Chapter 19

Gabi walked into a diner and headed towards where Taylor was sitting.

"Sharpay is so evil!" she exclaimed. Taylor jumped.

"How?" asked Chad, who was with Taylor. "Did Sharpay do something?"

Gabi nodded. "She's still trying to steal Troy. She's pretending that she's depressed to make Troy feel sorry for her."

Taylor said, "Oh, yeah, you told me this yesterday!"

She turned to Chad and explained, "Troy and Gabi were at the park because Troy wanted to ask her something. Anyway, they were looking at the flowers when they heard Sharpay crying. They walked over to her and Troy sat next to her. Sharpay started crying and venting out about how everyone hated her. And Troy put his arm around her and comforted her. He even hugged her. When he did, Sharpay smiled her evil smile. Gabi realized that his was another plan to steal Troy. She ran home, thinking Troy wouldn't notice."

Chad asked, "Did he?"

Gabi shook her head. "He didn't even call me yesterday. I went over to his house later and his mom said he was out with Sharpay."

Chad's jaw dropped.

"What?!" he cried out. "So you're telling me that he's just falling for one of her tricks again?"

He completely ignored Taylor's motions. Taylor ran her hand across her neck as if to say "Stop! Don't!"

Chad ignored her and went on. "I can't believe him! I actually thought Troy was a smart person! But he just falls for one of Sharpay's tricks again. Hasn't he ever heard of acting?"

"Yes, Chad," Troy's bitter voice said. "I have."

Chad turned around and frowned. "Oh, hey. What brings you here?"

Troy glared at him. "So that's all you have to say? After you insulted Sharpay and me?"

"What do you mean 'insult you?'" Chad said. Gabi could feel the tension rise up.

Troy took a step closer. "You said Sharpay's tricking me than you call me stupid!"

Chad crossed his arms. "Okay, first of all, you are stupid! At least, you were that day at the park! You fall for another one of Sharpay's tricks. And that's why she's..."

"Wait," Troy said. "What do you mean Sharpay's tricks?"

"She pretended to be depressed about people hating her," Chad said slowly. "So that you would feel sorry for her."

Troy scowled. "That's not true! Why would she try to make me feel sorry for her?"

Taylor stepped forward. "Uh, hello, it's called 'I have a crush on Troy and I'm gonna steal him from Gabi, whatever it takes.'"

Troy yelled, "Sharpay's not tricking me! I trust her!"

"Oh, gee, where have I heard that before?" Chad asked sarcastically. He looked at Taylor with a fake puzzled look on his face. "Do you know?"

Taylor pretended to think hard before answering, "Oh, I know. He said it a few weeks ago at the library when he thought Gabi was cheating on him with Zeke!"

Troy's face turned red. He had completely forgotten about that...

"Gabi's cheating on me. I'm sure of it."

"You're sure of it?" Taylor said. "Maybe you should ask her first. You know so that you'll really know what's going on."

Chad agreed. "Yeah, man, hear her out. Gabi's too sweet to do anything like cheat on you with Zeke."

Troy looked at both of them.

"Guys, I know what I'm doing," Troy assured them. "I know Gabi's cheating on me."

Taylor said, "How do you know? Because Sharpay says so?"

"I saw them," Troy said. "Besides, Sharpay knows what she's talking about."

"Sharpay has a crush on you, Troy," Chad pointed out. "What if she's lying or something to make you dump Gabi and go to her?"

Troy glared at Chad. "Sharpay's over that now. She's my friend. I trust her."

And then Troy remembered breaking it up with her...

"So this is why you wanted to be my boyfriend?" Troy asked. "Because you wanted to get close to Zeke?"

Gabriella gasped. "Zeke is just a friend..."

"So it's still not Zekey yet, huh?" Troy interrupted. "I ask you to be my girlfriend and you go hitting it off with one of my best friend. Excuse me...'former' best friend."

Zeke frowned. "Dude, there's nothing between us!'

Troy yelled, "I'm not an idiot! I saw you two flirting with each other! And don't argue, Zeke, 'cause I know it's true! And if you go any further, I'm going to make sure you're off the baskteball team!"

Zeke clamped his mouth shut at that.

Before Troy left, he muttered, "Practice is about to start. And don't expect me on Friday, Gabriella, we're through."

Troy remembered how he had heard her cry before he closed the door.

And then when he saw the announcements a few days later, right after glaring at Gabi...

"Good morning, East High," Keely said in her "anchorwoman" voice. "And welcome to another week of high school. Now today we are showing a video which was dedicated to our certain basketbball captain. So, Troy, I hope you're watching this."

Sharpay rolled her eyes. She turned to Troy and whispered, "Of course, you're watching this."

Troy smiled and grabbed Sharpay's hand.

The screen changed. This time it showed Sharpay talking to Zeke in the hallway.

"So did Troy break up with Gabriella?" Sharpay asked. Zeke nodded.

Sharpay clapped. "Great! Of course, I kind of figured that out when Troy asked me out for Friday. So I won't be needing your help anymore."

"Help with what?" Zeke asked.

"Help with breaking Troy and Gabriella up," Sharpay asnwered in a 'duh'-voice. "It's about time Troy started paying attention to me like he should be. The Spanish slut should go out with some nerd, since she's one herself..."

Troy had apologized to Gabi and they had made up...and out.

Maybe Chad and Taylor are right, Troy thought. Maybe this is just another one of Sharpay's tricks.

Troy looked at Taylor and Chad. They were both looking at him, as if expecting him to do something drastic.

Troy looked at Gabi. She looked so sincere. Why would she lie to Chad and Taylor?

He said, "I guess you're right."

Chad and Taylor smiled. They left the diner, breathing sighs of relief.

Troy looked at Gabi. "But how can I know if Sharpay's really lying to me?"

Before Gabi could respond, Ryan walked up to them.

"Hey, Troy, I'm glad to see you here. I have to know something," Ryan said. "Sharpay said something about tricking you. Did you guys see some magic tricks and than realized how it happened or something?"

Troy looked at Gabi. She shrugged.

"Um, no," Troy said. "But I did see a trick, just not when it happened."

Ryan, looking confused, mouthed, "oh" and walked away.

Troy bit his lips and rub the back of his neck.

"Um, I'm sorry," Troy muttered. Gabi rolled her eyes.

Troy, not wanting Gabi to be angry at him, pulled her into a hug. Gabi was surprised but she liked being in his arms.

"Will you forgive me?" Troy whispered, kissing her cheek.

Usually Gabi would've said yes right away, but after all the things that have happened--Sharpay flirting with Troy, Troy thinking Gabi was cheating on him with Zeke and ending their relationship, Troy dragging Gabi to a party and having sex with Sharpay, and falling for another one of Sharpay's tricks and not even realizing Gabi had left the park--it was too much. She was through with second chances.

"I don't know. Troy," Gabi said softly. "Our relationship is barely surviving."

Troy grabbed her hands. "Please. I'm really sorry, Gabi. C'mon, please!"

Gabi avoided Troy's blue eyes, not wanting to give in.

Gabi started to say, "I'll think about..."

But Troy interrupted her...with a kiss.

Now usually Troy's kisses were gentle. They were passionate and confident.

But this kiss wasn't like that. There was no passion. There was no gentleness or confidence. Instead, there was hunger, need, and roughness.

Gabi was glad they were kissing in those booth seats, where no one would really see them.

Finally, Troy let go and whispered, "Please?"

Gabi was silent. She didn't know what to do.

"Um..."

"Can we go over to your house and discuss this?" Troy asked. "Is anyone home?"

Gabi shook her head.

"Well, then can we?" Troy asked again. "So that no one would interrupt us."

Gabi agreed. Little did she know what Troy was really up to...

Okay, so u probably guess by now what troy's up 2.

So,

Should Gabi accept Troy's apology?

And if she does, should she accept it...

Before Troy does it

or after?

If u choose before, ur gonna be asking for a gentle one on the bed. If u choose after, ur thinkin hardcore in the shower, okay?