Author's Note- I do not own anything related to High School Musical. This is my plot.

Chapter Two-

It was hard to be alone in the world. It was hard to find someone you could truly love. And it was very hard to be able to find someone who you thought to be the love of your life and then to find out that it was all a lie and they had betrayed you all along. Troy had left Gabriella to be an empty shell. A shell that was now closed off and tired of all the emotions she was going through.

Gabriella had left her home with her husband, well, soon-to-be ex husband, and had taken her car and driven to the nearest park and cried her eyes out. Her whole body shook in pain and heartache. Her sobs were heard throughout the car and even some passers by could hear her.

It took her several attempts to calm herself down and try to move, but her heart was beating so fast and so much that she thought she was going to have a heart attack. It was then she decided to call her best friend and hope that someone still cared enough to come to her rescue. As soon as she called the eccentric and over-dramatic blonde, she found the comfort and support she desperately needed.

Sharpay Evans had been her best friend since Middle School. Sharpay and Gabriella balanced each other out. One was too much and one was so little. One was rich and big-headed and the other was middle class and her head was the standard size. Both were beautiful and intelligent. There wasn't one girl who wasn't jealous towards the 'dynamic duo' and every guy desired to be their boyfriend. They were inseparable and the best of friends towards each other. When one needed the other, they were there. Whether it was a break-up with a boyfriend, a fight between the parents, a fight between the School's slut or a death in the family, they called the other and within minutes, they were side by side and comforting each other. It was and always will be that way.

"I can't believe him. I can't believe him."

Gabriella turned away from the glistening lake and turned to Sharpay, while they both swished their legs in the water below them. They had found a nearby jetty and found it to be a perfect place to bitch and vent about a certain blue eyed, chestnut haired dickhead.

"Neither can I. It just feels so…weird and unreal." Although there were passers walking by, their conversation couldn't be heard, yet Gabriella still felt the need to whisper.

"I should go over there and kill him." Gabriella snorted a curt laugh. She had been waiting to hear the cruel threats her melodramatic friend could come up. Maybe she could use one.

"First I'd start with his face. Nobody should look that perfectly flawless. Maybe a few punches to the face and shave his eyebrows off." Gabriella had started to smile, but nothing had wowed her yet. "Or maybe we could slip him some chloroform and then tie him up to Eifel Tower, butt naked, and chop off his penis and watch as he cries like a little bitch." Gabriella laughed a little, the thought of Troy not being able to use his equipment on any one else again sounded appealing. "But then we would be arrested and sent to prison for kidnapping and…well…possible murder. Not sure how to get out of that one." Gabriella was starting to feel a little better at the effort Sharpay was putting in to hurt her soon-to-be ex, but the thought of actually hurting Troy was starting to hurt her. Unlike him, she could never do such a spiteful act to him.

"I've got it! I've got it!" After Sharpay practically alerted everyone in the park that she had 'gotten it' she recomposed herself and pulled Gabriella close to her so no one could hear them. Even though no one was paying attention anymore to the 'crazy pink blonde'. "We'll send a clown over there who will start eating marshmallows while riding a bike."

As soon as Sharpay had finished her brilliant plan, Gabriella broke out in a fit of laughter. Her angelic laugh could be heard from across the park and to anyone else it was just a bunch of girls acting stupid or immature. But to Sharpay it was music to her ears. Although it hadn't been long since the shocking and unbelievable news of Troy cheating on her best friend, Sharpay knew it was going to take forever to get her to feel again. To get Gabriella to be herself again. To love and trust again. It was a task she wasn't going to fail. As her best friend, it was job, duty and honour to help her out in anyway she could.

"Oh God Shar." Putting Troy's large fear of clowns, dislike of marshmallows and unsuccessful attempts at riding a bike together was genius. It was probably the most suitable and non-illegal deed they could do. "It sounds brilliant." Gabriella gave her friend the best attempt of a real genuine smile, but both knew it was a failed attempt.

"Come on my sweet. Let's get you home and rested. It's been a long day and we all need a rest."

Gabriella understood Sharpay's double meaning and nodded her head in agreement. "Ok. Let's go home."

Home was now going to be Sharpay's and her fiancée's townhouse. Home was now going to be somewhere she felt loved and cared for. Home was now going to be anywhere that Troy Bolton wasn't.

Troy heard the front door open and prayed to God Almighty that it was Gabriella coming back. He knew it was far-fetched, but maybe she came to listen to him. Give him a chance to explain and talk about what had happened and why he did what he did. Who was he kidding? He got drunk one time at a office party and whisked the girl off with his drunken flirtations and sweet mumblings.

When he awoke the next morning, he came face to face with a beautiful young girl, who he faintly remembered her name was Delysia Holt, who seemed to be in her early twenties, while Troy had just celebrated his twenty-seventh birthday. Although nearing an older age, Troy was still considered young and handsome. His looks were flawless and mouth-droopingly perfect. His white teeth shone with every open mouthed smile. His azure eyes sparkled all the time. Men were always jealous of his high intelligence and good looks. No one should be that well produced.

Troy remembered trying to get away from the girl that was clinging to him so he could go home and do some damage control with his probably worried wife. But when he got out of the tight grasp Delysia held, she awoke and realized she had slept with her boss.

At the beginning it was all a mistake and both agreed to never mention it again and forget what had happened. Easier said then done. After a while the pressure of his guilt and lying to Gabriella got to him. He needed to tell Gabriella what had happened, but when he went to discuss the matter with Delysia she begged him not to. She didn't want to be fired from her job. She was ambitious and loved every aspect of her job. She thought he was going to take it away from her.

She begged him not to punish her for her selfishness and stupidity and admitted to him that she had a crush on him but hadn't had the courage to do anything about it. So when he was slightly intoxicated, she took advantage of the situation. Yes it was immoral and selfish, but she was slightly tipsy herself and she had found some unexplainable courage within herself that night.

Troy explained that he wasn't going to get her fired or in trouble and felt bad when she broke down in tears. He felt bad that their one time mistake was hurting everyone. Even if they didn't know about it. When he had embraced her and held her tight and told her comforting words, both were shocked to wake up once again to each other naked on his office lounge.

So they tried to ignore it again, but she came up with the conclusion that there had to have been something between them that had caused this twice. Troy didn't know why but his stupidly agreed and saw some sense in her conclusion. So they continued the affair. They worked closer together and would flirt with each other when no one would look. They sneaked off during lunch breaks for quickies and make-out sessions. They secretly called each other and even found time to meet during after work hours. They became so close, Troy even had a nickname for her, Del, not creative or unusual, but it was just for him. Their sordid affair was getting deeper than any one of them had anticipated. Although it broke his heart every time he betrayed Gabriella, he couldn't help but feel his heart being pulled in another direction.

But as soon as he heard Gabriella question his love for Delysia, he wasn't so sure anymore. And as soon as he watched Gabriella walk out of the home they had built together, he felt his heart break and knew he had just lost the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Troy was pulled back out his thoughts when he heard a door slam and went looking for whoever had intruded into his home.

"Hello?" Troy was relieved to see his old School friend Chad Danforth, but was shocked and confused when he was met with Chad's hard and rough fist to his jaw. "Uhn. Whad da hell mun?" His mouth was now dripping with his crimson blood and as he tried to cradle his most probably broken jaw, he felt another blow to the stomach. "UHN. Ow, fuck. Stop it." Troy dropped to his knees and cried out in pain when he felt a kick to the side of his leg.

"How could you? How the fuck could you fucking ruin her life like that? You fucked up son of a bitch? I could kill you Troy. I could kill you right here, right now with my bare hands."

Never before had Troy seen Chad like this. He was usually a laid back kind of guy. He took things serious, but he was always the guy that tried to even everything out. He was the one that made every tense situation calmer with a wise crack joke or snide remark. He was the funny and yet serious one.

"Look Chad I know this is fucked up-"

"Oh really? You realize now? Well too fucking late Troy."

Troy knew why Chad was acting this way. Chad and Gabriella had grown up together. They had formed such a tight friendship that nobody could come between. Not even Troy or Chad's fiancée could break the bond between them. They were both the 'only child' within their families, having no siblings could make for a boring childhood, but both found a friend and confident in the other. It was during the sixth grade that the Danforth family had to move away to another state. A state that held an eleven hour trip between them. But no matter how much time or miles kept them apart, they both still kept in contact and talked to each other quite frequently. So yes, Troy knew very well why Chad was beyond pissed. He had hurt the closest thing Chad had to a sister.

"I can't believe you man. I can't believe you did this to her. I trusted you. I thought you were a good guy. Now I see how very wrong I was."

Troy felt the guilt in his chest rise with every true word Chad spoke. It was because of Chad that Troy and Gabriella met. Gabriella had come to visit him during a Summer vacation. Chad and Troy were best friends. They laughed at the most immature and smallest things. Apparently small things amuse small minds. They became close and had practically everything in common. Their love for basketball. The strength and courage the two held. The dislike for Brussels sprouts. Everything. They were connected in another way. They were companions. Best friends. Brothers.

So when Chad saw the exchange between a sweet sixteen year old Gabriella and a intrigued seventeen year old Troy, he knew that only something good could become of them. How wrong he was.

"Chad. Please…I'm sorry." Troy pleaded with his eyes to let Chad hear him out. But was only met with his icy stare and piercing gaze.

"I can't even stand to be around you. You cheated on her. For six months. Six months Troy. That's half a year. That's not an affair, that's a relationship." Chad looked away and shook his head in disbelief. "Who the hell are you? The Troy Bolton I know would not have done this. He loved his wife. He would do anything for her. He would never do this to her. But you? You're a complete stranger. You're not Troy Bolton. And you're no longer my friend."

Troy watched as another person who he cared for and loved walk out his life. Having the two most important people in your life walk out of it, was too heartbreaking and painful. He had really fucked up.

Quick update. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and pm'ed me. You guys are amazing. Glad you guys love this one. Review? Too hard on Troy? Cheers.