Walk Away

Troy and Gabriella were in their final year at Duke University. They had been happily seeing each other since their junior year of high school. They had even been talking about getting engaged and an apartment together after graduation. However, Troy and Gabriella hadn't been spending much time together because of final exams and the upcoming play-offs. Troy was already a draft pick and Gabriella had been accepted to John Hopkins medical school.

Gabriella was studying in the library when she heard something disturbing. "I'm telling you exactly as I heard it. Troy Bolton is sleeping with someone on the cheerleading squad." Whispered a girl to another girl, who were sitting at the table next to Gabriella's.

Gabriella stopped reading midsentence and began to eavesdrop on the conversation. "Really! I thought he had a girlfriend. How exactly do you know all this?" The second girl asked.

"Rebecca said that Amanda told Mia, who told Caitlyn, who told Greg, who told me that he was seen leaving practice with a cheerleader the other day." The first girl said.

"How do you know that he wasn't walking her back to her dorm? I hear Troy Bolton is a real gentleman." The second girl said. Gabriella agreed with her but didn't say it aloud.

"Because they were seen heading to his dorm and not hers, whoever she is." The first girl said.

Gabriella couldn't bear to listen anymore so she packed up her stuff and went back to his dorm. She couldn't believe what she had just heard so she decided to go see Troy and talk to him about. For all she knew, they were study partners.

Gabriella walked to his dorm and finally made it to his room. Loud rock music was blasting from his room and the door was locked. That's weird. Troy never locks his door before curfew, Gabriella thought. She took out they key Troy gave her and unlocked the door. She pushed the door open and immediately froze. Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.

Troy and Katie Reynolds, a cheerleader, were both shirtless and were all over each other. Gabriella wanted to run away crying but her legs wouldn't budge. Yet for some reason, she felt more angry than sad. Gabriella quietly closed the door behind her and walked over to the radio on the dresser.

Katie giggled and that infuriated Gabriella even more. Neither Troy nor Katie had noticed her yet. Gabriella picked up the stereo and slammed it down as hard as she could onto the floor, breaking it. Troy and Katie split and were both shocked to see Gabriella.

Troy stood their dumbstruck. Gabriella stood there, her eyes filled with tears and anger. Gabriella then looked at Katie, who was trying to quickly put her shirt back on. "You bitch!" Gabriella said and then punched Katie right on the nose. Katie grabbed hold of her nose and fell down to the floor.

Gabriella was going to punch her again but Troy pulled her back. "Gabi, stop it!" Troy cried. Gabriella noticed that Troy was able to put on a shirt during the confusion. She then pushed Troy back into a dresser and stormed out of his dorm, wiping the tears from her eyes.

A few minutes later, Troy caught up to her. "Gabi, will you just wait a minute." She ignored him and kept on walking. He then grabbed her arms and she had to stop because of his strong grip. "Will you just stop and listen to me!" Gabriella turned around and glared at him. "What you saw…it wasn't what it looked like." Troy said.

Gabriella exploded. "Wasn't what it looked? Wasn't what it looked like! I just caught you with some blond Barbie and that's all you have to say! It's not what it looks like! Gabriella cried.

Troy realized his mistake. "I admit what I did was stupid but I never meant to hurt you, Gabi. I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Troy said and tried to caress her face.

Gabriella pushed his hand away. "It's a bit late for that. I never thought you could or would hurt me, Troy. How could you do this to me?" Gabriella tried to walk away but Troy grabbed her arm again. "Let me go, Troy!" Gabriella cried.

Troy let her go. "I wasn't thinking when I slept with Katie. And I am so sorry that I hurt you. I will do whatever you want for as long as you want to make this up to you. I am just asking that you give me a second chance. We can put this behind us." Troy said and took her hand. With his other hand, he caressed her face.

Tears rolled down Gabriella's face as she looked into his pleading blue eyes. "That's just it, Troy. I don't think I can ever put this behind me. I don't think I want to give you a second chance." Gabriella said.

"What are you saying?" Troy said, confused.

"I'm saying goodbye, Troy. I hope you find what you're looking for." Gabriella said. With tears still rolling down her face, she let go of his hand and kissed him on the cheek. She walked away with Troy standing there frozen.

"Gabriella, wait!" Troy ran in front of her. "I know what I want. I want you. Please don't go." Troy begged. He grabbed her shoulders and then she used all her strength to push him back onto the grass. Gabriella walked fast in the direction of her dorm. "Gabriella!"

Then, all of a sudden, the sprinklers turned on and cold water soaked Troy. He didn't even seem to care at all. Troy just put his hands in his pockets and watched the love of his life walk out of his life… Or so he thought.

Some time later, Troy was drafted to the L.A. Clippers. Troy was seeing Katie Reynolds on and off (mostly off). Katie became an actress and model. However, Zeke Baylor, Jason Cross, and Chad Danforth were drafted to the Phoenix Suns. Gabriella went to medical school.

They thought they would never see each other again.