It was like nothing was ever wrong. And if you didn't witness it yourself, then it was like Gabriella and Jason just took a vacation from each other as they had just returned, and all in the world was okay. They both arrived at school around the same time as when Gabriella was busy looking down and into her school bag while making her way to the front of the school to enter; a body bumped into hers.

She looked up and smiled as she saw Jason with his own book bag slung across one of his shoulders. "What's up buddy?" Jason asked with a smile on his face that truly looked genuine.

Gabriella gave him a crooked smile. "Nothin' much. Just trying to see why you're so happy."

Jason couldn't get that stupid grin off of his face to save his life as he knew that it was there due to things were going okay in his life at the time being. He had his best friend back; granted that she was dating his half brother, but he could learn to look past that, his dad actually said some good things about his game the previous night, and the UCLA scout talked to Coach Montez right after the game about coming back because he was interested in Jason, and then some of the other players.

"I'm just smiling Montez."

Gabriella rolled her eyes as they made it to the front patch of lawn to their school where some of their friends already were. "Right." She said sarcastically, "And I'm just supposed to believe you."

Jason had news to tell her, and he really wanted to share, but he didn't want to share at school where Gabriella most likely would exclaim her joy and excitement about the scouts liking him, and then everyone else would know too. He didn't mind telling people, but he just wanted to keep it on the down side for now until things were more in place.

"I'll tell you later. But trust me, it could possibly turn into something big."

"Like college big?" Gabriella questioned dryly as Jason didn't notice that her eyes were looking right past his shoulder. He was too busy with his jaw dropped that she could guess right away.

"How did you know?" He asked with shock as Gabriella just shook her head and pointed to indicate that he should turn around. With a puzzled look on his face, Jason did and his eyes bulged out. "What the fuck?!" He hissed under his breath as a big crowd was already forming to see what the big commotion was about.

Across the small second student parking lot where the flag poles were; along with a fairly decent size of a patch of grass. What once held various different flowers surrounding the metal pole, now was a huge boulder that held a plaque on it.

"Jase, it's probably nothing." Gabriella reassured him meekly as there was no use in trying to sound chipper.

"Gabi, I can see my name from here! HERE!" Jason exclaimed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "There's only one person who could've done this overnight. One person who has the stupid resources to get this done and brag about his son who is hating him right now."

Gabriella laid a hand on his shoulder. "Do you know what it says?"

Jason shook his head as he couldn't believe that his dad would actually buy a spot on school property to dedicate to him and his basketball achievements. "No, and frankly, I'm almost scared to find out."

"I could come with you?" Gabriella offered.

"GABRIELLA!" Sharpay's voice could be heard as she wasn't one of the students who were surrounding the newly acquired boulder.

Jason glanced to the big crowd pushing and shoving to try to read it, and then back at Gabriella as the blond figure was quickly reaching them from parking her car. "It's okay. I'll see you in homeroom?"

Gabriella nodded with a sorrowful smile on her face. "Yeah. Good luck."

Jason made his way over to the crowd. He pushed past people to get to the front as he didn't have much problem due to the danger in his narrowed eyes. He was able to see his name from standing next to Gabriella, but standing up close he couldn't believe his father as there was a gleaming plaque in the sun just asking for attention from other students.

The plaque was in a circular form as it resembled a black basketball. It held a dedication on it engraved in gold.

--JASON CROSS--

East High's basketball captain of 08-09 has just won his fiftieth varsity basketball game.

Setting a new record of most wins for a varsity team since 1989.

Jason gritted his teeth as people around him swore they could hear a growl emit from him. He wasn't even keeping track how many games he had won, but there was no reason why he needed a whole boulder dedicated to him and his wins.

Most people would expect Jason to bask in the glow of his fiftieth win, but it was wrong. All wrong. As it was his dad that was doing all the bragging for him, and it was his dad who was giving everyone else around him permission to congratulate him. It wasn't Jason who wanted this. Having something on school property was a lot different than just getting spoken congratulations, and now he would have to look at this plaque everyday and be reminded of his dad.

"Nice job Cross! Party at mine this weekend!" Lyle called out as he jumped to Jason's side and punched him in the arm in greeting.

Jason gritted a smile on his face as he bit his tongue from lashing out on the congratulations to come. "Yeah. I could use that."

Lyle smirked, "Now that's what I like to hear."


Gabriella had listened to Sharpay and her idea for a new routine in cheer, but then she quietly got distracted as Chad and Troy pulled up together in Troy's truck. She watched him get out of the driver's seat with a cool stance, and quickly hop into the bed of his truck to retrieve his and Chad's bags.

Sharpay rolled her eyes at seeing her friend's distracted face. "Yummy."

That took Gabriella out of her staring and she looked at her blonde friend who was known for voicing her opinion openly about other guys. "Shar, you have a boyfriend." Gabriella reminded her.

"I know. I'm just looking."

"As long as it's only that." Gabriella warned as no matter how insensitive Sharpay sounded at times, there was something about Zeke that brought out the goodness in her. And Gabriella knew how much he meant to Sharpay, and that was more than enough to make Sharpay stay faithful to him.

"Does guys watching porn count as cheating?" Sharpay asked. "No. It doesn't. So as long as I'm just looking at the Fresh-Fish, then it's like I'm looking at porn."

Gabriella scrunched up her face in disgust. "Thanks Shar. I really needed a mental picture of that." Troy was now coming closer as he hadn't noticed Gabriella yet, and Gabriella was just waiting for his blue eyes to look up and to connect with hers. "Don't you have to go someplace Shar?"

"Whatever, but sooner or later Gabs, you're gonna have to introduce him to your friends." Sharpay whispered in her ear before bouncing off and towards another group of people.

Gabriella turned and rolled her eyes at her friend's back.

"What's with the commotion over there?" A deep voice asked as Gabriella spun around and tried her hardest to bite back the wide smile that wanted to spread itself across her face.

She had never talked to Troy about his dad. And when she went to open her mouth to explain what Mr. Cross did, she stopped herself and a troubled look overcame her joyous face instantly.

"It's really nothing. Just Mr. Cross doing something for his benefit again." Gabriella tried to play it down as if it didn't matter, but she saw the hurt and confusion pass through Troy's eyes before his dark blue orbs shined with brightness again.

"Well um…then I guess I hope Jason is okay." Troy said stiffly.

Gabriella didn't know if Troy was sincere or not. She smiled anyways, "I guess I'll take what I can get."

"Now don't be too greedy Montez." Troy chided jokingly before the bell had rung; indicating that the students now had five minutes to get to class. "Um…" Troy looked down at her free hand, and then back up into her eyes. "Come on." He held out his warm hand for Gabriella to take as she was momentarily stunned, but nonetheless took a hold of it.


"Dude, why are you not attacking Bolton right now?" A cocky voice asked.

Jason glanced sideways for a moment to see Lyle standing next to him. "Because I have nothing else to say."

"Nothing else to say? You nearly had a sissy fit when you heard that I took her out." Lyle recalled with a grin as he eyed Gabriella up from behind.

"That's because you and her together are wrong." Jason sent him a pointed glare that almost anyone at school would be afraid of. "I can at least trust Bolton a little bit."

Lyle snorted, "Trust!? That's a good one." He paused before adding, "I wonder if she would still go out with me? It's not like I'm dating anyone first hour."

"Don't even think about it. She's taken." The basketball captain warned.

Lyle held up two hands in defense. "Just messin' Cross. Put down the claws."


Another class in which Troy, Gabriella, Jason, and Chad shared together besides math was advanced chemistry. A class in which to be able to take they had to complete biology that almost all freshmen took their first year, then chemistry, and then they could take advanced chemistry. Most upper classmen didn't take advanced chemistry as it was known to be one of the harder subjects at the school, but in order to graduate they needed three credits of science. And advanced chemistry just happened to be their last science class to take.

"Now students, I want a lab write-up, along with any notes you take, and a five page typed essay. Same as always whenever we do a project at the end of a chapter." Mrs. Mangold announced as she went around the room passing out packets with directions on it for the lab they would be soon conducting.

A bunch of groans could be heard as no one liked the writing of the essay in which they had to explain what they learned and how they could apply it in real life situations.

Mrs. Mangold rolled her eyes. "It's not that bad kids, but to make it better, since this was one of our longer chapters, you may work in partners." She looked around as everyone now perked up with excitement. "For this time only. Don't abuse it." She warned with a warm smile on her face.

When Mrs. Mangold lays packets in front of Chad and he's expected to do it; it always sparks curiosity in him. Like why did he ever join this class? It's not like he liked science; in which he could have gotten his third credit through another class that wasn't as difficult. The only reason why he took the class was because Troy took it and somehow convinced him to do it also.

Now usually Chad and him paired up, but lately in math when they had work time he would go off with Gabriella. They could work in groups of three or sometimes more, but Chad never wanted to oppose on them. He knew he interrupted them in the kitchen, but that was something different as anyone could have caught them, but he wanted to give them at least the decency to be together during class without him around. He was just a good friend like that. So when it came to chemisty now and not math where they couldn't do three to a group, he knew that there was no chance in hell that he would have Troy for a partner again.

So now as he looked over at Troy he saw him pull up a chair next to Gabriella's table as Jason wasn't there anymore.

"Partners?" A familiar voice called out.

Chad smiled up at Jason. "Yeah. Looks like you've been ditched also?"

"It appears so." Jason said as he tried his hardest to sound perky and happy about it, but deep down he knew this was just the beginning. But it's not like he had never ditched Gabriella before for one of his 'girlfriends' which was also a loose term he used as he was never very serious with them. But he knew he needed to let Gabriella go as she wasn't always going to be there, and eventually she would find someone she cared for more to spend time with. Jason just didn't understand one thing: why Troy Bolton?


When the teacher had said that they could work in partners, Gabriella and Troy looked directly at each other. It didn't matter if Gabriella was sitting by Jason, and Troy was sitting by Chad because right when she said those words, Troy turned in his seat to look at Gabriella who was already lifting her head to look at him.

When he pulled his chair back there he knew that they would either get everything done due to they both would be unhappy if they didn't finish this big assignment, or nothing would get done as they would talk too much.

But his first idea was correct as Gabriella launched into what they were going to start with and how long it was going to take as they both decided they could work on the essay later on the weekend since it made sense due to the fact that they were neighbors and could see each other whenever they wanted.

Gabriella had shyly suggested that they do the essay over the weekend as she knew that they were going out again on Saturday, but she didn't want to push her luck with Sunday also. But Troy was more than willingly okay to work on Sunday with her. She didn't know a lot of guys who would do that for her as it was schoolwork on the last day of the weekend.

"So you're working tonight?" Troy murmured from the side of his mouth as Gabriella was busy looking down at the chemistry book.

"Yeah. So if you want to study then you'll need to come to the shop again." She looked up. "That's okay, right?"

"Yeah. You know, if you count every time we study together as a study date, then we'd be like on date ten by now." Troy said slyly.

She stopped what she was doing again as she looked at him coyly. "Are you hinting something Mr. Bolton?"

He smirked at her as it felt different to him. To be this carefree about what he said, to actually voice his opinion on things, to just fool around with someone and not be so serious…it felt good. The only other person who got to see this side of him was Lilly, as Troy never really felt like flirting for just the fun of it. He wasn't like his half brother who got around from girl to girl.

"Well I'm just thinking that if we were on our tenth date by now, then it would feel appropriate to eat lunch together."

Gabriella smiled as Troy took that as a silent agreement. It wasn't until after a couple of seconds of Gabriella smiling at him as she looked in a daze that he realized that there might be something wrong.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

"No." She answered softly as to not disturb the groups around them. "It's just…how come you don't show this side to other people?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why don't you always smile? You look very good doing it." She complimented without even realizing. "You only smile when I'm around, and I'm starting to notice it more now."

"If I only smile when you're around, then how do you know that I'm not smiling when you're gone?" He asked back smartly.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Just because I'm not talking to you; doesn't mean that I'm not around and with others. But really, you have this whole brooding thing down, and even though it's incredibly sexy at times, I also like your smile."

Troy grinned at her. "You think I'm sexy."

"I didn't say that." She automatically denied as her cheeks went a deep red.

"Yes you did." Troy teased. "But that's okay, because I happen to think that you're sexy also."

Gabriella lightly smacked his arm. "Troy! We can't say that here! We're in school." She hissed in a low whisper as she looked around to see if anyone else heard.

Troy just chuckled as he didn't give Gabriella an answer. Truth was, he just didn't like smiling without a cause. He kept to himself mostly at school as he now had almost everyone on the basketball team, except one person, talking to him whenever they saw him in the hallways, so now Troy had to talk or seem rude, and seeming rude just wasn't an option.


"So we have free period tomorrow and Monday. We should be able to type out the essay…Cross?" Chad waved his hand in front of his face as Jason seemed to snap out of what he was thinking.

"What? Yeah…yeah, that's good." He dismissed as Chad sent him a pointed glare. Jason just meekly shrugged as he didn't even know what he was agreeing with, but he was too busy sneaking glances over at Gabriella and Troy who didn't look like they were doing their work either. "Sorry, I um…got distracted."

"What are you looking at?!" Chad exclaimed as his voice was merely just adding to the various other students in the room.

Jason quietly turned his head in the direction of Troy and Gabriella, and Chad immediately caught on.

"She's my best friend." Jason explained. "I guess I'm just not used to her hanging out with someone else."

Chad looked over to where Jason was staring again. He saw Gabriella lightly smack Troy on the arm, and he had to admit it to himself that even when Troy was with Lilly, he never looked as happy as now. "Troy's a good guy. He wouldn't hurt her."

Jason sighed as he tore his eyes away and turned his chair a little bit more so he wouldn't look at the two. "Deep down I think I know that. It's just Gabriella's nice to everyone. She finds the good in almost anyone she meets. I would hate to see her get attached and then hurt. I've already had to deal with the other guys who fucked with her feelings."

Chad blinked as he was starting to put together Jason's and Gabriella's relationship. He knew they were tight and close friends, but he really didn't think that they were tied at the hip like other best friends were. It wasn't because Chad didn't believe in girls and boys not being able to be just friends, it was just because Chad had never really seen that before. He was so used to dating girls who were so close to other girls for friends that he's never really had to deal with a girlfriend who would rely on another guy. It must feel weird he concluded.

"Troy's been through enough too. He knows not to push his luck with you." Chad stated.


The last thing that Troy expected to happen when he walked into the sports store was to see Jason Cross behind the counter flicking through a magazine. He had his elbow on the counter and his head resting in his hand as he looked really bored. Lyle was also there as he was in the front of the store looking through the sunglasses; even though it was getting colder in the year.

Troy took his time walking in as he didn't go to the counter right away if Gabriella wasn't there. He took a left instead of right and went around the large shelves holding various soccer things. He didn't hear Gabriella's voice at all as he pretended to be interested in the equipment. He really didn't feel like dealing with Jason if he didn't have too either.

"Dude, where's Montez?" Lyle's voice could be heard as the scanner at the register could be heard with one click.

Troy knew eavesdropping was bad, but he couldn't help it when it came to the brunette beauty and her best friend.

"I told you Ly, Shar came in here freaking out about one of her dresses being ruined. She needed to get another and she dragged Gabriella along. They actually are meant to be back soon though." Jason replied in a very bored tone.

"Shame. I was hoping I could see her."

Troy's eyes narrowed in annoyance at Lyle. He had only talked to him a couple of times, and from what he figured out, he was a big arrogant guy who thought he could get with any girl he wanted. He was nice though; if you stayed on his good side.

"Just leave it be. You had your chance with her." Jason warned.

"Whatever. We'll see if things change down in the beach house." Lyle declared with a smirk that Troy could hear throughout his tone. "Later dude!"

Troy was still contemplating whether or not to go. He knew that so far Taylor, Sharpay, Zeke, Jason, Chad, and Gabriella were going, but he didn't think about other guys also. And from just meeting Lyle, he knew not being with Gabriella for three day while Lyle was might be a bad idea. Especially if Lyle is still showing interest in her. But what guy wasn't?

Troy was so deep in thought that he didn't hear the shuffling of two other people approaching his half brother. The only thing that did bring him out of his thoughts was the warning tone in Jason's tone.

"Just buy the crap and get out of the store."

"You're not so tough now that you don't have your team backing you up." One guy taunted.

Troy walked closer and stuck his head out from around the shelves. He saw two kids about his age who were buying basketballs. Troy didn't recognize them from their school, and that was when he saw the knights symbol on the sleeve of the taller guy's jacket. He thought they at least looked semi-familiar, and he was right. Standing before Jason was the Knight's Captain, Derek Welsch, and his right hand man.

"I'm warning you Welsch. Get the fuck out of my store." Jason's eyes narrowed in defense; it was a look no one at school messed with. He was already having a bad day with his dad and the stupid boulder now dedicated to him; he didn't need any trouble from the Knights.

Derek's right hand man, Rob Thomas, was fingering with one of the sunglasses displays absentmindedly. He had picked up one of the older pairs of sunglasses and Troy was just watching as he knew that if Rob kept it up then that pair was going to break. Troy's eyes narrowed as he heard Rob's and Derek's sick chuckles; smirks aligning their faces.

"It's a shame Montez isn't here." Derek's eyes flickered with joy. "She's a lot more pleasant."

Jason's eyes flickered with danger as he tried his hardest to control his anger of them talking about his best friend. There were many things that Jason could handle. He could handle his dad riding him about basketball, he could handle playing basketball for countless hours, he could also handle dealing with the joys of being hit on by girl after girl at school, but the only thing that did put him over the edge was people talking about his best friend. His anger was already bubbling with his dad that day, and Derek was just hitting all the right buttons.

Troy saw Jason's fists scrunch up as he held onto the counter with all his might; turning his semi tan skin white. He didn't want to step in though as that would just cause more trouble, but hearing Derek talk about Gabriella was getting to him even more than when Lyle was talking about her. All Troy could do was watch the stupid pair of sunglasses Rob was still playing with flimsily.

Jason walked from around the counter to stand in front of an amused Derek and an occupied Rob. "Get out before I make you get out." He warned in a harsh monotone voice that Troy hasn't even heard.

"How you gonna do that Cross? You don't have your little backup crew here." Derek taunted.

Troy didn't know what made him come out. He saw Rob's hands easily break the stupid black sunglasses, he watched him just let it crash to the ground, and that was all it took. Troy came out from behind the shelves and stood next to Jason. If Jason was surprised then he didn't show it as Troy's eyes narrowed in on Rob as he blinked in surprise as just how dark he looked.

"You want to pick that up." Troy didn't ask it, he demanded it as his eyes lowered to the ground before Rob registered what he was talking about.

Derek laughed as he rolled his eyes. "Let's go Rob. I think we can find better shit to do."

Troy lunged at Rob before he could even take another step and grabbed his arm; twisting it behind his back as his head was slammed down to the counter. The rattling of pens and various trinkets could be heard as they were disturbed on the light colored countertop.

Rob squirmed as Troy kept the upper hand and twisted his arm just a little bit more. "You want to pick that up." Troy stated again as he knew Jason and Derek were staring at him wide eyed.

"I can't if you don't release me." Rob yelped as Troy put all the more pressure on his head against the hard surface.

Troy released him as within a second he felt a searing pain shoot throughout his upper body. First starting in his stomach that was slowly hardening with muscles he put on each and every time he worked out, and spreading to his upper chest as he doubled over in pain.

Rob had punched him with all his mite.

Derek must have advanced on him, but before he could lay a hand on Troy, Jason stepped in and swung his fist at his face. That barely slowed Derek down as he turned quickly and swung at Jason. He anticipated that as he ducked and rammed into his stomach; taking him down to the ground.

Troy was busy getting his breathing back as he looked up and charged at Rob. They collided with each other as they fell to the ground in a heap; much like the two other boys also. Skin collided with skin as little droplets of blood pooled together on the ground. Grunts of anger and determination filled the store as it was a surprise to every guy that no one had come in to intervene yet.

Troy had finally pinned Rob down on his stomach as he had his arm twisted behind his back again. His face was smashed against the dirty floor; his mouth had a trickle of blood going down his chin. His cheek was pulsating against the little parts of the sunglasses on the ground. Somehow more than one pair had been dropped to the ground with their rumble.

This made Derek and Jason stop as they were both currently bleeding from the nose; Derek more than Jason. They slowly let go of each other as they watched their friend, or in Jason's case, half brother compete with each other. Troy coming out on top.

"I'm not asking you; I'm telling you: pick up your mess Thomas." Troy threatened him even more as he pushed his face harder against the cold ground.

"Let go then." He grunted out in pain as Troy eased up on his grip.

"You have another hand."

Rob did it with reluctance as Troy was wishing he wasn't acting so tough now. He could feel the bruising on his stomach already taking place. He could feel his upper cheek turning darker with the bruised skin. He could feel that Rob was done picking up the stupid sunglasses, and he knew that he had the power over him. And suddenly having this kind of power over someone, and making them look weak, wasn't fun anymore. It was almost all boys' dreams to be able to fight physically and come out on top, but it wasn't all that books and movies made it out to be.

"Now get you and your fucking friend out of here." Troy hissed in his ear as he let up on his grip and then completely lost it as he stood up and watched at Rob scrambled up from the ground. His cheek had little barely noticeable cuts on it from being pressed into the material used for making glasses.

They were gone before Jason or Troy could get another word in. It was silent. Almost too silent as both brothers looked at each other. They both looked at each other as both boys' shirts were cut in various places--due to the rings on Derek's and Rob's hands--Troy had a bruise forming on his upper cheek, he had a small cut above his right eye, and he was breathing heavily. Jason was getting a nasty purple bruise already near his temple, his nose was dripping a little, and his lip had a split in it.

"You're crazy!" Jason exclaimed with no hint of bitterness at all in his voice. His eyes held amusement as he looked Troy over; not believe what he just did.

"You should see yourself!" Troy nor Jason could contain the laughter bubbling up as they looked around at the little trinkets now scattered around the store from being knocked into.

This was a situation that Troy nor Jason ever imagined themselves in.

"And all that was because of a pair of sunglasses?" Jason asked once their laughter quieted down and the all too seriousness took over. The knowledge of them being half brothers and not liking each other took place again as their memories made them remember.

"No." Troy stated boldly. "All this was because of Brie…and you."


Author's note--So a lot of you guys are asking about my other story, Sweet and Low, and well...I'm kind of taking a break from it. Writing two stories for me is hard, and I need to take a breather from it as I jumped right into after I just finished Love In Disguise, and I'm admitting that was a bad mistake on my part. I feel that if I keep trying to force my writing with that story, then it'll turn out bad. And I don't want that. I'm going to continue writing this story, and then come back to Sweet and Low. It's something I have to do, and I hope that you guys understand.

Now about this story, I got the same amount of reviews for last chapter as the trailer and that truly mesmorized me. I am so flattered that you guys are reading and sticking with this story. I never thought that this story would spark an interest in so many people because this was my 'fun story'. It's a story that I have no outline too, and I have only a small idea where I want this to go as the only other chapter I have written is the final one, and all these other ones are just leading up to it. So thank you. THANK YOU to anyone who has taken the time to write a lot or a little review. I appreaciate it.

Also...a couple of days ago I made something for this story on youtube. Instead of doing a trailer that I tried and failed miserably at, I did a theme song type of thing. As if this was a TV show and the song would play the opening credits with the actors and actressess. It's not the best quality, and it might be blurry, but I'm okay with it as I'm gonna start doing this for my other stories also. Something to just pass the time with. Check it out if you want, copy and paste it into your browser or you could search for it as all you have to do is type in 'You're stuck with me and hsm' thanks again ....com/watch?v=ce2rhJPW4Fk