Alright, so I know you wanted to see a fight, well this has one I promise. It is another one-shot.

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Troy, Gabriella, or High School Musical.

I could tell her. I could tell her how I really am feeling. How I feel alone. How I feel scared and vulnerable. How inside is this lost lonely little boy, but I don't. It's easier to hide. I don't have to face reality. Reality is terrifying and well, real. If I faced reality, I think it will only break me more. And right now, I can't understand, how I can be anymore broken. I know "in reality", my brokenness is of my own doing. Not my mom's, not my dad's, not even my girlfriend's. Never ever was it her fault. I broke her heart by pushing her away and now she is slowly shattering mine by leaving. I didn't want her to leave. I didn't want her to run away, but now she's gone and it is all my fault.

It is always my fault. It is my fault that I'm alone. It is my fault, my dad died. It is my fault, my life is miserable. People tell me, I am wrong. They tell me that there are things that happen that are simply out of my control. But they don't understand. They don't see the scared boy inside. They see a young man who has always let them down. Who never measures up to their expectations. Who is always going to be a disappointment. I want them…I need them to see something more, but I don't how to make them realize that I am not a failure…. a loser.

My whole life I've searched for a person to see the real me. I finally find that person and like the idiot I am, I lose her. She saw me in a way that no one had before. She took a chance and as always I screwed it up. I want to tell her I am sorry, that I love her, but something inside prevents me. I want to admit I am broken.

Broken because of my dad's death. Broken because of all life's mean tricks. Broken because she left me. I want to pour my heart out to her until there is nothing left. I want her to hold me in her arms because I need her. Need her to comfort me because everything hurts and I can't fight it alone anymore. Need her to….

KNOCK KNOCK

I hear a soft knock on my closed bedroom door.

"Troy, are you in there? It's me, Gabriella."

I hear her beautiful voice and for a moment my heart soars until I hear the sadness that accompanies her tone. I am torn. My heart is telling me to open that door and confess all my sorrows. But my mind is telling me she won't understand. She doesn't love you anymore. I mean…how could she after all that you've done to her.

"Troy?"

Her voice sounds again and I finally find my voice and answer

"Yea?"

Even I am surprised at how painfully quiet my voice sounds.

"I'm coming in, okay?" she says and the knob turns and the door gingerly opens, revealing her. After a few moments I feel her gently sit down at the end of my bed. We sit there in silence until I feel the warmth of her hand in mine. I slowly open my eyes and am met with those baby blues that had won my heart. Yet, I notice here eyes are different, sorrowful, remorseful. I look away because I can't stand to look at the pain in her eyes, knowing that I am the reason behind it.

"I'm sorry." I hear her whisper.

What could she have to be sorry for? She did absolutely nothing that would need such an apology. If anything I should be the one uttering an apology. I hurt her.

"I'm sorry because if you think you can get rid of me that easily than you have the wrong girl."

I look up at her and see that pretty smile. The same smile that can brighten my day. Her smile.

"I'm sorry, Gabriella." I say almost inaudibly,

"Now, that apologies are out of the way, let's dive into the reason why apologies were needed in the first place. Reason number one- you are scared. I understand this Troy because I am scared too. But I think together we can face our fears, okay?"

I nod my head because right now I don't exactly feel capable of words.

"Reason number two- I love you. Yes, the topic that has been the center of many fights between the two of us. I hope that you will eventually say those three words to me, but I'm glad you are waiting until you really mean them because I don't want to force you into something you don't mean. Alright, so another problem resolved, let's move on to the final and perhaps the most important reason.

Reason number three- you are hurting. You forget that I know you. You forget that I know you push people away when you happen to need them the most. Troy, your dad died. I know you may have not worked through all your feelings yet but I begging you to let me help you. Sometimes, I think you don't want to share you problems because you feel it would burden me. That if I saw all the pain that I would run away. But I've got news for you I don't plan on leaving you….ever."

"If you knew how I felt right now, I don't think you would want to stay." I say, bitterly.

"How can you say that?! The only person who decides whether or not I stay is me. Not you."

"You don't understand." I mumble.

"And I never will unless you tell me what is going on in that head of yours!"

"You want to know, you really want to know." I said my voice rising in volume as I stood up.

"Yes, I really want to help." She said as she placed a soft hand on my forearm.

"Fine, if you really want to know how broken I feel. How I can't even look at you because it reminds me of all the pain I've already caused you. How I feel like a failure. Like I can't do anything right! How my dad died and it is all my fault!" I yell jerking my arm away from her grip my chest is heaving with exertion. Tears sting in the back of my eyes threatening to spill over.

"How I just want to give up because it's too hard." I say quieter.

"What is too hard?" she asks softly.

And just like that I am screaming again. " Everything! Life is just too hard. I'm tired of fighting. Everyday is just another battle lost. I can't take it anymore." My fist slams against the wall, as the tears I tried to keep at bay run down my face. I slide down the wall cradling my throbbing fist to my chest. I hang my head, now crying in earnest. I don't care if she sees me, she will just run away.

"Oh, Troy" she says as she runs over to me and puts her arms around me. She gently pushes my head to rest on her shoulder and I don't fight because to resist would require a strength I no longer possess. She whispers tiny reassurances as she strokes my hair. I don't know how long we were like this. Me sobbing in arms, but as I wake up I realize that I've fallen asleep with my head in her lap. She never let go of me. She kept her promise.