highschool musicals story and its actors do not in any way belong to me i am just useing them in my awsome kick ass story they belong to the evil empire that is disney etc

Chapter 8: practice what you preach

Enter Gabriella

It was Saturday and what was I doing? Getting ready to go to the mall with Taylor. One would think that I would have a date with my boyfriend but then one would think wrong. Nope instead troy was off with his new best friend Ryan. Not that I blamed him of late because Chad has just been a pain in everyone's ass so it was great that troy found a friend with more… for lack of a better word culture. Because who are we kidding Chad is about as simple as they come. Jock homophobic Horney offensive smokes pot and drinks beer, it's like he comes off of a douche assembly line. Anyway yes any one would be better then Chad. But when he starts hanging out with him more then he spends time with me that's when I have a problem.

And I love Ryan I really do I could see him being a good friend but part of me thinks that he may have a little bit of a crush on my boyfriend. Now I am not most girls who will start drama for no reason and I don't even mind that Ryan is gay because I know that troy isn't and as long as Ryan keeps a safe distance away from anything scheming I am ok with them being friends but that's where the line is drawn.

I know I shouldn't have to worry about troy but I have never scene him click with someone so well. I mean aside form me but that's because we are dating. So I am happy for him but today Saturday is when he should be spending time with me not Ryan.

I heard the door bell right from my room and made my way down the stairs to greet Taylor. My mom had already answered the door and started chatting with her. "Hey Tay" I said giving the other girl a hug

"Hey gabs" she said returning the hug "ready to go"

"As ever" I said.

"I must say I thought you would be busy or something" she said as we got into her car.

"Or something?"I asked

"This is the first Saturday in almost two months that you and troy aren't together" she said

I sighed and we didn't talk about it any further. Pretty much our trip to the mall consisted of us talking about the musical that was opening next weekend and how nervous I was. It actually made me think of how hard I had been on troy about it and then about how rudely I was thinking about Ryan. It was true Ryan had helped a lot with me and troy's performances and here I was thinking that he had ulterior motives with my boyfriend maybe I should have given him a little bit more credit.

We arrived at the mall and shopped for a bit and of course talked about school and the latest gossip before heading to the food court for lunch. Taylor got sushi while I got a Greek salad and curly fries we sat in a booth in silence for a few minutes before Taylor huffed and shot me a glare.

"What?"I asked

"Oh I'm sorry but aside form the glare that's all you have been doing today" she said "what's going on?"

"Its stupid I guess I am a little jealous "I said "it's stupid I don't even know why I am jealous but it's just a feeling"

"Who of?" she asked

"troy has been hanging out with Ryan a lot they have become really good friends and I am happy for them but like we barely ever have free time outside of the musical and out other extra curriculars I don't have to have to compete for his time I should automatically come first" I said " dose that sound selfish? …ugh no it sounds stupid he is a guy why do I feel like this?"

"He is a gay guy" Taylor said "and no it doesn't sound selfish for all you know Ryan could have some crazy Steven king misery obsession with you're boyfriend although I don't think Ryan Is capable of that"

"Yeah ok so Ryan is gay but troy is straight" I said "I sound so stupid thinking that troy is just going to leave me for the token gay guy"

" yeah when you say it that way it dose sound sort of crazy" she said " and you're the new girl still I mean at east high you are the it girl but that could change to crazy stage five clinger quickly"

"I don't know what I am fussing about" I said "Ryan is a good guy"

"I'm just glad that I don't have these kinds of worries in my relationship" Taylor said and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I guess she completely forgot that her boyfriend is a complete pig. "What?" she snapped

"You mean to tell me that you and Chad are as happy as can be?" I asked not believing her

"Of course we are" she said offended "what would make you think otherwise?"

"Ok aren't you part of the anti homophobia alliance at east high?" I asked

"Yeah so where is this going?" she asked

"Chad is not exactly an ambassador for equal rights" I said

"What are you implying?" she asked. Wow I thought Taylor was supposed to be smart do I have to spell it out for her. "Because Chad is not that kind of guy"

"Have you met him?" I asked "he is one of the most ignorant people I have ever met"

"excuse me?" she said clearly getting offended any hope I had of trying to make her see reason was out the door but that didn't mean I was joust going to step down it was time for her to realize the truth. "And just what is it he is so ignorant about"

"Well for starters he is leading a campaign against Ryan for being gay he calls him a fag at least twice a day now" I said "troy told me"

"And just where is troy right now?" she asked glaring at me

"You're out of line" I said

"Am I?" she asked "or am I just telling the truth I don't see him around anywhere actually now that I think of it the only person I ever see him with is Ryan"

Was she really going to go there? Ok the gloves were coming off. "Why do you think that is Taylor?" I asked her "why do you think that troy stopped hanging out with Chad? And frankly I'm starting to see that you guys are more of a match then I thought"

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked

" it means that you' re boyfriend is a complete ass wipe and that you are either to delusional to see it or you are a complete bitch and don't even care" I said getting up from the table and storming away from her. That last comment was a little bit harsh but she needed to know. She has the whole school wired but she completely ignores the kind of things that Chad and the rest of the jocks do to Ryan and every other minority in this school. She goes against her own morals for what? So she can be in a relation with a popular jock? I didn't think she was that shallow but her attitude speaks for itself. All I know is that any uneasiness I had about troy hanging out with Ryan was replaced with pride for him. It just goes to show that he is different then the rest of them.

Enter Kelsey

Me and Jason got out of his car at the mall. It wasn't what I had in mind when decided to go on a second date but I didn't mind there was a lot to do and how often can a girl get a guy to go to the mall willingly?

"I was thinking mini golf and pizza?" he suggested

"Sounds fun but I must warn you that I never lose" I said

"Well you're in luck because I always lose" he said grinning

"Why?" I asked

"Because I used to only come with the guys and you know how troy is pretty much great at everything" I could sense his annoyance about that fact but I didn't push the issue.

"I guess you guys don't play anymore?" I asked avoiding the true meaning of the comment at all costs.

"No we don't really do anything any more" he said "it's like we are all discovering ourselves outside of basketball I mean troy obviously has the musical and zeke teaches a cooking class now"

"And what about you and Chad?" I asked curiously

"Me I'm just trying to pass all of my classes and Chad well he has successfully found a way to have all of his friends not want to hang out with him anymore"

I raised my eyebrow at this "you don't hang out with Chad anymore?" I asked

"not really I feel like troy was the glue that held us all together and as soon as he started ding the musical Chad became like… mean he talks a lot of crap about everybody and he is really ignorant" he said "I don't really like the person he has become because he wasn't always like this only when troy started branching out did he start acting like a jerk"

That's was a good sign I had been so worried that Jason was like all of the other jocks and it would have sucked if he did because I actually really liked him and if he was anything like Chad I don't think I would be able to date him out if respect for Ryan.

"So do you think it's more of a jealousy thing?" I asked

"I mean it could be but Chad has always been second to troy and has never had a problem with it" he said "maybe he is just mad that troy is doing something that Chad isn't a part of"

"Yeah maybe" we didn't talk much about it after that but I could tell that it really got to Jason how much life has changed in the last almost month and a half. We made our way to ply mini golf which I of course I won. I couldn't help but feel bad that I beat him but he didn't mind.

"I actually like that you're not some girl who has no idea what she is doing" he said "it's a nice change form the girls I have dated before"

"Thanks" I said "I'm starved do you want to go get something to eat?"

"Sure my treat" he said

"You don't have to pay for everything" I said "I'll buy the food"

"Nope I asked you out" he said refusing my offer

"Actually I was the one who called to ask you out" I reminded him.

"Yes but I turned it around on you so I pay for everything" he said

"Fine" I said huffing. I know when I have been beaten but that doesn't mean I was anymore comfortable making him pay for everything. I nearly jumped when I felt the vibration of my cell phone in my pocket.

"You Alright?" he asked looking at me like I was crazy.

"Oh yeah I'm fine my phone just scared me I wont answer it though" I said ignoring it.

"No its fine you can" he said "I don't mind"

I smiled at him and then retrieved my phone it was Gabi.

"Hey Gabi" I said answering it. "What's up?"

"What are you doing can I come over?" she asked. She almost sounded angry.

"I'm kind of on a date" I said "why what's wrong?"

"Oh if you're on a date then its cool I'm just a little bothered at the moment" she said "but I don't want to bother you… what are you guys up to?"

"Oh we are at the mall about to go for pizza" I said

" oh that's where I am" she said excitedly" listen Kelsey I hate to ask this but I just had a fight with Taylor and troy is somewhere with Ryan and I don't have a ride home do you think it would be possible if when you are finished with you're date that you give me a ride home?"

I didn't really know what to say I mean that was not really my call. I didn't want to put that on Jason but I didn't want to disappoint Gabi and for that matter what was she fighting about with Taylor? So I did what I could with out saying yes but also not sounding like I was saying no " I'll ask Jason but I'm sure he wont have a problem with it"

"Ok thanks you're a life saver" she said "call me back"

I hung up the phone to see Jason looking at me with a questioning look "am I getting ditched?" he asked

"No" I said "of course not it's just Gabi got into a fight with Taylor"

"What dose that have to do with us?" he asked

"Well she is at the mall" I said "and she has no ride home so she asked if she could ride with us like when date are is over"

He didn't look to existed about the idea of our date being interrupted by Gabriella but he didn't object "ok call her back then" he said shrugging.

I called her back and told her it was a yes and that we would meet her at the mall entrance in an hour. Me and Jason went for lunch but I could tell that he wasn't really all into it anymore. I should have just told her no I mean it was our second date and nothing should have come in the way of it but it did... I needed to stop being so nice.

We left the restaurant after I insisted on paying for the tip I was not about to not spend anything on this date and we headed to the entrance of the mall to find Gabi standing there waiting for us. She ran up to give me a hug and I smiled at her

"Thanks again Jason" she said smiling at him. Jason just nodded and forced a smile.

"So what happened?" I asked as we made our way across the parking lotto Jason's car.

"We got in an argument about Chad of all things" she said glaring at nothing in particular. "I told her that me and troy haven't been spending a lot of time together and she pretty much started boasting about how great her relationship was so I called her on it"

"Why would you do that?" Jason chimed it "it seems unnecessary"

"Well at first I was just reminding her of how rude Chad is to people and she completely denied it" she said as we reached Jason's car. I sat shot gun wile Gabi got in the back. "Then she started questioning my relationship and before we knew it we were yelling in the middle of the food court"

"That sucks" I said "I never thought Taylor would be the type to date a guy like Chad"

"Neither did I he goes against everything she stands for" Gabi said

Jason grimaced but didn't say anything. Clearly he was uncomfortable with the topic so I didn't say anything else and the rest of the ride was silent. We dropped Gabi off first and then he drove me to my house still in silence.

"Is there something wrong" I asked as he pulled up my drive way.

"No" he said not looking at me. Ok so that was a lie if I have ever scene one.

"Ok… I guess I'll call you?" I asked as I opened the door.

"Yeah sure if you want to" he said

"Are you mad at me?" I asked

"No I'll see you at school" he said in the same tone.

"Bye then" I said

"Yeah see ya" he said before I closed the door. He immediately drove away which was odd because usually he would wait for me to get inside. And I stood on the front steps of my house wondering what the hell I did wrong.

A/N

gasp no troy or Ryan I know but I felt I needed to do some character building because a lot of them are going to have big story lines later so yes this is sort of the beginning of that but for the next few chapters after this one it is all Ryan troy which I know is what you all want and just to let you all know I will not be disappearing for now on at least not for a while so I will be going back to a chapter a day maybe so yea shout outs to.

nek0-sama- my most loyal I know you really hate the angst but there is still some to come but I promise it wont be much longer then a chapter or two anything started will mostly be resolved in the next chapter to come I really want to focus on the relationship this time around.

Satchelboy- I am flattered you like my stories and yes the steam is well on its way I promise

masked deamon- I am glad you like it and I cant wait to make more for you