My little nerd

I was shooting hoops in my driveway, just thinking about Gabriella again. Being far away while we went to College eventually took its toll, and we separated, but that was years ago, and I at least, was a completely different man.

"Daddy, you teach me?" My little boy asked me.

"Sure." I answered him, before then getting the little basketball hoop, and setting it up.

I began giving my son basketball lessons, but my mind wasn't really on it. It was on the past, about five years in the past, the day I'd broken up with Gabriella. I'd been so upset, that I'd gotten drunk and apparently had a one night stand with some girl who'd been obsessed with me since I'd gotten to school. Her name was Maria, she was Latina and very pretty, however, I just wasn't into her. She came to me three months later, saying she was pregnant and that she'd lost her virginity with me, and so I was defiantly the father.

Being the simply boy I am, I decided that despite my feelings toward the girl personally, I had to be a good father to the kid, so I tried to be friends with Maria, until she told me she really didn't want the kid, and wanted to party. She told me that she was going to party no matter what, and then told me she was going to give the baby up as soon as it was born. She didn't even want to hold it, it repulsed her. I told her, that no way in hell would I allow her to do that, and I'd take complete care of the baby. And so, six months later, Austin Michael, was born.

I dropped out of college, and moved back to my old house with my parents, and began going to community college, I was always either at home, college, or working. About two years ago, I'd gotten a good enough job to support Austin and me on my own, so we moved out, though only a few miles from my parents. Chad was still my best friend, and we saw lots of each other, but that was about the only person I saw besides my family. Just then I heard a loud engine turn into my driveway.

"Uncle Chad!" Austin screamed before dropping the ball and running over to see Chad.

"Hey kid!" Chad answered sweeping off his feet and lifting him above his head.

I laughed at the two, while Taylor and her friend got out of the car and began talking. Taylor and Chad had gotten married about a year or so ago, and were just as happy as ever.

"Aunty Tay!" Austin said when Chad finally put him down and began walking over to talk to me.

"Hey man." He said before giving me high five and a hug, "everything been okay?"

He looked into my eyes expecting the truth; I looked away scrunching my eyes to look into the sun, and lied, "Just perfect."

"You know you don't have to lie right? It's okay if you're still having trouble being a single parent." He said patting my shoulder.

"I know, it's just, Austin has to be at school early because the bus apparently doesn't pick up kids here, and I have to be a work before his school starts, and I've been late three times in the last week… it's just all so stressing, you'd think I'd be used to this by now, wouldn't you?" I laughed slightly, however I still felt as though I was cheating my son of something he should have.

"Well, you're life is about to get a lot more stressful." He answered looking down at the ground, and away from me.

"Why?"

"Someone from our graduating class is moving back." He answered looking at me, and raising his eyebrows a little.

"Look, I know Sharpay is bad and everything, but really she's not that bad, and it's not like I have to have constant communication with her, I don't even have to see her if I don't want to." I said laughing at the dramatics Chad was putting into this.

"Not Sharpay, look at the car." He said gesturing toward the car with his chin.

I looked over, and saw Taylor's friend playing with Austin, she was playing chase or tag or something. She had long, curly dark hair, and was wearing a light baby blue dress with white flats. Her laugh sounded like wonderful music to my ears, and then she looked up at Taylor, her eyes shining and happy. I looked at her, scrutinizing and saw something extremely familiar.

"Chad, is that-"I started to ask, but he cut me off.

"Gabriella? Yeah." He answered nodding.

"What's she doing here? I thought she had some fancy job in New York, did you lie to me?" I asked, jokingly I knew Chad wouldn't lie, and he had been telling me what Gabby was doing for the past few years.

"She quit it. Apparently she wants to sing, not be the smarty pants anymore. She's coming here to teach drama at the high school. She doesn't want to be in the spotlight of anything anymore." He sighed as though he thought she was doing something she'd regret.

I looked back at her, "Do you think?"

"Troy, no. She got her heartbroken in New York, which was part of the reason for her leaving. She wanted a change. " He looked sad.

Well, I'll just have to change that then won't I?

Gabriella's POV

I was playing with the little boy, and having the best time ever. God, I love kids. How could Kyle have decided he never wanted children? They were the best thing ever.

"So Tay, whose house are we at now?" I asked when I ran out of energy and the little boy ran over to his father and Chad.

"Chad's best friend's house." She stated not looking at me, but instead looking at the fading sunset.

"But isn't Chad's best friend, Troy?" I asked, confused.

She simply nodded which made me ask "HE HAS A CHILD?"

"Yeah…" she said, sounding guilty, like she felt bad she hadn't told me that certain thing about Troy.

"Who's his wife?" I asked slightly jealous.

"None, he had a one night stand after ya'll broke up because he was so hurt, and it ended with Austin; however the girl wanted nothing to do with the kid, so he quit college, moved back here and went to community college."

I couldn't believe Troy had a kid, but he had to love him. How could he not? I sighed, I'd almost wished that when I moved back I'd get to sweep Troy off his feet and get him back. That however didn't seem like it would happen, his kid already knew me. I still loved him, and he still looked gorgeous.

He was still tan and toned, his skinny black jeans hugged his body just right, and his vintage tee looked wonderful on him. His golden brown hair looked like it hadn't been cut in a while, and had streaks of lighter gold in his hair.

I still love that boy.

A/N: Like it? I think I do. (: