Chapter 3

*Lovesick

(Hello readers! The next chapter's up for Lovesick! Before you start reading I just want to let you guys know that I will have the next chapter to this story up as soon as I have a chance too. I know it's break and I promised I'd update a lot more but the next few days for me are going to be a little hard since it's the week of Christmas. I will try my best to take some time and get the next chapter updated though. Also; I think I'm going to do another one-shot based off of a song. And that song is going to be (drum roll)…You Belong With Me. I love, love Taylor Swift and her music so I'm going to be doing a one-shot based on her song. I'll also get that one up ASAP. One more thing; since it's Christmas again, I really need to get This Christmas updated. Ever since I started my new story I've been working on it nonsense and I need to set aside time to work on This Christmas because the more I don't work on it, the less I want to finish it so I can't keep it hanging much longer. So expect a new chapter to This Christmas, Lovesick, and maybe the one-shot by mid next week. Ok; please review and enjoy!)

Complicated Friendship

"Good practice today guys! Keep it up and you might kick some butt at Friday's game." Coach Bolton shouted as the East High Wildcats left to go change in the locker rooms. Troy stayed behind and shot some baskets.

"Hey man; you coming?" Chad asked, wiping his sweaty forehead with a towel. Troy grabbed the basketball that had bounced off the net.

"Nah. I'll catch up with you later. I'll gonna shot some hoops." Chad nodded and walked off. Troy shot another basket but it hit the rim again.

Dang it. Troy muttered. He took a seat on the bleachers and stared at the basketball hoop. Ever since the incident with Gabriella and Scott, he hadn't been able to confront her and tell her that it was stupid of him to have caused a scene like that. He thought back at an incident back in eighth grade when he read Gabriella's diary that he found hidden in her room and then accidentally let Chad and Zeke read it which resulted in Ryan reading it and Gabriella never wanting to talk to him again. Of course she got over it after a day and a half but it still made Troy feel guilty of even thinking about reading his best friend's diary…

*Flashback*

"So is 2 the slope of y=2x+4?" A fourteen year old Troy Bolton asked.

"Um yea. Haven't I told you that already?" Gabriella repeated. The two were sitting on Gabriella's bed, working on Algebra homework. Troy never really needed help; he just needed an excuse to see her.

"Uh, my brain hurts too much to remember." Troy complained reluctantly, throwing his pencil down and rolling on his back. He had spent three hours at her house and she didn't seem to mind.

"Troy, it takes me three minutes to solve five problems. You're not even done with two," Gabriella got up and went to the bathroom. "I gotta get in the shower. I'll be out in a second. Don't even think about looking through anything." Gabriella warned before shutting the door behind her.

I wonder if she has a diary…Troy thought, completely oblivious to what Gabriella had just said. He hoisted himself up on one arm and looked under pillows. Bingo.

A pink fuzzy notebook with pictures of lock and the words 'Don't Even Think About It' scattered throughout the whole front page. He guessed this was her diary. A mischievous grin played across his face as he ushered the book open. He landed on a page titled 'Ew'. He read the first sentence, eager to read the next.

Ok, you won't believe the dream I had last night. It was about Troy. I've had dreams about him before but this one was different. It was uh, a dream about, um, sex. I mean I'm almost fifteen! And Troy's my best friend! In this dream, I was in his room and he came in and sat down on the bed. Then he said something to me and took off his shirt. I have no idea what I was doing at his house anyway. I remember me glancing at the clock beside the bed and it read 3:03am. What in the world was I doing at his house that early in the morning!? Anyways, I guess I got caught up in the moment because I kissed him. He kissed me back and then he kissed my neck and then, for whatever crazy reason, he kissed my stomach. And then other stuff happened….stuff I'd rather not explain. I don't think about Troy that way! I never would! It's just so…ew. Maybe he feels that way about me but I sure don't.

Troy read what it said over and over again; shocked to even say anything. "She had a dream that we were having sex?" Troy mumbled to himself. The thought of that made him shiver. He had to tell the guys about this. Troy felt his risky side start to kick in but he just couldn't resist. First, he just had to find a way to…

"Troy?" Gabriella suddenly called from the bathroom.

Crap! Troy fumbled with the notebook before shoving it deep in the pocket of his gym bag. Hopefully she wouldn't notice it's missing.

"Y-yeah?" Troy sat down on her bed, trying to look casual.

"Can you hand me that purple towel that's on the top of my dresser?"

"Uh yeah. Sure." Troy looked around and spotted the towel. He walked over to the door of the bathroom and knocked on it.

"Thanks Troy." Gabriella cooed as Troy saw her hand reach out and grab the towel.

A few seconds later, she came out with a towel wrapped around her. Troy didn't realize it until he turned around. When he did, he just stood there, practically drooling.

"What?" Gabriella demanded self-consciously; pulling her towel further up her chest.

"Oh um, nothing." Troy tore his eyes away from her and sat down on the edge of her bed again. His eyes followed her across the room and back again until she went back into the bathroom again. Troy finally started breathing again.

He needed to get that thought of her out of his head but was failing miserably. Why did his best friend have to be so freakin' gorgeous?

* * * *

"Hey dude; check this out. It's Gabriella's diary." Troy said to Chad as they stopped next to their lockers the next day. He knew that what he was doing was going to cost him many days of Gabriella becoming his enemy and many awkward glances while passing each other in the hallways but it was too good to pass up. He just hoped Chad was the only one who would read it.

Oh no way? Let me see." Chad grabbed the notebook away from Troy and flipped though the pages. He landed on the same page that caught Troy's attention.

"Oh dude no way?" Chad repeated. "Let Zeke read it." Chad went over to Zeke.

"Wait, wait." Troy tried to stop him but it was too late. Zeke was already reading it and laughing.

Shit! Troy panicked. He was dead. He was so dead.

Everything got worse when Ryan walked by.

Hey yo Ryan. Your little crush had a dream about Troy but none about you. Guess she doesn't feel that way about you." Zeke teased, laughing.

Ryan looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Here, read it." Chad gave the notebook to him. Ryan scanned the page; his heart falling as he read this. Gabriella suddenly came in and looked at what was going on.

"Hey, what's going on?" Gabriella asked. She creased her eyebrows when she saw Ryan glaring at her. He went over and shoved the notebook into Chad's hands who then gave it to Gabriella. As soon as she got it, her eyes turned a very dark brown; very close to black. She was pissed at someone and knew exactly who.

"Troy!?" Gabriella fumed, walking over to him. "What the hell did you do?"

"I, uh, took your diary and I was gonna put it back but then Chad saw and yeah. I'm really sorry."

"Who in their right mind would even think about showing their best friend's diary to anyone? Are you out of your mind? You know how I feel about Ryan, Troy. I can't believe you let him read my diary. What did you let him read? What did you read?" Gabriella shifted impatiently on her feet.

"I don't know. I gave it to Chad and then he gave it to Ryan."

"It wasn't supposed to go to anyone!" She paused. "You let him read the one about my dream because you read it didn't you?"

Troy struggled to say something but she cut him off.

"You're joking right? You know what; I never want to talk to you again. Ever. Don't even bother IMing me either." Gabriella huffed and stomped away.

"Gabriella, wait," Troy called after her but she just ignored him.

He would never be forgiven for that.

*End of Flashback*

Troy found himself back in reality as the gym doors slammed close.

It was Gabriella.

Troy stood up, half-smiled at her, and braced himself for what was about to come pouring out of his best friend's mouth.

"Troy, we need to talk." Gabriella stated.

"I'm listening." Troy replied, sounding irritated. This didn't go unnoticed by her.

"What is your problem Troy? I mean seriously. You ruin a moment I was having with Scott and now you don't want to deal with me? Is there something I'm missing?" Gabriella stood there, waiting.

Troy took a deep breath and decided to play it hard. "Nothing. No." He took the basketball in his hands and shot a basket from where he was standing. 1 point.

"Troy, this isn't going away. I need more than just two-word answers."

"Fine. I'm sorry I ruined your 'moment' with Scott. Last time I checked you got to spend a whole summer with him. That wasn't enough?"

"Oh and last time I checked there hasn't been any improvement in this ridiculous grudge you two have against each other. What do you have against each other anyways?"

"Nothing."

"Then why are you acting like I don't know you?" Point taken.

"Because-"

"Because you're jealous right?" Troy looked at her, forcing himself to think otherwise but was unsuccessful. They both knew it was true. "Why are you so jealous of me being with Scott? You're my best friend. You're not supposed to be jealous."

"I'm not jealous I'm just scared he's gonna break your heart. You know how he's treated his past friends. He's got them thinking he loves them but in the end always says it was never love for him. It was always just the lust and you know exactly what I mean when I say that." Troy's expression was serious. "Gabriella, I don't want you to end up like those girls. I want what's best for you." Troy looked deep into her brown eyes and could of swore he saw a flash of forgiveness but it was probably just his imagination.

Gabriella's eyes softened a little. "Well I appreciate that you're concerned about me but I think I'll be fine. Scott's a nice guy; he'd never do that. None of that stuff is probably true. I'm sure you heard it from people who think they know what they're talking about."

"Bu it could be true." Troy stood his ground. Even though Gabriella was his best friend he wasn't going to let her words blow him over like a weak tree in the ground.

Gabriella's eyes turned back to their dark color. "Well when you find out let me know. I have to go." She turned on her heels and walked away, the door slamming behind her.

* * * *

Gabriella slid her books in her locker before heading out the door and was stopped by a familiar voice.

"Gabriella, hey," She turned around and saw Scott making his way towards her.

"Hey Scott. What's up?" She smiled, happy to finally be alone with him even if for a short while.

"Nothing just about to leave. I just got out from football practice. What are you doing here so late?" Scott casually leaned against the locker.

"Oh, I was just leaving a Scholastic Decathlon meeting." She lied. It wasn't worth bringing up her discussion with Troy; for she was areas mad at him for trying to bring her down like that.

"Ah of course. Hey, I was wondering; my dad owns this new restaurant in town called La Italiana and I wanted to know id you'd be interested in going with me. It's not necessarily a date just two people getting to know each other better."

Gabriella giggled. "I'd love too. And when you say two people getting to know each other you know you mean a date right?"

Scott laughed. "If that's what you want to think it is then that's fine with me." Gabriella smiled. She could get used to this.

"Ok so Friday after the basketball game? We can hang at the after party for a little if you want."

"Uh yeah sure."

"Ok. I'll give you a ride to the party and then to the restaurant too if you'd like."

"No I'm good but thank you. I'll just meet you at the party but a ride to the restaurant would be perfect."

"Alight; we're all set then." Scott pushed himself off the locker.

"Alright, see ya." Gabriella smiled as she watched him disappear down out the door.

If only Troy could see that Scott wasn't the guy to break hearts. If only Gabriella could see the truth behind Scott's hazel eyes.

* * * *

(A/N: What did you think? I personally liked this chapter. I liked it because it got into more of Troy and Gabriella's friendship and the complicated side of it. And also Scott and Gabriella's relationship is mentioned more as well. I'm not saying I necessarily like Scott and Gabriella being together and Troy being mad all the time because of it but more of how they are with each other. Trust me; this is all going to lead up to what happens next so please bear with me. Expect the next chapter to focus mainly on Scott and also him and Gabriella's first date. Please, please review! I'll update soon! Luv ya!)