Author's Note: Hey guys!! I know, I know I hate fillers too but this is in a way a filler, depending how you look at it. Anyway thanks for your support, Love you guys 3

Summary: After the call backs, Troy and Gabriella's relationship begins to blossom. But Sharpay wants Troy, and the part of Minnie. Will Troy and Gabriella be able to pull through? Or will Sharpay succeed?

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Milk Duds

Chapter 12

Troy tried his hardest to concentrate on his studying but something kept blocking his mind. He tapped his pencil gently on the desk occasionally bringing it up for a nibble. He felt like a first grader again. The test wasn't until next Tuesday but he wanted to be prepared. He wanted to go on the trip and he would get suspended from the Basketball Team if he failed this test. Having your dad as the coach had disadvantages as well.

He took his little orange basketball and threw it into the hoop hanging from his closet door. Swish! The ball went in as his dad opened this door.

"I see your studying is going well," His dad said with a sarcastic smile.

Troy smiled back as he went back to his work.

Troy's dad walked over to his desk as he bent down and patted him on the shoulder.

"I'm really proud of you son," He said smiling and leaving before Troy could reply.

Troy continued to study as his cell phone rang.

He answered it as he scrolled to see who it was.

"Hey wildcat," Sharpay said.

Gabriella used to call me that, thought Troy zapping himself back to Sharpay.

"Hey my little drama queen," Troy said back as Sharpay laughed.

"Listen, my uncle owns this new night club in Santa Fe. It's the grand opening this weekend, you wanna come with me? It will be a lot of fun..." Sharpay said waiting for an answer.

"Ca-can I call you back?" Troy asked bitting his lip, un-able to make a decision. "I have to ask," Troy lied.

"Sure talk to you later baby, kisses!" Sharpay hung up.

Troy placed his cell phone back on the desk

Saturday, Saturday, he said over and over again in his mind. He knew that if he wanted to pass this test he had to study through the entire weekend, which meant...no party.

But, Troy so badly wanted to go, especially with Sharpay. It sounded like so much fun. What was a guy to do?

—

Sharpay wasn't in Mr. O'Falley's 5th period Social Studies class. Thank god. Thought Gabriella. More Sharpay for her to see. Gabriella gently sat her books down on her desk She walked up with her essay in hand to Mr. O'Falley's desk. She dropped the stapled group of papers down on his desk and waited for a reply. Mr. O'Falley scanned the first page and dropped it down on his pile of loose papers and gave Gabriella a nod.

Gabriella turned around and began to walk down to her seat with a look of anger spread wide across her face at Abigail who happened to walk in at that moment. Abigail ran off to her seat, looking fearfully at Gabriella.

Great, now she think's I'm evil, Gabriella thought rolling her eyes and returning to her seat.

"Now class!" Mr. O'Falley walked sternly around the room. "I want to make sure you all knew about our test next Tuesday, which counts for half your grade!" Mr. O'Falley looked at Troy who sunk in his seat with embarrassment.

Mr. O'Falley wandered off topic for the rest of the period. Gabriella looked up at him making sure she never went off to daydream. She didn't want to write another essay.

Finally the bell rang as everyone escaped the classroom. Gabriella rushed to French, Abigail stopped to talk to Mr. O'Falley for a moment.

Gabriella hurried to her seat as she quickly grabbed out her homework as their teacher went around checking it.

Abigail sat down furiously in her seat as she wrote something on a post-it and stuck it to her binder.

"Hey Abigail," Gabriella said cautiously.

Abigail ignored her.

Mrs. Koppi began to speak. Abigail looked like her head was about to pop off.

Finally she began to write some conjugations up on the board. So the two had a chance to talk.

"Abigail...what's wrong?" Gabriella asked leaning into her desk.

"Mr. O'Falley that's what's wrong!" Abigail grumbled.

"Bad chat with him I see," Gabriella said.

"YES!" Abigail sank back in her seat and was quiet for the rest of the lesson.

—

Gabriella made her way to the lunch room and sat down at the table not saying a word. Sharpay and Troy were there exchanging milk duds.

"And one milk dud for you!" Sharpay cooed popping a tiny milk dud in Troy's mouth.

"And one for you!" Troy did the same for her as the gang watched in disgust.

"Okay could you guys like stop with the 'milk dud kisses,'" Chad said irritated as the two went on with their lunch.

Gabriella turned around to face the normal chaos in the lunchroom. She noticed Derek heading her way she smiled brightly and gave a sweet wave.

"Hey guys," Derek said greeting the table as everyone greeted him back. "Hey Gabriella," He said smiling down at her as she smiled back.

Troy winced.

"Gabriella, could you help me with something in the gym? It would only take a few," Derek pleaded.

"Sure, be back in a second guys," Gabriella said getting up and leaving.

After they two had gone of the gang began to talk.

"What's going on with them?" Chad asked.

"They're dating, didn't you know?" Taylor whispered. Chad shrugged his shoulders and went on with his lunch.

"They are?" Sharpay said smiling, knowing that this would draw Gabriella further away from Troy.

Taylor nodded, as she also continued with her lunch.

"So Troy, you make a decision on the party on Saturday?" Sharpay asked caressing his cheek.

"Uh...no," Said Troy looking away.

"You better hurry, this party is very exclusive," Sharpay said making sure everyone at the table heard her.

They all rolled their eyes.

"I will, I will," Troy said digging into his lunch.

—

Derek and Gabriella entered the empty gym giggling.

"Okay Derek, what's the problem here?" Gabriella asked.

"There is none," Derek said with a mischievous smile.

Gabriella quickly jolted for the basketball in Derek's hand and began dribbling it up and down the court. Derek came running after her as he picked her up. He grabbed her by the waist and spun her around as she yelped joyfully.

Mr. Bolton snuck in through the back entrance of his office leading to the gym to see what was all the noise. He saw a medium sized boy. With dirty blond hair, flinging around a dark haired girl. Somehow this scene seemed familiar to him. The boy turned around and to his surprise it wasn't Troy as he would of expected it to be.

Derek immediately stopped and put Gabriella back on the ground as she brushed herself off.

"Sorry Mr. Bolton," Gabriella said meekly.

"Yeah sorry coach," Derek said as they both headed out.

"Wait," Mr. Bolton said raising his hand.

"Mr. Bale, please come here," Derek waved to Gabriella as she ran out.

Derek ran towards Coach Bolton's office stiffly.

"Take a seat," Mr. Bolton offered as Derek sat down.

Mr. Bolton sat down himself.

"I see you were with Ms. Montez there Mr. Bale," He said as Derek shook his head.

"Yes sir,"

"The point I'm getting at here Derek is that a girl can't take over your entire life. The past couple of weeks I've seen your game play has been worsening." He said with concern.

"I know, I know but-" Derek said trying to get his point across.

"Derek, I'm afraid if your grades continue to stay this low and if your game play does not improve...you will be kicked off the basketball team and you will not be permitted to go on the Senior trip to Washington D.C." He said sternly.

"But, you don't understand!" Derek whined.

"Yes I do Mr. Bale, I was a teenager too once. I do understand how hard it is to keep up your grades, your extra-curricular activities and your social life. But, I've learned that sometimes it gets too much and you have to drop something," Mr. Bolton said sighing. "You may go now," He said softly as Derek angrily got up and left.

—

Derek stormed down the halls mumbling to himself. He stopped by his locker and furiously opened it grabbing books out.

Gabriella leaned up against the locker next to his calmly greeting him.

"What's wrong?" She asked curiously.

Derek slammed his locker closed.

"Stupid Mr. Bolton think's I'm doing horrible in school and in basketball so he says if I don't start improving, I'll be kicked off the basketball team and I won't be able to go on the Washington trip!"

Gabriella just looked at him with concern.

"He's just mad at me because now you're going out with me and not stupid Troy," Derek murmured.

"What did you say?" Gabriella asked, her anger rising.

"Nothing, nothing," Derek said knowing he would not get away with this.

"Don't you ever say anything like that about him ever again!" Gabriella shouted. She had no idea what came over her but it felt good.

"S-S-orry Gabriella," Derek said nervously.

Gabriella sighed as she put her arm around him as they walked off to class.

—

Troy went to the library during free period that day to start studying for the big test. He had never studied so hard in his life. Come to think of it, he had hardly ever studied in his life.

He really needed to face it. He needed help. But who to turn to? He had an idea, but he knew Sharpay would not like this.

Troy decided to keep his little studying ideas to himself. Prior they work. At the end of the day Troy raced up to Gabriella's locker, he had rehearsed what he was going to say all day to himself.

"Gabriella, hey," He said calmly.

"Hi, Troy," Gabriella seemed surprised to see him. He wouldn't blame her. "Troy not to be rude or anything but, do you need something?" Gabriella asked.

"Actually, yes." Gabriella looked shocked. "Listen Gabriella, I really, really want to get a good grade on Mr. O'Falley's test, and I figured you're the best one to help me," Troy pleaded.

"What about Sharpay?" Gabriella mumbled.

"What?" Troy obviously didn't hear her.

"Nothing, sure I'll help you," Gabriella said stiffly.

"Okay when should we start?" Troy asked.

"Why don't I come over right after school, that way we'll get started early," Gabriella suggested.

Although Troy hated studying on Fridays he went along with it.

"Sounds great, see you later," Troy said casually as he walked off.

—

Gabriella waited for Troy by the fountain outside of school. She tapped her foot and occasionally looked at her watch.

"Where is he?" Gabriella mumbled to herself as Troy came up behind her.

"Boo!" Troy yelled as Gabriella turned around with a jolt.

"Troy don't do that you scared me!" Gabriella said giving him a playful punch in the arm.

"Ow that hurt!" Troy said sarcastically, as the two began to walk to Troy's house.

—

The walk to Troy's house was usually quiet.

Troy finally decided to speak up.

"So, the play is coming up," he said nervously.

"Just realizing this Troy?" Gabriella giggled.

"Hey just making conversation here, don't see you doing it!" Troy laughed.

"But, the play seems so far off, I mean seems like just yesterday we did the call-backs and now..." Gabriella looked at her feet.

"And now..."Troy looked at her.

Gabriella was silent.

"And now we're here!" Gabriella cooed as they reached the Bolton residence.

They walked up the steps to the front door as Troy let her in.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Bolton," Gabriella said politely as Troy lead her upstairs.

They entered Troy's boldly colored bedroom.

"So what do you want to get started on first?" Gabriella asked.

"Everything," Troy sighed as Gabriella giggled.

—

"Okay Troy let's go over this one more time the Alamo took place where?" Gabriella asked sighing.

They had been studying for hours, nonstop.

"Um...Texas?" Troy said unsurely.

"Where in Texas?" Gabriella asked wanting more.

"Mineola Texas?" Troy said shrugging his shoulders.

"No Troy, San Antonio Texas!" Gabriella was losing her patience.

"Listen Gabriella, it's 10:00 at night. We're both tired and cranky. Why don't we call it a night. Huh?" Troy pleaded.

"But Troy you are so not ready for this test," Gabriella said pointing out the obvious.

"I know, I know. Hey if your not doing anything tomorrow, you can come over. If you want I mean," Troy said.

"I'm free but, aren't you going with Sharpay?" Gabriella asked pointing out the obvious again.

"Listen, this is more important than a stupid party. Please Gabriella," Troy begged.

"Okay, say I come around five-ish?" Gabriella asked.

"Sounds good to me," Gabriella said pulling the door open and beginning to walk out.

"And Gabriella?" Gabriella poked her head back in, "Thanks," Troy said.

Gabriella smiled and walked out.

Authors Note: Not much to say now...review lol