Author's Note--I'm very nervous for this chapter as I tried to write Troy's and Jason's conversation over and over again, and then this is what developed. Also, I would like to send out a big thank you to xoLAILAIxo for her advice as I would have never attempted to add what happens in this chapter. I don't know if it's because I've never actually written anything like this, but I'm nervous, so please review and let me know what you like or dislike.


"It's fucking five in the morning, and we're running?" Troy asked incredulously.

Jason rolled his eyes as he ran every morning, and he knew for a fact that Troy liked to run also. "If you call this running, then I would hate to see how slow you go jogging."

"Ha, ha," Troy said with no amusement. "But forgive me for my loss of manners as it was YOU who came over to my house at 4:45 in the morning, it was YOU who dragged me out of bed, and it was YOU who somehow magically convinced my mom to let you into my house in the first place. So please forgive me for not being happy."

Jason merely rolled his eyes again at Troy's sarcasm. He was willing to put up with Troy's crabbiness and anger as he too would be mad if someone who he didn't particularly like came over to his house to wake him up for a morning jog. But Jason had a good reason to do it. He had come a long ways in accepting Gabriella was dating Troy, but he still had concerns for the situation. And now, it was time to face the concern that made itself clear the previous day at Troy's house through his mail.

Jason needed someplace to talk to Troy about Lilly. He had been open-minded in accepting the fact that Gabriella and Troy were getting serious. He had been understanding when Gabriella started spending more time with his half brother. And he had even gone as far as to willingly host Troy's birthday party at his house when his parents were going to be gone at his mom's office Christmas party that was being held two hours away at a hotel. So they conveniently get the whole house to themselves for exactly one night and a couple of hours the next day so that they could have enough time to clean up.

But watching and knowing silently that Troy was still in contact with Lilly crossed the line. Jason was willing to accept different things, granted he might take longer to adjust than others, but he was willing. But watching as Gabriella went on not knowing that Troy was in contact with his ex-girlfriend crossed the line by a long shot.

He wanted to bring it up casually, but how do you do that? Simple answer: you don't. There's no ice breaker game that teachers make you play the first week of school. It was either all or nothing.

"So…yesterday, I noticed you got a letter," Jason started as they turned the corner on the block.

"Oh?" Troy's voice was strained as both boys picked up their paces.

"Yeah." Jason snuck a sideways glance at his half brother. He had grown to accept the fact Gabriella loved Troy, so there must be some good part in Troy that he could learn to like also. He was willing to give Troy a chance to explain himself before he went to Gabriella. "And I saw that the letter came from a Lilly?"

"Cross," Troy looked at Jason quickly before looking forward. He could tell by Jason's tone that the basketball captain knew already, so it was no use in trying to deny it. "It's not what you think though."

"Oh really? So it's not the Lilly you dated, and who cheated on you? She's not sending you love letters still? You're not writing her back?!" Jason accused quickly before Troy could even get in a word. "Because if you think that I'm just going to sit back and watch as you converse with your sick lover while Gabi is oblivious, then you're sadly mistaken."

Troy let out a noise that was a mixture of distaste and anger. His eyes narrowed as he spoke, "I'm not going to hurt Brie. I don't even talk to Lilly! She writes to me!"

"Let me ask you this. Do you read the letters? Have you ever told her to stop writing? And have you already thrown out the one she sent yesterday? Because if you haven't, then that's just as bad as talking to her behind Gabriella's back."

"I can talk to whoever I want. Brie talks to other people and I don't know about it, and I don't see the problem with me getting letters from Lilly." Just saying her name in the past brought back painful memories, and now Troy could say it to Jason and nothing happened.

Jason stopped running, making Troy stop too as they were outside, ironically, near a church. "Listen, we all know Lilly was hot, so get your dick out of your brain and start using your mind. You have Gabriella now in the palm of your hand, and I know you know accepting letters from Lilly is crossing the line. If you thought it was okay, than you would've read the letter in front of everyone instead of checking over your shoulder to make sure no one was watching."

Troy sighed with frustration. He knew Jason was right. He should have stopped the letters from coming sooner, but he didn't want to hurt Lilly's feelings. But was he really doing the right thing? Letting her continue writing like it was okay, and giving her false hope that they could still be together. No, he wasn't, and deep down he knew that, but he didn't want to admit that to Jason.

Troy had no choice though, as he saw the determination in Jason's eye. He would have to confront this problem sooner or later, and in ways it was better that he took care of it right now than later in his relationship with Gabriella.

"I know. You're absolutely right, and when they first started coming months ago, I should have told her to stop." Troy agreed with defeat written across his face.

"Really?" Jason's voice squeaked in surprise before he coughed to clear his throat and spoke in his regular voice. "Of course I'm right, but what I don't understand is why does she keep sending you letters? How often do you get them?"

"It's a long story," Troy stated as it seemed both boys felt the need to move while they continued their conversation that seemed to be less heated now that Troy admitted that Jason was right.

They both started walking when Jason spoke up, "We've got time. The sun's barely come up, so let me hear this 'love story gone wrong' fiasco."

Troy rolled his eyes at the title Jason gave it, but nonetheless continued. In a weird way this was a bonding experience for the two half brothers. Troy told Jason about how he knew Lilly was cheating on him, how he found Doug Wenzel at her house--Jason had colorful things to say about that as he didn't particularly find hanging out with Doug last year all that exciting either--, how Lilly and him broke up, and then how Lilly decided that she wanted to still pursue a friendship with him.

Troy and Jason continued walking as they ditched the idea for a run together. It was a lot easier to process this story in Jason's mind if he was walking. He was able to think clearly about it. He blocked out the unnecessary comments that wanted to bubble out of his mouth in respect to Troy. Jason was slowly learning that if he kept his rude comments to himself, then Troy was a lot easier to talk to, and even though he should have known that in the first place, he couldn't help but let his insecurities effect his mind when it came to Troy.

Troy continued to explain to him that Lilly writes to him every two weeks. The letters all say that same as the occasional one or two have long descriptions of what is going on in her life. But they continue to get shorter and shorter as time goes on, and Troy has a theory that this is just Lilly's way of healing herself from the heartache she brought onto herself.

Jason had to agree on Troy's theory as he believed Troy. He was persuaded by the way Troy spoke about the situation that he wasn't the one in contact with Lilly, but was the one who only received the letters. He believed Troy when he said that he didn't want anything to do with Lilly anymore. And he actually felt bad for the guy as he knew that if Gabriella ever found out about Lilly, then she most likely would get upset. Maybe she wouldn't be angry and screaming her lungs out, but she would get hurt and sad, and then she would feel like she couldn't trust Troy anymore as it would feel to her that he was hiding this from her for almost two months now.

"So what are you going to do now?" Jason asked after a moment of silence.

Troy shrugged, "What more can I do besides tell Brie and then call Lilly and tell her to stop."

"What?! You can't tell Gabriella. She'll totally freak."

"Are you suggesting that I lie to my girlfriend?"

"No, but it's not technically lying if she doesn't ask you directly if you still hear from Lilly," Jason concluded.

Troy shook his head. After talking to Jason, he realized that if he could tell the one person who he didn't feel comfortable talking to, then he could tell Gabriella. She would understand, he had faith in her.

"No. I have to tell her. It's only fair. If she was getting letters from Lyle, I would want to know. But I really appreciate it if you wouldn't tell her first."

"That's fine. I wouldn't want to be the one to break the news to her anyways, but Troy…" Jason's tone turned serious, "as much as we don't see eye to eye on some things, I'm giving you my advice right now. Okay?"

"Go for it."

"Gabriella's going to be hurt if you tell her. I KNOW she will. She's still healing from her…mother's death," Jason managed to speak the two words that he dreaded now, "and…just be careful. You mean a lot to her."

"And you don't think that she means everything to me?! That's like the furthest thing from the truth. Of course I won't hurt her purposefully."

Jason smiled, "Good." He looked up and then smirked, "First one back to your house is a loser."

Troy looked up also and saw that his house was right down the block. "You're on!"


"Are you nervous?" Gabriella asked in a hushed voice as no matter if they were in the busy hallways of East High, and kids weren't paying extra special attention to them, Gabriella still wanted a little bit more privacy, but she would take what she could get as they still had five minutes until class started after lunch.

Troy shrugged his shoulders. He had been nervous, but he was getting more and more excited for it as various kids who he didn't even know came up to him and wished him good luck for that night.

"Not anymore; especially since I have my good luck charm."

"What is it?" Gabriella asked curiously.

Troy grinned down at her before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "You. But you have to keep that a secret so that no one else will steal my secret weapon."

Gabriella giggled at how amusing Troy could be. Troy wondered if this would be the time to tell her about Lilly. When she was happy and laughing, or at least showing that she was happy, he could never be too sure when it came to Gabriella as she was good at holding in her feelings.

Troy opened his mouth to speak, and tell her about how much of a screw up he was, but Gabriella beat him to it. "Have I told you that I love you today?"

Troy's features softened as he retreated his hands back from the wall so that he wasn't caging in Gabriella anymore, and so that she could start walking with him to their next class. Their hands automatically grabbed onto each other. "Not today, but then again I haven't given you a reason to say it."

"You being here is enough reason."

The statement was powerful as no matter how many students were shuffling around besides them, or talking and yelling at one another in amusement, Gabriella and Troy were oblivious to it as they continued walking.

"I love you too Brie."

Troy decided that telling Gabriella would have to wait as maybe it would be easier telling her when they were alone.


Gabriella and Jason were parked outside the gym in the student parking lot. In just a matter of time they would have to go into the gym and Jason would have to face West High as Gabriella would get a front row seat in watching. She was meeting Kelsi and Lyle there since Kelsi had never gone to a game before, and Lyle was just tagging along with the two girls.

"You know, I think you're going to win," Gabriella whispered with slight fear in her voice. "If it matters, I believe in you."

Jason grinned at his best friend. Gabriella would have been with Troy, but he had to stay after school and make up a lab in science that he missed when he was at the dentist a week ago.

"Thanks Buddy."

Just then a bright yellow bus pulled up in the parking lot and various boys got out; all dressed in dark blue and gold. Jason sighed as they both recognized that bus to be from West High. No matter if both schools were in the same town, they all still needed to take a bus.

"I guess this means it's game time."

Gabriella smiled as she nodded. "I think it's time to get out."

"So the saying, 'better late than never' doesn't apply here then?"

Gabriella rolled her eyes as they both got out of Jason's car which was parked right next to Troy's truck that was left there that afternoon. They met each other in front of Jason's shiny car. "My dad would kill you if you were late to this game."

"Probably," Jason nudged Gabriella's shoulder playfully.

It all happened in slow motion as right when Gabriella and Jason stepped up and over the slight curb, out of the parking lot and now onto the sidewalk so they could get to the gym's entrance, Derek and Rob stepped off of the bus. They were the last two as nearly every team member was inside already; including their coach.

Jason's eyes narrowed as his arm automatically went around Gabriella and gently pushed her behind him slightly, as if protecting her from their 'germs'.

Derek snickered at this. "Darling, why don't you leave your dick of a boyfriend out here so that we can teach him a lesson before the game?"

Gabriella's eyes narrowed as she swore she could hear a growl roll out of Jason's mouth. "Fuck off Welsch, and save it for the court."

At least one out of the two West High players could tell that Jason was slowly losing control.

"Come on Derek, let's just go," Rob whispered as he took a step back from the situation all together.

Derek smirked as he let his eyes linger towards Gabriella. His eyes traveled down her bare neck as she had her long curly hair in two braids on either side of her head. She was wearing a red Wildcat t-shirt with a white zip up jacket halfway zipped up with the name Bolton on the back, and a pair of short red shorts with white stripes on the side. Her white knee high socks showed off just how tan she really was as her veins were starting to show due to the weather becoming chilly.

"I'll be seeing you Montez, and Cross?" Derek questioned.

"What?" Jason growled out with his fists already balled up. There was just something about the other captain that always upset him.

"I heard you were going through a grieving period," Derek stated coldly as Gabriella's hand flew out instantly and grabbed Jason's bicep to keep him out of a fight. She had to push her own feelings out of her mind to keep her sanity intact, and to keep control of her best friend. "Word of advice, you don't want to choke and look like a pansy in front of everyone. Especially since there's scouts here."

"Let's go," Gabriella whispered as she was getting nervous with the glint in Derek's eye. The Wildcats rarely ran across Knights, but when they did, the sport teams rarely got along.

Before Jason and Gabriella could actually walk into the gym as they were now within crowds of people from all over town in the lobby, Jason grabbed Gabriella's arm to hold her back a little.

"Hey," Jason cooed in a whisper so that they didn't draw attention from the other people around them, "are you okay?"

Jason was concerned about his best friend as he knew how much Derek's comment about Anna and his grieving hurt him, and he couldn't even imagine how Gabriella might have felt after being reminded that her mother was gone.

Gabriella mustered a smile as she nodded her head. "Yeah. Of course. I'm just…anxious for this game to be done. I feel like something bad is going to happen."

Jason stared down at her. He knew when she was lying, and now was definitely a time. Gabriella sighed as she continued to smile up at the basketball captain. She was hoping Jason would just drop it as she didn't want to talk about it. She would only bring him down during the game if she told him that Derek's comment had hurt. And even though it wasn't directed to her, he still brought up the death.

"Gabi--"

"Jase! I don't want to talk about it. Just go and play your game. There's scouts here, and I'm not supposed to know, but UCLA has been in contact with my dad." Gabriella smiled at her best friend for real now as a slow understanding smile crossed his face too.

"Are you fuc--," Jason looked around as there were little boys and girls around from town to watch them play, so he quickly corrected himself, "fudging me?"

Gabriella rolled her eyes, "No, I'm not fudging you. Now go play and can you do something for me?"

"Anything."

"Tell Troy I wish him good luck."

"Are you serious?"

"It would be inappropriate if you kissed him, so wishing him good luck will have to do."


The game was brutal. The two teams were always neck and neck as no matter how good Jason and Troy were, Rob and Derek were competing at their level. Both sets of teams knew the others weaknesses and strengths. That was one of the reasons why it was a low scoring game as both teams in the season were used to playing a very strong offense and then a defense that strategically held the other team back. But now the two teams had to kick it up a notch on their defense skills, or else fouls would be called.

Halftime came and went as the cheerleaders did their routine almost flawlessly. Gabriella noted that the new girl fit in well as she had blonde hair, nimble body, and a perfect smile as she turned towards the crowds. There were also more people from town in the stands as almost everyone came to cheer on one of the two town teams. It was big news as even some of the coaches from other schools came to watch the Wildcats and the Knights battle it out. After all, they were the top two teams, and everyone wondered how Albuquerque could hold such high standards when it came to basketball.

Gabriella looked up at the score that read Wildcats--36, and Knights--35.

"They're playing good, aren't they?" Kelsi yelled a little to be heard over the yelling and cheering of everyone else when the Knights came back onto the court to warm up for the short two minutes left of halftime.

"They are!" Gabriella eagerly agreed. It was amazing to her as no matter what Derek said at the beginning of the game, it was all wiped away when Troy came out in his red and silver sweat pants and hoodie so that he could warm up with the other players.

"In football, we would be creaming these guys by now." Lyle stated cockily as both girls rolled their eyes.

The game had started up almost immediately as the Wildcat Basketball team appeared from the locker room. Both Troy and Jason were leading the team and Gabriella couldn't help but to yell out both of their names in cheers with the crowd of students.

The timer started as Troy passed in the ball to Chad. The intensity was high as everyone in the gym was waiting for one person or more to make a mistake. Whether it be the defense team or the offense team, someone was going to make a mistake and either steal the ball or shoot it.

The gym was hot as sweat dripped from every players face. Jason ran to his position and quickly executed the play Chad called out. He watched as Troy finally got open and was able to make a quick and sleek three point shot. Jason couldn't keep the smug look off of his face as he saw and heard Derek shout something at his teammate who made the mistake of letting Troy through.

The game was getting rougher by every minute that passed. After Troy had made the three pointer, the Knights came back with a two pointer, and then a steal for another two pointer made by Derek. It was easily seen that Coach Montez wasn't impressed with his players, and neither was the crowd.

Coach Montez had called a time out as that was the last one for him during the game. He had watched most of these boys grow up in Albuquerque, he had seen all of them play in seventh and eighth grade, and then he had coached them for at least half of their high school life. He knew what they were capable of and he knew that they weren't playing to his standards.

"Who's tired?!" He barked out.

All boys huddled together looked at one another as all they had left was five minutes of the game. Usually, Coach Montez didn't call his last time out at that time, but after this talk, he was confident that his players would be alright. They could hold their own as only a little faith was needed in them, and then they would succeed.

"Because if you are, then there's the door." Coach Montez pointed towards the door that Gabriella was near in the bleachers in the front row. Being a senior had it's perks as that meant the underclassmen knew enough to move back, or else the senior guys would start yelling things.

"Now I don't know who told you the game was over, but it's not. So stop acting like you've won and slowing your game down. Just because we're in the lead by five, doesn't mean we can call it a day. You finish your game, and then we'll see if you guys even deserve to be in this gym." His voice was hard as he was in coaching mode. All twelve boys had been given a run for their money as everyone knew it would be a hard game.

"Troy, you're point, Chad you're being moved to small forward again, and--"

"Shooting guard?" Jason guessed as he wasn't upset this time when Coach Montez moved him.

"Exactly. I want you guys to run the play that we just learned. Troy, get Jason the ball, and--" The buzzer went off as it cut Coach Montez's voice off momentarily.

The crowd was on the edges of their seat as the time was ticking down now. East High was still in the lead by six points now. Troy had the ball and was going down the court with ease. He could rarely get a shot in as point guard now because of the tight defense, but that wasn't his job in this game anymore. His job was to hand out the ball to his open teammates who were just as capable as making shots.

He didn't know how he knew, but he passed the ball with quickness to his left, and watched as Jason caught onto it with ease. Derek was guarding Troy, as Jason was left with Rob to guard him. Troy saw that Zeke was open right under the basket, but Jason didn't pass the ball to him.

"Give it up Bolton," Derek sneered just quiet enough so that Troy was the only one to hear him. "That's what your girlfriend is doing anyways. You should hear all the locker room talk about her. I hear she's a nice lay."

Troy tried to block out what Derek was saying, but he couldn't as even though he knew Gabriella wasn't cheating on him, that still didn't excuse Derek for saying lies about her.

"Fuck off Welsch." Troy hissed harshly. He looked for the ball and saw that Chad had it now. He ran to the top key of the arch on their half of the gym with Derek right on his tail, "We both know that you'll only being hearing about her as Brie would never even think of you like that."

Troy got around Derek for a moment in order to retrieve the ball from a thankful Chad who was having difficulties with his player who was guarding him. Troy had an easy shot from behind the three point line, and there was no Derek in sight.

He jumped into position, but before the ball could even release from his grip, a hard force collided with his right shoulder.

The gym went silent as Troy's back hit the cold floor.