Summary: Ms. Montéz is spontaneously transferred again due to work, uprooting Gabby and her new relationship with Troy; giving her just enough time to complete the musical before they move to Boston. Despite best efforts, their friendships crumble and all appears lost and forgotten…or is it? After finishing high school and two years of collage both Troy and Gabriella, unaware of the other's position, head for England...

Basketball scholar, Troy, has recently been noticed by a top manager who has presented him with an unconditional offer to try out for him sometime, has panicked and opted for a transfer year to Cambridge, his last bit of freedom before his life is paved out for him.

Gabriella Montéz, however, has been specifically headhunted from the depths of the Harvard chemistry labs to join a particular research team in the very same, very small town…will their paths cross again or has the space between them made them, truly separate hearts?

A/N: Ok, so hi! I hope you like the summary-if you do, read on, you know you want to! This is my first HSM fic so im not quite sure about lengths etc. so just yell at me if its too long/short or if there's something else thats hugley offensive to you.

Thanks a million.Here we go so enjoy!!! xoxo

Chapter One: The end of something new

Gabriella Montéz was happy. No, scratch that, Gabriella Montéz was on top of the world! Flying, exuberantly happy. She had great friends, a loving mom who'd do anything for her, easily top of her class and almost guaranteed to receive acceptance letters from all her desired colleges when that time came. She also had the voice of an angel, set to star in the schools musical with her co-star and boyfriend, Troy Bolton, who just happened to be the most popular boy at East High. Yes Gabriella's life was definitely going well…

Gabbi stood alone outside her just finished Bio class; the bell was yet to go so she wasn't at all surprised that Troy wasn't there yet, she consulted her watch and realised they had 10 minutes to get to East High's 'Chapel of the Arts'-the school's theatre to most-for one of their few remaining rehearsals for the Spring Musical. She wasn't nervous about it, the rehearsals had gone great so far and it was an added bonus to have to spend most free periods with Troy.

'Definitely an added bonus' she thought to herself as she saw the object of her thoughts approach her, as he ran a hand through his blonde hair he saw her and smiled, greeting her with a kiss of the cheek.

"Hey, you ready to go?"

"Hey yourself, sure."

"How was class?"

"You know, the usual-Sharpay had a hissy-fit over the frog dissection and had to leave, why she choose biology is something I can't work out."

Troy laughed at the mental image that story had presented him and continued the small talk until they reached the theatre-where they were accosted by Miss Darbus instantly.

"Places please!" She squawked "Rehearsals are thinning! Time is precious-every moment count-MISS MORISSON, put that cell phone away and may I NEVER see it again! Do I make myself clear?!"

"Sorry Ma'am"

"Places please! Do I have to repeat myself every time I speak?"

The cast scurried away to the wings except for Troy, who was soon joined by Gabbi on stage; both began the opening number and were soon joined by the rest of the cast. They ran through the first act and by the time they stopped for notes Miss Darbus was gushing praises and hurried them onto the second act-this being their only double free she intended to make full use of it! The second act went smoothly enough and the finale-'Breaking Free' was as spectacular as the couples' first performance during their audition. All in all, Miss Darbus was a very happy woman.

"Remember we only have a week now until performance-depending on how Friday goes, I may or may no decide to strip you of your Saturday-so impress me."

And with that, the bell went, signalling the end of free period.

The rest of Gabbi's school day passed fairly uneventfully and when she arrived home was surprised to hear her mom having a heated debate on the phone. Despite her mom's demanding job, Ms. Montéz was as easy going as if she lived in the Caribbean, so to hear her arguing tooth and nail down the phone was a very rare sight indeed. This mysterious conversation lasted about a further 15 minutes when Gabbi heard the phone connect loudly with its base.

She tentatively crept downstairs to see if her mom wanted her company or just to be left alone. As she entered the kitchen she saw her mom slumped in a chair, head in one hand, with a pained expression other face, she didn't seem to acknowledge Gabbi's presence at first so she spoke up.

"Mom, are you OK? Mom" When she was given no response Gabbi turned to leave but was stopped by her mom's voice.

"Sweetie, sit down, I've got some bad news." She sat, keeping any thoughts firmly out of her head, not allowing her mind to entertain what possibilities this conversation could continue with. "I know I promised you that I wouldn't allow my company to let me be transferred until you graduate?"

Gabriella nodded affirmative, her heart sinking, understanding where this convosation was indeed going.

"Well, my boss has retracted his word and has set me up this place somewhere else, in Boston and won't allow me to negotiate-its urgent business-I'm stuck, tied at every end, but there's no chance, that call was my last hope. I can't get out any way. I'm so sorry Gabbi I know how happy you are at the moment and I hate to do this. I really do. Forgive me?"

Gabbi had numbed over, tears threatening to coarse down her face were held at bay- for the moment.

But Gabriella didn't cry. She didn't cry when her Dad left and she sure as hell wasn't going to start crying now. Cry for a life she hadn't even lived for a semester, cry for friends she'd known for not even 3 months, cry for Troy-Troy. She took a breath.

"How long do we have left?"

"Two and a half weeks-they've sorted out temporary accommodation for us-until we get settled. Its really nice-if that helps matters…" Ms. Montéz trailed off into silence. She knew how well her daughter had settled in Albuquerque and it broke her heart to tear her away from it, but she was caught at every end imaginable and there was just no way out.

"I think I'm gonna go upstairs"

"OK sweetie-sorry"

Gabbi rose at walked slowly to the kitchen door, her eyes glistening, but her face hard and determined, threatening the tears as though they were a deadly enemy she vowed to overcome.

Over the next couple of days at school, Gabbi was uncharacteristically quiet, Troy and Taylor were the first to notice but when they brought it up they only received a shrug and a quick conversation switch-this however only worried them further.

After lunch, Gabby opened her locker; only to find a note fall out-she managed a small smile when she saw it was from Troy asking her to meet in 'their spot'.

When she arrived at the roof garden she saw Troy sitting on the bench waiting for her, he smiled upon seeing her and motioned for her to sit down.

" Hey, I, um, I spoke to your mom earlier" Dread filled Gabriella's body-he knew! He had to know! She knew she had to tell her friends soon, but she just hadn't been able to, by speaking it aloud it made it real, and that was something Gabbi was not quite ready for.

"Sorry I didn't tell you! I didn't want to-not yet." She blurted out without even thinking-for all she knew her mom hadn't even said anything and by the look on Troy's face, she hadn't.

"I asked her if she knew why you were upset and she said there was something you had to tell me and thought you already had. I don't want to upset you-that's the last thing I want to do, but please Gabriella. Tell me."

It was that moment that she first realised, from that look in his clear eyes and his earnest tone, she first fancied herself in love with Troy Bolton. However joyous this revelation was supposed to be, it only made the news she was about to share and the consequences it would bring come crashing down about her.

"I'm moving. Away" And it was then the tears began to flow. He held her tightly, waiting. The lesson bell came and went and still he held her, going over what she had said, trying to take it in.

Eventually she spoke again "Sorry. Your top's wet"

"It'll dry" he replied quickly.

"Well, mom told me that her work has transferred us, again-on urgent business, to Boston. She did try to keep us here, but it wasn't enough. We leave in about two weeks. Enough time to do the musical and tie up loose ends."

"I don't understand-"

"There's nothing to understand, Troy. I'm leaving. Again. And there's absolutely nothing I, or anyone else, can do about it."

"I'm sure-"

"There's no way around it. Please Troy stop. There are some things in life you just can't win. Can we just enjoy what we've got left? Do the musical. And say good-bye. I'm sorry but there's nothing else for it."

Troy Bolton, unusual as it was, was left speechless, staring into Gabriella's shining, sad eyes wanting so bad to be told this was some cruel joke and everything could return to normal. Even though Troy had only known Gabriella for a short while and they had been together for an insanely brief period, he felt he knew her so well-as corny as it was- but he couldn't help feeling this way, and to have her ripped from him, when everything was right. Well, to use words from Sharpay 'It just didn't seem fair.'

"We won't say good bye Gabbi, not properly anyway. You haven't told anyone else?"

"No."

"Don't you think they deserve to know?"

"Yeah, I suppose."

"Do you wanna go now?"

"Not really, but I guess I should." They stood and paused; Troy caught Gabbi's gaze, and held it, looking deep into her eyes.

"Gabbi, I think, I think I might be in love with you"

Tears were threatening again as she clasped him again "Troy, please don't say that-it just makes it harder." The couple stood there a while longer, trying to come to terms with their inevitable, imminent separation as the sun cast bright rays about the roof of East High separating them from reality, just for a moment.

A/N: Well that was that! I hope you liked it-please drop me a comment! I might be able to get a chapter up once a week-boarding school slightly limits posting time :D but it all depends how people like this, so please tell me your thoughts!!