Hello all. This is the sequel to Meant To Live. If you haven't read it, I suggest you do.

I wasn't sure when I was going to post this because I know it will take away from writing All You Need Is Love, but it's been in my head, and it won't go away. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with both. I'm not sure how frequent updates will be. It depends on my mood. I might be in the mood to write All You Need Is Love, I might be in the mood to write this, you never know.

New characters:

Shyanne: Amanda Bynes. Adam: Adam Brody. Damien: Tanc Sade (look him up. He's Finn from Gilmore Girls) AJ:Cody Linley.
That is all for now.

Summary: Sequel to Meant To Live. Gabriella went away to college thinking everything would be the same when she graduated four years later, and some things did, but others didn't. But now she's back at home, and now she has to face what she tried to leave behind. TxG

Haven't we lost our minds?
What the hell were we all thinking?
Now they're choosing sides
Well this is the world as we know it
Have we lost our minds?

The World As We Know It, by Scary Kids Scaring Kids

So much can happen in four years to one person. Like me, you can make new friends, gain new experiences, decide what you want to be in life, make life changing decisions, and evolve into an adult (well, for the most part, we all have our childish moments). I did all that.

I made new friends, like my friend Shyanne who was there for me everyday throughout college, just like I was there for her. We roomed together in freshman year, and continued rooming together until we graduated. And, Damien, my flaming gay friend I met in my junior year. There is also Adam, Shyanne's long time boyfriend. Shyanne and Adam live in Texas, while Damien lives in Florida.

I gained new experiences. I, Gabriella Montez, did things that in high school I swore I never would. Like become one of those party girls, hey, it was only for a few months. I got my belly button pierced, I skinny dipped, I attended protests, hell I even kissed a girl. Okay, me and Shyanne were both really drunk and it was an accident. She thought I was Adam anyways, it was dark.

I decided what I want to be in life. I graduated with a 4.0 and a degree in teaching. I plan to apply to school this summer to become an English and or literature teacher. I tutored in high school and loved it. I love knowing I am helping people doing well in school. I'm a geek, I know, it's just who I am.

I made life changing decisions. When I was in high school, I fell in love with Troy Bolton. It wasn't a secret, we didn't hide it. When we left for college, we said we would stay together forever. Yeah, college was hard, and it was even harder to keep our relationship alive, but we did it. We talked everyday, we emailed, had video chats on our laptops, made surprise visits, and had breaks and summers together.

I have a history of going through something, and not being able to tell Troy. Like when I got pregnant in high school, and couldn't tell him. I ended up having a miscarriage though, and he was the first person I called. Something happened to me near the end of our sophomore year. Something I couldn't handle, something I couldn't bring myself to tell him, and something he still doesn't know about. When it happened, I was devastated, and put off telling him. I put it off, put it off, and put it off. It got to the point where I didn't talk to him for weeks, and I did the only thing I could see to do right then: break up with him.

I won't deny today that I still love him. Actually, knowing me, I probably would, but inside I'll still know the truth. I gave my heart to him when I was seventeen, and he is the only man I will ever love. So, ever since then, I've been on my own. I've only had sex once since we broke up, and it was with my brother-in-law's brother, Robbie. Robbie had a thing for me a couple years ago, and I regret sleeping with him last year.

That is the reason I stayed a couple extra days at Stanford with my friends. I didn't want to come home for the annual family party that my family throws every beginning of summer. My sister, Serena, told me he would be there, so I didn't want to be. It's not that I don't like him as a friend, I do, but he still likes me more than that, and I'm done with hurting him.

My mom, her husband Richie, and my dad flew up for my graduation, and I decided to drive my car down later in the week.

My family's lives have changed too.

Like my mom got remarried to Richard, or Rich, or Richie. I was a little freaked at first, I mean, I didn't expect her to get remarried after breaking up with my dad, but she did. I love Richard, though, he's great to me and my family, especially my mom. As long as she is happy, I am too.

My dad ended up getting a job offer in Georgia, and took it, so he lives in Savannah now with his golden retriever Shelby. That dog is about the only thing stable in his life other than my siblings and his job. He's been in a few relationships, but nothing that ever lasts long. He's happy with his life though, and I hope it stays that way.

My oldest sister Isabelle had just moved in with her boyfriend Ben when I was going away to college. Now, she is married to him and they have four kids. She ended up getting knocked up a couple months after I left for college. They didn't tell anyone, went to Vegas, got hitched, and had a bouncing baby boy about six months later. First is Benjamin Junior, then came along twins Evan and Eva, and finally six month old Sierra. Belle and her family live in my mom's house right now, because their home is being remodeled.

Serena comes after Belle. She got married while I was in high school to Kris. Soon after she announced she was pregnant with Tara, and she is now pregnant again, this time with twin boys. Tara is a mini Serena, God help us all, and my first goddaughter. I'm also Eva's godmother. Serena lives with her family down the street from my mother, and they are constantly at my mom's.

Felix is next in line, and he has an apartment, so he doesn't live at home. He's a bartender at a hot club in town, and is currently single. I thought he would propose to his long time girlfriend Jaymi, but he didn't. Jaymi wanted him to, and when he said no, she said goodbye. I hope he gets her back, I love her.

After Felix is the twins, Marcus and Lucas. They have an apartment above their store, Montez Sports. Marcus is dating a woman named Hannah, and Lucas is still a happy player.

I'm after them, but we already know about me. Vince is two years younger than me, and probably the closest sibling to me. He always has been. He goes to UNM, and discovered that he is bisexual during his freshman year of college. I'm the only one who knows. Vince is the only sibling who knows why I broke up with Troy. Anyways, he is still living at home.

The youngest of the Montez's is Alex. He goes to U of A, and is the only brother who is not taller than me. He is the only brother who is not all muscly and big. He remained short and stocky. Alex is still the annoying sibling.

The newest to our clan is AJ. Last year when Alex went away to college, well not away, but he decided to live in the dorms, my mother felt a bit of Empty Nest Syndrome, and applied to be a foster parent. We got AJ, and we treat him like a member of the family. He will be a junior in high school next year. And, he doesn't know it yet, but my mom wants to adopt him.

"AJ, lift with your legs," I informed him while I watched him and the rest of my younger brothers unload things from my car to bring up to my bedroom.

He grunted under the heavy weight of the box he and Vince were carrying. "Keep commenting with that smile on your face, Gabi, you'll be carrying this shit yourself," AJ replied, almost dropping the box, making me fake gasp.

"Why the hell is all of this stuff so heavy?" Vince asked, easily gripping the box. Vince transformed from my little brother to this big muscly, and big guy.. did I mention big? He's got lots of muscles, and taller then me. Damn him.

"Because, that box has books in it," I answered, crossing my arms.

"What I want to know," Alex started, walking out of the house and down to us. "Is how you managed to keep your room to yourself. Because, when Belle decided to move in, I got shoved out of my room and put in with AJ, which I wouldn't mind, but dude, you kinda stink," he told him, grabbing another box from the back of my car.

Vince took the box out of AJ's arms because AJ was struggling on his side. "Al, she's Gabriella, she's going to get what she wants for the rest of her life, deal with it. I have, I mean she is Mami's little girl, her mija," Vince said to him, and I smiled proudly.

"You're just jealous," I sing-songed, pulling my cell phone out of my pocket when it vibrated. "Come on you manly men, I want all this stuff in my room within the hour," I told them before answering my phone. "Hey Shar," I greeted, watching as AJ and Alex fought about who smells worse.

"I have an issue," she told me. Sharpay and Zeke are currently moving in together. Zeke already had the apartment because he went to U of A, and has lived in it or the past year. Sharpay just got home from NYU last week, and they planned to move in together. Zeke and Sharpay broke up multiple times during high school, but they got back together soon after each break up.

I smiled at Vince who was the only one actually getting my stuff inside. "I only have so much time, Shar, I mean, you have a lot of issues," I replied, joking.

"Ha ha, funny, Carmen," she responded in a flat tone. Sharpay has been known to call me by my middle name. "Really, I've lived in New York for the past four years, do you know how many shoe stores there are in New York?" she questioned, and I stifled a laugh.

"Ah, a lot?" I guessed, looking down at my black strappy heels that I am wearing with my short jean cut off miniskirt, that goes along with my black strapless top that flows down my stomach to the middle of my miniskirt.

"Exactly!" she exclaimed, and I rolled my eyes. "I have so many shoes, and Zeke has so little closet space," she told me.

"Penelope, in all the years you have known me, do you really think I would care that you need shoe space?" I asked, slipping a hand into the pocket of my mini skirt. I heard her pout on the other end. "Fine, fine, fine, why don't you go the the store and buy one of those shoe racks they have?" I suggested.

She responded with a squeal. I think she got more dramatic during college. "I knew there is a reason you got accepted into that brainy school," she said, making me laugh.

"Thanks, look, I need to make sure my little brothers aren't going through my things, so I'll see you tomorrow at the theatre?" I asked. Sharpay is opening a town theatre called Lights, Camera, Action! that invites people through the ages of eight and twenty to come and perform. She will run it, like directing and helping people improve their skills. She needs help setting it up, and me being well, unemployed as of now, and school hasn't even started yet because it is summer, I am here to help.

"Alright, tomorrow at three, later, love ya," she told me.

I nodded even though she couldn't see it. "'Kay, love you too," I said and hung up my phone.

I was about to walk up the driveway when I heard someone shout my name, and a little girl came running for me. I smiled and bent down as I saw Tara bounding towards me. "Aunt Gabi!" she squealed again, and slammed into me, almost knocking me over. "You're home, you're home, you're home!" she repeated over and over again, clutching onto my neck.

I stood up with her in my arms. "I am home," I agreed, bouncing her slightly. "And how are you?" I asked, and saw a seven and a half month pregnant Serena down the sidewalk waddling towards us. I heard through the grapevine that is my mother that Tara has been a little bit irritable since she realized she won't be the center of her parents attention when the twins come.

"Me fine," she answered, very happy to see me. It's no secret I am the favorite aunt because Serena and Belle are mothers and way more strict than me. Plus, I usually come bearing gifts.

"She is not fine, she is in trouble, don't think I have forgotten Tara Nicole," Serena corrected, rubbing her swollen belly. Tara pouted in my arms and buried her head in my shoulder.

"Mama mean," Tara mumbled in my ear.

I nodded. "Yeah, what did Mama do?" I asked, and she pulled away.

"I yelled at her because while Daddy was putting together one of her little brother's cribs, this little girl decided to knock it over," Serena informed me.

"No babies!" Tara exclaimed.

Serena looked down at her stomach and back at Tara. "She'll feel different when they're born," I told Serena to sooth her. "She's been an only child her whole life, and all of a sudden she's getting two brothers, I would be a little pissed too," I went on. "But she'll love it when she's older and she has someone to play with twenty four seven."

"More like fight with," Serena said under her breath, and I chuckled lightly.

"Well, she is your daughter," I responded, making Serena smile. "Alright little girl, I happen to know your uncles are in the kitchen, why don't you go in there and tell them Aunt Gabi demands that they feed you," I told her, and set her down. I know my brothers can't avoid the kitchen for long, they could live in there all the time. They practically do.

"Otay!" Tara yelled and took off for the house.

I turned my attention on Serena who was watching Tara run for the house. "Look at you!" I told her and set my hands on either side of her belly.

"I know," Serena said, a smile on her face. "I'm a whale," she groaned.

I shook my head. "Bullshit, you're beautiful," I corrected, and she laughed. "Kris better be telling you that everyday," I added, rubbing her stomach.

She nodded. "He is," she assured me.

"Good," I replied. "Hi, babies who have yet to be named. I'm your Aunt Gabi, and when you come out I'm going to spoil you, and save you from your evil mother when you are a teenager," I spoke to her stomach.

"Oh, you already have my daughter wrapped around your finger, now you want my sons too?" she asked in a joke. "Can we go into the house? I need to sit," she questioned.

I nodded, and looped my arm through hers to lead her into the house. As we walked in, Tara was running away from Alex, who was chasing her. "I love how not only you boss us around, you make our niece do it too," Vince commented as we walked into the living room so Serena could get sit and get comfortable.

I shrugged. "Deal with it, I'm home for good little bro," I told him, crossing my legs. "Well, not for good, good, but I'm in Albuquerque for good. Once I get a job I am so moving out," I added, thinking about it.

"About that job," AJ cut in, walking into the living room with Tara upside down on his shoulder, giggling. "You know, Mrs. Freshcorn retired last year, she was the English lit teacher, so there is an opening," he informed me, wagging his eyebrows.

I grinned. "I know," I replied. "Sharpay told me when Mrs. Freshcorn announced her retirement, well Zeke told her, and Coach told him, anyways I know, and I am determined to get a job at East High," I told them.

"Have fun with that," Alex mentioned, plopping down next to AJ, who was mock fighting with Tara. "Teenage boys go to high school, you do know that, don't you?" he asked, putting his feet up on the coffee table.

"Way to go, Al, you just passed first grade," Vince told him, and I laughed, and noticed Serena's head droop. She's falling asleep.

Alex glared. "All I am saying is that Gabs is fresh out of college, and I'm her brother, but I can say she's pretty, and she's going to be teaching teenage boys. No guy is going to pass her class," he explained.

"Alex, I'm not going to be wearing a mini skirt to class," I informed him. "Besides, it's not like I am going to like little teenage guys liking me. That's gross, I'll be their teacher. Right, Age?" I asked, and we all looked over at AJ.

He looked at us over Tara's head. "Uh, I may be a teenage guy, but I don't see you like that Gabi, sorry," he said. "Like Al, I can say your pretty, but that doesn't mean I am, like, lusting after you," he told me with a shiver of disgust.

"Dude, who taught you the word lusting?" Alex asked, and AJ punched him in the shoulder just as the front door opened.

"Aunt Gabi!" Ben Junior yelled, looking for me. See, I am the favorite. When I got home I found a note from my mother saying her, Belle, and Richard took the kids out, so I could get my stuff in the house peacefully.

"Benny!" I exclaimed, and stood. He came forward to me, and hugged my legs. I picked him up with a huff. "Little Dude, you are so much heavier than your cousin, and you're younger," I told him as he hugged me.

"I'm a boy," he replied. While he is less than a year younger than Tara, they both talk really well. Tara is almost four, and Ben is about three.

I nodded and laughed. "Yeah, you are. I guess it's all those muscles weighing down, huh? Just like your daddy," I told him, and set him down. The twins were at my feet. They are one, and can stand, and walk, of course they fall from time to time. "Hi," I greeted and sat down to pull them into my lap. They started chanting 'Ga-abi' in two syllables. "Yeah, that's me, you remember me?" I questioned. I've only seen them on breaks.

"Of course they remember you, you're their aunt," Isabelle answered, and I put the twins back on the ground to waddle over to Tara who was babbling with AJ and Benny.

"Hey, Belle," I greeted and hugged her on the side, because Sierra is on her hip.

"Let me get a look at you," Isabelle ordered, and I started to twirl around for a second. "I wish I looked like that. It seems that every time I get into my ideal shape my husband gets me pregnant," she told me, and I laughed, and she looked to Sierra. "But I love what comes out of it," she added, and went to hand me Sierra.

Ben came around and hugged Belle from behind, telling her she is in her ideal shape, at least in his mind. "Hi, Sierra, I know you don't remember me, but I flew down when you were born," I cooed at her, and she touched her hand to my cheek. "Yeah, I'm your Aunt Gabi," I told her.

I felt a tug on my leg, and Benny was underneath me. "That my baby sissster," he stated, pointing at her.

"Yes she is, Hunny," my mom answered for her. "Oh, mija," she said to me, and hugged me.

"Mami, I just saw you last week," I reminded her as we pulled out of the hug.

She smiled. "I know, I'm just happy to see you," she told me, taking Sierra out of my arms.

"Gabi," Ben greeted, and hugged me. "Congrats on graduating," he added. "And have fun living here with us, I wanna pull my hair out half the time," he said in my ear, and I laughed.

"Thanks," I replied, and went on to hug Richie. "I heard through the grapevine that my mom wanted to give my room to the twins, and you wouldn't let her," I told him as I pulled out of our hug. Richard slipped his hands into his pockets and shrugged with a grin on his face. "Thank you," I said and patted him on the arm.

"You were moving back here about a month after they moved in, besides, I figured you would need your own room compared to Alex," he responded.

"I heard that," Al informed us, walking up to me and Richie. "You're telling me I am rooming with a ripe teenager because Gabi needed her room?" he questioned.

AJ came up behind him. "Dude, I have no idea what you are smelling, but I am not ripe! Have you smelled your socks lately?" he asked, patting a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Because I'm sure that those pieces of filth are what is stinking up our room," he finished.

"He's got you there, Alex, I mean you do have some nasty foot odor," I agreed, and Al glared. "Hey, do not glare at me because I kept my room. Remember what Vince told you eariler, I always get my way, I'm stubborn like that," I told him.

"Kids, stop fighting. Alex, your socks do stink, AJ you do smell sometimes, and Gabi keep gloating and I just might give your room to AJ and stick you with Alex," my mother intervened. Hey, I am not a kid anymore. I am twenty one. I can drink legally, but lottery tickets, go to casinos, get into hot nightclubs without waiting in line, and get free drinks from guys that I have no intention of talking to. I don't need my mother scolding me. Okay, maybe I do because those last two reasons are kinda mean towards other people.

We all mumbled something along the lines of 'yes, Mami' and she smiled while handing Sierra over to Ben. "Come on, let's leave Serena to sleep. Carrying twins is tiring," Belle suggested, and we all shuffled out of the living room. "AJ, Alex, and Vince, keep track of the kids," she ordered, and went took Sierra out of Ben's arms because she is due for a nap. Mami and Rich went into the kitchen while I went with Belle to put Sierra down.

"She's so adorable," I complimented as I watched Sierra's eyes close slowly. "She looks a lot like you," I told Belle who was looking down at Sierra adoringly too.

Isabelle smiled widely. "I know, and she is such a good baby. She hardly cries, starting sleeping through the nights when she was like two months old, and when ever I put her down she goes out like a light," Belle gushed.

"So you and Ben got that house in the next neighborhood over?" I asked, walking with Isabelle out of the baby's room and we went into mine that has boxes in it.

She nodded and sat down on my bed. "Yeah, we fell in love with it, but it needs work done, ergo the reason why we are living here for the summer," she answered. "I hate being a burden on Mami and Rich though," she added.

"You're not a burden, Belle, you know she loves that most of her grandchildren will be living here for the next two or three months," I reminded her, taking my luggage and throwing it on the bed so I could start unpacking my clothes. Being all motherly, Belle grabbed another piece of luggage and started to help. "This stuff is all clean, so it can go right in the drawers," I told her.

She nodded again. "I know she loves us being here, but we're a lot to handle," she replied. "And I'm not sure, but I might-" Belle cut off when my bedroom door opened and a sleepy Serena walked in.

"Thanks for just leaving me down there," she said, waddling over to my bed and proceeded to lie down in it. "I woke up to Benny screaming at my stomach," she informed us, and we laughed.

Belle shook her head. "I told those three to watch them. I swear, I can't rely on any of my little brothers," she said under her breath.

"You do realize all the brothers you have are younger, right?" I asked, going to my closet and grabbed a lot of hangers. "Whatever, what are you might but you're not sure?" I questioned as I put things on hangers.

Isabelle was refolding my clothes. "I'm not completely sure, but I think I might be pregnant again," she confessed, and Serena instantly sat up.

"No!" she exclaimed. "Why do you always have to get pregnant when I am?" she asked, pouting. "Did I get pregnant when you were with the twins? No. Did I when you had Sierra? No," she told us.

"Uh, Ser, yeah you did. You're seven and a half months pregnant, Sierra is only six months old," Isabelle said.

"That's not the point!" she told us. This could either be the hormones speaking, or just Serena, I'm not sure. "For once I want to be pregnant alone," she whined.

Belle rolled her eyes. "Oh, please," she said. "Do you think I want to be pregnant? I just had a baby six months ago," she reminded us. "Not that if I am I'll be completely pissed, I will love him or her," she added.

"Let me just point out that both of you are really fertile," I put my two cents in. "And what do you mean you think you are pregnant? Haven't you gotten a test?" I questioned. "Does Ben know?"

She shook her head. "No, Ben doesn't know. If I tell him I am pregnant, I know he'll be happy, which is great. I just know my body, and I feel pregnant, and no I haven't gotten tests. I'm planning on telling him tomorrow, tonight is your graduation party, it's yours, I don't want to take the spotlight," she answered.

"Iz, I don't care if you take the spotlight, just make sure you are pregnant first," I replied, emptying my luggage bag. I hung up the clothes and shoved my luggage onto my shelf. "I'm not sure if I want to unpack all the way, I mean, as soon as I get a teaching job I'm moving out," I said more to myself than my sisters.

"I'll have you know that Belle is way more fertile than me," Serena defended. "Now that that is out of the way, how is the single life?" she asked.

I shrugged, and took clothes from Belle to put in drawers. "Lonely," I answered honestly, taking a smaller piece of luggage from Belle to shove on the shelf in my closet. "I mean, I have friends, a lot of them, but Chad and Taylor are in Connecticut, Kelsi and Ryan are in New York, Shyanne and Adam are in Texas, and Damien is in Florida," I explained. "But I just- I don't know."

Chad ended up transferring out to a small college near Yale to be with Taylor, and they decided to remain there because Taylor got a good job at a hospital. Kelsi and Ryan are in New York to live the life of the 'starving artist' and look for work on Broadway. The rest of my friends moved back home. Only ones here are Sharpay and Zeke.

"Maybe you should put yourself out there this summer, look for someone," Isabelle suggested. "It won't be hard, not with that flat stomach, nice ass, and those boobs," she added. I looked at her funny. "What? I can't compliment you?" she questioned.

"She's right though, Gabi, you can get back in the dating game. You're not some forty year old shrew," Serena urged.

I shrugged and leaned against my bed. "I really- I'm not," I tried to start. "I just can't," I got out. What would be the point? Troy is my soul mate, he's probably moved on, but I never can.

Belle and Serena looked at each other. "Gabs, it's been over two years," Belle whispered, and I looked down. "Look, no one knows why you two broke up, but you can't be alone for the rest of your life," she told me.

"I'm not alone," I insisted. "I have friends, brothers, and sisters, and nieces and nephews," I told them. "That's all I need," I tried to convince them as well as myself. Serena looked at me, about to say something. "Come on, my graduation dinner should be starting soon," I said, and went for my door.

Belle looked disappointed and helped Serena off my bed. Ever since me and Troy broke up, no one in my family talks about him. They may know what he is up to, I don't know, but they don't talk about him around me. It's just some sort of law, one that I want to stay that way. I'm in love with him still, they don't know that, they think I am but they're not sure, and I'm going to be alone for the rest of my life. I'd rather not talk about it, you know? It's depressing.

"This is where you took my wife to," Kris commented as we met him at the top of the steps. "Welcome home Gabs," he told me, and pulled me into a hug.

"I didn't take her anywhere, she followed us," I corrected after I said thank you.

Serena waddled up next to me, a hand on her back. "Well, excuse me for wanting to be included," she commented, kissing Kris for a moment. "Besides, didn't we get some of your unpacking done?" she asked, making Ben wait to help her down the steps.

"What is this we?" Belle asked, coming up next to me. "I helped, you watched," she reminded her.

I shook my head at them, and went down the steps myself. At the bottom of the steps, I found Eva, by herself, trying to get on the step. "Oh, no you don't you little rascal," I said and picked her up into my arms.

"Ga-abi," she stated, pointing at my cheeks.

I nodded with a smile and went towards the kitchen with her on my hip. "Yep, but that is Aunt Gabi to you," I told her, opening the kitchen door. "Did you guys lose someone?" I questioned, seeing all the rest of the kids in here. "I thought you guys were supposed to be watching the kids," I said, and sat down at the kitchen table next to Vince who was talking with AJ and Alex.

"If I'm not being paid, I don't really care to watch every single second," Alex answered. "I knew the gist of where they were," he added.

Eva burrowed herself into my chest, it seems like she is tired. "Yeah, and she was trying to get up the steps. If she actually by some miracle did, Belle would kick your ass so hard you would need a new one to shit out of," I replied, wrapping my arms around Eva's little frame.

"I would watch and laugh," AJ told him, and dodged a rolled up napkin that was thrown at him. "Hey, I am the one who is sixteen, they wouldn't blame me. I'm not considered an adult like you are," he said.

"That's true," Vince agreed, and Alex glared. "Hey, when the girls went upstairs Ben told you to watch them," he reminded him.

"Well, I'm sorry if watching five kids doesn't entertain me," Al responded. "Why don't we all pick on Gabi now?" he suggested.

I looked up from Eva to him. "That's not far, I am the oldest, I'm the one who is supposed to pick on you," I informed him.

Richard announced that he was being the meat outside to be grilled, so of course all the men went out after him. "Lala, me and you need to talk," Vince told me, taking Eva out of my arms and walked out of the kitchen. I took the hint to follow. He layed Eva down in the playpen in the living room and put a blanket over her.

"Is this about some guy, because I doubt I am the best for-" I started, but he cut me off.

"No, it isn't, and can you not say that so loud? The twins and Felix are gonna be here any minute, you know if they didn't smell the food being cooked and are already out back," he asked.

I shrugged. "They probably did smell the food and are out there. It doesn't matter if their little sister just got home from college," I replied after thinking about it.

"It doesn't matter, what does is what I have to tell you," he told me. I gestured for him to tell me. "I probably should have told you a long time ago, but you were at college so I figured you really didn't have to know, and when you were home, you were busy, but now you are home for good so you should know," he went on.

I nodded. "Okay, so tell me," I said, but as I did, the doorbell rang.

"Mija, can you get that!?" Mami yelled from the kitchen.

"Gabi, you really shouldn't," Vince suggested, but didn't leave the living room.

"What? I can't answer my own front door?" I asked, and opened it. Vince was right, I really shouldn't have gotten the door. At my front door stood Troy Bolton. He was turned around when I opened it, but I knew it was him. As soon as the wood wasn't separating us, butterflies erupted in my stomach, my heartbeat picked up, and my legs felt like jelly. It was Troy Bolton alright. His muscles were bigger, his chest broader, his hair a little shaggier, and he looked about half an inch taller, but I knew those eyes, that face, the smile, I knew it all.

Fuck, Troy Bolton is at my house and I'm just staring at him like an idiot. "Brie?" he questioned, waving a hand in front of my face. Oh my damn, he used the nickname. I officially hate my mother. She knew, oh she knew. I knew that smile I saw on her face when I hugged her was suspicious. Okay, I didn't, but I do now.

I'm still staring, shit. "Igonbahi," I started like five words at once, and he smiled wider. I really hate my mother. "I, uh, m-mean hi," I corrected, scratching my head. "T-Troy, you-you're here," I said, looking around. This is my house, right?

"Nice observation skills," Troy commented. "Yeah, Maria has something she wants me to mail my mom," he answered my unasked question about why he was here. Wait, mail his mom? Meaning he isn't bringing it to her, meaning he lives here, in Albuquerque. That's not fair! I was born here, I call it!

"Troy!" my mother exclaimed, walking up behind me. "Mija, it's rude to leave a friend on the stoop," she informed me, brushing passed me and grabbed Troy's arm to pull him in the house. "Troy dear, I have that card for Lucy in the dining room, wait a sec," she told him. "Gabi, you can keep him company," she said and walked off.

Yeah, no problem. Thankfully, Vince decided this was the right time to butt in. "Hey, Troy," he greeted, walking over and slapped his hand.

"Troy!" AJ said, walking over, and slapped his hand too. What the hell is this? Did no one tell me that AJ knows him? I am so yelling at someone tonight, whether it is my mother, Vince, maybe even Alex for the hell of it, someone is getting yelled at. "Thanks for helping me with my jump shot, dude," he thanked. "Gabi, you know Troy right?" he asked. Ha, wait is he serious? Vince started to hide a laugh behind his hand.

"You could say that," I replied vaguely.

"Or you could go into detail," Vince muttered, and I smacked his chest. AJ look confused.

"Troy!" Tara shouted, and ran over to us. Oh, my God. Forget yelling at someone, I'll go suffocate myself with my pillow now.

Troy crouched down as Tara ran into his arms. "Hey, Tare," he greeted, picking her up. "How ya doin'?" he asked her. My family has this secret life I don't know about. They betrayed me! I can't believe Troy is in my house, standing two feet away from me and I am still able to function. I dream every night about seeing him again, and usually hot, steamy sex is involved, not me standing here, clueless. If this is a dream, it truly sucks.

I must have zoned out, because when I looked back at Troy, Tara was out of his arms, and the only one in the room was Vince. "So, Troy, this is Gabi's graduation dinner," Vince told him.

Troy was already looking at me, not Vince. Awkward. "Yeah, I know," he answered. He does? "How'd that go?" he asked.

I was silent for a second. Oh, he's talking to me. "G-good," I stuttered out. "Usual cap and gown stuff, you know," I added. Yeah, that is a good explanation.

"She was valedictorian," Vince informed him. I gave him a look that said 'shut up now'.

"Here it is," Mami appeared a letter in her hand. "I lost my stamps, I had to look for one," she told us. Yeah, I'm sure.

Troy nodded and took the envelope from her. "No problem, I have to go though, I need to head back to my place and get changed for work. I have the night shift," he said, taking the letter from her hand.

"That's okay, stay safe tonight," she told him, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Thanks, Maria, later Vince, Brie," he said goodbye. That's it? he didn't even say bye, he just said my name. Not that I am disappointed or anything.

When Troy was out the door, Vince had my arm in his hand and pulled me back into the living room. "What the hell, Vince! Do you all sing a song and hold your hands around a campfire every night?" I questioned, keeping my voice low because the twins are both sleeping.

"I was trying to tell you he still lives here when the doorbell rang," he insisted. "Lala, he didn't go back to college after his sophomore year, he dropped out," he confessed, and my eyes widened. "He's lived here the whole time, no one told you because we don't walk about him when you're around. He babysits Tara and Benny sometimes," he told me.

"I cannot believe this," I said under my breath, running my hand down my face. "He just dropped out of college?" I questioned.

Vince nodded. "Yeah, he did. He has a good job though, don't get too full of yourself that he was too brokenhearted to go back. He figured out what he wanted to do with his life. He's a firefighter," he answered. "That's what he meant by night shift," he told me. "Although the night shift doesn't start until like eleven at night, and it's only seven now, he probably just said that to get out of here," Vince added as an after thought.

"I need alcohol," I mumbled under my breath. I don't drink much, but I think I can break that little code for this. It's not every day the love of your life just walks back into your life and acts like nothing happened between you two. Of course, neither did I. This probably means he's moved on, good. He deserves to be happy.

"I talk to him at least once a week, seeing as I live here," Vince went on. "He asks about you every time," he confessed.

I shook my head and started backing up. "No, I do not need to hear this," I said to myself, and tried to leave but Vince grabbed my arm.

"He asks how you are, what's going on in your life, if you're okay, if you're with anyone," Vince lifted off.

"Vince!" I just about yelled to make him stop talking.

"No, Gabriella, you do need to hear this," he insisted, holding me in my place. "You're back for good, you said so yourself, and he lives here, you have nothing in your way. You guys can get back together," he told me.

I shook my head again. "No, we can't," I replied. "I can't," I corrected.

"I know what happened hurts you," Vince whispered, and I closed my eyes. "But he would understand, he would get it, just tell him," he pleaded.

"I know that," I informed him, making Vince's eyes widen. "But I don't care, I won't let myself get back together with him. I can't do it anymore," I responded.

"That doesn't make sense!" Vince told me. "You still love him, Gabs, you don't have to spend the rest of your life alone," he reminded me. "I know you think breaking up-" he went on, but I cut him off.

"I regret breaking up with him everyday," I confessed, and moved out of Vince's hold. "I do, but I can't do anything about it. I'm done. I'm done hurting him. That is all I do to the guys that I have in my life, and by guys I mean guys who like me. I hurt Troy while we were dating, I hurt Robbie, I hurt Troy when we broke up, I hurt Robbie when I slept with him and then when told him I wanted nothing more," I explained. "I still love Troy, I really do, I just can't," I told him. The world as we, meaning me and Troy, knew it, just changed. Troy Bolton just walked back into my life, and I knew it was just the beginning. Shit.

Here it is. I like most of the chapter.

Sorry if there are mistakes, I wanted to get this out as soon as I can.

Hopefully I'll update soon!

I didn't make Troy some big basketball guy because, well, you'll find out later. Besides, thinking of him in those firemen suspenders.. hmmm.. he looks so good.

I hope you like it, and review.

-- Kayleigh