Author's Note: I do not own High School Musical or any of the associated characters. I do, however, own the plot.

Prologue: Gabriella's POV

Troy and I had dated all through high school, ever since I had transferred to East High; however, it had started to go south at the end of our senior year. We went from spending as much time together as possible to seeing each other maybe once a week outside of the classes we had together. Instead of trying to get as much phone time in as possible and talking about whatever popped to mind, we started discussing school assignments and only talking for a few minutes, if we talked at all.

I could feel him slipping away from me; pulling away emotionally, even if he was there physically. To try and make up for it, I found myself clinging tighter; I just couldn't help myself, even though I hated myself for doing it. I did not want to be one of those clingy girlfriends! But we had shared so much and I depended on him to be there for me. I became more emotional and it drove him even further away. I loved him and as much as he said he loved me, I suddenly found myself doubting it. I guess it didn't help that he had stopped saying it, stating "it was understood." I needed the words damn it!

Anyway, we tried to make it work when we both went off to university. We looked at going to the same school, but the universities where he got offered basketball scholarships weren't well known for the program I wanted. We both knew that we couldn't compromise on school choice to be together, after all this was our entire future. We couldn't base that on someone else; no matter how much we loved each other.

So Troy went off to University of Wisconsin to take business and I went to Princeton in New Jersey to take Engineering. I suppose I could have gone to U of W and taken the same degree but I wanted Princeton; I wanted that old name school on the East Coast. Besides, I had the feeling that if I went to U of W and Troy and I split up, I'd regret my decision for the rest of my life. So I headed east, and everything started to fall apart.

At first it seemed like we could make it work. We called each other every night and talked over the internet. But then Troy started complaining about how tired he was from all the practicing and weight-room stuff he had to do for basketball along with school stuff. And to be honest, I started getting bogged down in work and with the choir I had joined. So we stopped talking as much. I still loved Troy, and I think he still loved me, but our lives got in the way. It didn't help that I started noticing other guys. I would never have cheated on Troy, but the attraction was there. And I'm sure Troy spent a good portion of his time checking out girls. Going to a new place certainly opened up possibilities.

As a last ditch effort, I hoped on a flight one weekend and flew to Wisconsin, hoping that seeing each other again would spark things up again. But instead, we both realized that we had drifted away from each other. It was tearful, and painful, but in the end we both knew it was for the best. At least that's what I told myself. We promised to be friends and to keep in touch. Troy even mentioned something like "maybe we'll end up getting back together at some point." I know how it sounds, but I knew we'd be friends. Even if it wasn't the same kind of friends we were before.

That Christmas we got together to catch up, not that we hadn't talked over the term but it's different in person. And we ended up doing the one thing we hadn't done in high school. Troy and I slept together. Sometimes I wonder why we never did it high school, it's not like we didn't love each other or didn't have the opportunity. I guess we were just afraid (terrified!) of the consequences and didn't feel ready for it. But after we broke up, I just couldn't help feeling that my first time should have been with Troy. It wasn't what I'd dreamed of; actually, I cried afterwards knowing the circumstances between the two of us. But looking back now, I know that I wouldn't have been able to get on with my life without having taken that step with Troy.

We kept in touch, chatting about simple things two or three times a month over instant messenger. We both knew when the other person was dating someone else, I don't know if it hurt Troy to think of me with someone else, but sometimes I would ache over the thought of him and another girl. No matter how over him I told myself I was. The only time it wasn't too bad was when I had a boyfriend. And boy did I have boyfriends. I went through them like no other. It wasn't that I didn't want a long term guy, I just couldn't hold onto them. Sometimes they broke up with me and sometimes I broke up with them, almost always amicably though. I ended my second longest relationship (next to the one with Troy) because I thought the guy was too nice; well, that and I was due to go home at Christmas and wanted to be free so Troy and I could hook up. How awful is that? It became a sort of tradition between the two of us, to get together whenever we were home and have sex. And then the summer after my last year, my mom got transferred again, to New York. It was nice to have her closer to me, but it meant that Albuquerque was no longer home. Troy and I wouldn't run into each other any more. And in a way I was glad, I knew what we were doing wasn't healthy. I couldn't fully let him go until I cut him out of my life. He was the only boyfriend I could get out of my system, no matter how hard I tried.

Now it's been just over 10 years since we graduated high school. I am working for a consulting firm based in New York doing operation engineering. I missed the high school reunion because I was supervising a project overseas. Probably a good thing since they wanted me to sing one of our old songs and my voice is quite rusty from lack of use. I haven't talked to Troy or any of the rest of the old gang in awhile. The girls and I had talked quite frequently when I first went to university; and we all got together over the first Christmas break and caught up. But after I decided to stay in New Jersey to work for that first summer, the emails slowed down. We still caught up each Christmas until my mom moved, and then I guess we just stopped writing altogether. When there is little chance that you will see each other in the near future, I guess the ambition to take the time to write emails or make phone calls just leaves. Even Troy and I stopped talking. I have no idea where he is now and that is for the best. It's much harder to imagine what he is doing that way.

Over the last year or two, I have sworn off men. I decided to focus on my career, and don't really want to get involved with anyone just for the sake of having a boyfriend. I've done that enough in the past; time to move on. I want the next guy to be something special, someone I can see myself with in 20 years. But right now, it's all about the job.

At least, I thought it was …