And I will try to fix you.

-COLDPLAY

Troy's Mind-

This was it. This was that moment - that moment of pride and glory for me.

Time seemed to still, everything was just stopped - everything but the moment that lay before me. Gabriella's eyes looked up to me, questioningly, longingly. I had to fight back my urges to just, well, take it from there.

Her eyes were so big, so big and brown. Her entire face was soaked and it only made her look that much more attractive. She was so beautiful, like a goddess right in front of me, unclothed. I couldn't snap out of this perfect daydream I was having. Everything seemed so idealistic, like something I would have seen in my wildest dreams. I kept wondering if maybe this all was a dream.

The steam was impossible to ignore, it just spread like fire between us. I could hardly make out her face. But I felt like my entire body hungered for her. Was that normal? I really doubt it. It didn't matter though. Nothing mattered. I just wanted her. Needed her. Yearned for her.

I had no control over what I was doing.

I forced my wet lips against her own. I couldn't fight my desire anymore. It was just eating me alive, a fire burning through my soul, desperate to get out. It was unexplainable, something you couldn't decode on paper. Her hands fought through my hair, tangling it around her fingers. My kiss became rough. I couldn't wait. Maybe I didn't know what sex was like. But I sure as hell wanted to.

"Now." I whispered, like I was encouraged by Satan himself.

Our breathing was heavy and the steam was constant. It was all so surreal, overwhelming even. I almost felt dizzy because of the hot water that continued to pour on us. My eyes closed, waiting for her response.

A silence fell between us that I didn't understand. The disappointment I felt was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I opened my eyes, confused about everything. Isn't this what she wanted, what she was involved with? Gabriella was like a damn sex kitten, tantalizing and so manipulative. Yet, she wouldn't have sex with me?

Her eyes burned right through my skull as she looked at me. There was some mixture of sadness, maybe even passion in them. The look she gave me paralyzed me for those few seconds. And then she bit her bottom lip and turned around, a grimace on her face, as if she was losing a game she was destined to win.

The letdown hit me the greatest when I realized I had been rejected. I wasn't really used to rejection, to be honest. Everybody knew that I could get any girl that I ever dreamed of. But for some unknown reason, Gabriella was the one getting away.

My insecurities were beginning to get the best of me. I felt so submissive, just standing there, waiting, hoping she would change her mind. I wasn't so bad, was I? I didn't even know what to say - words were impossible right now. It was as if she had cut my heart out of my chest. Every speck of confidence I have ever had was suddenly destroyed. I suddenly felt like I had been destroyed.

The shower never stopped and the moment between us never faded.

The silence became uncomfortable within the seconds and I so badly wanted to find the right words to say, or the right question to ask. Nothing came to me.

"I should leave," Gabriella's voice was hushed as she bit down on her bottom lip.

I watched her, aspiring to just hold her back. My feet wouldn't move as she slipped out of the shower and began to put her clothes back on.

Say something.

What was left to say? She simply didn't want me. I didn't have that experience that she did, I wasn't that crafted when it came to sex. She knew that it would have been my first time. She knew that this was important to me. And it wasn't half as important to her. It wasn't fair. But to me, that didn't matter. I just wanted her - all of her.

Why couldn't I react to her, abandoning me like that? Why couldn't I reach out and grab her, demanding she give an explanation? I needed some sort of definition. I needed to know that all of this wasn't just some mindless game. But it was. It was all pointless, something to distract her for a little while. She never had feelings for me, she just felt physical attraction towards me. And I was naïve enough to begin falling for her, knowing that I would end up like this in the end.

"Gabriella. . ." My voice only came back when she had closed the bathroom door and was on her way out of my house. God, I was an idiot. I couldn't even fight for her, persuade her to stay. Then again, I knew that she didn't want to stay. She wasn't me. This wasn't mutual. This was her entertainment.

I finally shut off the shower and got out, getting back into my jeans and shirt. I glanced at myself in the mirror, scrutinizing my appearance. Girls usually put me on a pedestal. With girls at school, I was the center of attention. I was the most sought out guy in East High. Yet I couldn't even win Gabriella's heart. Nothing else really mattered to me - the basketball team, my dad's approval. . . I really just wanted Gabriella. All of Gabriella. I wanted her selfishly. But I knew that day would never come. She didn't do relationships.

On Monday, school seemed like a living hell. I called Gabriella a total of five times within the weekend and as predicted, I received nothing in response. She was avoiding me. I got the fact that she didn't want me like that, sexually, or whatever, that it was all too weird for her since I had no experience. I understood I wasn't some tattooed, pieced guy who wanted to use her for her goodies. But the least she could do was acknowledge me in class. Instead she distanced herself from Zeke, Chad and I, sitting halfway across the classroom.

I tried to make eye-contact with her but she wouldn't even give me that. Not once. She acted as if I just didn't exist, as if she had never met me. I could tell that Zeke and Chad were a bit confused on why she wasn't talking to them either. But neither of them were awake enough to question the situation.

After the bell rang, I forced myself to talk to her. I had to. I felt like everything inside of me was breaking to pieces because of some girl. It was moronic and I knew that. I never felt this strongly about anyone in my entire life. So many girls pined over me in the passed few years. I rejected every single one of them, not even giving them the time of the day. And then Gabriella comes into my life and gives me that mischievous smirk. . . suddenly I'm head over heels.

I was what they called the "golden boy", the one that no one could get through to. Nobody stood a chance with me because my expectations were too high, because I was just too good, I was too perfect, or whatever. Maybe I was too perfect, too caught up in my fairytale-like life, where I did everything my parents told me to, where I got straight A's and never came home passed curfew. Gabriella knew she wasn't getting anywhere in the near future, that she wouldn't even go to college because her GPA wasn't high enough. I was supposed to be falling for the girl with an identical 4.0 GPA, like mine. I was supposed to be falling for the girl who was seemingly perfect like me, who had her entire life together. Instead, I go for the girl who's life seemed to be falling apart. And I couldn't get my head around her.

I was finished arguing with my heart though. I wasn't better than anyone, and I should have never made people think that. Gabriella opened my mind to many different things. Maybe I was kind of changing. I was beginning to accept her no matter what she was, no matter how many guys she slept with in the past, or how many cigarettes she's went through in the passed week. I didn't have any expectations anymore of anyone. And I didn't want to live in a life where I had to become what my father wanted of me. Instead, I wanted to live in a life where I became what I wanted of me. I would go for the things that I wanted. And right now, Gabriella was on top of my list.

"Gabriella, you can't just ignore me," I mumbled, situating myself so I was standing next to her as she spun her locker combination.

She didn't respond.

"I know that I don't have the experience you have, but what does that even have to do with anything? I care about you, I wanted it to be with you," I told her sincerely, as she opened her locker and began stacking books onto each other, "you know I actually care about you. This isn't just some game to me."

I heard her sigh, submissively. "Troy. . . you don't understand. This isn't about the experience." She looked up, meeting my eyes. I was actually taken back that she even said anything. She seemed sympathetic for some reason. "I don't do feelings."

I knew that. But hearing it again seemed to shatter my hope all over again. "I know. But I thought you were giving me a chance."

She laughed bitterly. "A chance? Troy, you are the definition of perfect. You don't deserve me. Go find someone who's good for you." And then she turned around, as if planning on walking away.

"So that's it? You're just going to give up?" I asked, angrily, blocking her path.

Our eyes met momentarily.

"Look, I thought I could do this but I can't. It's just. . . usually I can deal with guys, usually I can put a wall up or something. . . where I don't care about them," She swallowed, as if whatever she was about to say was painful, "with you, it's different. You remind me so much of him, in just the way you look at me."

"Gabriella, I'm not him - I'm not gonna hurt you the way that he did."

"No matter what, someone's going to get hurt. Don't you realize that?" Her words were filled with rage.

"You're just afraid that it might actually work," I looked deep into her eyes, "you're afraid of falling in love with me." She took in the words as if they were a simple death wish. As it sunk in, she began walking away, agony hinted in her expression. "You have to stop running away sometime," I demanded.

"Stop flattering yourself, love is a fucking joke. And obviously so are you if you thought we would ever get that far. You were different. I was kind of interested. Sorry I even bothered." She growled, not even looking back at me.

I tried my hardest not to let the words get to me. She was just a girl, after all. A girl who was petrified of caring about someone ever again. That had of been it. She was running away. She had started caring and it scared the hell out of her. It wasn't just some mind-boggling game of hot and cold. It couldn't of been. She actually opened up to me, she actually told me things she hadn't told anyone else.

I ran my hands through my hair, aggravated. Why couldn't things just be easy for once in my life? Why did I have to get myself involved, put my heart out there? Why did I have to be the good guy who reached out and tried to fix her? Obviously she wasn't fixable, obviously she was never going to get over that asshole.

I headed towards my art class, trying to disregard the idea that she was in that class with me. She probably would avoid me, sit at a different table or something. God, this was stupid. I felt so used, so pathetic, as if I meant absolutely nothing to her all along. And I shouldn't feel this way. I knew why she was acting like this - why she was shutting me out. I just couldn't accept it without feeling rejection, without feeling the damn heartbreak.

I sat down next to Zeke who seemed more lively than he had been previously. He was working on his project from last week, in deep concentration. It wasn't long before Sharpay approached our table, surprisingly all by herself.

Zeke's eyes lit up in recognition and I couldn't help but notice the way she seemed to almost smile when she seen him. Obviously things change a lot when you're under the influence. I still wondered what happened between them last weekend at Zeke's party. The thought put me back into the depression I was in earlier, back to the pity I was feeling because of some dark-haired goddess who stole my heart and then smashed it onto the ground.

Zeke and Sharpay became engaged in conversation while I tried to hold myself together. Attempting to distract myself from thoughts of a certain girl, I began working at my art project for the week. It wasn't long before the distraction came to an end. My eyes snapped up from my project as soon as she walked through the door. The sad part was I wasn't the only guy who was completely wrapped up in how gorgeous she was - about ten other guys' eyes glanced up all in unison.

She didn't look at anyone as she made her way to the other side of the room, completely disdaining Sharpay, who called out her name in hopes to have her sit at our table. Gabriella acted as if Sharpay wasn't there, as if we were all completely invisible to her. Something told me that maybe she wasn't as proud as she acted, like maybe there was a part of her that wished she could muster up the gull to see what could become of the two of us. I wasn't oblivious. It wasn't all just some ridiculous daydream, what ever went on between us. I knew damn well there was a part of her that actually cared. She was just too stubborn to admit it. I was the girl here, being all sensitive and always opening up. I couldn't help myself though. I was so lovesick for some reason. Zeke even knew it. I was "whipped", as they would say it. But I didn't care. I never cared about someone like this.

"What happened, bro?" Zeke interrupted my bottomless thoughts as he gave me a concerned look from across the table. Sharpay had the same kind of look on her face, but she was looking over at Gabriella instead.

"Nothing," I lied through my teeth as I tried to concentrate on the project instead of my troubling thoughts.

"Bull shit," Zeke knew when I was lying, "something happened between you and Baby G. Man, don't be a little bitch. Tell me what's going on."

"Just leave it alone Zeke, I don't wanna talk about it." I snarled, coldly. Usually I told Zeke and Chad about my problems, but I didn't know how to even explain this. I just felt so unwanted for some reason. Gabriella made me feel worthless.

"Like hell I'm gonna leave it alone, Bolton." Zeke countered.

"She doesn't do feelings, alright? She wouldn't sleep with me." I muttered, feeling the knives in my chest at the reminder.

Now Sharpay was looking at me too. "She said she wanted to."

I looked up at her, a bit baffled by her comment. "Huh?"

"Yeah, I thought she had her eye on him," Zeke's eyes rolled over to Sharpay, inquisitively.

"I don't know why she wouldn't," Sharpay told me, her voice serious for once, "she always talked about how it would be so great. I swear she's into you. When she was mad at you, she couldn't get over it. Its like. . . you get to her." She looked away thoughtfully, as if seriously contemplating the issue.

"As if," I rolled my eyes, dismissively, "I tell her I care about her and she won't even give me the chance because of some asshole."

"Its not like that, Troy," Sharpay broke in, solemnly, "she probably just doesn't know if she can trust you yet. I mean, you guys haven't known each other that long. Gabriella kind of puts up an act, like she doesn't care. . . when its kind of obvious she does."

"Yeah, she shuts me out when she's starting to care," I mused.

"So you're jes gonna sit here and mope about it?" Zeke's eyebrows furrowed.

I snorted. "What else am I supposed to do? Obviously its not meant to be."

Sharpay laughed, "Meant to be? I never thought you were the fairytale type. But then again, clichés never work out easy. You guys are cliché you know, the bad girl and the good guy. Its so Disney." I couldn't help but notice the way her golden eyes had a malignant gleam to them when I looked in them.

"Dude, you gotta jes show her you ain't gonna give up. Show her you're the man."

I gave Zeke a look, "You're crazy, she already thinks I'm probably obsessed with her."

"When you're in love, it doesn't matter." Sharpay gave me a rather smug grin.

"Love?" She had to of been crazy. "I don't love Gabriella."

Zeke snorted, "Yeah, yeah, and that's why you're almost crying because she rejected you." He shook his head. "I don't know if you notice this man, but you look at her all the time, and I mean all the time. Its not in the 'admiring' type of look either, its in the lovey-dovey way."

"Its obvious," Sharpay supported, "even I notice that. And with the way that she acts, it kind of seems like she feels the same way. So I don't know why you don't just stick it out. Girls love clichés."

"I don't love Gabriella." I told them, grudgingly. I couldn't. That'd just be impossible, right? I didn't know her well enough to love her. I may have thought about her a lot. . . or well, all the time. . . but that didn't mean that I love her.

"Whatever you say, Romeo," Zeke chuckled, "all I'm sayin' is you should do something about it before its too late. Write her a poem, serenade her or something. Take your clothes off and profess your love for her on the roof or something. I dunno man, just do something spontaneous."

"Once she knows that you're serious, once she can trust you, she'll probably admit to her feelings. She's just not sure whether you're actually true for her." Sharpay added in, wistfully. "Troy, you gotta be a man."

"Guys, I don't need your advice, or whatever this is supposed to be. . . mentoring session. I don't love her, and I'm not gonna do something crazy for her. She obviously doesn't like me, so I'm not even gonna bother." I told them as the bell rang. I gathered my things and headed out the door.

It was then I realized five things.

One, I really couldn't stand Sharpay and Zeke, especially together, because they came up with these really ridiculous assumptions.

Two, Gabriella may have been running away because she's afraid I won't catch her.

Three, I was a jackass because I was sulking over her rejecting me when I should have been doing something about it.

Four, I've never realized it before but we were a cliché. Hence, it was going to be hard to make it work, but it'd be worth the fight.

And five, I was madly in love with Gabriella Montez and I was going to have to do something to prove it to her.

END OF CHAPTER

A/N: Sorry it sucked. Next chapter will be ten times better, I promise. You'll understand Gabriella's feelings better next chapter. Review!