A/N: Ummm...Sorry This took so long. HSMandChelseaFCfan sent me the start of this a couple of days ago but I was writing 'Royalty Meets Reality'. I cried a little bit...

Don't own HSM x

Chapter 22

"Bolton, get your head in the game!" Coach Bolton yelled as Troy started at the ball that bounced off the court and slowly came to a halt. There was two days to the championship game and Troy's head seemed to be becoming less and less into basketball. While it was obvious Troy was still hurting over Gabriella, Jack Bolton knew his son needed to focus if the Wildcats were to stand any chance of winning and going down in Wildcat history.

"Yo, Captain, focus. We need our star player at his best if we are going to wipe the floor with those Knights." Troy just looked at his best friend and fellow teammates before heading towards the boys locker rooms. Each one knew he was still hurting and no matter how hard they tried to distract him, it was no good.

Jack Bolton watched on solemnly as his son disappeared from sight. He hadn't seen his son play so bad since a few years ago; not even the time a few weeks ago that he now knew was to do with the brunette girl on the West side of Albuquerque. Shaking his head, knowing he didn't have time to be thinking about this, Coach Bolton blew his whistle, "Chad, take over captain. We have a game to prepare for."

***

Troy slammed his locked shut as he dropped to the wooden benches, his head in his hands. What was the point? What was the point in playing for something that meant nothing to you now? What was the point when the most important thing in your life had gone? There was no point. That was it. Simple as. Without the girl he loved more than the air he breathed there was no point.

Clenching his hand Troy punched the wooden bench he was on trying to find some release for the pent up anger within his body. Wincing as the pain that was sure to bring bruises that would soon form on his knuckles, Troy stood up and grabbed his towel from his locker and headed towards the showers. He knew his dad would be mad at him for walking out of practice considering the championship was just days away but he couldn't take it anymore. Basketball just wasn't worth it. Not now at least. He'd deal with the consequences later.

***

It was only now as she stood in her room folding her clothes neatly into the suitcase open on her bed, did it actually feel real. She would be gone, gone from Albuquerque in just a mere forty-eight hours. Forty-eight hours and she would be able to finally leave Albuquerque and move on with her life. Well she hoped she would.

"Hey, sis, you want anything to eat?" Gabriella shook her head at Carl who had popped his head around the door. Carl sighed as he looked at her before closing the door behind him and walking over to her. Wrapping his arms around his twin from behind, he leaned his chin on her shoulder. "I wish you could be happy again, Gabs."

Gabriella gave a small smile but still remained quiet. Carl knew if she wanted him, she'd speak in her own time. Unwinding his arms, he went to turn but felt a grip on his arm. "Please."

Carl turned and pulled her into his embrace and she held onto him tightly. "Don't let Landon or any of the other know but I'm going to miss you when you've gone. How am I going to cope without us being able to pull the twin trick on Mom and Dad?"

Shaking her head at her brother, she let her mouth part. "I'm scared."

"I know you are but you'll be great. You're gonna go up there and knock all those other swots out of their nerdy socks and heck even the teachers, too. You're gonna finish the programme, come back home for the summer or if you like we could persuade Mom and Dad to let me come join you in California and then we can have a fun filled summer with all those hot babes." Carl rubbed his hands together behind Gabriella's back while smirking.

Gabriella rolled her eyes knowing how typical her brother was. But the smile that had appeared on her face slowly slipped away again; the only genuine smile that had graced her face, since the split, disappearing into a distant memory again. "I'd do anything to see you smile again."

"I know. Carl, I want to be on my own for a bit, do you mind?" Gabriella asked pulling away from the comfort in his arms and going back to her packing.

"Just know I'm here if you need me." Gabriella nodded as Carl left the room.

***

"Well?" Carl sighed at the blonde who was waiting outside his sister's room.

"Still nothing. She's refusing to acknowledge anything, really." Sharpay, Zeke and Landon all looked at each other worriedly. The thought of Gabriella leaving in her current state worried them. She had barely spoken a word to anyone and had been keeping her emotions under wrap.

Sharpay glanced at her watch. "You guys have an extra practise and need to get going. I'll stay and keep an eye in case she comes out and wants to talk." Carl went to interrupt. "I promise if she needs you I'll call. Look all you guys can do is focus on the game and win that for Gabriella because the last thing she needs is to be worried about you guys not winning and Troy's face being splashed about everywhere because the Wildcats won and that would be even more painful for her."

The three guys nodded and headed downstairs, Zeke pecking Sharpay on the lips before leaving. They all knew whatever happened in the next forty-eight hours would be crucial.

***

Game day. The day Troy was dreading. Lessons that day had dragged on and now out on court, Troy couldn't help but feel sick, knowing that things could have been so different today if Gabriella hadn't have broken up with him. But instead, it was just like any other game except Troy couldn't focus. The only thing that was in Troy's head was spotting the brunette he was madly in love with, hoping she would be here even if she wasn't here for him. The East High gym had been filling up slowly with fellow Wildcat and Knight students; cheerleaders and mascots for both teams doing their best to rally the crowd.

"Look who just entered." Jason stated as Troy felt Chad clap him on the shoulder at the sight. Carl, Zeke and fellow Knights entered the gym in their warm up tracksuits; their symbolic blue and yellow school colours.

Carl's eyes locked on Troy's as Troy headed towards him in the middle of the court where he parted from his team who stood around their bench. "How you doing, man?"

"It doesn't matter. How's Ella?" Troy asked praying she was ok.

Carl sighed. "Probably just as bad as you, if not worse. I promise I've tried to get her to come round but she's having none of it and after she's gone tonight, I'm not sure if she'll ever return because she's hurting that much."

Troy nodded. "Promise me one thing, Carl. Make sure she knows no matter what I'll always love her."

Carl smiled and offered his hand to Troy. "I promise."

The two captains shook hands and walked back to their teams, Troy's cerulean eyes still scanning the opposition crowd in hope of finding the one person who inspired him to play him best.

***

Before he knew it, it was half time and the Wildcats were beating the Knights but only by a little. Jack and the rest of the team knew Troy was having an awful game but somehow they were managing and knew that they needed Troy in the game for his odd skilful move or pass that he successfully managed to complete. There was still no sign of Gabriella and Chad and Jason had already picked up on the fact he was hoping to see her in the crowd somewhere.

"Ok, so let's finish this game and win. Chad," Jack finished as Troy looked up.

"What team?" Chad yelled.

"Wildcats!"

"What team?"

"Wildcats!"

"What team?"

"Wildcats."

"Wildcats!"

"Get 'cha head in the game!" The team stood up and clapped hands before jogging back out to the court.

"Troy?" Troy turned to face his dad. "Win or lose I'm proud of you and I know Gabriella would be, too." Troy nodded and slowly headed back out, knowing it was useless because no matter what anyone else said, Gabriella was the only one he needed right now. And without her, there was no point.

***

Standing at the side, Gabriella watched through the small gap in the door as the two teams fought for the championship. She'd promised her dad she would go but after stepping foot into the East High gym and seeing the tan Wildcat Captain, it became too much and she had to get out of there before he saw her. She now found herself watching from outside, knowing that although she wanted the Knights to win in her head, in her heart she wasn't so sure anymore.

Watching the ball drop through the hoop just as the clock hit zero, Gabriella closed her eyes as she heard the cheers erupt from inside. Closing the door she walked away, knowing it was time for her to leave with her goodbyes having being done before the game. With one last look at the school, Gabriella climbed into her mother's car.

"Ready?" Maria asked.

"Yeah, I'm ready." The car moved off and Gabriella felt the tears slip down her cheek silently knowing that her heart was well and truly broken.

***

Troy slipped down the lockers, not wanting to face anyone. The Wildcats had lost and it was obvious the team was furious and he knew it was his fault. He was well and truly a failure. Not only had he lost the girl he loved but now the one thing that his whole team had been counting on, the championship. He might as well be dead now because he was a failure to everyone. And nothing would ever change that.

He buried his face into his knees and finally cried. He lost everything. He'd lost his father's trust, the game and Gabriella. Everything that had ever meant anything to him had slipped through his fingers like tiny grains of sand. Although he didn't want to win the championship for the U of A scholarship like he did originally, he wanted to win so that he could be remembered at East High for more than going behind everyone's backs and dating a West High Knight.

"This sucks," he whispered.

"Troy," a voice said softly.

"Go away, Shar," he grumbled. "I want to be alone."

"Well, I'm not leaving you alone. I mean, we could both be killed at any minute. You know I'm in the guys' changing rooms, right? I mean," she sniffed, "it stinks. Do you guys never shower?"

He cracked a small smile but it faded. "Is she okay?"

Sharpay crossed one leg over the other and sighed, tears blurring her vision. "Not really. She and her dad are on talking terms now, though. Which is good."

He nodded. "Of course."

"What about you?" she asked quietly.

He looked up at her. "I don't know. Part of me is glad that she picked her family over me. The other part…I know that we'd both be that much happier if we just…have each other. But, no matter what I do, she won't talk to me. She wasn't even here today. It kind of hurt me. I thought she'd at least turn up for Carl and Zeke. When I couldn't find her…It's like my luck finally ran out."

"Maybe…" She looked down at him. "Troy, you've become a really close friend of mine and I really care about you. You're like a brother and…I mean, I hate you but I love you, too. I want you to be happy just like I want Gabs to be happy. You both mean a lot to me. So, I think you need to find a way to get your luck back," she said thoughtfully.

"How the hell do I do that?" he asked bitterly.

"Well, you make it happen. What happened to the Troy Bolton that told me that Gabriella was worth fighting for?" she demanded.

Troy frowned and got to his feet. "That's before I knew I was going to be fighting against her own family. She's already made that choice once before. I'm not forcing her to make that choice again," he yelled. "I might be getting depressed again but I don't care, quite frankly. If she wants her family instead of everything I did for her, she can. I just thought that everything that happened between us, everything we'd risked, was worth more than simply giving up. You know what? I'm glad she's gone. Now I can finally think for myself instead of her distracting me. I can actually think about standing on my own two feet."

Sharpay stood up and glared at him. She climbed onto the bench so that she was looking down on him. "Don't you dare yell at me when it concerns my best friend. I might not have known you for long but when it concerns Gabi, you suck at lying. Why are you making this difficult?"

"She didn't have to break up with me simply because things start getting a little rough. Newsflash! This is real life. Not some book that'll end up happily ever after that she's always reading. She needs to realise that life isn't simple and she can't simply give up," he shot back.

Sharpay grunted in frustration. "Then show her what she's missing if she fights, too!" she exclaimed. "Besides, when you're telling me what my best friend should and shouldn't do, can you please make sure you're not being a hypocrite? You admitted to me that you're fighting either." She shook her head and breathed out deeply. "This isn't the Troy Bolton she fell in love with."

"That's because she was the one who broke up with me," he muttered, leaning back against the lockers. "I'm sorry, Sharpay. I just…I don't know what to do. When I had her and I was confused about something, I just had to remind myself that I had her. Now, I can't do that." He rubbed his eyes. "I want to wake up and find me next to her in her bed. What I'd give to have that again…"

"Shar?" a voice asked.

They both turned to find Carl and Zeke standing there, their gym bags slung over their shoulders. "One second guys," she whispered. She jumped down from the bench and smiled slightly up at Troy. "I hope you know that she'll never love anyone but you." She leaned up and kissed his cheek. She smiled softly. "I love you, Troy."

"What?" Zeke exclaimed.

"Oh, shut up, you big idiot. I love Troy like I love Ry and Carl. Like a brother." She rolled her eyes and turned back to Troy. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned up onto her tiptoes to whisper into his ear, "You know she'll always wait for you."

He nodded silently. "I guess." He turned to Carl and Zeke when she pulled back and made her way over to Zeke to kiss him. "Congratulations. It was a good game."

Carl nodded and stepped forward to shake his hand. "It was. You played well."

"I don't think so," he muttered. "Why wasn't she here?"

Carl sighed. "She was. She was outside, looking through the gym doors. She couldn't face you and the rest of the West High. She's been struggling all week with all of the comments they're making. I don't want to think about what they'd do if Zeke, Shar and I weren't there." He leaned closer to Troy. "I think they were more scared of Sharpay than of me and Zeke put together."

Troy laughed softly. "I can imagine. I was a bit scared when we first met."

Carl grinned. "Interrogation?"

"Oh, yeah! Then they started squealing and talking about Brie's wedding!" Troy exclaimed.

Carl rolled his eyes. "Blue lilies and Paris?"

Troy nodded. "Don't forget the handkerchief that 'totally matches my eyes'."

"Yeah. That, too. Do you think you'll be okay?" Carl asked quietly.

Troy took a deep breath. "I don't know. I honestly don't. Maybe everything will sink in and I'll find the strength to talk to your dad and fight for her. But, right now, I think I need some time for me. And Shar?" he asked, gaining her attention. "I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean it. I was just mad that we lost and how she's on her way to California. I really am sorry."

"It's okay." She smiled softly. "You'll get her back one day. And I hope we're on Broadway together one day."

"I'm looking forward to it," he said softly.

Zeke stepped forward. "You know, I could bake you a batch of cookies that could help you win Gabi back," he offered.

Sharpay gasped and hit her boyfriend over the head. "Gabriella can't be won over by cookies. She deserves more than that."

Zeke turned to her and brought her into his arms. "You never complain when I bake cookies for you."

"Because you're mine," she cried. "Of course I love your cookies."

Troy turned to Carl. "Are they always like this?"

The young man nodded. "Pretty much. Hey, we have to go and celebrate. We'll see you later?"

Troy nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that." He received hugs from Carl, Zeke, and finally Sharpay. "If you hear from her, will you call me?"

Sharpay nodded. "Yeah. I will. Bye, Troy." The three Knights left the locker room, leaving Troy alone.

Troy sank down onto the bench and sighed, staring at his locker. A few moments later, Chad, Jason, Kelsi and Taylor walked in. He looked over to them and offered a weak smile. "I'm sorry."

Chad shook his head as he sat next to his best friend. "It wasn't your fault. You played really well in the circumstances and we didn't lose by much. Single digits. Less than five." He grinned.

"Yeah, but I missed so many shots," he grumbled. "She's really gone, guys. She's a thousand miles away. I'm never going to get her back." He stood up and made his way out of the locker room.

"Why do I don't like where this is going?" Jason asked quietly.

Kelsi rolled her eyes. "It's going to be a long summer."