CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE LOVERS ARE LOSING

Gabriella was all smiles as she pulled into the East High parking lot. When she woke up that morning, she still couldn't believe the events of the night before. Troy Bolton was her boyfriend. As much as she hated the idea of hurting Sharpay if she ever found out, she knew she couldn't stay away from Troy either. After parking her jeep, Gabriella got out and grabbed her backpack and TJ. She made her way towards the front doors of the school. As she walked by she noticed the other students looked at her as she walked by. Gabriella ignored it and went inside the school to her locker.

She was pulling some books out of her backpack when she heard the click clack of heels behind her. Gabriella smiled as she realized it was Sharpay. She turned around to face her best friend. "Good morning, Shar." She said giving her a big smile. Gabriella could feel the smile coming off her face as she stared at Sharpay's tear streaked face. "Shar, what's wrong?"

Sharpay snorted and scoffed. "You're quite the little actress you know? Feigning concern and all."

Gabriella shook her head. "What are you talking about?"

Sharpay lifted her cell phone and showed it to Gabriella. "This." She stressed. Gabriella's eyes widened in shock as she realized she was staring at an image of her and Troy kissing from the night before.

"Where'd you get that?" Gabriella asked.

"How could you Gabriella? You know how much I love Troy. I can't believe you." Sharpay cried.

"Shar, let me explain." Gabriella started. "I swear nothing happened while you guys were together."

"Do you honestly think that makes me feel better?" Sharpay asked. By now a crowd of students was gathering around them.

"I don't know what to say here. I really tried to stay away from Troy, but I couldn't help it. I'm sorry." Gabriella told her dejectedly.

"Don't apologize to me. I will never forgive you for this." Sharpay seethed. She gave Gabriella another look. "I can't believe that I was actually trying to help you find a boyfriend. All along you wanted my boyfriend. I should've figured that out sooner. Don't think for a second that I believe that you just happened to like Troy after we broke up."

Gabriella sighed. "I swear to you we didn't do anything behind your back."

"I don't care, you back-stabbing bitch!" Sharpay exclaimed, which caused the crowd to gasp. "This photo looks like it was done behind my back. It looks like you're sneaking around here. You're kissing Troy for god's sake!"

Gabriella felt like Sharpay had slapped her. What kind of world was I living in? Gabriella thought. She should've listened to the logical part of her brain and resisted Troy. "I'm sorry. I hate that I let myself fall for Troy, alright? What was I supposed to do?"

Sharpay rolled her eyes at Gabriella. "You act so innocent, but you're not." Sharpay looked at her with a glare. "What were you supposed to do?" Sharpay continued mockingly. "How about back off of my boyfriend?"

"That's enough Sharpay." A voice interrupted their confrontation. Everyone turned to stare as Troy walked towards them and stood next to Gabriella. He looked at Sharpay. "This isn't Gabriella's fault."

Sharpay scoffed. "I can't believe you fell for her little innocent act, Troy."

Troy gave her a cold glare. "It's not an act. If you want the truth, here it is, for the last month of our relationship I didn't feel anything anymore for you, okay?" The crowd gasped as they heard Troy. Troy ignored them and went on. "I had my eyes on someone else and I'm sorry that it had to be on your best friend." Sharpay stared at Troy with shock.

"Well, it still doesn't excuse her behavior. You don't go after a friend's ex. Everyone knows that." Sharpay spat out, glaring at Gabriella.

Gabriella was about to respond, but Troy beat her to it. "Gabriella has been nothing but loyal to you. She's turned me down every time I asked her out."

"She didn't turn you down last night." Sharpay said.

"We met up to talk last night, okay?" Troy told her.

"Does this look like talking?" Sharpay shoved the photo of them in his face.

Troy shrugged. "I don't regret kissing Gabriella." As he said that, Sharpay's face turned into an angry scowl. "Besides, screw this stupid rule about not going out with a friend's ex. We can't help who fall for." Troy looked at the crowd that had gathered around them now. "I'll tell everyone right not that wants to hear it. I'm crazy about this girl next to me. Gabriella, will you be my girlfriend?"

All eyes turned on Gabriella. She really didn't like any of this attention at all. She was thankful that Troy had come to her rescue, but why did he have to declare to the whole student body that he was crazy about her? It wasn't going to help her situation with Sharpay or any of her friends. Gabriella felt awful as Troy stared at her with his caring blue eyes. She could feel the tears coming and had to get out of there. "I'm sorry Troy. This was a bad idea from the start. I gotta go." She grabbed her backpack and TJ and slammed her locker shut and made her way towards the student parking lot. She had to get out of there.

She ran to her jeep and pulled out of the school lot. She had no idea where she was driving. All she knew was that she couldn't show her face at school for the time being. Not only did she lose her best friend, but she'd probably lost her boyfriend, too. Troy had put his heart out there and she just left him. Gabriella was sad as she realized she was going to be alone now. The fact that someone caught her and Troy kissing and sent a photo to Sharpay didn't really help her at all. Everyone would be on Sharpay's side. "Like I'd blame them," Gabriella muttered out loud. "How stupid can I be? Stupid, stupid, stupid." Gabriella kept muttering those words as she drove towards her house. All she wanted to do was curl up in her bed and cover her face and hide from everyone.

Troy stared in shock after Gabriella. He felt like an idiot. He had to open his big mouth and declare his affections for her. He knew by now how much Gabriella hated having attention on her. He couldn't believe it that someone had caught them at IHOP and sent a photo to Sharpay. He turned back towards the crowd and Sharpay.

"Wow," Sharpay said sarcastically. "Dissed by the Ice Queen." She walked up to Troy and placed a hand on his arm. "Troy, let's forget that this all happened and be together again. We belong together."

Troy scowled at Sharpay and shrugged her hand off of his arm. "You just don't get it, do you?" He didn't care that she got a hurt look on her face. "I don't want to be with you. I want her."

"She just left you and rejected you." Sharpay said with a little menacing tone.

"She doesn't like attention, unlike someone else." Troy replied back. He gave Sharpay another look, "Here's the truth Sharpay. We're sorry it happened this way, but I'm crazy about her and I know she feels the same way for me. I'm going to be with her whether you or anyone in this school likes it or not."

Sharpay pursed her lips and stared at Troy. "Do what you want," she sneered. "As of right now, I don't want either of you in my life."

"Come on Sharpay," Troy said. "It's fine if you don't want me in your life, but don't say that about Gabriella. She's been loyal to you from the start. Don't end your friendship with her because of me."

"Well, she should've thought about that before she kissed you then." Sharpay retorted back.

"I initiated everything. I pursued her. I kissed her."

"Do you really think I want to hear this?" Sharpay asked with disgust. She turned towards her girlfriends and gestured with her head. "Let's get out of here." As Sharpay left the crowd with Martha, Kelsi, and Taylor, the girls all glared at him.

Slowly the crowd disappeared leaving Troy alone at Gabriella's locker. He couldn't believe everything that had happened. He knew he had to go and find Gabriella. There was no way he could stay in school after today's event. Troy saw Chad and Jason walking towards him.

Chad gave Troy a half grin. "Sorry, Hoops, that was rough."

Troy shrugged. "I'm just glad I don't have to keep anything a secret anymore."

Jason chuckled. "What did we say about being careful?"

"We were. I swear I didn't see any other East High student at IHOP last night. I'm not sure who could've taken that photo."

"What are you going to do now? Gabriella pretty much just left you hanging there." Chad asked.

"She wants to be with me." Troy said confidently.

"Are you sure about that?" Jason asked with concern. "Maybe she felt that way last night, but after today, she might stay away from you."

"Then I need to find her and talk to her. I wonder where she went." Troy wondered.

"Wish we could help you there. But, we better get going to homeroom." Chad said.

"You guys go on without me. I have to get out of here."

"You sure?" Jason asked.

"Yeah, I need to find Gabriella. I'll see you both later." Troy told them.

Jason gave Troy a sincere look. "Even though Martha's my girlfriend and she'll be mad at you and Gabriella, I want you to know that I'm supportive of whatever you and Gabriella do. I hope it works out."

Troy gave his friend a smile. "Thanks Jason. I appreciate it."

"Anytime." Jason replied back.

Chad nodded. "I hope things work out, too. Gabriella's definitely one of the coolest girls at school and she deserves happiness."

"Thanks," Troy said. "I better go before the bell rings." Troy ran out to the parking lot and got into his car. He needed to find where Gabriella was. He was sure she had left school. There was no way she would've stayed here.

He called Gabriella. She picked up after the first ring. "Hello?"

"Gabriella, where are you? We need to talk."

"I'm okay, Troy. I just need to be alone right now."

"Brie, I want to be there for you. It's as much my fault that we're in this situation."

"Please Troy," Gabriella pleaded. "I'm okay."

"Where are you?" Troy asked.

Gabriella sighed. "I'm at my house. Please, Troy, I need to be alone right now. I'm not ready to see anyone, especially you."

"But Brie, what about us? You still want to be with me, right?"

Troy was scared at how quiet and silent Gabriella had gotten. Then he heard a low sigh. "Troy, I can't deal with us right now. I just lost my best friend. I can't think about us, okay. Just forget that we ever decided to secretly date. It was foolish of me to even think we'd get away with it."

"Brie," Troy started.

"I'm sorry. Bye Troy."

Troy stared at his phone as Gabriella hung up on him. He knew he had to see her no matter what. He knew where she lived. He would just have to surprise her there. He had to see her. She had to know that he'd be there for her no matter what. Troy pulled out of the student parking lot and made the drive towards Gabriella house, but not before making a detour first. There was no way he was going to lose Gabriella. He just hoped she would give him a chance when he got to her house.

A/N: Please let me know what you think. Please have faith in Troy and Gabriella. They'll be together no matter what.... :D

The title of this chapter is called "The Lovers Are Losing" by Keane.