A/N: This is in Gabriella's point of view unless I say otherwise. I just don't want anyone to get confused. I'll tell you when it changes back and forth. There are some things I need to use other peoples point of views for. But if me saying this right now if confusing you that forget I wrote it because I'm confusing myself. Whoa!

Chapter 5

The next day I had been trying to avoid Chad as he had seemed quite angry and mad at me after the whole ordeal yesterday. I just couldn't possibly handle that at the moment. Not after how much I had put Troy through yesterday. So for today I made sure he never saw me with Alexander which was easy since Alexander wasn't even in this class of mine. Luckily we don't have all the same classes together.

I never wanted this to happen and now I wish I could go back in time and change the past. Somehow, maybe I could have fixed this. But sadly it was way too late for 'what ifs'.

As I was about to walk out of the class as the lunch bell rang Chad came up behind me and grabbed my wrist, restraining me from leaving. I squirmed hopelessly but as I realised he wasn't budging I sat on the table and waited as the class cleared out.

In one of the back corners, and for the first time that day, I actually got a good look at Troy. And he was a complete and utter mess.

There he stood, back slouched as he slowly put things away in his bag in an exhausted manner and he seemed to have light bags under his eyes, his skin slightly paler but nothing unhealthy. Yet.

As he closed his bag and swung it around onto his shoulder he looked up and his eyes met mine.

Emotionless. That was the only way to describe the look he gave me and with a quick glance at Chad's hand around my wrist he walked out of the room, not once looking back. Not once was there an emotion that flashed across his face. What had I done to him?

"Is he okay?" I asked, staring desperately after him, wishing I could just hold him right now and try to make things better. Of only.

Chad looked at me in a 'you should already know' sort of way before he let go of my wrist and leaned against the table across from me.

"Oh that's just the way Sharpay likes her guys. He's probably going to go see her right now. Seems he's already moved on," he told her in a casual tone while examining his nails.

"What?" I breathed out. He was with Sharpay? Could my heart break any further? I guess so? Maybe Troy was better off, but it still hurt.

Chad analyzed my sullen expression for a moment before sighing in frustration. "You know, I really don't get you," he told her angrily.

"Huh?" I was completely confused.

"It's obvious you still love Troy. It was obvious by the look on you're face when I said he was with Sharpay. He's not, for you're information. He can't seem to get over you. And neither can you him. This was all just a test and I'm not so sure if you passed or failed. Guess it all depends on you prespective, right?" he asked her bitterly.

I didn't know what I was going to say. I didn't know what I could say. "Chad I-"

"Don't," he interrupted her fiercely. "You killed my friend and I want to know what is going on. Right now."

I felt tears rush up into my eyes as I looked away. "Chad, I never wanted this."

"Look, I just need you to tell me what's going on," he tried reasoning with me.

I sighed. "Only if you swear you won't tell anyone," I said desperately. No one else could know. No one.

Chad looked at me. "Gabriella tell me first and then I'll decide if or if not I'm not going to tell."

"Alexander and I, we're getting married," I told him simply, getting straight to the point.

"What?" Chad asked in disbelief. He seemed to think I was joking.

"Look, I think you should sit while I explain okay. This may take a while," I said.

He planted his butt down without a second thought and looked at me pointedly as I gazed at him.

"You know when I broke up with Troy, right?"

"Oh you mean on you're anniversary?" he rolled his eyes bitterly.

"Chad, please. Just hear me out," I begged and seeing how desperate I was he merely nodded with a sigh.

"The night before I broke up with him, my parents came into the room and the told me about my marriage to Alexander. My arranged marriage," I added quickly making sure he understood. He remained silent so I continued.

"I don't know, I guess I should have tried harder to get out of it but I'm not a good fighter. And I was just to shattered to think clearly. It was all to much. And so I had to on my father's command break up with Troy. I was too preoccupied with the whole arranged marriage ordeal and I had completely blanked out that it was our anniversary. If I had known then I would have tried postponing it. But I had to go through with it no matter what.

"The following day I met Alexander and his parents and they told us a few things. Our marriage is after school finishes and no one is to know about this being arranged which I just went against by telling you," I glanced at him here. "Now Alexander and I are in a marriage neither of us want and Alexander is in love with someone else. And I'm, well," I trailed off as I just began to realize I had tears in my eyes.

Chad remained silent for a moment before looking me in the eyes. "Truthfully, are you still in love with Troy?"

"Truthfuly?" At Chad nod I sighed and looked at my hands rested in my lap. "I'm still in love with him as much as I was before this whole ordeal. Maybe even more."

"And Alexander?" He rose his eyebrow in question.

"Alexander is just a friend and that's all he could ever be. You have to understand Chad, that I love Troy and only him. No one else. And it's kills me to see how hurt he is. Chad I didn't- I just," I trailed off as my tears overwhelmed me and my voice cracked. My shoulders shuddered with suppressed sobs and I looked down to the ground.

"Come on Gabi, don't cry." Chad came over and brought me into his arms.

"I love him, I love him so much. I wish this didn't have to happen but my family," I trailed off once more as I cried into his shoulder.

"Shh, just calm down Gabi," he soothed as he stroked my hair.

I brought my head up in panic as I looked at Chad. "You're not going to tell Troy, right?"

"Gabi-"

"No, you can't. It'll just hurt him more and I don't want to cause him anymore pain."

I just brought her back into my arms and tried calming her down.

---

As I stood in the doorway to my next class after lunch I looked at Troy and saw his demeanour. Where was the basketball star that seemed to be on top of the world? Where was my best friend?

I didn't know if I should or shouldn't tell him what was had really happened with Gabriella. Would it hurt him more? Would he understand and move on?

I sighed as I walked over to the desk beside Troy as he seemed to be working already even though the class hadn't yet started.

He stopped momentarily, his pencil stilled and his eyes locked on the page.

"What was that with you and Gabriella before?" he asked but I couldn't even hear a hint of emotion in his voice so I had not one clue as to how he really felt.

This was my time to choose. I could tell him the truth or lie. It all was in this moment that I had to decide. Could I handle Troy more broken and battered that he already was? I wasn't so sure.

"Nothing Troy," I said in the same emotionless tone as Troy. I looked up to the board as Troy looked up to stare at me questioningly. "Nothing," I whispered one finally time before I began working also.

I guess I had made my decision.

A/N: Okay, so how many of you hate me right now for not telling Troy the truth? No worries, I got it all planned out. One day, one day, he will find out the truth. I just can't tell you when but from what I'm planning he will in about two to four chapters so can't wait for that, huh? Hope you like! This story seems to be progressing quite nicely. But lets not jinx it.

P.S. For whoever told me that they're imagining Troy crying and now I am too, and I got to say, he does look pretty hot! Ha, ha. Someone told me he might cry in the second movie but I'm finding it hard to believe. You never know. Can't wait till August 17. I've planned my whole day already. LOL.