LAST TIME-

Troy squinted through the rain, his blue eyes widening when the figure stepped out of the shadows, shock evident on the young boys face, what the hell was going on, he didn't understand. Troy straightened, his shoulders going back as his eyes fell upon the enemy.

"It can't be," he gawked out. "It's you."

Troy had not seen the man in front of him for over a year. Though the last time his eyes had fallen on the man, he had been better dressed. The enemy that stood before him now was in shambles. The messy brown hair, even mixed with the rain, had not been brushed, and the dirty jean jacket had obviously not been cleaned in several days. The enemy's steeled toed brown suede boots were splattered with mud.

"No," Troy denied, shaking his head. Why would he do this? It had been just a basketball game, why had this man taken the loss to such an extreme?

"I can assure you, Troy Bolton," the man smiled, his teeth a row of crooked masterpiece, "you are not dreaming." The man took a step forwards towards the group Troy was at a loss for words as the enemy's eyes fell upon Gabriella. "Miss. Montez, it's so good to see you again."

Troy looked to Gabriella. Her arms were being held behind her back, just like his. She was favoring her left leg, barley putting pressure on her right, her knee was slightly bent, the blood on her jeans mixing with the falling rain. Her eyes held confusion as she spoke. "I'm sorry, I have no idea who you are."

"Gabriella," Troy broke through before the enemy could answer. "This is Chase Barker," her eye's questioned him as he took a deep breath and finished. "The West High Knights Head Basketball Coach."

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A pink mustang tore out in front as three cars raced down the highway. Sharpay glanced in her rear view mirror and smiled. Chad's dark blue Scion tc was raging behind her and she could just barley see the blood red color of Jason's Hyundai Tiburon behind him. The three cars were a line of racing brilliance, the downpour hardly slowing them down. Angry drivers honked in aggravation as they were passed, which placed smiles on the teen's faces.

"Pick up the pace, Sharpay!" Chad's voice cracked over the walkie-talkie, which was in the cup holder in the middle panel. She smiled as Ryan reached for the small device.

"Faster?" he barked back at Chad. "We're pushing 90!" He slammed the communicator back in its place before returning his hand to the 'o,shit' bar above his head.

Sharpay shifted and power slide onto the exit ram, three sets of tires screeching with the tight turn. She smiled again as her brother cursed loudly.

"Sharpay, were not going to be any help if we're dead!" he snapped, his hand moving to the dash as she accelerated.

She gave him a sidelong glare as she accelerated through a stop sign, the waiting SUV honking at the three sports cars's as they raced past, "And we're not going to be any help if they're dead."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Gabriella's shock matched Troy's.

She was confused.

Head Basketball Coach of the West High Knights? Was losing that game a year and a half ago that deep a blow to him? She looked to Troy as he spoke, addressing the men who had started this whole ordeal.

"So," Troy shifted to the man behind him. "Blake Thamn?" his eyes fell upon the man behind Gabriella, "Vash Thomson? How could I have forgotten."

The two laughed as they pulled off their black masks. Gabriella looked back to find Vash Thomson, the green eyed man. He had a well-chiseled face, sharp cheekbones and messy dark brown hair. The other man, Blake Thamn had almost the same facial features, although a small, faint, scar ran along his right cheek. His spiked blond hair intensified his bright blue eyes. She glanced to Troy, her eyes full of questions.

"They were the captains when we played them," he sighed out. "Graduated the same year." He paused, "how was prison?"

"Oh, it was nice," Vash answered sarcastically. "We got out on good behavior."

"Enough talk," Chase Barker yelled over the downpour. "Lets go."

Gabriella was pushed forward, Vash's hand on her back. She staggered, trying not to put pressure on her bad knee. She was off balance though, and her foot caught on an old rotten board. A small whimper escaped her lips as she crashed forward, her right knee slamming into the wet pier. Her face was frozen in a silent scream as her knee painfully shifted back into place. Tears escaped the corners of her closed eyes as her hands clenched into tight fists.

"Get her up." Chase Barker's voice ordered out from above her, "and in the boat."

"Barker," it was Troy's voice. She could hear the anger and worry. "She's hurt, just leave her here. It's me you want."

"She is your only weakness," Chase whispered, as strong hands found Gabriella's shoulders. "It's the only way I'll be able to control you."

Gabriella was lifted off the wet pier, the heavy rain still pounding on her shoulders. She was surprised when she could limp, putting slight pressure on her right knee. She let out a painful sigh, it was no longer dislocated, but being forced back into place could not have been good for the joint. She was pushed from the edge of the pier to the back of the speedboat, her side and ribs complaining at the impact. Troy was pushed into the back as well, landing almost on top of her.

"Are you ok?" his blue eyes filled with compassion and worry. He glanced down her leg as Chase, Blake, and Vash leisurely dropped into the front. "You're knee?"

She shifted it slightly, and to her relief a dull pain radiated through the joint. It no longer hurt like hell. She was sure she could walk on it now, but would most defiantly have a bad limp; it would probably sting a little too. "It's better, but still not good," she looked to the front of the boat. "I think I can walk, but it's going to be—" she took a deep breath, her ribs complaining, "—difficult."

His soft hand found her cheek. She turned into it, closing her eyes and sighing. The boat jumped to life and the wind picked up, the falling rain now mixed with spraying mist. Gabriella glanced out across the lake, or what she could see of the lake. The cloudy sky blotted out the sun and a heavy fog was crossing over the glass surface.

"Where are you taking us?" Troy asked over the roar of the boat engine.

Chase Barker turned and walked back towards them, leaving Blake and Vash to the controls. "I'm taking you to your final resting place, Mr. Bolton."

Gabriella locked eyes with the older man as she asked the million-dollar question. "Why are you doing this?" she paused, "It was just a basketball game." She watched as the smile dropped from his face. He squatted down as his face hardened.

"I lost my job because of that basketball game." Fury was in his voice now, "My wife divorced me and took my children because I couldn't support the family. I was kicked out of my own home! I had nowhere to go." He paused, breathing hard, "I'm destroying his life because he destroyed mine," he stood up, glaring down at the two teens. "That's way I'm doing this Miss. Montez, you were the person I needed in order for this plan to get started. You were the most important part: Bait."

"I don't understand. How is your plan going to work if we're dead?" Troy broke in. "You wouldn't be destroying my life, you'd be ending it."

Chase Barker smiled. "First, I'll kill your girlfriend in front of you, then kill you. The police will mark it as murder suicide." He paused, "I will not only destroy your life, but also your reputation. Troy Bolton will be know for killing Gabriella Montez and then himself, not winning some basketball championship. You'll be remembered as a monster."

"It was just a game," Gabriella snapped out, her eyes wide with shock.

"I'm only returning the favor. How do you teens put it these days?" Chase Barker eyes grew together before he smiled. "Oh yes. I think the term is, revenge is a bitch." He stood up and turned around, walking back to the others.

Gabriella sat in silence, Troy's arms wrapping around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

She drew away from him, planting her fist hard on his shoulder.

"I told you not to think that," she commanded, her eyes boring into him. She then smiled, finding his eyes. The rain had matted his dark brown hair to his face, and his blue t-shirt was sticking to his muscular chest. She could see chill bumps on his arms and realized that she was also freezing. Her long hair was sticking to her face and neck as well, and it was quite annoying when it got in her eyes. She did feel a little exposed with her white and black t-shirt, thought she was thankful that she had worn a camisole today. Her black and white Chucks and even her socks were soaked, she just had to say, she hated the feeling.

"How are we going to get out of here?" she asked after a couple of minutes, her eyes finding her boyfriends. Vash had been told to stand by them, in case they decided to do anything stupid, which crushed all hopes of jumping overboard.

"I don't know, every minute we sit here we're getting farther and farther away from help," Troy answered. She glared up to Vash, who had a smile plastered across his face. The moment only lasted a second as she felt Troy stiffen beside her, both of their eyes widening in realization.

They were slowing down—their time had run out—and for lack of better words, that really, really sucked.