"Okay, get to the track! We're running two miles!" Coach Bolton yelled earning a collection of groans from the group of juniors and seniors as they moved towards the track.

Gabriella, Jason, Zeke and a guy from the football team Devon walked a little slower together. Gabriella was wearing a pair of black basketball shorts with her gym shirt her hair in a high ponytail her bangs out of her face.

"You know all of this running is making me realize just how out of shape I am," Zeke grumbled as they walked into the cool October air towards the track.

"We do this every practice for football," Devon said

"I am so glad I'm not in football," Jason said suddenly feeling better about the whole situation. Gabriella coughed before replying.

"I hate Mondays, I should have stayed home, I feel worse than I did Saturday and I felt pretty bad then." Gabriella said before coughing again though harder this time.

"Gosh G are you sure you don't have swine flu?" Devon asked with a teasing smile before receiving a punch on the arm from Gabriella.

"I'm sick I don't have the flu or anything, I went to the doctor you know,"

"She didn't give you anything? I mean we all know you're on the pill but-"Though Jason didn't get the chance to finish the thought since Gabriella punched him in the gut…hard.

"You may as well tell everyone my social security number while you're at it!!" Gabriella yelled glaring at Jason before running ahead of the guys to the track.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Now I know you running two laps but this time we're going to be running Indian runs." Coach said getting groans from the kids in sports and worried looks from people who aren't in sports.

"What are Indian runs?" asked a shy girl Cassidy from the back of the crowd.

"Montez explain!" Coach said before walking off leaving them to running.

"Indian runs are simply everyone getting in a line and running the last person in line has to run all the way to the front and this keeps going…so go slow cause you'll get tired fast trust me."

Everyone groaned before forming a line and starting their two miles.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I am going to die," Gabriella groaned coughing for the thousandth time that day as they walked back to the school.

"I wonder what's for lunch." Jason asked.

"I'm starving…but I'm soooo tired," Devon said his arms above his head.

"Ugh that was torture…season is going to be hell," Zeke groaned.

"I just want food." Gabriella said leaning against Devon.

"Awe G you hungry."

"Duh," Gabriella said as if it were obvious.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'm never going to understand how you can eat so many carbs." Sharpay said looking at Gabriella's tray of food as they sat at the lunch table. Gabriella paused taking a bite of her burger and looked at Shar from under her hat.

"I play sports, everything that goes in doesn't stay on-"

"It stays on your hips and ass," Jason said under his breath earning a glare from Gabriella. Taylor laughed shaking her head as she worked on her Economics homework.

"Play nice guys," She said before concentrating once again.

"Jason I swear on your grave if you continue with this bull shit I'll cut your-" Gabriella started but was interrupted when Chad came running over with a huge grin on his face going directly to Taylor and grabbing her chin so her could kiss her lips leaving her shocked before going on to why he was excited.

"Guess what I found," he said looking directly at Gabriella who became nervous wondering what form of blackmail he had.

"What…" She asked knowing that she'd rather not know.

"This!" Chad said pulling a picture out of his pocket and holding it out to Gabriella who grabbed it and hung her head low not allowing anyone to see her reaction.

It was a picture of Chad, Troy and Gabriella from when they were 4. All three of them were dressed as pirates and Gabriella smiled at the memory. Her hair was short just at her ear making her appear as a boy and the same height as Troy and Chad. They were all dirty with mud and all surrounded by candy on the ground of Chad's lawn. The candy had gotten on the ground since Chad said that Troy had more candy than him but Troy said that Gabriella had more…soon they were fighting for the candy. They each had to be pulled away by a parent and told to say sorry and that they'd share the candy then 5 minutes later Lucille had them take this picture of the little rascals.

"This was a great time," Gabriella said holding it back out to Chad but Sharpay took it out of her grasp. Gabriella shrugged and continued to eat.

"This is adorable!" Sharpay squealed touching Zeke's arm getting him to look at the photo. "We have to have a Halloween themed Homecoming! I have to tell the committee!" Sharpay tossed the now forgotten picture on the table before grabbing her purse and rushing from the lunch room.

Chad shook his head settling next to Taylor and eating the food she wasn't concerned about. The guys got into conversation about basketball season and Gabriella thought…about that picture.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gabriella left lunch 10 minutes earlier than everyone else just wanting time to think…and stop by the nurse for an aspirin for the headache she has. She gave a sigh as she walked pass the trophy case looking at the more girly area. She looked at the cheer and dance team trophies. The girls in these 'sports' are some of the most popular and wanted girls in school they walk around like they haven't a care in the world and are flawless. When they laugh, you laugh, when they say something is stupid it all of a sudden is. They wore the best clothes and drove the best cars since their parents reward them every time they win something. Sharpay was on the dance forever but had to quit to focus on drama though she is still accepted and invited to sleepovers.

Looking up from the many trophies and at her reflection Gabriella would have sworn she really was looking at a guy. Her baggy gray sweatpants and huge East High sweatshirt didn't show any sign of a figure. Her hat was low just allowing her to see, all of her hair was hidden making you believe it was just cut short. Blinking a few times Gabriella snapped out of her spell and focused back on the trophies wondering what it would have been like if she had been Jasmine for Halloween.

"You know, we work hard to keep…filth away from our trophy cases." Gabriella jumped and turned to see Crystal Haven a girl who was captain of the dance team and flawless. She had her perfect nails and skin not a scratch. Her hair moved without needing a fan her eyes were a fierce silver and her lips plump and just waiting for another pair of lips to touch them. Gabriella swallowed not exactly sure how to handle this. Guys are one thing but most girls are strange to Gabriella.

"I…was just looking." Gabriella said meeting her eyes before moving to leave but right when she passed Crystal grabbed the hat off her head causing Gabriella's locks to flow down.

"What the fuck Crystal!" Gabriella said moving for her hat.

"Give this to Troy," She held out a piece of neatly folded paper in between her two manicured fingers. Gabriella looked at it before taking it from her looking at the lip gloss kiss on the side of it. "You know," Crystal started again making Gabriella look at her.

"You could actually get a guy if you weren't trying so hard to be one." She smiled handing Gabriella her hat before walking off her heels clicking the whole time.

Glancing over at the trophy case Gabriella tried to picture herself dressed up truly like a girl…it wasn't doing her much good so she wrapped her hair back up and put her hat back on heading for the nurse.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Are you sure you're okay?" Troy asked softly as Gabriella got in the front seat of his truck resting her head on the rest and closing her eyes.

"Yea…I'm just tired." Troy nodded starting the truck and pulling out of the parking lot. "Oh Crystal told me to give this to you," Gabriella said pulling the note from her pocket and handing it to Troy who laughed.

"This is sleepover material most likely,"

"Yea…" Gabriella said opening her eyes and deciding to look out the window when she wasn't able to get comfortable.

"Troy?" Gabriella asked after driving in silence beside the sounds of the outside world.

"Yea?"

"Do you…do you think that Crystal is…pretty?" Gabriella whispered causing Troy to look over at her with confusion on his face.

"What?" He asked suddenly. Gabriella sighed and looked down at her hands avoiding his blue eyes.

"I'm just asking. I mean we always said we'd be best friends…the lovers. So as a best friend you should be able to tell me, do you find her attractive."

Troy didn't answer. He just locked his jaw stubbornly and continued to drive. Gabriella sighed and slumped into her seat feeling that headache coming back heavily. Suddenly the truck came to a stop causing Gabriella to look up at her surroundings. They were in front a small bakery that had been in the town since 1968.

"Why did you stop?" Gabriella looked up at her tense boyfriend to find his full attention on her.

"Why did you ask me that?"

"Why didn't you answer?" Gabriella asked back feeling like such a girl worrying about her boyfriends feelings for another girl…feeling jealous.

"What's with the questions?"

"Why aren't you answering?"

"No," Troy said simply as if it was nothing.

"No?" Gabriella asked turning more towards Troy a frown on her face.

"Yea, I don't find her all that attractive."

"You're lying; you're a guy you can't tell me you don't find any other girl attractive."

"Fine I mean she's not hideous…just not my type." He shrugged but Gabriella could tell from his eyes that he didn't lie. Though this isn't the answer she wanted at all.

"Then what's your type?"

"You," Gabriella looked away and out the window looking at the people walking on the sidewalk oblivious to what was going on in the white pick up.

"You're lying," Gabriella said

"Why would you say that?"

"Because," Gabriella said sharply looking back at Troy "I was a fucking pirate for Halloween when we were 4,"

"What?" Troy asked now completely confused as to what was going through his girlfriends mind.

"I have been dressed up in boy costume for Halloween since I was 4. I've bought clothes from the guys section since I was 5 and only went to the girls section for underwear and my first training bra! I'm not on the dance team or a cheerleader. I was on the football team in middle school! I don't dress up I wear guys clothes and on occasion girls clothes. I'm not attractive; no guy has ever looked at me twice besides you. Don't you want a girlfriend who when you're in the locker room talking about other guys would agree that she's hot?!"

Gabriella didn't know where any of this anger was coming from, maybe it's the medicine she took last night who knows. She also didn't notice the tears coming down her cheeks. Troy sighed and reached for her pulling her close allowing her to cry into his chest.

"Yea and I love everything about you. It makes you different from every other girl. I mean none of them have the balls to do anything you've done. If you knew how much the guys talk about you in the locker room you'd beat their ass. You know it everything in my power not to beat those jerks asses when they started talking about how you had a figure of a goddess. I find you insanely attractive, and so does your best friend so you must know it's true. I don't care what you look like in front of them I know what you look like to me and that's all that matters."

"Then…tell the guys we're dating." Gabriella whispered her voice muffled by his chest.

"Okay," she pulled back and looked up at him with red puffy eyes.

"Really?"

"Yea, if that's what you want. And I'll tell them just how amazing you are." Gabriella searched his eyes for a lie but found none.

"Okay," She smiled before kissing him square on the lips.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I think I'm getting my period soon or something," Gabriella said to Taylor as they walked to Economics.

"Why do you say that?" Taylor asked giving her friend all of her attention.

"I totally snapped on Troy yesterday for no real reason. I just like kept going on about how he shouldn't want to be with me because I'm not like Crystal Haven." Gabriella said looking at Taylor from under her hat.

"Crystal Haven is a slut,"

"But she's gorgeous."

"And you're stunning." Gabriella sighed looking from her friend.

"You just don't get it."

"Gabriella you are gorgeous! You just don't have the confidence to come from under all of those boy clothes and be the girl we all know you are. I mean you dress like a girl when we have sleepovers. Remember when we tried on Shar's clothes and had a fashion show. You were totally into it," Taylor said making a point that Gabriella couldn't help agreeing to. Taylor sighed linking arms with her shy friend.

"We just have to take baby steps G. By prom you will be the Cinderella of the ball and Troy will be your prince…though he'll know where you live and be able to get the shoe to you faster." Gabriella giggled not being able to help it.

"See you are a girl! Guys don't giggle."

"I guess."

"Besides Troy called a team meeting this morning," Taylor said nonchalantly.

"Oh really?" Gabriella asked curious as to why he hadn't told her.

"Yes really…any idea why he wanted to talk to my boyfriend - and others - before bell?"

"I don't know…" Gabriella mumbled trying to think of their conversation in her room last night trying to see if he mentioned anything.

"Well I have a feeling you do." Taylor said before dropping their arms and heading to her desk in the Econ room.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hey guys," Gabriella said taking a seat at the round lunch table looking around at her group of friends who were all grinning hugely at her.

"What?" She asked looking around

"I'm hurt Gabriella," Chad said looking at her seriously.

"What did I do?" Gabriella asked thinking it was something serious.

"You didn't even tell me…or hint at it."

"Hint at what?" Gabriella asked trying to think of what he could possibly be talking about then it hit her.

"Oh Chad I'm sorry." Gabriella said getting more smiles. "I forgot I was wearing your baseball shirt…see you left it at my house and I figured may as well wear it…I'll give it back aft-"

"NOT THE DAMN SHIRT!" Chad yelled though only loud enough to get the attention of a few other tables.

Gabriella stood up a little to pull up her faded jeans before sitting again. She looked around at her friends really confused. She looked down at her trigonometry book and opened it slowly pulling out her notebook and pencil ready to finish her homework. She looked up to see the gang still sending smiles her way.

"You guys are scaring me," She said with a shaky voice.

"Oh Gabs…you know…" Shar nudged her with a wink that made Gabriella frown more.

"No. I don't know." She said seriously.

"Why don't you take this off?" Sharpay quickly snatched the baseball cap off of Gabriella head before she could move. Gabriella glared at Sharpay as her hair fell down going down a little below the small of her back.

"What the hell?" Gabriella asked getting frustrated with all of them…minus Jason who was being insanely quiet.

"There now you we can see your face."Sharpay said brushing Gabriella's hair from her face making it neater. Zeke laughed from next to her but stopped when Gabriella glared at him. Gabriella sighed deciding not to fight with Sharpay since it wasn't worth the headache that would come. Looking at Taylor she asked.

"What is going on?" Taylor just gave her a knowing smile and shook her head before eating something off Chad's plate.

Gabriella sighed shaking her head going back to her trig work ignoring the conversations going on around her. What is their problem? Gabriella wondered to herself.

"Hey guys," Gabriella wrapped her left arm slickly around her waist as butterflies went off in her stomach as they often do when he's around.

She looked up briefly though catching everything about him. The way his dark jeans hung low showing off his plaid boxers, the plain blue t-shirt he wore that was probably a little tight since you could see his muscles through it. His hair perfectly to the side though slightly messed up as if he'd been running his hands through it often. She can't help being attracted to him…though sometimes he has to tell her he's attracted to her. It's a girl thing…it's a girl thing she thought again going out of focus from the problem in her book. Though before she could ponder this new revelation someone kicked her under the table and her eyes snapped in the direction the kick came from.

Taylor looked at Gabriella and nodded towards Troy who was standing next to Chad talking with him about something.

"Troy?" Gabriella asked softly though catching his attention. "Food," she pouted.

"Course babe," Troy said before nudging Chad to come with him. Gabriella looked back at her work as they walked away not even thinking about the way that Troy had responded until Taylor kicked her again.

"What?!" Gabriella asked getting really pissed now.

"Gabriella!"

"What?!" Gabriella asked giving Taylor her full attention.

"He called you babe." Gabriella stared at her not getting her point. Then it hit her…the meeting…he actually told them…She looked over at Zeke and Sharpay who were grinning at her nodding then back at Taylor sighed in relief knowing that she figured it out. Gabriella looking towards her right at Jason…but found him gone…when did he leave? Gabriella wondered briefly before turning back to Sharpay who wanted details in full.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Why are you so happy?" Gabriella asked Troy as he walked up to her after school as people were clearing the halls. The grin on his face made Gabriella crazy though she wasn't just going to tell him that and boost his ego, though she's sure it was written all over her face. He bent down and placed a kiss on her lips pulling away as fast as he went down.

"Because I can do that whenever I want now," Troy said happily practically singing it.

"Well I'm glad you're happy, I didn't really think you were going to tell them though." Gabriella said softly pulling her backpack out.

"Why not? It's what you wanted."

"I know," Gabriella reassured him. "I'm so happy you did it…but can we just…take it very slow. I just don't want hate mail coming at me more than it did before." Gabriella said grabbing her basketball bag before closing her locker.

"Hate mail? Psh, there will be none of that. Besides I like being a boyfriend not only behind closed doors but in public too."

"Well okay just don't full out make out with me…I'm not into PDA you know that…it has to seem like we are still just friends." Gabriella said as they started walking towards the gym since she had practice, now that Volleyball and Swim season are ending.

"Of course." Troy said grabbing her gym bag and putting it on his shoulder then wrapping his arm around her.

If Gabriella wasn't so tired she may have protested instead of leaning into him wrapping her arm around his waist. As they walked some more Gabriella tried to stifle a yawn but Troy saw anyways and rubbed her arm looking down at her.

"Tired?" Troy asked getting a nod from Gabriella who as she nodded realized she didn't miss her hat.

"I could go to sleep on this floor right now from all these drugs this doctors put me on…then all the aspirin for the headaches…"

"Woah maybe you should go lay down..we don't need you mixing things that shouldn't be mixed." Troy said seriously.

"No, I have to be at practice." Gabriella said yawning again…Troy sighed knowing he should object but decided something else.

"At least let me pick you up after."

"Of course. I wouldn't trust myself to walk." Gabriella joked though she knew she was completely serious.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Now go to sleep," Troy said as Gabriella got out of the truck grabbing her bags lazily getting a chuckle from Troy.

"Come later?"

"You'll be sleeping so what would it matter?" Troy asked getting a frustrated groan from Gabriella.

"I don't know, don't come then." Gabriella said turning and heading for her front door.

"Hey!" Troy yelled making her turn and look at him tiredly. "How about 9?" She nodded before heading for the door and waving at Troy once she was inside.

Gabriella dropped her bags and headed for the kitchen for an ice pack for her ankle which still hurt from when she hurt it during volleyball.

"Hey Sport," Gabriella looked up and saw her dad grinning at her.

"Hey dad," She said opening the freezer and grabbing a pack and then getting a piece of paper towel to cover it with.

"How was practice? Jack said you were looking good."

"It was okay."

"Okay? I thought you loved basketball?" Alex asked clearly confused.

No you love it. Gabriella wanted to say but instead said

"I'm just tired; you know I was just sick…" Gabriella said looking at her dad who just made a face and waved his hand as if it was nothing walking from the room.

"Oh bud, just take it like a man." Gabriella laughed bitterly as tears came to her eyes, when he said that when she was younger it was okay since she thought she was a guy. But then she got boobs and an ass and realized she had nothing that a guy had. Then when her father would say take it like a man…it hurt since he obviously just saw her as a guy no matter how long her hair was.

Gabriella walked out into the family room and looked at her dad watching a game and looking at a play book.

"Dad?" Gabriella asked a sob thick in her throat.

"Yea sport?" He asked not even looking up, Gabriella opened her mouth tears rolling down her face her having no way to stop them.

Do you know I'm a girl?! A living, breathing female? I have boobs, and I get my period! I'm the one who would carry the child! I don't have a penis! I don't know how to take it like a man since I have nothing of what it takes to be a man! I'm not even attracted to girls! I like boys…men!! I love Troy! Yes Troy Bolton my best friend and guess what?!?! We're fucking sexually active!!! Yes dad a guy and GIRL, a male and FEMALE, heterosexual relationship in the works here! I know the only reason you don't want to look at me as a girl is because of her! You don't want to look at me dressed as a girl because you're scared I'll remind you of her! I don't even know what she looks like!! Why don't you figure it out!! You're going to run me away too!!!!!

She wanted to say it…all of it. But nothing came out, she turned and called out with as strong of a voice as she could.

"Night Dad!!" She bolted up the stairs.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Troy climbed into Gabriella's bedroom quietly seeing as all of her lights were off. In the moonlight he could make his way to the bed and see his girlfriends face. He kicked off his shoes and walked a little closer to her frowning as he looked closer at her under the moonlight. Her hair was a mess and she had tear stains and mascara all over her cheeks. He knelt down putting his face next to hers wondering what had his girlfriend crying in the 2 and a half hours it'd been since he'd last seen her. He used his left hand to lightly brush her hair from her face and wiped her cheeks lightly with his thumb.

"Gabriella," He whispered hoping she'd awaken.

"Gabriella? Baby, wake up please…Gabriella?" He asked a few more times and finally she began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open slowly and she looked at Troy. New tears came to her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck knocking both of them to the ground and nearly choking him but he didn't care. Troy gathered her in his lap and rubbed her back as she cried. Gabriella wasn't sure why this was getting to her…she's blaming it on the period that she must be getting ready to receive…though somewhere someone inside her was saying…you're a girl act like one, stereotype or not.

"What's wrong babe?" Troy asked with concern. Gabriella hid her face into the crook of his neck and shook her head.

"Just hold me."

"Okay," Troy said not questioning anything.

"I love you Troy," Gabriella said softly.

"I love you too, more than you know." Troy said figuring that something had gone down between Alex and Gabriella…Troy knew he had to do something since Gabriella wouldn't but what.

So I was writing a brilliant chapter for this before my computer crashed as some of you know. I didn't even edit this so forgive mistakes...and the direction of this chapter changed like 5x while typing so I'm sorry. So review...please and let me know that you hate my computer. (:

xoxo Zoe