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Taylor approached Gabriella as she sat at her desk and took the seat next to her. "So I was thinking, since our victory at regional last week came so easily, we should toughen up the review session with the scholastic decathlon team tonight. Like we need to make sure no one thinks state is going to be like that," stated Taylor as Gabriella turned her attention to her best friend from the book she was reading.
"I know, I was a little surprised the other school wasn't prepared better last week. In no way though can we expect that from the schools at state, but Taylor, it is only the first week of February," replied Gabriella.
Taylor let out an impatient sigh. "I know, Gabriella, but if we put this off any longer, the end of February will be here and we still won't have gotten our team together to the degree that we need them to be to win state and go to nationals."
Gabriella put her hands on Taylor's shoulders and smiled. "Taylor, calm down. I am in it for the win this year like you are, but you need to relax a little. I agree, we should up it but don't jump on the team like you just did to me. There's no other way to freak them out like doing what you just did. I am your best friend and I think that I just stressed over a competition that is a month away. Thank God you didn't do this about finals."
Taylor stared at Gabriella for a moment longer before she laughed at herself as she realized how much of a basket case she was at the moment. "All right, all right. I get the point. Calm leader I shall be this afternoon at the meeting. What time is your on campus interview with U of A?"
"Before the scholastic decathlon meeting. I know other people on the team have interviews now with U of A and that's why we made it in the evening. Still, at least the juniors and sophomores seemed to have understood, which is good," replied Gabriella.
"Well they should. This is going to be their life in a couple of years or so," stated Taylor. "Mine is in twenty minutes. Speaking of, I better go and get my stuff together. Oh good, Audrina is here to sub in for me for the next session. I'll see you at the decathlon meeting!"
Gabriella waved good-bye to her best friend as Taylor ran out of the library before she turned her attention to Audrina, who took the seat that Taylor had been sitting in previously.
"Nervous about the interview?" asked Audrina as she smiled at her close friend. "I think Ryan's is tomorrow."
"A bit," admitted Gabriella, "but I find myself a lot more nervous about the campus visits and interviews Taylor and I have scheduled back in the New England area next weekend. Those, well those are the ones that I really am after. Today is kind of like a warm up, not to say anything bad about the University of Albuquerque."
Audrina nodded. "It just isn't your dream school, that's understandable. In my opinion, I think you're destined for the East Coast in one of those smartie schools."
"Haha," got out Gabriella. "I wouldn't say that myself but I could see you there in a year and a half. Or are you going to go Broadway on me?"
Audrina laughed at this. "No, as much fun as that is for me, it's not what I want to do for the rest of my life. Ryan is definitely on that track though."
"Speaking of, I know Ryan has been deliriously happy lately. And I think you have too, but you haven't said much. How's that going?" asked Gabriella.
"Amazing," replied Audrina. "He's just so sweet and a lot more complex than I think most of the students at East High would give him credit for. Then again, I don't need to tell you that."
"True, but it's nice to hear that someone else appreciates the real Ryan Evans like I do. Before this year, he was right when he said that everyone thought of him as Sharpay's poodle. He was living in her shadow but now, I think now he has earned quite a bit of respect from at least our gang," commented Gabriella. "Ryan is definitely one of the best people I've met so far in my seventeen years of life."
"And that list of best people is led by someone rather romantic that is coming through those doors over there," mused Audrina as she saw Troy coming in. "Or at least near the top. I better get to the student I'm helping, bye!"
Gabriella was confused by Audrina's sudden disappearance until she spotted Troy as he walked towards her with a bouquet of yellow roses in his hands. She stood up and grinned at him as he stopped at the table and presented them to her. Gabriella sniffed them before she leaned up and kissed him quickly. "Thanks, Troy, these are so beautiful. What's the special occasion?"
"This," stated Troy as he handed Gabriella his report card that he just printed out from the online system. "One of my teachers was really sick so he took extra long in posting, but this is the official report card from last semester. Proud of me?"
"More than proud!" exclaimed Gabriella as she took in the grades that totaled to be over 3.5 for the semester. She put the flowers down, along with the paper, and threw her arms around Troy's neck and kissed him soundly.
Troy chuckled as they pulled away from the kiss but kept their arms around each other. "I should be thanking you though, that's what the flowers are for. A gesture from me to you for helping me out so much last semester and again this semester. Those are the best grades I have ever gotten, Gabriella, and I owe a lot of it to you!"
Gabriella grinned more as she stared up into his eyes. "No, you were the one that retained all the information and studied on your own and took those tests. You deserve the credit, I was merely an instrument to help get you to realize your scholastic potential."
Troy only shook his head at Gabriella's modesty. "You never cease to amaze me with your shyness about your gifts. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the roses."
"Oh, I definitely will. It'll be hard to not smile from ear to ear during my interview with the University of Albuquerque recruiter," stated Gabriella. "How was your interview?"
Troy reluctantly let Gabriella go as they took their normal seats in the library and said, "It went well. They seemed really impressed with me, both the academic and the athletic side. Mr. Evans, I think, has spread a very positive word about me throughout the U of A system to which I am very grateful for."
"That's really nice of him considering," replied Gabriella.
"I know. Wait, what time is your interview?" questioned Troy.
"In a little over an hour, why?" asked Gabriella.
"We better get started then. I don't want you being late and I also have the game tonight. Are you going to make it?" queried Troy.
Gabriella thought about her afternoon and evening schedule before she nodded. "Well at least some part of it in the end. I have to go to the interview and then the scholastic decathlon meeting. Taylor is all geared up to kill at state in order to get us to nationals so I don't know how long that is going to run."
Troy nodded his head. "Well they are good reasons so I guess I'll excuse you this time," teased Troy before he received a glare from his girlfriend.
"Gee, thanks," said Gabriella. "All right, so it's math again today, right?"
Troy nodded his head as he pulled out his book and notebook and got his mind focused on studying.
Gabriella and Taylor sneaked into the East High gymnasium and ended up standing along the wall to catch the last ten minutes of the game. Both girls were feeling pumped for the state round of the Scholastic Decathlon competition and the rest of the team seemed to be just as motivated to do well too. The two girls watched as Jason was fouled and a ref blew a whistle to organize the free throws Jason was awarded.
"So, how was the interview?" asked Taylor after she saw Jason make his first shot.
"Good. It was informative," replied Gabriella. "Yours?"
"Interesting. I think it would be a good option for a college for all of us if we wanted to stay together for college and local," stated Taylor.
"That's true. We could all just stay here, but I don't think that's going to happen. I know for one that Ryan is looking at NYU so he can work on Broadway at the same time and Kelsi has her heart set out on one of the two music schools she is applying to on the East Coast. That's already two people for sure," returned Gabriella after she saw Jason sink in the last shot. "Plus there is you and me."
"I guess next week will decide if we go that far away, to the East Coast," said Taylor. "I can't believe that time has come already, that's incredible."
"Senior year is passing us by quickly," admitted Gabriella. "Makes you want to take that much better care of our time here together, huh?"
Taylor nodded her agreement as they both cheered for the Wildcats as Charles completed a flawless layup.
The game ended a few minutes after with the Wildcats with a huge lead over their opponents. They shook the hands of their opponents and took off for the locker room before they reemerged twenty minutes later. In the meantime, Gabriella and Taylor had found Kelsi, Audrina, and Martha, who were sitting in the stands as the crowds thinned out. The five sat together and chatted amongst themselves until they saw the guys.
Gabriella stood to call over Troy but stopped as she watched her boyfriend walk over directly to Mr. Evans and shake his hand. Of course, Sharpay was right there and made sure to drape herself over Troy as the two men talked. Gabriella jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked over to see it was Taylor, who had just seen the same thing. Audrina had also stood up and stood next to Gabriella, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze as the three watched without any power to do anything.
Chad, Ryan, Zeke, Charles, and Jason had started to walk over to the bleachers to join the girls but stopped as they saw Taylor and Audrina staring at something across the gym, along with Gabriella who had a pained look on her face. Ryan shook his head and headed over to his dad, twin, and Troy while the other four continued their journey towards the girls.
"I think that your prospects at University of Albuquerque are looking brighter each time I see you, Troy," commented Mr. Evans. "Great game out there. You and your friends play your hearts out, I can see that now."
"Isn't Troy just terrific, Daddy?" asked Sharpay as she leaned a little more onto Troy's shoulder.
Troy just blushed at this but was inwardly wondering how he could get Sharpay off of him without seeming rude in front of her father. "Thank you, sir," he replied while he ignored Sharpay's compliment. "I have to thank you again for all your help and encouragement since this summer."
"Hey Dad, sis, Troy. How'd you like the game, Dad?" asked Ryan as he finally made it over to the three. Sharpay gave him a dirty look, which Ryan ignored.
"You are a greater athlete than I gave you credit for, son," complimented Mr. Evans. "I never saw you in that light before, only in the theater sense. I'm glad to see you have even more dimension than I thought."
"Well I think Troy did the best out of the team," purred Sharpay. "He always does the best."
Ryan gave Troy a warning look but Troy didn't understand the meaning before he felt Sharpay throw her arms around Troy's shoulder sideways and kissed his cheek.
Mr. Evans chuckled and shook his head at the scene. "Well then, I just wanted to say my congratulations to you both, Troy and Ryan. I look forward to watching you both play in a few more games before the end of the season. All right Sharpay, if you want a ride home with me we need to get going, sweetheart. I have an online meeting I need to get home for. Ryan, I'll see you at home, son."
Ryan nodded his head as Mr. Evans shook Troy's hand again before he started his departure from the gym. Sharpay reluctantly looked at her departing father and then back at Troy. She kissed him one last time on the cheek and ran off to join her father. Sharpay smirked as she saw a confused Gabriella surrounded by her friends and realized her steps felt much lighter all of a sudden. 'Don't you worry, Gabriella. There is a whole lot more from where that came from,' thought Sharpay as she caught up with her father and joined him in the chauffeured car. 'I let you fall into a false sense of security for a little while, but it was only to get you to be too comfortable with Troy before I took it all away again, which makes it even more sweeter.'
Back inside the gym, Taylor and Audrina, along with the rest of the gang were worried about Gabriella, who still hadn't said anything. After Mr. Evans left, Gabriella watched as Sharpay kissed Troy's cheek for the second time, leaving her lipstick imprint there, and walked out but not before throwing Gabriella a look of victory. Gabriella slowly shook her head and willed herself to be stronger than the tears that threatened to fall.
Chad was the first to see it and reached out to Gabriella and took her free hand in his. "Gabriella, look at me," said Chad. When he noticed she was staring at where Sharpay was, Chad reached up a hand and used it to turn her face towards him. "Gabriella, listen to me. She's not worth those tears that you so want to let out now. You know you are so much better than her."
Gabriella blinked rapidly and managed to nod her head. "I know she's playing, but it doesn't hurt any less, Chad," she said with a sigh. "Can you just tell Troy…"
"Tell Troy what?" asked Troy as he and Ryan joined the group.
"Nothing," replied Gabriella as she broke away from everyone's grasp and stormed down the bleachers and past Troy. Pain gave way to anger in that second as she passed by Troy and continued to walk out of the gym.
Troy stared at where Gabriella had walked through the doors of the gym and then back at his friends who were throwing him dirty looks. "What?"
Chad rolled his eyes. "Go after her you idiot before you lose her again! She's hurt, even I could tell that," stated Chad.
Troy just nodded his head as he ran out of the gym and found Gabriella crying as she leaned against Taylor's parked car. He slowed as he approached Gabriella and stood in front of her. After he watched a few sobs go through her body, Troy couldn't stand not touching her any longer. Troy stepped towards her and started to try to put his arms around his girlfriend, but Gabriella jerked away.
"Just don't, don't touch me, Troy," cried Gabriella as she finally looked up at him.
Troy felt his heart break as he saw the tear tracks on her face and the new tears coming in her brown eyes. "Gabriella, just talk to me then, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? WHAT'S WRONG?" raged Gabriella. "You and Sharpay, that's what's wrong!"
Gabriella started to walk away but Troy was quicker and grabbed her arm. "What is this about?" he asked as he stepped in front of her again.
"You talking to Mr. Evans I can handle," got out Gabriella. "You standing there while Sharpay drapes herself all over you I can't. It still hurts too much, Troy. Those memories of the summer, they may be pushed aside but they aren't gone. How can you tell me you love me and then have her treat you so carelessly?"
"Is that what this is about? Gabriella, tell me, how was I supposed to get Sharpay off of me while her dad was right there without being a jerk? I was racking my brain to figure a way to do that but I couldn't find one while I was standing there with Mr. Evans," replied Troy. "You're being unfair, Gabriella."
"Me? I'm the one being unfair? Troy, how many times are you going to let Sharpay come between us before you realize it's too late?" returned Gabriella. "I'm not going to be here forever, the interview with U of A today is proof of that."
"What do you mean?" questioned Troy. "Did you not do well at the interview or something?"
"I did, but I also realized that's not where I want to be for the next four years of my life. If U of A is your choice, then I already know we're not going to make it. You have said it plenty of times in the past that you aren't a fan of long distance, Troy," remarked Gabriella. "Maybe I should just let you go now, let you be with Sharpay. She'll be at U of A waiting for you, I know that now."
Troy studied Gabriella's face and saw all the pain and the anger and the sadness that he used to see months ago back. Tired of fighting with her over this already, Troy decided to use a different approach. In a much softer voice, Troy asked, "Is that really what you want, Gabriella? To end us before we even had the chance to begin?"
Gabriella felt her anger drain at his change of tone and looked back at him. "We have begun and ended because of Sharpay, and it looks like we are just repeating that stupid cycle. I'm tired of having my heart broken, Troy," replied Gabriella. "Especially when it is being done by you, for her."
"I'm never going to prove to you for good that you are the only one for me, am I?" questioned Troy with sadness in his voice. 'She really is never going to forget the past, as much as she seems to forgive.'
"Only time will prove that and every time I think that I know what's in your heart, she comes into the picture and you react to her the way she wants you to and it starts from square one again," explained Gabriella. "Look, Troy, I meant it when I told you I love you all those times, I meant the passion in every kiss we have ever shared, and I think I mean it now when I tell you that I just don't know about our future anymore."
Troy closed his eyes and tried to fight the heartache in his own heart at these words. "Gabriella, please, we have to fight for us. I've change a whole lot from this summer, and I did it for me but also for you. Remember that conversation we had a couple of months ago, when I said I had my eye on the prize? That prize is you, Gabriella. It's always been you, not a scholarship and definitely not Sharpay Evans. Only you."
Gabriella stared back at Troy and felt herself melt a little as he gently placed his hand on the side of her face. She felt herself tilt her head into his palm and enjoyed the sensation it gave her. "I wish it was that easy for me to just believe you, Troy."
"Then let me prove it to you. Give me that time you said I would need. Don't end things now, Gabriella, please," begged Troy.
She looked at him and felt hope re-bloom in her heart as Gabriella realized how sincere Troy was with his plea. 'I can't just walk away from this,' she realized in her mind. 'It wouldn't be fair to him or to me, or rather to us.'
After a few moments filled with the two looking at each other, Gabriella nodded her head. "Please, Troy, be gentle with my heart. I don't know how much more pain I can take," murmured Gabriella before she felt Troy's arm encircle her tightly.
Troy pulled Gabriella into him even tighter and laid his head on top of hers after he lightly kissed it. "I'll guard it with my life, Gabriella, and never let you go."