Chapter Eight
Over the next week things for Tory went from bad to worse. If he thought he was imagining being replaced in everyone's lives he didn't think that anymore. It all started with Gabbi canceling their Friday night date to work with Eric on decathlon related issues. Then the whole team seemed to be in love with him and were always hanging off every word that he said.
Then during the next big game for the team his father chose to start with Eric as forward. Troy couldn't believe that his own father, the coach would bench him for this game. He was the captain of the team and he was being benched. The whole team was in love with him after he scored the winning basket.
Then during rehearsal Darbus seemed more concentrated with working with Eric trying to get him up to speed with the play. Troy was confused at why Darbus would jeopardize the play by putting him in it just weeks before opening night. He figured everyone thought Darbus was complimenting him by saying he didn't need all this rehearsal time and could work on other things while Gabbi, Sharpay and Eric worked at the play.
All Troy felt was replaced so he decided to make one last attempt to get Gabriella's attention away from Eric and try again for a Friday night date. He caught up to her after rehearsal on Friday.
"Hey Gabbi." Troy said coming up to her.
"Hey Tory. God it fells like we never get to see each other any more." Gabriella said then taking a big drink out of her water bottle.
That's because you are always with Eric, Troy thought to himself but instead said, "We've been busy, but I thought tonight that we could make up for all those canceled dates and go out tonight."
"Troy, believe me I would love to, but I got a huge test on Monday and will all this extra practice with the Decathlon team and the musical I didn't have the time to devote to school work. I really need to catch up." Gabriella said apologizing.
Sighing, Troy said, "We can study together."
"I'm sure you don't have studying on the brain. Don't worry after next week and we have the final decathlon meeting I will devote all that extra time with you. I promise. Now smile." Gabriella said giving Troy a quick kiss on the check. "I've got to run, but call me later."
"Ok, I'll talk to you later." Troy said letting his gaze linger on Gabriella as she walked out of the gym.
LATER THAT NIGHT (Gabriella's side)
Gabriella was studying up in her bedroom when she heard a knock on the door. Her mother had gone out on a date and hadn't planned to return until much later that evening. Sighing Gabriella put down her text book and went downstairs and opened the door.
There standing in the doorway was Eric.
"Can I come in, I need some help studying for our History test."
"I really prefer to study on my own Eric." Gabriella said a little shocked to see him standing there.
"Come on please, I really can't afford one bad grade, I need to keep my average up to get my scholarship to Harvard next year." Eric pleaded.
Sighing Gabriella pushed the door open and let Eric in. She led him upstairs to her bedroom and sat back down on the floor where she had all of her books spread out.
They studied for about half an hour when Eric finally got up the nerve and leaned over and kissed Gabriella. She was so shocked that at first she did nothing, but when Eric brought his hand up to the side of her face she started to freak out and pushed him away.
"What the hell are you doing?" Gabriella asked completely shocked.
"Well you have been so nice to me and you've been ditching Troy to help me so much that I thought things weren't so serious between you two so I thought I would go for it." Eric said, he know he should be embarrassed but for what ever reason he knew he would have regretted it if he hadn't gone for it.
"Me and Troy are together. I was trying to help you get settled in the school seeing I knew what it was like to be the new kid. I think you should go Eric." Gabriella said.
"But..." Eric started but Gabriella cut him off and said, "Go Eric."
Eric knowing there was no reasoning with her got up and left. Gabriella just sat there wondering what she was going to do now. She knew Troy already did have strong feelings for Eric, but this was going to push him over the edge and to add to the fact that if she told him what happened she would have to explain why she let Eric come over to study when she told him no. She had no idea what she was going to do.
(Troy's side)
Bored out of his mind Troy decided to go for a walk. Chad was out on a date with Tyler and the other guys were going to a party. Troy of course was invited but he didn't feel much like partying with out Gabriella.
Not knowing where he was going he looked up and realized he had walked himself to Gabriella's house. Seeing that her mother's car wasn't home he decided he would surprise her and went into the back yard and climbed up the tree that he used to get on her balcony.
However what he saw there shook him to the core. There was Gabbi, his Gabbi, sitting on the floor of her room kissing Eric. He didn't stick around to see what would happen next. He wanted to crash through the doors and kill him, but he couldn't. He quickly climbed down the tree and took off running towards the park. He knew he couldn't go home like this, parents would ask to many questions.
He sat down on the swing. Tears started to fall down his face and he did nothing to stop them. Then he heard his phone ringing in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw Gabbi's picture, the one that was taken on New Years Eve, on the screen of his phone. Probably calling to break up with me Troy thought. He couldn't hear it, and decided to throw his phone as hard as he could. He could still hear ringing but it finally stopped Troy just sat there. He would deal with this in his own way. No way was she going to take the pleasure of cheating on him and then breaking up with him, no he would do it first.
