A/N: Here's another chapter of In A Second! Story based on the song In A Second by Aly and Aj. Really cute Troyella fluff ahead! Enjoy this chapter!!

Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical or any of its characters.

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Chapter Five: Where Are You Now?

Gabriella felt like the time had stopped when lunch came the next day. She had two more classes left and the day was only half way over. She walked over to her usual table, sat next to Taylor and dug into her bag for her homework.

"I'm guessing you're not eating." Taylor asked confused.

"I have too much homework I have to finish before the bell rings." Gabriella explained. "I'm not hungry anyway." She was in frantic search for a pencil. She woke up too late to take a shower before school morning and she cried herself to sleep, so she looked like a complete mess. Her long curls were hanging loose but they didn't look combed, she was wearing a huge black sweatshirt with huge black sweatpants.

"Gabriella, you look like you hadn't slept in years." Sharpay said in a disgusted tone as she and Ryan breezed by to go sit with the drama people.

"I know…I woke up 2 minutes before the bus came so I…ugh." Gabriella broke her pencil. "She threw it across the table in frustration. "Why even bother to do my homework."

"Do you want my apple?" Zeke offered. Gabriella only shook her head. She wasn't in the mood to eat.

"Are you sure?" Zeke asked. "They're always good for the mood."

Gabriella smiled. "That's okay. But thank you though." Groaning she set her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands. She had never been so stressed out about school before, but then again, she always did her homework, and last night, she didn't do any at all and she had so much of it.

At that moment, Troy, Chad and Jason walked into the cafeteria and headed over to their table.

"Guys, we have a game this Friday." Chad announced.

"THIS Friday? I thought there weren't more games until Nationals." Taylor said.

"Well, I guess this is just a practice game." Troy explained.

"PRACTICE game?" Taylor asked as if the idea was stupid. But Troy's eyes were on Gabriella. She looked so exhausted.

"Gabriella, are you okay?" Troy asked concerned.

Gabriella snapped her head up. Crap! There's Troy and wait…no! He has to see me like THIS?

"Yeah…um I'm fine." Gabriella said in a shaky voice.

"Look guys…I Know that Gabs is just tired and it's true, school can effect even the smartest over achievers of the school." Chad put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry Gabs…it's gonna be okay." Chad said in a heartfelt tone. "Even though you're a science geek, school can STILL bring you down."

Troy and Zeke laughed and Taylor just rolled her eyes.

Wait…that's how people still see me? As an over achiever? A Science geek?

Struck and hurt at the thought she stood up and picked up her bag and walked out of the cafeteria.

"Gabriella I was just kidding!" She heard Chad call out. She ignored him and kept walking, she could feel tears rise in her eyes, but she wasn't going to let them fall. She went all the way to the courtyard outside.

"Gabriella! Gabriella!! Wait!" Taylor had to run to catch up with her. "Gabriella slow down." Taylor said calmly. "Chad was just being stupid."

She reached out her hand and stopped her. "Gabriella what's wrong?" She asked softly.

Gabriella took a deep breath. "I'm just stressed out, I didn't do any of my homework last night and I'm really tired."

"You definitely look it. " Taylor said. The two friends sat down on a bench. "That's so weird, you didn't even do your homework. Something's going on and I want to KNOW! Please just tell me." She urged. "I'm your best friend."

Gabriella felt like she was going to cry again. She didn't want to tell Taylor about the on-going war with her mother and a dad who lives too far away. She hated feeling pressured.

To her relief the bell rang. "Alright, I guess I'll see you later." Gabriella told Taylor and quickly walked the other direction away from her.

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Gabriella finished all of her homework and study hall that day and right after school, she went home and took a fast nap. When she woke up, she took the longest shower of her life. It was only four thirty when she checked the time again. She put on cute denim shorts, with a baby T that said "I'm A Star" on it. She threw on less baggy, navy blue sweatshirt and then slipped on a pair of black converse shoes. She checked her drying hair in the mirror, she didn't want it to just hang there. She decided to French braid it herself into one. A few curls were hanging in her face.

There. Much Better.

Her mother still wasn't home from work yet and she guessed that Clara was at a friend's. She headed out the door, not bothering to leave a note to say where she was.

Walking to Troy's grandparent's house surprisingly took 10 minutes. Their house had an amazing rooftop and Troy and his friends were always welcome to come hang out their anytime they wanted. Troy and sometimes Chad, Zeke and Jason went there a lot after school. Troy had his secret climbing ways to get up there. She figured them out instantly and easily.

There he was, sitting there, over looking a beautiful lake and mountains beyond it. He turned around to see Gabriella standing there, looking beautiful as always.

"Hey." He warmly greeted. He scooted over on the bench to make room for her to sit down.

"Hey." She responded as soon as she sat next to him. "How was practice?"

"It was good, same ole, same ole though." Troy said.

Gabriella smiled. "This place is so beautiful." She breathed. "You're lucky. You get to come here any time you want."

"Yeah, but so can you. My grandparents are going on a vacation, for a whole month. They're leaving tomorrow. How crazy is that?"

Gabriella laughed. "Where are they going? That's like unrealistic."

"They're going to the Bahamas, they've been saving for this trip for years." Troy grinned. "It's really funny actually."

Gabriella giggled, then her smile faded and looked over at the mountains.

I wonder what he's doing right now…does he miss me?

"Gabriella…you do know that Chad was just kidding today right?" Troy asked softly. "He actually felt bad all day and he hoped that you weren't mad at him."

Gabriella softly giggled. "That's so cute." She said. "And no, I'm not mad at him. I still am a science geek anyway." She faked laughed but her smile slowly faded and she kept her eyes to the ground.

"You haven't been acting like yourself lately." When his voice spoke, it was so gentle and at ease. "You're not just tired…there's something else too."

Gabriella lifted her eyes to meet his. "I'm sorry, I'm just…I don't know."

"Don't be sorry." Troy's kind eyes sparkled and he gave her a small smile. "And you don't have to tell me, I don't want you to feel pressured."

Gabriella gave him a weak smile. "Thanks Troy." She said softly.

"But if you do want to talk about it, I'm always here, you know that right?"

Gabriella nodded slowly. "Thanks." She repeated. She didn't know how grateful she was to have Troy as a friend. It was nice to be with him on that rooftop that late afternoon. Just the two of them, she felt at such peace for some reason. It felt like everything was going to be okay.

"Hey guys," She heard Chad say. Troy and Gabriella both turned around and saw Chad, Zeke and Jason standing before them. They set their basketball stuff down and lounged on the roof.

"What are you guys up too?" Jason asked.

"Nothing really." Troy said. "We were just talking."

"Chips?" Zeke offered, more to Gabriella than to Troy but oh well.

"No thanks." Gabriella smiled. "I ate when I got home."

"Gabriella, I'm sorry I called you a geek today." Chad said sadly.

"HAha, it's okay Chad I promise." Gabriella assured him.

"You guys, I think we should go swimming in the lake later on tonight." Jason said.

"Are you kidding dude? I'll pass on that one." Troy said.

"Alright you guys, I'm going to go." Gabriella told them standing up. She made her way toward the ladder. "See you later."

"Bye Gabriella." Jason and Zeke said at the same time.

"See ya Gabs." Chad said.

Gabriella gave Troy one last look and gave him a small wave. Troy smiled at her and waved back.

When she went back home she used the way Troy climbed in to get inside her room. She didn't want to talk to her mother anyway whatsoever. Clara was sitting in her bed in her room crying.

"Clara…" She picked up her little sister and held her in her arms. "Honey, why are you crying?"

"Why did daddy have to go?" Clara sobbed out. "I really miss him."

Gabriella wanted to cry just seeing her like this. But she had to be strong for Clara. She stroked her hair, and held her closer. Gabriella wanted all of this to end. This was all a living nightmare.

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Did you like it? Sorry I don't have time for a long author's note. Please review when you're done. And I updated another chapter of Say Ok! Sorry about the long wait! ENJOY BOTH!