A/N: Really read the lyrics. They really show what is going on.

Spoken:
Let me tell you why I love him

Troy Bolton. Gabriela's boyfriend. Yup. He was taken. Troy the basketball boy. I mean, they belong together, right? She's my best friend and she deserves him, right? Oh, I wouldn't know. Yes, I may talk a lot of trash about how Troy is a lunkhead basketball man, but that's just how I hide my feelings. I sound like a kid, a person who is mean or rude to another kid that they actually like. Okay, I admit it. I, Taylor McKessie, am in love with Troy Bolton. And love is a strong word.

Chorus:
Cause he is the truth
Said he is so real
And I love the way that he makes me feel
And if I am a reflection of him then I must be fly cause
his light it shines so bright I wouldn't lie

I talked to Troy yesterday. It was Gabriela and his' anniversary. A whole month. A whole month I had to hide my feelings for my best friend's boyfriend. Of course, added to well, all the years I've known him. And that's about, what, 16? Yup...well, 13 since it started when we actually first met in pre-school. Did I ever tell you he was my best friend? Well, he was. For 7 years. But once we started 5th grade, boys teased him for being best friends with a girl. That's probably why I make fun of him. But no matter how hard I may try to hate him for leaving me with no friends for many years, I still love him. I can't that's when he met Chad. And by the way, I am dating Chad. I do like him, but not love him like Troy. But, he's the next best thing and I have absolutely no chance with Troy. So back to when he talked to me. I haven't talked to Troy, alone I might add, for 6 years. But he asked me for help. He wanted me to help him plan their anniversary. Inside, I was screaming in pain and sobbing, wondering why the only time he would talk to me is to help him plan a date for his girlfriend, a perfect date. But of course, I couldn't let him see that. So on the outside, I said the only thing that would cover up my sadness. In agony, I said 'yes'. Of course, I sounded pleased and happy that he came to me. As though I thought that it was the sweetest thing. Of course, going to your girlfriend's best friend for help with your anninversary, the best friend that knows everything about you, is sweet. Just not in my case.

Verse 1:
I remember the very first day that I saw him
I found myself immediately intrigued by him
Its almost like I knew this man from another life
Like back then maybe I was his husband and maybe he was my wife
And even, the things I don't like about him are fine with me
Because its not hard for me to understand him because he's so much like me
And its truly my pleasure to share his company
And I know that it's God's gift to breathe the air he breathes

Repeat Chorus
Cause he is the truth
Said he is so real
And I love the way that he makes me feel
And if I am a reflection of him then I must be fly cause
his light it shines so bright I wouldn't lie

Just so you know, there were signs that showed we were once best friends. Ever notice the 'triple win' day. Well, that's what it's known of now at East High. See how when we were throwing the basketballs at eachother. I threw them the most at Troy mainly and he got closer with his arms open trying to block them yet looking like he was going to try to hug the rest of the ball close to me so that way I can stop throwing them. Well, it happened. There were signs. And why else wouldn't I want Gabriela to audition with Troy for the musical? I mean, Gabriela really wouldn't have been distracted by it. But I knew they would fall in love possibly if they did do the play. I mean, anybody would. Sharpay and Ryan would if Ryan wasn't a person who irritated Sharpay with his..tiny brain...and if they weren't related. Anyways, I was right. They did fall for eachother because of the auditions. But once I showed Gabriela the real Troy, the one who ditched me and made me cry more than Gabriela because he was with 'the guys', who made me cry more because not only had I known him for 7 years, but he was my best and only friend for 7 years. I saw the tears in her eyes and reminded me of my own. I had to tell her. If she cried after only knowing him for about a week or two, they must really be into one another. I knew I loved Troy, probably more than anyone else, butI knew that I wouldn't get him. My best friend deserved him.

Verse 2:
How can the same man that makes me so mad
-do you know what he did-spoken
Turn right around and kiss me so soft
-girl do you know what he did-spoken
If he ever left me, I wouldn't even be sad, no
Cause there's a blessing in every lesson
And I'm glad that I knew him at all

Okay. So he kissed me. It was on the cheek, a thank you kiss. A good-bye kiss. He was thanking me for helping make this the best anniversary gift anyone could give. So, I guess that was the best way to lose him. To my best friend. She deserved him the most. It's much better to losing him to a girl who would break his heart and know I wouldn't be able to put back the pieces, or to not have known him at all. As they say, 'It's better to have loved and lose then to never have loved at all.'

Repeat Chorus
Cause he is the truth
Said he is so real
And I love the way that he makes me feel
And if I am a reflection of him then I must be fly cause
his light it shines so bright I wouldn't lie

I love the way he speaks
I love the way he thinks
I love the way he treats his mama
I love that gap in between his teeth
I love him in every way that a woman can love a man from personal to universal but most of all its unconditional

So I'm basically screwed. I do love Troy, and will never stop loving him. And guess what Gabriela told me. That this year, Troy had a crush on me. He wanted to be my best friend again, and maybe even more. So that's just the cherry on top of my life. He didn't ask me out though because when he was going to, before Winter break, he couldn't work up the courage to. So he was going to for sure after Winter break but then he met Gabriela. Now he thinks they weren't meant to date. UGH! So I do the only thing I can do.

-you know what I'm talking about-spoken
Thats the way I feel
-and I always will-spoken

There ain't no substitute for the truth
either it is or isnt
cause he is the truth
you see the truth it, needs no proof
either it is or it isnt
Cause he is the truth
Now you know the truth by the way it feels
and if I am a reflection of him then I must be fly
cause he is yes he is
I wonder does he know echoes

I saw Troy today, in the gym. Gabriela wasn't there, but was at her house studying for the Decathalon. I should be, too, but I had to let my feelings out. Troy was alone, in his basketball uniform, and was shooting hoops. I went up to him.
"So, what are you doing here all alone?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"Oh, well, I was just thinking," he said with a grin plastered on his face, as if he suddenly felt exuberant.
"Oh, well, mind if I join you," I said sitting on the floor indian style next to him. He was already sitting.
"Of course not," he said.
We sat and talked for a while about the memories. He told me that he liked me, and he still did, but he was embarrassed to say that no matter what, he'd still like me. Love me, actually. So right then and there, with no one around, I kissed him. It was filled with passion, the love that I felt for him all of these years, and he returned the kiss. After about 2 minutes, we broke apart for air. I smiled to him and he smiled back. I know, we both are in a relationship and they're our best friend, but ithad to be knew that after all of our waiting, this was the perfect way to say goodbye, so we can return to our respective relationships.
"Goodbye Troy," I said giving him a kiss on the forehead. He returned the kiss, on my forehead and said the words that finalized it all.
"Goodbye."
An even better way to say 'good-bye'. He knows, and I know now, too.