Am still not really getting into this story but am trying my very best. Sorry if it's a little short. The good stuff should be coming up in the next two chapters. Love Tink.xx

Gabriella enjoyed her morning immensely, it appeared that in the eyes of East High, as long as you were "pretty" you could still be a nerd, but also be accepted. It was as though a whole new world had opened up to her, guys were smiling at her, trying to flirt with her and she felt a like a kid in a candy shop. Although none of them could hold a candle to Troy, she had to admit she liked the attention she was getting, it felt nice. Best of all she discovered she shared Biology and History with Christian. However it was a little awkward, as she also shared them with Sharpay, who seemed intent on pushing them together, and was not being subtle about it.

"So Christian, Gabriella and I were wondering if you wanted to eat lunch with us? Meet the rest of the gang." Sharpay asked as they headed out the door at the end of third period.

He smiled easily, his eyes going to Gabriella's and she got butterflies in her stomach.

"That would be great"

"Fabulous" said Sharpay, noticing the way Christian looked at Gabriella.

He was definitely interested in her Sharpay decided. That should mix things up a little with Troy, she thought curious to see his reaction.

Gabriella strolled along the hall, looking at Christian from the corner of her eye as he chatted to Sharpay. He was cute, very cute and she could do a lot worse than like him, he seemed so genuine. But she was confused, if she loved Troy so much, how could she feel attracted to Christian? The plan was supposed to make Troy see her as potential girlfriend material but now she was having second thoughts. It was wrong to use Christian to make Troy like her, she wouldn't like it and didn't think she could do that to him. She was beginning to like him and didn't want to mess anything up.

Deciding she would speak to Sharpay about it as soon as they were alone, she took a seat next to Christian, waiting for the gang to join them, as she turned to Christian and asked him about his day so far.

Troy and Chad entered the hall and right away Troy spotted Gabi giggling with Christian. His gut tightened as she laughed at something he said, he had never seen her look so happy. Part of him was pleased she had found someone she liked and part of him didn't like it at all. He was so used to having Gabi all to himself, to being the only guy in her life and now there was competition. He didn't like how that made him feel.

Gabriella looked up with a smile as he approached and Troy found himself again thinking how pretty she was without her glasses.

"Hey, there you are… Christian this is my other best friend Troy Bolton" she introduced them, somewhat nervously.

Troy shook his hand "Hey dude"

Gabriella smiled nervously, half of her wanting Troy to be consumed with jealously the other half, wanting his approval. She listened for a second as they talked about school and where he was from, all the usual small talk but she couldn't tell what Troy was thinking either way. He seemed his usual friendly self, even entering into a debate about which basket ball team was better The Lakers or The Celtics.

Troy caught Gabi's eye as he talked with Christian, he knew she was waiting for him to tell her what he thought. She looked so nervous, chewing her bottom lip and once again pushing her invisible glasses up her nose. Knowing it meant a lot to her and not wanting to disappoint her, he winked quickly and gave her a little half smile.

Gabriella caught the wink and breathed a small sigh of relief, so he seemed to think that Christian was okay, one of the good guys. But she found it very strange to see the two together, one so light, the other so dark. They almost typified the two halves of her heart but which half did she go with? Troy, the guy she had loved almost from the moment she met him but who didn't know she existed? Or Christian the new guy, who seemed to like her? It was all so confusing.

After lunch Gabriella found herself alone with Troy for a study period and she was desperate to know what he thought.

"So tell me, what did you think?"

Troy shrugged, keeping his voice casual "He seems ok"

"Do you think he likes me?"

"I think so"

"Really? How can you tell?" Gabriella felt giddy with excitement and a silly grin appeared on her face.

Troy wasn't enjoying the way this conversation was going, he didn't like to think about Gabriella with some guy, he didn't like to think of Gabriella with any guy, for that matter.

"Just the way he looked at you, the things he said. He asked me if you were seeing anyone" he admitted

Gabriella felt her heart stop and a huge grin break out across her face "He did? What did you say?"

Troy suddenly felt a little peeved by Gabriella's reaction and the devil got in him "I told him you were with me"

Gabriella stared at him, not sure if he was serious and if he was why he had said that. Her face was a study in shock. Why would he say something like that?

"You didn't" she muttered.

Troy nodded with a wicked grin and paused for a long time before saying.

"You're right, I didn't!"

"Troy!" she cried and slapped his chest "Christ Troy, why'd you say that?"

He shrugged, not sure why he had, it was something he wasn't ready to think about yet. He hadn't been able to help himself; he guessed part of him wanted to see her reaction.

"That's sooo mean Bolton"

"Relax Gab, I told him you weren't seeing anyone"

"Do you think he'll ask me out?"

Troy shrugged again and Gabriella wanted to strangle him for acting so blasé. Obviously he wasn't bothered that another guy was showing an interest and so suddenly she had made her choice. She was going to try and forget her feelings for Troy, forget the plan and move on, hopefully with Christian.

"Maybe, I don't know."

"Troy you are such a guy. Any girl would have got details, gotten it out of him"

He raised an eyebrow "Montez there are plenty of girls at East High that would tell you, they are glad I'm a guy"

"Troy! I don't need the details of your love life" she protested with a laugh, feeling a little warm, a hundred images of Troy chasing through her head.

"One day, you will thank me for them" he replied, thinking how much he enjoyed their conversations.

Gabriella was one of the only girls he knew that he could say that to, without her thinking he wanted to date her or sleep with her.

"That I seriously doubt Troy" she laughed to hide her embarrassment, it was bad enough being in love with the Troy but imagine him having sex was too much to handle.

"You never know, if things go well with you and that Christian guy . . ." he let his voice trail away

"Troy!" Gabriella cried flushed with embarrassment "I am not having this conversation with you!"

Troy chuckled at the expression on her face "Gabi are you embarrassed?"

"Of course I am! We don't talk about these things Troy, you're a guy"

"That's what they tell me" he confided with a wink, enjoying seeing her flustered and embarrassed.

"You are incorrigible . . . now about this assignment" she said trying to change the subject.

"Yep assignments… try to get Christian to ask you out" he deadpanned.

Gabriella smacked him again "Troy, will you please be serious!"

"I thought getting Christian to ask you out was serious"

"If you say one more thing" she threatened as closing her text book.

"Ok, ok . . . assignment … jeez"

He hung his head, eyes on his book and looked so innocent and contrite that Gabriella had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at him. Once more she found herself thinking how much she loved him and how futile it was to have feelings for someone who was your best friend.

Troy caught her staring at him and wondered about the wistful expression on her face.

"What's wrong? You look sad" he asked concerned.

"Just thinking that's all"

"About?" he prodded

"We'll always be friends right?" she sounded uncertain, even to her own ears.

"Sure we will, what's brought this on?"

Gabriella shrugged "I'm just thinking about the future is all . . . Promise me we'll always be friends Troy" she said urgently.

"Gab, are you okay?" he looked at her seeing the sadness in her eyes and he reached out, covering her hand with his own.

Gabriella shivered a little as his touch and turned her hand, palm up, under his, feeling his warm skin over hers. She looked up at him and met his eyes, wanting to lose herself in their deep blue depths.

"I'm fine Troy really" she assured him with a tremulous smile, the pain of loving him for so long, suddenly acute.

"You now I'm here for you don't you? If you ever need anything you can come to me" he said softly, all traces of his previous humor gone from his voice.

"Yeah, I need you Troy, need you to love me back" she thought to herself, desperate to open her mouth and say the words. Instead she nodded mutely, savoring the feel of his skin against hers as he held her hand in his.

"Okay now?"

"Yeah, thanks and sorry for being such a girl" she smiled, feeling bereft, as he removed his hand from hers.

"Well it's allowed from time to time, don't know if anyone bothered to tell you, but you are a girl" he said in conspiratorial whisper, earning a giggle as a reward.

"Didn't think you'd notice" she said only half joking.

"Oh I noticed and today, so did half the guys in East High"

Gabriella was thrilled at his words and she beamed. Troy had noticed her!

Troy was pleased to see her face light up, as he assured her that the guys of East High had noticed her. He'd been concerned, she seemed so up and down, so unlike the logical, rational, Gabriella he knew. One minute she was giggling and teasing him, the next she was quiet and withdrawn. He had the feeling she was worried how having a crush on Christian would affect their relationship. And if Troy was honest he still didn't like the fact Gabriella had a crush. Not that he was jealous in that way, but a part of him worried that he would be replaced. He was so used to being her confidant and her protector and didn't like the fact somebody else might take those roles. It was strange, in all the time he'd known her, he had never thought about her being with a guy, it just never crossed his mind because Gabriella never mentioned it. It was as though she were waiting for someone or something. Now suddenly she wanted someone and Troy didn't like it.

"Thanks Troy, what would I do without you" she said, not even wanting to consider the possibility.

"Probably work more and less play"

"Ah but what fun would it be without you?"

"You're right, playing with yourself isn't as much fun" he grinned wickedly and watched as Gabriella turned crimson.