I do not own any of the characters of HSM.

Hey, sorry for the long wait. I'm working on the next chapter. I really didn't want to do it this way, but I have no choice now. You might have no clue about what I'm talking about, but I'm way too lazy to explain anything. I would like to give thanks to the people who did the both parts of reading and reviewing. They were CHAYLORISAWESOME312, CuteANDSexxxy17, look at the stars, dreamluver209, MermaidRam85, Sciencefreak2007, baby2ludaris, the gifted one, and Phelycia.

Chapter Two

What a perfect way to wake up: to open your eyes to nothing but a full head of blonde hair, to inhale the fresh scent of grease, and to taste yummy extensions. Troy could already see where this day was heading. After removing the naked blonde girl from on top of him, he sat up on his bed and slid to the side thinking about what had happened the previous night. Ah yes, his booty call. Troy turned his head and stared at the nude groupie who was now stirring on his bed. She fluttered her eyes opened and smiled at Troy.

"Morning," she yawned. Troy got up and put on his pajama pants. "Baby come on, stay in bed, where are you going," whined the girl who was now hanging onto his arm. With a sigh, Troy replied.

"Rachael, look I--"

"Sarah."

"Sarah, can you just put on your clothes and leave? I'm going to go wash up."

"But Troy, why? I thought we had a connection." Troy chuckled bitterly.

"Connection? The only connection we have is between you and my money. Now by time I'm back, you're gone," Troy said as he walked towards his bathroom. He entered his bathroom and pressed his hands against the counter. Troy slowly lifted his head staring intently at the mirror. Who had he become? Troy was a perfect example that showed how money doesn't always make a person happy.

He blamed Gabriella for everything of course. He had planned his whole life with her in it. The mother of his children. His reason for living. That dreadful day when Taylor came crying at his doorstep telling him what she had just discovered, Troy's world came crashing down. It had felt like a bullet had scraped through his heart. He couldn't believe he attended the wedding of his supposedly best friend and his ex.

He chuckled to himself. His best friend, walking down the isle with all of Troy's future. Not once, did he ever picture them together. Heck, he barely even saw them communicate in school, but yet, there they were, tying the knot. Troy said he forgave them, but he knew he had things yet to let go of. Gabriella had called Troy that day of the incident but Troy would be damned to pick up. He just cried that day. Cried like a baby. He didn't even care if he was embarrassing himself in from of Taylor. Obviously neither did Taylor cuz she was crying her eyes out with him. The next day he had called Taylor up, and they chilled together at the park. That day, they actually became friends. They had real conversations and found ways to keep Gabriella and Chad off their minds.

Though they had never talked much, Troy always liked Taylor's personality, the way she would stand up for herself and her friends, and damn that body of hers. You gotta cut Troy some slack though. He was a boy, and what boy doesn't simply adore curves? And Taylor had the curves of a goddess, but she usually covered herself up, something Troy found very odd. But rarely, when she didn't, Troy would find himself glimpsing at her ass, but he would look away before anyone noticed. He knew it was wrong especially because it was his girlfriend's best friend, and vice versa.

But Troy and Taylor did become close after their break ups. It had seemed as if only they understood their selves. But Christmas break ended, along with their relationship as they flew back to their respective homes, only this time, they were single. And it was now 7 years later. After Gabriella, Troy decided that he would never put his heart on the line again for any woman. So there he was, playing professional basketball for the L.A. Lakers and sleeping with who ever threw themselves at him, like groupies and models. Out of complete boredom Troy would occasionally call up a random chick to come over, which was exactly what happened last night.

Troy looked away from the mirror. He took a deep breath before turning on the faucet and washing off his face. Sighing heavily, he exited the bathroom and entered his now empty bedroom. He removed the sheets from off his bed and threw them in the laundry basket. He then laid directly on his mattress and looked at the ceiling fan cluelessly. A few seconds later, the sound of T.I. blasted through his cell phone breaking the silence. Not bothering to check the caller ID Troy picked up.

"Hello?"

"Troy bro, what's up," said the familiar male voice. Ever since Chad and Troy had fallen out, Zeke had been there for Troy. He and his wife Sharpay lived in New York with their first newborn, Sharlene. They had kept in touch with Troy over the phone. In fact, they were the only ones who stayed in touch with everyone in the gang, even Chad and Gabriella.

"Zeke, my man, I've been good. What about you? How's Sharpay and that little munchkin?"

"They're great…they both said hi. So what are you up to," wondered Zeke.

"Well I'm just lying around. A friend of mine just left."

"Oh you're still playing around, huh," Zeke said knowing Troy had multiple meanings for the word 'friend.' He had never supported Troy's changed lifestyle. He thought it was horrible the way how Troy treated women but Zeke never pushed the topic. But one try wouldn't hurt, he thought. "Troy, you have got to grow up…stop playing around with women. Just settle down." Troy sighed and sat up.

"What I do isn't any of your business."

"I know but you're my boy, man. And you're not getting any younger. Are you gonna let one girl make you miserable and lonely?"

"Don't go there Zeke..you don't understand a damn thing about what happened."

"I know Gabriella hurt you, but she's one girl…and everyone's not the same. Troy, I'm just looking out for you."

"And I 'preciate it man but if you don't mind, I'd like if you dropped it." Zeke sighed.

"Alright homes..Shar wanted me to let you know about this little reunion that's goin' down next month back home."

"Reunion? For the class of '08?"

"Yup. Sharpay dedicated today as the day me and her call up everyone." Troy thought it out for a while. A reunion..with everyone there. All of Troy's teammates, and classmates…which included Chad and Gabriella.

"Hell naw," Troy blurted out at the thought.

"What," Zeke asked in surprise just as Sharlene started crying. "Hold on man."

"Okay." A few moments passed before Troy heard the crying calm down and soon after Zeke came back to the phone.

"Okay, what were you saying now," said Zeke.

"Is everyone gonna be at this get together?"

"Yeah," Zeke said confirming Troy's worst fear. Troy then thought about the last angle to the square. "Taylor too?"

"Um Shar's calling the ladies, lemme ask her," Zeke said walking into the living room. "Honey, is Taylor going?" Sharpay scribbled something down on paper before looking up at her husband.

"Hold on Martha," Sharpay said into phone. "…uh I haven't called her as yet, but I will as soon as I'm through with Martha then Kelsi."

"Okay," Zeke said before walking out the room and back into the den where Sharlene was. "Sharpay hasn't called Taylor yet..but why do you wanna know?"

"I was just..wondering." Troy would love to rekindle his friendship with Taylor and sure he missed his old friends and buddies from East High, but just the thought of Chad and Gabriella being there was enough to change his mind.

"So what's it gonna be Troy?"

"Um, I don't think I can make it. I…I have a whole lot of games scheduled next month, and I can't miss any…" Zeke had to contain himself from bursting out in laughter. He decided to break the news slowly to Troy.

"Troy man…it's not even basketball season."

Shit. "Uh well," Troy dragged. He was busted and he knew it.

"It's them, huh," Zeke said referring to Chad and Gabriella. Troy covered his face with his free hand. What was going on with him? He had never been so bothered by his past since before he made up his mind about his new love life.

"Zeke, if you only knew how jacked up it is."

"I know, life's rough man. But just come to the reunion. You never know what to expect," Zeke said trying to persuade Troy. "What do you say?"

"I'll let you know by the end of the day, I promise."

"Well alright then. I'll catch you later, got some more people to holla at."

"Okay bro, I'll think it over, see you man," Troy said before hanging up. But there was nothing to think over, except going over how he was gonna say no to Zeke. Troy had already made up his mind. He wasn't going. Period. Troy wouldn't know what he'd do: man hug Chad in forgiveness or knuckle punch the life out of him for stealing his girl. And Taylor would probably hate him because she probably saw him with woman after woman, after she told him about her great dislike for men like that.

Troy thought about the brown eye beauty, and if there conversations were true she was now a pediatrician somewhere in Florida. Troy flipped open his cell phone and went in his contacts in search of her name. He browsed until he reached the 'T' section. He scrolled down until 'Taylor M.' was highlighted. Troy silently contemplated on calling her. He finally voted against it and shut his phone. He would be scared of her reaction. Troy sighed deeply before getting off his bed and going into his bathroom once more. He turned on the shower before discarding his clothes and grabbing his toothbrush and toothpaste. He then entered the shower removing all his thoughts from his mind, with one stubborn one remaining: "Taylor."

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