Okay, thanks for the reviews! I love them!

But enough, you want the story!

Chapter 26

Troy laid in bed, trying to figure out how he lost to Ryan. What was the world coming to, first he couldn't play basketball and then he lost to Ryan, the dancer of all people...

"Troy," he heard from the doorway. He looked up and smiled. "Mack called, she said you were feeling down."

"Not anymore," Troy said, sitting up and walking to Gabriella and engulfing her in a huge hug. She smiled at his touch. Troy kissed her cheek gently before saying, "no kissing in the room, Dad came up with the rule."

"Oh really, the wildcat has been caught with a girl in his room before," she asked.

"Yeah," he said lifting her up. "You."

He walked over to the bed and carefully placed her down. He then laid down beside her, holding her close. She loved how she felt when he held her. Gabriella leaned into him, the perfect fit.

"I love you, you know that right," he said, whispering into her ear. She blushed. Troy had told her those words before but this time it felt so good.

"I love you too," she said. He leaned his head toward hers and kissed her. "You are so beautiful," he said kissing her again. "And smart and-" But he couldn't finish because Gabriella pushed him off.

"What about your dad's rule," she asked.

"Screw the rule," he said before he kissed her again. This time it was a passionate kiss that left Gabriella longing for more.

"Your door is wide open," she whispered.

He wiggled his eyebrows before quietly walking over to the door and closing it shut. He slid back onto the bed as if he hadn't left. "Now...where were we?"

As Troy went in to kiss her, Gabriella sat up. He gave her a confused look and she couldn't help but think he looked so cute when he was confused.

"Troy, I don't feel right about this," she stated.

"Gabriella it's just kissing." He sat up and started kissing her neck. She rolled her eyes and pushed him playfully.

"Troy...your dad made that rule to keep you safe."

"From what," Troy asked.

"Kissing can lead to so much more..."

"It doesn't have to."

"Troy if your dad walked in-"

"Gabriella he won't," he interrupted.

"Would you listen to me," she said. He looked down and she continued. "Do you realize how bad it would look if anyone walked in? We can just talk."

"Talk," Troy asked skeptically.

"Yes, talking is great," she said.

"What do we talk about," he asked holding her hand.

"I don't know," she said. "Anything you want."

"Where do you think we'll be in ten years?"

She thought about it. "Lets see, in ten years you'll be 28 and I'll be 27 soon to be 28. I see us very successful."

"Hmm...I see the same," he said. "But, I'm adding something. We'll be married and starting a family."

Gabriella looked at him as if she was studying him. "I think I can start a family with you," she joked.

"You think," Troy asked. "You think..." He leaned closer to her, "because I know." Then he started to tickle her. Before long, he pushed her down on the bed and landed on top of her.

"I love you," she said.

"I'd hope so," he joked. He kissed her very softly. "I love you too."

hsmhsmhsmhsmhsm

Calum was in the locker room after practice getting ready to go over to Adam's house. The whole group was going over there to sort of apologize and make up as Adam had said.

"So hows Bolton," one of the players asked. All the junior varsity players were on one side of the lockers, leaving Calum on the other side.

"Is Boucher gone," he heard Caleb ask.

"Yep," another one said.

"Good. Well, Bolton's a good kisser, but she is way to protected to go any farther. Every time I try to do something, Troy came barging in as if he's waiting for me to do something."

Calum could feel his eyes narrowing as Caleb talked. 'As if Troy isn't going to be protective of his little sister, she's gorgeous. Any guy would want her,' Calum thought. 'Including me,' he added miserably.

"So she'd be willing," he heard another ask.

"I don't know, I haven't gotten that far," Caleb yelled. "But you see, I will. Anyway, I've got to keep her coming to me. If she gets bored and dumps me for some other guy...how will I ever make captain of varsity?"

"By some other guy, you mean Boucher," Derek asked.

"Yes. I swear she still looks at him," Caleb yelled.

One guy snorted. "I see him looking at her everyday. The guys got the hots for her."

'Am I really that obvious,' Calum asked himself.

"Well for the time being, Alyx took care of him," Caleb said.

"Yeah, you are so lucky you have a sister."

"I know, but back to Calum. Someone's got to show him the rules," Caleb said. "And I know just how to do it!"

"How," Derek asked.

"Well, you know the big championship game next week," he said. There was a pause where Calum assumed the team nodded. "As captain, I'll take away his playing rights."

"I thought you had to have a good reason to do that," someone asked.

"I do, we're playing West High."

Calum's fists clenched. "Wait..." Derek said. "I think he earned his right to play them. Remember when we played them three weeks ago, he dominated." Calum felt a sense of pride run through him.

"Are you on my side or what," Caleb snarled.

"I'm just saying, that's not a good enough excuse." Calum's heart jumped, Derek was protecting him, defending him. Maybe they didn't hate him as much as he thought. "You can come up with better." His heart sank, 'or maybe they do,' he thought.

"You're right," Caleb said. "I'll find a better excuse, one that Coach can't ignore."

The guys started to laugh as they left and Calum leaned against the lockers. 'Great, first they take my girlfriend, next they take basketball. What is this? Prison,' he thought.

When he was sure that the boys had left, he grabbed his backpack and headed toward Adam's house. It wasn't a far walk, so it didn't take him long to get there. He knocked on the door and Adam's mom answered. "Hey sweetie, they're in the living room."

Calum smiled and walked through the house to the living room. "Dude, where have you been," Teagan asked when Calum made his appearance.

"Walking," Calum said sitting next to Mack on the couch. He couldn't help but notice she looked away as he sat. "Why are we here?"

"We," Bailey said, pointing to her and Adam. "Have noticed that our group is falling apart. We need to stay friends. It's pushing us all to the edge and sooner or later, one of us will go over the edge and break away from the group."

"So, what are you suggesting," Mack asked.

"Well, the root of our problem is you and Calum," Adam said. "Ever since you two broke up theres been fights and..."

Calum stood up. "If she would figure out that Caleb is using her-"

"Using me," Mack asked standing up too. "Calum Boucher I can't believe you'd say something like that!"

"Oh no," Teagan said.

"It's true! Why do you think I was late? He was talking about you as if the only reason why he likes you is to get on the team next year and take Troy's place-"

"No one has the ability to take Troy's place, not even you," she hissed.

"Who says I want to! It's Caleb that wants to. He's taking advantage of you Mack! He doesn't know how to treat girls, he's a player!"

"Well, at least he hasn't kissed some else in front of me, now has he," she yelled.

"I didn't! She kissed me! And do you know what her last name is Mack? It's Harding, yeah, she's your boyfriends sister, who was used to get me out of the way. He's using you-"

"Don't you dare say my name," she sneered.

"What? Kenzie? Why would I want to, oh yeah because your new friends call you that."

Mack slapped him. "You know what Calum, I thought we could be friends. I guess not." She turned on her heel and stormed out the door.

Calum's face dropped.

"Well," came a voice from the doorway. The five teens looked over to see Adam's three little sisters staring in awe at the scene that had played in front of them. "Aren't you going to run after her," Bridget, Adam's eight-year-old sister asked.

Without another word, Calum ran from the room and out the door after Mack.

So, what do you think?

Review!