Being a best friend had several responsibilities. It meant that Chad had to figure out how to balance his best friend being a father-to-be and still be able to live their lives the way it always had been. Who expected that? Obviously Troy would be paying close attention to Gabriella, especially at school… he understood that. But he wanted to keep the brotherly love they already had and still be able to be like boys in a junkyard together.

In the year that the gang had been together, and he had known Gabriella, he had felt the protectiveness of a brother to Troy's girlfriend. Like whenever Troy was gone or unable to be somewhere, he had been there for Gabriella without even thinking about it. Especially now that she was pregnant… well… that just unlocked a whole new level.

Chad couldn't pay attention with all these thought in his head. Darbus kept droning, bored pencils kept tapping, and the clock continued to tick slower… slower… slower.

After what felt like ages, the bell rang and Chad sprang from his seat. He grabbed his basketball from the confinements of Darbus's desk, and rushed out, their teacher calling out last minute homework assignments as everyone left in a hurry for lunch.

The gang walked together from drama class to the cafeteria. Troy had his arm around Gabriella, as usual, and they all laughed and joked their way through the line for food. Chad and Taylor were still the only ones who knew about the secret… and Chad was getting nervous. Almost two months had gone by and he could see a small baby bump begin to show. No one else had noticed… or if they had, didn't say anything about it. Perhaps they would just think she had gained a little weight, but, Chad thought, that wasn't fair to Gabriella. It was only a matter of time before people would start to wonder. But until then, she was making do with some of Troy's hoodies. That was still strange, however, because she rarely wore hoodies. Either way, Chad felt a sense of protection for her whenever Troy so much as walked away.

Gabriella leaned over to him. "What's up?" she whispered.

Chad jumped. He didn't realise he was so lost in thought. "I-I just was thinking."

"About murdering your fork?"

He glanced down. His hand was gripping the cutlery so tight his knuckles were white. He dropped it and rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

Another student approached their table. "Gabriella, I have something to ask you," he said.

Chad tensed.

Gabriella noticed.

The other student continued. "When is the next Decathlon meeting? My family's going out of town, and I would hate to miss it."

"We're still working out some kinks. Something will be posted, don't worry!" Gabriella smiled at him.

When she turned back, she whispered to Chad. "Yeah, not obvious at all."

"What!"

She softly smiled and looked down at her food. "I know you feel protective of me."

The bell rang and they all jumped up, getting ready to walk to their next class. Chad pulled her aside.

"Okay… you're right. I do feel a bit protective. But can you blame me? It's only a matter of time—"

She sighed. "I know, Chad. I don't know what I'm going to do whenever it gets too… obvious. But I can't have you fighting for me!"

He groaned. "I'm not fighting for you. I just really don't want you to get hurt or… 'bullied' is not the right word—"

Gabriella threw her arms around her friend. "Oh Chad, I love you."

He smiled, squeezing her back. "I love you too, Gabster. And the last thing I want is my friend getting hurt."

She held on. "I'm scared, Chad. So… scared."

He set his chin on her head. "I know. We all are. I've never had a friend who was preg—"

Gabriella pulled back and covered his mouth. "No! Not in the cafeteria!" she hissed.

He nodded and she removed her hand.

"The point is," he whispered. "I want to keep an eye out. I don't want anything happening to Troy's or your reputations."

She sighed. "I don't need protecting, Chad."

He shrugged. "We'll see."

The second bell rang and, realizing they were about to be late, the two rushed to their next class. Troy was waiting outside the room, leaning against the wall. When he saw them, he ran to Gabriella, picking her up and spinning around. She gripped his shoulders tightly, laughing.

Finally he set her down. "Come on, guys, we're gonna be late."

"Since when do you care?" Chad's voice was doubtful.

But something else had grabbed Troy's attention. Gabriella had suddenly stopped, her hand pressed against the wall to hold herself steady. Troy put one hand on her elbow, the other on her back. "Gabriella?"

Chad got anxious. "Gabby, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just… just out of breath."

A freshman was dashing by on his way to class. He was a classmate of Rocketman's and was notorious for not keeping his thoughts to himself. He skidded to a halt when he saw the little huddle. "Hey, everything okay?"

"Yeah, she's just not feeling well," Troy lightly brushed him off.

"Well, she looks like she's gained some weight, maybe that's why."

Chad exploded. "Hey, punk, watch your mouth! Who do you think you are?!" He started towards him.

"Chad!" Troy jumped toward his friend, grabbing his shoulders and yanking him back. The two struggled as the kid slowly backed away, his eyes scared.

Troy shoved his friend, pressing him against the wall, but he knew that wouldn't last long. "Listen," he hissed. "I know you're worried about Gabriella. We all are. But we have to work this out. It takes a lot of self-control for me too, but we have to keep this inconspicuous for as long as we can."

Chad shoved him off and they both stood still, breathing heavy.

The kid was staring.

Troy noticed him. "What are you still doing here?"

The kid cleared his throat and scurried away.

Gabriella sat against the wall and the boys relaxed.

Chad clenched his jaw and took a deep breath. "Sorry."

Troy nodded. "It's okay."

They both turned to Gabriella. Her eyes were closed as she held her stomach. Troy knelt in front of her as Chad crouched next to her.

"Are you alright?" Troy asked holding out his hands.

She opened her eyes and took them. The boys helped her to her feet. "Yeah. Yeah, just… a dizzy spell. I'm fine now." She smiled gently at Chad. "Thank you."

He nodded and the three walked to class together, detentions certainly in store.

Troy and Chad were the only ones left in the locker room after basketball practice. Freshly showered, they were half-dressed when Troy's dad poked his head around the door of his office. "You guys decent? You have a visitor, Troy."

The boys shared a glance.

Gabriella appeared from around the corner. "Is everyone gone?" she asked.

Chad nodded and shoved his jersey into his locker, pulling out his shirt. "Yup. No one but us."

She tentatively stepped further in.

Chad and Troy watched her, shirtless. "What are you doing?" Troy asked, amused.

She glanced up. "Huh? Oh, I just… new territory. Never been in here before."

Troy chuckled and hopped over the bench in front of him, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her head. "Well, no one's here."

Rocketman suddenly dashed down the hall. He skidded to a halt. "You guys still here?" He saw Gabriella and leaned against a locker in an attempt to look seductive. "Hey there, babe."

Chad started, but Gabriella inconspicuously gripped his pant leg to stop him.

Troy chuckled uncertainly. "Uh, sorry, Rocketman. Taken."

The boy ignored them. He flipped his hair. "Wanna hook it with me Saturday night?"

"That's it," Chad muttered. He clenched his fists.

Troy quickly distracted. "Hey, Rocketman, you know, I saw Sharpay checking you out the other day at rehearsals for the senior musicale. She's totally interested, man."

Chad, seeing instantly was Troy was up to, chimed in. "Yeah, you might wanna go check on that. Oh, by the way," he said, stepping forward. "I hear she's a sucker for this cologne called 'Manly Musk.' You should try that. It smells great. Really gets the babes."

Troy suppressed a grin. They both knew that cologne was the worst.

Rocketman straightened. "Cool, thanks dudes! You're the best!" And he was gone.

Troy and Chad low-fived as they watched him speed away.

Gabriella finally broke down laughing. "That was incredible, you guys! You just made that up on the spot?"

Chad straddled a bench. "Oh yeah. He's such a sucker," he chuckled.

"Yeah," Troy agreed. He turned to his girlfriend. "So why did you come here in the first place?"

Gabriella paused, trying to rack her brain for the answer. "I don't remember."

Then it hit her.

Literally.

She gasped and held her baby bump.

"What is it?" Troy was at her side in an instant.

But she smiled up at him and took his hand, holding it to the underside of her belly. She kept it there for a moment before his eyes widened.

"Do you feel it?" she asked excitedly.

"Yes." he whispered. "Yes, I do!"

Chad hopped up from the bench. "What is it?"

Gabriella gestured to him, taking his large hand in her smaller one, and placed it on her stomach where Troy's was. Troy moved out of the way.

After a moment, Chad's eyes widened, too. "Is that… the baby?"

She beamed.

Troy put his hand back, feeling his baby kick again. They were faint weak kicks, but they were there. "That's our baby," he whispered. Tears glistened in his eyes. "That's our baby," he said again. He pulled Gabriella to his bare chest, the unborn infant between them.

Gabriella was teary now too. "I felt it and I just had to find you."

Chad leaned against a locker to watch the happy, teary couple. He smiled to himself. Being a best friend really had it's miracles. He with his best friends in their scariest times, like finding out Gabriella was pregnant, and in the happy moments... like right now.

Okay, review and let me know what you think! I know what I'm doing for the birth (and I promise you will never expect it), but I need more ideas for the time in-between now and then. Please submit any ideas!

xx

Annie