Disclaimer: I do not own HSM, but what I do own is a new pair or earrings, which sort of make up for not owning HSM…for now. Still

A/N: oh the reviews are gorgeous, keep 'em coming dolls. I know I promised a really long chapter, but it didn't all make sense when I put it all together and I split it into two chapters. Plus, I thought the ending of this chapter kinda worked on its own. I do want to say that two reviewers

Soccerbabe12 and Cupcakesxx

You'll see what I mean

Chapter 3:

Gabriella arrived at school feeling miserable. Troy hadn't bothered calling her all weekend. She'd left him about three messages and also called Chad and Jason to see if they knew anything. They all said that they hadn't heard from him since Thursday. They were getting worried as well.

Gabriella walked to her locker and spotted Taylor by hers.

"Hey, Tay, what's up?" Gabriella greeted her

Taylor grinned and shut her locker, "Chad was trying to flirt with me oh-so subtly yesterday and we kind of, uh, kissed"

"What!" Gabriella cried out in shock. Almost the entire hallway turned as they heard her yell

"Shh!" Taylor quieted her and pulled her by the wrist into the girls' bathroom. She made sure that no one was around her before she continued, "Gabriella, you can't tell a soul!"

"Why not? Aren't you together?" Gabriella asked her excitedly.

Taylor shook her head, "nah, I'm not sure I like him that much. He's a bit of a goof" Taylor giggled.

"At least he's here. And he's talked to you" Gabriella replied quietly, looking down. Taylor sighed and understood what she was referring to.

"he hasn't even called you yet?"

Gabriella shook her head. Had he even thought about her at all? And why wont he tell her what was wrong.

So many thoughts were now running through her head.

"Let's just not talk about Troy. I saw his dad this morning. So Troy's got to be here right?"

Taylor nodded and put her arm around Gabriella's shoulder, "remember, sista, you got your girl if that boy decides to be an ass"

Gabriella grinned at her, her spirits lifting slightly.

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Gabriella spotted her boyfriend sitting in the library during the free period they had together. She was slightly hurt because usually they would meet up in their 'spot' and do something together from there.

She approached him and out her hands over his eyes to surprise him, "guess who?" she put on a manly voice.

Troy pried her fingers off his eyes and turned around to face her, "sorry, Gabi, but I'm not in the mood right now" he sighed.

Gabriella nodded, hoping she didn't look hurt, "what's up Troy? You never told me what happened on Friday and you never called me back"

Troy looked away and shook his head, "its nothing. My dad and I were just…busy. We had to go…uh, out of town for a bit, my aunt was getting married"

Gabriella nodded and took a seat next to him. She knew he was lying to her but she decided not to push it. He would be able to tell her when the time was right for him.

"So, what are you doing?" Gabriella tried to peek over his shoulder and see.

"Gabi, please, I can't concentrate" Troy looked up at her and said, "could we just, not work together this time?"

Gabriella nodded once again. It seemed like that was the only thing she could do right now without bursting into tears. She picked her bag up and left without saying a word. She looked back to see that Troy didn't even look up.

She just turned and kept on walking away, brushing a stray tear from her eyes.

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Gabriella finally made it to lunch without any more drama. But that was possibly because she hadn't seen Troy since the library incident. She just hoped that he would have gotten over whatever he was upset about by now.

Gabriella plucked her tray down next to Chad's, who was the only other person who had arrived to lunch early.

"Gabriella, just the girl I was looking for" he grinned, "what's the number to pi?"

Gabriella sighed with a smile, "its never just hello is it?"

Chad gave her a mocking grin, "its 3.14" she answered, "but first, what's up with Troy, Chad? Why is he all, mad and distant?"

Chad suddenly grew quite and his grin disappeared, "didn't he tell you?"

Gabriella gave him a puzzled expression, "tell me what? He basically didn't say anything to me this morning and I haven't done anything to all week"

Chad shook his head and slid closer to her, "Gabi, his mom died on Friday."

Gabriella's eyes widened in shock, words escaping her temporarily.

Chad continued with his story, "yah, apparently it was some weird car accident. I'm not really sure what happened, but Troy didn't say much about it. I'm surprised he didn't tell you first"

Gabriella closed her eyes and rested her head into her hands, "I cant believe this". She didn't know what she was more saddened over, the fact that her boyfriend's mother had passed away or the fact that her boyfriend couldn't share with her something as important as this.

"Look, Gabi, I got to bounce. But just, just give Troy some space and comfort when he needs it, alright?" Chad advised her before he collected his stuff and left.

Gabriella sat there motionlessly for a while before someone else decided to plop their tray next to her.

"Hey Gabbs, listen" Troy sat next to her, "sorry I was such as ass. I had a rough weekend"

Gabriella turned to him, hoping that maybe he'd decided to tell her, "why Troy, what happened?"

Troy shook his head, "nothing. I told you, my dad and I skipped town. But I missed you." He came closer to kiss her but she moved away.

"What's wrong Gabi?" He said as he moved a lock of her hair away from her face.

"Troy, I know what happened" she replied quietly. Troy suddenly stiffened and moved her hand away.

"What are you talking about?" he asked coldly while looking down at his tray.

Gabriella slid closer to him to comfort him, "Chad told me about your mom, Troy. I'm so sorry"

Troy shook his head and looked away, "he told you?"

Gabriella nodded, "Troy, why didn't you?"

Troy suddenly pushed away his tray and stood up, "You know what? I don't feel like eating lunch. I have some more homework to do." And with those words, he left her.

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Gabriella sat in the girls' bathroom stall crying. She just couldn't understand Troy. He could share something as bad as that with Chad but he couldn't tell her?

And why was he acting like that with her?

Gabriella's thoughts were cut short when Taylor stepped into the bathroom with Sharpay on her tale.

"Gabriella Montez! Why are you in here when you should be out there consoling your poor boyfriend? I mean, didn't you hear what happened to his mother?" Sharpay yelled out.

Taylor nudged her in the ribs, "Shar, keep it down. Gabriella, you've been in there for a while now. What's wrong?"

Gabriella came out of the stall and faced her friends.

"Oh my god, Gabi, what's wrong?" Sharpay asked worriedly.

Gabriella walked over to the sink and washed her face, "Troy's been ignoring me the whole day and I've been trying to comfort him and be there for him. All he does is push me away"

"Oh Gabbs, I'm sure its just because of what happened. Just give him time." Taylor rubbed her back.

"Why'd he even come to school?" Sharpay asked, "if my mom had just died, I would be out for a while"

Gabriella shrugged, "maybe he's just trying to keep his mind off of it. He'll just keep thinking about it if he's alone"

Taylor nodded and gave Gabriella a hug, "just give him some time, Gabi. He's going through rough times."

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Gabriella finally caught up with Troy at the end of the day as he was leaving to his car.

"Troy, Troy!" she called up and ran after him. Troy stopped walking but did not turn around.

"I was waiting for you in front of my locker" Gabriella said as that was the usually place for them to meet up at the end of the day.

Troy didn't even bother looking at her and said as he kept walking, "I forgot"

Gabriella walked faster to catch up with him, "Troy, we have to talk"

Troy stopped and sighed, "what do you want Gabi? My mom died, are you happy? There, I told you" he yelled loud enough and quieted her, "she died in a…a car accident and I couldn't deal with it so I didn't tell you. Is that alright with you or do you want to know every fucking detail of my life every fucking second of the day?"

Gabriella looked taken aback. He had never yelled at her, and never like this. His words were so hurtful and chilled

"Troy, I…I-"

"Look, I'm going to go. I'll call you later" he walked to his car without saying goodbye. Hurting her for the third time in that one day.