"Gabs, I just don't get it." The blonde complained as she had her back on the bed, and was eating red licorice.

Gabriella was staring at the TV that was on, upside down as her head was on the ground and her feet were on the bed. Sharpay had warned her various times that she shouldn't lean off the bed like that as all the blood would rush to her head, but Gabriella didn't care as she was just bored.

"You don't get what Shar?" Gabriella asked for what felt like the hundredth time when in fact it was the first time for that conversation.

"I don't get why you and Jase are fighting. I mean, I know he blew you off for his latest girlfriend, and then you reciprocated by doing the same, but…I just don't get it." Sharpay pouted as Gabriella rolled her eyes.

"Why do you even care? It means I have more time to hang out with you and Tay." Gabriella pointed out in a bitter tone.

"I care because this is my first year as head cheer captain." Gabriella rolled her eyes to that. It could've been her, but both girls never mentioned that as it would start even more drama, and Gabriella didn't even really want to be captain with everything that happened at home. But that didn't stop the other girls from talking behind Sharpay's back about it. "And in order to win we need our Captain happy. And in order for him to be happy he needs two things."

"Which are?" Gabriella prompted a little bit more interest in it once she mentioned Jason.

"Sex and a best friend." The blonde pronounced. "He already has the sex from that one senior, but a best friend? That's you, and you're not acting like it."

"I'm not acting like it?" Gabriella exclaimed in shock as she did a backwards roll off of her bed to look at the blonde normally. "I've been acting like it for ten fucking years, and what does he do? He ditches me on one of my most important nights."

"Gabs, he apologized, and I would hardly call you getting an award for being smart an important night. In fact, he apologized twice, and you blew him off."

"Maybe you should keep your nose out of peoples' businesses." Gabriella gritted out through clenched teeth.

"I'm just saying, if Jason's happy, then he'll play well. And then the team will play well and win. And then Zeke will be in a good mood. It all works out."

"So basically you want me to make up with Jason, and then hopefully Zeke will be happy enough to have sex with you on game day?" Gabriella asked as that plan sounded a lot more like Sharpay.

"Well…now that you mention it."

"Sharpay!" Gabriella exclaimed. "I'm not just gonna make up with him for you to have sex."

"But it would be my first time, and he promised that we could do it on the first game day, and if they lose then…"

"It's not that great the first time." Gabriella mumbled.

"Gabs, I'm asking you as a friend. Just keep Jason happy for this game. Please?"

Gabriella shut her eyes. She was kind of hard on him. "I guess."

Sharpay's eyes lit up. "Fabulous! Now if only you could do that for EVERY game."


Anna Montez had a long day at work. She had meetings with various different people who were all interested in one big house located in Albuquerque. She had run from office to office in meeting with them on time, and therefore, couldn't get home on time to start dinner. Usually it was Carlos who was a better cook, but Anna could cook too if it was a simple meal. And then if Carlos and her were home together, they would share the kitchen duty and just make a fun time out of it.

The least likely thing happened as Anna walked into her house. She peered down the hall as she was hanging up her coat on the coat rack. She could hear the music blaring from the radio, to the point of any normal person would have to yell over the sound just to be heard. She rolled her eyes as she walked down the hallway and towards the light and sound.

She froze in her step as she was just in the perimeter of the room. She expected Jason to be in the kitchen since the music was more of what he and Gabriella listened to, but it wasn't Jason Cross, it was his brother. She, in a million years, never thought she would see Troy Bolton in her kitchen. After living next to him for going on eleven years she knew he was an exceptionally nice boy. She had met him briefly as she knew more about him through her husbands rantings about how good he is at basketball, than she did through Troy himself.

It wasn't a bad surprise. It was just different as Gabriella was busy cooking the taco meat and he was chopping up the little food that they add for more flavor. They weren't talking with their mouths, but Anna wasn't oblivious to the little smiles shared between the two.

She walked over to the radio situated on their far counter as Gabriella's and Troy's backs were now turned to her. She didn't walk quieter then usually, but due to the music neither kid saw or heard her. She turned off the music as Gabriella was the only one who jumped in surprise.

"Mom?" Gabriella questioned.

Anna smiled as she laid her purse on the island in the middle of the kitchen. "I'm surprised your eardrums didn't burst." She teased. Anna smiled at her daughter and then Troy. "Hello Troy."

"Hello Mrs. Montez." Troy greeted her as he had only remembered one other time where he had actually talked to her, and that was almost one year ago when he was cutting the grass and Mrs. Montez needed help with a heavy box.

"Call me Anna. Mrs. Montez makes me seem old." Anna looked around at the almost done food. "You're father isn't home yet?"

"No. He called though and said that something unexpected at school showed up and he needed to stay and help." Gabriella explained while going over to the stove to turn the burner down.

"I guess we'll eat without him. You joining us Troy?"

Troy looked at Gabriella with uncertainty. Anna had known Gabriella for almost eighteen years. She knew when Gabriella was happy as she was always so expressive through her eyes. And the look she was giving Troy was of encouragement.

Troy picked up on Gabriella's look and smiled charmingly at Anna. "If you don't mind."

"Of course not. You practically cooked it for us. You deserve it."


"So the game's coming up on Wednesday." Andrew Cross stated.

Jason was panting as he had his hands on the back of his head to circulate his air better. "I know."

"Montez has you whipped into shape yet?" His gruff voice asked.

Jason turned around and rolled his eyes as he looked at the basketball hoop at the park. "Yeah. I think we proved that the first game."

"Yeah, well we all know how Coach Montez treats his players." The distaste that Andrew had against Carlos showed. "He treats you guys like little girls. You need to be practicing a lot more."

Jason had heard this since Carlos first accepted the coaching job at East High.

"Dad, other players on the team don't have all the time in the world. They have other goals than making it in basketball."

Andrew rolled his eyes. "Right. I remember that Zeke kid. He bakes, right?"

Jason swallowed what he really wanted to say to stand up against his dad's harsh and bitter judgment. He was already upset about him and Gabriella, and fighting with his dad would put an even bigger dent in his mood for the game in two days.

"Yeah. Zeke likes to bake."

"That just proves Montez needs better judgment for who he lets on his team."

Jason bit his tongue with all his mite considering he practically grew up with Carlos as a second father. "Whatever you say dad."

Andrew didn't notice the little snarl that came out of his son's mouth as it was covered up by the free throw Jason just made.


"What's going on with you and Bolton?" The blonde demanded in a forced whisper as Gabriella and her were in classas they were supposedto be working, and Gabriella had really planned to go to the library to finish the paper that was due in a week, but Sharpay had other plans.

"What do you mean Shar?" It took every once of Gabriella to control the excitement in her voice. This was the night that had put Gabriella on edge for the past twenty four hours. She was going on a date with Troy, and no matter if they just met, she couldn't help but feel excited.

"I mean yesterday and during our free period. You like totally bailed on Tay and me. And it was for him." Sharpay snarled as if Gabriella had committed a crime.

"So?" Gabriella asked.

"So?!" Sharpay voiced raised an octave as her hands dug into the table to contain herself. "So?! I'll inform you Gabs that Troy Bolton, doesn't fit in with us."

Gabriella's eyes narrowed as she couldn't believe Sharpay was telling this to her face. In the past Gabriella had listened to Sharpay rant about other kids that weren't in the least bit connected to Gabriella, and Gabriella had tolerated it as she nodded at the right times, and made little sounds to indicate to Sharpay that she was listening, but not once had Sharpay had the guts to tell her that she couldn't hang out with someone outside of their 'circle'.

"And you're point?" Gabriella hissed while she gripped her pencil harder.

Sharpay's hard face matched Gabriella's. "My POINT is that if you keep hanging out with Troy, and Jason hears about it even more, then you're gonna be out of best friends."

Gabriella had tolerated many things from the blonde. She had put up with many rantings, disagreements, and had separated Sharpay from many fights that could've taken place in the past. She didn't owe the blonde anything anymore.

"Fuck you Shar." Gabriella stood up as she swung her American Eagle bag over her shoulder. She leaned down towards her friend's ear and whispered her departing, "And before you start anything about Jason, maybe you should know the full story first: it's not just about him."


Jason sat in math class quietly as they were supposed to be with a partner to finish up their homework in the twenty minutes left of class. Usually he would have gone straight to Gabriella, but she had other plans as she automatically picked up her things before he could even more, and then made her way up to the front of the class to Troy.

Jason and Gabriella had always had such great chemistry together as they always seemed to understand each other, but with other things mixed in they had been off track. And if they didn't deal with their problems soon, then things would just get worst.

Jason swallowed his pride as he stood up. Zeke sent him a questioning look as Jason would've paired up with him as a backup, if Zeke wasn't already with Chad.

He slowly made his way to the front of the classroom. He had no idea what he was going to say. All he knew was that he had to talk to her in some way. If he didn't then things would just build up and he couldn't take that, and he knew for a fact that if Gabriella wasn't with Troy at the moment, then she wouldn't be able to take it either. But it seemed now since she was hanging out with him more, she was doing just fine.

He approached her hesitantly. The lies she told him to cover up the afternoons she was with Troy still burned in the pit of his stomach, but he would learn to forgive and forget as he needed his best friend. That was more than enough right now to make him overcome the small lies.

Gabriella and Troy both looked up as they heard approaching feet. Gabriella was trying to cover up her laughing fit as Troy cleared his throat; thinking it was the teacher checking up on them.

"So you see this number," Troy made a point of pointing to a random number in the book as Gabriella nodded her head in agreement.

"And you multiple by…" The brunette trailed off as she noticed that it wasn't the black squeaky shoes of their teacher approaching, but it was white converse sneakers the looked brand new. "Jason?" Her quiet, surprised voice asked.

He was looking down at his shoes shamefully as his floppy hair hung in his eyes. "Can we talk?"

Troy momentarily forgot that they were half brothers. He forgot the distaste he felt for Jason. He forgot the brunette next to him as he just studied the boy in front of him. Troy actually felt bad for him.

"Um…I'm gonna go seek out Chad. He's probably not doing any better than me at this math stuff." Troy excused himself quietly as both Gabriella and Jason were quiet.

She was stunned. She knew he would need some time to think about things, but she would have never guessed that he would be over it four days later.

Her instincts of being his best friend kicked in and the first words spoken came from her. "Is everything okay?"

"No." He sat down in the desk next to her; his body turned towards hers as his legs were in the aisle between them. "No, they're not."

She had been getting by. It helped that she had other people to talk to. But every day it got harder for her to not talk to Jason as she had been lying to herself. On Saturday it was easy not to talk to him as she was still mad from Friday night. But then Sunday came along and she made the decision to pursue something with Troy, and the first thing that she wanted to do was call someone and tell them, but she stopped as she realized she couldn't tell anyone. And then Monday happened and she and Troy had met halfway in asking each other out. After entering school she had pulled out her cell phone; ready to text Jason, but stopped as she once again realized that her decision almost made their situation worse. So the next best person happened to walk by her in the hallways, and Gabriella had told Taylor the good news of her and Troy.

Taylor had been shocked and surprised all at once. She was happy for her friend finally finding someone who was date worthy, but she was also concerned for Jason and Gabriella's friendship. Something the blonde cheer captain was only concerned about also as Taylor took it upon herself to accidentally let the news about the date slip out of her mouth at practice.

But Gabriella didn't care as she was too busy convincing herself that she didn't need Jason to share the good news with. She didn't need him to approve of things. It was her life, and she would do just fine without his acceptance.

Except…

He was her best friend. The one person she had grown up with almost all of her life. His opinion should matter. It DID matter.

"I um…" Jason paused as he wasn't good with these kind of conversations. He knew how to comfort Gabriella. He knew how to receive advice from her. He knew how to forget their little fights in the past. He was just bad at the saying the'sorry' part. "I don't know what I'm trying to say. I don't know where I should begin." He looked up into her awestruck eyes. "But I do know that I've missed you, and I really need to know if things are going to be okay before the game tomorrow."

Gabriella had thought her best friend had come to common sense. He had overcome his dislike of Troy Bolton in four days. That he had finally seen that it doesn't matter who she dates as long as their friends, but he just had to bring up the stupid basketball game.

"That's rich Jason. I'm glad you're not pissed at me because you need me for a pointless basketball game." Gabriella snarled in a forced whisper as to not disturb the rest of the working class.

He backtracked in his mind and his face went a little pale. "Gabi, that's NOT what I meant. I didn't mean for it to sound like that." He stammered out quickly.

"Well then what did you mean Jason?" She accused with narrow eyes.

"It's just I have missed you. I AM missing you. But the game's tomorrow and I know things are messed up between us, but we need to fix things before the game so that we can both perform our best tomorrow."

"Lucky for you that I don't have scouts at the game to watch me dance." Gabriella snapped a little too harshly as Jason blinked a couple of times in realization. She sighed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose in frustration. "I get that we need to talk. I really, really want too, but…I can't right now. I get that you want to play well in the game tomorrow for the UCLA scouts, but I can't always be your backup in feeling good."

"What are you talking about? You're not my backup. You're my best friend."

"A best friend who is going on a date tonight with your half brother." Gabriella stood up. "Look, it's almost time to go and we both have practices to get to."

Jason turned his head and sure enough, the time said that they had one minute before school got done with.

"So, what now?"

Gabriella sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. "Jason, I really don't know anymore. I thought you finally understood that it doesn't matter now with Troy. He's really a nice guy if you get to know him."

"And if I don't want to get to know him?" Jason asked stubbornly. "It's not like you can make us get along. Sooner or later it's gonna come down to either one of us."

"You sound really confident right now." Gabriella stated right as the bell rang and she picked up her school bag before heading over to meet Troy near the door.

Gabriella could be just as stubborn.


"That movie…was…" Troy trailed off as the cool air brushed over his face.

Gabriella smiled as she snuck a glance at him. "Don't say it Troy." She warned good heartedly.

Troy pretended to think for a moment as so far their night together had gone well. They had talked from ranges of school to cheerleading to basketball, and then just random things that nobody would question in normal conversations.

"Interesting. Yup. Interesting definitely covers the movie."

Gabriella smacked his arm lightly as he chuckled. "It wasn't that bad." She defended her movie choice.

"It wasn't bad? We were basically the only ones in there!" Troy smiled at seeing Gabriella's cheeks flush a little. "Although I must admit that the action parts were good."

"See, that movie isn't completely hopeless." Gabriella stuck her tongue out at him playfully, and if she wasn't busy acting like a kid, she might sit back and reflect to try to remember a time that she had been that happy without Jason.

"What are you, five?" He teased before looking past her and across the town's street. "Hey, you up for ice cream?"

"That was random." Gabriella mumbled; making Troy roll his eyes.

He put two hands on her shoulders and turned her around. "See?" He pointed to the local ice cream parlor. "It's still open. You up for it Montez?"

Gabriella pretended to think as Troy rolled his eyes again with a goofy grin. "Come on," he prompted as he took her one arm in his hand and started leading her across the street. She whatsoever didn't mind him touching her as she followed easily. "I happen to know that you like ice cream, so don't try to fool me."

"You happen to know this, do you?" Gabriella kinked an eye brow.

Troy looked back at her before holding the door open for her, and motioning for her to enter first. "Yes I do. If there's ice cream at school you always get it. No matter what flavor our school tries to pass as being 'tasty'."


"That's game." Jason declared as he jumped and made the shot.

Zeke wiped at his forehead as both boys were sweating in the cool night time air. "Break time." He declared.

"So what was that during math? You and Danforth?" Jason asked as he took a seat on top of the picnic table with his water bottle.

Zeke shrugged as he poured water into his mouth. "So? We were just talking."

Jason nodded his head. "Yeah. He's a cool guy."

"But…?" Zeke asked warily; sensing something else that Jason was probably going to say.

Jason looked at Zeke quizzically. "But what? He's a cool guy."

"There's no 'but'?" Zeke's surprise was evident in his tone.

Jason sighed as three weeks ago he would've had a 'but' to say. Nonetheless, it was like it was all swept away as when Jason got a car ride from Chad, he got to know him a little bit better. He saw which CD's he listened to, he made small talk with him, and Jason already knew that Chad was a big basketball fan. It made sense if they got along.

"Zeke, why don't you tell me what you expected me to say?" Jason smirked as Zeke's eyes widened. "Enlighten me, please."

"It's just…you know." Zeke's meek reply came.

"No, I don't' know. Please tell."

Zeke sighed, "Look, I meant nothing by it." He could sense Jason's short temper. "It's just you and Chad have never really talked at all. And given who his best friend is, people just don't seem to think you and Chad would get along either."

Jason rolled his eyes. "I hardly care what other people think. They know to stay out of my way, and I'll do them a favor by staying out of theirs."

"Please tell me you're going to get out of this funk by tomorrow." Zeke pleaded.

Jason stood up on the table with the orange basketball in his hands and shot the ball from way out of his comfort zone. The ball hit the rim and bounced away from both of them.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Jason denied.

"Troy's not that bad Jase." Zeke stated as he knew he was skating on thin ice already. "If you like Chad, then you would probably like Troy."

Jason snorted. "Yeah, except Chad isn't the bastard child of my dad."

"That's harsh man. I don't know why you have a problem with him."

"What I have a problem with is complicated. Too complicated for someone on the outside of the whole thing." Jason hopped down from the table and jogged over to get the ball.

"Try me!" Zeke called after him. "Sometimes it's helpful to get an outsider's perspective."

Jason dribbled the ball as he did a series of complicated movements before finally shooting a perfect ball once again.

"Fine." He snapped before turning away and looking at the old rusty playground equipment. "Have you ever felt like you've had to guard something with your life? Like…if you didn't guard it then someone else would come in a steal your spotlight?"

"I guess. Like when I cook something and I'm afraid someone's going to take my recipe ideas as their own." Zeke said as he studied one of his best friends.

Jason spun around. "Exactly! That's how I feel with my parents. As much as I don't get along with them, and disagree with them…I still have this feeling, this animalistic instinct that tells me to put up this shield around them, and to make sure that Troy Bolton doesn't ever come near them."

"I really don't think he's looking for a dad right now. Especially his biological one."

"It doesn't matter. In the back of my mind, I know this. And that's why it's so frustrating because this feeling doesn't go away. It's always there, and I have this need to still protect them from Troy. It's stupid, and petty, and I know I'm ruining my friendship with Gabi over it, but I can't help it." Jason took a calming breath before getting worked up even more.

"When I was little, my dad didn't confirm it to my face that I had a brother until freshmen year. I had basically known since I could remember, but still…it's like they were lying to my face every time they would send me to my room so they could fight. It's…lying is one of my pet peeves, and I don't think that's ever going to go away."

"That's understandable. And Gabriella's sorry. She wanted to avoid this whole thing altogether, and you still get all weird about it."

Jason ran a hand through his hair. "I guess I'm just afraid."

Zeke had nothing to say to that. He wasn't used to Jason admitting his true feelings so openly. He was guessing he was only doing it because he didn't have Gabriella to talk to nowadays.

"What?" Zeke finally managed to say.

Jason shrugged as if it was no big deal. "I guess I'm afraid that my dad will realize that he picked the wrong kid to stick with. How messed up is that?" Jason forced a laugh as he blew the situation over the best he could. "So, ready for match two?"

He passed the ball to Zeke to start the game.


"So have you always wanted to be a cheerleader?" Troy asked as they were now walking with ice cream cones in their hands towards their houses.

Gabriella licked her chocolate ice cream cone as she gave Troy a natural smile that seemed to always be on her face. "I used to take dance classes when I was younger, but then I stopped right before high school so that it didn't interfere with cheerleading or homework. But the only reason why I truly became a cheerleader was because my mom was one. It's not like it's a calling or anything I would want to pursue for life though." Gabriella looked at Troy with wonder. "What about you basketball star?"

"Not much to say. I've been playing since I could walk. Not officially or anything though, but I guess it was just shooting hoops everyday and playing with Chad that got me into it even more." He shrugged. "It's not much of a story, is it?"

Gabriella's house was closest as Troy started walking her to the door. The porch light being turned on to indicate to Gabriella that the door was unlocked still.

"Of course it is. I think that's cool that you've been doing it your whole life, and now you're finally getting recognized." She saw his cheeks go a little pink as he diverted his attention to the ice cream in front of him.

They both sensed the tone shift in their conversation as it went from joking around to serious.

"So…I can't believe that you only like vanilla ice cream." She teased out of the blue.

He looked up as a slow grin spread across his face. "Not everyone can be ambitious like you Brie."

Gabriella didn't retort as both ice cream cones had been finished and she was now wondering what Troy was thinking. Their hands had brushed in the movie theatre a couple of times before he had finally mustered up enough courage to hold her hand. And now he wanted more than anything to kiss her.

"Um…I guess I should be getting inside." She glanced at her door quickly. "I had a really nice time Troy."

"Me too. We should…uh…we should do it again some time?" It came out more of a question than a statement.

Gabriella smiled as she unconsciously moistened her bottom lip. "Yeah. Definitely." He wasn't like any other guy she had gone out with, and now it all came down to that moment. The moment of seeing how well they did work together. The moment of seeing if he was the kind of guy who would try to shove his tongue down her throat on the first date--like one or two of the other guys she had dated-- or if he was the respectful teenage boy she thought he was and would move in slowly.

It got quiet. There were no sounds around them other than their own quiet breathing.

Too much time had past without them saying anything.

"I should um…go. Bye Brie."

Gabriella hadn't expected Troy to not kiss her. She had thought he had a good time with her. Why wouldn't he close off a perfect date with a perfect kiss? It made no sense to her as she just stood on her porch dumbfounded.

Troy shut his eyes in frustration as he walked down the walkway and away from Gabriella. The goodbyes on the first dates were always the most awkward as he remembered his first date with Lilly; he had kissed her. Why couldn't he do it with Gabriella?

He had to go and be stupid as he let too much silent time pass between them to make the air awkward. A kiss would've just added to the awkwardness…or maybe not. He stopped before he could even reach the sidewalk.

What was stopping him? A little voice in his head telling him that he was going to make a complete fool out of himself by letting too much time pass? That was stupid as he had the perfect opportunity to make things even more perfect between him and the gorgeous brunette. He knew handfuls of guys at school who would all kill to be in his spot, and even though it wasn't about popularity, he was attracted to her physically...and emotionally now.

Gabriella was still on her doorstep as she was too busy going over in her head what might've went wrong on their date. She couldn't remember a time in their many conversations where she offended him. It's not like she accidentally spit food on him either at the restaurant.

She snapped out of it as Troy came rushing back up her porch and stood right before her. "One last thing." He said as before Gabriella could question what else went wrong, he leaned in and softly pressed his lips to hers.

Gabriella's stomach lurched at the sensation as sparks flew all throughout her body. Her lips soon joined the slow tantalizing dance his mouth was creating. His hand that was warmer than her gradually reached up and cupped a side of her face. His thumb stroked over her cheek bone as he leisurely pulled away.

"Goodnight Brie." Troy whispered softly as he pressed one last kiss to the cheek he was stroking.

"Goodnight Troy." She whispered back after he turned away, and was out of earshot. But even so, Gabriella wasn't thinking whether or not if Troy could hear her. She was more so trying to figure out what all the butterflies meant in her stomach.


Author's note--I have seen HSM3 two times now and I am running on only two hours of sleep, but from the reviews I recieved, I just had to release this chapter. I'm biting my fingernails and waiting on the edge of my seat as I'm nervous about the Jason and Zeke conversation. To me, I'm very worried that I wrote it all wrong, but with only running on two hours of sleep and listening to HSM 3 songs all day, I just felt like I needed to release it.

Also, of course there's a BIG, HUGE, GIGANTIC thank-you to everyone who reviewed last time. Trust me, they help.