"Gabriella!"

Gabriella turned around to see Taylor rushing toward her.

"What?"

"You need to talk to Ryan."

Gabriella looked surprised, "Are you crazy? I can't do that."

"Sure you can."

"No, I really can't."

"Listen, Gabriella, I talked to him."

Gabriella's eyes widened, "What did he say?"

"A lot of things. He also said that you need to confront him."

Gabriella looked at Ryan, who was sitting at his lunch table with the rest of the drama club.They were laughing as she noticed Sharpay smiling and waving at her. Ryan smirked a suppressed a laugh.

"Hey, Gabriella," Sharpay yelled across the lunch room, "come sit with us!"

Gabriella turned to Taylor with a pleading look and whispered, "Help me."

Taylor managed a humorous smile as she gave Gabriella an encouraging push, "This is your dilemna."

Gabriella nervously walked over and sat next to Sharpay. Ryan looked at her and smiled. Her heart skipped a beat.

"So, Gabriella, what have you been up to?" Sharpay asked smiling.

"Nothing, just stuff," Gabriella said blushing a bright red.

"Interesting..." Sharpay said looking around hesitantly before standing up, "Excuse me. I'll be back in a minute. I just need to see about something."

As Sharpay left, Gabriella made a motion to stand up, but Ryan stopped her.

"You know what?"

Gabriella looked at Ryan. She was startled that he even spoke to her.

"What?" she asked sitting back down.

Ryan smiled, "I hate lima beans, but the school always serves them."

"What do lima beans have to do with anything?" Gabriella supressed a laugh.

"Nothing. It just looked like you were about to tense up."

Gabriella look down, "Ryan, I know what you might think, but I dont..."

Gabriella looked up to see Ryan's blue eyes fixed on her. She almost melted right then and there, but tried to stay focused. Even though, she knew Ryan wouldn't believe her. She didn't even believe herself.

"You don't what?"

"I don't like you that way."

Ryan laughed, "I, honestly, don't care to know the truth. Whether you do or not, I don't care."

Gabriella felt hurt by this, but she tried not to show it.

Ryan noticed, "Gabriella, I can tell when you're not being honest with me. See, I know you do. How much is none of my concern, but you do."

"No, I don't."

"Then look me in the eyes and tell me you don't like me."

"I can't."

Ryan smiled and shrugged.

"You ignored me because you knew?"

"No. I ignored you because it's too complicated. If I like you, you'll go crazy. If I don't, you'll get hurt. I try to avoid either one."

"Yeah," Gabriella said nervously, "I better go."

She stoop up and looked at Ryan, "I don't like you. I love you."

She walked as fast as she could out the lunch room leaving Ryan speechless.

'I can't believe I just said that,' Gabriella thought.

'I can't believe she just said that,' Ryan thought.