Author's Note: Sorry about the delay in getting this chapter up, i hadn't meant to leave it this long =S thank you very much to adamclive for reminding me about it! This chapter is dedicated to you, my friend =)

Hope you enjoy it =)

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. Tis sad cos i'd be so much more awesome if i did XD

Chapter 16

The basketball courts were deserted and would continue to be so until lunch, at least. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, it was a perfect day to be outside… and yet I felt more like locking myself in a darkened room and crying. I made my way to the furthest corner of the court, dropping my bag I sat down on the concrete, my back against the mesh. These courts weren't used as much as the gym for practise; they were mostly just for people to use at lunch if they wanted a game or to come chill out on.

I stretched my legs out in front of me, kind of wishing I hadn't worn jeans because it was really rather warm out here, and pushed my hair back off my shoulders as my eyes closed and the pounding in my head started to lessen. The incessant whispering had been doing my head in, so had the staring and stupid, idiotic notes. What is wrong with people? Why can't they keep their ignorant thoughts to themselves instead of spreading the hate? I hadn't done anything to any of them; in fact, most of them hadn't a clue who I was before this, so why take an interest now?

"Stupid sheep!"

"Who's a stupid sheep?"

My eyes snapped opened only to land on the last person I wanted to see right now. "No one. Just thinking out loud, that's all." Troy nodded but didn't move. He just stayed stood there, hands pushed deep in his pockets, looking lost. "Did you want something? Or were you just here to call me names as well?"

"What- Gabs, I'd never do that!" His face had fallen and he looked visibly upset at the thought.

I sighed. "I know. I'm sorry, Troy. I've just had such a bad day already and it's not even lunch yet. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"It's okay. Do you… umm… do you want to talk about it?" I raised an eyebrow at him. He just shrugged in return so I gestured to the spot beside me and he sat down.

There was silence then. Neither of us really knew how to start. It wasn't every day you had a conversation about girls with your ex-boyfriend. At least, I didn't.

"I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier." I looked over at him, but he just kept staring straight ahead. "It was just… I don't know, a shock, I guess. It's not every day you see your ex-girlfriend kissing another girl. Especially not round here."

"I know. And I'm sorry too. I honestly didn't plan it. It just kind of… happened."

"So are you- I mean, people are talking about it but most of what they say is crap anyway. But I was wondering if-"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"It's true."

"So you are a- umm you know?"

"Yep. As queer as a three dollar bill."

"Oh. Umm… okay…"

"…Troy?"

"Yeah, Gabs?"

"It's not your fault, you know?"

"Really? Oh thank God!" I whipped round to glare at him. "No- I mean, just that… I thought… uh…"

I sighed. "Don't worry. I guess I've kind of always known. It just took me a while to really understand and accept it."

He nodded thoughtfully. "So you and Kelsi, huh?" He grinned, but it faded the second he looked at me. "Gabs? Oh, Gabs, I'm sorry! Please don't cry!"

I couldn't help it. I didn't want to, especially not in front of Troy! He was already weirded out enough by the whole situation; he didn't need me sobbing my heart out as well. But there was just something so familiar, so comforting about having him here with me. It was easy, simple, I didn't need to try with Troy and it's what drew me to him at first, it's what made him such a great friend. I could talk to him and I needed that right now, more than anything.

He pulled me into a hug, letting me cry into his shoulder without a second thought. "It's okay, Gabs. Come on, it's gonna be okay, I promise!" I felt myself nod as he rubbed my back. "Whatever it is, I'm gonna be here for you, alright? I swear you can count on me!" His words only made me cry harder.

"You sure you're okay now?"

"Yeah, thanks, I just needed to get it out of my system." We were still out on the courts only now I'd managed to regain control of myself and stop the hysterical crying. "Thanks for staying with me, Troy. Most guys would have bolted by now!"

He laughed, nodding, probably thinking of Chad who went and hid in the boys' bathroom the first time Taylor cried in front of him. "It's cool, Gabs. You're my- my friend. And that's what friends do for each other… right?"

"Right… you sure we're friends, Troy? I know you still have feelings-"

"No, I mean, yeah, we're friends and yeah, I still have feelings… but that's my problem. And I'm not going to let it get in the way of our friendship. Even if we aren't dating anymore, you're still important to me, Gabs. So… so I'm going to try my hardest to be here for you whenever you need me. It might take me a little while to be completely cool with all… all this… but you'll just have to be patient with me too."

"Troy, I… I don't know what to…" I hugged him. I really didn't know what to say, so a hug would have to do for now. "Thank you." When we broke apart he stayed staring at me. "What?"

"You going to tell me what's going on then? Or do I have to guess?"

I found that when I started talking, I couldn't stop. I ended up telling him everything. I hadn't realised just how much I'd managed to pack into the past week! It had all just sort of taken hold of me and dragged me along. Of course, I didn't go into detail about the numerous make out sessions I'd had with Sharpay, he didn't need to know any of that to get the general gist of the story.

"Wow. Gabs, that's- that's quite a week you've had. No wonder you're confused."

I nodded. "I don't know what to do about Sharpay. I love her, and I know she loves me, but I don't want her to get hurt by all the talk and the stupid sheep with the stupid notes!" I pulled the notes out of my bag and let him look through them. He was silent as he read. I kept expecting him to laugh and suddenly turn on me, agreeing with what the notes said. But he didn't. He just sat there and took it all in.

When he'd finished reading he turned to me. "Gabs…" He looked down at the pieces of paper in his lap and back up at me. Then, without another word, he started ripping them up, one by one.

"Troy? What are you doing?"

"That's what I think of those people. That's what I think about all of those idiots at this school!" He threw the shredded bits of paper into the air and we watched as they were caught on the wind and carried about the court. "You want to know what I think, Gabs?" I nodded warily. "I think you need to show people that you don't give a damn what they say about you, because you're better than all of them and you always will be. Want to know why?" He climbed to his feet and offered me his hand. "Because you know exactly who you are and you aren't afraid to show it." He grinned down at me.

"You know what, Troy? You're right," I grabbed his hand and let him pull me up. "I don't give a damn what they think. Come on, it's time to show them!" I slung my bag over my shoulder and, with Troy at my side, I strode back into school, head held high.

AN: Leave a review and lemmie know what you thought, i always love to hear from you guys =)

Peace Out.