I'm so so so sorry that it took me almost a month to update! I had major writers block but I'm cured! lol anyway you all probably want to read so...Oh I don't own 'Love Me Like That' by Michelle Branch, youtube it.

"Why am I wearing this again?" Gabriella stood backstage with Sharpay wearing the most promiscuous outfit she had ever worn. The outfit (a corset top, tight low rise jeans, and stilettos) coupled with the hundred some-odd people who would see her in it were beginning to wear down Gabriella's confidence.

Gabriella tugged the jeans up doubtfully, she would have preferred them to be less 'low-rise' and more comfortable. Sharpay just sighed.

"You're getting Troy back in stages, remember? This is the 'look at what you lost' stage. You have to look way better than Kirsti for that. And in that outfit, there's no competition, believe me."

Somewhere on stage the pounding music stopped and Gabriella was called to the stage. As Sharpay guided her to the entrance she turned her head.

"One more question, why am I doing this again?"

"You can tell me when you're going out with Troy." With that Sharpay gave her one more shove and she stumbled onto the stage plastering on a fake smile and squinting against the bright lights.

As she accepted the microphone from the host Gabriella scanned the crowd for Troy and Kirsti. She was sure they had come but didn't see any sign of even Kirsti obviously fake platinum blonde hair.

A slightly country tune floated through the air and Gabriella focused her attention on the song.

"Well you stole my heart
And I'll get it back.
But look me in the eye, babe.
Tell me why you love me like that.
Why you love me like that."

The words flowed from her lips and the song she had committed to memory pounded into the crowd. It was true that country wasn't really her style of choice but she and Sharpay had carefully picked songs for their lyrics. Gabriella knew that it wouldn't get to Troy the first week, or possibly not even the second but sooner or later he would realize what she was doing. And Gabriella could only lie to him for so long.

"Well I've walked this world
Five times or more.
And after all this walking, babe
Still got me crawlin' on the floor.
Crawlin' on the floor.

And I know
This world keeps on turning.
Keeps me yearning."

There! Three seats to the left of her parents Troy sat, an arm around Kirsti. They swayed happily to the music and Kirsti turned to whisper something to Troy making him laugh. Jealousy bubbled into her voice and Gabriella's voice steadily rose until she was belting out the words to the chorus.

"How can you turn and walk away?
Pretending everything's okay.
How can you turn your back?
Tell me why you love me like that.
Why you love me like that."

Suddenly the volume of her voice fell dramatically and Gabriella could feel the crowds attention focusing on her. Though it make her want to shrink into the shadows, she stood tall and smiled a little as if she were enjoying being scrutinized by hundreds of people.

"Well I thought you listened,
But I'm shattered like broken glass.
Well I thought that we'd be different, babe.
Yeah I thought that we would last.
I thought that we would last."

"And I know
This world keeps on spinnin'.
Every minute that you're in it."

Don't think about the break up, just sing. Just sing. She chanted over and over closing her eyes so as not to spill any of the tears that threatened to pour out.

"How can you turn and walk away?
Pretending everything's okay.
How can you turn your back?
Tell me why you love me like that.
Why you love me like that."

Every thing about Troy, from Gabriella's feelings towards him to his girlfriend, was so hazy she hardly knew what to think. While it was true that they had stated friendly there was only so much closeness you could feel to someone who you had dated. And only so much closeness you could show to them as well.

"Love me or leave me, baby
But don't lead me on.
With lovin' like yours,
Believe me baby, I'm better off
I'm better off alone."

Was she better off with out Troy. Some people (like Kirsti, Gabriella thought mercilessly) seemed to think so. Gabriella wasn't so sure. It had been nice to take a break for a while, for the first time she had felt free to say which guys she thought looked cute with out worrying about Troy's reaction, but she had gotten lonely. Gabriella missed Troy, and she was going to make sure that even if he didn't love her any more he knew that she did.

"Well I was your gypsy
Throwin' diamonds at your feet.
Driftin' round you like a satellite
I gave you everything you need.
Everything you need."

Letting her mind free, Gabriella sang for the next few minutes purely because she loved to sing. Forget Troy, forget Kirsti, forget Sharpay, forget everything she told herself.

"And I know
This world keeps on turning.
Keeps me yearning and yearning.

How can you turn and walk away?
Pretending everything's okay.
How can you turn your back?
Tell me why you love me like that.
Why you love me like that.

How could you just break away?
Why can't you find the words to say?
Love is something you work at.
Tell me why you love me like that.
Why you love me like that.
Why you love me like that."

Had they even tried to save their relationship? Gabriella couldn't remember but it didn't matter they were over and nothing was getting them back together, that was the mind set she needed for the ending of the song. Gathering all the hatred she felt towards Kirsti for being Troy's new girlfriend, at herself for letting it all end, and at Troy for…for just being an idiot she glared at the crowd and turned towards Troy and Kirsti.

"How can you throw us away
Look at what you lost today.
Now everything is shades of grey
And now you're pushin' me away
Say all the things you need to say
I thought we were goin' all the way
Play all the games you wanna play
So that we just fade away."

Applause thundered into her ears and the host walked towards her. Reality crashed down on Gabriella, the reality of what she had done or meant to do at least, and she dropped the microphone and ran off stage.

I've been getting about five reviews per chapter, this is great for my first fic! Keep 'em coming guys!!