After everything that happened with Sharpay on Monday, two days later, Gabriella and Troy were both happy that she seemed to have fully understood everything as it stood. Sharpay had smiled and said hi to them but didn't push it further than that, giving both of them the time they needed to adjust to maybe Sharpay actually genuinely being nice.

Of course, hearing Ryan throw in his own thoughts earlier on in the day helped Gabriella feel like Sharpay was no longer a real threat.

Since Gabriella had finished her lunch already and there were still fifteen minutes left of the period, Ryan took the opportunity to talk to her about what happened two nights ago at the Evans' household.

Once seated on a bench outside, a good distance away from any other student, Ryan turned to Gabriella, who returned his gaze, wondering what he had to say. "So, Monday was certainly interesting. I got the video of my lovely twin and Troy having at it, there were a few clips being sent around, and have heard rumors about you actually apologizing to her. Did you really mean that?" asked Ryan.

Gabriella shrugged her shoulders a little. "I did because I do feel bad for her, Ryan. Sharpay got so obsessed with Troy and trying to make him hers that she lost most of her senior year to the task and still ended up without him. And after Troy spelled everything out to her, I couldn't be expected to kick her while she was down now, could I?"

"Actually, a number of people would have," commented Ryan. "But I know you and I know your heart wouldn't let you be so cruel, even to someone who would never have thought twice about doing that to you. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that after that afternoon here, Sharpay returned home as mortified as I have ever seen her. Like you, unable to pour acid on an open wound, I sat down with her and gave her a shoulder to cry on."

"But that is because you have such a big heart, I even told Sharpay that."

"I heard. So she starts talking to me about this video thing going around, which is why she was so upset to start, but she confessed that she was more upset about what a fool she had been this past year. Sharpay actually, genuinely, seemed distraught over the fact that after all the time and effort she put into her schemes, Troy wasn't hers at the end of the school year and that he in fact is madly in love with you, more so than before. What killed her is the fact that Troy gave her a taste of her own medicine and didn't show her any compassion as is part of his nature, just his true and honest feelings. I think I can say honestly that this last run in between Sharpay and Troy has really sunk in for her, aided by your little talk."

"I'm glad to hear that but what does this all mean in the grand scheme of things?"

"Well, I think it's the end of her ploys, at least in regards to you and Troy. Has she lost all feelings for him? No, Sharpay, as dramatic as she is, is human and can't shut down her feelings like that, but she has also realized that her obsession has been driven by not being able to have him more than anything else. Sharpay is just that type of girl, one who wants what she can't get."

"Right, you didn't need to tell me that. So in your own opinion you think I can breathe a little bit more easily now?"

Ryan nodded his head. "Yup, I think so. I wouldn't let your guard down 100 percent, but I think that Sharpay is going to try to make things right between her and you guys. In some ways, I think your kindness to her after what Troy did shocked her more into this train of thought than just having Troy telling her to get lost alone would have done. Sharpay is a good person somewhere down inside her, but she's been allowed to get everything she wants. I know I am guilty to catering to that as well but that's just it. Time will tell how sincere she truly is, but I wanted you to know, Gabriella, that your words did mean something to my twin and that you did force her to think about everything a little bit more than she has before. Hopefully, this time it will make a difference for Shar."

'Ryan is probably one of the best friends I could have ever found,' thought Gabriella as she finished buttoning up her dress shirt in the girl's bathroom. 'One of the few positive things that came out of this summer at Lava Springs.'

Gabriella looked herself in the mirror as she reapplied some of the light makeup she was wearing and nodded her head, satisfied that she achieved her goal of looking a little bit more mature than just the average East High teenage girl. She gathered her stuff, including the jeans and top she wore to school earlier, and left the bathroom, heading towards her locker. When Gabriella opened her locker, she smiled at the picture of her and Troy from the pier that Taylor took. Gabriella had placed it just above the collage of friend pictures she had made at the end of last summer, the one that was void of any signs of Troy. 'Funny how things work out.'

Down the hall, Troy caught the dreamy look on Gabriella's face and smiled, seeing that she was evidently staring at the picture of them kissing. He had an identical copy in his locker now too, courtesy of Gabriella's best friend. Troy also took in how dressed up she looked in the simple yet dressy white shirt and black skirt with heels. 'That's right, tonight is the MIT alumni dinner she mentioned earlier this week.'

Troy sauntered over to her locker and gently kissed her exposed neck, grinning as she turned around and kissed him softly on the lips. "Hello," she greeted, kissing him one more time before she went back to pulling out what she needed and putting it in her bag, making sure to pull out the small clutch she brought for the night. "What are you still doing around?"

"Well, since I can't play golf with the back and all, I thought I'd watch the baseball team practice a little," replied Troy. "Is your Mom coming to pick you up?"

Gabriella closed her locker and shook her head. "No, actually the person I met at the social a few weeks ago is picking me up. Why don't you come with me and meet him? I think he'll be here soon."

"Him?" asked Troy. "You didn't tell me this person was a guy."

She rolled her eyes at him before she took his hand in hers. "Come on, Troy, I don't want to be late."

Troy allowed Gabriella to lead him towards the front of the school where he saw a sleek looking BMW waiting already. As they got closer, Gabriella recognized Rob sitting in the seat and waved, sending Troy's stomach for a loop. Troy watched as the guy Gabriella obviously knew got out of his sporty little car and smiled at Troy's girlfriend, who returned that smile.

The guy walked around the car and stopped a short distance from the two. "Hi, I'm Rob," greeted the green-eyed guy.

Troy felt a nudge at his side and realized he had just been staring at the guy. "Troy, nice to meet you."

The two shook hands while each silently checked the other out. Gabriella cleared her throat, not really enjoying this tense moment. "Well, I guess we should be going, Rob. The dinner is on the other side of town."

Rob nodded his head and offered her his left hand. "Why don't you give me your book bag? I'll put it in the trunk so you aren't so squished in the front."

"Sure, thanks," replied Gabriella as she slipped it off and handed it over to him. For the first time since Rob came over, she looked over at Troy, who had unconsciously started gripping her right hand a little tighter since the appearance of the other guy. "Troy, you okay?"

Troy turned his gaze from Rob at the car and looked down at the caring girl by his side. "I'm fine. I guess I have to let your hand go, huh?"

"Might help," returned Gabriella with a small giggle. "Have fun with the guys and don't forget to finish that lab that's due tomorrow. If you have any trouble, call me or text me and I'll be right over after the dinner, all right?"

Troy nodded his head and gave in to his urge to bring Gabriella into his embrace, kissing her one last time before letting her go, his gaze locking with Rob's for a moment over Gabriella's head. "Have a good time with your future college's alumni and don't worry, that lab will get done tonight, promise."

"Good," said Gabriella with a smile.

He watched as Gabriella left his side and smiled at Rob, who had opened the passenger's side door for her and closed it softly once she was in. Without giving Troy another look, Rob went back around to the driver's side and started the car, taking off shortly after, Gabriella having waved before she disappeared from Troy's sight with another guy.

Troy wandered back through the halls of East High and walked across the field to the baseball diamond. He took a seat on the bleachers and watched as his friends, specifically Chad and Ryan, worked out with their team while he thought of what just happened. The unmerciful hand of jealousy wrapped around his heart as he recalled the way Rob smiled at Gabriella and the way he checked her out when he thought she wasn't looking at him. 'I can't blame him for that, she did look beautiful in that outfit.'

As the time passed, Troy tried his best to push aside these thoughts that were troubling him and tried to focus more on the mock game the guys were playing down on the field. He watched as Ryan took a nice pitch Chad had just thrown and hit it way deep in the outfield, where the right fielder wasn't exactly paying attention. Ryan took advantage of this and dug in, making it to third base before the ball even got into the infield.

After a few innings had been played, the coach called the end of practice. The guys all gathered up their stuff while Chad and Ryan both grabbed their bags and headed over to join Troy on the bleachers. "Hey man, thanks for coming out to watch us practice," greeted Chad.

"No sweat," replied Troy. "Although, I have to say, Ryan really took advantage of that fastball you threw at him."

Ryan chuckled. "Hey, I had to teach this boy a lesson, testing me out with that pitch. As if I would back off of it when it was gifted to me."

"Shut up, Evans," replied Chad with a smile. "So, what's on your mind, dude?"

Troy looked over at Chad with a surprised look on his face. "Nothing, just came out to see how you two play in a different arena, different team. I've never really watched you guys play baseball before, especially you, Ryan."

"That's a great story, Troy, and we appreciate that you're here and supporting us even at a practice as a good friend does, but I'm curious why you had such an intense look on your face earlier on, when you first came," returned Ryan.

Troy just shook his head. "You two need to stop reading into things so much, honestly."

"So nothing is bothering you, huh?" pushed Chad. "Not even the lab that I know you have been pushing off and promising Gabriella that you'd finish before it's due?"

Ryan noticed the quick flicker of pain that crossed Troy's face at the mention of his girlfriend. "Okay, so it is Gabriella. What happened?"

"Gabriella and I are fine, I don't know what you are talking about," stated Troy, refusing to look Ryan in the eye.

"That's total bull crap and you know it, Troy. Seriously, what happened between the two of you?" questioned Ryan.

"That's just it, nothing. Look, Gabriella had some MIT alumni dinner thing and I walked her out to the front of the school. In the process of this, I met this guy she met at the social a few weeks back and it looks like this Rob guy is going to MIT with her. Just seeing the way he looked at her, it's got me nervous, all right? Nothing has happened though, at least that I know of," said Troy.

"Did she act any differently when he was around?" asked Chad.

"No, she still kissed me and hugged me and didn't let go of my hand until they left," he recalled.

"Then why are you worried?"

"Because Rob is going to be there come August when I'm not, okay? When I'm so far away from Gabriella that she just might forget me," confessed Troy.

Ryan gently placed a comforting hand on Troy's right shoulder. "Trust me, Troy, Gabriella is not going to forget about you and I can say that with all confidence because if anybody knows this, I do. Gabriella loves you so much, she'd battle anything to be with you."

"Yeah," agreed Chad. "Ryan has a good point. Just as you fought to win her back at the start of senior year and then to keep yourselves together over the last few months of schemes and stress, Gabriella has been by your side, helping you get to where you are today together. I don't think you have anything to worry about, Troy."

Troy reluctantly nodded his head in agreement. "I guess you're right, but then why do I have this real sense of dread and jealousy?"

"Because you just saw your girlfriend drive off in a car with another guy. It's a bit natural I think to feel a little weird about it. I know I would if I saw Taylor drive off with some guy. Where does this guy go to school? East High student we don't know?"

"No, I saw a West High sticker on his window."

"Eww, a West High Knight? Well that says it all. There's no way Gabriella would abandon her star Wildcat for some losing, stinky Knight."

Troy and Ryan both laughed at their friend. "God Chad, what am I going to do without you and your jokes when a whole country separates us?" asked Troy.

"Die of boredom?" offered Chad with a smile. "Don't worry, bud, we'll keep in touch. My jokes work just as well over the phone, or so my grandma tells me."

"Do you believe her when she also tells you that you are special?" teased Ryan.

"Ouch! Man, Ryan must be super comfortable with you now, Chad, he's digging in pretty well. I couldn't have said that better myself," replied Troy.

"Hey, at least I'm not a sappy wimp that is whipped by my girlfriend," defended Chad. "Oh yes, you two are just sickening to watch, cooing over Gabriella and Audrina, smiling oh so goofily when they are around. It's sick I tell you, sick!"

Troy and Ryan got that look in their eyes and exchanged a look before they got up together and started chasing Chad down the bleachers and across the field, none of the three stopping until Chad made it to his car and locked himself inside.

"Chicken!" taunted Troy with a laugh as Chad stuck his tongue out at the two from the other side of the window.

After a few moments of trying to coax Chad back out of the car, Ryan and Troy gave up and said good-bye as they parted ways to their own cars. Troy jumped into his blue truck and just shook his head as he saw that Chad was still eyeing him from the car. Seeing that Troy wasn't going to do anything further, Chad waved as he finally started his car and drove off, leaving a chuckling Troy behind. 'God, he never does change.'

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