Chapter Thirteen: Trouble Ahead

"Your never going to believe this!"

It was Monday, three days after her piano pratice with Ryan and Kelsi.

And Gabriella had something to tell her.

"What is it, Gabriella?" she asked.

"Sharpay found a new dance partner!" Gabriella said.

There was anger in her voice, and Haylie could only imgaine one person who'd be Sharpay's dance partner:

Troy.

"Oh, Gabriella...I'm sorry." Haylie replied, giving her friend a hug.

"Yeah, well..." Gabriella said, but she trailed off when Troy came over.

"Hey guys!" he replied, giving Gabriella a peck on the cheek and Haylie a smile.

Noone said a word to him, or Gabriella didn't return the kiss.

Troy noticed the cold shoulder, and he frowned.

"Guys...please. This isn't about Sharpay, is it?" he asked.

"What do you think this is about, Troy? Basketball?" Haylie asked, her voice raised.

Troy looked startled, and looked at Gabriella.

"Gabriella, I can..."

"Save it, Troy. If you wanted to end up with Sharpay, you should have told me instead of going behind my back! Come on, Haylie. Let's go find Kelsi and Taylor." Gabriella said, slamming her locker shut, and giving Troy one last glare.

"No wonder he's called 'Troy the basketball boy'!" Gabriella muttered angerily as she and Haylie pasted Ryan.

"Ryan! Hey!" Haylie replied.

Ryan looked at Gabriella.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Didn't you hear? Troy is Sharpay's new dance partner for the auditions!" Haylie explained.

Ryan's eyes widen.

"It's already happening, isn't it? So I was right. She had to place her paws on someone else's boyfriend." Ryan replied.

Haylie nodded.

"I'm afraid so. Now Gabriella won't talk to him, and frankly, neither can I."

Ryan looked at Gabriella as she talked to Taylor and Kelsi, shocked expressions were visable on their faces.

"Gabriella and Troy were super-couple. Now...their like Brad and Jennifer." Ryan explained.

"Excately. And if we don't do something..." Haylie started, but Ryan placed a finger on her lips.

"No. Remember what I said? Let Gabriella and Troy work this out, Haylie."

"But, you promised we'd help, Ryan!" Haylie said.

"I know, but maybe we shouldn't. There's a difference between helping and butting in, Haylie." Ryan explained, giving her a smile.

The bell rang, and Ryan walked off, anf Gabriella walked up to her.

"Your lucky to have Ryan in your life, Haylie. Atleast he doesn't go off with other girls." Gabriella told her as she made her way to first hour.

All through first hour, she couldn't believe the seperation that Gabriella and Troy went through. Now, she was just behind Gabriella, and not infront of Troy. Troy was behind Chad instead. At last, until a few minutes into the class, a note landed on her desk:

Haylie,

We need to do something! I can't take Gabriella's cold shoulder anymore, and I can't from you neither!

Troy

Haylie looked back at Troy, and he gave her a small wave. Finally, the bell rang, and Troy caught up with Haylie.

"Listen, about Sharpay...I don't want to lose Gabriella over some audition. Sharpay asked me too because she had a blow-out with Ryan, and Ryan won't be her partner anymore..and I don't want to lose you as a friend." Troy explained.

"Well, Troy, you shouldn't be saying this to me. What about Gabriella?" Haylie asked.

"But, I wanted to say this to you as well." Troy replied.

Haylie didn't respond until she gave him a smile.

This was why she liked Troy so much: he was hontest.

"Okay, I forgive you."

Troy sighed in relief.

"Alright..." he explained.

Haylie caught sight of Gabriella, and nodded at Troy.

"I think you should be able to catch her." Haylie replied as Troy ran up to catch up with Gabriella.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the shoulder, and it hissed, "Oh, no you don't!"

Haylie stared into the brown eyes of Sharpay Evans.

"Why aren't you Miss Cupid!" Sharpay explained.

"I'm..." Haylie said, but she winced at the pain of Sharpay's nails digging in her shoulder.

"You and my brother are behind this, aren't you? Your trying to get Troy and Gabriella back together!" Sharpay replied.

"Sharpay!"

Ryan walked up to his sister, and glared at her.

"Let Haylie go."

Sharpay released her grip, and looked at her brother.

"She's just doing something for the two of her friends who happen to be in love." Ryan said.

"What about me, Ryan? Where do I come in? My plan worked until Haylie had to ruin it!" Sharpay snapped.

"No, Haylie didn't ruin it. You never liked the fact that Haylie was here, and tried to steal the spotlight away from you, like Gabriella did."

Sharpay's eyes widen in shock.

"How dare you!" she screamed, and walked away in a mad huff.

Haylie was still attached to the wall when Ryan faced her.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Haylie responded by flinging into his arms, and cried.