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The next day at school, Troy was at his locker. He was trying not to think of the dance. That is, until Chad came up.

"Hey, have a date yet?" Chad asked immediately.

"Hi. I'm fine, thanks." Troy smiled.

"Sorry, but do you have a date?"

"Nope. You know, dude, I might not even go." Troy said.

Chad slammed his locker. "What?"

"What's the point? I mean, I can't go with anybody and-"

"What do you mean, you can't go with anybody?" Chad argued.

"There's not really anyone to ask," Troy reopened his locker, to get more books out.

"Yes, there is. Ask Natalie, or Britney, or I don't know, Gabriella!"

"Sorry."

"Man, time is ticking and if you don't have a date by Thursday, then you can't go, but see, you have to go because you're the team captain and you just have to. It's like a rule."

"Yeah? Since when?"

"Since... they... made... up a rulebook... for the dance," Chad stuttered.

"Oh, really? Well, do you have a date," Troy shut his locker.

"As a matter of fact, I do. Taylor," Chad said.

"Mmmmm."

"Have you thought of who you're going to ask now?"

Troy thought about it for a few seconds. "Yep."

"Really? Who?"

"No one," Troy shut his locker and walked off. "Because I'm not going!"

"Just give it some thought!" Chad called after him.

During lunch, everyone sat around the table, chatting and eating. Troy was quiet, though, since he was sitting next to Gabriella. Mostly, he just felt depressed because of the dance. What if he didn't go? Would his team hate him, or vote him off being team captain.

"Hey. We've barely talked all day," Gabriella nudged Troy's arm.

"Oh, hi. Sorry," Troy tried to force a smile.

"Do you want to come over, after school? We could study some more," she suggested.

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay..." Gabriella muttered. What is wrong with him? Why is he barely talking to me? Does he not want to be my friend anymore? Was it something I said or did? Everything was going through her mind, wondering why he wouldn't tell her anything.

Troy hated distancing himself from Gabriella, but she probably knew. I mean, if it's as obvious as Chad to know, then Gabriella has to know. He wanted to ask her so bad. It would be perfect for them to go together. Of course, if he didn't go, then he wouldn't be voted king. He was actually all right with that. Ever since he was a sophomore, he's been voted king and usually his date was queen. That's why everyone wanted to go out with Troy, or at least be his date to the dance.

At Gabriella's house, they studied for a bit, and of course, Troy didn't talk much.

Gabriella looked up at him.

"Troy?"

He looked up at her.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothings wrong," he lied.

"Troy, you've been avoiding me and not talking to me yesterday and today. I have no idea what's going on with you and I wish you would tell me," she got up.

"Gabriella, nothing is wrong. I'm perfectly fine, it's those tes-" Troy was interrupted.

"Don't even say tests, because we got them back today, and you got A's on both of them," Gabriella said, before he could say it.

"Well, the worries just haven't gone away yet."

"Troy! I can't take it anymore. We can't be friends, if your not going to tell me what's wrong. Friends tell, and your not."

'Just ask her, idiot!' Troy's mind shouted to him. He didn't say anything aloud, though.

"Yeah...?" Gabriella put her hand on her hip.

Troy still didn't say anything.

"Fine. When I see you tomorrow, we'll be ex-friends. Thanks for being a great friend, Troy," She said, sarcastically. Gabriella rolled her eyes and opened the door, gesturing him to leave.

"No, Gabriella. I want to be your friend... more than anything. You're like my best friend. I don't even know how to express my feelings for you... as a friend," Troy said.

Gabriella shut the door, to keep him inside. "Well then why won't you tell me what's wrong? If were friends, then you can talk to me and tell me anything."

"I know I can, and you'll understand. Unlike some people," Troy muttered. "Chad."

"Then tell me!"

"I will tell you," Troy looked down.

"Okay... well then, what's wrong?" She asked, sitting next to him.

Should I ask her now? Troy thought. "I can't tell you now."

Gabriella sighed. "Why?"

"Because, you'll understand later... in the future... sometime."

"Are you sure?" Gabriella asked.

"Yes."

"Well, then can you stop ignoring me from now on?"

"Sure. I liked it better when we talked, too." They both laughed. "Well, I should probably get going."

"Okay." Gabriella said, softly. They walked to her front door. He was just about to leave.

'Ask her! Ask her! Ask her! Ask her!' Troy's mind shouted.

"Well, bye." He waved. 'Ask her! Ask her! Ask her!'

"See you tomorrow," Gabriella said, and shut the door.

"Well, there goes that opportunity," Troy muttered to himself. Suddenly, he thought to himself, 'It's now or never.'

Troy turned around and quietly knocked on her door. Maybe no one would answer, since his knock was so soft.

Just then, Gabriella answered the door. "Troy? What are you doing?"

"I need to ask you something," he muttered.

"What?"

"Well, um... will you go to the dance with me?"

There you go! A cliffhanger! Please review!