What will Ryan tell Gabriella? What will Gabriella find out about him? Read to find out and please review!

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ryan Makes Everything Right

Chemistry Lab, Still Lunch

Gabriella walked into the chemistry lab, sat down, and opened up a book. She settled down and started doing equations mentally.

Ryan was about a minute behind her, but he found her in the room, her face buried in the book. He walked in and sat down next to Gabriella.

"Hi, Gabriella."

"Oh, hey Ryan. Look this really isn't a good time," Gabriella said, trying to send him the message that she didn't really want company.

"Gabriella, listen to me. What you saw in the music room…"

"You know, too," Gabriella said, surprised, "Look, I saw what he did. I know that how he truly feels now." Gabriella started for the door.

"Gabriella, hear me out, please. Troy was set up."

Gabriella was starting to turn the knob when she reconsidered listening to Ryan.

"How?"

"You might want to take a seat. It'll be quite a story."

"Okay." Gabriella sat back down next to Ryan.

"You know Rachael, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, she has a crush on Troy and wanted to break you up…"

"I knew that there was something odd about her!"

"Please, don't say things about her like that. She's my friend!"

"A boyfriend-stealing friend! Wait. Why would you say something like that after she did this?"

"Well, that's a different topic…"

Gabriella figured it out. "You like her more than a friend, don't you?"

"Yes, but that's not what I want to tell you. Gabriella, Troy was set up. Rachael wanted to make it look like Troy was cheating on you and Sharpay was helping. That's why Sharpay was standing guard outside the music room. To make sure that you didn't open the door and throw off the plan! That kissing thing was just a clever rouse to get Troy to kiss her. Do you get it, Gabriella? Troy was framed and he's about to quit the musical because of all this."

"Ryan, are you serious?" Gabriella questioned, to make sure that Ryan was telling the truth.

"Yes, Gabriella. I'm serious," Ryan answered, "Sharpay may be my twin sister, but I'm not like her. I'm honest and truthful. Please, just trust me." Ryan said with all the truthfulness in his voice and a sincere look on his face.

Gabriella, in her heart, knew that Ryan was telling the truth. "Okay, Ryan. I trust you. I just hope that Troy doesn't quit the musical before I can get there in time."

"Tell Taylor and Chad that everything is alright first. They're very concerned with how you feel. I'll make sure Troy doesn't quit."

"Thanks, Ryan," Gabriella said, relieved. "You've cleared everything up."

"You're welcome."

"Now, about you liking Rachael…"

Just then the bell rang signaling the end of lunch.

"What were you saying? Listen, it's the bell. Better get going." Ryan rushed out the door and headed to his locker.

"Troy, so are you still the one for me? I guess I'll find out today, after school," Gabriella thought aloud.

As Ryan was walking down the halls, he was making sure that Gabriella wasn't behind him.

"That was a close one," he thought to himself. "Hopefully, she doesn't tell anyone, especially Rachael or Sharpay."

Ryan made it to his next class without any suspicion from Sharpay and Rachael.

"Hopefully, they don't find out what I did."