It was a hot summer day in Albuquerque and also the penultimate vacation day for every student. The park was full of people who were taking their dog for a walk, parents who were playing with their children, athletes who were keeping to their fitness plan and couples who were walking through the park while holding hands. So did Troy and Gabriella. Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez had been dating for 4 years now and were in love just like the first day. They spent their school vacation back home in New Mexico. Since it was one of the few chances to come home from California where Gabriella was attending ,,Stanford" and Troy ,,The University of California".

They were just passing another kissing couple when Gabriella started to think,

"I gotta tell him but...how?"

She got nervous and Troy noticed the expression on her face.

" What's wrong, sweetie?", he asked while lifting her chin so she would look him straight in the eyes.

" I...uhh..." Gabriella stuttered.

She'd already felt so guilty about what was going to happen before but now while she was looking in that crystal blue eyes her guilt grew even bigger. But instead of telling him what was bothering her she lied.

" I am...I'm fine!"

"You're sure?"

The young brunette put on a fake smile.

"Yes."

Soon they decided to go home and Troy insisted to accompany his girlfriend to her mom's house before he went to his own parents' house.

A couple of minutes later they arrived and Troy caressed Gabriella's cheek right before he wrapped his arms around her waist gently and kissed her passionately. After they'd pulled away a few minutes later Troy smiled at his beautiful Gabriella. " I love you, you know that?" He said, feeling like the happiest person in the world. " I love you, too." The 20 year old woman said after she'd allowed him to kiss her once more. Troy was just about to leave while Gabriella reached out for the doorknob but just when her hand touched it she refused to open it. Gabriella found herself turning around and shouting for Troy. The 21 year old man walked up to her again.

" What it is?"

Gabriella got really nervous but " I gotta tell him! It' now or never! Gosh, I'd rather choose never but that wouldn't be fair!", she thought.

Despite of her fear of Troy's reaction she took a deep breath and started to tell Troy what was going on.

" Troy ehmmm,...I...we...we need to talk."

Troy was already getting worried.

" About what?"

" I ehmmm...gosh...I...I'm going to Europe."

" What do you mean, you're going to Europe? Vacation's already over!", a very confused Troy replied.

" Stanford offers me to go to ,,Cambridge University". Europe's best university. So I'm gonna be in England until graduation."

They stood there in complete silence for a few minutes till Troy couldn't take it anymore.

"So it's definite?" Troy asked sadly.

" Yeah, I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."

His voice got shaky when he asked her, " And...what about...us?"

Gabriella got teary while she said, " I...I don't know if our relationship would...would stand the distance."

The blue-eyed man had an expression of shock, fear and total sadness on his face. " What do you mean?"

" I mean it might be the best if we broke up."

Troy felt like someone had shot him. There she stood telling him that she wanted to break up. He was heartbroken and tears were forming in his eyes.

" Troy--" Gabriella had tried to say before the man in front of her interrupted her,

" Do you hate me?"

" No! I don't hate you, Troy. And I certainly didn't break up with you 'cause I wanted to see you down. This isn't easy for me either, Troy. But I don't want you to be alone all the time so I'm letting you go. I'm begging you, Troy. Please don't hate me. I couldn't live with that."

Troy couldn't see Gabriella so miserable, so he hugged her tightly and kissed her on the top of her head.

" I could never hate you, Gabby! But promise me something."

"Anything." Gabriella answered.

"Promise me that you won't forget me over there in England", he said seriously.

"Never!"

With that they let each other go physically but mostly mentally. Although they knew that there would always be a place in their hearts that'd only belonged Gabriella and Troy respectively.


2 days later it was the day of Gabriella's leaving.

Maria, her mom, brought her to ,,Albuquerque International Sunport" after her friends, had said goodbye to her personally, except Troy he just called her and she couldn't blame him for it. Soon it was boarding time.

" It's time, mom."

" God, I miss you already! Te quiero mi carina!"

" I love you, too mom! Bye."

With a sad smile, a last kiss and a goodbye from her mother Gabriella left. She was happy about the offer but the bad part was she had to leave everything. Her mom, her friends, her home but most of all she had to leave the love of her life... Troy Bolton.