Author Note: And here is chapter five =) feels like forever since i last posted a chapter, but it's actually only been a few days =S finally back at Uni, took forever to get everything unpacked again =/ but now i'm free to update, read fanfiction's and watch 'The Simpsons' to my hearts content =) Ain't student life great?

Anyways, i hope you guys all enjoy, thank you for the great reviews i've gotten, you are all so awesome and keep me writing =)

Disclaimer: I don't own a damn thing =/

Chapter 5

I managed to avoid Troy again on the way home, but only because Chad pulled him away for basketball practice. I was glad of the time to myself, there was a lot I had to think about and having Troy constantly pestering me wouldn't help in the slightest.

Instead of heading straight home I decided to take a detour through the park not far from my house. It was warm out, the grass was emerald green and the flowers were too beautiful to resist. I sat with my back against a towering oak tree, its leaves rippling in the breeze. It was so perfect and so peaceful that I just wanted to stay here forever.

After a few minutes of just sitting and admiring, I opened my bag and pulled out a notebook. Don't worry; I'm not that much of a geek! It was my song book, not my math book! I'd been too pre-occupied of late to write much in it, but now seemed like the perfect opportunity to change that. I did, after all, have plenty to write about.

Time passed so quickly when I was writing that before I knew it, I'd been sat here for an hour already. But I couldn't leave before I finished my last song…

"Hi." I came out of my daydream world to find the subject of many of my songs standing before me. She smiled awkwardly and gave a half hearted wave, making me grin back.

She looked breath-taking stood there, the afternoon sun lighting her up from behind, making her glow like she was on fire. "H-Hi." I managed to stutter out.

"Can I sit?"

"Umm sure." I shuffled over to make room for her against the tree.

"Thanks." We sat in an uncomfortable silence for a long while. "So… what are you writing?" She motioned to my song book that lay open on my lap.

I'd completely forgotten about it and snapped it shut before she could read any of the love sick songs I'd written about her. "Nothing. Just homework."

"Oh. I just figured… well, you looked completely lost in thought that I figured you were writing a song, or something."

"You were watching me?"

She shrugged. "Only for a second."

I felt the blush spreading outward from my cheeks. I couldn't even believe she was here, in my park, let alone sitting here talking to me like we were friends! I cleared my throat, trying to think of something to say. "I didn't think you lived round here."

"I don't."

I frowned. "Then what are you doing here?"

"Your Mom said you might be here so…"

I turned to look at her, very confused now. "My Mom?" She nodded. "You went to my house? Why?"

"Because I felt like getting some baking tips from your Mom." I raised an eyebrow at her, which she just rolled her eyes at. "Well you asked a dumb question so what do you expect? Wasn't it you who told me that?"

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. "Yeah, I know. I meant why were you looking for me?"

"Ryan made me. He said I had to say thank you, or whatever. I don't know." I watched her inspect her nails, focusing so hard on them that I thought she might be able to make them change colour just by thought alone.

"Well you're welcome, or whatever." She looked up at me, a beautiful smile on her beautiful face.

Then suddenly I was kissing her. Her lips so soft under my own, I couldn't resist them. My hands moved on their own, one to the back of her neck, pulling her closer, the other finding her hand. I felt her squeeze my hand, our fingers linked together. I wanted to keep kissing her forever, but someone had other plans.

My phone started ringing in my bag, playing Taylor's ringtone. "Dammit, Taylor!" Sharpay chuckled as I broke the kiss to shut my phone up.

"Looks like you gotta go."

"I suppose. Why don't you come with me?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so."

The smile slid from my face. "Yeah, no, you're right. Sorry." I followed suit as she got to her feet. "Forget I said anything."

She pulled me back round to face her and pressed her lips firmly to mine. "It's not that I don't want to, it's just that it's Friday."

"And… Friday's are bad for you?" I shook my head, not getting what she was driving at.

"No, Friday's are bad for you! This Friday, at least. You have that thing with Taylor tonight, right?" I couldn't believe I'd forgotten about that, and Sharpay had remembered!

I slapped my forehead. "That's probably what she was calling about! Oh God!" I scrambled for my phone and opened it to find a missed call and three messages; two from Taylor and one from my Mom. "Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!" I frantically packed my bag up and sent a text to tell my Mom I'd be home soon, and one to say sorry to Taylor for missing her call. I suddenly remembered Sharpay and whirled round to find her half way out the park. "Sharpay! Wait!" I ran to catch up with her, grabbing her hand and stopping her in her tracks. "Thanks for reminding me about Taylor, can't believe I forgot!"

"It's fine. Have a good night." She tried to carry on walking but I held onto her hand. "What?"

"If… if you need to talk, at all, about anything… just text me." She nodded. "Oh, and Sharpay?"

She turned back to me again. "Don't you have somewhere to be?" I grinned and pulled her to me, pressing my lips to hers one last time.

"Another night. Okay?" She nodded and kissed me back. "Good." I let her go this time, having to run the rest of the way home to make it in time for my Mom to drop me at Taylor's on her way to her book club.

"You ready to cry with laughter? 'Cause I just got 'The Emperor's New Groove' as well!" Taylor flung her arms round me as I got out my Mom's car. "Let the laugh fest begin!"

I woke up the next morning feeling like I'd done a thousand sit ups, but that I was very happy about it. I hadn't laughed that much in a long time which made me realise I really needed to spend more time with my best friends! Kelsi had joined us as well last night, not realising what she was getting into, she came by to drop a book off for Taylor and ended up being dragged inside. Luckily she didn't have better things to do either.

I stretched carefully, making sure not to stick my elbow in Kelsi's eye, as the three of us had all fallen asleep in Taylor's double bed. Accidently proving that it was, in fact, actually made for two people. But we managed.

After laying there a while, I heard something buzzing. At first I just thought it was my ears playing tricks but it turned out to be someone's phone going off. Sliding slowly out of bed, I followed the noise. It took a minute but I homed in on Taylor's bag.

'Eight missed calls from: Chad'

Wow, persistent much? Maybe Sharpay had been right, most girls did like being chased by guys!

"…Sharpay!" I scrambled back towards the bed, to my own bag.

'One new message from: Sharpay Evans.' She'd sent it an hour ago. I opened the message. 'Hope you had a good night.' A grin slipped easily onto my face. As I was about to text back I had another idea. Pulling my jacket on, I headed for the door, tossing Taylor's phone at her as I passed.

It was cold and dark downstairs; the curtains were all still drawn so I had to put a few lights on to find my way to the kitchen. Checking there was water in the kettle I flicked it on before hitting the call button on my phone.

I waited anxiously as it rang, thinking that she might not pick up and that I might be getting completely the wrong end of the stick here… but then she answered.

"Gabriella?"

"Hey. Um sorry if you were busy, or if I woke you."

"I wasn't and you didn't. So err what's up?"

I pulled one of the kitchen stools towards me and sat on it, leaning both my elbows on the counter, a smile and a blush finding their way onto my face as they usually did when I spoke to her. "Oh. Nothing much, I guess. Just couldn't be bothered texting."

"Sure. So… you have a good night?"

"Yep, definitely! I haven't laughed so much since I was at my old high school and one of the guys was trying to flirt with me and he ended up walking into an open door and swallowing his gum!" I heard her laugh quietly on the other end of the phone, it was a magical sound, making me realise that I'd never heard Sharpay laugh before! Not like this, not a real, warm, humour –induced laugh.

"The lengths some people go to impress others. At least he made you laugh, and he did actually leave a lasting impression, if you can still remember that now! Just not for the reason he wanted, I guess!" I was enjoying talking to her, I was getting to see a different side of the Ice Queen and I definitely liked it much more than many of her other sides. "I'm glad you called." She told me softly.

"Me too. I guess… I guess I missed you." I waited anxiously for Sharpay's reaction, but before I got it, I felt someone tap my shoulder.

"Morning, Gabs!" I shot to my feet, my phone clattering to the floor. "Wow, jumpy!" I bent to retrieve it but Taylor was quicker. She looked at the screen but just shrugged and handed it back. The screen was blank except for my wallpaper, a picture of me, Taylor and Kelsi at the beach last summer.

"You alright, Gabs? You look like you've seen a ghost!" Kelsi shut the fridge door, a concerned look on her face.

"I'm fine, just almost had a heart attack!" I shot Taylor a glare but she just smiled innocently. "So what we doing today?"

"Oh no! Uh uh! You aren't getting out of it that easy! Who were you talking to?"

"Talking to?" I looked confused, like I had no idea what she was on about. When really my heart was racing and I was scared to death she'd figure it out.

"Yeah, talking to! Just now on the phone, who were you missing?" Taylor folded her arms across her chest and trapped me in her most intense stare, willing me to crack and spill all.

"Umm no one." I saw Kelsi move closer to us, a frown on her face as she started to piece things together. This sowasn't good!

"Gabriella Montez, I swear, if you don't tell me right now, I'll-" she froze, and a knowing smile appeared on her face, terrifying me. "You've got a new boyfriend!" I wasn't sure if I should be relieved or even more terrified. "I'm right, aren't I? You have, haven't you? Oh my God, Gabs!" She flung her arms round me, squealing excitedly in my ear.

Kelsi wasn't so sure though, I saw he shake her head and frown at me again. I sent a pleading look her way as I hugged Taylor back. I was glad she didn't buy the 'boyfriend' theory, but I didn't want her trying to dig any deeper. Whether she understood or not, Kelsi nodded and broke into a grin.

"That's great, Gabs! I'm so happy for you!"

"Right, I want to know everything!" Taylor pushed me down onto a stool and dashed about making tea. "Don't you dare leave anything out!"

Author Note: Well sorry to leave you on a bit of cliff hanger, but this chapter is longer than most of my others so =) i'll post again at the weekend, so review and lemmie know how you're all liking the story so far =) Peace Out, guys.