Author Note: It's been far too long, once again, since i last updated so for that i am very sorry! Just had A LOT of work to do for Uni =/ some of which, if any of you are interested, may be posted on youtube in the next couple of weeks. I shall keep you updated =)

Anywho, here we are at chapter 9 already, i got a lot of typing done today, and quite a bit of writing so i figure i have the next 2 chapters written and after that there is probably going to be one, maybe two more chapters. So =)

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to YouTellMe. Thank you so much for all the awesome reviews you left, you really spurred me on to get a-typing =) and thanks to everyone else who read and reviewed, you guys are all amazing!

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing =(

Chapter 9

I left her stood there; having to get away before more tears came and the pain got any worse. As I was getting into my car, Ryan came running out.

"Gabbie! Gabs, wait! Where are you going?" He leant in the window to stop me driving off. "What happened, Gabs? What did you say?"

"Something I should have said ages ago. I told her the truth, like you said to."

"But… then… why are you leaving?" He didn't get it, which was fair, because it had taken me long enough to figure it out.

"It's just not meant to be."

"That's bullshit, Gabbie, and you know it!" He slammed his hands on the door. "Come on, you have to fight for her!"

"I just did. I gave it everything I had but some people can't change, can't be saved. Or just don't want to be. I don't know." I pushed the key in the ignition and the car came to life with a roar.

"That's not enough! She has to see that you're good for her!" I gave Ryan a sad smile.

"We don't always like what's good for us, Ry. I told you, it's just not meant to be." I put my foot on the gas and the car inched forward, Ryan walking beside me.

"Please, Gabs! You promised you wouldn't give up on her too!"

"I haven't given up on her, Ryan. I keep my promises. It's just she's given up on me, on herself. Nothing I can do." I was away down the drive and out the still open gate before he could say another word. I watched the gate close behind me as I put my foot down hard.

I didn't say a word to my Mom when I got home, I didn't have to. She wrapped me in a hug and just held me as I cried. The tears fell for a long time and I did nothing to stop them. Mom stayed with me long into the night. I must have fallen asleep on the couch, my head in her lap, because I woke the next morning feeling totally cried out and completely exhausted. I sat up as she appeared in the door, a cup of something hot in one hand and my phone in the other.

"Morning, honey. How are you feeling?" She handed me the cup.

"Thank God for tea!" I took a few careful sips, curling my hands round the cup to warm them. "I feel… a little better, I think; helped to cry."

"That's good. You are quite welcome to stay at home today; I can call the school and tell them you're sick, if you like?"

That was a very tempting offer, but I wasn't going to let this destroy me completely. "Thanks, Mom, but I have to go. I'm going to have to face the world sometime, so I think I should do it sooner rather than later, get it out of the way."

She smiled and handed me my phone. "I thought you might say that, so I got you a ride."

"What-" I flipped the phone open and there was a new text from Kelsi. 'You got half an hour, go!' I flung my arms round my Mom and babbled a thank you, then I sprinted upstairs.

When the knock on the door came half an hour later, I was lacing up my converse in the kitchen. I grabbed my bag, kissed my Mom goodbye and ripped the front door open.

Kelsi gave me a dazzling smile. "Morning, Gabs!"

I was indescribably happy to have Kelsi with me this morning. She chatted about everything and anything, keeping me thoroughly distracted as we drove to school.

In the parking lot, she switched the engine off and turned to me. "I know what happened, Gabs. I figured most of it out and your Mom filled in the blanks. I just want you to know that whatever happens today, I'll always be by your side. You can count on me."

"Kels… you have no idea what that means!" I gave her an awkward hug, the seatbelt restricting my reach. "Thank you."

We climbed out Kelsi's beat up car and, trying to ignore the looks I was getting, we walked into school arm in arm.

My courage held out right up until I saw her. She strode into school the same way she did every morning, looking stunning and like she owned the place. I dragged Kelsi to the side of the corridor, panic setting in.

"I can't do this. I have to get out of here!"

"Yes, you can do it! Gabs, you have to be strong. Now come on!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me along to my locker. "Just relax, smile, Gabs, focus on me."

I tried my hardest and, for a moment, I succeeded. But then I made the mistake of glancing over to her locker. She was there, leaning against it, looking right at me.

I ripped my eyes away and back to Kelsi. "Gabs." She warned as tears started welling up. "You can do it, I know you can." She gripped my hand tighter, about to say something else when she froze.

I followed her line of sight to see Sharpay heading right for us, Ryan in tow. I froze too, unsure as to whether I should wait for her here, walk towards her or just turn and run as fast as I could home.

Thankfully the decision was made for me as Sharpay stopped in her tracks. A second later I saw why. Taylor, Chad, Martha, Zeke and Troy all appeared, oblivious as to what they were interrupting, and started talking loudly all at once.

I saw Ryan anxiously watching his sister, but she just turned on her heels and set off to class. Ryan caught my eye. I hadn't ever seen him so helpless before. I knew he wanted to help his sister more than anything, but he couldn't think of how without making it worse. I felt the same way.

As the day progressed I sank further and further into my depression from yesterday. Even with Kelsi firmly by my side I couldn't stop the numb feeling that took over my whole body. I wasn't even really sure why I felt this way. Maybe it was because I'd tried and failed, whereas before I'd never tried so I didn't know I had no chance with her.

Although the whole numb thing did have an upside, whenever I saw her it didn't hurt. And I didn't have the over whelming urge to cry and run home to my Mom. So there's always a silver lining. My friends tried their best to cheer me up, but eventually even they realised something was really wrong.

"Gabs, listen, I'm sorry about the way I acted yesterday. It was dumb and immature." Troy was sat next to me at the lunch table as usual. "I wasn't thinking. I still love you, Gabs, and you can't blame a guy for trying!" When he smiled so did his eyes. They crinkled up at the corners, like his mouth did. I squeezed his hand gently.

"Thanks, Troy. And no, I don't blame you. But you just have to remember-" Out the corner of my eye I saw a figure with long blonde hair get up from her table and head for the door. She hesitated in the doorway, throwing a glance over her shoulder before continuing on out into the corridor.

"Remember…? Gabs?" Troy shook me back to reality.

"Huh?"

"What do I have to remember?"

"That you- uh- should always floss after every meal. Sorry, I have to go." I saw Kelsi stand as I did but I shook my head. I just had to see, to make sure that she wasn't waiting…

I pushed my way out the Cafeteria, not stopping until I was free of the crowd and out in the open corridor. I didn't even hesitate this time, I headed the same way I had the first time. But half way to the classroom, I saw her come out of the girls' bathroom and head back towards me.

I stopped dead, my eyes on her. She hadn't come out here to be with me, she hadn't wanted me to follow, she didn't want me at all.

"Oh." She had noticed me at last, and stopped as well, a few feet from me. "Gabriella… Gabbie…" When I didn't respond she moved closer, not stopping until we were inches apart. I wanted so badly to close that gap between us but held myself back. "I want it too, Gabs. I know you feel it, I know you're fighting it," She stretched her hand out and ran her finger tips down my cheek, along my jaw to my lips. "Ryan shouted at me, you know? It was the first time I ever heard him swear and it was all because of you."

"Sorry." I managed to croak out. She smiled faintly, her fingers tracing my lips, my nose, my eyes…

"Don't be. I pushed him to it. I shouldn't have been so selfish." I caught her hand by the wrist.

"You're not selfish." She laughed bitterly.

"Yeah, I am. Why do you think I'm still stood here with you? I want you too much to realise just what it's doing to you, to my brother..." She inched forward, her fingers finding their way into my hair. "I'm selfish, Gabs, that's why I can't let you go." She pressed her lips to mine then, her fingers going deeper into my hair, pulling me to her.

I couldn't believe it, couldn't comprehend what was happening. Sharpay Evans was kissing me, in the middle of the school corridor, like she didn't even care! I jerked out of her grasp, confused and scared.

"Gabbie…"

"Sharpay, we shouldn't. Someone might see and then you'll… I mean… it won't be good." She paused, reaching for me again. I watched her think, waiting to see if she would break my heart into even smaller pieces.

"You're right." There it was, just as I'd expected. "But I don't want to." Before I knew it she was kissing me again, so fiercely that I thought we might burst into flames. My heart started to sing, but when a door opened somewhere along the corridor, she pulled away.

"Sh-Shar-"

"Gabbie, listen to me. Meet me in the Auditorium, okay? After school, we can talk." She pressed a last kiss to my lips before heading back to the Cafeteria.

Author Note: Well there you go =) hope it was worth the wait =S Review and making me happy! Peace Out all.