Troy David Bolton and Gabriella Anne Montez first laid eyes on each other on September 4th, 1999, on their first day at East High School when their Biology teacher assigned them as lab partners. For 2 weeks their only interaction was for that one hour in the morning. But, it quickly became clear that they were destined to be more than just lab partners. Soon after, they became best friends who knew everything about each other. They had everything in common, from favorite bands to the fact that they both married their high school sweethearts, Sharpay Evans and Nate Archibald, shortly after graduation. Even in college, marriage, and adulthood they were inseparable. Their spouses always joked that they were second best to the best friend.

Despite all of this, their stories, or story as it turns out, didn't even truly begin until ten years after they met. But like all good authors, I'd like to fast forward for a moment to the eve of their 11th year as friends.

September 3rd, 2010, Troy's POV...

I walked down the busy New York street with Sharpay on my arm. She smiled up at me as we maneuvered through the people towards our destination. I smiled back at her sincerely, trying not to admit, even if only to myself, that there was only one thing on my mind and it wasn't my wife.

Before I knew it, I was staring right at the sign of the familiar upscale French restaurant we always met at, Luciole (Firefly) Bistro. Someone opened the door for us as they were leaving, and we ducked out of the unseasonably cold air. We walked over to the hostess stand and I smiled at the the usual host.

"Table twelve." He answered me, before I even had thought to ask which table they had chosen.

"Thanks." I said, and I steered Shar in the direction of the tables.

I saw Gabriella before she saw us. God, she looks so great tonight. She's nibbling on a bread stick, listening intently to a story Nate is telling, as he gestures with his hands. I watch the scene as we walk towards them, and I can see that she loves him, and that he loves her.

Strangely, the scene doesn't make me jealous at all, it only makes me ache. It hurts so much that I have to swallow hard. The scene in front of me, it's what is supposed to be, and it kills two, they belong. They belong to themselves, each other, and worst of all, they belong together. Forever. Just like I love Sharpay, and that should be everything. But it isn't. Not even close.

Why, you ask? Because I love Gabby, too. So much more than she loves me. Always have. And, even though I do my best to deny it, I probably always will. I know it that sounds bad. It makes me look like a horrible husband, and her a home wrecker. But, it was and is my fault.

I always had feelings for Gabriella, ever since that first day of freshmen year. I had meant to act on them, and it even seemed like the perfect time when her popularity spiked at the end of freshmen year. As it turned out though, Gabby met Nate when he transfered at the beginning of summer, and my window of opportunity was closed. I was crushed, yes, but the pain was short-lived, or so it seemed, when I met Sharpay at the start of sophomore year. Shar turned out to be my dream girl; supermodel hot, but not ditzy, sweet, funny, fun to be around, understanding, and she happened to not be jealous of my friendship with Gabby. In fact, they liked each other. It was all perfect. Nate and Gabby were past serious by junior year came around, and Shar had me, for the first time, thinking that maybe this one was worth all the work. None of this fazed our friendship. Nate got along well with Shar, I liked Nate good enough (even while secretly thinking he wasn't for her), and Shar adored Gabby. We often found ourselves doubling, and life went on. Still, I found myself sneaking glances at Gabby every once and a while. Given all of this, I shouldn't have been surprised when, at Christmas Eve of senior year, the subject of forever came up with Gabriella.

Gabs... laughing at my cheesy joke alone with me in the kitchen.

Me... Grinning, leaning back against the counter. "Glad I can entertain you."

Gabby... "Believe me, you do."

Me... Grinning more.

Gabby... "What did you get Sharpay for Christmas?"

Troy... "Diamond earrings."

Gabby... makes a face, "Earrings?"

Me..." Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

Gabby... " How about the first syllable?"

Me... stops grinning ,"You mean... a diamond ring?"

Gabby... "Yea."

Me... shocked, "Like an engagement ring?"

Gabby... laughs "Yea."

Me... rubbing my neck, "Well, I- I..."

Gabby...mocking me, "Well-Well, I-I."

Me... defensive, "Well, what about you and lover boy? I haven't seen him proposing lately."

Gabby... silent, "Well..."

Me "Yea. Point and case. I'll propose when he does."

As it happened, this was sooner than I had planned. Nate and I had grown even closer in the months before graduation. He was my best guy friend. We did all the guy stuff together: we bitched about our girlfriends, and it was only a few months after Christmas that he told only me that he wanted "to spend forever with Gabriella." The very thought of it made me nervous, but the conversation with Gabby on Christmas Eve cursed me.

He was going to propose. Ironically, after a lot of thought, I realized I was too. Going to propose, that is. I loved Sharpay, I really did, and I was more than willing to make the commitment.

This was it, this was forever. So, I took all of the money I was going to use to get a new car, and bought a ring. The ring that is still on her finger. Actually, me and Nate went shopping for a ring on the same day, and we didn't even know it. Nate proposed the night of graduation, and I proposed on our 3 year anniversary in early September. Now, almost 6 years later, we are all married still married and close as ever. I'm almost 25 now.

"Troy!" someone squealed pulling me out of my flashback, "Shar!" I shook my head to clear my thoughts and saw Gabriella, who was the one that had shouted, smiling brightly right at me. Oh, God, why does she do that?