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Chapter 16: Replaced?

Nothing super eventful happened during my morning classes. When lunch came around Troy and I made the rounds to our lockers and headed off with Zeke, Taylor, and Martha to the cafeteria, where we were meeting the rest of the gang. As soon as the five of us walked into the cafeteria silence was showered upon us. I looked nervously around and pressed myself consciously into Troy's side. He looked down at me, concern in his eyes.

"You okay El?" he asked me

"All the stares, I don't like it." I responded, keeping my eyes pasted to the floor as we walked. I noticed that Zeke had positioned himself protectively on the other side of me.

"We're here." Troy whispered to me. I nodded and looked up to see Sharpay pointing to the spot next to her. I nodded and sat down, while Troy sat on my other side. I looked in front of me at my lunch bag, my appetite had suddenly disappeared as the cafeteria was still dead quiet. So quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Troy looked at me and frowned. Looking around he yelled in a loud, clear voice, "Mind your own business." Everyone stared wide-eyed for about 30 seconds before resuming their lunches. I released a long breath I didn't even realize I was holding.

"Thank you." I quietly said.

"Relax baby girl." Troy pulled me onto his lap, "They're just not used to this. I don't date. Ever. And now here you are, out of nowhere, you fit in with our group so perfectly, I'm head over heels in love with you. It's hard. And I know it's not their relationship, but they wish they could be apart of it, as obnoxious as it sounds." Troy whispered into my hair. His breath tickled and caused me to shiver in delight.

He laughed lightly and I looked at him and smiled. "I understand, it's just that no relationship at Episcopal had this kind of effect on the entire student body. Ever." I mimicked Troy, causing him to laugh even more so. This made me smile one of my first real smiles since this morning.

After lunch the whole gang headed off for gym class, which, incidentally, was with Jack. "This should be interesting." The whole school had been filled with gossip because the Wildcats, as my friends and I are called, had been out of school so much because of me; everyone wanted to know what had been going on and why I suddenly appeared in their lives. Specifically, in Troy's life.

The girls and I went to the locker room to change. As we were changing I kept up a steady conversation with Pay as I listened to the conversations around me, "She's a whore." One girl said

"I heard it's an arranged relationship. That they have to get married right after they graduate. That's why they're 'dating'." Another spoke up. I frowned, that was a little extreme.

"I heard that one of the guys bought her for Troy for an early Christmas present."

"You mean she's a whore?" A brunette asked incredulously. I laughed lightly at that.

Sharpay frowned, "What's so funny Boo?"

"Are you listening? Apparently one of the guys bought me as an early Christmas present for Troy." I whispered with a snicker

"Oh so you're a hooker?" Pay laughed. I simply nodded, trying to control my laughter

"What's so funny Brie?" Kelsi asked with a frown.

"I'm a…never mind I'll tell you ladies later, when the guys are around to hear it too."

"Troy might punch someone, so be careful honey. You know how protective he is of you." Shar shook her head.

I shrugged, "It goes both ways." I smiled thinking of the blue-eyed boy.

Walking out into the gym we found the guys waiting for us, "Took you long enough." Chad pouted like a four-year-old.

"Get over it." Martha, Kelsi, Shar, Taylor, and I chorused. We looked at each other, rolled our eyes, and laughed. The guys' faces were priceless. Jack walked in and blew his whistle to officially start class. We all turned to face him.

"Okay, let's call roll." He said, looking down at his clipboard he began shouting out names and listening for 'here' to be answered back. Finally he got through everyone. "Okay we're onto our basketball unit. Let's pair up and start with passing drills." As soon as he blew his whistle again girls swarmed Troy. I watched as all my friends paired off and I just watched him for a minute. It was really funny how helpless he was. I could tell Jack was just as amused by his face, he shook his head.

Just when I was going to intervene and save Troy's butt I felt four taps on my shoulders and back. Turning around there were four guys holding basketballs. All looked overly confident. I smirked, "No." I said shaking my head and walking over to Troy and the girls. "Sorry girls, he's taken." I said in a surprisingly confident voice.

"Who says he'd want you?" A blonde girl looked at me with venom in her eyes.

"I do." Troy stepped out of the mass and slipped a protective arm around my tiny waist. I smirked at the girl's face and walked off with Troy. I looked over at Jack and saw him wink at me. This was quite the soap opera in my opinion.

We did passing drills for half the class and then did a small game. Troy and Chad were captains and they picked their teams. Jack thought it would be funny to see who would come out on top if they were separated.

By the end of the game Jack laughed and said. "Chad, looks like you've been replaced by Gabs here. She's just as good as you." Chad frowned and looked at me, even after the intense game I wasn't too out of breath.

I shook my head, "No thanks coach, I'd rather watch the guys than play myself. Besides that was just luck, Chad here must be having an off day, he's way better than me."

"I don't have off days Hot Stuff." Chad playfully glared at me.

"Oh, then I must be better than you after all, good going Chad, you just made yourself look like an idiot." I smirked at his mouth gaping open, he looked like a fish, "And you did it without my help."

The whole class laughed, "Fashion tip Chad." Sharpay said with a devious smile, "Mouth looks better closed."

He snapped his mouth shut and looked down at the floor. Before anyone could respond the gym doors burst open. Everyone turned to look at the newcomer…

Short I know, but at least it's an update…Review please!

Mollie XOXO