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.

Dedication to: ihearttroyella because I would say the same thing

So it is definitely about to the hit fan! Just a warning!

Two inspirations for the chapter:

the scene in HSM 2 when Gabriella shows Sharpay the vocal exercises and it scares her..I cracked up when she hit the locker

John Tucker Must Die!

Chapter 10

Get your hands off the girl

Can't you see she belongs to me?

And I don't appreciate this excess company

~Weezer "Perfect Situation"

Drop a heart and break a name
We're always sleeping in
And sleeping for the wrong team

We're going down, down
In an earlier round
And sugar, we're going down swinging
I'll be your number one with a bullet
A loaded God complex
Cock it and pull it

Am I more than you bargained for yet?

~Fall Out Boy, "Sugar, We're Going Down"

Troy tried to keep his word.

The goal was simple: keep Eric away from Ella.

The reality was much harder.

It seemed like everywhere he looked there was Eric trying to touch her. It was always subtle things like a brush against her arm or a hand to the shoulder. Things that if brought up to Ella she would say he were being dramatic.

Over the past few weeks it had gotten so bad that he literally grabbed her to him every time he spied the pair together. She would sigh but shoot him a small smile and continue talking. Eric would smirk at his reaction causing him to feel even more defensive.

Like by grasping her so tightly, she was slowly slipping away from him.

When Gabriella announced at lunch that she didn't need a ride home, Troy knew he was losing.

He was immediately suspicious.

"Why not?" He asked, his eyes trained on her.

The whole table got quiet. His team knew how on edge he had been since Eric started hanging around. He didn't dare sit at their table only because there were no empty seats.

Originally, it was Taylor and Gabriella and two lucky cheerleaders who sat at their table.

The cheerleaders would change but the other two stayed the same.

Gabriella sitting with him was a done deal because he would follow her where ever she went. Without him, there would be no popular table. He knew it was pompous but it was true.

He just didn't care.

Just like without Gabriella there was no Troy the same was said for Taylor. Even though he hated her, he knew the only way Ella would stay was if she did.

The glares and snide comments added up over the years but were completely worth it. Recently, Ella had taken offense to the two rotating cheerleaders. She didn't make snide comments but he knew by her face, she was thinking them.

He asked her about the sudden change of heart but she acted like she didn't know what he was talking about.

Imagine his surprise when the next day after the questioning, there's a girl with curly hair and a calculus book and a girl with glasses and a music book. The cheerleaders who Chad designated lucky that week had lost their seat. The girls and Chad tried to argue.

"We'll just leave," Gabriella offered with a wry smile.

His team stood strong but so did he.

"We'll find our own table," He told the four girls as he got up.

Two of them fawned, one smiled, and Ella hugged his arm. He couldn't stop the grin.

His friends eventually conceded when they realized he was serious.

So when Gabriella made her announcement even her friends knew what it meant.

"We really have to work on it and I've run out of excuses. We're going to his house after school and hopefully get most of it done."

He dropped his burger. "You're not going over there. I don't trust him."

"Troy," She said warningly. "He might be overzealous but he's harmless."

"You're not going," He repeated. He saw Taylor's annoyed face but refused to acknowledge it. She probably thought he was sexist.

"I don't really have an alternative." She said with a helpless smile. "I don't have a car."

"I have an idea," He said as the bell rang. "I'm taking you home and then to the public library."

She gave him a weird look.

"Tell him about the change of plans."

She nodded and looked, he couldn't help but notice, a tiny bit relieved.

"So I'll call you when we're done," Ella asked as he pulled into the library parking lot.

He shook his head. "I'm coming in."

Ella groaned. "Troy you cannot chaperone."

He tried to look shocked. "I would never! I'm meeting someone too!"

Ella was about to ask who when she caught sight of a pink mustang.

She looked worried. "Is this a good idea?"

Turns out it wasn't.

They picked out a table and Troy picked out the one next to it. Anytime Eric would move, Troy would either growl or throw something at him. He was barely paying attention to Sharpay, who looked like even the air in the library was below her.

Gabriella tried to get work done but she was distracted by the three other people. Maybe she should do the project by herself. One time she got up to escape the tension (Troy had somehow migrated closer to their table and was glaring at Eric) and Sharpay followed her.

"I know what you're doing."

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "I know what you're doing."

The blonde huffed. "Troy doesn't like you."

Gabriella quirked her eyebrow, "Says the girl who can't hold his attention."

"This isn't a movie," She said taking a step toward her between the stacks. "The ugly poor loser does not get the hot guy."

"But the Barbie does," She scoffed.

"You're pathetic." Sharpay shot back but simpered when she saw Troy coming down the aisle.

He looked between the two. "What's going on?"

"Just some girl talk," Sharpay giggled and trotted off toward the table with a wink.

He looked amused. "Was it girl talk?"

"Something like that," She agreed with a laugh. "We talked about how we're bff's and going to get matching pink manicures."

His eyes widened in fake amazement as he took a step closer. "Am I invited?"

"Nope. Jealous?" She taunted and giggled when he trapped her against the bookcase between his arms.

"Am I invited now?" He repeated.

"Intimidation does not work on me," She warned him before darting under his arm and running down the aisle. He chased after her until they ran into Eric who did not look amused. He went to grab Gabriella when Troy got to her first and pulled her out of his way.

He rolled his eyes. "I have to go if you two are going to continue to act like children."

Troy waved goodbye happily and turned to her, "Let's get out of here."

Gabriella went to remind him about Sharpay before deciding against it. She felt a little guilty about knowingly leaving the blonde but her and Troy had so much fun at the park that she forgot about it.

Sharpay didn't and she made sure that Gabriella couldn't forget. Snide comments, haughty looks, and fabricated rumors followed her everywhere.

Gabriella wasn't an idiot; she knew where they were coming from.

So in gym class when Sharpay said that trampiness runs in the Montez family, she ignored it. When Sharpay said that she was packing on the pounds, she ignored it. When she bragged about how Troy kissed (and girls were actually believing her), she had to act.

Gabriella threw up the volleyball and spiked it-right to the back of her head.

Sharpay gasped and turned around. "You did that on purpose!"

"I am so sorry," She simpered, in a near perfect impersonation of the blonde. "It slipped."

She huffed but turned back around.

Gabriella paused when she felt her phone vibrate in her gym shorts. She ignored it. She heard the gasps around her as they read their own messages but she continued to try to pay attention the game.

"Did you hear about Troy Bolton?" A random girl asked her.

Gabriella ignored her too because really, what she could possibly tell her about her best friend.

Her concentration was shot when she heard Sharpay.

"It was probably because of Troy's Mexican whore."

Her jaw dropped.

Taylor, who heard and was just as offended, grinned. "Give Barbie hell."

She smiled before grabbing the ball out of Kelsi's hands and lobbed it at her.

It hit her back this time.

She stomped over. "You did that on purpose!"

"I'm not interested in your pettiness," Gabriella snapped. "But you start lying about Troy and that is not okay with me!"

"Shut up you loser!" She screeched. "He doesn't even like you! You're just as pathtic as your slutty-"

Before she could think about it, Gabriella took a deep breath, channeled her anger, and launched herself at the girl.

The same thoughts were eating at Troy until he had no choice but to confront Eric. He grabbed him when he saw him in the hallway and refused to let him leave.

"I have to get to class," Eric whined. "Let me go."

Troy shook his head, "I think we need to have a little talk."

"Make an appointment," Eric retorted, trying unsuccessfully to wrench his wrist out of Troy's. "I have places to be."

"You're going to stay here," He replied. "And we are going to talk about you and Ella."

"Wow," He sneered. "You're really obsessed with her."

Troy laughed, "You just figured that out? I thought you were smart."

Eric looked haughty. "We are going to be together."

"Ella does not like you," He told him. "So just stay away from her."

He laughed. "We have the project to work on together. That means a lot of long, late nights together."

Troy shook his head, trying to fight his mounting anger and insecurity. "You're delusional."

"No," Eric snapped and took a step closer. "You're delusional if you think Gabriella would ever be interested in a Neanderthal jock like you. Face it, you are just her friend. The sooner you accept that the easier it will get."

"The easier what will get?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"Seeing her with other guys." Eric smiled sympathetically. "She is beautiful and you aren't enough. I will take better care of her than you ever-"

Troy didn't know if it was his insecurity or that Eric was actually speaking the truth, but when Eric said that he could take better care of Ella than he could he snapped. She was his. He cocked his fist back before he could finish the sentence and followed through.

Eric's head bounced off the locker.

Eric looked shocked for a second before trying to stem the bleeding. When he ran away, calling for a teacher, Troy collapsed against the lockers and waited for the punishment.

He was numb as he sat waiting in the principal's office next to his dad who was yelling. He was barely paying attention to what he was saying and watched the hallway through the clear windows.

He waited for Ella to rush in but she never came. Either she hadn't heard yet or what Eric said was true. He tried not to think too hard about it.

He flexed his fingers, his hand sore.

So it was to his surprise that not too long after Gabriella was hauled in by the girl's coach. She was still wearing her gym uniform and her hair was half out of her ponytail. He noticed, with fear, her lip was bleeding.

He jumped up to follow the pair when he was restrained by his father. He struggled as hard as he could but it was in vain.

"You're already in enough trouble," He hissed. "Sit your ass down and wait for your mom."

As numb he felt before now he was brimming with emotions. What happened? Was she okay? Did this have something to do with him? Did Eric do it? His savior came in the form of Chad who was bringing him homework for the duration of his suspension.

"You forgot my book," Troy said loudly.

Chad looked confused but after a sharp jab nodded and began yelling. "You are so right! Too bad your locker is ALL the way on the other side of school as this is essential to your assignment."

Troy groaned, his voice returning to a more normal level. "What am I going to do? I can't give you my combination because that is personal information but I can't leave either."

"Now, not only are you suspended but you might fail too!" Chad agreed in the same loud voice and shook his head, obviously upset. "You'll drop out of school and end up on the streets!"

Troy shook his head imperceptibly. "Too far," He whispered with a laugh.

"You'll get kicked off the basketball team," Chad quickly corrected, still speaking too loud. "because you need a 3.0! And really your grades aren't anything to write home about."

"Hey," Troy argued, feeling slightly defensive.

Jack looked amused much to his chagrin. "Five minutes."

They cheered but at his look they resumed the despondent expressions. Troy followed Chad out of the office and as soon as they were out of view they stopped.

"Tell me you know what happened with Ella." He begged, casting a furtive glance to make sure no one was paying attention to them.

"I've heard rumors but first off why the hell did you deck Eric?"

Troy waved off the question, "He deserved it now who did that to her?"

Chad laughed ."You must not know your Ella very well as all the rumors agree she was the one who initiated it."

Troy gaped. "That doesn't sound like her. Who did she fight?"

"She attacked Sharpay Evans aka your science partner," Chad looked thoughtful. "What an interesting coincidence!"

Troy just stared at him, barely comprehending. His Gabriella started a fight?

"Word on the street-"

Troy rolled his eyes at that part-

"is that she kicked some ass too." Chad looked impressed. "Maybe I misjudged her. She always one ups you though. You punch someone and she gets in a fist fight."

"Have you guys seen her?" Zeke appeared, looking extremely worried. His loyalties were torn between Gabriella, who was nice, and Sharpay, the most beautiful girl in the world.

"Which one?" Chad asked.

"Sharpay," He answered quickly. "I visited her at the nurse's office. She was hyperventilating and her face was not in good shape. Her lip looked swollen, black eyes, and cuts all over."

"I'm sure that's from Gabriella's knuckles," Chad interjected happily.

Zeke glared at him. "That's my girlfriend you're talking about. Now if she hadn't been attacked unfairly by that-"

"Watch yourself, that's Troy's girlfriend." Chad reminded him with a smile.

Troy gaped at his friend.

"What?" He asked innocently.

"You've never called her that before." Zeke looked just as shocked.

"Any girl that kicks ass over you is more than all right in my book," He explained, pushing his friend playfully.

"It was over me?" Troy wondered.

Zeke and Chad looked at each other before impersonating his awed expression.

"Who? Me?" Chad mocked, fanning himself.

'Shut it," Troy responded with a laugh.

But was it true?

If she really got into a fist fight, that had to mean something. The longer he thought about it, the less sure he was. Best friends defended each other's honor right?

So maybe it wasn't such a big deal.

When Troy returned to the office, holding the same book Jack didn't say anything. He just pointed to the seat and Troy sat down dutifully, still thinking. He straightened up when he saw the door open and her exit.

He held his breath.

She plopped down across from him, smiling once Matsui went back in his office.

He grinned back, taking in her face. She didn't seem to have any marks besides the lip which had stopped bleeding. She did have some nail indentions.

Troy shuddered when he thought Sharpay's glittery talons.

"I'm surprised Gabriella," Jack commented. He didn't like sitting in silence while the two kids made googly eyes at each other. It was awkward.

"Me too," Troy agreed. "What were you thinking young lady?"

"I wasn't," She half joked. "Honestly, it was really dumb. I should have used my words instead."

"A little late for that Ali," He teased, grinning at her blush.

"Et tu, Brute?"Lucile asked when she walked in and saw Gabriella. "I should have known."

"I only hit a kid, she attacked a girl," Troy piped up helpfully and laughed at Gabriella's glare.

"That's not something I would announce," Jack grumbled, next to him.

Gabriella laughed along with Troy's parents while he sulked.

"Is Isabela coming?" Lucile asked as she sat next to Gabriella.

Gabriella shrugged, "She's supposed to be but you know her."

Lucille frowned. She hated Gabriella's mother for her treatment of the sweet girl next to her. "Am I still your other emergency contact?"

She thought for a moment. "I think so."

"Good," Lucille stood up and gestured for her to do the same. "You're coming with us. I'll sign you out."

Troy snapped out of his stupor and jumped up excitedly.

"This is not a reward. You are in big trouble," Lucille warned him, trying to look stern. She was always too soft on him and Gabriella.

"Of course not," He assured her but pulled Ella to him when she turned around.

"You all right?" He asked, tracing the cut on her lip. His mom was too busy arguing with the secretary to pay attention and his dad had already left.

"I'm fine," She promised, her cheeks pink.

"Good," Troy said and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead.

"Let's go you two," Lucille gestured to the door and tried not to beam. Sure they were in trouble but they were so damn cute.

Troy wrapped his arm around Gabriella's shoulder as they walked out.

"Three days suspension?" He asked quietly.

"Three," She confirmed and grudgingly high fived him.

Who saw that coming? Lol

Three whole days off school? How fun! Yeah not exactly.

This is honestly how I wish HSM 2 would have gone!

And seriously? 25 reviews in like 2 days, how could I not update? So the challenge this week is 30 and I'll update (if it seems really high-there's a reason lol) otherwise I'll see you lovely readers within the next week.

Thank you to the people who take some time out of their busy lives to respond:

ihearttroyella, jackxoxo, pumpkinking5, Guest, londongirl123,dyeitrouge, lalachica94, zanessa14, xoxojokubauskasx3, turkishZturquoise, hisboo13, confidential brunette, LoveIsnNeverUgly, Guest, Guest, ju-cy nurse, zanessafaithx, Katie, Guest x3, Eric, Guest, Hopeful Extinction, and Porkayla.