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Chapter 3

Chad

Chad was very good about being a loyal friend. Although he couldn't help but take advantage of one teeny tiny thing about Troy. He always left the back door unlocked. For Chad that meant unlimited access to the Bolton household even if Troy hadn't been expecting him. Which was normally every time he visited.

Currently he was sitting in a chair, a few feet away from Troy's bed, staring at him and Gabriella. He was feeling his 'manly-ness' shrinking with every passing minute he sat and watched Troy and Gabriella cuddle together, sound asleep and completely oblivious to the world. It was ridiculously cute. Even Chad saw that. But Chad could only take so much. He went to poke Troy but missed and got Gabriella instead. Not too gently either. Her eyes fluttered opened, squinting in annoyance. Chad backed up a bit, smiling wryly at Gabriella as her vision adjusted. Her eyes widened and she let out a scream, scrambling into a sitting position. Troy groaned opening his eyes and rolling over.

"CHAD!" Gabriella shrieked, yanking Troy's blanket over her body even though she was wearing a tank top and jeans and the only article of clothing she had taken off was an over shirt. "What's the matter with you?"

Troy opened his eyes and stared at Chad slightly disoriented.

"Hey man," he let out a yawn. "How long have you been sitting there?"

"Troy!" Gabriella shrieked, pushing him. "You're not MAD?" Troy groaned again, furrowing his brow and closing his eyes.

"I'm TIRED." Gabriella returned his groan and fell over, her head resting on his chest.

"Tell your weird friend to go away."

"Gabby…," Chad opened his mouth to protest.

"Kidding Chad…just kidding."

"What time is it?" Troy asked, sunlight peeking its way through his shades.

"6:30," Chad answered promptly. Gabriella looked at him, his mess of curls faltering a little in the already hot air.

"What the heck are you doing here so early?"

"I was going to ask Troy if he wanted to scrimmage with me or something," Chad rolled Troy's basketball off of his desk, tossing it back and forth between his arms.

"Chad! It's 6:30!" Troy whined.

"I think I should've gone with your dad to that camp," Chad grumbled. "In other news, what the heck is Gabriella doing in your bed?"

"Well she was sleeping until you decided to poke her," Troy smirked.

"I miscalculated! What do you want?" Chad smiled as Gabriella shot him a look. She threw her arms dramatically over Troy's neck.

"You don't get to touch him either. He's MINE!" They laughed.

"Alright Gabby…I'll keep that in mind," Chad picked a pillow up from the ground and threw it at her. Chad hadn't been quite as badly affected as his friends in the aftermath of Kelsey's death. He did mourn but more for the sake that Taylor, Troy, and Gabriella were devastated. They were more what he cared about. Not that he hadn't cared about Kelsey. The two never had time to really get close. That was another thing he mourned. The time that had been taken away from the bright, sweet girl he had only known a short time. Troy still warned him to be gentle with the subject around Gabriella. Chad had a tendency to let his mouth run.

"So…you want to come out and shoot hoops with us?" Chad asked brightly, tossing the ball in Gabriella's direction. Troy sat up and intercepted it before it could reach her awaiting arms.

"Hey!" she swatted him, smiling. "That was supposed to be directed to me!" Troy only laughed and kissed her, Chad rolling his eyes. Gabriella definitely sparked something inside of him he had never seen before.

"So…are we going to go play ball or not?" Chad asked impatiently.

"No for me…I better go see Taylor."

"Do you want me to walk you?" Troy asked. Gabriella gently shook her head and gave him another kiss.

"Come see me later though?"

"I will." She rolled off of Troy's bed and picked her shirt up off the floor, buttoning it back in place.

"It's hot already," Chad warned.

"Thanks for the warning," Gabriella playfully rolled her eyes and ruffled Chad's hair before heading out of the door. Troy sighed and smiled, interlacing his fingers together and resting them on the back of his neck.

"There goes the future of America." Chad groaned and tossed Troy's basketball at him.

"God help us."