AN: READ THIS.

I am so sick of having to write this same, stupid AN over and over and over again. I am also sick of people asking questions that I address in AN's. Hence the bolded caps above.

Please, be patient with the whole Troy and Gabriella thing. Try to enjoy the story or the other couples without them dating. Yes, this story ends at chapter 40, but don't get antsy about T and G. You see how long my chapters are. There is PLENTY of time for T and G to get back together. And no matter how many reviews you submit complaining about them, this story is already written and I'm not going to change it around to fit your pleas. Not every freakin' Troy and Gabriella story has to be mindless fluff or stupid drama that just revolves around their relationship. Try something new for a change, where the other characters are given justice.

And this is not directed to the people who say "I can't wait for them to get back together" after leaving an otherwise nice review stating what they thought of the chapter, but the people who review simply to say "wher iz da troyellaz srsly mayn." I hope that the thought TROYELLATROYELLATROYELLA isn't the only thing going through your brain as you read this story. However, sadly for some, I believe that is true. One-track minds are unpleasant, but they do exist.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh or bitchy but I've gotten a ton of reviews about this subject since chapter 19 and even though I've answered it every five chapters or so, people are always afraid I've changed my mind or something. I wouldn't put TxG in the summary if it wasn't a Troyella.

The chapter title comes from the musical Sunset Boulevard.

Title: Forget Yesterday
Rating: T
Author: MadiWillow
Summary: The kids at East High are all seniors now, and looking forward to spending every day as if it were their last together.
Genre: Humor/Drama
Chapter: Girl Meets Boy

Sharpay was pouring herself some cereal for breakfast one Saturday afternoon in April when the bell rang. Not knowing who it was but hoping for Chad to be there, she skipped over to the front door, and called throughout the house, mostly to their maid, "I'll get it!"

"Wait, no, Sharpay!" yelled Ryan, pounding down the stairs. "I got it!"

"Chill, Ryan, I can open a door," said Sharpay exasperatedly. She swung the front door open and perplexedly eyed Taylor. "Hi Taylor. I didn't know you were coming over."

"Oh," Taylor said, looking over Sharpay's shoulder at Ryan. He shrugged helplessly. Luckily, Sharpay didn't notice this interaction, and she continued to stare at Taylor, waiting for an answer. "Well, I just thought we could hang out or something."

"Okay." Sharpay stood back for her to step inside, before shutting the door. "I was just having breakfast and then I'm going to head over to Troy's."

"Sounds good." As Sharpay turned to lead Taylor into the kitchen, the latter glanced at Ryan with a distressed looked upon her face. He shrugged again, and followed them in. "Do you want anything?" Sharpay asked.

Taylor shook her head. "No, I'm good."

"Suit yourself." Sharpay shoved a spoonful of cereal into her mouth. "Do you need something, Ryan?" she asked in a bitchy tone.

"Uh --" He glanced quickly at Taylor. "No."

"Then why are you here?"

"I live here."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Looking over at Taylor, she said, "I have no idea why he's being so weird."

Ryan glared as Taylor giggled.

Sharpay took a few more bites of her cereal before setting the bowl in the sink. "Let's go."

"I'm gonna wait a while," announced Ryan. "I have... a show I wanna watch."

"Whatever," said Sharpay again. She walked over to her front door and was about to open it when she glanced back at Taylor, who hadn't moved. "Are you coming?"

"Umm," she stammered. "You know, I think I left some clothes here the last time I slept over. How about I meet you at Troy's later?"

Sharpay shrugged. "Okay."

She left, and Ryan and Taylor sighed in relief. "Thank God."

"Nice job opening the door," said Taylor sarcastically.

"It's not my fault!" Ryan cried defensively. "I didn't know she'd be up this early."

"Ryan, it's ten in the morning."

"Exactly. Sharpay is never up before eleven."

She shook her head. "Well, whatever, it's fine. She obviously didn't suspect anything."

He took her hand and squeezed it lightly.

"Hello," greeted Sharpay as she walked into Troy's den, where Troy, Gabriella, Chad, Jason, and Zeke were grouped around the bar.

"You're early," said Chad in surprise.

"Am I?" She looked around. "What are you guys doing?"

"Drinking." Chad held out a beer. "Want one?"

"It's, like, ten in the morning."

"Yes."

"And we're already drinking?"

"Well, it's our senior year, and we don't care."

Sharpay shrugged. "That's fine with me." She took a beer can and collapsed on the couch. "You guys... it's April," she announced randomly.

"Yes," said Gabriella, nodding. "Your point?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. It's just... we graduate in, like, two months."

"And then we all go off to college," Gabriella finished.

"Come on, let's not talk about that now," said Chad, sitting down next to his girlfriend. "Even though I don't really have anything to worry about, because my best friend and girlfriend are going to school with me anyway."

Gabriella glared. "So we don't matter?"

"Nope, not really."

She swatted his head.

"I'm jay-kaying, Gabriella!"

"Did you just say 'jay-kaying?'" she asked, making a face.

"... no."

"Hey, where's your brother?" asked Troy, nodding at Sharpay.

Sharpay rolled her eyes. "He said he wanted to watch a show or something. He's such a freak."

"Did he forget I own a TV?" asked Troy.

She shrugged. "Guess so."

"And... where's Taylor?" asked Gabriella.

"At my house."

"Why?"

"She said she left clothes there."

"Hm."

"What?" Sharpay asked of Gabriella, who shrugged.

"It just seems a little weird that she would stay at your house to look for 'clothes.'" she said, using air quotes. "How long does it take to find an article or two of clothing?"

"In Sharpay's closet?" laughed Chad.

"He's got a point," Sharpay said, nodding.

"Still. It's weird," said Gabriella, shrugging again.

Sharpay gasped loudly. "Oh, my gosh. What if she's... stealing stuff from me!?" She jumped up. "Let's go."

Troy rolled his eyes. "Sharpay, I'm sure she's not --"

"Please, Troy, I own a ton of expensive clothing that I'm sure that greedy bitch would be dying to get her dirty little fingers on them. So, let's go!" she repeated. She bustled out of the den, leaving the others.

"Should we go?" asked Chad aloud.

Gabriella sighed. "We don't really have anything else to do."

They all murmured words of agreement and slowly filed out of the den.

Sharpay led her five friends into the foyer of her house, shutting the door behind them as they glanced around. Zeke, Gabriella, and Chad looked unperturbed, but Troy and Jason, having never been inside her house before, glanced around with wide eyes. "Whoa," said Troy.

"This is the house you come home to after school?" Jason said in awe.

"No, I go to Troy's," said Sharpay obviously. "But yes... my house is nice." She started to jog up the stairs. "Let's go catch Taylor in the act."

The other five followed her unenthusiastically to her room. Once inside, Sharpay looked around for Taylor, but frowned when she saw no sign of her. "Where the hell is she?" She walked into her closet, but emerged a moment later, still frowning. She even checked under her bed, but growled in annoyance.

"Maybe we passed her on the way here," suggested Zeke.

"No," Sharpay countered. "I know what her car looks like." She excited the room and led them down the hall toward Ryan's. "Maybe Ryan'll know."

She barged in without knocking on his door, and her jaw dropped.

Sitting on Ryan's bed were an embraced Ryan and Taylor, attached at the mouth.

Sharpay gaped. The two were too engrossed in each other's lips that they somehow hadn't heard Sharpay open the door. The rest of their friends came up behind her and peered over her shoulder to see why she had stopped.

"Oh, my God!" cried Gabriella.

The two teenagers finally sprang apart as if a jolt of electricity surged through them. They looked up in shock at their friends staring at them, mouths open, and grinned sheepishly.

"H-hi guys," said Taylor, attempting to sound casual. "What's up?"

"Oh, my God," Sharpay repeated Gabriella's words slowly. "Are you two --?"

"No!" the two said quickly.

"Yeah, and Zeke's not gay," scoffed Sharpay, her hands on her hips.

"Well, they might not technically be dating," reasoned Gabriella, stepping into the room after Sharpay. "If all they do it make out..."

"All Chad and I do is make out but we're dating," Sharpay reminded her.

"True."

Sharpay gasped loudly, pointing. "They're holding hands!"

Taylor and Ryan jerked their hands apart, blushing slightly.

Sharpay rushed forward and grabbed Taylor's arm. "Come. Now." She practically dragged said girl out of the room, calling for Gabriella over her shoulder. She led the two into her bedroom, slammed the door behind her, and said, "Tell us everything!"

"I-I don't know what --" stammered Taylor, but Sharpay cut in.

"Don't give us that crap," she said. She pushed Taylor so that she was on the bed, and sat down next to her, Gabriella on Taylor's other side. "How long has it been? How did this even happen?"

"Is Ryan a good kisser?" asked Gabriella curiously.

"Well, that I don't need to know." Sharpay wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Oh, come on, Sharpay. Ryan has had to put up with talks of your sex life all the time. You can survive hearing about his kissing."

"Irregardless – Taylor, start talking!"

Taylor sighed. "Well... I don't really know where to start."

"The beginning would probably suffice the best," Sharpay suggested with an eyeroll.

"Thanks," said Taylor sarcastically. "But I don't even know where it began... I guess on the trip to Colorado."

"Three months ago!?" yelped Sharpay.

"We haven't been going out that long," Taylor said quickly. "But that's kinda when I first realized I liked him."

"Awww!" cooed Gabriella and Sharpay. "How'd you realize it?" asked Gabriella. "We want to know everything."

Taylor shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know... we were just kinda joking around while we were watching movies and I just had a really fun time with him, you know? I kinda found myself dreaming about how it would be for him to, like, hold my hand or... kiss me." She blushed.

"Aww!" they chorused again.

She smiled. "Yeah."

"Then what? When did he ask you out?"

"After Lila and Morris's wedding."

"Awww!"

"... stop that."

"Oh, my gosh, I remember you guys danced!" exclaimed Sharpay.

"When?" asked Gabriella, confused. "I don't remember that."

"That's because you got wasted and Troy had to take you home early," Sharpay reminded her. "But yeah, they danced once, near the end when most everyone had left."

"Yeah, after that he took me outside and asked me out."

"How come you didn't tell anyone?" asked Gabriella curiously. "When Chad asked you out, the first thing you did was run over to my house."

Taylor looked uncomfortable. "Um..."

"Uh oh, it's something bad," said Sharpay.

"Is not."

"Then tell us."

"Well... I was going to," Taylor said. "But then, I don't know, things just got complicated."

"How?"

"Not with me. With you guys."

"... huh?"

Taylor sighed. "Well, a few days after the wedding, you had your little fight with Troy over not remembering your anniversary, and I didn't want to bother you with my news."

"Bother me!?" repeated Gabriella in surprise. "You wouldn't have --"

"You know it would have," said Taylor. "No offense, Gabriella, but you had a tendency to get caught up in things."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that when something is bothering you, you don't really care about anything going on in other people's lives."

Gabriella stood up indignantly. "That is not true, Taylor."

"It kind of is, actually." Taylor stood up too. "I tried giving you your space after you and Troy broke up, but after the whole anniversary crisis, I just didn't feel like you gave a fuck about anybody but yourself."

Gabriella's jaw dropped. "You can't be --"

"To be fair," Sharpay cut in. "Gabriella helped Chad and I get together."

"Oh, great!" spat Taylor. "So, maybe it's just that she doesn't give a fuck about me!" She turned on her heel and stomped out of Sharpay's room, thumping loudly down the stairs, and leaving the house, slamming the door loudly behind herself.

Gabriella was fuming. "Can you believe her!?" she demanded angrily.

"Well... actually, yeah," said Sharpay.

"... what!?" cried Gabriella. "You're on her side?"

Sharpay put up her hands in defense. "I'm on no one's side."

"It's impossible to not be on someone's side."

"Yes it is, because you both have valid points."

"Oh yeah?" scoffed Gabriella. "What's her point, then?"

"Well, during the whole Troy thing, you did kinda become conceited."

"No, I didn't! And... even if I did, so what? Did I not have a right to be depressed during my breakup?"

Sharpay shrugged. "Sure, you have the right. But there's a difference to being depressed and making the world revolve around you."

Gabriella frowned. "Didn't you yell at me about this once? On New Years Eve?"

"Yeah. But I guess it didn't work."

"But – I didn't bother you with it, did I?"

"No, but when you were upset, everyone else knew about it. But don't take it too personally," she added quickly. "Troy was like that too. When you went out with that Jacob kid, we spent the entire day talking about your relationship."

Gabriella furrowed her brow and sat down. "Still. Taylor is being ridiculous. I so would've cared if she told me about her and Ryan."

Sharpay shrugged. "Hindsight is twenty-twenty."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Gabriella asked again.

"Just like it sounds. Look, by the sound of it, when Taylor and Ryan started dating, you were still totally wrapped up in your own self-pity about the breakup. So she probably just go annoyed and felt left out."

"How would that make her feel left out?"

"Well... I'm probably to blame for that too," confessed Sharpay. "I've been really selfish... what with me and Chad."

Gabriella paused, biting her lip. "I guess we both kind of left her out."

"Yeah."

Gabriella flung herself back onto Sharpay's bed. "I can't believe I didn't realize it before! Taylor and I haven't really talked in, like, forever. I'm such a horrible friend; she couldn't even feel comfortable telling me about her boyfriend because I kept thinking about myself."

"Yeah, you have been, you bitch," Sharpay spat.

Narrowing her eyes, Gabriella said, "Excuse me? Didn't you just say that you've been kind of ignoring her too?"

"I only said that to make you feel better. You're still the bigger bitch. She thinks you guys are best friends, after all."

"She thinks?"

"Well, you and I are clearly the closer of friends."

Gabriella scorned her words. "Not."

"We are so! Gabriella, I consider you a very dear friend to me." She placed her right hand dramatically over her heart. "A best friend, actually."

"You just called me a bitch."

"Best friends are brutally honest."

Before their banter could continue further, Ryan stuck his head into the room. "Was that my girlfriend who stormed out of here?"

"Girlfriend!" squealed the two girls excitedly. "Oh wait... she's mad at me," remembered Gabriella.

"She told you?" Ryan asked.

"You knew!?" Sharpay exclaimed.

Ryan nodded. "Yeah. She told me everything. About how you two never care about what's going on in her life anymore, and --"

"I guess you were right," sighed Gabriella to Sharpay.

"I usually am," Sharpay said conceitedly.

Gabriella stood up. "Well, I guess I should thank you then, Ryan."

"Why?"

"Because while Sharpay and I have been so focused on ourselves these past couple of months, you've been there for Taylor."

"Well, I try."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm serious. I feel so horrible."

"Yeah, you made her pretty miserable."

"Thanks," said Gabriella sarcastically.

"So, I should probably go and find her then." Ryan made to leave, but Gabriella stopped him.

"No, we should probably go," said Gabriella, motioning to herself and Sharpay. "We're the ones she's pissed at."

"Me?" whined Sharpay. "I did my good deed for the day. I helped you realize how vain you are. Can't I just go make out with Chad now?"

"No," said Gabriella shortly. She grabbed her blonde friend's hand and dragged her down the stairs and out of the house with her.

They stepped outside, but then stopped. "How are we supposed to know where she is?" asked Sharpay.

"Well, she probably wouldn't answer if we called," Gabriella said.

"I remember, when I found out Zeke cheated on me, I went into the backyard," Sharpay announced.

Gabriella looked unimpressed with her news. "I'm happy for that."

Sharpay rolled her eyes. "I did it because I figured everyone would leave and not look back there. Maybe Taylor is in my backyard." She led Gabriella through her side gate and into the backyard. The two glanced around and quickly spotted Taylor, sitting with her back up against the wall of Sharpay's house. She glanced up at the sound of their footsteps, but quickly looked away when she saw who it was.

"I told you," said Sharpay smugly. "Man, I'm on a roll today."

Gabriella ignored Sharpay's comments and sat down so she was facing Taylor head-on. "Hi."

"Hello," mumbled Taylor. She sighed, and said, "Look... I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I can totally tell where you're coming from. I've been a self-absorbed asshole these past couple of months."

Taylor nodded. "Yeah, you kinda have."

Gabriella raised her eyes to the sky, but laughed lightly. "I have. I'm so sorry I haven't been there for you. But at least you had Ryan, right?"

Taylor smiled shyly. "Yeah. He's been great." She looked up at Sharpay, and Gabriella followed her gaze.

"Don't you have something to say?" prodded Gabriella.

Sharpay made an annoyed sound in her throat, but plopped down next to Gabriella as well and said, "I'm sorry, too."

"Even though you don't really sound like you are... I know you are," said Taylor. "So thanks. But I am sorry too, for keeping all this bottled up for so long and then bitching at you so suddenly."

"Yeah, it would've been nice if that could have been prevented." Gabriella nodded. "But it's all good."

Sharpay took a sharp intake of breath suddenly. "Oh, my gosh. Did Ryan get you those flowers on Valentines Day?"

Taylor nodded, and Sharpay squealed in delight.

"Aww, so cute! Did you know?"

"Yeah, but I didn't want to tell you. Remember, Valentines Day is when you were feeling bad for yourself for not getting anything."

Sharpay frowned. "God, I feel like such an ass."

"You should," said Taylor conversationally.

"There they are!" came a shout, and the girls jumped. The five boys came into the backyard through the same route Gabriella and Sharpay had taken. Chad, who'd spoken, reached them first. "We wondered where you went."

"Sorry. Taylor was being all dramatic and ran off," said Sharpay, standing up.

"Hey, I remember the last time I was in here," Troy said. "The girls were sunbathing topless."

Chad's face split into a smile. "Oh yeah. Gabriella looked hot."

Sharpay pushed him. "Um, hello."

"Well, she did! And I didn't even look at you... probably one of my biggest regrets. But I thought I was repulsed by you back then. Hence... I stared at Gabriella's boobs."

She narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, well... I had sex with Zeke that day."

Chad stared. "Not funny."

"It so is funny."

"Not."

"Yes, it is, because Zeke turned out to be gay."

Chad thought her statement over. "Well, I guess that's alright then." He nodded.

"You know what would be funny?" said Zeke suddenly, hovering behind Taylor.

"What?"

"If the girls all somehow fell in the pool."

Sharpay opened her mouth. "Um, so not funny!" she countered.

"So very funny," he said. He wrapped his arms around Taylor's waist and began carrying her over to the pool. Said girl shrieked and struggled against his grip.

"Let go! I am not laughing! Ryaa-aaan!"

Ryan was trying to stifle his laughter. "Sorry, Zeke'll beat me up."

"I'll beat you up, you --" Her statement was cut off as she was tossed into the pool. Troy took advantage of the situation to pick up Gabriella and bring her over to the pool.

"Don't you dare," said Gabriella warningly.

Troy smirked. "Or what? We're not dating. You can't threaten to cut me off or anything." With a pleasant smile, he threw her into the pool too.

Sharpay glared at Chad. "You better not."

Chad glanced around fearfully. "I really don't think I should," he said, worried. "Sharpay can kick really hard in some sensitive places."

"Well, I can!" Jason grabbed Sharpay around the middle and followed the same path Zeke and Troy had taken.

"Stop groping my girlfriend!" said Chad in annoyance.

"Okay." Jason dropped her in the water.

By now, all three girls were sopping wet and glaring at the boys, their makeup running down their cheeks. They got out of the pool, their feet squelching in their shoes, and looked murderously at the boys.

"Funny, huh?" laughed Ryan nervously, but Taylor was glaring at him.

"Come on, lighten up!" Zeke probed.

The girls exchanged evil looks. "Oh, we'll lighten up," said Sharpay dangerously. "I don't know if you've noticed, but you're in between us and the water."

The guys suddenly looked at each other desperately, and before they could react, the three girls rushed forward and pushed them all into the pool.

The girls ran away, giggling, and grabbed all the beach towels that were outside. They then slipped inside the house and locked the door, watching the boys predicament.

The five guys stepped out of the pool, annoyed, and walked to the back door. When they realized, however, that it was locked, they glared.

"Open up!" yelled Troy, pounding on the glass.

"What?" Gabriella shouted back. "Troy, I can't hear you!"

"Unlock the door!"

"You wanna walk home?" Taylor said loudly. "Well, that might not be such a good idea 'cause you're all wet."

The guys glowered.

"If you insist!" giggled Sharpay, and they walked away, leaving the boys shivering outside.

UP NEXT:

Gabriella's father returns.