke. Alex could tell it was a book (the amount of times he had seen a book as a prop in his plays), and couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Gabriella loved her books, he would have to try and convince her give other things as gifts… after all they were just books!

Troy, on the other hand, as Alex had observed, had absolutely no problem with Gabriella's book obsession. He even smiled when Gabriella admitted they were giving them a book for their wedding party! Clearly, Troy Bolton didn't have the same taste Alex had (he had given the couple a beautiful vase for flowers they were bound to get, much more useful than a book). By the time Gabriella had begun to go into detail about the book, Alex has zoned out, there was really nothing there to catch his attention anyway… that is, that was what he thought until he heard something that was like a hook that pulled his attention towards the group.

"We promised each other we'd…um…we'd marry one another if we don't get married by the time we're 25."

The glass of champagne in Alex's hands dropped for his slacked grip, and crashed onto the floor, turning the once one piece glass into a thousand of glittering sharp edges on the hardwood floor. Everyone's attention turned to him, including Troy and Gabriella, who still looked as red as an apple—and Troy still had his arms around Gabriella's shoulder!! Alex felt anger bubbling from his stomach,

"Alex, are you alright?" Gabriella asked in concern. Deep down, she was so grateful something had happened, she didn't know if she could stand another minute being scrutinized by so many people. She secretly snuck a glance at Troy, who looked similarly relieved for the disruption, but seemed to look like he was feeling something else at the same time.

"Yea, sorry, I'll clean this up," Alex said in an abrupt voice, his tone cold and hard and his face red with anger. The rest of the crowd dispersed, offering their own assistance, only the gang was left in the middle surrounding the book-Sharpay and Taylor- and Anne surprisingly- with very curious ("And devious," Gabriella concluded silently). All of them seemed to be stuck on the picture of the 10 years old Troy and Gabriella making their pinkie promise. When Gabriella looked at Troy (when he wasn't looking at her of course—which he did quite often), both of them realized, that they hadn't taken their eyes off their own pictures either, and caused them to wonder what the other was thinking.

"Maybe… I should help out," Troy coughed, breaking their silence, Gabriella nodded a bit too enthusiastic than she had meant to,

"I'll help!" she said, shooting up abruptly. The two best friends went their separate ways, aware that the fast beating of their hearts had nothing to do with the glass shattering minutes before. Gabriella walked as fast as her legs could take her, what was she supposed to be looking for again? Oh right, a broom…

"We were ten… I barely remember anything from when I was 12! He can't possibly have remembered it…" Gabriella muttered to herself, but no, Troy had mumbled something before she had confessed to their promise. He had mumbled something about their promise…he remembered…just like she had. While she was lost in her thoughts, Gabriella failed to realize she had just gone in circles, and ended up back in the living room from where she came.

"Gabby? Weren't you going to get the broom?" Sharpay asked,

"Yea, sorry I got distracted… I don't really know where it is," Gabriella admitted sheepishly, Sharpay nodded slowly, sensing something wrong with her friend, but decided to leave it…for now,

"Zeke, can you get the broom?" Sharpay asked, her fiancé nodded, and walked off in the direction Gabriella had come in, "I'll just pick up the bigger pieces then,"

"Don't you dare, it's your engagement party, I'll do it," Gabriella said semi sternly, she needed something to keep herself occupied. Tuning out Sharpay's protest, she bent down, picking up the pieces carefully on its side, the sharp edges escaping her finger tips, while her mind began to wonder again. What if Troy did remember the promise? What did he feel about it? After all, they were 10 when they made it, and they barely knew what marriage was. For all Gabriella could tell, Troy could've dismissed it as something that belonged in their childhood memories and to never be brought up again,

"You have 3 months to fall in love or Gabby's all yours," Ryan had said that, and Gabriella could remember feeling her cheeks burning, but why oh why didn't she look at Troy's direction to see how he reacted! She knew exactly how she reacted, her heart pounded in her rib cage, and the forbidden idea of the possibility of them becoming a couple she had made herself dismiss years ago resurfaced again, "We've gone down that road, you know it won't work," Gabriella's mind resigned.

Troy didn't know where he was headed to when he had split up with Gabriella. He had picked the direction closest to him, his right, and found himself in the kitchen, the door leading from the kitchen to the living room was ajar, and he could hear the people outside, their voices muffled slightly, their words falling on deaf ears. Troy had always prided himself at being fairly calm during most situations. During play offs or even championships, Troy managed to keep his calm, actually, he was able to keep his calm on almost anything…but Gabriella Montez.

There was something about his brunette best friend that always caused him to lose his cool. If Gabriella had fallen off a bridge, Troy knew he would-without a second thought or hesitation-jump down right after her, even if she was the better swimmer.

"You're deep in thought," Troy snapped out of his own thoughts, seeing Ryan, Jason and Chad in the kitchen—he had missed them on his blind marching towards the kitchen,

"Oh, why aren't you guys outside?"

"Trying to avoid the chaos outside," Jason chuckled,

"Don't want to get caught up in the girls trying to clean up the mess," Chad said,

"A bit lazy, aren't we?" Troy smirked; the other three guys just shrugged but shared a boyish grin,

"And what are you doing here? Are you sure it's ok leaving Gabby outside to the wolves?" Chad smirked,

"The girls are out there,"

"He means Alex," Ryan said, Troy's smile dropped slightly, but continued to listen none the less,

"You love her don't you," Jason said with uncharacteristic seriousness,

"Why does everyone keep saying that," Troy said warily,

"Because we're not blind," Chad said, "And even if we were blind, we're not deaf, we can see and hear the way you are around Gabby,"

"Like I am around a sister," Troy retorted,

"No," Ryan interrupted him, "No, the way you are around Kelsi, Sharpay and Taylor, that's like being around a sister, but when you're around Gabby, you pour your heart and everything you have into everything about her. It doesn't matter if she asked for just a hug or asked for a mansion on the moon, you put everything you have into it,"

"Not to mention Gabriella's been a part of most of your life," Jason added,

"And the fact that you get into a jealous fit whenever Gabby gets a boyfriend," Chad said,

"I do not!" Troy protested much like a young child, "It's called being protective, you have the same problem too Chad,"

"Not to the point where I'd beat my own team mate to the hospital," Chad reminded Troy. Troy remained silent ,because he realized that what ever he was going to say next would not only dig the hole he was in even deeper than it already was, but bring up a personal dilemma that Troy had tried to bury many years ago,

"Remember when we tricked you to learn the 'Everyday' song, and I told you Sharpay told me to change it?" Ryan asked, a smile flying through his face, Troy rolled his eyes,

"Of course, I was going to run off the stage and kill you when I found out,"

"Or remember the year before that, when Gabby wasn't in any of your classes, and you weren't concentrating on basketball, and she wasn't concentrating on her studies, and Tay and I thought you two were just too close for your own good, so we split you guys up?" Chad said, "We said that you guys needed to focus on school, but really we were just jealous our best friends were so close to someone else,"

"Yea I remember that too," Troy said in a quieter voice as the memory was brought up again, he had no idea the webcam transmitted to a laptop Gabriella was looking at,

"But in the end we all came back together," Jason said, "I think what they're trying to say is, no matter what we did, or do, in the end we're all there for each other, that's what team mates are."

"And as team mates, and your best friends, we're telling you to quit being so blind, and just admit to yourself that you like Gabby more than you say you are," Ryan said matter-of-factly, Troy mumbled something under his breath, but did not meet his friend's eyes, just as Troy looked as though he was going to say something, the boys heard the gasp outside in the living room, and Sharpay's voice gasping

"Gabby!"

That alone was incentive enough to send Troy running out of the kitchen and into the masses of people, back in the kitchen, Chad, Ryan and Jason smirked,

"Bet you 10 dollars he'll admit he loves her by the end of their promise," Chad spoke with a smirk,

"You're on," Jason agreed, the two boys looked expectantly at the Evans twin, Ryan looked calm,

"Gambling's a bad habit," said the older Evans, then Chad and Jason saw a smirk, "20 bucks saying he'll pretend to be noble and let Alex and Gabby stay together while planning Alex's secret murder," Ryan said, the other two laughed, and sealed the deal with a hand shake.

(A/N: Just a side note, all this is happening within a couple of minutes even though it seems like a long time)

So lost in thought, Gabriella failed to realize she had picked up a sharp edged piece of glass, and when she did realize, it was too late as she felt the sharp stinging on her finger as she dropped the glass, and a thin line of blood appeared on her index,

"Ouch!" she gasped, Sharpay and Anne, being the nearest to her, heard her exclamation of pain, and immediately turned to her,

"Gabby!" Sharpay gasped loudly, turning the room's attention towards them, "Oh my god, someone get a band-aid!" Anne went running to what kitchen,

"Shar, relax I'm fine," Gabriella said calmly, after all she did work in a hospital. Holding her slightly stinging right hand in her left, Gabriella stood up, watching a tiny pool of deep red blood slide down her finger, "I just need to wash this—"

"Brie!" Gabriella's head snapped up hearing the familiar voice coming from the crowd. Troy pushed through the masses of people, squeezing out of several guests and nearly running over guests before coming up to Gabriella, "Gabby what happened?" Troy looked at her with concern in his ocean blue eyes, his hands automatically cupping her right hand in his, scrutinizing her maimed index finger,

"I'm fine, it's just a cut," Gabriella repeated, only in a softer tone, "I cut myself on a piece of glass, my fault really, I wasn't paying attention,"

"You shouldn't be picking up glass at all period." Troy said sternly, frowning as the tiny line of blood slide down her open palm. Troy felt a tug of pain in his heart, as if he had suffered the cut Gabriella had. Gabriella couldn't say anything at Troy, half because her finger was still bleeding, and half because she knew he was worried, and because she couldn't bring herself to breathe properly when his blue eyes bored deeply into hers, and his warm hands had her hand cupped so securely,

"Sorry," she finally said quietly like a little girl, Troy frowned slightly, but didn't say anything,

"Who's getting the band-aid?"

"Anne… but I think she might've gotten lost in Sharpay's house," Gabriella giggled softly, and was happy to see the expected soft smile on Troy's face. What she didn't expect was having Troy lift her bleeding finger to his mouth, and his lips gently surrounding the tip of her index. Gabriella shivered slightly.

Alex was feeling gloomy and depressed as he glared at outside through his window. He was surprised-and chocked out of his own self pity-when Anne came running into the room frantically, ignoring her brother, and looking for something,

"Anne what are you doing?"

"Trying to find band-aids,"

"Why?"

"Gabriella cut herself picking up the glass you shattered," Anne retorted hotly, she left her brother standing there as she dashed into another door, having no idea where it led. Alex left his corner, striding into the family room. He safely assumed that Gabriella would be stuck in the middle among the circle of people. As he slowly made his way through the crowd, politely saying excuse me, and taking his time to weave through the people, Alex had a tiny smirk as he imagined himself being 'the knight in shining armour' coming to rescue Gabriella. As he glanced around the crowd, he was only slightly discouraged he did not see Troy Bolton amongst the observers.

When Alex finally made his way to the inner circle, he froze in place as the image of himself as Gabriella's saviour disappeared with an angry crash. Now Alex knew why Troy Bolton was no where to be found. The famous basketball player was right there with Gabriella, her slender little finger held close to his mouth, apparently sucking the cut made by the glass, and Gabriella stood mere inches away from him, her glittery green dress reflecting the light from the room, a delicate blush on her cheeks and goose bumps on her arms.

It took several seconds for Gabriella to realize they were in a room filled with people, and blushed even deeper. Troy finally released her finger from his mouth, and Gabriella could see the thin cut made by the glass,

"I told you it wasn't that bad," Gabriella said softly, Troy only softly glared at her for taking the matter so lightly, and Gabriella had to giggle, who was the one who got cut?

"I can't find any band-aids, and Sharpay you need signs around your house!" Anne came back breathlessly, obviously exhausted from her mad search around Sharpay's house. Sharpay apologized sheepishly, but sent a meaningful look and wink to Anne as the younger girl noticed the two in the middle of the circle—and as mean as it sounded, Anne couldn't help but let a satisfied smirk fly through her face when she saw her brother's scandalized look.

"Forget it," Troy said shortly, digging into his jean pocket, he pulled out a beautiful and delicate handkerchief someone had given him so he would sponsor their company. Troy had remembered stuffing it in a random jean pocket, and was lucky to have it that night. It was from quite a famous brand Troy remembered, (Blueberry…Burberry… well something like that), but at that moment, he didn't hesitate ripping the expensive hanky. One end caught between his teeth, and the other caught in one free hand, Troy ripped the cloth into a tiny strip, before he disposed the larger half back into his pocket,

"Troy! That was expensive!" Gabriella gasped, Troy rolled his eyes,

"Forget it," he repeated, taking her hand again, he gently wrapped the tiny strip of cloth around her finger, covering the cut, before his large, rough but gentle hands managed to tie a semi-neat knot, "Better?" Troy said softly, Gabriella nodded, her eyes going from the finger to Troy's face,

"Yea," There was silence among the best friends, and Chad, Jason and Ryan peeked out of the kitchen,

"C'mon dude 10 bucks, just say it now," Chad chanted quietly. A loud cough broke the silence, and Alex stepped into the circle,

"No way man!" Jason and Chad groaned together, Ryan just smirked,

"Are you alright Gabriella?" Alex asked in concern, stepping right next to Gabriella and in front of Troy, Alex took Gabriella's hand away from Troy's gentle grip to examine the knot himself. Troy silently glared at the other man, and Gabriella only smiled softly, and tugged her hand out of Alex's grip,

"I'm fine, just clumsy," she said shortly, "Shar, you wouldn't have a broom would you?"

"Oh, yea I do, it's in the kitchen," said the blonde,

"We'll get it," Taylor piped up, pointing to herself and Kelsi, "Plus I need to find my boyfriend, and what better place than the kitchen?" Kelsi and Taylor left to find Chad, Jason and Ryan standing there looking too innocent for their own good, when Zeke joined them, he looked between the guys and the girls and shook his head,

"No, I don't want to know,"

Gabriella and Troy didn't get a chance to see one another after the engagement party. With play offs for the Championships coming up, Troy rarely had time to go home, let along visit his favourite girl. And though Gabriella didn't have that kind of international pressure, the evaluation of her internship at the hospital was coming up, and she soon found herself pouring every ounce of energy she had into her work. In fact, the only guy she did see was Alex, who was prone to visiting her in the Hospital, so many times, in fact that the receptionist pretty soon gave up asking who he was looking for, simply giving him a guest tag and then pointed to where ever Gabriella was seen last, or simply paged her over the PA system. Regardless, the rare feeling of irk was soon arriving everyday at noon, because that would be when Alex would visit.

One morning, an hour before her intended shift, Gabriella found herself in the park near Troy's house. It was 8:00 am in the morning, and feeling the need to get some fresh air; Gabriella drove to the park, and began walking around in circles. As spring was approaching, the need for a jacket became less and less, and so the morning found Gabriella in pair of black dress pants (for work) and a pale pink tank top underneath a white collared dress shirt.

That same morning, Troy had woken up early, intending for an early jog before his practice. He had been doing this less and less lately, since the playoffs were approaching, and paparazzi were getting crazier than ever hoping to catch anyone of the Lakers—who were favourites this season. That was why Troy had chosen such an early time for a jog. Holding the black leash the held Shadow, the basketball player and puppy jogged side by side in the park, Troy occasionally looking down at Shadow, who would bark when he caught his eyes, and Troy would smile, the tiny puppy reminding him of his best friend. Troy had driven his Audi to the park, even though it wasn't necessary at all. It was only because he had originally planned to drop by Gabriella's house, sneaking Shadow in. Gabriella hadn't shown up at his house for a few days already, and Troy knew Shadow was missing his mommy just like Troy was missing his Gabby. But as he passed by the park, he paused and soon found himself running, a fountain of thoughts drifting through his mind, it was when Shadow suddenly barked excitedly, and tugged so hard for a tiny puppy his size,

"Shadow!" sighing, Troy sprinted after the runaway puppy, and found his tiny furry body jumping up and down in front of a young woman, "Sorry he just ripped himself out of my grip!" Troy apologized, the woman looked up, and Troy's heart doubled, and a stupid grin appeared on his face,

"Troy!" Gabriella giggled, lifting her dog up, "Aw Shadow, I haven't seen you for so long! Your fur's getting long," Gabriella giggled when the dog licked her cheek then placed him back on the ground, holding onto his leash.

"He missed you," Troy grinned, "I missed you," his mind added, Gabriella smiled- a little forceful too she noted- and bent down and rubbed Shadow's ears,

"I missed him too," Gabriella said, sneaking a shy look up at Troy, "I couldn't find time to drop by and visit him,"

"I know, your examinations coming up," Troy said, and Gabriella smiled fully, glad he was so attentive to her schedule,

"And you have practices," she added, "I'm sorry for dumping him on you, you got it for me and now you have to take care of him,"

"Don't say that, he's mine too," Troy said, "Besides, it's fun having him around the house, if I ever break anything I can blame it on him," he teased, Shadow barked in response as if protesting to the false accusation and looked curiously between his two owners. He barked again happily, obviously satisfied that his two owners finally got to see one another again after so long. The puppy was tired of his daddy picking and dropping the phone constantly, and pacing around the house. Sure, his house was big, but how was a dog supposed to get any sleep around here if his owner kept pacing up and down!

Gabriella laughed, bending down to rub his head and placate him. At the same time, Troy had also bent down, intending to pick the puppy up. Almost at once, Gabriella's hand touched Troy's, and when they looked up, their eyes were inches away from one another, and the tips of their nose brushed against each other. They could feel the moist breath of the other brushing against their cheeks. As soon as their finger tips touched, a tingling shock ran up the length of their arms, and sent their heart rate to double.

Gabriella blushed. What was going on with her? This was ridiculous! She felt so flushed and out of breath all of a sudden, as if she was a teenager meeting some super star, only ten times stronger.

"This is Troy!" Gabriella's mind chided her, "Your best friend since forever! The guy you've known for your entire life! You shouldn't be feeling this way!" Gabriella had never felt so comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time.

Troy could see—no he could sense the abrupt change in the air. Troy could feel every delicate, distinct detail of Gabriella's hand against his. His fingers itched to close in their distance, and wrap themselves around Gabriella's small digits. Troy found his eyes straying to their lightly connected hands, and his fingers twitched softly, brushing against Gabriella's smooth fingers.

"I…uh…I have to go…somewhere—uh work," Gabriella stuttered softly, her eyes locking onto his.

"Yea…" Troy replied, still holding onto her hands. Gabriella paused, then gently pried her hands from the comfortable cocoon that was Troy's hand and bid Shadow and Troy a hasty good bye, nearly fleeing from the spot without a turn and a look backwards. Troy remained there, bent down and in the same position for a bit more, watching Gabriella's retreating back—perhaps waiting for her to turn around, have a sparkle in her eyes, and a wide too-happy-for-8-in-the-morning smile on her face, and telling him to eat breakfast. But it never came, and Troy slowly rose to his feet, took Shadow's leash and made his slow voyage back to his car, the hand that had held Gabriella's hand twitched slightly as Troy remembered the sensation of her hand against his, and itched to reclaim it once again.

Shadow trotted along his master, looking backwards to see his Mistress pausing in front of a silver box that humans tend to go to places with, and saw his Mistress looking back at their direction, as if wanting to catch Troy's eyes—the dog usually did that when he wanted to play. Shadow barked, telling his master to look backwards, but that only made Troy smile softly, but did not look back. Shadow caught Troy's blue eyes, and looked intently and realized that the man's eyes were trained on the ground,

"Why can't he just look back and admit he wants to play with mommy, geez us dogs would just run to teach other if we wanted to play," Shadow thought, "Humans make things so complicated!" and Shadow barked.

As Gabriella pulled out of the park with all intentions to bury herself in work again, Troy also began to pull out, wanting to take a shower before practice. As his black Audi pulled out, he failed to see a white van across from his car and the field where he and Gabriella just was. He also failed to see the glint of circular glass protruding the curtained windows of the car, and definitely didn't hear the soft clicking sound of an expensive camera. Pulling the lens away from the window, a rookie paparazzo looked at his camera in triumph and several pictures flashed through the digital camera screen. His dream of having his pictures on front page and cover story was about to come true!

A/N: AH don't throw tomatoes at me!! –Hides- I'm sorry, it's been forever since I've updated, but school's being a pain, and I was only able to write in certain intervals. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter! Hmm did anyone catch a change in Troy and Gabriella's friendship??