This isn't the best writing I've done, but I love this story so much, I just have to put it up. After the first two chapters, you'll see the difference in my writing. And it gets better as the story progresses. Trust me.
This is not AU, it takes place 5 years after graduation. Obviously, something has happened to Troy and Gabriella but you'll have to figure out what it is all by yourself. :) Oh, and everything in italics is in the past.
Please review!
A/N: Should I continue writing this? It doesn't seem like too many people are interested. I'll probably just put it on hiatus. Tell me what you think.
Chapter One
Gabriella Montez was having trouble dragging her heavy, scuffed-up suitcase through the large glassy doors to her new residence at Lava Springs Country Club, and no one wanted to help. Big surprise.
No one wanted to have anything to do with her ever since it happened and perhaps even before that. Ever since that day, that hour, that moment in time; her life had been radically altered. Altered in a way that could not ever be reversed. But Gabriella knew she could do no more than live with the changes chance had slung her—whether she liked them or not.
Her hand shook fervently as she reached for the handle and slowly grasped it in a way almost like she feared it would coil back suddenly. It had been so long, and now with the most important piece of the puzzle missing, her fear of reminiscing was huge inside her throat—playing through her every action. But with strength she didn't know she possessed, Gabriella pulled open the door and stepped inside. And before it registered in her own head, she was already being registered at the front desk.
Be strong, she told herself. She hoped she could see the ones who'd invited her here without breaking down in painfully beautiful memories that rotted inside her broken heart. If she just didn't think about why she was here and what had caused it—she would be fine. But doing that is like trying to forget what you want at a shoe store. The evidence is abundant and engulfs you—making it anything but easy to push away.
Finally, the receptionist was finished with entering Gabriella's name and now handed her a key. Amongst her limp heart strings and nonexistent courage, the key felt strong and supportive in her palm.
"You're staying on the fourth floor, Ms. Montez," the desk lady, Ms. Samantha, informed her.
Gabriella nodded, clutched the golden key, and picked up her bag again, heading for the elevator she knew, and now hated, too well. She had never been to the fourth floor, though. Sure, Gabriella had been to the second floor plenty of times—where the kitchen met the dining area and her heart connected in song with … someone now long gone.
She pressed the white button for her floor, and held her head low. She sure did remember that floor. But before her thoughts traveled too far back, and just as the doors were closing, a hand sliced through them.
"Hold it," he said, squeezing in and taking his place next to Gabriella. She didn't even glance up all the way. She was still trying to steady her quivering fingertips for what she knew would be waiting for her when she reached her floor. Apparently though, this man wanted to make small talk that she was just not up to and tried her best to block out.
"Hi," he whispered. She nodded in response—without looking at him. "I'm sure you'll like it here at Lava Springs," he tried again. Gabriella noticed he was still whispering and she wanted nothing more than to leave, but something was tugging at the corners of her mind, refusing to let her cut the conversation short.
"I've been here before," she said quietly, examining her chewed up nails. "And, actually, I'm also friends with—"
"Ryan Evans?" he asked with a full volume voice that carved its way to her very core. She gasped and finally looked up into the first pair of friendly eyes she'd seen in a while.
Ryan was smiling down warmly at her, pulling off his hat in respect. Only, this action slapped Gabriella with even more surprise. He had dyed his hair to a dark chocolate brown that shaped his face beautifully. He looked so much older and different that it shamed Gabriella for letting so much time pass before she and … before she had visited.
"You dyed your hair," she said, stating the obvious. She would've said more, or something else for that matter, but the years between them had made it awkward. He just nodded and then glanced back.
"It's good to have you back, Gabs," Ryan smiled, as he leant down and hugged her close. For the second time in an hour, tears were again streaming down her reddened cheeks.
When the bell dinged to the fourth floor, Ryan handed Gabriella his handkerchief from inside his jacket. She took it with gratitude as they stepped out, and Ryan brought over a luggage cart. Gabriella watched as he loaded her suitcase onto it and stepped in sync with her.
They stood in a long hall with four or five doors positioned against it. The walls were stark white and the beige carpeted-hallway was filled with an eerie silence. Even her sniffles seemed to echo as far as they could. Ryan obviously heard them, as she tried to wipe away the last of her tears. He put his arm around her in a comforting gesture.
"Hey, I don't want to see anymore tears," he whispered gently. "This isn't a place for crying. It's a place of…," he paused, searching for the right word, "recovery."
Gabriella looked up at him in amazement. He was still the same nutty Ryan Evans she knew back in high school—a friend with his own funky style. And the man she saw before her today, no matter hair color or shape of face, was no different.
"You haven't changed a bit," she smiled. "Still the same old Ryan."
He slid his hands in his pocket and gave her a strange look.
"Really, you think so?" he asked, stretching his arms half-way out and glancing down at himself. "I was hoping for something more like, 'Oh, Ryan, you've grown into such a big, strong man,'" he said, making a muscular pose that resembled something like a Greek statue. Gabriella smiled and shook her head.
"Yep, still the same," she giggled. Finally Ryan calmed down and strolled her luggage cart down the hallway towards her suite.
They reached a sparkling clean door, with a shiny brass doorknob, and as she glanced up, Gabriella suddenly felt the kind and warm preparation that had so obviously gone into her, now, not-so-unexpected visit. In a wide plastic plate, lay a similar brass-colored plaque with the words, Ms. Montez, carved on it. She was breathless as she looked back to Ryan. Gabriella gulped down the tears that tried to escape her again. Maybe her first instinct was right.
"Ryan, I can't accept this—I'm just here for the job," she sighed. He unlocked the door and opened it wide.
"No—you're not. You're a special guest … who just so happens to work here, too," he smiled. Gabriella did less so. "And even if you do work here, you'll just be a good friend to me." He paused and stared directly into Gabriella's eyes. "And don't you forget that." At that, Ryan gave a small grin and left his friend gazing ahead.
Although Gabriella appreciated everything he and Sharpay were doing for her, Ryan was simultaneously making it so difficult for her to let go of the haunting reasons responsible for her summer stay. She didn't want to feel out of the ordinary, like she had just been through an ordeal and should deserve special treatment. Even if it was true. All she really wanted was to just get back to her life.
But as Gabriella entered the huge King Suite, with a kitchen, living room area, full-sized bathroom, and extra-large master bedroom; the truth began to sink in. Maybe the best place to forget wasn't where all those lurking memories first began.
Having unpacked all her clothing articles and other necessities into her new Oakwood bureau, Gabriella sighed heavily and sat down on the silk covers making up the King-Sized feather bed. From the outside, she may have looked normal, maybe even peaceful—but inside, her heart was near exploding point and beating quicker than its usual rate. She was feeling sick all of a sudden, and if she didn't let out her anxiety soon—she would personally throw herself out the bedroom window.
Breathing hard and fast, Gabriella had had enough of her own drama. Before all of this life altering, she never liked dramatic goodbyes and hellos, so at a time like this—she wanted the angst gone more than anything else. Determined, Gabriella reached over, grasped the big soft pillow, smothered her face in it, and screamed as loud as her lungs would allow.
Gasping for air, she whirled around and beat the pillow against the floor, releasing her bent-up anger, strife, and memories out on it. Yes, it was a girly, emotional thing, but hey—what could she say? She was a girl with a lot of raging emotions.
Finally out of energy to destroy the poor pillow any further, Gabriella instead threw it on the ground and sat on top of it, a few tears leaking out. Forgetting was harder than she thought—especially when everywhere she could think of to turn to was filled with good times. But maybe it was the fact that she was purposely trying to forget that was stopping her. Forgetting takes time and happens when you least expect it—when you're not even expecting anything, for that matter.
That's it, she thought. Just live for and in the moment. Maybe she could solve her problems that way. And maybe for the first time in months, she wouldn't be bogged down with her torturous past.
______________________________________________
"Well, how far are you?" she sighed into the phone, obviously exasperated.
"Gabby, relax—I'll be there," Troy chuckled. "Cut me a little slack, alright? I've kind of had a tough week."
"Yeah, I could see how eating cake and doing the electric slide with Coach Bolton at your twice-removed, great, great cousin Darla's fourth wedding would be tiring," she snapped back sarcastically. As soon as she heard the brief, but injured scoff from Troy, she sighed and bit her lip in regret.
"That's not fair. You-you don't even know what I've been through. The only reason I'm even driving in rain, sleet, and snow is because of you."
"Troy, I asked you not to go—this is an important week for us and I really needed you here," Gabriella's hand slapped against her knee.
"I'm sorry, but…" Troy sighed, "I needed to be here, too." Gabriella suddenly began to cry.
"Why?" she hollered at him through her tears.
"Gabby, it's not just something I can say over the phone. I need you to understand that." Gabriella wiped away her teardrops and caressed her forehead with her fingers.
"What are you talking about? Did something happen?" Now, she was a little worried. She hadn't liked his tone; it scared her. There was a long pause on the line.
"I'll see you later," Troy finally said, ignoring her questions, or rather, avoiding them. Next thing Gabriella knew was the unforgiving dial-tone droning in her ear.
____________________________________________
Jolting Gabriella awake, a crashing sound echoed through her suite. She rubbed at her eyes that were mysteriously wet, and sat up, yawning.
"Would you watch it, please?" she heard Ryan hiss.
"Ugh—it's not my fault this place is obsessed with these stupid little statues they insist on sticking everywhere." Gabriella detected a familiar voice bite back. Their footsteps suddenly became quieter as she knew they got closer to her door. Gabriella sighed—she didn't know if she was ready for this—but she reminded herself not to think about it anymore. Just deal.
Someone knocked on her bedroom door. Gabriella cleared her throat, stood up, and opened the door wearily. Before she could even process the tall, gorgeous blonde, the girl's arms were wrapped around Gabriella's neck; she staggered back.
"Sharpay? What're you doing?" she croaked out. Sharpay let go and stepped back.
"I might be selfish and conceited at times," she snapped, but then paused and her features molded into that sincere person she buried underneath it all, "but I'm not completely heartless." Gabriella gave a big, slow nod, and Ryan flashed a small smile.
"Oh, look at you!" Sharpay squealed, and held her at arm's length, smiling as she gave Gabriella a look down. But as Sharpay glanced up into her friend's stunned brown eyes, her face saddened. She placed a hand on Gabriella's cheek and clicked her tongue in a pitying fashion. "Have you been crying?"
Gabriella quickly, but kindly, moved Sharpay's hand off. For a split second, she glanced back towards Ryan, who stood leaning against the doorway—watching it all with crossed arms.
"No," she said quietly. "I just woke up, is all."
"Oh, I see."
Gabriella tugged at her purple tank top she had so casually thrown on, and now felt somewhat underdressed. Sharpay had on a short silver skirt, a nice expensive silver jacket to match, and an extravagantly braided hairdo. Ryan wore his famous beige hat—Gabriella specifically remembered it from when he helped them practice for the … she did not finish her thought.
"Well, you know, it is okay to—"
"I thought you were back at college," Gabriella cut in quickly with a curious tone; talking of and to Sharpay. The best place to distract the girl was with a mirror. Sharpay shrugged with pursed lips.
"Yeah, well—I told them I needed a break to extend the wingspan of my creative spirit," she said, as if people just went around speaking Shakespearian all the time. Gabriella looked over at Ryan with a what-exactly-does-that-mean expression. He smiled and slapped a hand on Sharpay's shoulder.
"That's code for: I missed my brother too much," he whispered with a grin. Gabriella chuckled. Sharpay, however, glared and gritted her teeth at him for interrupting her.
"Not you," she hissed. "I came back for um," Sharpay turned back and casually glanced over Gabriella, "…you," she added a little head-bob to that word. Gabriella sighed; she had a feeling that was coming.
"Gabriella," Sharpay changed her tone to a deeply concerned one, gripping her shoulders and staring straight into her eyes. Gabriella gulped. "I just want you to know, if you ever need a shoulder to—"
"Thanks," Gabriella cut her off, "but, no thanks." Sharpay eased up on her grasp dejectedly as she stood back and watched her with brows that creased in a curious fashion. "I'm fine, guys. Really. I just came here for a job."
Gabriella looked between both of them, as she sat on the edge of the bed. Sharpay bought it all the way, but Ryan sighed and just accepted her lie like he knew he still had a lot more work to do. Gabriella just hoped that occupation didn't consist of trying to get her to have a good cry and let it all out. Because she did that a long time ago, and she was finished with looking over her shoulder.
"So," Sharpay chirped. "Let's go get your uniform, then!" She whipped her luscious locks around and trotted out the door, expecting Ryan and Gabriella to follow the leader.
Gabriella glanced out her window at the sunset that was slashed with a gray sky and drizzling rain. With no time to lose, she grabbed her denim jacket off the floor, threw it on, and passed by Ryan. Well, tried to, anyway.
"Hey, Gabby," he reached for her arm. She glanced back, blank faced.
"What is it?"
"Just … don't take it personally. Sharpay is and will always be Sharpay."
"I'm fine," she said, her emotionless tone in sync with her expression. Ryan sighed.
"I hate to be the one to say this but … it's only been two months—you can't possibly be fine." He gazed at her sincerely, his hands itching to comfort her.
"Two months is enough time," she said strongly. "I've had more goodbyes than you think." When Gabriella finished her sentence, she stood motionless. The thought of saying goodbye was cast in a whole new light. Every other time it was never for good. But now that she had experienced one like it, she realized she was never going to learn her lesson. And now, she had the rest of her life to regret it.
Suddenly she wanted to cry so badly, it was draining her strength. She was having flashbacks of the very moment she found out—and the only thing worse than experiencing it for the first time, is reliving it over and over again without a shoulder to lay her head on. Gabriella stared at her quivering hands—and knew the floodwaters were about to break loose any second. Until suddenly….
"Gabby," Ryan called. She quickly looked up and let out the breath she'd been holding. "We should probably find Sharpay."
"Oh, um, right," she tried to smile, but instead just nodded and trailed after Ryan. She hadn't realized, until now, how fragile she really was. How not okay she was feeling. How much she missed her friends—especially Ryan Evans. If there was going to be anyone breaking her out of this tormenting cycle, she knew from this moment forward—it was going to be him.
