(Sharpay POV)

Over the next couple months left of school, Troy, Gabriella and I started becoming known as the three musketeers. We were always with each other. We were each other's bestfriends and moral support. I even introduced them to my brother Ryan. At first I was really shy and awkward around Troy, to the point where Gabi had to force me to hangout with him. But it wasn't my fault. I wasn't used to hanging out with a guy all the time. So the first month or two after meeting officially meeting Troy and Gabi I wasn't really comfortable around Troy. I guess he noticed it too, because we started talking one night.

Flashback

We were hanging out at Gabriella's house. Gabi had gotten up to answer her house phone, leaving me and Troy all alone. It was really really awkward. A few minutes had passed by.

I stood up to look for Gabi. "Wow Gabi is taking forever, I'm gonna go look for her." I started walking away. "Wait," Troy said. I stoppped and turned around. "Do you like not like me Sharpay? Because you always seem uncomfortable around me. If you don't like me just say so."

"Of course not! I like you, like a friend like, it's just I don't know. I, nevermind that's too rude of me to ask," I said.

"No go ahead, ask me," Troy said. I gave him a uncertain look. "Okay, you said so. Well, are you gay Troy?" Troy froze. A good thirty seconds passed by, I instantly regretted saying it. I was about to apologize when Troy let out a huge laugh. "Ahahaha! Is that why you're so awkward around me? You thought I was gay?!" I gave a small nod. "Haha you crack me up Pay. Of course not. Not that there's anything wrong with gay people. I just don't roll that way."

I let out a relieved sigh and started laughing myself. "Well that's good. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I didn't think it was possible for a guy to actually like always hanging out with girls, without being gay." A gave him a bright smile. "And I'm sorry I've been so, you know, distant." He shrugged. "No problem Pay." I gave him a weird look. "What did you just call me?"

"Uhm, Pay? I won't call you that if you don't like it," he said. I let out a laugh. "Of course not, in fact I like it." We both blushed. Gabriella walked. "Sorry that took me forever guys. I was," she noticed us blushing. "What's going on?"

"Oh nothing. I just gave Sharpay a nickname." Troy explained. "It's Pay. I'm genius huh?" A let out a strangled laugh. "Uhuh, okay then." Gabi replied.

"Well let's choose a scary movie to watch Troy." I grabbed his hand and dragged him with me. Gabriella trailed along behind us with a somewhat worried expression.

End Flashback

From that moment on, Gabriella never left me and Troy alone by ourselves. At first I thought I was just being paranoid, but soon Troy noticed too. And Gabriella started changing. She started wearing alot of make-up and wore very revealing clothes. She even stopped trying out for plays, and she started actually doing bad in school. Like not D's and F's, but her average was like 3.0 when it used to be 3.8 and stuff. She flirted with all the guys, even Troy, and she'd get very mad and offended if Troy didn't like what she was wearing or doing. She started inviting over Troy but not me. I confronted her about it, and she shrugged it off. She insisted there was nothing wrong. I knew she was lying, but not wanting to go looking for trouble, I let it slide. I still noticed her dirty glares whenever we were with Troy, but whenever it was just me and her she was completely normal. The more she pushed Troy, the more he ran, and half the time he would run to me. In her attempts to get closer to Troy, he was getting closer to me. By the time 8th grade was coming to an end, I found my old crush for Troy starting up again. I would never admit it, just like how Gabi would never admit it either, but that changed.

Flashback to a month before school was over

"Oh my god I am soooooo happy school's almost over!" Gabi gushed. I liked it when it was just us, that was the only time Gabriella was herself nowadays. We were at my house, hanging in my basement which was huge. After all, we were the Evans, richest family in town, but I tried to not let anyone know. We were in my house's theater. Ryan was hanging out with us too. He clicked with Troy and Gabi almost as well as I did. We were all each others' best friend, and for some reason I didn't mind that Ryan was best friends with my friends. He was the closest thing to me. My parents were never home or around. So all Ryan and I had was each other.

Gabi turned over to Ryan. "Are you excited to go back to school? No more homeschooling!"

Ryan laughed. "Uhm I guess. I'm actually kind of nervous. I want to audition for theater, but I'm not sure."

Gabi looked at him in shock. "Of course you shouldn't tryout for theater! You'll be stuck with the label drama nerd or dork for the next four years of your life! You should tryout for baseball, Troy's friend Chad is going to too. I'll introduce you to him. He's really popular, that's why I introduced him to Troy, and they get along perfectly right Troy?"

Troy shrugged. "Eh I guess, he can be an asshole at times though."

I joined the conversation. "Wait, does this mean you're not going to tryout for theater or the school's scholastic decathlon team Gabi? You've always wanted to tryout for those things since you were like little."

Gabriella shot me a look of annoyance. "Like you would know what I've wanted since I was little. You've only known me for a couple months."

I gave her a hurt look. It actually really hurt me, she was my best friend and I couldn't believe she had said that. Troy gave Gabi a dirty look and started walking over towards me.

Gabi cut him off and sat right next to me. "Look I'm sorry okay? I didn't mean it to come out that harsh. I'm just not having a good day or something."

Troy scoffed. "Wow coming from the girl who was prancing around the room a minute ago yelling I love life."

"I was hyper! God Bolton." She looked at him. "What is wrong with you anyways? You've been defending Sharpay alot lately and never me! I've known you longer than she has. I've always been here for you. And little miss sunshine comes into our lives and you choose her over me?!"

I didn't like where this was heading. "Guys! We're all best friends. Troy would never choose me over you Gabi. I know you guys have been best friends for like ever, and I don't plan on ruining your friendship. At all. I just want to be a part of it."

Ryan backed me up. "Yeah guys, just cool it. Come on Troy, go with me upstairs and we'll get Chef Paulo to make us some food."

Troy followed Ryan without hesitation. I almost laughed at Troy's look of relief the moment Ryan suggested it. Gabi and I sat there in an awkward silence. I was silently thinking of ways to break the tension when Gabi turned around and looked at me.

"Look I am truly sorry. It's just that, nevermind." She looked away and started getting up. I pulled her back down. "What were you going to say Gabi? You know you can talk to me about anything. You're my best friend. You trust me don't you?"

She looked at me, and I was surprised to see tears starting to overflow. "It's just that. I don't know! You're my best friend Sharpay. The first girl best friend I've had since forever and I know you're not trying to ruin anything. But I'm not used to sharing Troy. When my dad left my mom and I, we had nothing. But then Mrs. Bolton helped us. She helped my mom get over the hurt, and Troy helped me."

I cut her off. "And as I've been saying for the past hour Gabi, I know. I would never try to break up your friendship. Everyone knows you and Troy are closer friends than me and him will ever be."

"I know that Pay. But that's all I am. I'm nothing more than a little sister to him, but he likes you more. Like the boy likes girl way. They way I want him to like me because I like him." She looked right into my eyes. I was a bit stunned. I've always had the theory of Gabi crushing on Troy a little, but not this deep or this intense. And I was really shocked that she actually admitted it.

"And the reason why I've been really bitchy to you lately is," she paused. I looked at her encouragingly. "Go ahead Gabi." She continued. "Is because I know Troy is starting to like you." I started to list reasons to why that is impossible. "Don't Pay. I know that you've noticed. Ever since you guys had that conversation at my house, you guys have been really close. Just answer my question. Just a simple no or yes. If this was true, would you start liking him?"

I felt my mouth moving but I couldn't utter a single word. She gave a sarcastic laugh. "I knew it, or wait. You've always liked him haven't you?"

I nodded. Gabriella just sat there. I didn't know what to do or say. I was just shocked and scared of what was to come. I braced myself for a dramatic scene, but to my surprise Gabriella started laughing. Like not a giggle, but to the point where I was afraid she was going to hurt herself.

"Haha wow. Can you believe it? Two best friends, liking the other best friend. How cliche. Come on admit Sharpay, it is a little funny in a ironic way."

I started laughing too. "Aha wow we're so not demented."

We continued giggling for a bit, but Gabi got all serious again. "Well whatever happens Pay, we cannot let this affect our friendship, no matter what. Whoever Troy chooses, the other must accept it and move on. No deciet, lies, tricks, or manipulating okay?" I nodded in an agreement. "You're totally right Gabi. In fact we should pinky promise." I smiled brightly. She returned it. "Pinky promise."

Just then Troy and Ryan walked in with big trays of food. Ryan looked at us and smirked at Troy. "See? I told you they would be friends again within an hour. That will be a buck please." We looked at Ryan in confusion. He calmly explained. "Troy and I decided to bet how long it would take you girls to be friends again. I said under an hour. Troy had absolutely no faith in you guys and bet otherwise."

"I did not! It's just that, you know, you girls can be you know, a little stubborn at times," he said sheepishly.

"Troy Bolton! You so did not call us stubborn!" Gabi and I yelled at the same time. We looked at each other and smiled. Troy froze. "Oh know, I know that smile to well, run!" Gabi and I chased Troy until we tackled him to the ground. We tickled him til he begged for mercy. Gabriella and I were out of breath and laughing by the time Ryan caught up.

Ryan stood in the doorway eating a cookie. "Like I always say, never mess with a girl or her emotions."

End Flashback