Chapter 2: Riley St. James

"Hey my main man. How is the MVP doing on this fine evening?" he asked as Troy and Gabi burst out laughing.

"Chad, Chad, Chad. Nice job, my man. This place is jumpin'." Chad threw his arms around Troy and Gabriella's shoulders. He pushed them forward, and out into the dance floor.

"Chad, where is Taylor? She said you guys were coming together." asked Gabriella

"She went off to find you." he said as he took a sip of punch.

"Oh. Then I better go look for her." she said as she smiled at Troy and left the two boys alone.

"What's up with Gabi? Does she not want to be alone with you or something?" asked Chad as he began to look around at who was coming through the doors.

"Umm. I don't know. She seemed fine earlier. Oh, until I confused her with Riley." Troy said, causing Chad to spit out his punch.

"YOU WHAT?" he yelled, causing the DJ to scratch the disc, initiating everyone to look at the two on the dance floor.

"Go back to dancing, everything is fine here." Troy yelled, as the DJ put the music back on.

"Troy, let me get this straight. You got Gabriella confused with Riles? Why is Riley still on you mind? You guys broke up a long time ago. She's a West High girl now. Our rivals, did you forget?"

"Okay. I don't know what happened. I said to Gabriella that, 'you know Chad throws the best parties', and then she gave me a weird look and it took me a minute to realize I was talking about Riley. Before we left, when Gabi was talking to Taylor, Tommy told me that she is coming to the after party. And no, I didn't forget about her going to West High." said Troy as Chad handed him a cup of punch.

"Is she really coming? Because last time you two saw each other, it wasn't exactly a 'walk through the park', if you catch my drift." he said as Troy nodded. "Do you still have feelings for her? I mean what about Gabi?"

"I don't know, man. Tommy like told me, then I just kept thinking about her in my mind. I absolutely want to be with Gabi, but Riley and I have a past."

"So your saying, if Riley shows up tonight, you might want to go after her?"

"I don't know. That's the problem. She broke up with me for 'Billy Wentworth' ."

"Are you not over her? Answer that question first." Chad said as Troy shot him a glare.

"I don't know! I still had feelings for her when she broke up with me." Troy said as Chad ushered him to sit down.

"What about Gabi?"

"I know. I mean I totally forgot about Riles till Gabi. Then tonight, I just feel… I don't know how I feel."

"You better find out before you destroy Gabriella anymore then your going to." Chad said as Troy nodded.

"Troy. Are you scared she is going to show up here again? Are all those feelings going to re-surface?"

"Chad they might." Troy said, as he turned and saw Gabriella standing there.

"'They might', what Troy?" asked Gabriella with a concerned look on her face.

Troy looked at Chad, with his eyes bulging, and said, "The, umm. The players from West High might come and crash the party." he said as a sigh escaped his lips.

"Ooo. I hope that doesn't happen." she said smiling.

"Me too, me too." Troy mumbled.

Gabriella turned to Taylor, and began another conversation. Taylor turned around and said, "We're going to get something to drink. We'll be right back." The two girls left, as the two boys stayed.

"Troy that was a close one."

"Tell me about it. I just hate lying to Gabi."

Chad smiled, and said, "Then stop lying."

"What?" Troy asked, looking dumb-founded.

"Yeah, you heard me. Get your mind off Riley, and ask Gabi to dance when the pair come back." he said as Troy smiled.

After a few moments, the two returned. Troy looked at Chad, before he spoke up, "Gabi, my I have this dance?" Troy asked as he placed his hand in front of her. Gabriella accepted as the two made it to the dance floor. The DJ began to talk through the microphone, "Before you say anything. This song is a classic, so couples get on the dance floor and let the emotions run wild." The song, "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx leaked out of the speakers. Troy put his arms around Gabriella's waist, as her arms went around her neck, and they settled perfectly.

Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain

If I see you next to never
How can we say forever

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I took for granted, all the times
That I though would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' Crazy

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' crazy

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

The song ended as Gabriella and Troy began to enclose on the space between them. Their faces were inches apart as they could both feel and hear each other's breathing. Their lips touched as it sent an electric shock through their bodies, as the kiss began to become a little more heated. They both pulled apart as the two gasped for oxygen and smiled at each other. Their foreheads settled on one another's.

The rest of the night, Troy, Gabriella, Chad, and Taylor stayed on the dance floor and danced the night away. The music consisted of "Sexy back" by Justin Timberlake to " Dani California" by the Red Hot Chili peppers. Troy and Gabriella excused themselves from the group, and went to their seats for punch. All night Troy had his mind consistently on Gabi. The two leaned in as they both became closer, Troy's left and right hand cupped her cheeks, and their lips became millimeters apart.

"Troy, over here."

Troy snapped his head towards the door, as it showed none other than Riley Morgen. A blonde hair, green eyed girl, and when you would look at her, you would think she was a pile of bones with skin. She flipped her hair as Troy smiled at her, looked at Gabriella who had a shot a glance at Troy as he began, "Gabriella, I would like you to meet Riley Morgen. Riley, Gabriella Montez." Gabriella loosened herself from Troy's grip, and stepped back a little.

"Troy, how do you know her?" asked Gabriella, trying to find Taylor in the group of people surrounding them.

"Hey guys. What is-what the hell is going on?" asked Chad with Taylor right next to him. Chad shot a glare at Riley, and then she spoke.

"Cammi."

"It's Gabi." said Gabriella as she was about to lunge forward at the girl and rip her eyes out of her head as she had her eyes fixated on Troy.

"Whatever. Troy is my boyfriend."

"WHAT?" yelled Troy, Chad, Gabi, and Taylor in unison.

"Riles, I'm not your boyfriend. We broke up, and I met Gabi." Riley looked at Gabriella and shot her a look. Troy grabbed Gabriella's hand, and smiled. Riley looked away and started talking to Chad.

"So Chad? Do you want to know how Zoë is or no?" Chad's smile immediately turned into a frown, as Taylor whispered, "Who is Zoë?"

"Oh, Zoë. Just Chad's ex-girlfriend who is still in love with him." Taylor turned to face Chad and slapped him in the face. "Thanks for nothing, Chad. I thought I really liked you." she said as she ran off into the crowd. Gabriella turned to Troy, "I'm going to go find her."

"Damn it Riley, why did you have to do that? I hate Zoë, and I like Taylor." he said as he turned and ran into the crowd of dancing teens.

"So Troy," started Riley, as she began to step closer to Troy, "Do you want to go for a walk?" she asked as she grabbed Troy's jacket and pulled him near.

"No. Not really. Gabriella is my girlfriend." he said, as he pushed Riley away.

"Come on Troy, I know you want to." she whispered in Troy's ear.

"Will you leave this party if I do?"

"Sure. Only for you." she said, as she grabbed Troy's hand and pulled him out the door.

They walked slow side-by-side, because Troy wouldn't dare to touch her. Riley turned to Troy as they approached a bench.

"Sit down Troy. We need to talk." she said as she smiled at him.

Troy sat down , and turned to hear as Riley began to speak.

"I'm really sorry about in there with that Gabi girl. It's just been really hard."

"It was really hard for me too. We were together for three years, then you moved to West High and started going out with Billy Wentworth."

"I know. And we broke up tonight. It was a total mistake."

"Sorry, but it was your mistake."

"I know Troy. There is a problem though."

"What problem?" he asked as she grabbed his hand.

"I still have feelings for you."

Troy's worst nightmare. He really wanted to be with Gabriella, but couldn't get his mind off of Riley.

"I don't for you. I'm in love with Gabriella."

"Your lying. I know when you lie Troy."

"No. I'm not."

"Yes you are. But if you have feelings for her, then I'll leave you to alone."

"Thank you."

"Don't you want to know what your missing?" she asked as Troy took his eyes off of the ground and back to her.

"Wha-", but before he could finish, Riley pressed his lips to hers. His eyes were open but gently slid closed. He began to kiss her back. But after a few moments he pulled away.

"I've missed that." said Riley.

"I-" he said, but was cut off by a third person.

"TROY? How could you?" said Gabriella as she stood on the sidewalk, nearly a foot from the bench.