Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. I don't own J.J. Reddick, either. :D

A/N: Well, that last chapter was interesting. LOL Yes, this chapter has the long awaited dying of Chad's hair. YAY! LOL For anyone who cares, this chapter is actually based off a true story. My cousin had lymphoma and when she lost her hair her boyfriend dyed his neon green so people would stare at him instead. Random moment, lol. :D

Random Moment of the Chapter: AAHHH,4 days till Degrassi!

Enjoy!

Troy stepped out of the passenger side of his dad's car, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. Jack turned the car off and got out, retrieving his briefcase from the backseat.

"Have a good day," he called after Troy as he walked toward the school. Troy waved a hand behind him in acknowledgement, not even turning to say goodbye as he walked into the school.

"Hey, Troy!" Sharpay said excitedly, running up to him in the hall.

"Hey."

"What happened to your head?" she asked, her wide smile falling when she saw the bandages on his head and wrist.

"Nothing."

"Oh." Sharpay paused, thinking, before shrugging her shoulders and smiling again. "So, Ms. Darbus just announced auditions for the Fall Musical. Are you trying out?"

Troy shrugged. "I don't know if I can."

"Please, Troy, you and Gabi have to audition," Sharpay pleaded, grabbing Troy's hand dramatically. "I don't know if we can survive without you."

Troy smiled, shaking his head slightly.

"Please, Troy," Sharpay cried, placing a hand on her head and pretending to faint.

"Alright, alright, cut the drama. I'll audition."

Sharpay squealed excitedly, kissing him on the cheek before practically skipping off down the hall.

"What was that about?" Gabriella asked quietly, coming up behind him and surprising him. Troy smiled, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her gently.

"Auditions," he whispered, holding her close to him. The people in the hall surged around them, grumbling and complaining that they were blocking the way. Troy grabbed Gabriella's arm and led her to the side of the hall, kissing her again. She smiled broadly, but the smile turned to a frown when she realized that Troy was bandaged.

"What happened?" she asked, reaching out to gently touch the bandage on his forehead.

"I crashed my car into a tree last night. Thirteen stitches," Troy said, swatting her hand away.

"Troy, why didn't you call me? You should have told me."

"Gabi, I'm fine. It was nothing, okay?"

Gabriella shook her head, ducking from under Troy's arms and walking down the hall, leaving him to follow. Troy jogged to catch up to her, reaching out and grabbing her arm. He turned her to face him.

"Gabi, it's not that big of a deal. I'm fine, aren't I?"

"But what if you weren't? God, Troy, what if you had to stay in the hospital, and I didn't even know you were hurt? What if something serious had happened?"

"Gabi, it really isn't that important. I would have called you if I thought you'd be like this."

"Like this? What is that supposed to mean?"

"You're blowing the whole thing out of proportion," Troy said, releasing his grip on her arm.

"Troy, I love you. I love you so much, sometimes it hurts. But obviously you don't feel the same, because you would have called me last night." Gabriella turned on her heel and stalked down the hall, refusing to look back.

"Gabi! Gabi, come on!" Troy called after her. She didn't respond.

Troy stood in front of his locker, absently throwing books into it. He knew the first bell would ring soon, signaling the start of the school day, but he couldn't bring himself to get out his first period books, not after the fight he'd just had with Gabriella. It seemed like all the did lately was fight.

"Somebody looks depressed," Chad said, walking up and leaning against the locker next to Troy's. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes.

Troy sighed, taking out his Trig book. "Gabi and I had a fight. Again."

"Sorry, man," Chad said, patting Troy on the back.

"Whatever," Troy said half-heartedly, digging through books to find his notebook.

"Well, I think I have something that will cheer you up."

"What?" Troy asked, standing up and snapping the locker door shut. Chad reached up and pulled off his baseball cap, shaking out his hair. Troy's jaw dropped.

"You-what-" he stammered, cracking a smile as he looked at his friend. Chad smiled. His hair was neon pink from root to end, the shocking color practically burning into Troy's eyes.

"I figured that, since you have no hair, everyone's going to stare at you. So, now they'll stare at me instead."

Troy was staring speechlessly at Chad, overcome with emotion.

"Th-thanks," he managed to stammer, reaching out to clap his shoulder.

"Hey, man, no problem."

"Gabi, can I talk to you?" Troy asked later that day, catching up to her in the hallway.

"What do you want, Troy?" Gabriella asked, ignoring him as she walked down the hall.

"Gabi, please, I'm really sorry. I just didn't know you'd be that upset."

"Upset? Troy, you should have told me."

"Gabi, can you please just accept my apology? I really am sorry."

"Troy, I don't want to do this right now. Not here."

"Gabi, please, calm down."

"Troy, we have some serious issues we need to work out. If you don't think it's necessary to tell me when you crash your car, will you think it's necessary to tell me when the doctors give you a limit? Will I even know if you're dying, Troy? Or am I not allowed to find out?" With that, Gabriella turned on her heel and stalked down the hallway.

"Gabi, please don't do this now. Gabi!"

"Troy, I'm finished. I'll see you at lunch."

Groaning angrily, Troy kicked a small wad of paper on the floor, attracting the attention of students headed to class.

"Troy, your dad wants to see you in his office," Ms. Walker said, reading the note sent to her classroom. Troy looked up, alarmed, before grabbing his books and walking out of the classroom. Within minutes he found his way to the locker room, knocking on the door of his father's office.

"Dad?"

"Troy? Is that you? Come in."

Troy walked into the office, noticing that another man was sitting across from his dad, a Duke baseball cap on his head. He stood up when Troy walked into the room, holding out his hand. Troy shook it tentatively, clearly confused.

"Troy, this is Mark Lucas, from Duke. He wants to talk to you."

"Troy, your father's told me a lot about your game. He's also explained your situation."

Troy sat down heavily, watching the scout intently.

"Troy, we'd like you to know that we're still very interested in you as a candidate for our team. Your father's agreed to supply us with some tape of your best games, and we also hope that we'll get to see you play this season."

Troy gaped, still obviously confused.

"We want you to know that the offer to visit campus still stands if you want it. We've matched you up with one of our best players, J.J.-"

"Reddick?" Troy asked breathlessly, awestruck.

"Yes. If you come to campus, you'll be matched for an entire weekend with him. He'll show you around campus, take you around the town. I hope you'll take us up on this offer."

Troy looked at his father, then back at Mark, then back at his dad, before swallowing heavily. "Okay."

A/N: Wherever J.J. Reddick is, I'm sorry if I spelled his name wrong. And I'm sorry if he doesn't want me to use him. LOL Anyway, reviews greatly appreciated, as always!

Coming in Chapter 13: Troy deals with the Gabi fight thing.