A/N: OMG!!! Long time no update, right? Sorry. Both HSMandChelseaFCfan and I have been completely loaded with school. This will be my last update until Thursday. Thursday is my French speaking exam and at the minute my mind is in French overdrive :(

Don't own HSM x

Chapter 13 – A Wildcat Dance

Something was seriously wrong and Sharpay Evans always knew when something was wrong. For example, her brother Ryan had always been quiet but when he'd walked into the kitchen one morning when they were five, he didn't have to speak and Sharpay knew something was wrong – turned out his goldfish had died. Another time, Sharpay had been in school and noticed Gabriella hadn't been taking notes like she always did and it was then she'd found out her best friend had been scared because she'd started her periods and her brothers were making her life hell. And the one thing Sharpay always knew with Gabriella was when she'd had a fight with one of them or the Wildcats subject had been brought up. But today for the first time, Sharpay Evans had no idea what was up with her best friend. All week she'd been avoiding people, avoiding her, her friends, heck even her brothers which was rare because it wasn't exactly easy to avoid them. And today something must have really upset her because for the first time in her life, Gabriella was missing school and hadn't text Sharpay to pre-warn her. It was then Sharpay Evans decided to hell with school and she was going to get to the root of her best friend's problems, even if it took her all bloody day cramped up in the house.

***

Gabriella knew everyone had gone before she finally emerged from her dark bedroom. Her Mom had let her stay home today because she wasn't feeling well but Gabriella knew it was nothing to do with her health but to do with the broken heart inside of her. It had been four days since the whole incident and she just found herself thinking more and more about Troy as each day passed. He had tried texting her, calling her, emailing her, everything but every time she would just delete the messages. He'd fucked up and she wasn't about to let him back into her life when she'd already risked so much of hers for him. Hearing the doorbell ring, Gabriella ignored it not wanting to face anyone. The constant ringing finally made Gabriella snap as she pulled the front door open to find a familiar blonde on her doorstep.

"Sharpay, what are you doing here?"

The blonde just pushed her to the side as she walked in waiting to hear the door close. "I'm here as your best friend, wanting to know what the heck is up with you? I mean firstly you've been distracted all week, you've managed to avoid your brothers and friends and now you've ignored me by not warning me of your impending absence from school. I thought we were friends."

Watching Sharpay fall into the single chair, Gabriella curled up on the couch at the end furthest away from her. "I was going to but I've lost my phone."

Hearing the lame excuse, Sharpay shook her head. "You know my number of by heart so don't try and squirm out of this." Turning serious, she continued. "Seriously, Gabs, what's wrong? I'm really worried about you. Have you seen what you look like? Death warmed up."

"Thanks for that, Shar. Trust me, I'm fine. Just a little under the weather. I'll be fine by next week."

Sharpay shook her head. "I don't think so. You, Gabriella Montez, tomorrow are going to come to school, I'll pick you up if you want and then you are coming up to that teen nightclub tomorrow evening, we'll go shopping if need be before heading back to mine to change with the aim of getting you hooked up as you really need to find a guy. Don't worry about your brothers because it'll only be Carl coming with us, Zeke, Ryan and Martha. Zeke told me that no Wildcats will be there if you're worried. Apparently they don't do teen nightclubs, only real nightclubs."

"I'm happy being single, thank you very much. Besides, you don't have a boyfriend so why do I need one? All guys I ever even begin to fall for always turn out to be the biggest jerks in the world!"

"Whoa, calm down. Not all guys are like your brothers. And by the way, I have Zeke thank you very much." Sharpay shot back.

Gabriella shook her head. "But you guys aren't together, together, so that doesn't count. I wasn't talking about my brothers, just guys in general."

"Well you say we're not together, together, but trust me soon enough Zeke won't know what has hit him and he'll be begging me to go out with him. He knows I would really build his popularity because with anyone dating me, who wouldn't become popular."

Rolling her mocha eyes, Gabriella smiled. "Fine, we'll go but only if you will shut up about Zeke. He's not even here and he's doing my head in."

"Well with that settled, how about you go grab 'Hairspray' and we can curl up for an afternoon with the gorgeous Link Larkin?"

"Don't you have classes you should get back for?" Gabriella asked.

"Maths or Link Larkin? I think I'll suffer Link Larkin but it'll be oh so hard missing the most wonderful Maths lesson."

Laughing, Gabriella shook her head as she disappeared upstairs with her mind for the first time in a few days off the subject of Troy Bolton and on the one other person apart from Daisy who can always cheer her up.

***

Friday night had come round and Gabriella had agreed to meet Sharpay, Ryan and Martha there while she, Carl and Zeke would come together.

"I told you that you would look hot." Gabriella smiled as she approached Sharpay and the others.

"My sister is not hot and let me make one thing clear before we go in, no hooking her up." Carl warned as Gabriella gave Sharpay a knowing look because she knew there was no chance Carl would be happy watching Gabriella with some guy. Heck even Zeke would hate it.

Sharpay just pushed Carl to the side and looped her arm through her best friends while using her other free hand to grab Zeke by the hand and pull them inside. As they entered the dark room, Gabriella made herself a promise that she was going to enjoy herself tonight and forget the jerk that was Troy Bolton.

***

She couldn't believe it, she really couldn't. Here she was, sweaty, laughing and just having fun like she planned, dancing like a regular teenager hanging with her twin and best friend and yet here he was. It was almost as if he was taunting her.

"I need some air." Gabriella half shouted to Sharpay who nodded. What the brunette didn't see as she was living the teen filled room was the pair of blue eyes on her that had been on her all night and their owner now moved towards the exit she left through seconds ago. She leaned against the wall and breathed out deeply as she closed her eyes. He was here. Why the hell was he here? Sharpay had told her that no Wildcats went there. The biggest Wildcat in the continental US was there. But, he had come there for her, for once, not to fight with her brothers.

"You okay?" A voice asked.

She rolled her eyes and turned away. "What do you fucking think?"

"Brie, please-" He whispered as he rested a hand on her waist.

She hesitated before she stepped away from him so he couldn't touch her. "Don't." She snapped.

"I'm sorry." He cried.

She swivelled around to face him and laughed with disbelief. "You're sorry? For what? Leaving me alone in my bed? Lying to me? Breaking promises? Going to fight my brothers if I hadn't have been there? Or all of the above?"

"Everything." Troy muttered, fiddling with his hands. Despite the terrible situation he had brought upon himself, he was finding the angry Gabriella extremely…hot. He forced himself not to get hormonal and focussed on gaining her forgiveness.

"Really?" She whispered. "So, that solves everything, right? It makes everything better. I've got an idea: I'll jump into your arms, we'll drive to Vegas and elope like you suggested."

Troy folded his arms. "It was my friends." He mumbled.

Gabriella nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Brie!" He exclaimed.

"Can you blame me? You blew me off to bloody fight my brothers!" She yelled. "I'm sorry if you think I'm at fault for being mad at you!"

"I didn't say you were at fault." Troy defended.

"Are you saying you were at fault?" Gabriella asked.

Troy nodded. "Yes. I apologise." He let his eyes wander over her body and felt a smile tug at his lips at the sight of her in a black sequin cocktail dress. "Sharpay took you shopping."

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah. I haven't been well most of the week and she wanted to cheer me up."

"You've been sick?" He exclaimed.

She shrugged. "If you even care about what happened, you'll know why."

He cringed. "I'm sorry."

She sighed and stepped forward to touch his chest. "What if it isn't good enough? You do realise if the paint had gone into our eyes, we could've been blinded."

"I didn't think." Troy whispered.

She released a weak giggle and nodded. "I know you didn't. What if you don't think again in the future, Troy?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

She stepped away again and folded her arms. "I'm sorry but I can't forgive you. You know how important my brothers are. Yes, they annoy me to hell and back but I wouldn't trade them for anything. I thought you were considering that – there haven't been many Knights and Wildcats fights recently."

"Yeah I made sure me and my friends avoided the places your brothers went." He admitted softly.

"Except last week." She pointed out with her lip quivering.

"Brie, don't cry. Please." He begged, cupping her face in his warm, large hands and brushed her tears away. "I know I fucked up big time and I know that I hurt you but I hurt myself as well. I mean, I haven't heard from you in a week. And I haven't made a basket all week. My parents think I'm getting depressed again."

She sniffed and looked up into his eyes. "I don't think I can do it now. Not after that. My brothers always come first. If that means not being with you, then so be it."

Troy nodded regretfully. "Okay." He whispered. "Can I please kiss you one last time? You know, before I never see you again."

After mulling the question over in her mind, running through the pros and cons of it, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards her, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. Troy felt himself sigh against her mouth at the feel of her body against his. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist. They stumbled backward until she was pushed up against the brick wall. The kiss was different to their previous kisses. Before, they were always slow and unhurried but now, there was a passionate urgency there after no contact for a week. She giggled breathlessly as their lips parted for air before Troy swooped down and connected their lips again. One of his hands rested on the wall beside her head and the other was holding her own hand. Her free hand had snaked its way under Troy's shirt and was lightly tracing the contours of his chest.

With a furious battle between their tongues for dominance, both of them were releasing muffled moans into the other's mouth. Usually, Gabriella was still fairly unsure and shy whenever they kissed but this time – knowing that it could be the last time ever – she was showing every part of her love and passion she felt for him show.

Troy pulled back for air but then began trailing kisses down her neck. "I'm so sorry." He mumbled into her skin.

"I know." She whispered. She tugged on his hair and he lifted his head. "I just don't think I can do it. Not now."

He nodded and kissed her chastely again. "But, I can't live without you anymore."

She shrugged. "I can't risk getting hurt again. I was set on being a doctor. I didn't want a boyfriend and I didn't need one. Then you bloody came along and I need you, too. But, I don't want to need you. The only guys I ever needed were my brothers and my dad. I'm sorry, Troy. I just don't think I can do it anymore. Carl knows about Stanford." She whispered, afraid to break the spell which they had cast through the last kiss.

"Really?" He smiled slightly. "What did he say?"

"He's proud of me." She muttered.

"I'm proud of you, too." He mumbled. "Please, Brie? Don't do this."

She rolled her eyes and let go of his hand. She ducked under his arm and faced away from him. "I told you: sorry just isn't good enough."

"I can make it up to you." He tried.

She slowly turned to him. "How?"

"I'll think of something." He exclaimed.

She shook her head. "Just forget about me. You obviously managed that last week." She started to walk back towards the club but Troy grabbed her arm. "Let me go."

"No!"

She looked up fearfully at him and then began digging in the small black purse which was hanging from her right wrist. She brought out her cell phone and pressed speed dial for Carl. "Please?" She asked, tugging on her arm again.

"Bella? What's up? Where are you?" He asked.

She released a sob as the realisation of how she wouldn't be with Troy anymore sank in. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she heard Carl ask Sharpay where she was. She hung up her phone and finally managed to break from his grasp just as the doors opened and Carl rushed to her. "Carl!" She cried in relief.

He furrowed his brow as she hugged him and then he glared at Troy. "What's wrong, Bells?"

"Make him go away." She muttered into his chest.

Carl looked over at Troy. "Leave her alone."

"I was just apologising for last week." He exclaimed.

Gabriella stepped towards Troy and slapped him across the cheek. "Shut. Up. I told you I don't want to hear it. Why are you apologising to me when you've never once said sorry to my brothers?"

"They've never said sorry to me or my friends." He exclaimed.

"Yeah and they were wrong. But did you never think to be the bigger guy and stand up and apologise first?" She yelled. "I never want to see you again."

"Gabriella!" He exclaimed. "Why can't you just accept my apology?"

"Why should I?" She whispered. "So that you can prove to your buddies that I'm a pushover? No thanks."

The doors opened again and Sharpay, Zeke, Ryan and Martha stepped out. Sharpay rushed over to Gabriella and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You okay, Gabs?"

She smiled weakly at Sharpay and nodded. "Yeah. I think I'm just going to call my mom and ask her to pick me up. I'm kind of tired."

Troy sighed. "What more do you want from me?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. But I know I want you to stay away from me and my friends and my family."

"Come on, Gabs, I'm going to sleep over at your house tonight." Sharpay suggested as she began leading Gabriella over to a wooden bench. They both sat down and Sharpay took Gabriella's phone out of her hand and scrolled through the contacts. She called Maria and explained that Gabriella wanted to go home and Maria said she would be there shortly. "Gabs, come on."

Gabriella stared at the concrete under her feet and shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it."

"What's so bad that you can't tell me?" Sharpay pleaded.

"I hate him." She hissed, gripping the wood that she was sitting on. "I bloody hate him and I can't wait to go to Silicon Valley and be a doctor." She lifted her head and cracked a small smile. "I'm going to join a convent." She decided.

"Why? Because Bolton poured paint over you? Gabs, you wouldn't overreact like this." Sharpay pointed out.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Shar, you would've said something like that if you'd have been caught up in it."

"That's the difference between you and me. Besides, if Bolton and the Wildcats had caught me with paint, would they be living this second?" She raised her eyebrows before both of the girls burst out laughing.

Gabriella laughter trailed off and sighed. "It just knocked me a bit. The whole thing. I mean, the bloody Wildcats throw paint on me and Carl finds out about Stanford…I guess it was too much. I've never been that involved with Wildcats like that and it knocked my confidence. Then Bolton shows up and tries to apologise. Ha! Like he meant it." She hissed bitterly.

Sharpay smiled sympathetically. "I bet Carl and Zeke are sorting him out right now."

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah…"

A car pulled to a stop in front of them and Maria got out of the car. She sat on the other side of Gabriella and wrapped her arms around her. "What's up, mi hija?"

"Troy was there." Gabriella whispered.

"What happened?"

"He tried to apologise." She admitted.

"And…" Maria prodded.

"I can't forgive. He's fought with my brothers too many times. I come into the picture and he'll apologise to me the first chance he gets. But, what about Carl and Landon and Zeke? He's never once apologised to them." Her voice cracked on the last word and a tear leaked from the corner of her eyes. She swiped it away just as her phone started ringing, signalling a text. She mentally rolled her eyes and slid her phone up, angling her phone so that Sharpay couldn't see.

Your twin just kicked me in the balls. Just know that I can't forget about you.

She slid her phone back down and took a concentrated look on her face as the words sank in. Everything he had ever told her was a lie. He'd wanted opportunities to fight her brothers. He made her feel special and like she was the most beautiful girl in the world. One day, years from now, he'd probably tell his friends how he had manipulated Gabriella Montez's innocence and naivety to get more chances to fight her brothers. She really was clueless when it came to guys.

"Mom, can you take us home please? I want to talk to Sharpay." She said, getting to her feet.

Maria caught the look in her daughter's eyes and nodded with understanding. "Okay, mi hija. Sharpay, do you want me to drive to your place to get some clothes?"

Sharpay shook her head. "I'll borrow some of Gabby's."

After they had all returned home, Gabriella had told Greg that the pounding music had given her a headache and that she wanted Sharpay to sleep over. She had kissed Greg and Landon goodnight and began leading Sharpay to her room. Once inside, she locked the door and smiled as Daisy trotted over to greet her. "Hey, Daisy. I know, I know. I love you, too."

Sharpay fussed the German shepherd's fur and flopped down onto Gabriella's bed. "Oh, God. I'm going to wake up to Zeke!"

Gabriella set her purse on her dresser and glared at the blonde through the mirror. "Shar…"

"Yeah…" She sighed blissfully.

"You mention his name one more time and I'm going to rip up his birth certificate." She threatened as she pulled out a tank top and shorts pyjamas from one of the drawers. She turned around and threw them to Sharpay. "You, my friend, belong in those sappy movies that I always cry at."

Sharpay shattered and giggled. "Yeah, I know."

Sharpay emerged from Gabriella's bathroom, changed, with her teeth brushed and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She found Gabriella changed into her own pyjamas but stood by her open closet, looking puzzled. Daisy was sat faithfully at her feet and seemed to be having a silent conversation with her owner. Sharpay set her clothes on the floor by the bathroom and padded over to her friend, resting a hand on her shoulder which made her jump. "You okay?"

Gabriella shook her head, her eyes locked on a familiar denim jacket. "No." She whimpered.

Sharpay looked on worriedly as tears rolled down her tanned cheeks. "What's wrong?"

"You're going to hate me." She mumbled.

"I could never hate you!" She exclaimed.

Gabriella twisted her head to look at her friend. "But, you will! We promised to tell each other everything and I broke it. I'm sorry, but I…" She broke off with a sob.

Sharpay hugged her tightly and felt Gabriella cry into her shoulder. "Shhhh…" She pulled back and reached over to Gabriella's desk for a tissue. "Now, I'm not mad. I'm worried. What is so bad that you can't tell me?"

"I have to tell you. I can't keep it in anymore." She whispered. She reached into her closet and brought out Troy's denim jacket. She lead Sharpay over to her bed and sat on the edge, Daisy lying at their feet. "What does this smell like?"

Sharpay held it cautiously to her nose and inhaled deeply. "It smells like…Lynx cologne and…dog? I think…"

Gabriella shook her head. "You're missing something." She took the jacket back and felt her heart break at the memories it held. It was the reason she met Troy. She wouldn't have it if she hadn't have nearly drowned. Her mind whirled back to the day she confessed to Maria she was in love with him. She could easily say she'd rather have simply died that day in the park than have to go through the heartache she was experiencing. But, that would mean she'd have missed all of the pleasure and the few good times they'd experienced together.

I'd take on a lifetime of hell for one more moment with him…

And now it was happening. Her own private hell.

She turned to Sharpay and sighed. "These past few weeks, I've been seeing someone…"

"Really?" Sharpay asked in shock. "Who? Does he go to our school?"

Gabriella laughed at the irony. "Hell no. Remember when I nearly drowned?"

"Sure."

"About a week after that, I agreed to go out with this guy…" She whispered.

"Wait, the guy who saved you?" She enquired.

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah."

"That explains why you were happy!" She exclaimed with realisation.

Gabriella giggled and nodded. "Yeah, it was. But, he hurt me, Shar. He hurt me so much. That's why I've been kind of 'death warmed up' this past week."

Sharpay wrapped her arms around her friend and rubbed her back. "Oh, honey, maybe it just wasn't meant to be…"

Gabriella pulled back and shrugged. "I don't know."

"Was this his jacket?"

The brunette nodded and ran her fingers lightly over the material. "I started wearing it while I slept. I haven't looked at it in the past week." She turned to Sharpay and took a deep breath. "He was the first guy I truly trusted. I told him everything…about how my brothers are everything to me, Stanford, how I wanted to please my dad… And he's the first guy I let things go that little bit further with." She felt her cheeks turn rosy and she turned away.

"Gabs, have you…did you have sex with him?" She exclaimed in surprise.

Gabriella frowned as she turned back to her. "No. But, his shirt did come off once. You know what the funny thing is? I actually wish I had. Just so I'd know what it'd feel like. To give him something I can't give to anyone else…even if he did break my heart…" She began crying again and hunched over, crying into her hands.

"Shhhh…" Sharpay soothed. "It's okay. You'll meet a better guy. You don't need him."

"I do." She croaked. "I need him so bad." She looked across at Sharpay and sighed. "I do need him. I need him like the air I'm breathing right now. Ever since he saved me, I haven't stopped thinking about him…I'm in love with him!" She cried. Daisy sat up and rested her head in Gabriella's lap.

"Well…who was it?" Sharpay asked.

Gabriella pulled the denim jacket on and allowed the familiar scent to sooth her. She had given it back to Troy a couple of times so that the scent was more prominent and he had given it back to her. However, his glorious scent was once again fading. She connected her eyes with Sharpay's and her lip trembled. "Shar, I'm in love with Troy Bolton."