Disclaimer: I don't own HSM or any songs I mention!

Author: Alleycat

Story: Everybody Knows

Growing up is hard. It's a lot harder when you're in love with your best friend and everyone knows it-except her.

Life is so weird sometimes. Days go by and I don't notice but other times an hour lasts forever.

I just saw "the Avengers" and it was better than I expected. I totally heart Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America now.

High school here we come:

I saw the world thrashing all around your face
Never really knowing it was always mesh and lace
I'll stop the world and melt with you
You've seen the difference and
It's getting better all the time
There's nothing you and I won't do
I'll stop the world and melt with you

~ Modern English, "Melt with You"

Chapter 3

"Are you excited about starting high school tomorrow?" Jack asked between bites of his steak. "I've been waiting years for you to play for the East High Wildcats."

Troy gave him a weird look. "You've always been my coach."

"High School teams are different," He argued.

Troy shrugged not really getting it. "That's like two months away."

"Don't get lazy," Jack warned.

"Enough basketball talk," Lucille interrupted. "How are the rest of your classes?"

Troy shrugged again and concentrated on his plate.

"Any classes with Gabriella?" Lucille asked nonchalantly, trying to keep the smile off her face.

Jack rolled his eyes at the turn of the conversation.

"No," He said stabbing the steak. "She's taking advanced classes already as a freshman."

"What about Chad?" Jack wondered.

"Every class," Troy replied with a roll of his eyes. He knew what his dad was doing. It was what he was always doing.

"Maybe it's a good thing." Jack started. "I think you guys need to take some time apart."

"Leave them alone," Lucille argued. "They're going to get married one day. I won't have you talking about my future daughter like that."

"Mo-om!" Troy dropped his fork and hid behind his hands. "Stop it! We are not!"

"Of course not," She patted him on the head as she passed him.

"I'm going to bed," He shouted, while his parents were in the kitchen probably making out.

Ugh.

He wanted to leave before his mother started asking about his relationship with Ella. She had a habit of asking him whether or not they consummated it yet.

She had recently read a contemporary parenting book and she was currently trying to be a 'cool' mom.

It was horrible.

He closed and locked his bedroom door before flopping on his bed. He landed painfully on his cell phone. He grabbed it and looked to see if he had any messages; he had one message from Gabriella.

I need your help.

She sent it twenty minutes ago.

Hoping that he wasn't too late, he hit send.

"Come outside," She told him before hanging up.

He laughed and got off his bed. He opened his doors to see Ella sitting on one of her chairs across the way.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked to the edge. "What's up?"

"I'm nervous," She said, her eyes glassy. "I needed my best friend."

"Where's Taylor?" He teased, earning a laugh. "Why are you nervous?"

She was quiet for a moment. "Will you still be my friend in high school?"

He was flabbergasted. "What?"

"You're so popular and I'm so not," She explained, hiding her face behind her hair. "I just want to know that we're not going to change."

"Where is this coming from?" He asked, getting ready to climb over. This wasn't the type of conversation they should have so far away. She needed comfort.

She needed him.

"No," She shrieked, when she saw what he was planning on doing. "Do not come over. I'm such a mess."

"Ella," He said softly which caused her to cry even harder. "Please let me come over."

"No," She was adamant. "I'm just being silly."

"Fine," He huffed, climbing back over the ledge. "You know I'd do anything for you, right?"

"Of course," Gabriella smiled. "You know I love you right?"

He gaped at her, his heart beating so fast that he was sure he was having a heart attack.

"I-I mean as a friend or a brother," She hastily corrected. "Of course, you're like my brother."

"Of course," He repeated dully, hoping she couldn't tell he was lying.

"Great," She said with a smile. "Now which outfit do you think?"

She held up two hangers. One had a plain white shirt with ruffles and the other was a loose black shirt with tribal patterns. He would bet his life that her mother bought the plain one and her father bought the black one. He pointed to the busier one.

"You don't think it's too much?" She asked, holding the fabric over her body.

"You'll look beautiful," He assured her.

"Do you think it's sexy?" She wondered.

He inhaled sharply, "What is going on with you?"

"I just want to look good," She defended.

"For who?" His voice cracked like it did when he went through puberty a couple years ago.

She avoided his eyes, "Nobody."

"I'll find out and kick his ass," He warned her, completely meaning it. Just because she didn't want him didn't mean it was okay for some other guy to put his grubby hands on her.

She giggled. "Calm down, blue eyes."

He loved it when she called him that. She didn't do it very often but it made it so much more special when she did.

"What about you?" She countered.

He was confused. "What about me?"

"Please," She scoffed. "The whole school was obsessed with you. I doubt it's going to change just because we're going to high school."

He just stared at her.

She sighed. "Just no cheerleaders okay?"

This caused him to laugh.

"I'm talking about substance over style," She said with narrowed eyes. "I'm sure that's a foreign concept for males."

"No cheerleaders," He agreed, after his laughter subsided. "See you for breakfast?"

She nodded and they both went inside.

"Good morning!" Gabriella called as she walked into the Bolton house the next day.

It had become tradition for Lucille to make breakfast for the two of them since Gabriella's parents split up. Her mother was not able to be around as much and Lucille tried to take over as much as possible.

"Well don't you look pretty," His mom commented from the stove, waving a spatula.

"Thanks, Mama Bolton."

Troy turned from the bar and hated the way his breath caught. Sometimes he felt like such a girl. Her hair was up with some wavy pieces hanging down. She was wearing large gold tear drop hoops and bangles. Her shirt looked amazing but what he didn't expect was the dip of the v neck or the tight jeans or the heels.

Damn, she did look sexy.

"Troy?" She asked spinning slowly. "What do you think?"

"You look great," He told her around the eggs in his mouth.

She brightened visibly and plopped down in the seat next to him. His mom offered her a plate with eggs and fruit, just the way she liked it. Lucille waved away the thanks and turned back to the stove.

Troy wrapped his free arm around the back of Gabriella's chair. His mom winked at him and Troy avoided her gaze. When he noticed Ella smiling at him, he grinned back, completely forgetting his mother was in the room.

Oh to be young again...

Please tell me what you think! I need to know and plus it makes me work faster.