We said Always

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Everything is fiction!

AN: Thank yall so much for all the amazing reviews. I always wanted to write a reunion story and I'm so glad yall are taking to it. I have a lot planned for this story so be sure to stay tuned. I also, hope I cleared up any questions that yall had from the first chapter, if not, please feel free to enquirer.

Enjoy

Chapter 2

"This just wasn't possible. What is he doing here? Of all places to run into him New York City would have been my last guess." Gabriella thought to herself still trying to muster the ability to speak.

She hadn't seen him since they gave into the stereotype of high school love. The distance had become too much and their schedules seem to always conflict; their relationship soon after tarnished. The promise to stay in touch had been broken shortly after, it was just too painful for the both of them, so the ties were cut and that was it, but not a day went by that Gabriella didn't think of him.

"Trrroooy?" she stammered

"Gabriella?"

He had known she had been in New York City for undergrad but never had he thought she would still be here, yet alone falling into his arms. He regretted everyday not keeping his promise to stay in touch, but he had been young and stupid.

Gabriella lifted herself out of Troy's arms trying to shake the sensation of his touch. She pulled her coat tighter around her and stared at the ground knowing that if she looked into his eyes she would lose it.

They stood in silence for a moment till finally Troy spoke up, "you look great"

Gabriella let out a chuckle, yeah she looked great, she had been in the same scrubs for the past 16 hours, her hair was in a messy bun atop her head and what make-up she had put on was long gone, but yeah she looked great.

"What? I'm serious", he said as he tucked a fallen curl behind her ear.

Gabriella felt herself blushing as she looked up at him and was instantly caught by his sparkling eyes, "shit, that's exactly what you didn't want," she thought.

"Thanks, I guess, uh, listen um, I need to get going I have a lot of studying left, so, uh, it was nice seeing you," she said as she turned to walk away.

"Gabriella wait!" Troy screamed after her

She stopped, but didn't turn around. This was what she was afraid of. This was why they didn't stay in contact; it was too damn hard, too damn painful. The truth was she had never seriously dated since Troy, no one seemed to compare and now here he is feet from her, back in her present.

Troy ran up to her and looked into her deep brown eyes.

"Meet me for coffee tomorrow morning, your choice as to where?" he said full of hope

"I don't know, it just…" she started to say, but the look in his eyes sent goose bumps all over her body. She had ignored the sensation that had surged through her when he touched her face, but this she couldn't deny, she never could, his eyes always made her melt and give in.

"Okay, meet me at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, there is a coffee shop on the first floor, I should have a break at around 9am." She said giving him a slight smile and then walked away towards her apartment.


Troy laid in his plush king size bed replaying his encounter with Gabriella. He was still flying high. Never had he imagined that he would see her again, despite the fact that a day didn't go by that she didn't enter his mind in some way or another. He had dated other girls since Gabriella, but none seemed to measure up. Gabriella was special and that was something he had discovered years ago and it killed him that he let it slip away.

Troy, hellooo, earth to Troooooy," Chad bellowed from Troy's doorway.

Pulled out of his thoughts, "Uh, yeah Chad what's up?"

"Dude what's wrong with you? I've been standing for like five minutes."Chad exaggerated, naturally.

"Nothing, I'm just thinking, you know that thing you do before you do something." Troy joked

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Troy laughed, "Man you have been hit in the head with one too many basketballs, you need to tell those kids to lay off."

Chad was the head coach for a prep school in the heart of New York City and it was common knowledge that his kids found it rather amusing to use his big afro as a target.

"Damn kids, I swear sometimes I just want to…" Chad said as he twisted his hand around an invisible throat.

Troy laughed. Chad had played for the Lakers for a couple years shortly after college, but was forced to retire when he blew out his knee. He had come to New York about a year ago when he had been offered the head coaching job at Milton Prep, not really needing the money and wanting to share his passion, he accepted. However now, the kids just got on his nerves. He had opened a sports store called Get your head in the Game shortly after arriving and it was doing rather well. Chad very easy could have lived off the store, but he was stubborn and determined to tame the kids.

"Anyway, I wanted to see if you wanted to come with me down to the store, I want to check in on those retards and make sure they aren't messing things up, oh, and then you can tell what has got you so damn loopy on the way"

"Yeah, okay, I'll go, but Chad, seriously man, you have got to lay off, you spend every free moment there, you've got to trust the people you hired."

Chad looked at Troy as if he was from another planet," Cheea right, come on lets go before they mess things up."

Troy laughed; Chad was never going to change. He would always be the same goofy and neurotic guy from high school.

Naturally when they walked into Get your head in the Game nothing was wrong, well at least that Troy could tell, but leave it up to Chad to find something.

"Uh, Marcus, Shaq doll does not go next to the Michael Jordan doll and the basketballs over there need to be facing out, geez, ill just do it myself," Chad said aggravated

Troy rolled his eyes and shook his head at Marcus, implying that Chad was crazy. Marcus nodded and smiled, then went over to help Chad "turn the balls outward."

"So, you really ran into Gabriella," Chad shouted from across the store," Wow, that must have been awkward, how did she look? What did she say? Did she mention Taylor, I mean they were like best friends. Ah Taylor, I wonder what she is up to?" Chad rambled, "Wait, Damn it Marcus, no, like this."

Troy laughed, "She looked great, I'm meeting her for coffee at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital tomorrow morning."

Chad turned around and looked at him confused," why are you meeting her at Morgan Stanley? That's like a hospital right, like for kids. Troy, oh my God, do you have a kid."

"Chad you are so fucking retarded, no, I think she works there or something. When I ran into her she had on scrubs, I dunno, I'm sure I'll find out more tomorrow. It just unreal ya know?"

"yeah yeah, your fire still burns bright for Gabriella." Chad said sarcastically, still messing with the balls.

Troy shook his head, "what? "Your fire still burns bright" Chad, where the hell did you hear that expression?"

Chad shrugged, "I dunno, around."

"You seriously need to lay off watching those soaps in the teachers' lounge." Troy chuckled

"But, we are about to find out who killed Brocks and Stella's baby." Chad said defensively

"Give me your man card, now, give it to me," Troy said sticking his hand out and laughing.

Chad just shrugged him off.

"Chad seriously, can we go, I think Marcus can handle it from here." Troy pleaded

Chad looked uneasy, but agreed

They made their way to Chad's beamer, hopped in and headed back to their apartment.

"Alright man, I'm beat, I'm gonna go ahead and turn in, see ya tomorrow," Troy said as he made his way to his room.

Chad went to open his mouth to say something

"Yeah, I know, find out about Taylor," Troy said rolling his eyes.

Chad laughed, "Good man, See ya tomorrow."


Troy woke that morning feeling nervous. He was excited but nervous. He really wanted today to go well.

Troy called into the office and told them that he had some personal stuff to attend to and that he would be in mid-morning.

After showering Troy put on his best suit and signature Armani cologne, he had been wearing it since high school.

He grabbed his brief case, took a deep breath and made his way out of the apartment to the parking garage.

Troy arrived at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at around 8:55. He walked through the doors and looked around for the coffee shop that Gabriella had spoke of and shortly thereafter spotted it.

As he was about to enter the shop he spotted Gabriella sitting at a table in the back sipping her coffee and reading the paper. Her hair was pulled atop her head with occasional stray curls falling from the back and resting upon her neck. She had lightly applied some make-up to naturally tan skin which enhanced her natural beauty. Troy felt butterflies fill his stomach as he looked at her.

He made his way into the shop and over to Gabriella's table.

"Hey," he said taking a seat directly in front of her.

Gabriella bit down on her lip at the sight of him. He looked amazing in his navy pin-striped suit and his electric blue tie did wonders for his eyes, they stood out even more than they already did. Oh, and his scent, God it sent shivers up her body, it was his scent, the scent she remembered.

She smiled as she bit the inside of her cheek and pushed the butterflies away that were now flying 90 miles an hour in her stomach, "Hey"

The waitress walked up to them and turned her attention to Troy, "can I get you something?"

"Uh, yes, I will have what she is having."

They spoke in unison, "slow roast, two sugars, and one cream."

The both looked each other in the eyes and smiled.

AN: I love Chad's character in the movie, he is such a stitch. He is so much fun to write. I hope yall like it.