Chapter 6

Troy's Point-Of-View

Chad seemed distracted for the remainder of the day and anytime Gabriella was mentioned, or if we passed her in the hallway, he would always give me an sympathetic look rather than the normal glare at Gabriella. Which obviously had me guessing that it had something to do with her. And also, he didn't seem so hostile to Alexander, as Chad had told me was his name, and in that it had caused me to begin questioning what had really gone on before in the empty classroom with them. Before I had pondered on the prospect of waiting behind and listening to them but decided better and had headed off for lunch. But now I wished I had stayed back as curiosity probed at me relentlessly.

I walked the remainder of the day with a hollow feeling in my chest. Worst of all, I as beginning to get used to that dull emotion. And I tried not to look at Gabriella all day. It was safe to say that I didn't succeed.

What was horrible was that I shared more than half my classes with her, except for the advanced ones she had taken that I wasn't able, or didn't want to be in. We had planned at the beginning of the semester to take as many classes together as possible. I never knew I would live to regret that decision.

For most of the day, when Gabriella didn't know I was watching, she was with Alexander and they seemed to be quite close. I couldn't help the dangerous feeling of jealousy creeping up sneakily on me. I wished I could change things. But I had never guessed, or even imagined on what would happen that day.

As I made my way to my locker to put away my books and head off to practice I wasn't paying attention with thoughts of Gabriella in my mind and knocked into someone, both of our books falling carelessly to the ground.

There stood in front of me was the exact object and the perfect image of what had been in my mind all day. There was Gabriella.

She stared at me, wide eyes for quite sometime as I looked back emotionlessly. I bent down, picking up as the scattered books, mine and hers, making sure to keep them separated.

I could feel her eyes on me as I tried avoided her and after her initial shock wore off she bent down to help me.

Seconds passed and all I could hear was the pounding of my heart in my ears as my blood pulsed. I tried blowing off the set of emotions I felt but they flooded over me and I could barley manage to push it all into the back of my mind. Push everything into the back of my mind.

Gabriella seemed to be wanting to say something but I knew she wouldn't be able to for I knew her too well. I kept my eyes glued to the stack of papers I was picking up.

That was when it happened. In that moment was when I felt my heart drop. There, on her left hand, on her ring finger beheld a diamond ring.

Could it…? No. Impossible. It was probably just some fake ring that she had placed there absentmindedly and had put on the wrong hand. But then why did it look so real?

"What is that?" I asked before I could stop myself and Gabriella's eyes shot up but my eyes remained on the ring.

She glanced down and her breath caught in her throat. She began fiddling with the ring with her other hand as I watched her every move. She seemed nervous. "Oh, well, um," she began trying to think of something to say. "You know, Alexander, he, um, you know," she tailed off and I only nodded my head understandingly but I was completely confused, and slightly angry. Was it really…? I didn't want to know but I had to find out. I knew one thing though, I wasn't going to ask her.

I quickly picked up the rest of our book, handed her hers and keeping my eyes glued to the floor I briskly walked by her.

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I slammed the changing room doors shut and came across Chad, just the person I was looking for. All I could feel was anger and I was not at all in my right state of mind.

I quickly made my way towards him, glad no one else was in there, and slammed him against the locker. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew this was wrong but right now anger was overpowering me.

Chad looked shocked as I stared down at him, clutching his shirt in a tight fist.

"What is going on between Gabriella?" I whispered dangerously.

"Troy, calm down."

I pushed myself away from him angrily and slammed my fist against one of the lockers, ignoring the sudden throbbing pain I felt in it.

"Look Chad, I know you know something. Now you have to tell me."

Chad looked uneasy. "How much do you know?"

I ran my hand through my hair roughly. "I saw the ring on her hand and I want to know exactly what it is. I mean, is it a- because it can't be- it's impossible-I mean-"

"It's an engagement ring," Chad told me sympathetically.

"What?" I breathed out.

"There getting married," he replied in the same tone.

I could tell there was something her wasn't telling me but all I could hear was the echo of the heartbreaking words in my mind.

Engaged. Married. Engagement ring. Gabriella. Alexander. Married?

I looked at Chad and I felt no longer anger but sorrow. He looked sympathetic. I shook my head in denial.

"No. I was dating her a few days ago. Its impossible. She can't- Chad, please say tell me its not true. It can't be true. I mean we're all only in high school. She can't," I tried convincing myself but my voice seemed to only quieten and prove to me it was all true. It couldn't be. It didn't add up.

Chad's Point-Of-View

As I watched Troy crumble in front of me I wondered if I should tell him that it was all arranged. But no matter how I tried, my moth just couldn't seem to form the words.

I was glad to see that he was only in denial so he wasn't crying. I don't think I could handle him crying anymore. He was my best friend and it hurt me to see him like this.

He slide down the locker and pulled his legs closer to his body, hugging them as if a life line. He rested his head on his knees and in that moment he looked like a small child.

"Troy?" I asked as I bent down and sat next to him.

"No," he whispered to himself as if in a daze.

"Come on Troy, we should get you home." I knew I was treating him like a small, scared child but I couldn't help it. I hated seeing him like this.

He made no move and stared at his feet. "Gabriella wouldn't do this. She wouldn't just marry someone she didn't know for a really long time. And we only broke up a few days ago." I didn't know what he was getting at but waited for him to finish as I put my hand on his shoulder. He didn't notice. "How long do you think this was happening? How long was she with him? How long was she with him while she was with me?"

I was shocked yet saddened. That's what he thought? That she was cheating on him? I wanted so bad to tell him. I needed to tell him. So why couldn't I? I guess Gabriella's words haunted me about him being in more pain. But I didn't think he could be in more pain than what he was in this. But I didn't want to find out.

And there we sat, one heartbroken boy and another keeping a dark secret, trying to comfort him but not being able to, for the boy was far to gone, far to broken to be saved.

A/N: This is very sad story. I'm sad to say that it will be sad for quite some time. I will not give any hints on the end. Well at least it was fast. Please don't cry. Many have been saying it's sad so yah. Hope you enjoyed!