A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Sorry for the very long update. Alyssa and I both have writers block! Anyways, we got amazing feedback from everyone and we were glad to read everyone's suggestions with the outcome of our story! So here's the 6th chapter. Thanks to Ling for helping us with the chapter.
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Gabriella sat in her normal seat beside Troy. It was a normal class, the usual glances back and forth between the two. Ryan, who sat behind them noticed them flirting and tried to pay attention to the class going on in the front of the class. The bell rang for class to end and everyone stood up to go to the cafeteria. Yup, you guessed it, lunchtime. Gabriella left the class to go to her locker and someone was waiting for her.
"Chad, what are you doing here?" Gabriella smiled forgetting what had happened before her recent class started.
"I'm here to escort you to lunch." Chad said as he bowed in a respectful manner. Gabriella just giggled at Chad's attempt to be a gentleman.
"Okay, just let me put my books away." With that, Chad and Gabriella walked to the insanely big cafeteria of East High. They approached the usual table they sat at with Taylor, Sharpay, Ryan, Kelsie, Jason and Zeke. There were nine seats usually at this table but recently only 8 people would fill the seats. Troy was nowhere to be found in the cafeteria.
"I think I'm going to buy lunch today…" Gabriella said as an excuse to find Troy. "Here, let me come with you" Chad said as he got up.
"Chad, I'm fine. I'm a big girl. I think I can wait in line without getting shot." Chad laughed. "Okay, just don't stare at the lunch lady's beauty mark. Last time I looked at it, she growled at me. It was frightening stuff!" Gabriella giggled while Chad shivered by his thoughts. "Thanks for the tip, Chad."
Gabriella wandered the hallways looking for Troy. The first place she looked was Troy's secret hiding spot on the roof of the school. As she turned the corner to go up the stairway, a large shadow gloomed over her. Frightened, Gabriella jumped down a few steps,
"Where you going?" a deep gruff voice asked. He stepped into the light and Gabriella replied, "Jeez, Ryan, you gave me a scare."
"Sorry," he said, without really meaning it, "So where are you going?"
"I was looking for you," she lied.
"Oh," a small smile broke over his face as he believed her words, "did you eat yet? I'll treat you to lunch."
"That's what a boyfriend's gotta do." She said, punching him lightly in the abdomen. Great, what about Troy? I need to talk to him still… Her thought trailed off as Ryan interrupted, "Um, Gabriella, are you okay?" he waved a hand in her face, "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. So where are we eating?" Ryan's mouth widened from ear to ear, "It's a surprise."
As Ryan pulled into the parking lot, he told Gabriella to close her eyes as he led her to her seat. "Okay, you can open your eyes now," he told her.
"Wow! Ryan! This place is amazing!" she awed, as she looked around the enchanted room with a feeling of a relaxing spa-romance combination. Ryan put his arms around her and hugged her,
"So do you like it?" he asked looking at her face, hoping it would be good enough to win her heart. "Of course! It's amazing! Oh, but wait, aren't we supposed to be eating lunch?" she said. Ryan clapped his hands three times and a waiter came in with the prepared meal. He lit a candle and set it on the table in front of them and dimmed the lights. Ryan poured Gabriella's favorite soft drink in a wine glass and tapped his with hers. "Cheers and bon appetite," he flashed his charming smile. Gabriella couldn't help but feel warm inside and forget about Troy and happily ate lunch with the romantic Ryan.
When they finished eating, they snuggled together on the couch singing.
They drove back to school in time for the next class and they parted with a secluded kiss.
Wow. Ryan's so terrific. He's charming and cute. He just gives me the best he can and it feels so good.
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"Alright Gabriella, just a few more classes, hey Calculus is next." Gabriella said to herself, cheering her up. It has been a few hours since Ryan surprised her with the romantic lunch date. She never felt this happy in a while now. After the surprise date, all Gabriella could think of was how much fun she had with Ryan. She was thankful for a great lunch; it definitely took things off her mind for a while.
As the bell rang – Gabriella stood up unhurriedly, gathered all her things and soon went off to her next class. No one this time ran into her in the hallway and she was satisfied. The halls soon were swarming with teenagers, scrambling to get to their next class, but for Gabriella, she didn't need to rush she soon walked into her class and took her seat next to Taylor.
"Hey Gabby, where have you been all lunch?" Taylor soon broke Gabriella's train of thoughts.
"Huh?" Gabriella soon was aware of the question, but needed some time to figure what she would say, she soon looked down at her binder as if she was looking at last night's homework.
"I mean, you said you were going to buy your lunch … and you didn't come back… we were looking for you." Taylor responded tranquilly.
"Oh, I was just… walking around…" Gabriella responded uneasy. "While eating…" She knew Taylor didn't believe her, boy do I wish I was Sharpay right now…. Gabriella tried her best to sound convincing. She momentary looked at Taylor with a reassuring glance.
"Gabriella, what's up with you? Is something bugging you? You seem really… out of it…" was all Taylor could say, you could tell with the look on her face she was bewildered and confused by how the conversation was going. It was awkward.
As soon as Gabriella opened her mouth, the bell rang and soon the teacher came in. Saved by the bell… Thank Gosh. Gabriella soon turned around to face the board. Soon Taylor did as well.
Sharpay was sitting across Gabriella and Taylor; she had a feeling on what went down. She merely sighed and retrieved back to her work.
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After school, Troy was in the East High gym as well as his other basketball team members, for practice. Even though they had won the Championships, Coach Bolton did not want his team to lose the competitive drive they always had, he was very proud of his boys. It had been a while for the team to start practice, so for everyone on the team, it was understood why Coach Bolton wanted them here.
"Alright, Wildcats! Let's make this a really good year. Yes I asked you guys to come back and practice simply because we need to freshen up our basketball skills, not that you really need it, but practice always makes perfect." Coach Bolton soon continued with his speech.
"All I want to say is that I'm tremendously swollen with pride with your performance so far, so let's make this a good first practice – and work together to fulfill our dreams to score another championship game later on even though basketball is over as a season, it doesn't mean we can't start now, right?" Coach Bolton finished what he had to say; he later said one more word to get the basketball team pumping with excitement.
"WILDCATS?"
"Get your head in the game!" The basketball team was eager and excited to begin today's practice, even Troy was in high spirits – he knew that this would allow him to express his emotions through basketball and take things off of his shoulders for a while.
Troy took a glanced at Chad and Chad merely looked away. Troy knew Chad was glaring at him strangely. Troy just heaved a sigh and purely went back to what his father was saying.
"Alright, lets begin- first I just want you guys to start with some free throws then we'll go from there okay? Split yourselves into 2 groups – one group work on this end of the court and the other group the other side of the court got it?" Coach Bolton used his arms gesturing and motioning on where they have to go.
Soon the whole basketball team soon split up and was ready to start shooting baskets. Surprisingly, Troy and Chad were in the same group, but as always Chad did not seem to care at all. Troy witnessed Chad walking off to where Zeke and Jason were. If they both were in speaking terms, Chad would go walk over to Troy with Zeke and Jason, however things started to change and Coach Bolton was aware of that.
"Hey, is there something going with you and Chad?" Coach Bolton startled Troy's contemplation and soon looked behind and saw his father standing there with an unsmiling look on his face. Troy knew he was concerned, but he didn't want his father to get involved with the mess as well, so he acted as if everything were fine when in reality it wasn't.
"What about Chad? No we're cool dad… why what's up?" Troy soon responded in confidence.
Coach Bolton wasn't really convinced. "No it's just… you are never with Chad, and I'm just wondering if something's wrong. I mean you two are like 2 peas in a pod!"
"Well… we're okay, nothing's wrong, don't worry I'm not a baby anymore dad, if anything were wrong I could handle things." Soon Troy patted his father's back, nodding his head.
"Okay, alright – it's just if you need time to talk, you know-"
"That you're here for me, I get it dad." Troy soon cutting off his father, he soon walked off and started dribbling the basketball and prepared to take a shot, as usual he got it in. Everyone started clapping for Troy – he was the team captain. Claps filled the gym; everyone was clapping all except one person- Chad.
"Good shot, Troy!" Coach Bolton's voiced beamed through the Gym making everyone else in the gym to keep quiet. "Alright, time to play a game! Same groups and lets get started."
The two groups started to play a game. All of the team members were serious and getting into the game even though it wasn't an actual game. Chad soon took the ball and dribbled to the other side of the court and began to run. Troy was open at this point, and just like Troy thought; Chad never passed him the ball. As Chad kept on hold of the basketball, a player from the other team soon stole the ball out of Chad's hands and soon headed to the other side. Chad looked defeated and started panting, he was dead tired.
This time, Troy had the courage to say something to Chad. "Dude, why didn't you pass the ball to me?" Troy asked, his voice trying to keep up with the noise being made by the others.
"Sorry! It's not a real game you know!" Chad's soon was annoyed and aggravated.
"Well, Chad – I'm sorry but we are a team, we're supposed to work together! Even if we do have our differences." Troy was not on the verge of yelling, he was tired of Chad ignoring and disregarding him.
"Sorry, Team Captain!" Chad responded sarcastically. Troy was now angered at what Chad said in response.
"What's that supposed to mean? Yes I am the team captain and I say you should pass the ball to other members, not just me! Got it?" Troy was now shouting. Chad just stood there in disbelief as well the as the others, soon stopping the game. None of them had ever heard Troy yell like that before.
"You know what? I'm out of here…" Troy soon walked off, nudging Chad's shoulder and headed for the Boys' Locker Room. Chad was soon let down and disappointed and followed Troy. As the others were still standing there, processing on what they just saw. Troy and Chad were the very best of friends, they never fought at all, and their relationship was drama free.
Soon Zeke had an idea. "Uhmm… Coach? How long are you planning to stay here?"
Not understanding, Coach Bolton responded, "5:00 or maybe 5:30? Why?" he was perplexed as the others were too.
"It's just, we'll never end up at the championships next season if Chad and Troy are fighting, I mean you saw what happened just now… we would lose badly if they remained like that." Zeke said, making the other team members as well as the coach nodding, they soon approved with Zeke's point.
"So I just thought, we would lock them up in there for a while… maybe that would give them time to solve their problem, because obviously there is a problem." Zeke finished with his idea, looking at the others for their support.
"…Sure, I get what your saying Zeke, good idea." Coach Bolton said right after. He soon got out his keys headed to the Boys' Locker Room and closed the door and locked it. The other team members stood there, nodding their heads and thanking Zeke for his wonderful idea.
"You guys are lucky that your stuff is here – and not in there." Coach Bolton let out a chuckle, "hopefully they'll work things out while they are locked in there." Was all Coach had to say before everyone else left the East High gym.
Troy and Chad heard the door slamming and heard the lock twist and turn. Chad was the first one to get up and see what was going on, he soon came back and had an unsatisfied face.
"We're locked in…" Chad faintly said. As Zeke was telling his idea to the others, all Troy and Chad did was nothing; they were there, with the lockers in complete silence, doing their own thing. Troy soon took a shower, and came back and was in his white towel, but then changed after.
"You got to be kidding me right?" Troy replied. "We can't just be locked in here by accident; maybe you're not strong enough."
"Excuse me?" Chad asked as his voice was echoing in the locker room.
"If you just passed the ball like always we wouldn't be in this mess…" Troy said as he was getting his locker open. "Great, we left our bags outside the gym, that's just perfect." Troy soon sat down on the bench relaxing, his chin being held up by his hands.
Chad's stomach soon growled. "And my food is in my bag…. I'm starving." Chad whined. Troy let out a soft chuckle; he missed Chad and his funny comments.
"Coming back to your other comment, if you didn't cheat on Gabriella, we wouldn't be in this situation now would we?" Chad asked, not waiting for an answer.
"Why'd you do it anyways?" Chad inquired with a serious tone. For the first time Chad actually looked at Troy. Finally for Troy he knew they were in speaking terms again. Troy just looked down and was disappointed that he lied to Chad in the first place, but he didn't know what else to say or do. The room was filled with silence and stillness. Chad was still waiting for an answer.
"I still love Gabriella, Chad and don't ever question that." Troy was soon out of words. He knew he didn't answer Chad's question.
"I knew getting involved with that play would cause trouble for you Troy, I just knew it." Chad paused in between what he had to say. "I mean, if you never signed up for that play…" Chad soon trailed off to see if Troy could finish what he had to say.
"Me and Gabriella wouldn't exist?" Troy asked Chad, while Chad started to nod his head.
"Look where you are now, I mean you're distant… you and Gabriella are never together anymore… ever since you told me…" Chad soon stopped, and looked at his sneakers.
"Chad, you kept on pushing Gabriella away from me! I tried talking to her, but you were always there! Don't say that signing up for the play was a mistake for me, it wasn't. It was the best decision I have ever made. Chad, I thought you were my friend." Troy let out a huge sigh; he was drained of all of the mess he had caused.
"I thought you were my friend Troy, I supported you with all the goals you made for yourself, and I was there behind you one hundred percent. But then you go off and do this hideous thing to my other dear friend… that was like a stab at the back, man. I can't believe you would such a thing!" Chad was bemused as Troy was. Troy knew Chad was right, but Chad didn't know what actually happened.
"I mean Troy, I was there for you and there for Gabriella… I'm just protecting her. I didn't mean to push her away from you." Chad ended his point; he soon heaved a heavy sigh. He too, was worn-out.
I'm also protecting Gabriella, Chad – you don't know what truly went down. Troy was flustered and uncomfortable at this point. He didn't know if he should spill the beans and tell the actual truth. A part of him wanted to and the other part just didn't.
"Chad? I need to tell you something…" Troy said unnervingly.
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Meanwhile Gabriella was there outside the gym doors waiting for Troy to finish up practice. She knew he had practice because she distinctively remembered hearing Chad say that he had practice after school, so if Chad had practice of course Troy would have practice, it was all simple.
She wondered how long it was, it was already 5:00. Gabriella was still looking at her watch and was contemplating on what to say to Troy. She didn't know what to say really, but decided to take a shot. Hey Troy, what's up? Too casual Gabriella thought, she was still thinking on what exact words to say but soon Ryan stopped her and her thoughts.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Ryan said loudly as he approached Gabriella giving a light kiss on her forehead. Gabriella faintly smiled.
"Oh hey… I was just… waiting… for Troy… you know, I have been meaning to talk, I had a fun time earlier today at lunch. Thank you I needed that kind of escape." Gabriella had hoped she turned the subject around. Ryan was surprised with Gabriella's reaction to him kissing her on the forehead.
"I'm glad you had a great time, I did too – it was amazing wasn't it?" Ryan said smartly which it made Gabriella laugh.
"Yes it was amazing." Gabriella soon said right after. She hoped no one would come and interrupt her conversation with Ryan.
Ryan was approaching Gabriella as he was ready to kiss Gabriella's lips, both their eyes interlocked with each other but like what Gabriella did not want, happened. Someone interrupted…
"Ryan? Oh…"
Gabriella soon turned to face the person. Oh god, this is just great, can it get any better?
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Sorry for the little cliffy there and sorry for the very long update. We will try to have the next chapter up later this week. So, click GO and REVIEW :)
--Monalyn
