Disclaimer: I don't own HSM.

Chapter 10: Listen to me!

Ryan ran after Gabriella as she ran down the hall. When he reached her, he grabbed her arm, bringing her to a halt. "Gabby!" He panted. "I can explain!"

"Don't bother!" She cried. "I thought you might actually listen to me! Troy said something about you missing me and I thought he was telling the truth! But I see he was just lying again! Can't you see that he and Sharpay set us up! He kissed me! It wasn't mutual! But you wouldn't listen!" She shook her head. "Now I'm not going to listen to you." She looked at him with sad eyes and walked away.

Kelsi came out from the music room slowly. "How'd I screw this up?" She asked him. "This was supposed to help you. And all it did was make things worse."

He shook his head. "This wasn't your fault. If anything, you helped me."

"Really?" she asked cautiously. "I just feel…"

Turning to her, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "This wasn't your fault. It's just a huge misunderstanding. She'll calm down eventually… I'll talk to her then."

She gave him a grateful hug. "Thanks, Ryan. Hope everything works out."

"Me too," he replied, letting her go.

"Let me know how things turn out," she added before walking away.

He stood there in the hallway, looking around for an answer but eventually just retreating to the music room.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

Gabriella entered the gym, infuriated at Ryan and Troy both. The gym was completely empty except for Troy who was shooting free throws for practice.

"You jerk!" she yelled, coming up behind him and pushing him.

He stumbled but turned to look at her, confused. "What?" he asked.

"You set me up again!" she screeched at him.

He took a step toward her. "What are you talking about?"

She pointed at him, trying to control her tears and anger. "Stay back!"

He stopped in his tracks and said, "What's going on?"

"How could you send me to see that?" she snapped, tears starting to come from her eyes. "Don't you have a heart at all?"

He held a comforting hand out to her. "Okay, Gabby, I still have no idea what you are talking about."

She clenched her teeth and failed to choke back her tears. "You sent me there to see him kiss Kelsi, didn't you? Is she part of this too?"

Shaking his head slowly, he replied, "Kelsi was never involved…" He gave her a sincere smile. "I didn't know. I sincerely thought you two would be able to fix things…"

With that, Gabriella took several quick steps forward and locked Troy in a hug, finally bursting into a fit of tears. "He doesn't love me, Troy… I was so stupid…"

"It's okay, Gabs," he whispered to her.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

Sharpay came up to her brother, happily, as she saw him sitting in the music room. "So you and Gabriella make up yet? You ready to get back to focusing on the auditions?" She gave him a friendly punch on the arm. "Hmm?"

"Shut up, Sharpay," he muttered.

Her smiled fell. "What's wrong with you?"

"Gabby doesn't love me anymore…" he whispered.

"Ryan…" she started to say.

"Pay," he said, stopping her, "I don't want to talk about it."

She nodded in understanding. "Right. I understand, Ry." She motioned to the door. "I, uh, gotta go talk to Troy."

"Whatever," he mumbled.

She gave one final sympathetic look at her brother and left the room.

AN: Poor Ryan and Gabby. Sorry that it has been so long but I just couldn't find the will to sit and write. But I have now. So anyways, please R&R!