A 23-year-old brunette, with a tear-stained face and puffy, red eyes stepped off the train at Albuquerque train station, dragging a small duffel bag behind her. She was tired and was in need of comfort and was about to break down any second. It was clear that she had been through a lot.
Gabriella Montez looked around the familiar place. She did not know why she had chosen to come back to Albuquerque. She had not kept in touch with her friends. It was not like she had not tried, but, as time passed, it became harder and harder each day, so, finally, they had all given up. The harder she had tried to hold on, the easier it had been to lose her friends.
Gabriella saw the coffee shop across the train station. It was where she broke up with Troy because her mom had gotten transferred again and they were going to move, again.
FLASHBACK
"Troy, we need to talk," Gabriella told her boyfriend, as soon as he sat down across her.
"What's wrong?" Troy asked.
"I'm moving," Gabriella replied.
"What?" Troy gasped. "But…"
"I…uh…I think, maybe, we should break up," Gabriella whispered.
"Gabi, we can handle the long distance relationship thing," Troy said.
"No, Troy," Gabriella cried. "Maybe you can, but, I can't. I really want to do this, but, it's just…I don't even know where I'm going yet and we'll be thousands of miles apart and you'll meet someone and…"
"Gabriella, I love you," Troy declared, loudly, making everyone near them stare.
"I love you, too, Troy," Gabriella said, softly, as tears streamed down her face. "I always will love you, and who knows, maybe along the road, we'll hook up again."
"Okay," Troy nodded. He held up his arms for a hug. "Come here."
"I'll miss you, Troy," Gabriella whispered as she hugged him.
"Remember, Gabi," Troy said. "Whenever you need me, I'm right here."
END FLASHBACK
A few tears rolled down her cheeks as she walked into the coffee shop. She stood at the doorway, for a minute before making her way to the back of the shop. She sat down at an empty table. A waitress walked over to her and Gabriella ordered an iced latte. Before returning back to the kitchen, the waitress went to the next table. Gabriella was not paying any attention, but, she could not help overhearing her talk to the man and the man replying.
"Is there anything else I can do, sir?" the waitress asked.
"Uh…no, thanks, I'm good," the man answered.
Gabriella gasped when she heard the voice. It was a familiar one. In fact, it was too familiar. Gabriella turned around to see none other than…
"Troy Bolton?" Gabriella breathed.
"Huh?" Troy looked up and saw Gabriella staring at him. "Gabriella?"
"Oh, Troy," Gabriella cried as she flung herself at him.
"Hey, Gabs," Troy whispered. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Gabriella said, pulling away from him and sitting down. "Sorry about that. But, really, nothing's wrong."
"Gabriella," Troy said, warningly.
That was all it took. Instantly, Gabriella broke down and she started crying uncontrollably. Troy looked at her in surprise. He sat down beside her and gave her a hug.
"Gabi, what's wrong?" he whispered.
"Everything," Gabriella cried.
"Uh, okay," Troy said, slowly.
At that moment, the waitress walked over to Gabriella's table with her drink.
"She'll take that to go," Troy said. The waitress nodded. "Thank you."
"What are you doing?" Gabriella asked, wiping her tears away.
"Obviously, you can't stay here," Troy said. "Come on, Gabi. Talk to me. What's wrong?"
"I…er…I was in Chicago the past five years," Gabriella began just as the waitress brought her back her coffee. Gabriella took it and then she reached for her purse and paid the waitress.
"Come on," Troy said, grabbing Gabriella's duffel bag. "Where are you staying? You can tell me what's wrong on the way."
Gabriella stood up and then stopped. She looked at Troy. "Is everyone else really mad at me?"
"No, of course not," Troy replied. "We all really missed you, Gabi. They'll be thrilled to know that you are back in town."
"Where does Taylor live, now?" Gabriella asked. "I was hoping to talk to her and maybe stay at her place for a night."
"She's on her honeymoon with Chad," Troy replied. "In Hawaii."
"What?" Gabriella asked in surprise. "They got married? How about the rest of the gang?"
"Sharpay and Zeke got married and they are in Los Angeles, right now. So is Ryan. Sharpay and Ryan are in the show business and Zeke opened up a bakery," Troy answered. "Then, Jason and Kelsi are also there where Kelsi is now a composer. They're married, too."
"Oh, yeah," Gabriella said. "I saw one of her shows."
"Me, too," Troy said.
"So, I have no place to stay?" Gabriella said more to herself than to Troy.
"You can stay at my place," Troy offered.
"But, your parents…" Gabriella looked a bit doubtful.
Troy chuckled as he put his arm around her. "You really didn't expect me to stay at my parents' house for the rest of my life, did you?" he asked. "I bought an apartment."
"Oh," Gabriella smiled a bit.
"So, you want to stay at my place?" Troy asked.
"For a few nights, if you don't mind," Gabriella replied.
"Why would I mind if you crashed at my place?" Troy asked. "Come on."
Troy drove Gabriella to his apartment. They did not talk much on the way. When Troy asked Gabriella what was wrong she did not reply so Troy left her alone. Troy walked into the apartment, carrying Gabriella's bag and Gabriella followed.
"So, this is it," Troy said. It was a small apartment with a single room. There was a small kitchen and a dining table. There was also a television with a couch.
"Um, can I use your bathroom?" Gabriella asked.
Troy looked surprised. "Yeah, sure," he said. "Are you okay?"
"I'm feeling a bit sick," Gabriella said as Troy showed her the bathroom. "I think it's the coffee…"
Gabriella walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Troy got her a glass of water. Fifteen minutes passed by and Gabriella was still in the bathroom. Troy was getting worried. He knocked on the door.
"Gabs?" he called.
There was not a reply. Troy opened the door and found Gabriella throwing up.
"Gabi!" Troy exclaimed, alarmed.
He hurried over to her and rubbed her back as she continued to be sick. He held back her hair. About another fifteen minutes later, Gabriella finally stopped throwing up. She sat by the bathtub as Troy handed her the glass of water.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I think it is food poisoning," Gabriella replied.
"But, what did you eat to get that?" Troy asked.
"I have no idea," Gabriella sighed.
"Come on," Troy said as he got up. "Let's get you something to eat."
"I don't feel like eating," Gabriella said.
"Okay," Troy said, slowly. "But, you should really eat something, but, it's your choice."
"I don't want to eat," Gabriella said, firmly.
Troy shrugged and held out his hand to help Gabriella up. As Gabriella's hand touched Troy's, they both felt a warm glow flow through them. It was the same glow they had felt when Gabriella had hugged him. Troy led Gabriella back into the room.
"Um…there's only one bed," Troy said, awkwardly. "You can have it."
"But, where are you going to sleep?" Gabriella asked.
"Oh, the couch's fine with me," Troy shrugged.
"But, Troy, I can't let you do that," Gabriella said.
"Gabriella, it's okay," Troy smiled.
Gabriella looked into Troy's eyes. Troy gazed back into hers.
"Kiss me!" Gabriella whispered.
"What?" Troy looked surprised.
"Troy, your kisses make me forget everything," Gabriella said as Troy continued to look at her. "And, right now I really need to forget everything and…"
Gabriella broke off as Troy grabbed the back of her head and kissed her. Before Gabriella could respond, Troy had pulled back and was staring into her eyes. Gabriella stared back. Troy started kissing her, again. He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around him. He sat down on the bed so that Gabriella was sitting on his lap. They kissed each other for a couple of minutes before Troy's hand went under Gabriella's shirt. Gabriella pulled back when she felt Troy's hand.
"What's wrong?" Troy asked.
"Can we not do this?" Gabriella asked.
"Sure," Troy shrugged. "But, you have to tell me what is wrong."
Gabriella took a deep breath. She looked at Troy and whispered, "Some drunken guy raped me."
"What?' Troy gasped.
Gabriella started crying again as the memories came back to her. Troy hugged her and she cried into his shirt.
"Who did it?" he asked, as he gently stroked her hair.
"I don't know," Gabriella whispered. "He was wearing this big hood so I couldn't see his face. And, he didn't say a word so I don't know what his voice sounds like."
"Gabi, you have to report this," Troy said, looking at her watery eyes.
"How?" Gabriella cried. "I don't know anything about this person."
"When did this happen?" Troy asked.
"Two days ago," Gabriella answered. "I came here because I didn't want to be at the same place as him."
"Does your mom know about this?" he asked her.
Gabriella froze. She looked up at Troy as fresh tears streamed down her face. "She died about a month ago," she whispered as Troy gaped in shock. "Car accident."
"Oh, Gabi," Troy whispered as he hugged her again.
"I miss her so much, Troy," Gabriella sobbed. "I have no one, now." Gabriella's dad had died when Gabriella was just nine years old.
"You have me, Gabs," Troy said, softly.
"What?" Gabriella turned her head to look up at Troy. She was very surprised.
"You have me," Troy repeated. "Remember the last thing I said to you when we broke up?"
"'Whenever you need me, I'm right here'," Gabriella quoted.
"That's right, Gabs," Troy smiled at her. "I lost you once! I'm not losing you, again. I love you, Gabriella Anne Montez. I always will and I don't think I ever loved anyone other than you."
Gabriella smiled at Troy. "I love you, too, Troy," she whispered.
"That's better," Troy smiled brushing her hair out of her eyes. "Keep on smiling."
Gabriella giggled as she wrapped her hands around Troy's neck. She kissed him, passionately and Troy responded with the same affection.
"Oh, Gabi," Troy murmured.
"Troy," Gabriella mumbled.
Their lips did not part for a single minute. Neither one of them heard the door opening. Neither one of them saw three people enter the room, gaping at them.
Zeke, Sharpay and Ryan stood at the doorway, their mouths open in surprise. Troy and Gabriella kept on kissing, completely, oblivious to the three people. Sharpay was the one to speak first.
"Troy Bolton!" she yelled. "May I ask you what you are doing? I thought you made your New Year's resolution not to kiss a girl unless it was Gabriella Montez!"
Troy and Gabriella broke apart when they heard Sharpay's voice. The three people standing did not know that it was Gabriella who was in Troy's arms. Gabriella raised an eyebrow at Troy when she heard the part about Troy's New Year resolution. Troy smiled sheepishly. He looked over Gabriella's shoulder at Sharpay who was glaring at him.
"That's right, Shar," Troy grinned. "And, I didn't kiss a girl other than Gabriella Montez, did I?"
Sharpay, Zeke and Ryan gaped in surprise as Gabriella got off Troy's lap. She smiled at them, hoping that they would not be mad. All of a sudden, Sharpay squealed and launched herself at Gabriella. Gabriella, who was a bit weak after throwing up so much, stumbled back. Troy steadied the two before they fell.
"Oh, Gabi!" Sharpay yelled. "What are you doing here? When did you come? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Uh…Shar," Gabriella gasped. "Can't…breathe!"
"Oh, sorry," Sharpay laughed, pulling herself away. "Did I hurt you?"
"No, no," Gabriella said, hurriedly. She grinned at Ryan and Zeke. "Hey, guys."
"Hey, Gabs," Ryan said, giving Gabriella a hug.
Troy saw that she flinched when Ryan touched her. He moved closer to her as Zeke hugged her.
"Gabs, are you okay?" Zeke asked. "You seem kind of jumpy."
Gabriella glanced at Troy for a second before she answered, "I'm fine."
Troy put his arm around her and kissed her head to let her know that he understood that Gabriella did not want to tell anyone about the rape.
"Urgh," Sharpay said wrinkling her nose. "Can you guys not do that?"
"I never said a word when you and Zeke kept kissing in front of us, did I?" Troy smirked.
"Whatever, Bolton," Sharpay snapped.
"You know, guys," Troy said. "All those questions Shar just asked Gabi, you guys can answer all those for me. I thought you guys won't be back for a couple of weeks."
"We'll be leaving in a couple of days," Ryan said. "We took a small vacation."
"Okay," Troy nodded.
"Gabs, your turn to answer the questions," Zeke said.
"I just got here today," Gabriella replied. "About an hour ago or so. And, I wanted to surprise you guys."
"Oh, Gabs," Sharpay squealed again. "We have so much catching up to do. Come on, let's go shopping."
"Uh…Sharpay," Gabriella said. "I think I'll stay here today, if you don't mind. I'm feeling kind of tired."
"Okay," Sharpay shrugged. "Then, we can hang out here. Where are you staying, by the way?"
"Uh…I'm staying here for a few days until I can get a place," Gabriella answered.
"Oh, right," Sharpay grinned. "I should've known that you would stay with Troy."
Gabriella forced herself to laugh. She was feeling tired and just wanted to go and lie down. Moreover, she was starting to get a nauseous feeling again. She leaned against Troy as she got a bit dizzy.
"You okay?" Troy asked.
"I'm just feeling a bit dizzy," Gabriella muttered.
"We'll come back later," Ryan said. "You must be tired after all the traveling."
"Thanks," Gabriella said, gratefully.
"Bye, Gabs," Zeke called as he led Sharpay out followed by Ryan.
"Gabi, I have to go, too," Troy said glancing at his watch. "Is it okay if I leave or should I stay?"
"Where are you going?" Gabriella asked.
"School," Troy answered and Gabriella looked confused. "I'm the assistant coach to my dad. So is Chad."
"But, don't you own that big magazine company?" Gabriella asked.
"Yeah, and, I'm making pretty good money out of it," he chuckled. "Chad's the real assistant. I just go over there because it's fun. I only go sometimes, but, now, I go everyday, because Chad isn't here."
"Oh," Gabriella said. She swayed on the spot, dizzily.
"Gabi, are you sure you're okay?" Troy asked, alarmed.
"I feel really dizzy," Gabriella sighed. "I have no idea why."
"Okay, I'm calling my dad to tell him I won't be going today," Troy decided. He called Jack and left him a message and then turned his attention to Gabriella. "Come on, let's get you to bed."
"I love you, Troy," Gabriella whispered as she lay on the bed. Troy reached for a chair, but, before he could sit down beside the bed, Gabriella whispered, "Troy, will you hold me?"
Troy smiled as he got into the bed next to Gabriella. He put his arm around her as she rested her head on his chest. He stroked her hair lovingly and she snuggled closer to him. Gabriella closed her eyes and at once images from the rape came to her. She sat up on the bed immediately.
"Gabi?" Troy asked. "What's wrong?"
"I can't sleep," Gabriella cried. "I see him every time I try to sleep or even close my eyes." This was the reason Gabriella had not slept after the rape.
"It's okay," Troy whispered, soothingly as he hugged her. "He can't hurt you now."
Slowly, Gabriella lay down again. She held on to Troy tightly as he hugged her.
"Troy," Gabriella whispered. "What was that about your New Year's resolution?"
"I finished college and everything last year and I realized that I still had not found the right girl for me," Troy explained. "But, I knew exactly which girl I wanted. It was you. So I decided to find you this year. And I did not want to kiss another girl other than you."
Troy looked down at Gabriella and saw that she was drifting off to sleep. He stroked her hair again.
Finally, Gabriella went to sleep. Troy was still stroking her hair. He was drifting off as well when his cell phone started vibrating in his pocket. He reached for it and pulled it out. Gabriella, being a very light sleeper, woke up.
"Oh, sorry, Gabs," Troy said. "Go back to sleep, okay?"
"Okay," Gabriella replied and she closed her eyes again.
Troy glanced at his phone and saw that it was Jack Bolton who was calling. He answered it and spoke as quietly as he could.
(Troy/Jack)
"What is it, dad?"
"Why can't you come, today, Troy? It's not easy with this many kids and even Chad isn't here."
"I know, dad. I'm really sorry, but, I can't go."
"Why not?"
"Gabi's in town. She came today and is not really in a good state, so…"
"Gabi? You mean Gabriella Montez?"
"Yeah."
"The one who made you see sense? The one you fell in love with?"
"Dad, it's kind of weird when you talk about how I fell in love with Gabi, but, that's the one I'm talking about."
"Okay. Stay home. Invite her to dinner tonight. You are to come home with her, young man. We never see each other anymore, unless it's at school. I should not have let you move out. It's too lonely in that big old house."
"Or, maybe you miss mom?"
"No…yes, I made a terrible mistake and I miss your mother and Chloe terribly."
"Give her a call, dad."
"I can't. She'll just yell at me. She's mad at me."
"Whatever you say, dad. But, she won't yell at you. She misses you, too. Anyway, I have to go. Gabi's trying to sleep. Bye."
Before Jack could say another word, Troy quickly hung up. Gabriella sat up in bed.
"What's wrong?" Troy asked as Gabriella got out of bed.
"Bathroom," Gabriella muttered as she covered her mouth and rushed into the bathroom.
"Gabs!" Troy exclaimed as he jumped out of bed and rushed into the bathroom.
He rubbed her back comfortingly as she threw up. It was almost an hour later, when Gabriella stopped throwing up. Gabriella started crying softly as Troy handed her a glass of water.
"What's wrong with me?" she asked as she leaned against Troy's chest.
Troy did not know what to say. If he said that nothing was wrong with Gabriella, it would be a lie, because people did not keep on getting sick for no reason. But, if he did say that something was wrong with her, Gabriella might think that he did not like her or something. So he said nothing and hugged her tightly.
"My dad wants to see you," he said at last, breaking the long silence between them. "He invited us to dinner at his house."
"Okay," Gabriella said.
"We don't have to go," Troy said. "I can tell him that you aren't feeling well or something."
"No," Gabriella replied. "I want to go. I'd like to see him and your mom and Chloe."
"Uh…Gabs," Troy said, pulling away from her so that he could look at her. "My parents got a divorce last year. My mom's living in Los Angeles with Chloe, now."
"Oh, Troy, I'm so sorry," Gabriella said.
"It's okay," Troy said. "It really doesn't make such a big difference since I'm living alone. I just need to drive a bit longer if I want to see my mom and Chloe."
"Oh," Gabriella looked into Troy's eyes. She could see that he was not happy. "Troy, is something wrong?"
"No, why?" Troy asked.
"Your eyes," Gabriella replied and Troy looked confused. "It's clear that you aren't happy about something, Troy."
"I…uh…" Troy did not know what to say. He did not know how Gabriella had managed to find out that he was not happy about something.
"Talk to me, Troy," Gabriella whispered.
"I'm really happy that you are here," Troy replied. "But, you keep getting sick and I'm worried about you, Gabi."
"Troy, don't be worried about me," Gabriella sighed.
"How can I not be worried about you, Gabriella?" he asked. "I love you, Gabi, and I don't mind doing anything for you. You can break down in front of me whenever you want to, but, you're throwing up all the time and you can barely stand up on your own, Gabs."
"I'm sorry," Gabriella whispered.
"No," Troy shook his head. "You don't have to be sorry. You've been through a lot and I'm here for you."
"Thank you," Gabriella said, her eyes watery.
"Come on, Gabi. Eat something, please," Troy pleaded.
Gabriella nodded slowly, giving in. Troy led her to the kitchen and Gabriella sat down by the table. She watched as Troy made her a sandwich.
A/N Like it? Hate it? Should I continue? Tell me in a review.