Thanks to spotzy, bleumanistheonlyman, tashLOVE and naughtycate for reviewing the last chapter :-D

Remember 5 reviews or 5 days, whatever comes first... and I've written Chapter 7 and 2 of the 3 alternate endings. The first alternate ending is the one I debated whether or not to make the official ending... the other two alternate endings are just for fun

Anyway, hope you like this chapter and I really hope it leaves you questioning who she's going to be with...

Chapter 6

The house was quiet when Chad walked down the stairs later that night.

"How are you feeling, Chad?" His mom asked when he came into the kitchen.

Chad shrugged.

"You want some chicken noodle soup?" She asked.

Chad nodded then watched as his mom went about heating up a pan of condensed chicken noodle soup. Once it was hot, she set it in front of him then went about getting dinner ready for her and Jack.

Chad was almost finished with his soup when Jack came into the kitchen.

"Where's Troy?" Jack asked.

"I gave him permission to eat at Zeke's," Zoey replied. "I thought it would give the three of us a chance to talk."

"Talk about what?" Chad asked, quickly glancing from his mom to his stepdad.

"Your grades and why Troy broke Gabriella's heart this afternoon," Zoey said. "And before you tell me you don't know why he broke her heart, I'll inform you that when I asked Troy, he told me to ask you."

"It's nothing, mom," Chad replied, looking at Jack for help.

"Don't tell me it's nothing, young man," Zoey stated. "You and Troy haven't been the same since Gabriella came into our lives."

"It's not Gabriella's fault, mom," Chad argued.

"Then would you mind telling me what caused this change?" She asked.

"You guys did," Chad said, standing up and pushing his chair back. "Ever since you guys started dating it's been Chad get better grades like Troy and Chad why can't you keep your room clean like Troy." He shook his head. "It's just not fair! Troy is better than me at everything-at basketball, at baseball, everything!

"Every girl at school likes Troy and I just wanted one girl that liked me more than she liked Troy. But I know I messed up, okay? And I feel guilty enough as it is, I don't need you bugging me about it, mom."

Zoey and Jack stood in silence after Chad fled from the kitchen. Neither knew what to say or do.

Instead of going to his room, Chad went to Troy's room and sat on his bed until Troy got home.

When Troy came into his room and saw Chad sitting on his bed, he shook his head and turned to go.

"Troy, wait," Chad said, standing up. "Look, I'm sorry."

"Just save it, Chad," Troy shook his head. "Just take Gabriella and leave me alone. This whole charade of yours is going to have everyone thinking I'm a jerk and you'll finally get your wish-you won't be second best anymore."

"You really liked her, didn't you?" Chad asked, studying his brother's face as more guilt piled up in the pit of his stomach. "I'm sorry, Troy, I didn't know."

"There's nothing that can be done now," Troy replied.

Walking to his room, Chad sat down on his bed and studied the floor. He had to do something. Glancing at the clock he saw that it was only nine o'clock, so he changed into a pair of jeans and left the house.

He sped over to Gabriella's house-only to find out she was staying the night with Taylor. After getting directions to Taylor's house, he drove over and knocked on the front door.

"Chad, what are you doing here?" Taylor asked when she answered the door.

"I need to talk to Gabriella," he said.

"I don't think now is the best time," Taylor replied.

"Please, Taylor," he begged.

"Fine, I'll go get her," Taylor replied. She disappeared into the house and found Gabriella. "Chad is here and wants to talk to you."

"Okay," Gabriella nodded. She grabbed her sweatshirt and pulled it over her head before she went outside. "Hey Chad."

"I need to tell you something," Chad told her. "And you'll probably hate me."

"Chad, I can't hate you," Gabriella shook her head.

"Troy ignores you because I told him to," he said.

"What?" Gabriella stared at him confused. "That doesn't make any sense, Chad. Why would you do that? Troy doesn't even like me."

"He likes you, a lot," Chad replied. "I did it because, well-" he took a breath. "-I'm second best to Troy in everything. He's a better basketball player than me, a better baseball player, he's better in school and our parents are always like 'Chad why can't you be more like Troy?,' not to mention all the girls at school are in love with him."

"I don't understand," Gabriella said.

"I met you first, Gabriella," Chad said. "I liked you first and when I found out Troy liked you… well I told him to back off…"

"Oh."

"I didn't know you liked him that much, Gabi, you have to know that," Chad said, his voice just above a whisper. "I just thought you thought that he was hot like all the others girls. If I had known you really liked him, and that he really liked you, I would have just backed off."

"I think you should go, Chad," Gabriella said after a few seconds.

"Please don't blame him, Gabriella, this was all me," Chad told her. "And I'll understand if you never want to speak to me again." He gave her one last look before he walked away and got into his car.

Gabriella went back into Taylor's house and pressed her forehead to the door after she'd closed it. She couldn't believe what Chad had just told her. She had thought she could trust him, but now she didn't know what to think.

"What did Chad want?" Taylor asked when Gabriella came back into her room. When Gabriella didn't reply, she looked up and saw that her friend was once again close to tears. "Gabriella, what happened?"

"Troy likes me," Gabriella said with tears in her eyes. "And so does Chad." She told Taylor what Chad had confessed.

"Wow," Taylor said, running a hand through her hair. "Suddenly, everything makes sense."

"What do you mean?" Gabriella asked.

"Troy's never noticed a new student before, Gabriella," Taylor said. "Much less asked them for their phone number and then not to call you was strange, because if the rumors I've heard are correct, Troy has gotten in trouble numerous times from his dad for having high phone bills."

"I just don't understand why Chad would do this to me," Gabriella said.

"He told you, all the girls at school love Troy," Taylor replied.

"Yeah, but that has to be an exaggeration," Gabriella said. "I mean all the girls liking his best friend and not him, that sounds highly unlikely."

"It's not an exaggeration," Taylor stated. "Girls don't like Chad."

"Why not?" Gabriella asked. "I realize my interaction with Troy has been limited, but I've spent a lot of time with Chad and he is a fun, sweet guy to hang out with and he's not bad on the eyes either."

"Sure, Chad is easy on the eyes, but that's all the girls at East High see," Taylor replied. "He's always focused on sports and when he's in class he just sits in the back of the room and doesn't do anything."

That night as Gabriella listened to Taylor sleep, she thought about what her friend had told her. While she was still hurt by what Chad had done to her, she understood-at least a little-why he had done it.