I am slow I know -_-

Just leave a review and I'll try to get better....

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Chapter 5: Make it or break it...

She walked into the school that Monday morning in a rather sour mood. She wanted to forget what had happened this weekend, well not the part with Troy but her father. She had been given a long lecture from him the whole Sunday that she was far to young to date, and never in her life would she date an six years older man. She didn't dare to mention that they were scheduled to have an other date this Saturday in his apartment. That would surely make him chain his daughter in her room and she would not be allowed to leave the room unless necessary and under the watchful eye of her father. He was like a hawk when he put that side on.

She listened vaguely on the buzz around her. Someone's was complaining about their weekend while others was praising it like it was sent straight down from heaven. She snapped up on some guys beer drinking contest and that he been the drunkest there. She sighs at this. She never went to parties. She never was invited, or she was but she was never in the mood to party seeing as she didn't wanna stand in a corner alone while Sharpay was having the time of her life. While thinking of the blonde she saw her best friend standing by her locker talking with some jock. She flirted and played shy and innocent.

"So maybe we could do something this weekend?" The guy asked. He was a senior and if she was right he was on the swimming team and was one of the big elite potentials in their year. And she could admit that he was cute with his dark hair and green twinkling eyes. His shoulders was broader then his slim torso and she could only guess what kind of muscles was hiding under the white polo.

She walked closer to the pair that was standing awfully close to each other. Sharpay seemed confident when she opened her mouth to say – at least what Gabriella thought would be- an yes. When someone that shouldn't have showed up in that moment.

If you guessed for Chad, you were sure as hell right!

"This weekend she is going to be with me Grant!" He said protective. Gabriella wondered often why they weren't dating already they were obviously dancing around each other. Gabriella saw the death looks the seniors was giving each other. Sighing she begins the short journey to her two best friends who was on the edge of a fight.

"Hey guys.." Gabriella greats her best friends softly as she puts in the combination to her locker and the friends couldn't tear the angry look away from each other. "Should I even bother to tell you two behave?" She tried to joke but her friends was not in a joking mode.

"Why do you haft to ruin every chance I have with a guy Chad?!" Sharpay's voice was loud and clear and did not care if the whole world heard their argument. "I am not your girlfriend!" Chad wince the statement but the blonde did not seem to notice this. She felt bad for Chad. It was obvious to everyone that his feelings for Sharpay ran deeper then just friendship and brotherhood. Except Sharpay.

"I am sorry okay! I just don't like you going out with different guys every other week! Because you can get better then them!" He shouted back to his defense. He cared to mush about the friendship he and the ice princess had to pluck up the courage to ask her out.

"I can make my own decision Chad! I am not three! And if I wanna go out with hundred guys then I will do so and you will do nothing about it!" She yell at him and he admit him self defeated and walks away to his basketball friends.

"Give him a chance…" Gabriella said while looking into her locker avoiding the blondes gaze and a possible outrage.

"I would be stupid to jeopardize anything…" She mumbles when she slams the locker shut. "How was your date?" She asks changing the subject completely.

"It was okay.. I mean the date was awesome but dad yelled at me when I got home for being on a date with an older boy so I did not mention that he and I will go on a date this weekend as well." Gabriella could see her best friend lit up in a big smile at the news of further dates with the super hunk. Before any further questions and squeals the bell rang for homeroom.

"We are so talking about this later!" She ordered and for the first time Gabriella felt happy that she said that. Because for the first time it was about her life and for the first time it was about a guy. And with a soft sigh she turned around for homeroom.

--

HE WAS SO SCREWED!

He had overslept by two hours and he had not heard when the cell phone had rung several times and he had missed it completely so when he woke up at 9.23 he shot up from the bed taking the coldest shower in world history not even bothered to eat breakfast and after many failed attempts he had button up his shirt and gotten jeans and jacket on. And in his confusion and stress he had nearly taken his converse instead of black shiny shoes. At 9.51 he sat in the car and just that was a new record for him, but he also knew that his assistant had to run to buy him breakfast.

He parked his car in the parking house and ran like a lunatic to the elevator to come up to his floor as soon as possible and with some hope of his father not noticing him being nearly two and a half hours late for work. He wasn't in a mood for hearing his preaching.

Michelle sat behind her desk looking like a good assistant waiting for her boss to arrive and give her orders on what she had to do today. But under that perfect mask evil and jealousy hid. But that wasn't something Troy had time to think about when he ran into his office in pure panic praying that he hadn't missed any important meeting the hours he had missed.

He started his computer to start filling in documents he hadn't finished this Friday. And he had promised he would have it finished by lunch today. And now it was only two more hours before he had to be done. Sometimes he just hated that he wasn't a morning person like his mother.

"You're late…" His father stated when his computer started and he knew there was no idea trying to hide it. He had missed the alarm clock like any other human being.

"I know dad… I over slept, a habit I got from you." He mutters annoyed. Couldn't he get anything useful from his mother?!

The men looked at each other and his father just sighed knowing he had been exactly the same when he had been Troy's age and he must admit he was far better then his younger brother that would soon join the family business even he likes it or not. Something Troy had to accept when he had been going trough collage. The others were talking about their big dreams his was limited. He was heir of this company and then he would get a son who would take over it and it would hopefully run for generations.

"Okay.. Just be finished with this before you go home… And there are sandwiches in the coffee room." He mentions when he walks out of the office and Troy's stomach heard that and was not slow when he went to the coffee room to get some well earned breakfast.

--

"He picked Susan over me! OVER ME!" Sharpay's voice was probably heard over the whole continent but Gabriella let her scream and shout like a idiot, because soon she would start yelling at Chad for ruining her chances with the swimmer on having dates and if Gabriella would be completely honest, if the guy couldn't find an other day for a date then he sure as hell isn't worth her best friend. But if it made Sharpay feel better then she let her scream her lungs out. Then she let her do it.

She picked up her cell phone and decided so send a text to Troy.

Hi : )

-G

She sent it and then she let the annoying voice of her best friend take over her life once again. She looked at the blonde who was scarlet red in the face after the screaming and barley breathing anything for the last minutes and Gabriella smiles and nods and agrees.

"It looks like someone just threw it up!" An other voice joined the two juniors and Gabriella smiles when she sees the big afro that belonged to her best friend. He wasn't the picky one when it came to food but something about chili made him complain his heart out. No one really knew why.

"Hey Chad…" Gabriella smiles, he smiles back to her and looks what she brought for lunch. "Wanna switch? Tuna sandwich and a apple against your chili?" She offers softly knowing he hated chili. He smiles thankfully at her offer and they switch lunches.

"YOU! You are the reason he picked Susan over me!!!" Sharpay accused her best friend who indeed did not listen to what she was saying. "Chandler Marcus Nathaniel Danforth! Don't you dare ignore me after what you have done to me!" She yells at him like his mother would and they both knew it was bad when she started with the full name and the middle names she is serious and you should pay attention other wise it could end badly!

"Shar I am sorry okay?! But he talks in the lockers room about fucking you! I wanted to protect you! Next time I'll give you time and place so you can meet up and fuck each other!" He replies harshly to the blonde and leaves the table to probably go to the gym and play some basketballs.

Sharpay was shocked at the sudden outburst that came from Chad, he was rarely angry but now a sore spot was being pressed and he couldn't handle that. He couldn't handle someone talking about fucking his best friend senseless and he sure as hell couldn't handle that the girl he loved was pissed at him because he was protecting her from being played.

"I'm really the queen bitch…" She whispers and she nearly let tears fell but pulled it together not wanting to breakdown completely in the cafeteria. "I gotta go…" She sniffles and leaves to run away from the cafeteria. Gabriella got up from her position to run after any of them but when she came out the doors she searched for any sign for her friends but both of her friends had left with out a trace and she thought that it might be best to leave them be at the moment.

--

The heels clicked against the hardwood floor he heard it but ignored it and let the orange sphere bounce to the floor only to miss it when he continued the motion up towards the net. He knew why he couldn't shoot the ball like he should. Because she had gotten under his skin and could mess with his head and she didn't even know it.

"Chad… I'm--" She begun but he turned around.

"Don't even bother Sharpay!" He says harshly and it hit like a punch when he called her Sharpay, he had never called her that. And that made her realise that she had messed up this badly. "Go fuck Grant if that is what you want… Because I don't care anymore…" He says looking at her and then at the floor.

"Chad… I…" She couldn't form the words to explain her self.

"I just don't get it Shar! I have done everything for you to notice me! For you to realise that I want you! But it doesn't matter to you right?! Because I don't have a trust fond! The only way I can afford collage is by a scholarship! But you know what? I don't care if you are that shallow that you can't see beyond that… I just feel sorry for you." He finish and she was on the edge of tears. Nothing of that was true. He could live on the streets for all she cared as long as he was this fantastic person he was right now.

She just couldn't get the words out from her mouth to explain to him what she felt towards him, that she more then anything wanted to be with him.

"You know what…" He spoke up trying to ignore the tears on her face. "When you can see me for what I am and not what I got… We can talk again.." He turned around and walked out trough the locker rooms.

"Chad… Please…" She whispers to the empty gym. Only to hear her own cries echo in to the loneliness.

--

It was over two in the afternoon and he hadn't had his lunch yet but instead of eating his lunch he worked instead knowing he could go home as soon as he finished all the status report on work in china and how mush they were behind schedule etc. Though Troy thought this was so boring that he nearly fell a sleep by just looking at let alone writing all this down.

"I brought you a cup of a coffee." Michelle said when she came into the room wearing a dangerously short skirt he wasn't even sure if it could be considered skirt when it was that short length, and her shirt seemed one size to small making it look like he breast would jump out any minute.

"Thank you Michelle, that's very nice of you.." He replies trying to be nice to her in the middle of all the stress he was feeling at the current moment. "Oh while you are here, make four copies of this paper and give one to my dad and the other to Carlton?" He asks sweetly trying in the nicest way to get her out of the way. She nods and takes the copy and sways her hips when she leaves the office and Troy puts the coffee away scared of what she might have put down in that cup.

His fingers started to work its magic over the keyboard and continued writing all the reports.

--

Gabriella hadn't seen either of friends since lunch and she feared the worst had gone down between them. She slammed her locker shut and took the green bag and started the short journey home to her house were she would call her friends and try to be supportive on both parts. Though she knew that was something close to impossible. But she had to try.

Her phone rang suddenly and she picked it up and was pleasantly surprised when she saw who was calling.

Troy

The screen read

"Hey…" She greats in to the phone biting on her lip nervously.

"Hi… Do you like coffee?" He asks and she is taken back by the question not knowing what to answer.

"Yeah I do… Can I ask why you wonder?" She giggles softly.

"I haven't had a good cup of coffee in days and I was wondering if you want to join me for a cup of coffee." He says into the phone and as she was about to answer, she saw him standing outside his car on the schools parking lot. To say she was surprised was an understatement. She was in complete shock. She shut her phone and walked to the well dressed Troy Bolton who was wearing a black suit with a white shirt and she would guess was Prada.

"I'll take this as a yes…" He smiles when she approach him.

"You have right… I could use a coffee now actually…" She smile brightly back at him, he makes a motion with his head for her to get inside the car.

They arrived to a small café. She smiles gently to him and takes her bag and they go inside to the café she was feeling that good feeling in the pit of her stomach when their hands nearly touched each other as they walked in to the café. A small ding sounded when they entered the tiny café. She took up her phone and sent a text to her mother telling her that she had gone out for a coffee with a couple of friends.

"So why have you had a rough day?" He asks when they sit down at a small table after they had ordered their drinks.

"My two best friends started world war 3 today…" She sighs. "They like each other but both being cowards and keeps telling me and them self that they don't wanna ruin the friendship they have and today Shar pushed it to far…" She explains to him and he nods slowly. "Why was your day rough?" She asks sweetly and takes a sip of the hot liquid.

"Over slept by two hours and had to ton of work in minimum time and I haven't had any lunch yet…" He remembers. She raise an eyebrow to him. "What? I haven't I am gonna make myself mac and cheese when I get home… I happen to be an expert on that…" He brags and she giggles softly at this and he smiles and continues to drink of his coffee.

"My mom would never let me eat something like that…" Now Troy raised an eyebrow. "She is a dietician and tries to make me and my dad to eat as healthy as she is though she fails sometimes…" She says with a warm voice.

"My mom have just stopped caring about what she is eating…" Troy chuckles. "I mean when me and Nate was younger we ate healthy mostly because both he and I was on the basketball team and dad feed us with takeout when we were at his house…" He chuckles.

"Is he a bad chef?" Gabriella asks giggling.

"I doubt he has ever used the kitchen he has… And he has been living there for 8 years." He explains.

"Send him to cooking camp for beginners or something…" Gabriella suggest jokingly. Troy smiles to her and then a comfortable silence feel over the two of them and that gave them time to drink up their coffees.

"My little brother is like my dad…" He suddenly says.

"Excuse me?" She asks feeling confused.

"Well dad is a workaholic and I think Nate is gonna be that to and neither of them just can't commit… That's why my parents divorced. And I just wanted to say that I am not like that and I can commit…" He explains. Gabriella who still was confused about this sudden confession, or if it was his way to say that he wanted more then just being friends. She didn't know. "I should take you home…"

"I can walk its okay…" She insists.

"Oh come on… I drove you here the least I can do is drive you home…" She sighs defeated and was just happy that her father wasn't home right now.

Later that night.

"YOU SAID WHAT!? CHAD!" Gabriella was yelling at her best friend, he of all people should know that Sharpay wasn't that shallow, then she would hang out with the rest of the snobs at school but she had chosen them.

"I know it was stupid but I was pissed okay?! I've tried for a year to get her attention and that there is more to me then just me being immature!" Chad complains feeling horrible about him self for what he had done to the girls of his dreams. She heard him let out a heavy sigh. "Gabi.. What should I do??"

"I don't know Chad… You pulled a stupid card when you said that things about her. She is sensitive about those things…" She says gently. She could see her best friend on the other end she wasn't sure, but she was quite sure that the tears were threatened to come out from his eyes. "You haft to talk to her about this… I know its hard but you haft to.. Eye to eye!"

"She is gonna hate me Gabi!" He complains.

"Chad! Get some balls and become a man alright! I love you two both to death and you two know that! But I don't wanna be in the middle of this shit!" She informs him.

"I'll go over to her tonight…" He informs her.

"Good Chad… You two deserve each other."

The two friends hang up and Gabriella hope that everything will work out tonight.

--

He was scared shitless! Sure her parents loved him but he wasn't quite that they loved him now when he had made their only daughter cry her eyes out. Or was she waiting until tonight when everyone was sleeping and she could cry with out being disturbed. He just didn't know but he was going to find out soon.

"Hey Chad! Sharpay is in her room…" Her mother says happily. He smiles and walks into the house and up the stairs to her room. He knocks on the oak door and when he doesn't hear anything from the inside he lets him self in.

"Shar?" He asks quietly when he opens the door and look inside the blue painted room. Even though her clothing was colourful and screaming for attention her room was calmer and mush more adult. The light blue tone covered the walls along with pictures of friends and black and white paintings and photos she had taken.

He saw her sitting by her desk writing on her computer with earbuds in her ears and tears streaming down her face. He walked over and touched her back slightly and she jumped but calmed down when she saw who it was that had broken her concentration.

"Chad!? What are you doing here!?!" She asks confused looking at him then wiping away her tear furiously but they were only replaced by new ones.

"I came to apologize.. The way I handled things today wasn't fair to you and I am not your brother so I can't tell you who to date or what to do… I guess I was jealous when you were gonna go out with him when I have been trying to get your attention for a year now…" He explains sadly to her looking down on the hardwood floor.

"I am sorry for being such a bitch to you in the cafeteria, I should have known you wanted to protect me…" She says and tries to stop her tears from falling.

"The thing is that I really want to be with you Shar… I mean not just friend I want to be the one you call in the middle of the night because you can't sleep, I want to be able to hold your hand when we are in school or when we go to the movies, I want to be your everything…" He sums up and she looks at him with big eyes filled of insecurity and doubt.

"Believe me Chad I want that to… But…" Her voice cracking.

"But?" He asks.

"I just need to think this trough… Please." She begs him.

"Sure…" He mumbles.

"And the things you said about me today… That you weren't good enough they aren't true… I wouldn't care if you lived on the streets. You are the most fantastic person I know Chad…" He stayed quiet and hugged her and let her cry into his neck.

At least they were on good terms now…