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Chapter 19 – The Truth

GABRIELLA found Taylor relatively easy during lunch the next day. She sat down beside her and took out her ham salad sandwich, though she didn't eat it. Her mind was on Troy, it was his birthday today, she had forgotten about it, until she woke up this morning and she had his present ready for him.

"Hey Gabriella, why aren't you eating?" Taylor queried as she bit into her apple.

"Um…I'm not really hungry." Gabriella murmured.

"So have you completed your English assignment?" Taylor asked, the truth was, she was stalling, now that Gabriella was in front of her she found it a little harder to talk. Even though she had spent most of the night running through what she'd say to Gabriella with Chad, the two of them were exhausted.

When Taylor had woke up she was curled up against Chad, they had both fallen asleep.

"Well I haven't done much, 'Gabriella said a little confused, breaking Taylor from her reverie, "I've been thinking about it though."

"Hmm, well it doesn't have to be in for at least two months. We've got plenty of time." Taylor said.

"Look Taylor, did you ask me to meet you here to talk about the English Assignment?" Gabriella queried laughing.

Taylor's soft smile dropped and she looked down at her milk carton with a enigmatic expression her face.

"You…you said it was important." Gabriella exclaimed.

"I know, 'Taylor put her apple down on the table, she felt sick, she wished Chad was with her, "Well…you see, you know how Troy said those things right?"

Gabriella nodded, confused, she didn't know what she was talking about but she could sense that Taylor was nervous about what she was about to saying.

"Well, it was my fault…and Chad's too."

"What do you mean?" Gabriella frowned.

"Well, we thought that a jock and a nerd together…well it wasn't right and so we made this plan to split you up. We knew that if Troy was under pressure he'd say things that weren't entirely true. I led you down to Troy on purpose, so you'd hear what Troy had to say. We planned it all along and, I'm sorry." Taylor explained looking upset.

Gabriella stopped, "How dare you lie about something like that? Did Troy put you up to this?" She demanded.

"No! I don't even like Troy! I'm concerned about you Gabriella. He loves you and you love him. He wants you to get back together with him so much and I'd never lie about it. Troy didn't put me up to this; I'm telling you the truth." Taylor protested, her eyes flashing with anger.

"I can't believe you, I won't believe you, and even if you did do it, no – one made Troy say those things. He had a choice; he was just too involved in his reputation to stand up for me like a good boyfriend." She said coldly.

"Don't you understand? We id everything! Chad said a few hurtful things about Gabriella before Troy even said anything. He knew that Troy would continue it but he didn't mean it." Taylor said.

Gabriella stood leaving Taylor alone but Taylor stood and grabbed her hand quick.

"Hey, don't go. There's still so much to explain." Taylor said.

"I don't want to listen anymore. I have things to do and I have my miserable life to lead!" Gabriella said and she tore her arm away from Taylor's and walked off, Chad suddenly walked across to Taylor who sunk back down into her seat. He had seen the entire exchange and it hadn't looked very pretty.

"What happened?" Chad asked the pretty young nerd beside him.

"Well let's just say, their not going to get back together if we don't do something soon. Gabriella doesn't really believe me." She replied.

Chad shook his head, "Or maybe she does but…she's still hurting."

"Chad, we have to do something." Taylor said.

"Okay, well I've got an idea." Chad said brightly.

Taylor edged closer to him looking eager, "Okay, go for it." She said smiling.

"Well, straight after school we'll go to my house and we'll just talk." Chad said in a whisper like it was a secret.

Taylor giggled and Chad smiled, though he wasn't sure why?

"You idiot Chad, that's the big master plan?" She chuckled.

Chad looked dumfounded but nodded. Taylor laughed and shook her head standing up, she left him alone.

"So does that mean you're coming with me? We'll have to walk you know, I didn't bring my car." Chad called after her desperately.

"Goodbye Chad." Taylor answered and Chad laughed and looked down on the half apple she had left on her tray, picking it up he took a bite and stood up, anxious to see her again.

WHEN Troy arrived home he found a small parcel by the door, he picked it up and examined it. It was addressed to him. Curiosity enveloped him and he opened the parcel quick and was staring down at a frame picture of Gabriella and himself! It had been taken to years ago before Troy had even liked Gabriella. They had both won a certificate for services to their school and somehow Gabriella had found the picture. It was a nice picture, both of them holding their certificates in front of them, there was nothing very romantic about the picture, although it made Troy smile to see them beaming up at him, just the two of them.

Mrs Bolton smiled warmly at her son, "Oh looks it's the birthday boy." She crooned.

Troy frowned at his mother but Mrs Bolton didn't seem to notice, the real question was whether she wanted to.

"Are you ready for your birthday dinner tonight?" She asked her son.

"No!" Troy said dully.

"Have you invited Gabriella?" Mrs Bolton questioned.

Troy shook his head, his face grew even more dejected and he looked up at his mother with sorrowful eyes.

"Why not?"

"We're not together anymore Mom, its over." He said, he sounded like he was in pain, his eyes were filled with pain and his body became lifeless and limp.

"How? What happened?" Mrs Bolton asked putting an arm around her son, he looked so upset.

"I said some hurtful things Mom and I've paid for it. She doesn't want me anymore." Troy said sulkily.

"Oh honey, 'Mrs Bolton hugged her son, "I'm so sorry. What you said…was…it bad?" She questioned.

Troy nodded, "It was pretty mean. In fact I should never have said it, because it was all a lie. I…I love her." He exclaimed.

"What will you do now?" Mrs Bolton asked, her eyes were trained on her son who was looking down on Gabriella in the picture.

"I've been trying to win her back for ages; she's just so determined to stay away from me!" Troy protested.

"Well, you'll have to try harder. There are ways to win her back, you just need to think, think of what makes her happy. What means something to her? You know her well, you'll figure it out." His mother told him.

He followed his mother into the kitchen and watched her stir a large saucepan with curry juice. She came and sat beside him holding up a book, only by the fact that Troy had seen the book so many time was he able to recognise it immediately.

"Why are you reading 'Romeo and Juliet' Mom?" Troy inquired.

"I'm taking part in an adults play. I'm Lady Montague." She said cheerfully.

Troy rolled his eyes; he hardly wanted to think of the book, his mind was on Gabriella's book that sat on his bedside table. But his face brightened when an idea came to him…and it might just work!

GABRIELLA was on her way to Chad's that night to demand an explanation about Taylor's lie. They were supposedly in 'the plan' together so if Chad couldn't recollect what Taylor had told her she'd know what Taylor had said was a lie.

She was about to knock on the front door when she heard a noise coming from the back garden. She peeked her head around the wall and found Taylor and Chad lying in a hammock.

They were talking…about Gabriella and Troy.

"What are we going to do then? If Gabriella didn't believe you?" Chad asked, his body movement was swinging them back and fore, they lay beside each other, trying not to touch one another, thought they both looked timid.

"I don't know, Chad, we shouldn't have even attempted to split them apart. Have you seen how hurt they both are?" Taylor said.

"I know but we've tried and Gabriella didn't believe us. What more can we do?" He thought for a moment before he said, "Maybe I should tell Troy."

Taylor sat up in surprise and the hammock nearly toppled but while Chad laughed Taylor looked upset.

"Chad, he'd kill you!" She said quickly.

"It doesn't matter; we should pay for what we've done." Chad said but Taylor threw her arms over him and sobbed into his chest.

"No Chad, don't…if you got hurt…I'd never forgive myself. I care about you." She said and suddenly they fell silent.

The jock and nerd looked at each other softly and suddenly Chad reached down and brushed his lips against Taylor's once. He then pecked her forehead warmly and wrapped his arms around her feeling her head resting on his torso.

Gabriella began walking home, she was shocked, what Taylor had told her had been real and she felt a strange mixture of hatred for them and a strong respect.

She got home and climbed into bed not bothering to eat but filled with an empty illness…she just wanted sleep.

A VERY strange tapping woke Gabriella up a few hours later, it was dark now and the tapping seemed to be coming from her balcony. She opened the door and peered down and there was Troy standing on the ground looking up at her imploringly…

Ooh, so what does Troy want? Makes you want to know huh? Say what you think he's going to do…I can tell you all, some are going to be surprised, but some of you may have caught on!

Review everyone! xoxMusicalxox