Chapter 1

I loved you. No matter how much I shied away from all the mistakes you made, as vital as they were, you ruined my perfect façade. "Please, take me back!" You had cried when I last saw you, in the cold November rain.

Did you even consider how hard it was right there, to say no? Because as much as it hurts you to cry and beg me for forgiveness, it hurts me twice as much. My last memory of you is walking into your room on a surprise visit to you in college.

The worst thing is wondering what could have been, if that hadn't of happened, if you hadn't betrayed my trust.

Walking into the nightclub with Sharpay and Taylor, I glanced around to look at the crowd already gathered. Fresh out of college, I was still loving the nights out with the girls, the opportunity to go crazy and get a little drunk. If you'd of seen me seven years ago, when I was fifteen, you wouldn't believe that I would be like this. I was geeky Gabriella Montez, the mathematician and scientist. I've changed since then. When I was eighteen and moving to college I wised up. I ditched the knee length skirts and baggy shirts for more flattering clothes, adopting a more carefree approach to life. This had worked until my last year of college, and when I was twenty I broke up with the person I'd always assumed I'd marry, and as a consequence not trusted anyone since. Now I'm in the hottest nightclub in Alberquque, single, and dressed in my favourite LBD.

The music was pounding, and we moved in time to the beat, fitting in easily with the packed crowd. Everyone got an alcoholic drink, except me as I was driving, and together we settled to watch the other groups.

All of a sudden there was an arm around my shoulder. "HEY GUYS!" Martha yelled above the music, pulling us all into warm hug. Kelsi gave us hugs too, and I patted her on the back, handing her favourite drink to her.

"Ryan is at home complaining about being left alone on girls night." Kelsi informed us, watching as Sharpay sighed. We had few rules for our girls nights, and she knew her twin brother better than any of us, and had no patience when he disobeyed our rules.

"He knows the rules." She shrugged, and Kelsi nodded, looking down into her drink.

"I know. I keep reminding him."

"Guys, look over there!" Taylor butted in. She pointed over to the bar where Zeke (Sharpay's husband), Ryan (Kelsi's husband), Jason (Martha's boyfriend), Chad (Taylor's fiancé) and someone I didn't recognise were sat. I would have laughed if I didn't get a slight pang of jealousy at the girls having someone there.

Kelsi's jaw dropped as she caught sight of the husband she'd thought was at home. "Aww… Hell no." Martha fumed. "It's girl's night!" She looked as if she was ready to go and murder Jason for showing up. Of our girls nights, the one rule was no boyfriends/ fiancé's/ husbands aloud. The night was here so we could see each other, and we'd had problems in the past with partners coming over and either dragging us away to fuck us, or getting in a fight with anyone who said anything like, 'she's hot.' We had past experience of Chad landing a drunk guy in hospital because he was checking Taylor out. And then nearly landing another guy in hospital too because he looked at me and said, 'I'd tap that'. Chad's the overprotective brother I never had.

"I'll sort it." I smiled. The girls looked over at me. "I'll sort the guys out. I don't have anyone over there, so it's only fair." I pointed out. Taylor nodded, and I walked over to the boys.

"Hey guys!" I smiled, and Chad's friend froze. The rest of the guys smiled at me sheepishly, and I raised my eyebrows at all of them.

"Sis!" Chad said quickly, hugging me. "How's Antony doing?" He was referring to my recent ex, who Chad didn't know I'd split up with yet.

"I broke up with him." I said, smiling sheepishly. Antony had been a lovely guy, but he just hadn't been the one for me. They never were.

"Gabby!" Chad frowned at me. "He was a nice one."

"Anyway," I backtracked quickly, turning away from Chad, who was now tutting disapprovingly. "To get to the point, you know the rules! Why are you here?" As the words left my mouth, I noticed the mystery guy turn around. My jaw dropped.

"No." I backed away. Chad placed his hand on my shoulder as I saw the shiny blue eyes that I had avoided for two years. Face to face with me was Troy Bolton, the guy I'd spent five years in a relationship with, had all my firsts with, and had thought I was going to marry. I felt tears come to my eyes as he rose from his seat and reached out for me. Coming back to earth, I recoiled away from his touch, snapping back to earth. "LEAVE ME FUCKING ALONE!" I screamed, and Chad let go, in surprise.

I backed away from the boys quickly, noticing them all stare at me in shock, and ran over to the girls, close to tears. Looking concerned, Taylor, being the mother hen as usual, caught me up in a hug. "What's the matter?" She asked, pulling me against her.

"I need to go." I replied, muffled against her body, and just as Sharpay was about to protest, I turned to leave. I didn't even make it a metre before Taylor caught my arm.

"Gabs, what's the matter?" Her concerned face brought fresh tears to my eyes, and I shrugged, a mixture of angry, hurt and hate all washing over me.

"Your fiancé brought Troy here." I managed to get out, and Taylor's expression dropped into one of shock.

"I didn't even know he was visiting." She pleaded, and I shook my head.

"I just need to go." I twisted out of her grip and quickly made my way towards the door, turning back in time to see Taylor yelling at Chad. With Troy nowhere in sight I began walking towards the door once more, only stopping when I was outside, letting the fresh air hit me so I could finally breathe. I carried on towards my car, thankful that I'd decided against drinking tonight.

"Gabriella!"

I stopped in my tracks. I hadn't heard that voice in two years, and it was still as effective. His voice was deeper, huskier, but it was still recognisable as the one who was saying 'I love you' what felt like yesterday. Ignoring the voice, I forced my legs to move on, hearing the calls of my name still following me. I heard footsteps and sped up my walking, making it to my car and climbing in quickly, starting up the engine and only looking back when I could see him in the rear view mirror. Today wasn't the day for this reunion.

I only allowed myself to breathe again when I was safely at home, the door locked between me and the rest of the world. There, I let myself sink to the floor and sob the tears I'd been saving.