Here you go!

Gabriella walked into her house, surprising her mother.

"Gabriella? What are you doing home? Are you okay?"

Gabriella shook her head and went to sit beside her mother on the couch.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Gabriella shook her head again and curled up against her mother, placing her head in her mom's lap. Mrs. Montez understood her daughter didn't want to talk and stroked her baby's head, inwardly wondering what had happened to cause her daughter so much pain.

♪

Troy drove home, not wanting to face the entire school. He knew that once word got out that he had quit the team, he would have everybody on his back. Just as he thought this, his cell phone rang. Troy groaned when he saw who was calling.

"Hello, Chad."

"YOU QUIT THE TEAM?"

Troy winced at his best friend's loud outburst.

"I had my reasons, Chad. I don't wanna talk about it."

"I saw what happened. Taylor saw it, too. She said she would call Gabriella tonight. I understand why you did it, man."

"Thanks, Chad."

"Hey, I'm your best friend. It's my job to have your back. I'm gonna quit, too. They want me to be captain."

"You don't have to do that, Chad. I know you've always wanted to be captain. Don't give up on your dream just cause of me."

"No, Troy, my dream was to play basketball with my best buddy. The game's no longer a game. Plus, it'd be weird being captain."

"Thanks, man. I gotta go."

"Kay. See ya later, Troy."

"Bye."

Troy hung up the phone and grinned. The team would be nothing without Chad and him. He was glad his friend supported his decision. Troy parked his truck and went in the back door, going up to his room.

♪

A few hours later, Troy heard his uncle come in.

"Troy? Troy! You home?"

Troy got up and walked to his door.

"In my room!"

Troy went and sat back down at his desk. Uncle Zac appeared at the door with a concerned look on his face.

"The school called my office. They said you got in a fight and left. Care to explain?"

Troy was glad his uncle wasn't extremely upset with him, just concerned. Troy motioned for his uncle to sit on his bed.

"You might wanna sit. It's a long story."

Zac sat down and Troy filled him in on what happened that day.

"So you quit the team?"

Troy nodded, worried about his uncle's reaction.

"Yeah, and I don't regret it."

Zac grinned at Troy.

"You've made your aunt and me very proud, Troy. As long as you don't regret it, we support you."

Troy smiled back at his uncle.

"Thanks, Uncle. It means a lot to me."

♪

Gabriella sat on her bed, reading a novel. She had come up to relax after dinner. She had told both of her parents about what had happened today between Sharpay, the basketball team and Troy. Her parents took it pretty well, knowing Gabriella had a few problem making friends before. Mrs. Montez had been smiling nonstop when Gabriella told her about Troy.

Gabriella smiled, remembering what Troy had done for her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the phone. She set her book down and grabbed the phone off its cradle.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Gabs. It's Taylor."

"Hey, Tay. How are you?"

"Not bad. How are you? Are you okay after what happened today?"

Gabriella sighed. Apparently, word traveled fast at East High.

"You heard?"

"No, I saw. Chad and I were around the corner. Chad quit the team, too."

"No way! Chad loves basketball! I'm actually surprised Troy did it."

"Well, Chad said that without Troy, it wouldn't be much fun anymore. So how are you doing?"

"Not bad. I got over it pretty fast... okay not fast, but I got over it. I cried for a few hours."

"Aww, I'm so sorry, Gabs. Sharpay's gonna get it from Kelsi and I."

"No, Taylor, it's okay. You don't have to do anything about it. I'll handle it on my own."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Plus, Troy said he would help me."

Taylor giggled.

"So how are things with you and Troy? You seem pretty cozy."

Gabriella gasped and blushed, glad that Taylor couldn't see.

"You're blushing right now."

"How'd you know?"

Taylor laughed.

"I didn't. You just proved me right."

Gabriella giggled.

"You're one to talk. You seem to be hanging out with Chad Danforth a lot lately. Care to explain what's going on there?"

"N-n-nothing."

"Yeah, sure. Troy and I are just really good friends. He's always there for me, you know?"

"Yeah. Chad's the same way... Except we're going out to dinner this weekend."

Gabriella gasped.

"No way! You just said that there was nothing between you two!"

"Well, I lied."

The two girls burst into giggles.

"Tay, I gotta go. But thanks for calling."

"No prob. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yep. Bye."

"Bye, Gabs."

Gabriella smirked as she hung up the phone. Taylor and Chad made a really cute couple.

"Kinda like me and Troy. Whoa! Where'd that come from? I don't like him like that do I? Even if I did, he doesn't feel the same way."

Gabriella sighed. Being around Troy would be a little more awkward now.

♪

Nothing exciting.

Jay