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The following Tuesday, a week and a day after Gabriella and Taylor's visit to the rehearsal, Gabriella found herself sitting in the now familiar park as she watched her guy friends play the game of their life against a group of college-aged guys who were really good. Troy had stepped in to replace Ryan on the court as Ryan had rehearsals but he had promised to drop by when they were done. While she watched the game, Gabriella realized she was guilty of not fully paying attention. Her mind was filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions. True to their word, Taylor and Gabriella had watched the interactions between Ryan and Audrina in the past week and found that they were increasingly getting closer, and not just on a friendly level. Ryan was still very sweet and caring towards Gabriella, not showing any difference in his interactions with her, but Gabriella saw the way that he looked at Audrina. There was no mistake as to the attraction.
'It hurts so much to think of losing Ryan as a boyfriend, but if I'm honest, I know that I can't fairly keep him tied to me when I think I still care for another who may or not return those feelings,' thought Gabriella before she cheered when Jason made a two pointer. 'Then again, I don't even know if he's really who I think he is.'
Taylor elbowed Gabriella gently in the side when she saw her best friend was blankly staring at her ex, who just completed a nicely done lay-up. "Gabriella, sweetie, you need to snap out of this little trance you've got going on. Ryan just drove up," whispered Taylor, jarring Gabriella from her thoughts.
The two girls looked over at the parking lot and saw Ryan get out of his car before he went over and opened the door for Audrina, who apparently came with him. Gabriella felt a pang in her heart at the sight of the two and knew that her assessment of what had been going on was on the spot this time.
"Hey guys," greeted Ryan as he took a seat next to Gabriella and kissed her cheek. "How's the game?"
Audrina took a seat next to Kelsi on the bleacher below the two girls and waved hello. Taylor saw that Gabriella was not answering Ryan so she decided to answer for her. "Umm, looks about tied," said Taylor. "Maybe they could use a reliever."
"Naw, I don't have my stuff. Troy looks like he's at one with the guys again, that's good for the basketball team thing," commented Ryan as he watched the game continue.
After a few minutes, the game was still tied so Taylor, Gabriella, and Kelsi got up and went over to the barbeque area to set up the normal grub Zeke brought for the gang to share after the games. It had become a tradition ever since the first barbeque they had out in the park those weeks ago and now the guys only had until the end of November of the city league they were playing in.
"Hey Kelsi, you are always so objective. Can I ask you something just among the three of us?" asked Taylor.
"Sure, what is it?" returned Kelsi.
"Do you get the vibe that something more than friendship could be going on with Ryan and Audrina?" questioned Taylor.
"Taylor!" scolded Gabriella. "Seriously, why bring this up?"
"Because I know you are thinking about it and Kelsi is always honest and discreet," defended Taylor. "Besides, I know you have been thinking about it amongst all the other tortured ideas and emotions you are feeling right now."
Kelsi thought for a few moments and gave her answer. "Well, at first I thought they were just really good actors, you know during rehearsals, but then I kind of noticed how comfortable they were and that the vibe was still going on during breaks and sometimes during school. I don't think they have done anything about their feelings though, if that's a question. Ryan is so devoted to you, Gabriella."
"I know that he is, that's not an issue. The issue is what to do with all the cards that are out on the table right now," answered Gabriella. "Guys, I honestly feel like I'm building a house of cards and one false move will bring it all down. Actually, I feel like any move I make will bring the card house down."
"Interesting imagery," commented Kelsi. "Gabriella, you know how I feel about you and Troy, I've written songs for you two in the past. I admit I haven't been that inspired when it has come to you and Ryan, not in the same way. I'm not saying that you should be with Troy right now, this instant, but I think you are meant to be with him, more so than with Ryan. I'm not implying you don't care for Ryan, I can see that you do, but not on the same level. I know you have already decided on something in your head, I think I know that much at least, and I think it's the best for everyone."
Gabriella slowly nodded her head in agreement but knew that some part of her heart was already breaking at the thought. Taylor and Kelsi both wrapped an arm around their friend as they lent her their strength, both feeling the sadness and heartache to a small degree of what Gabriella must have been feeling at that moment.
As the girls returned to the bleachers, Gabriella stopped as she spied Audrina and Ryan sitting close together, both watching the game but also laughing at something together. 'They really are cute together. There's real genuine chemistry. Who am I to stand in their way? Kind of reminds me of me and Troy before everything happened,' thought Gabriella as she took a seat at the bottom of the bleachers.
Within the next twenty minutes, the game ended with a devastating outcome. The Wildcats lost by one point in the end. Taylor and Kelsi quickly got up to console their boyfriends as Gabriella stayed seated as she turned her attention to little kids playing with a soccer ball in the field next to the bleachers.
"I think you are taking the loss a lot harder than we are," said Troy, surprising Gabriella as he took a seat next to her. "I hope you don't mind my smelliness."
Gabriella let out a little laugh as she turned her attention back to Troy. "Very funny," she returned. "You do kind of smell though, sweat and dirt, I think."
Troy chuckled. "Always the honest and direct Gabriella. I can go move somewhere else if you want, I don't want to make your depressed mood any worse," he teased, hoping to get her to crack a smile. Troy saw the sadness in her eyes and hoped he wasn't the cause this time. 'Selfish as that may be, but I don't think I could stand to cause this girl any more pain.'
"It's okay, just a lot on my mind," replied Gabriella.
"Wanna talk about it? Friend to friend?" asked Troy, who was resisting the urge to wrap an arm around her.
"If it was anything else, I would in a heartbeat Troy, please understand that, but not with this, I can't talk to you about this thing," answered Gabriella, sadness deepening in her brown eyes.
Troy nodded his head in understanding. "Well, I've got an open ear reserved for one Gabriella Montez whenever she wants it," promised Troy. "Looks like you need to sort out some stuff so I'll take my smelly self over to the guys."
Gabriella gave him a small smile for his efforts before she got up and walked away on her own, not feeling up to being around all the laughter. She walked over to a bench a distance away that allowed her to continue watching the kids playing soccer and soon spotted Ryan approaching. Gabriella's stomach twisted even more as she saw that familiar caring look on his face that she had grown to cherish over the past months, especially the last close to two months they had been dating.
Ryan sat down next to Gabriella, knowing something big was going on in her little head. "All right, Gabriella, spill it," he said. "I know you are internalizing something and it's huge from the look on your face. And I can say that I know that something has been on your mind for at least a week, ever since you crashed the rehearsal. Is it your run in with Sharpay? I can talk to her and get her to back off if it is."
Gabriella shook her head as she felt the tears well up in her eyes at his sweetness. "Ryan, it's us," she started. "You have been the best boyfriend I could have ever asked for in these conditions. You understand my thinking and my emotions without me having to say a word and you were more than understanding with all my struggles with Troy and everything. I can't let you not have your happy relationship you deserve."
Ryan stared at Gabriella in confusion. "What are you talking about, Gabriella? I have my happy relationship with you."
"No you don't," contradicted Gabriella. "You deserve someone who makes you happy, who doesn't have the baggage and the issues that I do. Ryan, you deserve someone who will love you with all her heart. You mean so much to me and I care for you so much, but I have realized that I can't give you my entire being, a piece already is missing."
"Troy's piece," he murmured as pain entered his blue eyes. "Gabriella, I thought we worked through all this, I thought you were through this."
"I'm not and I can't omit that from you and this conversation because it is the truth. I tried Ryan, I really did. I tried to move on and I thought I had with you, but something has changed in the last couple of weeks. I care for you even more now than I ever have, but I know I am not being fair to you, especially because of Audrina being involved now," stated Gabriella. "I can tell you are attracted to her and I don't blame you for a second."
"Audrina? Gabriella, I'm involved in a relationship with you, not Audrina," replied Ryan. "I understand you are still getting through issues with Troy and I'm willing to wait."
"But that's just it, Ryan. It's not fair for you to have to wait. You deserve someone who will care for you and give you her entire being now, without the complications, without there being a doubt in your mind that you belong together. I know you have doubted in the past two months, Ryan. I've seen it but I've never said anything," answered Gabriella. "I just, Ryan, I care for you so much that I want to see you happy and I know, trust me I have thought about this a thousand times over this past week, I know you will be much happier with Audrina. I've seen you two together, you have real chemistry, yet you have been suppressing it be faithful and fair to me. That time is over, I release you to be with her."
Slowly, Ryan shook his head as he saw Gabriella had started sobbing, her body being overwhelmed by her tears. He gently took her into his arms and held her as he let a few tears slip from his own eyes. "Shh, Gabriella, please stop crying. Deep down, I understand what you just said and I agree, this is for the best, but it was great while it lasted. I truly and deeply care for you, Gabriella, and I don't want to lose you from my life. I know this is totally almost out of a play or something but I want us to be the best of friends if for every other reason we can't be what we are right now."
Gabriella pulled away slowly and wiped the tears away from her cheeks as she took in deep breaths. "I'd like that," admitted Gabriella. "I would like that a lot. Ryan, I hope you know I care for you more than I can even express. You have made me the happiest that I have been in months and I will forever be grateful for your part in pulling me out of my slump. I'll always think of you as my saving grace, Ryan Evans."
Ryan smiled down at her. "And I'll always think of you as my music angel. I'd like to think in an alternate universe, you and I are happily together, enjoying our blissful relationship," he said.
Gabriella returned his smile. "I agree, I'd like to think the same," she stated with a sigh. "Seriously, Ryan, if I was without these complications, I'd be the happiest girl with you by my side right now."
"You talk as if your old flame is a virus that's killing your body or something. He's not, you know. You just need to work things out," said Ryan.
"There you go again with the whole seeing through me thing. I hope, dearly, that you will be happy with Audrina, Ryan. You deserve the best. And you will always be my best friend no matter what happens. I'll treasure our memories from us being friends to us dating Ryan, but I look forward to making many more with my new best friend," replied Gabriella with a smile. "Need some tips on how to ask Audrina out?"
Ryan laughed. "Always the little matchmaker music angel. I appreciate the help coming from my best friend, but I don't think I can take it from my ex-girlfriend, not right now," he expressed with a more serious tone. "I think we understand each other, we obviously see the interest the other one has in someone else, Troy for you and Audrina for me, but we can't do a disservice to what we share and pretend it's okay to talk like this just after we broke up. I can't really handle that quite yet. I don't think you can either."
Gabriella shook her head. "No, I can't, not yet. Baby steps, right?"
"Baby steps it is. You want a ride home? I'm not really feeling like facing the gang right now," said Ryan.
"No, I'm okay. Heartbroken and sad but it's no one's doing. I'm going to walk home, I can use the time to think," replied Gabriella. "Be happy, okay? Promise me, Ryan."
"I will if you do," he returned. "And remember, alternate universe us is very happy right now."
Gabriella smiled at Ryan and nodded. They shared a long hug and one last kiss before they parted their separate ways. As Gabriella started her walk, her cell started to ring and she looked down to see Taylor's name. Reluctantly, she picked it up as she continued to walk away from the park.
"It's done," she said as she struggled to hold back her tears. "And it hurts, badly, Taylor."
"Do you want me to walk with you?" offered Taylor. "I can still catch up."
"No, you need to spend your time with your boyfriend and our friends. Cherish your relationship with Chad, okay? Do that for me please?" begged Gabriella as she wiped some tears away.
"I will. Take care of yourself Gab, please," responded Taylor.
"Will do, night," said Gabriella before she hung up the phone. She wrapped her arms around her body as she continued the walk home and finally allowed all the thoughts and emotions she had been suppressing out, free to let them go.