CHAPTER 28

((hey everyone…sorry I didn't update yesterday…my wasn't working right…I couldn't look at stories or reply to any reviews or even get into fanfic my internet was messed up…I have been unable to review other peoples stories for about 3 days now…I usually review just about everything…so that's why I have completely stopped…there aren't many chapters left in this story…I may do a sequel…im not sure…the magic number is most likely 31…no story can last forever and this is so long that I am running out of ideas…I have an idea where to end it…actually I just decided to end it at my idea spot…which is…you'll have to wait and see…will everything be happy or sad…youll see…ooo this is fun…I know the story before everybody else does…well I should as I am the writer…this chapter will probably be between 800 and a thousand words… and to all of you Mexican food lovers out there who constantly have it in there stories…two people in particular…you know who you are…IM HAVING TACOS FOR DINNER TONIGHT…I can taste them right now…and no I am not eating them right now it is one of those types of statements don't ask me which kind…GO CHARGERS!

STAYING ALIVE

T.J examined the ring in his bedroom, that night. Guilt was creeping through his insides like some kind of virus. After all, he was a normal person, too. He wasn't crazy or a mad physco killer. He wished he hadn't stolen the ring. After all, it looked like it was worth a lot, and if he got caught with it, he could go to jail. He sighed. What could he do to give it back without him being noticed? He smiled. He had just thought of the perfect plan.

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"Hi Troysie poo," T.J. had hired a cheerleader to distract Troy and Chad. "Wanna make out in the auditorium with me?" T.J had payed her a lot so she would make it good and annoying. He sneaked up behind Troy and Chad, praying that they wouldn't notice him. "Come on Troy. Just picture I'm that Montez girl. I'm probably a better kisser than her anyways."

"I'm engaged, you idiot," said Troy, annoyed. "Leave me alone."

"You're engaged?" squeaked the cheerleader excitedly. "Too who?" She had forgotten her little undercover romance thing.

"Who do you think?"

The girl's smile immediatlely left her face. She looked as if Troy had just smacked her with a frying pan. "You can't be serious?" she said in a dead serious tone. "That Montez girl is such a freak. Troy, I don't think you get it. You're really hott. Hott guys can't marry geeky girls. It just doesn't work that way. Sorry, sugar, find a different girl. Like me for instance."

T.J. quietly slipped the ring into Chad's bag. That wouldn't make Troy happy. Knowing that his best friend stole his engagement ring would devastate him. T.J. smiled to him. "You're so smart," he thought to himself.

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"Cheerleaders can't seem to keep their mouth shut," said Troy walking into the lunch room. The whole school was staring at him. "Why is is that cheerleaders can't keep their mouth shut?"

"We have been over this before, Troy," replied Chad. "Word travels quickly around this school. It's called word fire."

"No, it's called I'm dead fire," said Troy walking over to the table where Gabriella and Taylor were sitting. "So," said Troy getting over there. "What's up?" He was afraid of Gabriella's reaction, and Gabriella sensed it.

"I'm not mad, Troy," said Gabriella smiling. "Everyone had to find out sometime. I'm surprised we were able to keep it secret this long."

"Me too," replied Troy. He mimicked Chad. "It's called word fire."

Taylor snorted into her milk. "Wow, Troy," she laughed. "That is the weirdest Chad impression I've ever heard."

"How did you know it was Chad?" asked Troy smiling.

"Because Chad is obsessed with fire," replied Taylor. "He's a pyro."

"Am not," replied Chad. "Word fire was your idea."

"No, it wasn't.
"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No," said Taylor slamming her fist on the table spilling her milk.

"Yes," replied Chad mimicking her.

"Would you two shut up?" asked Gabriella. "You're giving me a headache."

#(&#($&)(#))#()(&)#&)(#)(#$#()#(()#()(#

Troy and Chad walked into Calculus where they sit next to each other. Chad opened his bag and whipped out his book. The ring T.J. put in there flew out and hit Troy in the head.

"Ouch," he winced. "Hey, where did this come from?" He picked his ring off the ground. He realized where it had come from. "What was it doing in your bag?"

"It wasn't in my bag!" replied Chad. "Honest, Troy! You know I wouldn't steal something as important as that. Maybe a pencil, but not an engagement ring! Somebody else must have put it in there!"

Troy scowled. "Do you wanna tell me who did it? Cause I really would love too know."

"T.J. probably."

"He hasn't been near us at all today."

"That cheerleader person…"

"Didn't go near your bag," Troy finished for him.

"Maybe T.J. hired the cheerleader to keep us distracted so he could put it in my bag," Chad said triumphantly. "I bet he did. He seemed so weird yesterday."

Troy had an immediate change of heart. It was almost like he was drugged. "He walked past us as she was talking to us, and he and the cheerleader made eye contact, then as soon as he was gone, she left. That was probably it. It's okay, Chad. We've been best friends since Pre-K, I know it wasn't you."

Troy put the ring on his finger. He was so happy to have it back. As he walked out of class he heard an angry loud voice yell, "Troy Bolton! You have a lot of explaining to do!" Gabriella was not a happy girl. "You lost the ring! How could you lose your engagement ring! Don't you care about our engagement!"

"I didn't lose the ring," replied Troy. "I'm wearing it now."

"There was a rumor that you did! It spread around the whole school!"

"Come on, Gabby. It was a rumor. Not the truth. I love you. I would never lose a symbol of how much I love you." He kissed her. She smiled and they walked down the hall hand in hand. This was one of those times where you lie to your almost-wife to stay alive.

((I have nothing against cheeleaders! Just so everyone knows! I was thinking about a ditzy cheerleader I know when I was writing that…I'm not trying to stereotype cheerleaders…3 chapters left…I hope you've liked this story…its winding down but there is still more good stuff to come…Review time…You know the drill…GO CHARGERS! XOXO, Christine))