Author's Note: Hey guys! I never updated, and I'm sorry. To all the Americans, Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you all don't get sick of turkey! And…a little warning…I'm having a harder time writing chapters, so bare with me. Always, schoolgirl 101

Chapter 13: Best Friends

"Wakey wakey Gabs," a hand tugged on her sleeping bag.

Gabriella groaned. She hadn't slept too well that night. Her mind had been covered with constant thoughts. The sun was now shining in her face and all Gabriella wanted to do was sink into the depths of her dark blanket and become invisible.

"C'mon Gabs. Everyone is awake. You're always the last one up."

"Shut up Shar," Gabriella muttered. "I really need some sleep. Yesterday was a nightmare," she commented.

"Don't say that," Sharpay said. "I thought yesterday was great. I mean I finally got you two to do what I've been waiting to see for years."

Gabriella opened one of her eyes to peer at Sharpay. "Well, thanks a lot. I feel so awkward I don't even want to be near Troy at the moment. Imagine. Having a best friend one day and losing him the next."

"You did not lose Troy you drama queen. And who knows? Maybe that kiss actually made your friendship stronger?"

"Why 'cause I finally know what it's like to stick my tongue down his throat, and his tongue down in mine? Is that what friends do?"

"No, friends don't do that."

"Well, we just did," Gabriella groaned. "He has a fucking girlfriend Sharpay. What does that make me?"

"It doesn't make you anything Gabs. Don't exaggerate this topic. We're talking about you and Troy here. Nothing is going to change between you two."

"It already has Sharpay," Gabriella sighed as she pulled her blanket off of her and sat up. "I don't even know what to say to Troy anymore."

"Act normal? What's so different?" Sharpay questioned.

"I don't know---maybe me kissing my best friend! I kissed my best friend who has a girlfriend! Doesn't that make any difference?"

"Like you said, he has a girlfriend. Troy probably didn't think anything about the kiss, he already has quote, 'someone to love,' unquote."

"What if I thought something about the kiss?"

Sharpay's eyes widened. "Did you?" she whispered.

Gabriella bit her lip. "No. I didn't."

Sharpay shook her head. "If you say so---let's just get into the kitchen. You can 'talk' to Troy, Ms. Insecurity."

Gabriella rolled her eyes and slowly followed Sharpay. Repeat...slowly.

"Um, hey Troy---" Gabriella said awkwardly as she took the kitchen stool across from Troy and sat down.

Troy's eyes scanned over Gabriella and gave her a once look over. "Shit. You didn't sleep either, huh?"

That's what best friends do, right? The first word coming out of their mouths is a curse.

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah, I guess. A lot of things going on. My mind was spinning."

"Me too," Troy said as he used his spoon to swirl the leftover milk in his cereal bowl. "Can we talk?" Troy asked looking up into her eyes.

Gabriella avoided his gaze. "Okay." Her eyes scanned her friends before she got out of her seat and followed Troy towards an empty room. He didn't grab her hand. Not that she noticed.

She followed Troy into an empty bedroom and watched as he locked the door. "No interruptions," he said.

Gabriella nodded. She drew circles on her arm before taking a piece of her hair and messing with it.

Silence.

"Gabs, do you feel, I don't know---awkward?" he scratched the back of his neck.

She looked away. "I never feel awkward with you Troy."

He sighed.

"Until now," she replied quietly.

"Oh."

"What do we do now Troy?" Gabriella stopped her actions to look up into his eyes.

"We can't just go back to the way we were before?" he asked casually.

"What were we before?" Gabriella pondered. "Were we friends?"

"Yeah. We were best friends," Troy said puzzled. "You don't think we're best friends?"

"I don't know," she whispered. "Did we act like friends?"

"Of course we did. We told each other everything. We were always there for each other. If not, we were like brother and sister."

"Brothers don't kiss their sisters."

He sighed and looked away, contemplating on his next words. "It was just a dare Gabs. A stupid little dare isn't going to change the years of friendship we worked so hard to keep. You're my best friend Gabs," he replied softly.

She looked at him and stared intently. She gently bit her lip before smiling unconvincingly and responding, "You're my best friend too Troy."

The two walked out of the room together, Troy's arm gently resting upon Gabriella's shoulder. He wore a big grin on his face as he looked at his friends. Well, friend. Sharpay was the only one left in the room.

"So, what are we doing now?" Troy asked as he steered Gabriella and himself towards the empty love seat in the living room.

"Well," Sharpay said as she threw Gabriella a muffin. "There really isn't much to do here. Jason and Kelsi already went home. Everyone went home. You guys were talking for what---twenty minutes?"

Gabriella contemplated and nodded slowly. "I guess we were. But no worries. Troy and I are good now. Better than ever," she smiled fakely.

Sharpay nodded in a knowing gesture. "Well, I guess there is nothing else that I have to say to you two then. You're free to leave."

Gabriella nodded before looking at Troy. "Okay. Want to go see a movie at my house---Troy?"

Troy grabbed Gabriella's muffin and munched. "Yeah. That sounds good."

Sharpay bobbed her head towards the two. "I guess I'll see you at school then. Bye Troy. Bye Gabs."

"All right then, bye," Gabriella waved as she got up from the seat.

Strange. She hadn't really planned leaving Sharpay's that quickly.

Troy handed Gabriella the half-eaten muffing and Gabriella glared. "Chill Gabs---there is food back at your house. Wait a second so I can get my keys, all right?"

Gabriella brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Fine. But can you grab my purse and phone for me?" she asked.

"Sure," he replied before stumbling up the stairs.

"Gabs,"

Gabriella turned around to look at Sharpay. "He likes you, you know." Sharpay smiled.

She stared at Sharpay puzzled. "He's my best friend. I know he likes me."

"Right," Sharpay winked. "He likes you. He just doesn't know it yet."

Gabriella rolled her eyes and quickly exiting the room. She had enough things to think about.

Gabriella sat in her room alone with the latest issue of Seventeen Magazine in her hands. She was hoping to spend Sunday watching movies with Troy, but he got a text from Lexi---and before she knew it, he was gone.

Gabriella wondered why he liked her. There was nothing special about that little b*tch. She might have been a little jealous.

She turned the next page of the magazine. Best friends...or lovers?

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Who even takes these quizzes seriously?"

She looked at the first question. How does he act when you're around? She rolled her eyes once more and skimmed the answers. She looked away from the magazine and got up from her bed. "Stupid quiz," she muttered before walking over to her desk. She sighed and grabbed a pen.

Gabriella turned back to the quiz.

"The same as he always is," she said as she checked the box next to the answer.

What do you do together after school?

"Have sex," Gabriella muttered. "Stupid. We hang out anywhere, anytime," she replied as she checked the box.

When he's with his friends, how does he act?

"Fuck. His friends are my friends," she announced. "Where's the answer for that one?" Gabriella went with the closest one to her answer.

There's a party. What is he doing?

"Grinding with Lexi," Gabriella looked away before checking off, 'He hangs around other girls.'

Have you ever been to his place?

"Is this a trick question? Of course."

It's your birthday? What does he do for you?

Gabriella smiled lightly. "He buys me a pony," she whispers before checking off, 'He buys me a nice present.'

Can he tell when you're acting differently?

"Always."

Do you have a lot in common?

"Yes."

Have you ever thought about him on an intimate level?

Gabriella paused and stared at the question. Until a few weeks ago, she could have answered a straight out no. Now, she wasn't too sure. "I think I had that feeling...once..."

Do you think you really are just friends?

She blinked and bit her lip. She started to doodle hearts around the question. "We really are just friends," she declared. She chose the one her heart had told her to choose: 'There might be something more than plain friendship...'

Now, add up your score, calculate the results, and is your friend your best friend? Or are you something more?

She wasn't sure if her heart had sped up as she began to calculate up her points. She wasn't going to let some stupid test decide her fate. Why should she be stupid as doing that for?

Gabriella took a deep breath and looked at her final score. "26," she muttered.

Her eyes scanned the results page and read quickly. She frowned at the magazine, grabbed it, and threw it into the trashcan. She stormed out of her room.

25- 30

Whoever said you were friends must have been wrong. There is a lot more than friendship going on...and I think even you know it! You two seem comfortable to start a relationship if you haven't already. We're thinking In Love...so good luck!