Author's Note: Thanks for all your great reviews! I've decided to squash two chapter in together again, makes for a good read. So...eh...read on!

Chapter 13: Doubts and Performances

That afternoon, Chad and Taylor are walking through one of the many pretty gardens.

Chad: You know, I just realised something

Taylor: What?

Chad: Do you think my hair is too, you know, out there?

Taylor: What, this big mop? No way.

Chad: Maybe I should change it...

Taylor: Don't you dare! That 'do is a big part of who you are. And I can't imagine you without it.

Chad:(smiles) okay

There's a silence between them both, as if neither of them knew what to say next.

Taylor: What's happening between Jason and Kelsi?

Chad: Nothing, as far as I know

Silence again.

Taylor: And Zeke, is he...

Chad: Nah, he's not mentioned anyone. I think he's still getting over Sharpay.

Taylor: Oh...

There's yet another painful silence.

Chad: hey, Taylor, um... do you ever think that... you know...when we're together… and… I dunno, we just don't...

Taylor: click?

Chad: yeah?

Taylor:(sighs) yes

Neither of them spoke.

Chad: Is it meant to be so awkward?

Taylor: I don't think so.

Chad: It's just that, we never seem as close as Troy and Gabriella are. Were.

Taylor: I know

Chad: But you know, I don't wanna break up over this...

Taylor: Me neither.

Chad: I don't think we should. If we don't want to right?

Taylor: right.

Chad: I mean, I really like you...and...I don't think just because we're not as lovey-dovey as some couples may be...I mean, we don't have any other problems, do we?

Taylor: Don't think so

Chad: No, so... we just...have to spend more time together... right?

Taylor: Right.

The couple kept walking along, Chad now convinced that they didn't have anything to worry about while Taylor unfortunately was still having doubts.

Troy was moping around the country club lake. If he didn't feel so frustrated and defeated then he might have enjoyed the peacefulness around him. There was no one else around. He was alone with his thoughts. Until Lydia appeared.

Lydia: Oh, hello Troy.

Troy turned around to see Lydia standing behind him.

Troy: um... hi

Lydia:(acting concerned) Are you okay?

Troy: ...um no, not really.

Lydia: Do you want to talk about it?

Troy sighed heavily, forgetting that Lydia, since she wasnt exactly a big part of his life, was the reason for his break-upwith Gabriella.

Troy: It's just that, Gabriella is completely convinced that I've always been a lying, cheating monster with no regard for her feelings.

Lydia: How can she think that? I mean, I've only known you for a couple of days, but I've heard so much about you. You are such a fantastic person, Troy. And I know you would never hurt someone you cared so much about.

Troy: exactly

Lydia: And if Gabriella cant see that then maybe you don't deserve to be with someone who doesn't trust you right?

Troy didn't answer because he had just spotted something in the lake. He crept towards the lake and peered a bit closer. His stomach turned.

Lydia: What is it?

Troy: It's the locket. The locket I gave Gabriella for her birthday. She's thrown it in the lake.

And there in the murky water was the gold necklace Troy had given Gabriella. The words "Troy and Gabriella" only just visible.

Ryan and Sharpay were by the pool.

Ryan: I can't believe her. She used my good name in one of her schemes.

Sharpay: I know. I can't believe she used to be my idol.

Ryan: She did?

Sharpay: Well, she was so confidant with what she was doing and...I dunno, I guess I just thought that was such an admirable trait.

Ryan: It is. It's just she's confidant for all the wrong reasons.

Sharpay: I know. Exactly.

Ryan; So do we know what we're doing for the talent show?

Sharpay: God, I've barely thought about it. There's just been so much going on.

Ryan: With Lydia

Sharpay: yeah.

Ryan: Well I guess we don't have to worry about any competition any more. Thanks to Lydia I suppose.

Sharpay: It's funny. I think I liked having the competition. It sort of gave me a rush, you know?

Ryan: Maybe we should try to get Troy and Gabriella back together?

Sharpay: Maybe. But how would we do that?

Ryan: Well you could just tell everyone that you, in fact, aren't with Troy.

Sharpay: I can't do that, you idiot. Lydia will completely ruin my reputation. No, we're gonna have to be sneaky about this. We will have to come up with a plan to get them back together. And we can't tell anyone, right?

Ryan: Right. So we're just doing this so we can have competition at the talent show.

Sharpay: Well, yeah, I know that's not exactly the best reason in the world but... plus think of the look on Lydia's face when she finds out her plans have been foiled.

Ryan: I would pay money to see that.

Sharpay: Exactly.

The next day, Taylor and Kelsi were on the basketball court watching Chad and Zeke shoot hoops.

Kelsi: So what's up with you and Chad?

Taylor: Not much...

Kelsi: Come on, I can see it in the way you're looking at him. Something's bothering you. What is it?

Taylor:(pause) I don't know. It's just, recently I've been feeling like… Chad and I have run out of things to talk about. I feel like… I feel like we've lost our spark, you know. I mean we have nothing in common, I know that, he knows that, but we always managed to look past that and still have a good time with each other. Now...

Kelsi: what?

Taylor: Now I think, maybe he and I should just... stop being together.

Kelsi: Well do you want to break up with him?

Taylor: I don't know...

Jason appears on the court.

Chad: Hey man, come join us.

Kelsi: Hey Jason

Jason doesn't even look at her and just joins in with Chad and Zeke on the court.

Taylor: Was that me or did Jason just completely blank you?

Kelsi: Yeah, he's been doing that a lot recently. I feel like he's mad at me or something.

Taylor: You gonna talk to him about it?

Kelsi: I'm not sure. I don't think I've done anything wrong...

The girls continue to talk while the guys, oblivious to their conversation, continue to play.

It's dinner that evening and everyone of the gang is seated at the table eating their meal. Gabriella is, of course, ignoring Troy and Troy himself seems to have giving up on their relationship. Sharpay and Ryan enter the dining room.

Ryan: You sure this will work?

Sharpay: Well it's the only plan we've got so far. Lets hope it does.

Ryan: What if Lydia walks in?

Sharpay: Oh come on, the girl eats two apples a day, do you really think she'd bother coming to dinner?

Ryan: fair enough.

Sharpay: Right, go sit down. I'll be there in a minute.

Sharpay flicks her hair and walks over to the gang's table. She stands behind Troy.

Sharpay:(dramatically) All right, Troy, I get it!

Troy turns round slightly startled. Everyone else looks up at her.

Sharpay:(even more dramatically) I should of known! You never had eyes for me!

Troy: eh, what?

Sharpay:(you get the picture now) I tried to convince myself that you could love me! But you didn't!! You haven't even looked at me the last couple of days! Now I know. I understand Troy!

Troy:(still startled) um, you do?

Sharpay:(crying now) You can only love one person. And how can you love and over-dramatic has-been like me? The girl you love, WHOEVER SHE IS, should consider herself the luckiest girl in the world. I now accept that it's not me.

She dabs her eyes with a tissue.

Sharpay: Goodbye Troy.

With another flick of the hair, Sharpay trudges off to where Ryan is seated.
There is silence among the table.

Chad: Um, excuse me if I seem slow but, what the heck was that?

Troy looks at Chad with a blank look on his face

Troy: You know, I have absolutely no idea.

Then Troy turns to look at Gabriella, who looks back. It's the first time they've locked eyes since their fight. Then Gabriella looks down back to the food on her plate, sighing sadly.

To be continued...

A/N: Hope you liked it. Anyway, I've decided to let you read two lines from the next chapter because believe me, it's gonna be good!

I'm not gonna tell you who says them, just that they are from two different people and two different scenes. So you'll have to guess.

1st: I'm thinking... I gotta talk to Troy

That doesn't really give much away but wishfull thinking might help, who do you really want to talk to Troy right now?

2nd: Well, I've started having feelings for another girl...

Hahaha, no, I'm not gonna give you any clues for that one. You won't see this coming! I don't think, not yet anyway. You'll just have to wait until I decide to post the next chapter!