AN: Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed the last chapter, it is much appreciated. Here is the next chapter, most of it is being made up on the spot meaning it probably won't be very good as it is when I write it out earlier like I unusually do, I don't get a chance to think about it and change it if I want like I do a lot of times.

Chapter 12

Troy and Gabriella's friendship started to blossomed in the school's eyes. The friendship wasn't completely understood, but was standing quite strong. Many questioned it more and more and the days went by. Troy and Gabriella just smiled and said things change, people change. Many were sure that they were faking it. They thought that the two had gotten in too much trouble so they were now faking it to stay out of more trouble. And still others thought that it was real and accepted it and liked it. Or at least it was liked more than all the shouting. People were apprehensive around them like they were a ticking time bomb and all that had been accomplished between them would blow up and it would go back to the way it was. Back to the shouting.

If Gabriella and Troy ever did have an argument it would take two hall meetings for them to get over it. The first one they would exchange a glare and then a look of apology. Only no one could see these looks of apology, except Chad, so it confused them. The second meeting shared looks of friendliness and then the third they would talk to each other, friends once more. People didn't understand this, but accepted it like they did the friendship.

And in privacy, love was slowly blossoming for Troy and Gabriella, not that either would admit, say or think about it. They ignored it even though they could feel it. They both liked the positions they were in of just learning to fall in love again so mentioning or thinking of said love freaked them out. Neither were ready for it so they both denied it.

The only problem they ran into was trying to figure out how to let the school in on the secret they were keeping. They wanted to, they hate keeping the secret, but they didn't want explosions. So March faded into April with rain showers and still no avail on letting the school in.

"Maybe……no," Gabriella said one day on the rooftop during free period.

"Maybe….nah that wouldn't work," Troy said from his positions sprawled out on the ground. Gabriella was lying on the bench with her legs dangling over one of the arms. They were trying to brainstorm ideas, but never had any luck.

"I say were just give up," Gabriella said, "We are not getting anywhere."

"Wait, what?" Troy said slightly alarmed.

"We never have any ideas so I say we give up trying to come up with any."

"Why didn't we think of that, I don't know a few weeks ago, would have saved me a few headaches?"

"Thinking gives you headaches?"

"Frustration gives me headaches."

"Ok, so then, I say we give up trying to come up with an idea and just go with the flow. If an opportunity presents itself, we take it, but if no chance comes, we don't dwell on it."

"Good idea, why didn't we do this earlier now?"

"We thought an idea would come to us eventually, then eventually hit and we got nothing."

"Well now we do."

"I like it."

"I do too, now come here," Troy motioned to her as he looked at her. Gabriella rolled off the bench and crawled over to lie down beside him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as her head rested in the crook of his neck. He kissed her temple as they closed their eyes. They fell into a slight doze until a bell rang. They yawned and stretched before getting up and going down to class.

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Later that week, Troy was in a grumpy mood. He had woken up late, making him late to school, making him miss homeroom, making him miss Gabriella. He was able to see her in History and gym, but it wasn't ever the same in class as it was out of class. He hadn't had a chance to talk to her the way he wanted to, making him very frustrated. He was sitting in his second to last class of the day hoping that he would be able to see her before the day was up. He jumped out of his seat when the bell sounded and was out of the room.

He roamed the halls that were always filled with commotion. His eyes wondered for the girl he secretly called his. He didn't want to appear to be going out of his way to look for her, but he still desperately wanted to find her. He knew around the corner was her locker. But as he turned he saw that the locker stood without its user in front of it. But down the hall coming the opposite way was said user. Followed by Brad Maher, the soccer star, not captain because he was only a sophomore, but still the leading goal scorer. What was he doing following her? Troy slowed down to watch them. The guy was obviously trying to talk and flirt with her. Gabriella was trying to brush the guy off, not paying attention to him. You had to give the poor boy props for effort and not giving up, but at some point in time you have to cut your losses and just leave.

Gabriella got to her locker ignoring the boy. She spun the combo into the dial and popped open the door. She did notice the guy leaning against the locker next to her, but not the blue eyes down the hallway watching them. She put in a few books and took out one for her final class. She hesitated before deciding to stop back at her locker after school for the books she would need for homework. If she went slowly, the halls would clear and she would get a chance at finding Troy. She hadn't seen him all day outside of class and she didn't like it. She wanted to find him and see him and talk to him and kiss him, but she couldn't do that in the middle of the hallway unfortunately. She slammed her locker shut and spun the dial just to make sure it was locked. She turned around to find the annoying soccer twerp right in front of her, uncomfortably close.

She took a step back and said, "Personal space, please." He took a step closer and she inched back so she was flush against the wall. "Back up," she said still trying to be slightly polite even though there was no need to.

"You know, Gabi, mind if I call you that, no, good, I like you. You are unbelievably hot, blow all the cheerleaders away and put them to shame," Maher said.

Gabriella was ready to crawl up the walls to get away from him as he moved closer to her. She found herself being kissed by him and disgusted by it. She shoved him away and swung her hand to slap him. But he caught her wrist. She yanked it out of his grasp roughly and said, "Stay the hell away from me!" She moved to walk away from him but he grabbed her backpack.

"I'd let go of that if I were you," A new voice said in a low growl. Gabriella felt the pull on her backpack gone and Maher scampered down the hall. She looked up into some ocean eyes and knew she was safe again. Tears weld up in her eyes rolled down her face as the voice now soft and comforting said, "Shh, it's ok now," and a pair of strong arms engulfed her.

"Come on dry up you tears," Troy said. He dug through his backpack and pulled out his gym shirt he was taking home to wash. "It may smell a little, but wipe away the teardrops, nothing is going to happen now."

"Smells like you," Gabriella said quietly as she used the shirt to wipe of her face. Troy took the shirt and stuffed it back in his bag. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, you ok now?" Troy asked looking at her, "How's the wrist?" he pulled her hand towards him and looked over her wrist for a sign of bruising or injury.

"It's fine, now let go of my hand," Gabriella pulled her hand out of his grasp as Troy put on a sheepish smile. He gave her a goofy sorry look. "Now I have to go to be on time to class."

As she moved around him he caught her arm and whispered in her ear, "Meet me in the student lot after school." Gabriella nodded and moved on. Taylor, who had witnessed most of everything, quickly approached her.

"Are you ok?" She asked as they continued walking.

"Yeah, yeah, I think so, just a little shaken up, you know, doesn't happen everyday," Gabriella nodded.

"Gabriella can I ask you a question?" Taylor asked.

"Yeah, anything," Gabriella said.

"Do you like Troy?"

"What?" Gabriella turned to her alarmed.

"I mean, you guys looked pretty close back there, it is just a question."

"I don't know, I just don't know. There are times I want to strangle him, but he does things like that and gives the impression that he actually cares. And at those times, you know, maybe I do. Everything is changing, everything has changed between us. So I don't know, maybe, maybe I do. It just seems crazy, Taylor."

"Ok, I don't mean to put you on the spot you know. I was just wondering. And you know, if you do like him, it's not a bad thing."

"Ok, thank you. I am just really confused right now, but maybe I do, maybe I don't. So aren't mad at my answer."

"It is an honest answer, so no. And it is not really a bad thing, an unexpected one, but not a bad thing. Just be careful, please."

"I will," Gabriella said as they walked into their classroom.

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While the girls were having that conversation, Troy was approached by his best friend. Chad had watched the scene unfold and came into step with Troy as they walked towards the last class of the day that they happened to share. "What's up with you dude?" Chad asked.

"I don't know," Troy said.

"What's happening, I mean it is Belle thoughts or something else?"

"I don't know. Yes, Belle did cross my mind. But maybe something else is there."

"Like do you like her?"

"No, maybe, I don't know."

"Way to give a definite answer."

"I'm just confused right now. Nothing is making sense anymore. It used to be straightforward now it is all screwed up. I have no clue what is happening."

"She's a geek dude, I don't understand first of all how you are friends with her and then this maybe stuff about liking her. What is up with you dude?"

"I know, I know it is weird we are friends. And sometimes I can't stand her, but others I swear that she is not that bad. Like maybe she gets me and understands even when I don't myself. It is all just a little confusing right now. I have no clue what is going on."

"Do you care about her with what happened or is the actually happening the thing you care about occurring."

"I don't know, neither, both, I just don't know."

"Get your head straightened out dude."

"I know, I know what you think, but things are a little different for me, they always have been. I just need to figure out a few things in life right now, like where I stand with Gabriella," Troy said as they turned into their classroom.

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After the final bell rang, most students were rushing out the door to the to get on their bus or to just go home. All except two people who slowly made their way through the halls. These two people met in the student parking lot after most cars had left. There were only a few cars left from people who were on sports teams or had detention. Troy grabbed Gabriella as she past his car and pulled her inside. He was in the back seat with his feet hanging out the door. He pulled her in on top of him as he leaned back into a laying position. "You have no idea how much I missed you today," he said.

"Yeah I do because I am in the exact same position," Gabriella said before kissing him. "I've been waiting to do that all day and was quite pissed at Taylor for making me work with her on that thing free period. And I am mad at you mister for being late for school."

"I swear I didn't mean to be," Troy said with his look of apology.

"I know, that is why you are forgiven, just don't do it again."

"I won't, I hated today," Troy said leaning up to kiss her again.

"Ok, so confession time, after today's lets call it an incident, I told Taylor that I maybe like you. She asked me if I did and I saw it as our opportunity so I told her maybe and that I really didn't know and that I was a little confused at the moment. I hope that it is ok with you."

"Of course it is. It has to be as I told Chad basically the same thing."

"You did?"

"Yeah, so we are at maybes. We should act a little awkward around each other now. And if they ask, tell them that they made us think and made us more confused so things are awkward for us until we are unconfused ."

"That is a good idea Mr. Bolton."

"Much appreciated Miss Montez."

"Now that we have that settled, kiss me," Gabriella said leaning down. He met her halfway to begin a long make-out session.

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AN: Ok, so a little short, but I got where I wanted to be. Please leave me a review, and I hope to update tomorrow night again like I have. I think the next chapter will be the last one. Everything will become open to the school and that is where I have always planned on ending it, so it is unfortunately almost over. I may add an epilogue, I don't know. I have been writing on another story I will probably type up next and then also the promised sequel to my other story, which I have slowly been working on as well. Ok, that is a just a bunch of the thoughts running through my head, again, please leave me a review and thank you!