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Cruise Reunion

Gabriella Montez looked out over the bow of the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship. She was on a senior cruise over spring break with some of her friends and their families. She played with the necklace around her neck. Everyone always wondered where she'd gotten it from and why she never took it off. Only her two best friends knew, Christine and Kyle, and they never told anyone. It was a sunny day, beautiful and the boat was leaving the Port of Miami and heading towards San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Martin. There were eight families and all the seniors were excited. This was one of the last big bangs they were doing before college.

She sighed as she leaned on the railing, she wished that he could be here with her. She still remembered that cold morning on January 3rd during 9th grade when he'd left. His dad's stupid job transfer. She'd never forgotten him, she still firmly believed that he was the one she was meant to spend the rest of her life with. He always said that he wanted to play basketball at UCLA, so that's where she was going for college, in the hopes of him being there.

Her friends were all excitedly chatting about what they were going to do and that they needed to explore the cruise ship and what not. It was the largest in the world after all. Letting another sigh escape her lips she turned away from the ocean and looked around the bow. There were many couples, families, and friends all talking and drinking, ready to pull out of port for the seven-day cruise. As her chocolate orbs skimmed the passengers, one in particular caught her eye.

She could only see his profile, she was sure she didn't know anybody that was going to be here, but he looked so familiar. She took in his appearance. He had shaggy light brown hair that dipped into his eyes, which were covered by large sunglasses. He was in a blue t-shirt, that looked to have some sort of design on it, but she couldn't tell what. He had on kaki shorts that came below his knees and flip-flops. He was muscular, his arms barely fit into the sleeves of the t-shirt and it was tight enough to define his well-toned abs. Then she saw it, even if it only was from the side, it was his smile.

A gasp escaped her mouth as her friend Nikki went to stand next to her. Following her gaze Nikki nodded in approval, "Nice eye Gabs, he's hot." The minute she said that all the girls crowded around.

"Where?" Christine asked

"Excuse me?" her boyfriend Zac pretended to be hurt. As questions about who she was looking at were tossed at her every which way, she ignored them all. An unusual smile spreading across her pretty face she made her way to the opposite side of the bow.

"What's she doing?" Peter asked

"Who knows." Kevin said, "I just hope he's not a freak. I don't feel like playing big brother." He commented dryly, turning his attention to a hot blonde that walked past.

Christine shoved Kyle lightly in the ribs, "That's not?"

Kyle shook his head, "It can't be."

"You're right." Christine agreed.

Gabriella stood directly behind him, he was talking to a group of people she'd never seen before. Taking a deep breath she pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and spoke, "Hey superstar." She said, in a surprisingly confident voice.

The young man whipped around. He stared down at the tiny brunette in front of him. Taking in her beautiful features and her perfectly curvy body, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. His friends crowded around him confused as he pulled his sunglasses off, revealing his beautiful crystal blue eyes. "El Bell?" he managed to spit out. Throwing his sunglasses in his pocket, he picked her up and spun her around.

She laughed, a real full laugh that she hadn't laughed since he'd left three years ago. Putting her feet back on the ground he leaned down and placed a kiss on her temple, "How, what, why, when?" he asked in confusion.

Laughing again she said, "You forgot who and where."

He playfully glared down at her, "Good to see the sense of humor is still there."

"Oh like that could ever leave me." She smiled up at him.

"So who are you here with?" He asked her.

"Senior cruise. Friends and families." She replied. "Kyle's here." Kyle had been his best friend when he was still with them in Atlanta, Georgia.

His eyes lit up, "Where?" he asked. Laughing Gabriella held out her hand. He accepted it, interlacing their fingers as if it were the most natural thing on the face of the earth as she led him to her confused group of friends.

"Guys." She got their attention, "Look what I found, ya'll remember Troy Bolton right?"

"Dude!" Kyle said, the two shared a man-hug that made Gabriella giggle. Once greetings were exchanged they heard a cough behind them. Everyone turned to see a group of seven teenagers behind them.

"Can we help you?" Ben asked

"Dude, what's going on?" A kid with curly hair asked, although he thought he knew, he'd seen pictures of the girl with long ebony curls, Troy's one true love.

"Oh sorry guys." Troy quickly introduced his friends, Chad Danforth, Sharpay and Ryan Evans, Kelsi Neilson, Jason Cross, Taylor McKessie, and Zeke Baylor. "Well, El, we have a lot of catching up to do." He said, comfortably wrapping an arm around her petite frame.

She smiled up at him and leaned into him, as if they did this everyday, "We do, wanna explore the boat while we talk?" she asked

"Good plan, catch you guys later." He said, they waved goodbye as they made their way off on their own.

The two groups looked at each other for five minutes, just standing in an awkward silence before Kyle, Christine, Sharpay, and Chad began laughing.

"What's so funny?" Taylor asked

"She's the reason he's never dated anyone in Albuquerque." Sharpay said

"Swears that she was the one." Chad explained

"We knew they'd end up together in the end." Christine commented

"Oh yeah, Ella's turned down a million dates always saying that she and Troy would end up together." Kyle added

"Where's Troy going for college?" Christine asked

"We're all going to UCLA." Kelsi answered

"Figures, that's where Brie's going." Christine laughed

"How romantic." Sharpay gushed, "A cruise reunion."

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Mollie XOXO