Chapter 1

Gabriella's POV

Nine years. Nine years of wondering what could've happened. Nine years of trying to get over him. Nine years of not thinking about anyone else but him.

. I guess I should start from the beginning.

Recap:

"I present to you…East High School Graduates of 2008!" yelled Principal Matsui.

Everyone threw their graduation caps in the air, and cheered.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

"Come on mom! No more pictures!" Gabriella said smiling for the camera.

Gabriella had posed for so many pictures, she was afraid that her face was going to be permanently stuck like this.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry honey," said Ms. Montez. She snapped one more picture and Gabriella was finally able to escape. She picked up the trophies and certificates and walked over to Taylor, who was currently suffering the same torture Gabriella had just been through.

"Hey Tay!" Gabriella exclaimed.

Taylor spun around, her black hair flying behind her. "Gabi!" she exclaimed.

"I see you are suffering from the same torture I did," Gabriella said giggling at Taylor's mom snapping pictures of the two talking.

"Yeah…" Taylor said, then she grabbed Gabriella's shoulders, "Save me!"

Gabriella laughed, "Mrs. McKessie, Taylor and I are gonna go see Troy and Chad, okay?" she asked.

Mrs. McKessie smiled and stopped snapping, "Okay, see you two later," she said smiling. She walked over to Mrs. Montez and started talking.

Taylor beamed and Gabriella, "Thank you, thank you!" she said.

"No problems now let's go find the guys," she said.

Taylor nodded and walked over to where Troy and Chad was talking.

"Hey Guys!" Gabriella said beaming.

Troy looked up and grinned, "Hey," he said.

Troy was Gabriella's boyfriend ever since sophomore year. They had auditioned for the winter musical and beat out Sharpay and Ryan, the two most dramatic people at East High.

Gabriella sat down and put the stuff she was holding on the ground.

"Wow, what didn't you win?" asked Chad observing the huge pile of awards.

"Hey!" Taylor said. She was holding an equal-if not larger-amount of trophies.

"Ooooh," Gabriella and Troy said together laughing.

"I'm sorry," said Chad standing up.

Taylor smiled and kissed him. She sat down on the bench and put down her pile.

Chad sat next to her and put his arm around her.

"Can you believe it? Senior year is finally over!" cried Taylor.

"Wow, who ever thought that Taylor McKessie would be happy that school is over!" Chad said in mock shock.

Taylor rolled her eyes.

"So, what are you guys doing tonight?" asked Troy.

"Sleepover to celebrate the end of High School," Gabriella said.

"Girls only," Taylor said before Chad and Troy could say anything.

Chad and Troy's expression almost automatically turned depressed.

"Sorry guys," Gabriella said.

"Gabriella! Taylor! Time to go!" called Mrs. Montez.

"Five more minutes?" she asked.

Mrs. Montez rolled her eyes and nodded.

"So, are we still on for our double date tomorrow?" asked Troy.

"Of course!" said Gabriella and Taylor together.

Troy smiled and kissed Gabriella on the cheek.

"Gabriella Anne Montez! Get over here now!" her mom yelled.

"Ooh, middle name. We better go Tay," said Gabriella.

Taylor nodded and stood up. She hugged Chad and picked up her awards. Gabriella did the same and walked toward the car, beaming.

End of recap.

Seems perfect doesn't it? Perfect friends, perfect boyfriend, perfect life. So when did that whole thing turn sour? August 12, 2008, AKA: the worst day of my life.

Recap:

Troy and Gabriella were an argument…again.

"How was I supposed to know?" Troy yelled.

"Maybe because I told you a THOUSAND times?" Gabriella cried.

"I forgot!" he yelled.

This argument was because Troy saw Gabriella with someone else, and immediately thought the worst. It turns out that it was Gabriella's cousin, Christopher was visiting.

"I told you OVER AND OVER!" she yelled.

"I already said I was sorry!" he yelled.

"I can't take this anymore!" Gabriella yelled.

"Wh-What do you mean?" Troy asked, finally calming down.

Gabriella however, was doing anything except calming down, "WE ARE OVER! I AM SO SICK OF YOU NEVER BELIEVING ME!" she yelled.

"Gabi," he started.

"Save it, only my friends can call me Gabi," she muttered walking toward the door.

"Gabriella, I'm SORRY!" he yelled after her.

She ignored him and walked out the door, and out of his life.

End of recap.

You see? Just because of one out burst, and my big mouth, we were over. The man I wanted to marry, just gone. Oh sure, he called plenty of times, he called Taylor, he even called Sharpay.

So, here I am, nine years later, a kindergarten teacher, happy for the most part. I also volunteer as the drama teacher for the drama club after school, who would've thought it?

Taylor is still my best friend; she is always there for me. She is also a kindergarten teacher here, so we are able to spend a lot of time together.

Chad is actually the basketball coach in this school. It's so nice to have my two best friends working at the same place as I do.

Sharpay and Ryan went to Hollywood immediately after college. I mean, immediately. Like, they got their diplomas and ran to their car. Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean.

See, I was happy. Friends, family, a good job, what else do I need? But, there was always that one thing I missed. That one thing that always kept me up late at night, thinking. That thing that was always there, driving me crazy. Troy Bolton. The man I left nine years ago.