A/N: This is my other new story ;) It's loosely based off of 'sorry' by the JoBros :P

Author: WiLdCaTgIrL414

Rating: T

Full summary: Troy and Gabriella were inseparable ever since she moved to Albuquerque in the sixth grade. She wore glasses and had braces and was perfectly happy. At the end of their freshman year in high school, she accepts the oppurtunity to go to Cambridge for two years for some pre-college courses. She leaves, promising Troy that nothing would change. He says the same in return. Two years later, she returns transformed on the outside but clearly the same Gabriella. She's heartbroken to realise that Troy's promise had been broken. With one year until she returns to England, can he heal the wounds he caused.

Don't own HSM x

Prologue

I met Troy Bolton in the sixth grade. I was new to Albuquerque and it was my second week at East Middle school. I took my seat in drama, as always, and opened my notebook. Someone yelled 'Heads up!' and I lifted my head just before an orange basketball came flying towards me.

Instinctively, I caught it. My brother's obsession had rubbed off on me and I was able to catch it before it touched my nose. I looked up and saw him staring at me in astonishment. I smiled back and passed it to him. He walked over, basketball in one hand and his notebook in the other, and stared down at me. He sat next me that day. The thing I noticed that made me want the lesson to never end was how he constantly found new ways to make me laugh. We discovered that we were project partners and we were best friends ever since.

Everyday after school, we would both go to one of our houses. It sounds silly and maybe a little repetitive but it was just something we did. I'm shy, believe it or not. I wasn't with Troy. Not on that first day and not on this day. If he's around. If I'm with anyone else, I'm the shyest person you'll ever meet.

That was back in middle school. Four years later, we're freshmen in high school, a few weeks until summer vacation. Everyone is hyping up: what with school dances, exams coming to an end and the basketball championship, there's something for everyone to do.

Especially me.

Well, it's not that I have loads to do, I just have loads of things to prepare for next year.

"Do you not think, Gabby?" Troy's voice breaks through my thoughts.

I turn my head to him and smile at the boy who is walking next to me. He's much taller than me, always has been. He's kind of lanky, too. But, he's awesome. I nod slightly. "Yes, Troy. I do think this summer vacation will be totally great. I mean, why wouldn't it be?"

Troy shrugs and grasps my hand. "I don't know. But, this summer is all about us, right?"

I sigh and nod. "Troy, how many summers have we spent together?" I drop his hand and push my front door open.

"Three." Troy answered immediately as he stepped through the doorway. He clicks the door shut behind us and we drop our bags next to the door. He takes my hand again – something which had shocked me the first time he did it – and we wander through the living room to the back yard. "But, I mean, we're in high school."

"So?" I whisper as we sit down in the large hammock which hangs between two trees. "Why do things have to change between us?"

"It's not us I'm afraid of changing." Troy says softly as he lets go of my hand and wraps his arm around my shoulders instead.

"I get it, Troy. People change as time goes on. And we've all heard the scary stories about couples not surviving high school because of the cliques. But, face it: we've survived our freshman year. The freshman year is always the worst. And you're the jock and I'm the geeky girl with braces. Troy, nothing's going to change. I promise." I say quietly, knowing that the possibility of things changing between us isn't just about cliques in high school anymore. I kiss his cheek, letting my lips stay there for longer than was necessary. The feel of his smooth skin beneath my lips leaves me feeling my heart break in two.

He smirks down at me, holding his free hand up. "Pinkie promise?"

I smile softly and hook my pinkie through his. "Pinkie promise."

Troy's smirk falls from his mouth and his brow creases. "What's wrong?" He whispers.

"What do you mean?" I avoid his eyes, knowing how easily I crumble whilst looking in those pools of sapphire blue.

"I mean," He gently lifts my chin with two fingers, "what's been bugging you all week? Ever since Monday, you've been on edge. I didn't bring it up because I thought you'd tell me."

I swallow and take a deep breath. It's now or never. "Troy, the thing is-"

"Oh, I thought I heard you." My mom's voice exclaims.

We lift our heads and see her on the decking, smiling brightly across at her. Her Latina features are highlighted by the warm, Albuquerque sun and I guess I look pretty much the same. It's uncanny at much alike we are. I sigh and give her a small smile.

"Are you guys hungry? I'm just about to make some snacks." She offers.

I blink twice and Troy and I stay silent.

My mom bites her lip guiltily. "I interrupted something, didn't I?" She asks quietly, her smile fading slightly.

I take a deep breath and shake my head. "We're just talking Mom. It's fine."

She nods slightly at me and I release another sigh, knowing what she's telling me. "I'll be inside, I guess." She goes back into the house, leaving Troy and I alone.

I get to my feet and offer my hand to Troy. "Come on. Homework is calling our names."

Troy groans as he accepts my hand but stays on the hammock. "I hate you."

I smile down at him. "Love you too, Wildcat. Come on." I whine, tugging on my arm.

He finally gets to his feet and returns his arm to my shoulders. We make our way back inside, wandering through the living room once again. "So, what were you going to tell me?"

I bite my lip. Why doesn't the boy ever forget anything I say? "Uh…" I pause while we pick our discarded bags up. "I'll tell you upstairs." I run hurriedly up the flight of stairs and enter my bedroom. I go over to my desk and drop my bag to the floor. I pull my desk drawer open and lift the large white envelope out. I turn it over in my fingers and sigh at the return address.

"What's that?" Troy asks from behind me.

I turn around and place my hand over my heart. "Troy, you scared me."

"What is it?" He presses, gently prying the envelope from my small fingers. I swallow a large lump back down my throat as he turns it over in his hands and reads the return address I had read just seconds ago. "Cambridge?" He whispers, his eyes glued to the paper. He finally lifts his head and I grip my desk for support at the upset look he gives me. "Why is Cambridge writing to you?"

I take a deep breath and walk over to sit on my bed. Troy sits next to me and, for once, he leaves my hand alone. "Troy, they're offering me the chance to go there for some pre-college classes for two years."

Troy stares at me with wide eyes. "Two years?"

I nod. "I haven't accepted."

"Why? You found out on Monday, right?" Troy exclaims. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I knew what you would say." I whisper. "I guess I just don't know what's in high school."

"Well, of course you should go. How many students are chosen?" He asks quietly, though the demanding tone is evident.

"Thirty." I reply softly.

"Bella," I feel a small smile tug at the corners of my mouth at the sound of the name only he uses for me, "that's amazing. You can't turn this down." Troy tells me sternly. "Please go. I know how much you like Cambridge. You'll be in England…so what? I'll call you, I promise. And nothing will change, remember?" He finally takes my hand and kisses it. "We'll be fine."