Monday mornings used to be so humdrum, so colorless. And now I feel as if they are something to look forward to. I strongly anticipate seeing Troy again - to feel his addictive lips on my own again, to inhale his scent. My gosh. I'm in love.

Together. Involved. Going Steady. Boyfriend and girlfriend.

They all sum up the relationship between him and I. And the idea is so overwhelming I can barely contain my delight. I am practically desperate to see him again. The loss of control is only routine. I'm getting used to his presence, to him. I don't believe I could ever lose him. And I hope fate never offers such a downfall to my life.

This is my life story - horrifying, and complicated. But at least there's some parts that comprise romance and love. I never thought I'd be the one to tell love stories. And yet, here I am, reciting every little thing that Troy Bolton does that makes me crazy. Every little thing? Well, to make it simple - everything he does makes me crazy. Then again, you probably already guessed that, haven't you?

The morning's been boring. I'm rather impatient to feel his arms link around me again. It is passing period before first hour. Usually he is waiting for my arrival. Today, however, my locker is rather lonely. I feel an unfamiliar emptiness as I begin to load my books into my locker. Where is he?

He never shows.

I feel a churning in the pit of my stomach for my first hour and I can't seem to concentrate on anything but Troy. I mean, school comes to me naturally, but the concept of him not showing up is strange. Did something go wrong? Is he sick? Does he not like me anymore? I'm rather confused and I can't seem to fight the unnerving nausea that has come over me. Like I've mentioned before, I cannot lose him. Never.

I realize I'm just being a worrywart as I approach my locker after first hour. He's waiting with his back against the locker, his arms folded, his eyes to the ground. He seems to be contemplating something when he notices me. He's looking good as always - a white v-neck t-shirt and a pair of straight legged jeans. A smile appears across his lips as he gives me a peck on the lips, "Morning, El."

"Where've you been?" I ask while fidgeting with my locker.

"Sorry, Chad and the guys wanted to talk to me," He slips his hands around my stomach affectionately, then plants a kiss on the top of my head, "how is my favorite girl doing today?"

I sigh, "Better now that you're here." I can't help but appreciate the moment.

It then occurs to me, "Where is my present you promised me?"

I can see his devilishly handsome grin from above me as he looks rather proud for a second. "Close your eyes." He whispers in my ear, bringing chills down my back. I do as he says and I feel him move my hair. He touches my neck, gently, and the chills seem to become stronger, along with the churning of my stomach.

"What are you doing?"

He says nothing in response but I feel something chain around my neck. I feel a bit baffled by this and open my eyes. I look down and find a necklace placed around my neck. The letter T is prominent. I feel my heart skip a beat. "T for Troy?"

He looks a bit embarrassed as I turn around and face him. He shifts his position and rubs his neck almost uneasily. "Well. . . yeah. . ." He bites his bottom lip, as if hoping for a good response.

Without any hesitation, I throw my arms around his neck and beam at him, "You are amazing Troy. . . I absolutely love it!"

"Really?" He seems pleased.

"Really." We linger here for a second - captured by the moment completely. I can't resist the idea of connecting lips so I do, again, amazed by how enticing they are. "Thank you." I add after I depart from his lips.

Troy seems to absence himself from me after he gives me the necklace. I'm not sure if it's cold feet because of the intimacy in our relationship or what, but I feel a bit worried about him. He doesn't wait up for me after my next few hours. Usually he walks me to class.

However, he's nowhere to be found.

I try to not be concerned as I head into the lunchroom. Maybe there's a good explanation for his sudden truancy. I'm not sure. But I can still sense something is wrong. My gut seems to be shouting out for some sort of answer. I have none. I clench my stomach, hoping it will stop freaking out over nothing.

Troy sits at our usual table, texting someone with his cell phone. Its extremely normal for students to be texting but to be completely frank, I have never seen Troy use a cell phone in my lifetime. This act seems bizarre enough. I stroll up to the table casually and allow myself to sit down next to him. He doesn't notice my entrance.

"Troy?" He almost drops his phone when he hears my voice - as if shocked, maybe even guilty by my sudden presence.

"El," He chuckles as his baby blue eyes lift up to find me, "you almost gave me a heart attack there."

"Is something the matter?" I inquire, raising an eyebrow.

He looks at me erratically, ". . . Why would you think that?"

"You didn't wait up for me like you usually do, you didn't this morning either."

"Gabriella, nothing's the matter, alright? I was talking to some of the guys. No big deal." Of course it was secretly a big deal. There's tension when he says this - some sort of edge, as if he's aggravated by me wondering what is going on. Is it really that crazy for me to wonder why my new boyfriend decided he is going to pay attention to people he never pays attention to? Not really. . .

"I just get the feeling something strange is going on. . ." I murmur so he can barely hear me. I can tell he does though - he looks up from the text message he's reading and frowns.

"How's your mom doing?" He changes the subject.

"Fine, she's coming home today." I answer, nonchalantly.

"That's good. . ." He awkwardly looks back down to his cell phone and furiously types more.

"I have never in my life seen you text before, this is very odd." I joke, nodding to his cell phone.

He doesn't laugh, "I have practice tonight. If you want, I can give you a ride home?" he doesn't look up from the screen.

"That'd be wonderful," I respond honestly. He may not be acting completely himself but at least he stills wants to be with me, "I should just watch you guys again? Maybe Taylor will be there. . ."

Something rings on his phone - as if he is receiving a text message. I watch him as he smiles to himself. And I wonder who he's texting. I don't feel so confident about this one.

"Troy?"

His eyes snap back up to me, "Oh. . . yeah, probably."

"Look, did I say something today, or did something happen yesterday? You seem. . . different." I note, unsure of what his problem is.

He furrows his eyebrows at me, "Gabriella, why do you keep assuming I have a problem? Am I not allowed to talk to other people or something?" I'm taken back by his hostility.

"I wasn't saying that," I can't help but become a bit irritated by his sudden snippiness, "you're just completely ignoring me!"

He seems to roll his eyes as he shuts his cell phone, "Everybody's mad at me. Because I'm going out with you, I guess." The look on his face. . . I can't decode it, the emotion. It's something between annoyance and disappointment.

"Of course. . ." I whisper, feeling a lump in my throat. I can tell my voice is beginning to shake.

"El, please, don't," He says, as if he knows what I'm about to say or do. He grabs my hands from across the table, "I talked to them and explained how I felt, and they. . . aren't mad at me anymore. . . they just don't understand and I want them to."

"They never will!" I tell him, "They refuse to give me a chance, ever." I huff.

"They will," He assures me, coolly, "please calm down, El. . ."

"Well, you're acting all distant, like you're kind of wondering what you see in me yourself!"

"I just. . . I kind of said some things to them that I didn't mean, El," He bites down on his lip, a look of shame appearing across his face, "I really care about you - you mean the world to me and I'd never want to lose you, you know that."

I look into his ocean-blue eyes and I can't help but be a bit confused. "What did you say to them?" I feel discomfort from the thought of him saying bad things about me.

"Just promise me you won't let go, Gabriella." The look on his face is a bit painful, "No matter what happens."

"How can I promise something when I don't know what you said to them, Troy?" I can't ignore that lump in my throat as I try to keep my sanity.

"It doesn't matter," He mumbles frowning, "just don't let go." He plants a kiss on the side of my cheek which causes it to burn.

I realize that the bell is ringing and every one else is getting up and heading to their classes. I get up from my seat, grabbing my bag. Troy gives me a skeptical expression before taking one of my hands. He glides my hand up to his heart before we depart. "Yours."

As I blink, he's walking away. I can't understand why he's acting so funny, what happened in the matter of a day. He usually at least gives me a kiss before he leaves. This time he just walked away.

Something inside of me believes that something is very wrong and I feel my chest becoming hollow at the very thought.

The day went by rather quickly but I couldn't seem to fight thoughts of Troy. I have no idea what is the matter with him - why he is acting the way he is. I don't really understand. He's never been distant before, nor has he ever spoken badly about me. Did he say something rude to them about me? Did he lie to them?

I'm on my way outside to watch them practice when I hear voices from behind me. I notice there's no one else in the building really - it's cleared out nicely today.

I turn around gradually and am facing Sharpay, Miley, and Lauren.

"There you are. We've been looking all over for you," The demonic smirk on Miley's face haunts my dreams, "haven't we?"

Sharpay gives her a look that shows she wanted to be the first one to say anything. But she ignores the thought and advances closer towards me. I clutch onto the wall with my bag, unsure what they want. "Gabby?"

"What do you want?" I spat, trying to keep my guard up as much as I can.

Lauren laughs obnoxiously, "She thinks we want something. . ."

"Gabby. . . we don't want anything. Well, I mean, you do have a super-hot boyfriend, but its not like he actually likes you, so. . ." The words seem to swim in my mind as Sharpay says them. Again, I don't understand.

"He does. I understand if you're jealous, but please, he's obviously not very interested in you, Sharpay. . ." I find myself saying, though I kind of want to take it back. I do not like the looks that she is giving me.

"That's what you think. He always flirts with me. Like today, he asked for my number so he could text me." The concept seems believable but I don't want to believe it. Troy wouldn't be that conniving would he? He wasn't like that. But he was texting someone today at lunch.

"We're just trying to help you if anything - I don't think you deserve to be used again," Lauren tries to sound as innocent as possible, "but it's evident to all of us that he's using you. I mean, we have proof that he is."

"I don't have time for this. . ." I back into the rough wall behind me and it hurts me. I really don't believe them.

"He was talking to us during passing period today. Zeke and Jason were bugging him about why he was going out with you and he said a few things you should be aware of. And he told us some things, like how you claim that Earl's such a bad guy. So we told him about what happened with Eric. . ." Miley's smirk is getting larger.

I clench my stomach as it does a complete flip-flop.

No.

I had this plan that I was going to tell Troy myself about Eric. I just have not gotten the chance to. Now he probably is angry with me for keeping it from him. And probably questioning the reality of it too. He wouldn't think like that though, would he? I mean, me, a murderer, a villain? I don't believe I come across as that type of girl.

"I got everything he said on my phone. I recorded," Lauren has this presumptuous grin on her face that makes my knees wobble. She is grabbing for her cell phone which is in her purse. I personally have had enough of this torture - if Troy did say something, I do not want to see it. Obviously he isn't who I thought he was.

Again, I feel pieces of me cracking at the thought.

"Trust me, he doesn't belong with you." Sharpay's constant reminders are thrusting even more knives into my heart.

"Fine," I muster out, trying to keep myself steady, "show me the video." I don't want to. No, I definitely not want to. Troy must be just like Eric, just like every other person. Just using me. I am of no importance to him. That shouldn't surprise me.

The video is all static - you can barely make out the picture, but you can definitely spot out which one is Troy, which one is Zeke, and which one is Jason. Sharpay, Miley, and Lauren are heard giggling throughout the entire thing. Its obvious they are happy about this.

"Why are you with her, dude?" Zeke's expression shows concern - as if I'm dangerous, some kind of sin that Troy shouldn't dare to mess with.

"Zeke. . ." Troy is running his hands through his hair. "I've told you - she means something to me. You guys are way too mean to her. . ." He seems extremely bothered by his friends not supporting the situation.

"Is it sympathy?" Jason inquires from next to Zeke. "Because she's not that hot. I mean, she's kind of average and ordinary. . . nothing out of the box. There are so many hot chicks you could tap at this school and you pick her. . ."

"Hey," Troy looks defensive, "Gabriella is hot, in her own way. . ."

In my own way? I wish I could understand that better.

"What, did she give it to you or something? You been foolin' around with her?" Zeke now looks extremely intrigued, and his eyes seem to be lighting up.

Jason grins, "Yeah, is she secretly like this complete sex mistress?" He elbows Troy.

I feel outraged by these little comments. They seem immature, and it's none of their business what goes on between Troy and I. But I'm slightly shocked when I see Troy turn around with a rather sadistic smile on his face. I can tell he doesn't mean to look wicked in any way, he's just messing around like a guy would. But I still feel heat flash to my face at the thought of him discussing my latest 'straddling' episodes.

"Maybe that's what it is," Troy shrugs slyly, and my heart shakes at the same time, "you know, beyond the girl she is, there's a very sexy woman. . ."

"Oh, Bolton's getting some!" Jason high-fives Troy who just has this disgusting grin on his face that makes me want to slap him.

"So, she's like a fox? Secretly? Is she good?" Zeke asks, eagerly.

Gross. . . pigs. If he even acts like we. . .

"You don't even know, man," Troy positions himself to start walking to class with the two. I can hear Sharpay and Miley whispering from the phone's camera, things about how I'm "such a slut", and everything else.

The video ends.

"So, you had sex with him, just so he'd like you?" Sharpay is raising an eyebrow, incredulously.

I feel all the anger inside of me burning like a flame, "You have got to be kidding me. Do I come off as someone who would give up my all just for some dumb boy who can't keep his member in his pants?" I can't take it anymore, with them on my heels, I'm walking away.

How many times will I have to get hurt to learn that boys are self-centered?

"It's Troy, why wouldn't you?" Miley snorts.

"Was he good? Do you feel like you're one of us now just because you're giving it up to Troy? Because you're not, and you never will be, not after what you did to Eric." Sharpay informs me.

I feel a rush of hot tears falling down my face as I run straight to the other side of the school, meeting nothing but the wall. They have me countered and I am helpless.

I am not unsure of what happens next. I feel something powerful hit me in the head and everything else seems to black out. I'm not sure if someone hit me or anything. My vision is blurred when I open my eyes again. I suddenly feel a wave of coldness - and I feel a breeze as I try to recall where I'm at and what just happened.

They're still laughing, but the laughing is fading, so it seems as if they are walking away from me, finally leaving me alone.

It takes me a second to realize I'm in the girls' locker room. I'm in a corner, my small, petite body in the very corner. The floor is aloof and gives me shivers. For some unknown reason, I feel like something is missing but I'm not sure. Besides the brokenness I'm feeling, something else is a bit out of place. And then I glance down.

I'm unclothed. . . completely. And my clothes are nowhere to be found. The giggles are becoming more obscured as everything seems to hit me at once. Some cruel prank, that's all. But nothing stops me from crying. Nothing. And the tears are endless - like constant pools of emotion pouring from my eyes. The pain is unbearable. And I can't bare to face the facts - Troy really does care what people think, he's really ashamed of me. And he probably thinks I'm some sort of criminal now. I wish I could find something else to feel depressed about. He's the only thing that really matters to me though.

What's real in this world? It feels as if everyone is playing a joke on me, as if I'm just oblivious to it. And my sobs are becoming louder - echoing across the walls. I keep trembling from the coldness of my nudity. I cradle my legs with my hands and close my eyes. One day, I will be free of this pain - one day I will leave the world and never have to deal with these types of people.

You give someone a glimpse of who you truly are and they just turn around and stab you in the back. They turn around and drop you, even after they promise to catch you no matter what. I can still hear his words. "Don't let go."

What's easier - holding on and suffering more and letting go and letting everyone else win?

If everyone wins, at least then they don't have to deal with my burdens. I am the only one who has to deal with them.

But love is something you can't just throw away. Then again, if the other doesn't feel the same way, what's the point? Like Coldplay says, 'When you love someone but it goes to waste, could it be worse?'

No. It's the worst.

END OF CHAPTER.