Title: Jealousy

Troy half hated and half loved the group he was in. He loved that he was with Gabriella but he hated that the two of them had to work with Gil Cooper, the smartest guy in school. It was no secret that Gil was always perusing Gabriella. Gil hated Troy for snatching Gabriella up before anyone even had a chance. He always thought Troy should be going out with head cheerleader instead of the smartest girl at East High.

For their English project, they had to act out a scene from one of William Shakespeare' plays. Since the teacher knew Troy and Gabriella were inseparable, she paired them up together and later added Gil since there was an odd number of students in the class. Their teacher told them that only two of them had to act and the third one had to write a reflection paper and a log on what they did. The teacher then assigned them the balcony scene from 'Romeo and Juliet'. With the scene chosen, Gabriella was definitely going to be acting and Gil wanted to make sure that he was right there with her. To ensure Gabriella couldn't choose Troy as her Romeo, he demanded that he and Troy audition for their teacher to choose. But his plan foiled when Troy was chosen as Romeo. Troy celebrated his win by passionately kissing Gabriella right in front of Gil.

Right now both Gil and Troy stood outside Gabriella's front door. Gabriella had been out sick that day but told her two partners that she was still up for practice. Troy went to reach to open the door when Gil stopped him.

"We can't just barge in there!" he snapped. "It's not our house, we ring the doorbell."

"You can ring the doorbell, I'm allowed to walk in." Troy said opening the door.

"She could be changing."

"Which is why you're going to stay down here while I go up to her room."

Gabriella was sound asleep in her bed. Her Dalmatian puppy, Lily, was sound asleep next to her. Troy had gotten Gabriella the puppy last month as a surprise. Lily was not a birthday or anniversary gift, she was just a surprise for his girlfriend. Gabriella's eyes lit when Troy presented her with the new puppy. Lily picked her head up when Troy entered Gabriella's bedroom. Troy brought a finger to his lips to keep Lily quiet. He then crawled into bed beside Gabriella. Gabriella began to groan as Troy brought her out of her peaceful slumber by kissing and nibbling on her neck.

"Come on, Beautiful." Troy whispered. "Time to wake up."

"I'm awake." Gabriella whispered throwing the blankets off of her and got out of bed.

"As much as I love seeing you dressed as you are now, I think you need to change." Troy said eyeing Gabriella's spaghetti strap shirt and boy shorts. "I don't even want Chad seeing you dressed like that, let alone Gil."

"I'll put your practice jersey and sweats on."

Gabriella quickly changed her clothes. Troy then pulled her back onto the bed. Gabriella squealed as he squeezed her sides. Troy chuckled as he held her tightly.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"A little bit better, the pain in my side is still there though." Gabriella answered. "Ready to go, Romeo?"

"I'm ready, my fair Juliet. Just let me wrap blankets around you and I'll carry you down stairs."

Gil was sitting down in the living room waiting from the moment he had followed Troy into the house. He rolled his eyes when Gabriella squealed from up in her room. Jealousy raged through him as he saw Gabriella nestled in Troy's arms as he carried her down the stairs. Lily followed behind them.

"Are we ready to begin?" Gil asked.

"I'm ready." Troy answered. "Are you ready Juliet?"

"Ready, Romeo."

For two hours, Troy and Gabriella acted out the most romantic scene ever to be written. Gil saw watching them as he took notes for their paper. Suddenly, Gabriella braced herself against Troy as she winced in pain. Troy looked at her and held her up lovingly. Gil got up and walked over to them.

"What's wrong?" Gil asked.

"I think I've got appendicitis." Gabriella said painfully. "Troy, take me to the hospital."

"Ok, hang on." Troy said picking Gabriella up.

"We need to call an ambulance." Gil ordered.

"Gabby and I are going to the hospital, see you later."

"I'm coming with you; you need someone to translate the doctor for you."

Ten minutes later, Troy pulled up at the hospital. He jumped out and ran over to pick Gabriella up. Gabriella wrapped her arm around his neck. Troy and Gil ran into the hospital.

"My girlfriend needs a doctor!" Troy shouted.

"She has an appendicitis!" Gil added.

"Bring her over to the gurney!" a doctor told Troy. "I'm Doctor Jacobs, chief of surgeon."

"I'll carry her." Gil said trying to place Gabriella in his arms. "I know what's best."

"I got her!" Troy said as he tightened his grip on Gabriella. "I know what is best for my girlfriend!"

Dr. Jacobs watched as the two young men fought over the young woman. He saw the pain written across Gabriella's face. He then pulled Gabriella into his arms.

"I'm the doctor, I know what's best for her!" he announced firmly. "I do not want either of you near this young woman until given the ok."

Gabriella was then rushed off to surgery. Troy called Ms. Montez to explain about what happened to her daughter. He then sat down in the waiting room, across from Gil.

"Why are you still here?" Troy asked. "You have no business here."

"Gabby is my friend." Gil answered.

"Gabriella."

"What?"

"I'm the only one who calls her Gabby." Troy firmly said. "And you are not her friend."

"You don't choose who or who's not her friend."

"She doesn't' want you as a friend. You keep stalking her! Why do you keep asking Gabby out when you she's my girlfriend?"

"Because I love her!" Gil shouted. "I was going to ask her out, but you beat me to it!"

(Flashback: Sophomore Year)

"So, I'm finally going to ask Gabriella out." Gil told his friends.

"Good luck, man."

Gabriella was at her locker getting her books before going to homeroom. Gil was about to tap her on the shoulder before she turned around. Gabriella smiled at her fellow student.

"Can I help you?" she asked kindly.

"I was wondering if you wanted to…" Gil started to say.

"Hey, Gabby!" Troy shouted happily as he raced towards her.

"Hey, Troy." Gabriella said.

"I brought you my jersey so you can wear it on game day."

Gabriella smiled happily. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed Troy on the lips. Gabriella giggled when he picked her. She smiled dreamily as he whispered loving words to her. Suddenly, she remembered that Gil was still there.

"I'm sorry, Gil. What did you want?" Gabriella asked.

"Never mind, I got my answer."

Throughout the day, Gil was forced to see and remember that he had been too late. Everywhere he looked, Troy and Gabriella were together. He would give anything to be in Troy's place. What did Gabriella see in the school jock anyways?

(Flashback Ends)

"Gabby and I were going out long before that day." Troy told Gil. "We were making it known to everyone that day. It wouldn't have mattered if I had shown up or not. You need to get over and leave my girlfriend alone."

"Troy!" Ms. Montez shouted. "How's my daughter?"

"She's going to be fine. She's having an appendectomy."

Two hours later, Troy and Ms. Montez were in Gabriella's hospital room. Gabriella was leaning up against her pillows. Ms. Montez left to go get the three of them something to eat. Gil stood out in the hall getting ready to walk into the room. But he stopped when he saw Troy get in bed next to Gabriella. As he watched the two of them, Gabriella's face as Troy lovingly caressed her, showed him that Gabriella would never feel the same way for him that she felt for Troy. Gil left them alone, promising never to bother Gabriella again, even though he would always carry a torch for her.