Now, I know some of you are questioning Mack's character, and to put some background to that...Troy has never really dated anyone for this long. Mack has just been so used to having her big brother there for her at every minute of everyday that she doesn't know how to have a brother that she doesn't see much. Don't worry, it will work out in the end.

Now onto Chapter 43!

Bailey and Keisha walked out of the house. Mack was still in her room and she didn't notice that she was alone. They walked to the basketball court.

Ryan and Gabriella were keeping score and by the looks of it, Calum's team was winning and three of the Wildcats weren't letting them win. Bailey didn't want to walk into the middle of their game, but Keisha didn't mind.

"Calum," she yelled from half court.

He jogged over to her, after signaling to Ryan and Gabriella timeout. "What is it? Where's Mack?"

"Exactly why we need you," Bailey said stepping in. "We've created a monster."

"What do you mean," he asked confused.

"Actually, Troy created a monster. But you really need to talk to Mack. She is...just go talk to her, you'll see what we mean then."

Calum turned and sprinted for the house. The five other boys walked over.

"Where's he going," Chad asked.

"He needs to talk to Mack."

"Should I go with him," Troy asked concern filling his voice.

Bailey shook her head and looked to Keisha to speak, but Keisha was staring at a shirtless Chad. With a groan Bailey told him, "no, that would just make it worse."

hsmhsmhsmhsmhsm

Calum climbed the stairs to Mack's room two at a time. When he reached her door he knocked, but there was no answer. He went to open the door, but something was holding the door. "Mack I know you're in there! Open up!"

He heard shuffling and she opened the door. Calum walked in to the room he pictured Mack having. Red and white, with basketballs everywhere. Those sticky star things were on the ceiling and there were stuffed animals -not many- in one corner of the room. As he walked on her hard wood floors, he heard a crunching noise and looked down. He had stepped on a pile of ripped pictures.

He picked up two halves that was ripped down the middle and put them together. It was at what looked like Troy's fifth birthday party. She was sitting on his lap as he blew out the candles of a basketball shaped birthday cake. Chad was in the picture too, as well as some other kids he didn't know but he presumed were family.

"We look so happy don't we?"

"Mack, what's wrong?"

She turned around and he looked into her eyes. They were full of hurt. "What's wrong? Troy and his perfect girlfriend."

"I thought you were okay with them."

She shut her eyes. "I was. But...recent events have changed my mind."

"Look," he said putting his arms around her. "I know your hurt and maybe jealous-"

"Jealous, I'm not jealous," she said pulling away from him.

"Okay, just listen. Pulling apart your room isn't going to help."

"That's why I have devised a plan."

Calum looked at her, "what kind of plan?"

Mack watched out the window at Troy, who was showing Adam and Teagan the correct way to shoot a foul shot. "A plan that would make Gabriella run away from Troy."

"Do you think that's going to help? Breaking Troy's heart," Calum said.

"Breaking Troy's heart?"

"Yeah Mack, he's in love with her. Have you not seen that? I may not be an expert, but I know it when I see it." His voice lowered slightly. "You will ruin your family if you do what ever you're trying to do."

He walked over to her side and put his hand on her cheek. "It's not like she's unworthy of him. Look how happy they make each other. Mack, I've never seen you act like this. Not even when you hated me were you this evil."

She shut her eyes, "I guess you're right."

"Why were you going to it?"

She looked him in the eye. "He's forgotten all about me and I want my old brother back."

"No matter what you did, you wouldn't get the old Troy back. People change," Calum said looking out the window. "And he hasn't forgotten about you."

"Yes he has, Gabriella's taken my place," She yelled.

"No one can ever take your place." Both heads turned to the voice. Troy was leaning against the door frame. "Come here."

Mack stood her ground and crossed her arms. Troy sighed, "I guess I deserved that huh. But listen to me. If I did something for Gabriella, I would do it twice as fast for you. If you needed say...a kidney and Gabriella needed one too, who do you think I would choose?"

"Gabriella."

"No, you. Sure it would be a tough choice, because you're the two girls I love most in the world."

"What if I wasn't a match with you and Gabriella was?" Calum chuckled at Mack's questioning.

"I'd give it to Gabriella, but I would look night and day for a match for you." When Mack didn't budge, he said, "if you don't believe it, follow me."

Mack sighed and followed her brother out the door. He picked her up and put her on his shoulders and brought her to their mother's garden. There was a bench, where the two used to sit when Elaine was gardening and he sat her down on it. "You'll like this, I promise." Then he started to sing.

"As you go through life you'll see
There is so much that we
Don't understand."

Mack smiled slightly at his song choice.

"And the only thing we know
Is things don't always go
The way we planned.
But you'll see every day
That we'll never turn away
When it seems all your dreams come undone
We will stand by your side
Filled with hope and filled with pride
We are more than we are
We are one."

Mack knew that this next part was the girl's part and wondered what he was going to do. When he didn't sing and pointed to her, she shook her head. "I'm not continuing until you sing. I'll stay out here all night if I have to."

She sighed.

"If there's so much I must be
Can I still just be me
The way I am?
Can I trust in my own heart
Or am I just one part
Of some big plan?"

Happy that she contributed he continued.

"Even those who are gone
Are with us as we go on
Your journey has only begun

"Tears of pain, tears of joy
One thing nothing can destroy
Is our pride, deep inside
We are one

"We are one, you and I
We are like the earth and sky
One family under the sun

"All the wisdom to lead
All the courage that you need

You will find when you see
We are one."

Troy sat down next to her on bench. "Now, what do you say to that?"

"You have got to be the only guy at East High that still watches Disney movies."

Troy laughed. "Okay, caught red handed. Did that show you?"

"That you're a freak? Yes." Troy gave her a look. "That you're the only guy that thinks he's cool enough to watch Disney movies with his little sister, memorize the words to the song and sing it to her when she's down and still remain popular? Yes."

"Why do you think I picked that song?"

Mack sighed. "Because it talks about being a family and things not going as I planned them to go?"

Troy smiled. "And to think I thought you missed the point." Troy stood up and started to walk back to the house. He turned around and smiled. "Oh, and don't make any plans tomorrow."

"Why?"

"It's a surprise."

Sorry if you guys are getting really sick of them Lion King, but I thought that Troy singing that to her would be good...

Tell me what you think.

Review!