A/N: I am so sorry that I haven't updated this story! I haven't given up; I just have been having the worst case of writers block imaginable. To make up for it, I'm going to attempt to make this chapter longer than normal and I'll try to update faster. Be warned, this chapter is a bit intense. (Not in the rated X way, but in an emotional sense)

Last time: Troy revealed to Sharpay why he had been protecting Gabriella all these years. They fought again and Sharpay told Troy that she knew where Gabriella was. He didn't believe her, so she told him to go visit her.
"Whatever, I'll get over you." I'm lying. I'm lying right to his face, just like he did so many years ago. I'll never get over him. I can't let him know that. He's so mad; his eyes are blazing with anger. Oh well, I'll let him get back to his precious Gabriella. The Gabriella that is completely single and miserable. She never told me about my mother, that part was true. "Troy. This is her address and phone number. Go to her, she misses you, too. If you ever decide to come back, here's my number. I'm sorry for being such an Ice Queen." She spat the last two words out. After giving him the information, she glared at him once more and walked away. She then whispered so no one could hear her, "Troy and I really never will work out, will we?" She waved for a taxi then broke down into tears.

Fast-forward to the morning after Sharpay and Troy's date. Well, it wasn't as much a date as it was a huge argument. Troy was sitting in his hotel room, staring at a picture he had kept of him and Gabriella. They were onstage singing 'Breaking Free'. So many memories were brought back from that one picture. He slowly set it down and looked at another picture. This was of him and Sharpay. During senior year, they had become so close. No one knew how it happened, but Sharpay and Troy became like best friends. Of course, no one had ever seen them together. He sighed. When had life become so complicated? Troy wondered. I should go see Gabriella. I owe it to myself. I've missed her so much. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her. She was my one true love...right? Troy picked up the phone to tell Chad where he was going. No. I can't tell Chad. This could be a lie. He missed Gabriella almost as much as I did. If it's not real, I don't want anyone else to know. This is something I'll have to do on my own. Slowly, he dialed the number Sharpay had given him. Troy was about to hang up when he heard a voice on the other line.

"Hello?" The voice was barely a whisper, but Troy knew immediately that it was Gabriella. Sharpay hadn't lied to him after all.

"Gabi?" Troy had barely managed to choke out her name. Emotions rushed through him and he was elated, nervous, angry, distressed, confused, and so many other things all at one time. "Is it...are you...how are you?"

"Oh my gosh, Troy? How did you get this number? The only person I...Sharpay...you told her, didn't you?" Troy could hear her sobs through the phone. "You promised you wouldn't tell. I can't believe you!"

Troy sighed. She definitely picked up the drama queen act from Sharpay. "Gabi, listen, I don't want to talk about this over the phone. Can I come over? I have your address too. Not like I'm stalking you. I mean, 'cuz I'm not. Sharpay gave me your...she thought I should visit you. I really want to...not just because Sharpay said so. Gabi, I..." Great job, Romeo...just keep on rambling. It never used to be this hard to talk to her. So much has changed though...it's been so long. "Gabi, I missed you. A lot."

He could almost hear her smiling on the other end. "I missed you too, Troy. Come down here as soon as you can, I'm not doing anything today."

"Great! I'll see you soon." They both hung up. Troy fell back on his bed and just smiled.

While Troy was talking to Gabriella on the phone, Sharpay was sitting at home talking to Ryan.

"So, you're sure. Absolutely sure. It really was Gabriella? Why would she kill our mother? That's not true. Troy lied, I know he did. She would never...Gabriella wouldn't...would she?" Ryan was almost begging Sharpay to say it wasn't true. He wanted it to be false, he really did. Sharpay wanted it to be a lie too. However, a part of her knew that Troy wouldn't lie about that.

"Ryan, please. Troy wouldn't lie to me...not about that. I just know he wouldn't. Gabriella had changed; I can't believe I didn't notice it then. It was my influence; it was my fault. When we became friends, she started to get a little colder. I shrugged it off because I thought she was still a little mad that we tried to break up her and Troy. Now I realize...she had changed then. She wasn't as sweet as people thought. It was an act, Ryan."

"No! GABRIELLA WAS PERFECT! Shut up, Sharpay! Please, just...shut...up." Ryan was sobbing.

Sharpay winced as she saw him break down. Ryan never cries. Sure, he's in touch with his feminine side at times, but he never cries. When dad walked out on us, he was the strong one. He was there for me when mom died. Ryan protected me from hurting myself. He never got angry when people accused him of being gay, though he certainly never was. His huge crush on Gabriella was proof of that. No, he never cries. Why is he crying now? "Ryan, I'm sorry. I know it's hard to believe. She did it! SHE KILLED MOM! I promised I'd avenge mom's death. I intend to keep that promise, Ryan. You can't stop me!" I have to get to Gabriella. Maybe just talk to her? No, she needs to see that she can never hurt me.

"Yes, yes I can. Sharpay, you can't do this. You can't kill! You're not capable of it. Inside, you're as sweet as she is...was. I know you can't kill. Please, don't make things worse. Don't stoop down to her level!"

"I...Ryan, she killed mom! She just SHOT her. I saw her, Ryan. Months ago, we talked in the park. She lied to my face. Gabriella said she was sorry that someone so cruel and heartless would do that. Gabriella said she hoped I was okay. Gabriella said...Gabriella said...she said she would always be there for me. She pretended to be my friend! SHE LIED TO ME, RYAN! In senior year, when we were friends...she promised she'd never let someone hurt me. That we would be friends forever! I believed her because I wanted to. I believed her because I trusted her. I told her things that no one else but you knew. She let me be the real Sharpay! You don't get how much this hurts me more than anyone else. That someone I trusted almost as much as you shot my own mother! That the girl who let me finally be myself and accepted me for who I was and became my friend lied to my face and never regretted it! Ryan, you don't get it! I nearly died when mom died. It killed me to see her weak. She was never weak. You were never weak. Now, all because of Gabriella, everything is falling apart! I have to do something, Ryan! I won't be able to eat or sleep or think or SING until I do something." Sharpay was ranting. Tears streamed down her face. Her hair had come out of the perfect ponytail and was completely messy. Ryan just stared at her and tried to figure out what to say. He couldn't think of anything, so he remained silent. Sharpay walked out of the room and into her bedroom.

Around noon, Troy finally arrived at Gabriella's house. He took in the surroundings. It was in a small town outside New York City. All the houses looked the same. The lawns were all perfect with just the right amount of color. He could see families all around the town smiling and laughing. It was everything Gabriella had ever wanted. Everything he had never been able to give her. Troy checked the address one more time before knocking on the door.

"Troy! You're here!" She gave him a warm embrace. "It's been so long. Come in!"

He looked around the inside of her house and saw that she was alone. Sharpay lied about her having a family. In a way, he was glad that she wasn't married and didn't have children. Then again, he knew that being here was killing Sharpay. "Gabriella, you look...amazing." She really did. Her hair was in a perfect bun with a few strands hanging down and accentuating her face. She was wearing a simple, blue shirt with black capris.

"Thanks. I rarely ever have company, so I decided to get a little dressed up. In fact, the last person that was here was...Sharpay." Suddenly, her brown eyes clouded and she looked like she was about to cry. "Why...how...when did you tell her? I suppose that's why you're here."

"Listen, Gabi, we'll talk about that later. I want to know what happened to you after you ran away." He smiled at her and Gabriella nearly melted.

Gabriella simply looked at him, searching for something in his eyes. She wanted to know that he still loved her. That the time and distance apart meant nothing because he would always be hers. He's changed. He's moved on. You should too, Gabriella told herself. No, he was your true love. Troy changed everything. He made you happy, he still makes you happy. No matter what happens, no matter what he does, you will always love him. "I was scared, Troy. I killed someone. Not just any person, but my friend's mother. I was terrified of what would happen if she found out! Sharpay and I...we had become best friends. She told me everything. What happened with her parents, how close she is with Ryan, why she was the way she was. Sharpay trusted me! It was all I had ever wanted. I knew she was nice...and then...I killed her mother! She took you from me."

"Gabriella, breathe. Calm down. She hadn't taken me from you; no one could have taken me from you. You're the one that left me."

"I'm sorry, I really am. I just couldn't face anyone, especially not Sharpay or Ryan. I ran. I just kept running away. I left a note for my mom saying that I was heading to college early. When she came home and saw the note, she called me. By that time I was hysterical. I told her that I just couldn't come back. She didn't know I killed someone. No one knew. I made sure that no one knew. I stayed in college for a while, but then I dropped out. Nothing was worth it anymore. I wanted to kill myself for what I did to Sharpay. Instead, I just left college and abandoned everything I had worked so hard for. I became a secretary for an accountant or something...I don't remember. He tried to rape me, so I left. Someone in the office had heard my screams and sent in a police report. When I never showed up again at work, my boss was arrested. He was insane, so he said that he had tried to kill me. I ran away...I had to. I deserved it though. Every amount of pain I faced after leaving...I DESERVED IT! I killed Sharpay's mom. I basically killed her and her brother. Everything I'd worked for was thrown away because I was miserable. You didn't even come after me! You were supposed to come after me, Troy. I waited for you to come and tell me it was alright. I waited for you to protect me and promise me you'd always be there. You never came! I got so sick of waiting. I moved to Texas and changed my name and my identity. My hair was cut short and I dyed it a lighter color. It didn't help, though, so I moved up here. Then, a few months ago, I ran into Sharpay! She had no clue that I had done it. You had protected me after all! We talked about our lives. We talked about all the silly little memories we had in high school. She told me about her career as a Broadway star. I told her that I had dropped out of college. She believed me when I said that I had been miserable after losing you. I could've told her then, but I didn't. She'd never understand. You understand, don't you? You understand why I did it. TELL ME YOU UNDERSTAND!" Gabriella was sobbing. She couldn't take it anymore. She let it all out. Troy went over and hugged her. He just held her while he took in everything that she had just told him.

"You...it wasn't...I...Gabriella...I never followed you because I thought you hated me." He purposefully didn't answer her last question, hoping she had already forgotten.

"Troy." Her voice was a mere whisper. "You understand why I killed Mrs. Evans. Don't you?" She looked hopefully into his eyes. He didn't say anything, but she knew what he would've said. "I'm sorry, I never should've...you shouldn't have come. Before you leave, just tell me one thing. Do you still love me?"

"Gabriella, when you left, I couldn't go on. For months I didn't play basketball, sing, or do anything. I nearly got kicked off of my college basketball team because I was terrible. I looked for you forever. When I couldn't find you...we all assumed...we thought you died, Gabi. You never came back! No one ever heard from you again. After a year, the police declared you dead. I was devastated. I missed you so much, Gabi. I loved you and you left me. We could've handled it together, I know we could've. Instead, you ran." He moved towards the door, but Gabriella stopped him.

"You didn't answer my question, Troy." She was now glaring at him. "You don't, do you? You don't love me anymore."

"I...Gabriella, I don't know. You just suddenly reappear in my life after over three years and expect me to still love you! You never came to me asking for help. I could've helped you if you had given me some sign that you were still alive! I can't just forgive you, Gabi. I'm sorry."

A single tear rolled down Troy's face. Gabriella wiped it away with her thumb, and then pulled Troy closer to her. "Troy, you can't pretend you don't feel anything." She pulled his head closer to hers then kissed him. Troy kissed her back. The kiss deepened. Gabriella ran her hands through Troy's hair, along his back, up his shirt. Troy's hands encircled her waist, explored her back, and began to unbutton her shirt. Gabriella moaned in pleasure and began to bite at his neck. He pushed her away. She looked at him, hurt.

"Gabriella, I told you, I can't just do this. I'm sorry. Maybe I love you, I don't know. I have to figure things out."

"No." Gabriella slapped him. "You kissed me back. I felt it...you still love me! Just admit it, Troy."

Troy glared at her. "What is wrong with you Gabriella? I thought you would understand. You're not the same anymore, I see that now. The Gabriella I fell in love with would've given me time. She would've let me sort out what was going on. The person in front of me now...I don't love her. I loved who she once was."

He loves someone else, Gabriella thought. "Who is she?"

"What?"

"The one...that took my place...the girl you love now. Who is she?"

"I can't believe this. I just...can't believe this. What are you talking about? There is no girl that took your place. No one can ever take your place. You were the first girl I thought I loved."

"Shut up, Troy. I can see it in your eyes. You want to be with her right now. You want to tell her what happened here and hope she understands and will forgive you. Just tell me. As my friend, you owe me that much."

"I don't owe you a single thing, Gabriella. You threw away that right when you walked out and didn't say goodbye." Troy slammed the door, hopped in his car, and drove away. Gabriella watched him leave through her window and cried.

As Troy drove away, he couldn't help but think of Gabriella. Memories flooded his brain and he couldn't think straight any longer. He pulled over and found himself only a mile away from Sharpay's home. Troy remained in the car and sat thinking about the two women he was torn between. There was Gabriella, the one he had wanted to spend eternity with. In high school, she was the only girl for him. She was the first one that understood he wasn't just the 'basketball boy'. Gabriella made him so happy...but now he didn't feel anything for her. Sure, she would always have a place in his heart, but it wasn't as important to him as it once was. Then there was Sharpay. Sharpay was unpredictable, dramatic, and insanely confusing. Then, at other times, she was incredibly sweet, amazing, and strong. No matter what happened to her, she tried her hardest to make sure no one felt bad for her. She put her feelings aside all the time, but Troy could see how she really felt. I'm so confused, Troy thought. I love both of them so differently. I need to talk to Sharpay...I don't know why, I don't even think it's a good idea, but I need to talk to Sharpay.

Troy was walking through the apartment building to Sharpay's door and rehearsing what he would say. "Sharpay, I need to tell you...no that's stupid. Shar, there's something I've gotta ask...idiot! You're not proposing or anything. Was that a door opening? It must've been her neighbor or something...Okay, how about...have you ever been in love...what? I'm not in love with...am I? I can't do this...I just can't." He sat in the hallway outside her room and just thought for a moment. Troy nearly jumped when his cell phone rang. It was Chad.

"Dude, perfect timing! I'm outside Sharpay's—"

"What do you mean? You're supposed to be heading toward the airport! If you don't leave now, you'll be late! We'll miss the plane and there are no other flights back to LA. We'll miss the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME! For once, just once, I'd like you to make the championship your only priority."

"Chad, I'll be right over. I...I can talk to her some other time. I mean, it's not like...she won't hate me...will she? I kissed Gabriella!"

"You what? She's missing...Gabi's dead. Listen, man, I'm really sorry...I hate to do this, but I have to rush you. You have to leave NOW. We can sort that out later...we have to make that championship game. Just, get over here, and we'll figure something out on the plane. I'm sorry, we can't wait any longer."

"Alright man, I'll be right there. My stuff's all packed anyway." Troy quickly scribbled his number on a piece of paper and slipped it under Sharpay's door. He didn't put his name or anything; it just said to call that number. I hope she calls it! Who am I kidding, Sharpay doesn't like me. I'm such an idiot! For a second, I thought that we would actually get together. I haven't stopped thinking about her since I got to New York. What am I going to do? I may never see her again. How will I tell her that I kissed Gabriella? Over the phone? That's so impersonal. Gabriella, she wouldn't mind if I got back with her on the phone...would she? When I kissed her, there was something there. It was different, though. She isn't the same anymore. Maybe I should give her a change. But Sharpay...I thought she really liked me this time. I guess I was wrong.

While Troy was talking to himself outside her room, Sharpay was inside practicing for another audition. "Ryan, come here. I want you to tell me which one sounds better. Ryan? Are you there? Where are you?" She walked all over her apartment looking for her brother. Hm, I wonder where he is. Oh, right, he's probably still mad about what happened earlier. It's Gabriella's fault, she ruined everything. I can't...I hate her.

Sharpay was walking back to the living room when she heard a soft voice. Is that Troy? She opened the door a tiny bit and saw someone sitting outside her apartment. Quickly, she closed the door. Oh, gosh, it is! What is he doing here? She could barely make out what he was saying. "Sharpay...tell you...stupid..." She gasped. How dare he call her stupid! She continued to listen to him speak. "Sharpay...something...idiot." What is his problem? Did he come all this way to insult me? Is he practicing what to say before he comes in here and yells at me? I can't take this. I'm going to go out there and give him a piece of my mind. Sharpay passed a mirror on her way out and decided to fix herself up first.

Five minutes later, Sharpay opened the door. Huh, the hallway is empty. What's this? A phone number...he's going to yell at me on the phone? Real classy, Bolton. Why would he think that? What have I ever done to...I thought he actually liked me. I guess I was wrong, again.

END OF CHAPTER 4

A/N: If it's a bit confusing, I'm sorry. Just leave a comment asking what you need me to clear up and I'll either reply or clarify in the next chapter. Basically, I tried to have it show what happened from Troy's perspective and then Sharpay's perspective. So at the end, they're both thinking something along the lines of 'I thought he/she really liked me. I guess I was wrong.' Now some teasers.

Now that Gabriella's back in the picture, will he take the easy route and go for Gabriella or will he try to win Sharpay back? When a major catfight between the two former friends occurs, who will Troy choose? Next chapter will be full of drama. However, I'll update faster if you REVIEW.