Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical. It belongs to Disney. The title comes from the song sung by Vanessa Hudgens.
Don't Ask Why
Prologue
Gabriella Montez Bolton wrapped her arms around herself as the rain poured down from heaven. She stood in the midst of the largest cemetery in Albuquerque surrounded by a crowd of people, yet she felt all alone. Her long curly hair soon hung in soaking wet tangles over her shoulders and her black dress was plastered to her slender body. The raindrops mingled with the tears that streaked down her face.
Troy was gone. Her husband of two years had gone to the grocery story to get bread and had stumbled into the middle of an armed robbery when he walked into the store. He had been shot three times and was killed instantly. When the detectives showed up on her doorstep with the heartbreaking news, Gabriella had collapsed into the nearest one's arms, sobbing in disbelief.
Now she just felt numb. She still couldn't believe any of this was really happening. It was hard to imagine that Troy's body was really pale and cold and lying in the wooden box that was getting ready to be placed in the ground. No, he should be curling up in bed with her this afternoon after making sweet love as the rain pounded against the window panes.
A gut-wrenching sob shook her shoulders as the August clouds poured rain down even harder on the mourners. Gabriella felt her mom wrap an arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into her comforting presence. The young widow felt so cold and suddenly she was trembling all over as the minister uttered his final words. "Ashes to ashes and dust to dust." Ashes were scattered over the lid of the coffin and the rain quickly washed them away.
People were moving forward and hugging Gabriella then along with the Boltons who moved to stand next to her. They were just as grief-stricken as she was, going through the motions in a state of shock. Gabriella couldn't have repeated what anyone said to her; she just nodded and smiled when necessary, hugging and shaking the hands of those who came to pay their respects to Troy's family.
Finally, as emotional exhaustion was sapping the last of her strength, she found herself looking into the tired cocoa eyes of Chad Danforth. Without a word, he folded her into a warm embrace, and Troy Bolton's two best friends cried together, unsure of what the days ahead might hold.
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: True chapters of this story will be longer; the prologue was only to set the stage for what will happen later. Please let me know if there is enough interest to continue this fic. Thanks so much for reading! Reviews are greatly appreciated.