So, it's been a while. I know. But I have missed you all so much. School has just been kicking my butt.

Anyways, here it is. I know it's shorter then normal. But I might have a suprise for you this week....

"Move."

Gabi's hand froze as it reached into her locker. Taylor was standing next to her, talking about her ideas for this years yearbook. She hadn't heard that voice. But Gabi had. And she knew that voice, she had just never heard that tone before. It was cruel, uncaring, cold.

"I said move!" This time, everyone in the hall heard that voice. Silence fell as the crowd turned to look towards the front doors of the school.

Standing there, dressed in black from head to toe, save for the ruby red glittering off his championship ring, his eyes dark, his hands curled into tight fists by his side, stood Troy.

"You there," Troy pointed a small freshmen wearing a Wildcats shirt, "carry my shit." Without waiting for a reply, Troy chucked his backpack and gym duffle at the kid.

"Let's go." Troy started walking down the hall, his eyes looking around him as the students parted, leaving a clear path down the middle for Troy to walk through, the poor freshmen scurrying behind him. Coming up behind the freshmen, shaking his dark curly head, was Chad.

Gabi didn't turn around, not wanting to see Troy like this. She knew when he was approaching where she stood, the students around her backing away from him. She felt his eyes drill into the back of her head as he passed.

"Hey babe." Chad murmured as he came to stand next to Taylor, giving her a soft kiss on the check.

"What the hell is going on?" Taylor asked, gesturing towards Troy's repeating back.

"I don't know." Chad said. "I picked him up this morning and this was how he was acting." Chad was careful not to look at Gabi as he said this.

"This was how he acted when – " Taylor started to ay but was quickly shushed by Chad who was nodding towards Gabi.

Gabi, who couldn't even look away from her locker, scared for her friends to see her tear stricken face, unable to look down the hall where Troy could be seen throwing his things into his locker.

"I'll uh, see you guys in class." Gabi said, trying to sound cheerful. "I just got to run to the bathroom real quick." Gabi spun away and walked quickly down the hall, her eyes glued to her feet.

"Hey." Kelsi said to Gabi as she dropped her stuff into her seat.

"Hey." Gabi replied, looking down at the petite girl. "Have you seen Ryan this morning?"

"Not yet," Kelsi replied. ""He wasn't in the music room"

"Kels!" Gabi exclaimed, "We haven't even had callbacks yet! What were you doing in the music room?"

"Um.." Kelsi blushed and looked towards the window. "I was just practicing"

At those words, Jason walked into homeroom looking a little dazed, hair all messed up, and lipstick smudges on his neck. When he saw Kelsi, his eyes lit up.

"Hey you." He whispered into Kelsi's ear as he came up behind her, kneeling down to her level. "Thanks for letting me watch you 'practice'." Jason said, making air quotes on the word 'practice'.

Kelsi blushed before giving him a chaste kiss on the lips as Gabi giggled.

"Ugh." Kelsi said. "He needs to learn to be more discreet."

"You do realize that you're dating Jason." Gabi asked teasingly. "Jason Cross?"

"Oh shush." Kelsi said. "On a different note, did you hear what happened with Troy this morning?"

"Um, no." Gabi replied. "What happened?"

"Apparently he flipped out when he go tot school and was mean and different when eh walked in."

"I didn't even notice." Gabi said, pretending to look for something in her bag so she wouldn't have to look at Kelsi.

"Uh uh." Kelsi said.

Gabi pulled out her notebook and began to read yesterday's notes, trying to ignore Kelsi's pointed looks. It didn't help that the rest of the class was slowly coming in, all of them talking about Troy's new attitude.

"Uh oh." Kelsi whispered. "Incoming ice storm."

Gabi looked up as a sparkling pink shoe reached her desk.

"Hey Sharpay." Gabi said.

"Yeah, whatever. Listen." Sharpay said as she looked at her nails. "Ryan told me to tell you that he isn't going to be coming into school today. Doctor's appointment. He tried to call you but you didn't pick up."

Gabi reached back down into her bag and pulled out her cell phone. 3 missed calls, Ryan.

"Oh, thanks Sharpay."

"Yeah, like I said. Whatever." Sharpay turned and walked away, her pink sparkly high heels clicking as she headed to her desk.

A loud bang echoed through the suddenly silent classroom as Troy shoved opens the door, causing it to bounce off the wall.

"Really Mr. Bolton!" Ms Darbus said, "Was that nec-" her voice faltered off as Troy shot her a look, his glare stopping her words in her throat.

No one moved, all afraid of where his glare would be directed next. Only Gabi moved, tearing her eyes away from him to stare down at her notebook. For once she was glad she sat in the back.

Troy walked over to his desk, motioning for the freshmen to place his bag next to him. The young boy did so, quickly backing away and running out the door. Chad and Taylor walked in right after, exchanging quick glances as they realized that their homeroom was silent.

Chad walked over to Troy and stared down at him. Troy refused to look up.

"Dude." Chad said softly, giving the rest of the room a look as everyone suddenly pretended to not be staring and trying to listen in.

"So, Martha." Taylor said loudly, trying to cover up Chad's conversation "What did you do last night?"

"Dude." Chad repeated, lightly taping Troy on the shoulder.

Troy's head jerked upward, giving Chad the same look he had given Ms. Darbus.

"Don't even try it man." Chad said lightly, "You've been giving me that look ever since I stole your animal crackers in Kindergarten."

Troy's shoulder's relaxed a little, his eyes stopped glaring.

"Sorry." Troy muttered.

"It's okay dude. Just…" Chad's voice trailed off as he leaned forward and began whispering in his ear. Troy nodded once and then slapped Chad on the shoulder.

The whole class relaxed at the sight of its hero not wanting to kill anyone. Gabi let out the breath she was holding; unaware she had been doing it.

The bell rang then, signaling the beginning of homeroom.

Gabi slowly gathered her books, not sure how to handle the situation. She was sure that Troy would be standing outside the classroom, waiting to talk to her. She just wanted to get to lunch without incident. She had managed to ignore Sharpay and not talk to Troy. She had managed to avoid him the whole morning, not talking to him in AP Calc and leaving before he could even get up from his chair. But he had Physics now, which was only two doors down from her AP US History class. Dam it! Why hadn't she been watching the clock?

Taking a deep breath she walked out the door, looking around him. But when she saw him, she couldn't believe what was happening.

Right there, in the middle of the hallway, stood Troy. His arms were wrapped around Sharpay's waist. Her hands were running through his hair. And his lips were pressed up tightly against hers. And everyone was staring.

Gabi gasped. She could feel her heart breaking into a thousand pieces and falling right there onto the hallway floor. Her hands started to shake so badly that her books slipped through her fingers and crashed onto the ground. She spun away, and took off sprinting down the hall blindly bumping into people, tears streaming down her face.

Taylor looked up when she heard the books crash. She had been staring open-mouthed at the spectacle before her, unable to comprehend what was happening. The sound of the books had knocked her out of her daze. She saw Gabi sprint down the hall, her curly brown locks bouncing as Gabi ran, crashing into people as she ran.

Chad had heard the crash too but hadn't been able to look away. One second he and Troy had been talking calmly about basketball, the next Troy had sprinted ahead and grabbed someone's wrist. Chad had thought it was Gabi and was about to run after Troy. Troy knew he shouldn't do that. But then Chad had froze. Because that girl, the one that Troy had pinned up against the locker, looked weird. Her hair was the wrong color. It wasn't a deep chocolate. It was a shinny blond. Her shoes weren't sensible, and what Taylor would call 'cute'. They were shiny, pink, and looked painful. What was going on?

Troy heard the gasps, especially Gabi's but refused to look around. If this was the way she wanted to play it, that was how it was going to be. Besides, this was better for both of them. That was what Gabi said.

"I don't get it." Taylor was saying to Chad as they sat at their lunch table watching Troy and Sharpay make googly eyes at each other. "Tell me again what happened."

"Okay." Chad said, popping a fry into his mouth. "Well Sharpay was talking to Troy earlier about how her dad hadn't seen a lot of Troy recently, and how the Redhawks wanted to see Troy come around and how her dad would love to help him out with that."

"Okay, but Sharpay does that all the time." Taylor said. "She always talks about the Redhawks with Troy. She is always trying to bribe him…" Taylor's voice trailed off. "She keeps bribing him. And finally, Gabi's pushed him away. But he's never fallen for it before. I don't get it!"

Chad bit his lip and looked away. "Um, Tay…"

"What did you do Chad Danforth?"

"I might have pushed him a little."

"To Sharpay?!?!" she screeched. "Why would you push him to her?"

"I didn't mean to!" Chad said while trying to dodge Taylor's hands. "All I said was that it was time for him to move on. That maybe he should forget about Gabi."

"But not move on like that! Not onto Sharpay!"

"I know." Chad said while staring at Troy across from the table. "I know."

"I've got to find Gabi." Taylor stood and pushed her tray away. "Watch him. Make sure he doesn't do something stupider."

"Stupider then this?" Chad yelled after her as she walked away. "What can be stupider then this?"

"I have no idea." Zeke muttered from his other side, as Kelsi laid a sympathetic hand on his back. "But I think I'm going to be sick."

"Me too." Chad said.

"Gabi?" Taylor called out into the dark auditorium. "You in here?"

"Back here." Taylor heard Gabi sniffle from the last row.

"I went to the roof top but you weren't there." Taylor whispered as she walked along the row.

"Too painful." Gabi whimpered.

"It's okay. I understand." Taylor took a seat next to Gabi.

"Why?" Gabi cried, her head cradled in her hands. "Why did he do this?"

"Because you said no." Taylor said. "You pushed him away."

"But to her? I didn't push him to her."

"No, but she was there. Waiting with open arms, a willing body, and the scholarship."

"I hate him."

"He has to prove to himself that he doesn't need you." Taylor said soothingly. "Which he does." She finished under her breath.

Gabi laughed. "Clearly not."

"You wait, he'll come back."

"I shouldn't want him too."

"Of course not. But you do."

Gabi didn't reply, looking down at the floor.

"He'll be back. He's doing this to hurt you. But it'll hurt him too."

"And I'm with Ryan now."

"That'll make some awkward dinners."

Gabi laughed weekly. "Thanks for being friends with such a mess."

"Of course girl. Dumb boys. They are still just lunkheaded basketball players."

"Troy! Wait up." Chad called as Troy walked out of their AP US Gov class.

"What's up man?" Troy said, flashing a smile at a couple of junior girls who were walking by. Two of them giggled, the third raised her eyebrows and smiled back, her eyes traveling all over his body.

"What's up? Are you shitting me?" Chad asked, staring at Troy who was staring after the three girls as they walked down the hall.

"Dam, did you see the ass on that one?" Troy asked, leering at them.

Chad's jaw dropped. "What?"

Troy turned towards Chad. "The ass on that girl. Holy fucking shit. It was nice. What's her name?"

"What do you mean what's her name? Why do you care what her name is?"

"We should invite her to the party we are having for Taylor's birthday."

"Why would we do that?" Chad shook his head in disgust. "I don't even know if you're still invited to that." He mumbled under his breath.

"Ha!' Troy laughed out loud. "Like someone could have a party at this school and not invite me? Don't be ridiculous." Troy turned and started to walk towards his locker. Chad hurried to catch up.

"Troy," Chad hesitated, unsure of how his words would come out, "what happened today?"

"What do you mean?" Troy asked over his shoulder, walking through the crowded halls as a path cleared for him.

"You know," Chad said, hurrying to catch up to him "with Sharpay." He whispered.

"Yo, that girl got a fine ass too." Troy said, chuckling as they reached his locker.

"Okay, but why did you kiss her?!?!?!" Chad's teeth were clenched together, hissing his words so that only Troy could hear.

"Well," Troy said casually as he slammed closed his lockers and turned towards Chad, "now that she's my girlfriend, I think I have a right to kiss her."

Chad was speechless as he stared at his best friend. "You- you- you asked out the Ice Queen?" he sputtered.

"Well, I figured it would be more polite to have sex with her that way." Troy winked obnoxiously as a couple of the cheerleaders walked past. Most of them giggled or smiled back, tossing their hair or starting to strut. Only Martha looked disgusted. Chad shook his head at her and shrugged his shoulders. Troy laughed again.

"Look man," Chad said, "I wish I understood what was going through your head right now. I mean, after last night, when Taylor and I came to get you-"

Troy spun and slammed Chad into the wall, staring at the darker skinned boy as pain and anger slashed through his ocean colored eyes. "You are never to repeat that again. To me or to anyone. Ever again. Do you get me?"

Chad stared back, his own face forming a scowl as he starred at what was left of his best friend. "Yeah. I get you."

"Good." Troy said. He turned and started to walk down the nearly empty hallways towards the front doors. "You coming?"

"No thanks." Chad answered. "I told Taylor I would go over to her house."

"Whipped." Troy said.

Chad just shook his head. "Can I ask you one last thing?"

"Sure." Troy responded, busy texting on his cell. "What?"

"What about Zeke?" Chad questioned, a hard edge appearing in his voice. "You know, your friend Zeke. Who's been in love with Sharpay since forever?"

"Look!" Troy yelled. "She doesn't want him. Just like Gabi doesn't want me! Okay? She doesn't want me! And Sharpay does! And so does most of the female population in this school."

"What does that mean?" Chad yelled back. "What does that matter? That hasn't mattered to you since the beginning of junior year."

"Exactly." Troy whispered, his voice carrying down the vacant hall. "The old Troy is back boys. Get ready to party."

"What about Sharpay?" Chad questioned, desperate for anything that would hold Troy to some sense, anything that would make him stop, calm down, or see reason.

"What about her? I'll do what I want. She should just be grateful." Troy pushed open the door. "If you need me, I told Tracy I would come over. She and some of her friends wanted my opinion on their party outfits. Apparently, thy can't decide which color underwear to wear." Troy snickered. "Catch you later."

Chad watched the door bang close as he pulled out his cell. "Tay, it's worse then it looks. Remember sophomore year? Yeah, it's going to be like that."

So, let me know if you missed me. Lol.