Chapter 2

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One Year Earlier

"Dude, when are you just going to ask her out?" Chad asked Troy while he munched away on one of Zeke's famous cookies. Basketball season had just ended and they won yet another year. Troy and Chad were in the empty gym eating some of their friend's snacks while they waited for the girls to arrive.

"It's not that easy Chad. I mean it isn't like you and Tay, there is more to it."

"More to it how? You mean in the sense that you guys have been dancing around this idea for what a year now? And nothing has happened?"

"No, I mean there is more to it in a sense that I don't want to ruin anything between us. What we have, I can't even begin to describe it. Its just perfect, how things are right now."

"How are things perfect man? What's going to happen when she starts dating other guys because you never stepped up to the plate?" Troy had never thought about Gabriella dating other guys. He had always thought that she would just be there for him. No one else. He couldn't respond to Chad's last comment because he just didn't know how.

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"Gabriella hey wait up!" Taylor yelled as she saw Gabby walking down the hall. Now that they didn't have to worry about any competitions coming up, Gabby and Tay usually spent their free periods with Troy and Chad in the gym just talking and hanging out until their next classes started. Gabriella slowed down and turned around to face her friend.

"Hey, I thought I was going to meet you in the gym with the boys?"

"Yeah, well I needed to talk to you. What's going on with you and Troy?"

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, nothing has happened since that first year you got here. You two are either the most oblivious people I have ever known or you are really good at acting like there is some weird connection between you." Gabby slowed her pace down at this last comment. Taylor was right. Ever since the musical, everything seemed to be put on hold. She knew she felt about him, she loved him from the first day they had laid eyes on each other at the lounge over winter break. But nothing had seemed to change. They were just friend, even though everyone around them had seemed to find their match. Sharpay and Zeke, Kelsey and Jason, Tay and Chad, even Ryan had found a girl that went to a school not too far from there. The only ones that seemed to be going to nowhere was the all power couple Troy and Gabriella.

"I don't know what to tell you Tay. Is it that obvious?"

"You would have to be dead to not notice the chemistry between you two, and even then I'd still have my doubts."

"I'm just too afraid to ruin anything. I mean, he is just so special to me, and he is one of the most amazing people I have ever known."

"That is why you should go for it! I mean, would you rather play it safe and keep things how they are, wait for a girl to come and take Troy away for the sake of not ruining things. Or, you can go for it and see what can happen; it could be good for you."

"Or, it could be really bad, and we could crash and burn horribly." Replied Gabriella miserably.

"No one got anywhere thinking that way Gabby."

"I know, but its hard not to in this situation you know?"

"No I don't know, I can only imagine. I think you should go for it."

"That's easy for you to say, I mean Chad asked you out first."

"That's true."

"Thanks, you are a lot of help."

"Hey what are friends for?" said Taylor laughing. Gabby looked at her and couldn't help but laugh too. She was trying to help; she just wasn't very good at it." They finally got to the gym and Gabriella stopped at the doors. Of course she had thought about the situation between her and Troy before, but it hadn't really bothered her this much. She had never thought of Troy with another girl. And it really did bother her more then she thought it would've.

"Gabby? What's wrong? They are waiting for us."

"I know, I just got really nervous for some reason, I'm fine, but can we just talk about the whole Troy thing later? Lets just you know, play it cool for now?"

"Yeah that's fine." Taylor responded with a smile. She opened the doors and let Gabriella walk in before her.

"Hey guys. Have any more cookies left for us?" Gabriella said trying to keep herself calm.

"Mhhm fhsuppd……" Chad said with a full mouth.

"Chad, remember what I said, chew, swallow and then allow words to come out of your mouth." Taylor said with a little bit of annoyance in her voice. Chad quickly chewed what was left in his mouth and swallowed what he could.

"Nope, sorry." He said sheepishly. Taylor rolled her eyes and went to sit down next to her boyfriend. Gabriella stood there as if waiting for an invitation to come and join them. You could cut the tension in the room with a butter knife.

"Hey Gabby, um you want to sit down?" Troy said not realizing how shaky his voice was until he said it. Luckily Gabriella was so nervous herself that she didn't even seem to notice.

"Uh yeah sorry. I was just um watching." Immediately after she said that Gabriella mentally kicked herself and headed over to sit next to Troy. They all sat in silence for a few long minutes before Taylor cut in.

"So, Chad, I need your help."

"Help with what?"

"I have a chemistry project in my locker and I need your help taking it to the lab."

"Listen could Troy do it? I ate way too many cookies."

"No, I want you to help me. So get up." Taylor said as she grabbed him by the arm and started to pull him out of the gym. Gabriella of course knew that they didn't have any project due, so basically they were being set up. Troy on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious.

"Do you need help carrying your project too?" he said genuinely. Gabriella giggled and said,

"No I think I have it under control. Thanks though."

"Yeah no problem." They sat in silence for a while longer and just as Gabriella began to curse Tay in her mind, Troy began to speak.

"So, school. Almost out huh?"

"Um yeah, you know you go here too right?"

"Yeah, right."

"Yeah." They sat in silence a moment longer and were looking at everything but each other. Just as Gabriella was getting sick of it and was about to just let it all out, Troy actually came through.

"Hey, do you maybe want to go out this weekend, I mean me and you. Like to a movie? Or out to eat? Or just whatever……? I mean if you don't I understand I just thought I would ask, you know just in-"

"Troy I'd love to."

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Ok there is chapter 2. I really love these characters and I wanted to kind of flow with the story. I already know what I want to happen so a one shot just wouldn't have been fair. What happened in chapter 1 is near the end, the story is basically going to lead up to that. It is a lovey dovey story, but of course, not all can be sweet in life. Please review I really enjoyed getting your guys' input! Thanks so much!