Disclaimer: High School Musical is not mine.

Note: I actually wrote this a few days ago, but I decided to post it up before I left for vacation.

Prologue

Strong, white waves crashed violently into the rocks, roaring beneath her. The orange sun sank miserably into the blue, casting a soft glow throughout. The enchanting light danced upon the delicate features of the young woman, standing at the edge of the tall, jagged rocks.

Her hair blew silently in the light breeze, covering somewhat of her fair skinned face. She closed her eyes, letting the air around embrace her.

Carefully, she leaned down to roll up her pant legs and kick of her shoes. Removing her socks as well, she held them in her hand. Ignoring the protests of her bare feet, she slid down the smooth surface and onto another, one by one, until she sank her toes into the compacted, wet sand.

She took a deep breath, taking in the ocean's salty smell and the clean unpolluted air. Looking down the coast, she could see the vastness of the barren land, fresh and imprint-less. Not for long.

She took a few quick steps before breaking out into a refreshing jog. Her hair flew wildly behind her, a combination of both the relentless wind and her speed. A trail was marked in the sand with her footprints. But as she felt the cool water hit her feet, she realized that they'd fade away soon. Fade away like the sun was about to. Fade away.

Slowing her pace, she cautiously stepped away from the water line and placed her shoes on the ground, preparing them as a seat. Ensuring that they would not be touched by the water, she sat down with her face towards the expanse of endless nothingness.

Fade away, she thought to herself. Most things will fade away in a lifetime, like youth or happiness. Then again, many things will never fade away. They stay engraved permanently like a tattoo that would brand you forever.

They say that you'd always remember your first love; it was like a tattoo printed within your very mind.

Suddenly, her thin white sweater and jeans didn't seem to be enough to protect her from the cold. Or was it cold? Nevertheless, she involuntarily shivered, instinctively wrapping her arms around herself and pulling her legs in.

She buried her head into her arms, a mass of wavy brown hair tumbling over her shoulders.

"Gabriella?" asked a hesitant male voice from behind. She recognized it immediately.

Still, she didn't answer though. She shivered again, this time definitely because of the cold. The little warmth the dying sun had been giving had now been blocked out by the shadow that had fallen over her.

She looked up and forced a smile on her face. The sadness and pain of the previous on slash of memories still clouding her eyes. He didn't seem to notice though, as he took a seat beside her. The sand was bitterly cold.

"You always did love the beach," he commented lightly, following her lead and looking out into the ocean. She merely nodded.

"My house is no where near a beach," he continued, looking at her pensively. "It's miles and miles away."

She turned to look at him as well, sending him a true smile. "I'm not a fish you know…I can live without water."

He placed his heavy arm on her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. She didn't resist, she just put her head on his chest. It was comforting.

"Good," he smiled, placing a loving kiss on her forehead. "Cause I can't live without you."

He put his hand out and she put her own in his. The large hands entwined with the smaller ones, preparing never to let go.

"I love you," he whispered.

The smile slowly disappeared from her face, leaving behind a mirthless expression. She was aware that the sun was at the edge of it's time, barely hanging on to it's last few minutes. Soon the blackness would surround them.

After a while, she replied softly, "You too."

She could feel his shoulders sag. She could feel his hopeful expression fall. And she knew perfectly why. She just couldn't bear to lie; even if it was a white lie. What good would it do?

Vaguely in the back of her mind, she remembered how easy it had been to say those three words back then. To him. The other him.

Now, it left a bitter taste in her mouth when she tried. It simply couldn't escape her thin lips.

She leaned further into him, and in response, he hugged her tighter. All to soon, blackness descended on them.

Reluctantly, she pulled out of the embrace and pushed herself up. The footprints from before had been washed out completely now, leaving a once again perfect surface.

"Time to go," she said, as much to herself as to the person beside her.

"I'll walk you home."

Together they walked off towards the lights in the distance, hand in hand. Civilization proved to be not far away, as within a few minutes, they had already arrived. A intimidating building loomed over them, as big as it was sophisticated.

She leaned up on her toes to give him the briefest of farewell kisses. From one side, it held hesitation, and from the other, it was full of promise.

He put his free hand to her cheek after pulling out of the sweet kiss and murmured a quick farewell. Then, he turned and walked away.

"Johnny!" she called. Waiting until her turned around, she continued, "Thank you."

For what, she wasn't sure. She just felt the need to say it.

And from the distance, she could see him smile. She returned the small gesture.

Then, she watched him too, fade into the distance.

If everything could fade away, then damnit, why couldn't he?

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"Mom, I'm back," she yelled as she shut the door. She flinched at the loud noise.

She heard somewhat of a reply, but couldn't quite make out what it was.

"What?"

"That's good honey," Sarah Montez repeated as she appeared in the room. "You better wipe those feet before walking throughout my house," she demanded, still in a kind voice.

"Course ma," said the girl as she picked up a towel thrown nearby. It was customary for her to be out at the beach often, coming back with sand all over.

Once she was done with it, she threw it back onto the ground carelessly.

"Look at you, twenty-three, engaged, and you still don't listen. Put that towel in the sink."

Her gaze traveled to her hand, looking quizzically at the small diamond rock on her fourth finger.That's right. Johnny had proposed to her. She felt uncomfortable all of a sudden, like she was suffocating.

And in a way, she was. She was suffocating in a love that she couldn't reciprocate—yet.

As if sensing her daughter's discomfort, Sarah engulfed her only child into a motherly hug. "I've said this before baby, but if you don't—"

"I do ma, I do want to," she said exasperatedly.

And she did want to. She wanted to get married. This just wasn't exactly how she had envisioned her perfect man though.

Never mind the beach wedding or any of that—in her dreams, the very least she pictured was that she would be able to say those three words to her future husband.

Johnny was everything she would look for in a guy; nice, sweet, charming, funny, caring…and the list goes on.

She thought herself absolutely insane to not be able to say she loved him because, mind you, she certainly felt like she loved him. How is that she couldn't voice it then, when she had been able to say it to the other guy; the shocking, lying, infuriating, selfish, callous scoundrel.

The one that was forever embedded in her brain—not heart but brain.

Like a tattoo.

Note: I'm not really sure about this right now, so review and tell me what you think. I may, or may not continue this.

If I do, I expect it will be updated less than my other story though, because I want to complete the other one. DO READ IT:) and review that too. Please.