There You'll Be Chapter 1: There You'll Be, a high school musical fanfic

A/N: Another one-shot time! Anyways, I heard this song the other day…and I think it's amazing. It's called "There You'll Be" by Faith Hill. You may have heard it on the movie Pearl Habor: which I also love! This idea came to me and I hope you guys like it!

Summary: 7 years after High School, Gabriella finds her self reminiscing with old photos, home videos, and yearbooks of those years. And even at the end of the day, she knows she'll always cherish everything that happened…especially between her and Troy Bolton. Song by Faith Hill—ONE-SHOT.

PLEASE R&R!!!!

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

One-shot: There You'll Be

When I think back
On these times
And the dreams
We left behind

I'll be glad 'cause
I was blessed to get
To have you in my life

I stared out of the window, watching the rain slowly beat down against the glass. Pressing my forehead against the cold glass, I sighed happily. Everything in my life is going great. I have the perfect job in Sacramento, great friends at work, and a family I knows I can always count on.

But for some reason, my mind is drawn back on my high school years. This is the first time I've thought of it in about a year, and suddenly it's become a severe interest of mine. What is everyone up to now? Have they forgotten all about me? Have all their hopes and dreams they wished for come true? All these questions are unanswered, and I really wished life was easier.

I would do anything to see everyone again.

Some things never change I thought, as I watched a boy and a girl outside in the rain, drenched, smiling and kissing. It made me think about how Troy and I used to do that.

FLASHBACK

It was a rainy day, of my senior year. I sighed as I looked outside my window, watching the rain beat down on the windows. I love the rain: it's always so peaceful to me.

I was so interpret with my thoughts so I didn't here knocking on that very window I was looking out of. It startled me, but suddenly my face broke out into a grin as I saw Troy bent over outside, having a sheepish smile on his face.

I mouthed, 'one moment', and quickly got off my seat and ran to the door. Quickly putting on a jacket, I threw open the door and landed straight into Troy's chest.

I could almost see him smirking, "Can't wait to see me Montez?"

As I felt my heart do flip flops, I stared into his big blues eyes and he stared back. For a moment we stood there on my porch smiling at each other, it took me awhile to notice that he was drenched.

"Troy, you're soaking wet!" I squealed, feeling myself getting wet from his arms around me.

Troy rolled his eyes. "That's kind of the payment for walking to your house in the rain, Gabriella" He threw back sarcastically at me, and I only glared then smacked him in the arm.

"Ouch, Montez! Okay…you asked for it!" He yelled, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I screamed as he started walking out into the pouring rain, and tried to wiggle out of his grasp.

I heard him chuckle as he put me down by the sidewalk. "What's wrong, Gabi…afraid to get a little wet?" He asked me with a smile, and I gave him one back.

As I stepped closer to him, I suddenly felt and heard the rain beat down on our heads, and drip from our faces. "Never…" I whispered as I closed the gap between our faces.

END OF FLASHBACK.

That memory never makes me cry. Only smile, because I've learned not to resort to the pain of losing what you had in the past…just cherish that you were blessed enough to have it at all.

On these days
I'll look and see your face
You were right there for me

Moving away from the window, I felt myself getting preoccupied with staring at a box of stuff shoved in the back corner of my closet. Feeling my heart cave in, I moved to get that box…to see what it contains just one more time.

Lifting the lid, I saw stuff from high school I had forgotten about long ago. Pictures were scattered about, and I placed my hands on top of the 3 yearbooks, of 3 out of 4 years I went to East High.

The best time of my life.

My eyes got caught unmistakably on a sweatshirt. I grabbed them from the pile, and suddenly felt myself breathing in Troy. The basketball sweatshirt was red and white, and had the number 14 placed at the top left corner. Turning it around to read its backside, it said BOLTON in white letters clear across it.

The scent of Troy's old cologne filled my nose, and I felt myself thinking I was back in High School again. I slowly lifted the sweatshirt over my head, and it still fit to this very day. It was even better, because it was more snug than it was before.

Bending my head over the box, I searched through it, suddenly remembering something. Flipping through pages of a scrapbook, my eyes landed on the perfect picture of all time. Well at least in my memory.

It was of Troy and I on the day he gave me this sweatshirt. I was hugging him tightly, and we were smiling for the picture. I remember that day perfectly…

FLASHBACK

I and the rest of the gang were headed to a theme park for the day. Once we got there everyone had split up to go ride different roller coasters. It was different though for Troy and I, because I happen to hate roller coasters.

We stood in the middle of the park, unsure of where to go. I was trying to convince Troy that he should go ride whatever he wants, but he wouldn't have it.

Troy crossed his arms, "No Gabriella. I'm not leaving you, and if you don't want to ride the roller coasters, than neither do I."

I smiled, and as much as I wanted to believe him, I could tell he really wanted to ride at least some. "Well…I'd hate to ruin the day for you. So I've decided…I'm going to try it" I said, with my eyes closed.

When I reopened them, I saw Troy looking at me with uncertainty, "Are you sure Gabi? I don't want you doing ANYTHING that'll make you uncomfortable."

Troy's always so sweet. Caring about me, and putting me first all the time. And I knew that I had to put him first this time. "Yes Troy…I'm sure. I'm doing this for myself…and for you" I grinned, and he returned it as he grabbed my hand and led me to the first one we saw.

"Does it matter?" Troy asked, and I shook my head no. It didn't matter to me THEN. But then as I looked at the coaster that came speeding by us suddenly, I felt my throat go dry.

And then I unthinkably started shaking uncontrollably, and I couldn't stop moving around. "I'm fine Troy" I said before he could utter a word. I knew that he knew I was really scared, and suddenly he reached to take his sweatshirt off.

"Here Gabi…take this please" He ushered, handing it over to me. I smiled as I put it over my head as he whistled. "Whew…why didn't you tell me you looked so good in my stuff?" He told me, which I burst out laughing to.

My nerves were starting to go down, but they acted up again when we stepped into the car, and the bar was placed down over us. I felt myself starting to sweat, but then I rested when I felt Troy's warm hand squeeze mine.

"It'll be okay Gabi. I'm right here next to you; always" He smiled gently, leaning over and kissing my forehead quickly and softly.

I knew that nothing was going to go wrong, and Troy was there to protect me. I also noticed, he never let go of my hand the whole entire ride.

END OF FLASHBACK.

I smiled at that. So many times throughout that part of my life, Troy was the one that pushed me through, and gave me enough courage to stand tall and be strong.

In my dreams
I'll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There will always be a place
For you for all my life
I'll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you'll be
And everywhere I am
There you'll be

Not being able to stand it any longer, I felt a hot rush of tears flowing down my face. No matter what I tried to do, I couldn't help but cry. I never blamed myself for not keeping in touch with them…but I cant help but wonder what my life would be like if I did.

Throughout my life I have carried my memories with me and it feels good just to think back and feel like I'm reliving them again. Flipping through more pictures, I found myself surrounded by all my friends and Troy.

Then I paused on a picture from the last day of school. No, it wasn't a posing and smiling picture, nor were we crying. This was just a picture of us being us.

We were all in Ms. Darbus's classroom(God…I really miss being able to laugh from her), and we had silly faces on. On the far left side sat Zeke in a chair with his mouth open wide and his eyes really big, and Sharpay was place on top of his desk with her arms wrapped around him with a kissy face towards his head, but still looking at the camera.

Looking next to them, I laughed out loud when I saw Ryan pointing a finger toward them as if a gesture to say, 'Watch it little sister'.

Then next to him were Jason and Kelsi who were seated on the floor, Kelsi in Jason's lap, making goofy smiles towards the camera.

Smiling to myself, my eyes shifted over to Chad and Taylor who made me giggle as well. Taylor was on a desk like Sharpay, but she had her hands clasped together and she was smiling as big as she could, trying to be like a little school girl. Chad stood up next to her holding two fingers behind her head giving her bunny ears and smirking.

I felt my heart speed up as I knew what the last pair was. Troy and I were on the far right side, Troy standing up. I was on top of his back(he was giving me a piggyback ride), and I threw my right arm in the air and my tongue was sticking out. Troy was acting all cool, pointing his thumb back at me since his hat he was wearing said, 'I'M WITH HER' on it.

I remembered that I got him that hat the Christmas before, and he thought the last day of school was the perfect time to wear it.

A tear rolled down my cheek, and landed on the picture. Shaking my head, I quickly wiped the water off it with my shirt. Standing up, I walked over to my dresser where I placed the picture up next to my mirror so I could always see it every morning and smile.

Well you showed me
How it feels
To feel the sky
Within my reach
And I always
Will remember all
The strength you
Gave to me
Your love made me
Make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me

After looking through everything, I knew it was time. I took a deep breath and then gingerly laid the lid over the top of the box again. Shoving the box into my closet, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep with it that way. So I got it out again, and placed it at the top shelf in the very front.

That way, I could always see it. I always knew High School doesn't last forever, and that you have to eventually grow up and move on. But even when I was in middle school, I had no idea how much all that mattered to you. Or should I say, matters to you.

'Cause I always saw in you
My light, my strength
And I want to thank you
Now for all the ways
You were right there for me
You were right there for me
For always

Before I could think longer about it though, a shrill ringing ran through my ears. I hurried over to the cordless phone, and my eyebrow furrowed when it read, Arizona Call.

I pressed 'talk' and suddenly I felt really weird; like something was about to happen. "Hello?" I spoke softly into the phone, and I could hear someone breathe in deeply on the other side of it.

"Gabriella? It's Chad…Chad Danforth from High School."

I gasped, and suddenly I felt a sense of relief. This day I thought would never happen. "Chad? Oh my gosh…it's-it's so great to hear from you!" I exclaimed, and I could hear him chuckle on the other line.

"You too! We-uh I mean I found your number in the phone book for Sacremento. I mean, I live in Flagstaff currently but we-uh I mean I google searched you and found out what town you lived in. Congratulations on your grad work in chemistry by the way!"

I laughed at his flubs. I thanked him, and we soon got started talking about how life has been, and what we were currently doing. And then suddenly both of us stopped talking. Even thought there were a million and one things we could talk about, none of us could bring ourselves to say something.

All of a sudden he spoke up, "He hasn't forgotten about you, you know."

I felt my heart speed up. Even though Chad hadn't said who 'he' was I automatically knew anyway. "Me neither…" I spoke softly and then added, "I miss him. A lot…"

"He misses you too." I gasped again; this was not Chad's voice. It was Troy, and to this day I was almost sure of it.

"Troy? Is that…is this really you?" I asked cautiously, oh so wanting it to be true. Relaxing already, I could hear him breathing which was like music to my ears.

"Yes Gabriella…it's me" He replied shortly after my question, and I could almost see him grinning through the phone.

I felt myself grinning; happier than I could ever imagine. I didn't care what would happen after this, or where life would lead me. No matter what this brings to Troy and I, I'll always be blessed to have him in my life.

Nothing felt much better than to know that would always be true.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

I really loved how this turned out! I hope you guys aren't disappointed, because Troy and Gabriella were reunited—even if it was over the phone!

I really enjoyed writing this, and I hope you guys enjoyed reading it! I'd like to know what you guys thought of this so you know what to do…

PLEASE REVIEW:-)