Sorry for taking forever to update. My internet has been down. That, plus, I had a minor case of writer's block. And also, I took finals this past week & then I got sick, and blah. Not to mention, the all-important, Christmas shopping. Gosh, too much going on.

On the upside, I'm out of school until January 12th! :D

Disclaimer: How many times must I say it? I don't own High School Musical.

Troy had been going over his previous conversations with his two best friends, all day. So, Gabriella didn't like Sharpay. And, Sharpay didn't like Gabriella. When did that happen? Had he missed something?

He felt almost ashamed for not noticing their animosity towards each other. But, still he didn't understand why. Why was there any animosity in the first place? Why didn't they tell him? Why didn't he figure it out himself?

Sure, he had seen them fight before, but he never really thought anything of it. And he had noticed them giving each other hate stares, but he figured it was just some "girl thing".

He never expected that they disliked each other. He must've been in his own little world, most of the time. Automatically, assuming that everyone liked each other and that everything was right in the world.

But he was way off. Everything was wrong in the world. His best friends didn't like - possibly even hated - each other. Where did that leave him? How could he still be best friends with them? Would it be possible for him to hang out with one of them, without feeling guilty about betraying the other? Probably not.

--

All day at school, on Monday, Troy had been avoiding both Sharpay and Gabriella. He decided it would be better than trying to be friends with both of them, when they didn't like each other. He was sitting in his desk quietly, during fifth period, when Gabriella came and sat next to him. So much for avoiding her.. He opened up his textbook, pretending to read, so she wouldn't bother him.

"Hey Troy," she said, smiling.

"Hi Gabriella," he said, unenthused, not looking up from his book.

Gabriella frowned. "Troy, why are you being so-". Just then, Sharpay walked in the classroom and sat on the opposite side of Troy.

"This is all your fault," Gabriella hissed at Sharpay.

Sharpay blinked at her. "What are you talking about?"

"Because of you, Troy won't talk to me.," she answered, glancing at Troy, who was still trying to pretend that he was reading.

"Or maybe, he just realized what a whore you are."

"She's not a whore," Troy mumbled quietly. Sharpay and Gabriella both shot him a look, but he didn't notice because he still hadn't looked up.

"This is still your fault.," Gabriella repeated.

"Whatever, Gabriella. The reason, he isn't talking to us, is because he knows we don't like each other. And doesn't want me to get mad at him, for talking to you. Or vice versa.," Sharpay explained. "It's not rocket science."

Gabriella scoffed. "You're so smart," she said sarcastically.

"Smarter than you, little miss Montez.," Sharpay retorted, smirking.

Meanwhile, Troy was still 'reading'.

--

"And tell Shar that I can't come over after school.," Troy finished telling Ryan.

Ryan gave him a weird look. "Why can't you tell her yourself? She's standing right here." He gestured to Sharpay, who was standing about a foot away from them.

"He can't talk to me, because he doesn't want Gabriella to find out," Sharpay explained to Ryan.

Ryan blinked. "That's stupid."

"Can't you just tell her?," Troy questioned, still ignoring the fact Sharpay was right there.

"I pretty sure she already heard you, Troy."

"So, you're not gonna tell her?," he asked.

Sharpay butted in. "Just tell me, Ryan!"

"But you already heard him!"

"Just tell me, anyway. It will make Troy feel better.," Sharpay reasoned.

Ryan groaned. "Troy is not coming over after school.," he told her, even though she obviously had already heard.

"So, did you tell her?," Troy asked, a few seconds later.

"You just saw me tell her!," Ryan yelled at him.

Does anyone else find Ryan insanely amusing? …no? oh, well, I guess it's just me ;]

Sorry if this chapter was too short; the next chapter should be a bit longer.

And incase, I don't update before the 25th, MERRY CHRISTMAS :D