Chapter 1: Gabi's Gone
This is the first chapter to the sequel to "Should've Said No". I recently rewrote that oneshot and am fixing the chapters of this story. If you haven't read that story yet you probably should do so before reading this to avoid spoilers and confusion.
The days after Gabriella left for Stanford were dull and boring. School wasn't the same without her, the gang wasn't the same without her. Troy didn't show up for school the Monday, and Tuesday after Gabriella left. Not because she left but because they had broken up and he didn't want to face her. When he finally showed up on Wednesday something was off. There wasn't that usual cheerful hustle and bustle and he decided to confront the one person who was sure to know what was up. Taylor.
"Tay. What's up with everyone today? It's like someone died." Troy asked confusion laced in his voice.
"No one died, but someone did leave." Taylor says avoiding Troy's gaze
"Who?" Troy asks before realizing. "Gabriella." Taylor nods her head sadly.
"She went to Stanford didn't she?" Troy asks sadly
"Yeah, she left on Saturday." Taylor replies
"Why didn't she tell me? Why didn't anyone tell me?" Troy asks hurt and confused.
"She made everyone promise not to say anything to you until she was gone. Gabi didn't want you showing up at the airport to stop her from leaving. She won't admit it but she does still love you and if you asked her to stay she would have. The night of the party, Gabi was going to ask you your opinion about Stanford and your answer was going to dictate her decision. She was hoping you would tell her to stay." Taylor answers sullenly.
"Damn. I really fucked up didn't I?" Troy asked
"Yeah, but Gabi is a very forgiving person. She'll come around eventually, you just need to give her some time." Taylor reassured her friend
"I sure hope your right. I'll catch you later Tay." Troy said before walking away.
The Next Day…
The week had flown by to Gabriella's surprise. She found herself loving college and the change of scenery even though it had been taking her a while to get settled into her Dorm. She was thankful to have clicked so instantly with her roommate Rebecca who had showed up two weeks prior.
"Hey Becca, I'm back." Gabriella said as she entered her dorm to find her friend sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal.
"Hey, Gab." Rebecca replied with a smile.
Just then Gabriella's phone began to ring so she excused herself and went into her room to answer it noticing that it was Taylor who was phoning her.
"Tay!" Gabriella exclaimed
"Gab!" Taylor replied just as enthusiastically as her best friend.
"What's new? I miss you and everyone so much." Gabriella asked
"We all miss you too, so much." Taylor says. "I told Troy you left. He was hurt but he understood. That boy loves you so much and would wait until the end of time to be with you again."
"I know, I just need more time to cope. I feel bad for the way I treated Shar. It wasn't her fault and I took it out on her. I hope she can forgive me." Gabriella says
"She will, Shar just wants you to be okay first." Taylor tells her friend
"Well other than that what's going on in Albuquerque?" Gabriella asks changing the subject.
"All of the toilets in one of the girls bathrooms and 2 in the one boys got so backed up they overflowed so the school is closed until next Thursday." Taylor informs her friend.
"Gross." Gabriella says with a shudder.
"Yeah, the boys' bathroom on the first floor would have been cleared out by the weekend but the girls' bathroom was on the third floor so it's gonna take a little more time. There's a chance that the school could be closed past next Thursday." Taylor replies
"OMG! I just had the best idea." Gabriella exclaims
"What?" Taylor asks with a laugh
"You should totally come up and visit me for the week. I can show you around campus and we can explore together." Gabriella says
"I would love to, I'll ask my mom when she gets home but I'm sure she'll say yes." Taylor says excited about the prospect of seeing her best friend despite the fact that Gabriella has only been gone for 5 days.
They talk for a few more minutes before saying their goodbyes and hanging up. As Taylor hangs up the phone Sharpay enters her bedroom.
"Who was that on the phone Tay?" Sharpay asks
"It was Gabi. She asked me to come visit her at Stanford while East High is closed. You should come with me." Taylor says to her friend as Sharpay sits next to her on the bed.
"I don't know if that would be a good idea. Gabi is still mad at me and I don't want to make things awkward." Sharpay says with a slight frown.
"Gab says she feels bad for the way she reacted towards you. I think it would be good for both of you if you come along with me. Please." Taylor pleads to her best friend
"Oh, why not. I could use a vacation." Sharpay says breaking out in a smile.
Taylor asks her mom if she can go to California and her mom agrees. After getting the okay from the boss, Taylor sends a text to Gabriella letting her know that she'll be there tomorrow intentionally leaving out the fact that Sharpay is tagging along. Sharpay looks at the flights and the earliest she can find is at 8 in the morning so she books two tickets while Taylor packs a bag for the trip. When Taylor is ready they head to Sharpay's so she can pack and decide to just have a sleepover.
Back at Gabriella's Dorm…
"Hey Becca, got any plans for the weekend?" Gabriella asks her friend as she walks into the living room to find Rebecca sitting on the couch typing on her laptop.
"Yeah actually, I'm flying home to Washington for a few days to visit my family. Why?" Rebecca replies with a smile as she stops her work to look up at her friend.
"Oh, cool. I was just asking because my friend Taylor from home has a break from school and is coming up to visit until next Thursday." Gabriella says
"I'd love to meet her, from what you told me she sounds great." Rebecca replies
"She is. When are you coming back?" Gabriella asks
"I leave tomorrow and I come back on Tuesday. Maybe we can go see a movie and get some ice cream." Rebecca suggests
"That sounds great. I'll let Tay know, she really wants to meet you too." Gabriella says with a smile. "I'll let you get back to work." She says with a smile as she heads back into her room to look for places for her and Taylor to explore.
Friday at the Airport…
"I texted Gabi and told her that we'll be in around 10:30 and she said she'll be at the airport to get us." Taylor says to her eager, blond friend.
"Alright." Sharpay replies with a smile.
"Flight 211 to Silicon Valley now boarding." The voice on the loudspeaker announced.
"That's us." Taylor said
On The Plane…
"I'm so excited. I can't wait to see Gabi." Sharpay says excitedly
"I know. Me too." Taylor replies with a smile.
2 hours and 20 minutes later…
The plane lands and Taylor and Sharpay make their way off the plane and over to baggage claim to find Gabriella standing there with a sign that says "TAYLOR" on it. Taylor walks up to Gabriella with a huge smile on her face and Sharpay trails behind a little. Upon seeing her best friend, Gabriella drops the sign and pulls Taylor in for a tight hug. When they pull back Gabriella sees Sharpay standing off to the side.
"Hey Shar." Gabriella says with a polite smile as she pulls Sharpay in for a friendly hug.
"Hi Gab." Sharpay says as she hesitantly returns the hug.
"Okay, well let's get your bags and head back to my dorm. My roommate Rebecca is out of town for the next couple days so you won't get to meet her until Tuesday." Gabriella says as they all head over to baggage claim to pick up their bags.
Things are a little tense between the girls as they head out to grab breakfast before going to Gabriella's dorm. They decide on a little café that is walking distance from the dorms on Stanford's campus.
"Wow this place is so cute and the food is really good." Taylor says as she looks around.
"Yeah, I discovered it on my second day and fell in love with it." Gabriella said with a little smile. Her smile fades a little when she notices Sharpay sitting quietly while picking at her blueberry muffin.
"I am winded from that flight so I think I'll take a nap when we get to your dorm." Taylor says as she stifles a yawn.
"You're being a bit dramatic Tay but alright. If you're both ready we can head over now. I have a class at 2 but you guys can just make yourselves at home." Gabriella says as they all get up and throw out their trash before heading over to Gabriella's dorm.
When they get to the dorm, Gabriella shows her friends around before she goes to get ready for her class.
"Hey, is everything alright?" Taylor asks Sharpay who sits on the couch looking out the window at the college campus below her.
"Umm… yeah I guess." Sharpay says still looking out the window.
"Shar, she'll come around very soon. It's not like she can avoid you in this tiny dorm for a whole week." Taylor reassures her friend.
"I know. Thanks for that" Sharpay says with a sad smile. "I think I'm gonna go explore a bit. Will you let Gab know that I went for a walk so she doesn't worry?"
"Of course" Taylor says with a smile as she hugs Sharpay before she walks out the door.
An hour later Gabriella emerges from her room rushing around looking for her backpack that is leaning against the side of the couch.
"Whatcha lookin for Gab?" Taylor asks with an amused smile on her face.
"My backpack. I thought it was on my desk but it's not there and I have to leave in 5 minutes if I want to make it to class on time." Gabriella says as she searches in the closet next to the front door.
"Would this happen to be your missing backpack?" Taylor asks as she holds up a red backpack that had a white wildcat paw print on the smaller pocket.
"Yes it is." Gabriella says with a laugh as she takes the bag from her best friend and kisses her on the cheek. "You're the best Tay."
Both girls laugh but Gabriella's is cut short by the realization that something or rather someone is missing from this scene.
"Where's Shar?" Gabriella asks her friend.
"She told me to let you know that she went for a walk to go explore and also to clear her mind." Taylor says
"Oh, okay. I'll try to find her when I get out of class. I really need to talk to her." Gabriella says as a frown finds its way across her beautiful, soft features.
"If she comes back I'll tell her that you want to talk." Taylor says
"Thanks Tay." Gabriella says with a smile as she heads out to go to her class.
When Gabriella exits her class she decides to go in search of her best friend. First heading to the theater knowing that that is her best chance at finding Sharpay. She doesn't find Sharpay in the theater and decides to just go back to her dorm and wait for Sharpay to return. While walking back to her dorm Gabriella spots a familiar head of blonde hair sitting under her favorite tree.
"Is this spot taken?" Gabriella asks as she starts setting her things down to sit next to her friend who until a moment ago was looking in the other direction.
"Oh, Gabi, you startled me." Sharpay sad holding her chest. "You're welcome to sit down." She says motioning to the empty space beside her.
Gabriella sits down and the two sit in an awkward silence for a few minutes before Sharpay gets the courage to speak up.
"I didn't know what to do. When I saw them at the party. I was frozen in my spot and next thing I know you were behind me. I promise I never meant to hurt you Gabi. I love you like a sister and I understand if you are still mad at me and don't want me here. I can always get a flight home whenever." Sharpay says in a sort of rushed tone.
"Shar I know you didn't mean to just stand there. I was hurt and angry and upset and I directed all my feelings toward you when none of it was your fault. I completely overreacted. I love you like a sister too and you know what, sisters fight but they also make up. I miss talking to you all the time and I totally forgive you for freezing up only if you can forgive me for being a complete bitch to you." Gabriella hopefully asks her best friend.
"Hmmm I'll have to think about it. I'm not sure if I can forgive you right now." Sharpay says with a teasing smile as Gabriella lightly pushes her and they both break out in a fit of laughter. "Of course I forgive you Gabi, we're sisters and sisters always make up."
The two share a hug before getting up and walking back to Gabriella's dorm with their arms linked together. Both catching the other up on their lives and laughing almost the whole way back. They make it back to Gabriella's dorm almost falling over laughing as they enter.
"Hey you two, I was wondering when you'd be back." Taylor says looking over the top of her magazine as her friends gather themselves in the doorway. "I'm going to go ahead and assume that you guys made up."
"That would be a correct assumption." Gabriella says as she takes off her shoes by the front door and drops her bag on top of them before walking over and collapsing next to Taylor on the couch.
"Hey, why don't we have a classic wildcat sleepover tonight?" Sharpay suggests sitting on the other side of Taylor.
"Omg that's a great idea. We can run to the store and pick up some goodies then come back here get in our pj's and pick a Netflix movie to watch." Gabriella says sitting up with a giant smile on her face.
"Ooh we can also make a pillow and blanket fort right here in the living room and just sleep out here tonight." Taylor says dropping her magazine on the coffee table with a smile.
The girls proceed with their plan and head to the store to get popcorn, chips, candy, and ice cream. Then, they head back to the dorm to get in their pajamas and build the pillow fort. They move the coffee table out of the wat to make room for their blankets and pillows. After settling in front of the television with all their snacks the three best friends decide on a rom-com to watch "How To Lose A Guy In10 Days" to be exact. It just so happens to be a favorite of the three girls'. The night ends in laughter and with the three girls falling asleep before their movie ends.
I am currently in the process of re-writing this whole story because reading it back didn't make sense to me. I took some time off to focus on my mental health but I'm back now and hope to have a few revised chapters uploaded very soon. Thanks to everyone who reads my stories and have been waiting patiently for updates. If you have any questions, comments, or even ideas of where the story should go please feel free to message me and I will do my best to answer any questions and possibly incorporate your ideas into this story. Please review because I love reading your comments on my writing.
Xoxo - Christina