'First day back to school...yay,' was Troy Bolton's first thought upon entering Eastwood High.
It wasn't that Troyhated school; no, no, he rather loved it; just that, well, it hadn't been the easiest summer and he wasn't to sure school would seem any better. Well, scratch that first part; summer had been great, for the most part, until just a few weeks before school started. It would be their seven month anniversarry, and they had wanted it to be special; well, she had wanted it to be special. She asked him if he wanted to spend the night with her. Alone. He hadn't known what to do. It was so sudden, so surprising. He'd said yes. Oh, why did he have to say yes?
He'd gone over to her house, hoping for a nice night. Dinner, maybe a nice movie, games, star gazing, something along those lines! But no. He'd gotten there to find dimmed lights, wine, strawberries, and a blanket on the floor. Why, why did he have to say yes?
At first it was ok. They had a drink, kissed. The kissing got deeper, sweeter. It wasn't bad, but...it wasn't good either. He'd noticed it for a while. Being with Gabriella hadn't felt the same. Kissing her hadn't felt as soft, as smooth. Holding her hand hadn't felt as warm. Taking her in his arms hadn't felt as comfortable, as relaxing. Everything felt so different...wrong.
The kisses progressed and soon Troy felt himself have to move on. He didn't want to upset Gabriella. She meant so much to him. So he began to kiss her neck. He kissed and kissed and kissed, all over the neck, shoulders, the edges of her upper chest. He kept avoiding what he knew was coming. He wished it hadn't came.
Soon Gabriella was helping him help her out of her cloths. Soon she had no top...then no skirt...next she was unhooking her own bra...He hadn't been able to take it. He just could not have sex with her. He'd pulled away right then and curled up into the fetal position by the couch, holding back tears.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I just...I can't..." he'd said.
Gabriella had freaked. She thought it had been her, that she'd done something wrong or that he just didn't like her like that anymore. But he'd said no, it wasn't her fault. It really wasn't. It was his. And she'd taken him in her arms and let him cry, first a few dry sobs until the tears had come spilling out, almost like pouring rain. He'd cried and cried into her bear shoulder. And when he'd finally finished, still sniffling lightly, she'd pulled the blanket around them and they'd fallen asleep on the floor.
Then, the next morning, he'd woken in the same position, but with the tv on and Gabriella watching the Discovery Channel. When she'd seen that he'd woken up, she'd turned off the tv. They stayed sitting for a few minutes before Gabriella had gotten up, gotten dressed, and then fixed Troy breakfast. She never said a word, but it was clear she wasn't upset or disappointed or angry.
When he'd finished eating, she'd sat him down and asked, "Troy, what happened last night? Was it because you just weren't ready? Or do you just not like me that way? What is it Troy? Please, tell me; I want to help. And you don't have to worry, I'll always be here for you; I'll always be your friend."
He smiled and put his hand on hers and said sadly, "I really don't know, at least not yet. I just...I couldn't do it...Gabriella, I'm sorry, I really am, but it just...it didn't feel right."
She'd hadn't freaked this time. She didn't yell, or cry, or anything like that. She'd smiled and nodded and said, "Then we'll figure it out, Troy, together. I promise."
And over the last week of vacation they had figured it out. He'd spent as much time alone with her as possible, talking, trying to figure things out. They'd gone to the mall, the movies, and everything, but they didn't hold hands or kiss or anything anymore. They didn't say so, but they'd broken up. Neither was sure if it was permenent or just until Troy had worked everything out, but they definetly weren't together and anyone and everyone who saw them knew it. Most didn't say, but everyone knew.
But anyway, they had figured it out. They'd done the talking, just letting Troy speak what was on his mind and in his heart. But it wasn't until the last day before school that they'd really figured it out.
They were at the mall, as usual. They'd just left another store, Hot Topic, and they were laughing about some silly jacket they'd seen inside. That's when Troy stopped in his tracks and his eyes had gone wide. He was starring at a familiar couple of blondes, Sharpey and Ryan Evans. Garbriella saw, but just watched, waiting.
Normally Troy wouldn't have given the Drama King and Queen of the school a second glance. But today there was something different. He couldn't help but stare. Those ass-hugging jeans. That pearly white smile. Longer, wavier blonde hair than last year, but still the same; mostly in the sense that it was still under a hat. A lime green hat to be exact. That's right, Troy Bolton wasn't starring at Sharpey Evans, but her brother, Ryan Evans.
Troy's mouth had fallen open and he'd let out a small squeak of shock at his discovery. Before Gabriella could ask, he whispered the words only loud enough for her to hear. "Oh god...I'm gay."