Author Note: Okay, so this is very overdue, I know! I've just been snowed under with work and the fact that I got obsessed with all things Glee didn't help =S but I have this chapter, and the next one, all typed up and ready to post. I am determined to finish this story, cos it's taunting me with its unfinishedness!

Anyway, this chapter might be a little weird, cos I've kinda gone in another direction than I originally planned, but I think the outcome will be the same so =)

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, well, I do! I own a lot of things, but sadly High School Musical is not one of them *shakes head*

Chapter 12

It took me forever to fall asleep, while Kelsi was out like a light next to me. I lay on my side watching her, wondering why my life couldn't be simple, why I couldn't just have a relationship without all the fucked up drama that came with it. Kelsi was low maintenance, she was smart and kind and just herself. Everything I wanted in a girlfriend… so why couldn't I just like her and save myself the heart ache of liking someone like Sharpay? I sighed and rolled over, not wanting to get too far down that depressing path again.

Morning came way too fast for my liking. The sound of my alarm only made me want to pull the cover further over my head and go back to sleep, because I knew what getting up meant. It meant going to school and seeing her and feeling like crap and being pestered by Troy and interrogated by Taylor and… I just didn't have the energy for it anymore.

I felt Kelsi start to stir, mumbling something about throwing possums… I frowned and squeezed my eyes tighter shut.

"Umm Gabs? You awake?"

"No."

She tutted. "Gabs, I need to get up. We need to get up!"

"Don't want to."

"I know, school sucks, but we still have to go so you have to let go of me now." I felt her tugging at my hands- hands that I had just realised were locked tightly round her waist.

"Shit, sorry, Kels!" I quickly untangled myself from her and scooted back over onto my side of the bed, thankful that my room was still quite dark so she couldn't see the blush colouring my face.

"It's okay." She rolled over and flashed me her winning smile. I grinned back sheepishly making her laugh and give my hand a squeeze. "Don't worry about it. Now come on, time for school!" She leaned over and kissed me ever so softly on the lips before slipping out of bed and disappearing out the door.

I stayed frozen, unsure what had actually just happened. But I didn't get to dwell on it long as my Mom came bustling into the room and yanked the curtains open, nearly blinding me.

"Argh! Mom!"

"Morning, Sweetie! Time for school!"

"Jeez, give me a minute, will you? I think I need new corneas!" I heard her chuckle and leave the room again.

"Now, Gabriella!"

Kelsi didn't mention the kiss so neither did I, chalking it up to an accident or a mistake. We chatted away as normal as we drove to school; talking about nothing in particular, when something she said made me freeze again.

"I'm kind of glad you told Sharpay where to go, she wasn't any good for you at all, Gabs. You don't need someone like that in your life, all the drama, I mean. It'd drive me nuts, don't know about you. I prefer more chilled out girls who know who they are, like, I don't know, you, for instance."

My mouth hung open as I stared at Kelsi. What the hell? It was like she'd read my mind or something! And…

"Wait… girls?" She turned to look at me, an eyebrow raised. "You like… girls?" The look she gave me practically screamed 'well duh!' "Wait… me?" My own eyebrows shot up. "You like… me?" She shrugged.

"Maybe, yeah."

"Whoa whoa whoa!" I held up both hands as if it'd stop this weird ass conversation we were having. "What the hell, Kels?"

"What? Am I not allowed to like you?"

"Well… no- I mean, not no, but, y'know, I guess. Maybe. It's just… why have you never said anything before this?"

"Why haven't you?" She switched the engine off and climbed out the car. I hadn't realised we'd already gotten to school.

I sat there with my mouth hanging open, watching her walk away. She turned back to me after a couple of steps.

"Well?" I shook my head. "You coming or not?" I managed to close my mouth just long enough to get out of her car and catch the car keys she tossed at me. Locking the hunk of junk I hurried after her.

"Kelsi! Kels, wait up, dammit!" She stopped at her locker to retrieve a few of her books as I caught up to her. "You can't just spring this on someone and then just walk away!" I kept my voice low, glancing around at the already busy hallway.

"How do you think I feel? You never even told me, I had to figure it out on my own!" She didn't lower her voice, I wasn't sure why but it made me nervously look about us again to see if anyone was listening in. "Oh relax, Gabs! I don't care if anyone knows about me, it's who I am, they'll all just have to deal with it. You shouldn't care either."

"I don't!" She looked at me, calling me out on my obvious lie. "Okay, maybe I do a little, but come on, can you blame me? People in this school had a fit when Troy joined the musical! You heard the rumours!"

"Yeah, I did, and he came through it. In fact, this school's a better place because of all that!" She slammed her locker shut and set off down the corridor again, heading for my locker now. "Gabs, how are you going to get over Sharpay if you don't get yourself out there?"

"I don't- wait, get over her? Kels, I love her! I can't just 'get over her', it's not that simple. I don't even know if I want to." I shrugged, leaning against my locker, Kelsi watching me carefully.

"Gabs… I'm sorry." She tugged my head up with a finger under my chin. "I know you love her, but she's already hurt you so much. I just think you need to know you have more than one option."

"What- Kelsi?"

She smiled softly. Her eyes flickered to something over my shoulder but before I could turn and look, she was leaning towards me. Her lips were centimetres from mine; I could feel her breath on my skin, so close… It felt like time had stopped. Everything was quiet, everything was calm and all I could feel was Kelsi's hand cupping my chin then…

She closed the gap when I didn't pull away, pressing her lips firmly to mine. I wasn't sure what I felt but I knew I liked the kiss. It was soft and slow and comforting… everything that I'd thought about last night.

I felt myself leaning into the kiss, wrapping my arms round her waist and kissing her back. She tasted like the coco pops she'd had for breakfast with a slightly minty edge, making me realise she must have been chewing gum… how hadn't I noticed that?

I wasn't sure how long we kissed but when she pulled back, a grin on her lips, I felt like it wasn't long enough. At least not long enough for me to fully understand what the hell was going on here… but then everything started again and I remembered where we were. I blushed and tried to pull back but Kelsi held me tight and kissed me again, gently, pushing the rising fear back down.

"It's okay, Gabs." I found myself nodding, believing her. "Oh, hey, you guys." She smiled at someone over my shoulder, making me turn.

There, with their mouths hanging open and eyes wide, stood Taylor, Chad, Zeke, Martha, Troy, Ryan and… "Sharpay…" It came out as barely a whisper but I felt Kelsi tense behind me.

My eyes were glued to the blonde. I hadn't meant to… it didn't mean… I wanted to say so many things to her, I wanted to explain, or at least try to, because I actually had about as much of a clue as she did. But when I saw the look on her face, a look I knew so well, one of complete and utter heart break… everything went out of my head and I swear I felt my own heart stop.

"Umm what's going on?" It was Taylor who finally broke the silence.

"Not much. You?" Kelsi was so nonchalant, so damn cool about it.

"No… Kels, I meant, what's going on with you two?" No one had moved they were all waiting for an answer, waiting to see if they should freak out or not.

Before either of us could say another word, Troy turned and stormed off. I wanted to feel bad, I really did, but… but I just couldn't. Chad glanced over at Taylor then at us before he turned as well, going after his best friend.

"Guys?" My eyes snapped to Taylor.

I didn't get any further than actually opening my mouth before Sharpay finally seemed to wake up. The look of heart break was gone, replaced by her usual mask of indifference. She strode forward, pushing past me with enough force for Kelsi to have to steady me.

"Sharpay… Sharpay, wait!" I looked desperately from Ryan, who could do nothing but shrug, to Kelsi.

"Go."

"Wh-what?"

She smiled sadly at me. "Go after her, you won't forgive yourself if you don't."

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Thank you." I kissed her cheek and pulled her into a tight hug before sprinting after Sharpay as fast as I could.

The last thing I heard was Taylor's voice. "Kelsi, I swear to God, if you don't tell me what's going on right now, I'ma have to start breaking things!"

Author Note: I hope you liked it =) review and lemmie know, yeah? Cos I feel really rather unloved! Anywho, Peace Out, guys, stay cool.