Disclaimer: Do not in any way shape or form own High School Musical or any other movies and actors mentioned!

I was broken out from my trance by the sound of my phone ringing again. I knew that I should answer the phone but I couldn't be bothered dealing with my problems right now, all that I wanted to do was indulge in my chocolate ice cream, watch crossroads and forget about the calories that I was consuming.

I had messaged Sharpay before, saying that I was fine and to stop her worrying that I knew was occurring without even talking to her. She responded with a simple,

'Ok just let me know if and when you want to talk and I will be there xxx'

It felt good to know that she wasn't going to pressure me to talk like everyone else had, that was why me and Sharpay worked, sure she was a drama queen and always loved things to be over-the-top but our personalities just seemed to click, and I would not trade her for the world.

Sharpay was the least of my worries right now, all that I could think about was Chad, probably because of his constant phone calls that I had yet to answer. I knew that it was wrong to avoid the situation but I needed some quiet and I think he needed some time to calm himself down as well before we discuss what actually happened, I just hope that he doesn't freak out at Troy for something that wasn't meant to hurt me.

It had been three hours since I left school, two tubs of chocolate ice cream, 36 missed calls, and 10 text messages, when I decided that it was about time I faced my fear and call Chad.

I dialed the number and before the first ring could even finish the phone was already answered.

"Giggles?"

"Hey Cookie."

"If you ever ever ever leave it that long again to call me back again I swear I will call your parents!"

Ok clearly he was angry, not that he didn't have the right to be.

"I'm sorry Chad, it's just that I needed some time to think and sulk, you can understand that right?"

"yes I can understand that, but right now all that I need to know is if you are okay?"

I sighed heavily thinking about my answer and trying to find the best way to choose my words,

"I'm okay Chad, I am not saying that I'm great, but I am okay. I just feel really bad that I flipped like that, and I'm embarrassed and I just wish that I didn't have to feel like this, I wish it wasn't me that has to deal with this all over again."

I tried to hide the sob that escaped my mouth, tears silently falling down my face. There was a long pause and I could tell that Chad was in deep thought, trying to process what I had said, and trying to find the best way to approach the situation.

"Gabs, you do not have to be embarrassed or feel bad…what happened to you is still raw and I don't think that anyone who knows about what happened would expect you to act like you were okay yet or would judge you."

"its not that I'm not okay Chad, its just the constant reminders sometimes, you know? Just when people talk about things that normal teenagers talk about, I cant do that, I'm constantly going to feel this, its never going to go away, the memories, the hurt, its all going to be here, haunting me, I just wish I could make it go away. And it's not like anyone else from school knows what happened to me except you and Shar, so they probably all think I'm crazy"

"Giggles I am coming over right now."

Then the line went dead.

Not even five minutes later was Chad in my bedroom with his arms wrapped tightly around me. Honestly, although I hated being fussed over, Chad juts knew how to make things better, he was always there when I needed him without question, and I had never been more grateful to have him in my life than I was right now.

After about ten minutes of no talking I finally broke the silence.

"so what was school like after I left?"

Chad breathed in and out deeply before he answered, and instantly I knew that his answer wasn't going to be anything good or that I would like to hear.

"it wasn't too bad, people were just confused and asking what was going on with you, no one was really gossiping, people were more concerned I guess. I think if it was one of the cheerleaders it would have been hot gossip but because its you and everyone loves you it wasn't too bad."

I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. That sounded positive enough right? Hopefully Chad wasn't sugar coating things for me.

"and uh, um h-how was Troy?"

"Troy, yeah he was okay, I think he wanted to know what was going on. He took it well surprisingly, very un-Troy like."

Un-Troy like. What did that even mean? I could only hope that it was a good thing, and that I hadn't ruined any chance to talk to him again.

What Gabriella didn't know was that she didn't need to worry about Troy not talking to her again, because he had very different ideas forming in his mind.

Troy lay on his bed replaying his day in his mind. His first day back at East High proved to be very eventful. From the first minute he walked through the doors he was surrounded, people wanted to know where he had been, and how he was. It was almost as if he had never left and the position of East High's Primo Boy had come right back to him, but what he was thinking about most was the girl that had consumed his thoughts for the last 24 hours. How could one girl have such a hold on him when he had never noticed her before. He had never felt such a need to know another human before, to be there to protect anyone like he felt for her, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let this feeling go without a fight, tomorrow would be a new day, a day where he could see her again, and find a way into her life, into her heart.

Next Day 7.30am

Beep Beep the car horn sounded outside

Gabriella had been dressed and ready to go, sitting by the front door anxiously awaiting for the last 40 minutes for Chad to come and pick her up. She didn't know what school was going to be like today, but she just wanted to get it over and done with, the sooner it happened the sooner it was over in her mind, so when she heard the car horn beep outside she almost flew out the door, screaming a quick goodbye to her mum and dashing towards the car.

Once she got inside the car, her nerves calmed the tiniest bit, knowing she had Chad with her to protect her, and knowing the schools population of eye fluttering girls and brainless jocks she was almost certain that she wasn't going to have a too hard a time with Chad by her side. Most of the school flocked towards Chad and his group offcourse the basketball boys of the school. Through Troy's absence Chad had taken on the 'golden boy' role, not trying to replace Troy but leaving his own mark on East High with his quick comebacks, wit, and overall friendly attitude, although much like Troy, Chad was a man not to be messed with, just watching Chad on the basketball court showed to people that he not only had mental strength but physical strength that could rival many.

The car ride to school was mostly silent, apart from mandatory small talk, and the dreaded question 'are you okay?'

Once East High came into view, Gabriella tensed, suddenly feeling all of the nerves that had become calm once she had entered the car, return to her at full speed. Gabriella took deep breaths, reminding herself that she had been through worse, much worse.

Gabriella's POV

"Ok, lets go! I need to get this day done with"

"Giggles, if you need me at any point today just let me know, and I will come, it doesn't matter what time, just let me know okay?"

"Chad it will be fine I promise. Plus I have Shar in all of most of my classes today, I'm sure it will be ok."

"Ok well lets go then" Chad said as he wrapped is arm firmly around my shoulder, almost as though he was shielding me from the stares and comments that we both knew were going to happen as soon as I walked through the two red doors of school.

Left right, left right, left right left

I can do this. All I had to do was walk straght, keep my head held high, and pretend to be confident. Yes pretend.

Gym is fourth period so I know that I don't have to worry about that for a while.

"Cookies?" I whispered into Chad's shoulder

"Mm.."

"Walk me to my locker?", I asked with my famous puppy dog pout knowing it always won him over.

"Arghh..you women and your pouting! You know I cant say no to you when you pout!"

"Ehh its what I do best!"

This was ok, the looks and whispers were at a minimum. Maybe I was overreacting when I said that school was going to be worse than death.

Once Chad and I had arrived at my locker I knew the words he was going to say before they even left his mouth/

"I've got to leave you on your own now Giggles", Chad said. I could tell he was hesitant to leave me, but I needed to reassure him, and myself that I could do this without him by my side.

"I know, but don't worry, I will be fine, and Shar should be here any minute now."

"GABBBBS!"

Speak of the devil herself. That girl sure does know how to draw unwanted attention.

"Shar thanks for focusing the spotlight on me, exactly where I want it to be!"

"Oh your welcome." She replied totally oblivious to my previous sentence laced with sarcasm

"Get your books, lets g, none of this moping into Chad's shoulder stuff." She continued

Chad shot Sharpay a mock glare, "I resent that!" he called as he walked away from Sharpay and I, knowing I was in good hands,

"Ok girl, I know yesterday was hard, but today is a new day, and you don't have to worry because we are pretty much together for eve-ee…"

For something to stop one of Sharpay's rants I knew it could not have been good.

I turned to see what had stopped Sharpay mid-sentence and was confronted by the beautiful blue eyes that I had been worrying about since the 'incident' yesterday. As I looked into his eyes I didn't see anger, or confusion, but in-fact his eyes were unreadable, almost a strong mix of different emotions, holding amusement and determination. What an odd combination I thought to myself.

"Hey Brie"

Those breathy words were enough to steal all of the oxygen out of my lungs and prevent me from even uttering an response. My mouth was hanging slightly open in disbelief and my eyes wide in shock. Why would this boy want to come near me after what had happened?

"Is there something that we can help you with Bolton?", Sharpay piped in from my side. I would have to thank her for that later.

"No, nothing in particular, I didn't know it was a crime to say hello my gym buddy."

"Oh" was all that left my mouth. I could hit myself. Seriously, 'oh?'.

By this time the entire corridor of people had focused their attention on Troy and I, probably waiting for me to go all American-Psycho on him again.

"Well um hi?", I replied weekly. That whole pretending to be confident thing had been totally diminished as soon as those blue eyes met chocolate.

Troy smirked and his eyes glittered with amusement and satisfaction that I had responded to him.

"Well I will see you later, partner" Troy said, and just as quickly as he came, he was off.

"Tootles!" Sharpay responded for me once again.

I turned and faced my best friend who seemed to have a similar expression on her face as mine, one of pure confusion.

"Explain to me, did that really happen?" I asked in a hushed tone

"I think so, pinch me, I think I might be dreaming"

"OW! I didn't mean literally!"

"Oh well, sorry miss snappy"

"Sorry, I'm just, well I'm just shocked…why on earth wasn't he freaked out?"

"I don't know, but I guess I'm going to be finding out"

AN: SO SO sorry about the late post and if there are lots of grammatical mistakes, I have had so much homework its not even funny, but I made this chapter extra long to make up for it and tried to get it out as fast as I could! This story is only just beginning to get good, so hang in there, and once again pretty please review!

Thankkkkks :)