Once Upon A Time, I Loved You

March 26th , 2005

New York City, NY

Troy's Point of View

She unconsciously flips her long, dark hair over her shoulder as she surveys the spacious ballroom with meticulous focus, as if this was the first time she had ever seen the room instead of her twentieth.

"Gabby." I start, frustrated, "You are my best friend and I'll love you forever, but I can't spend all day waiting for you to check every inch of this room for the millionth time. It's not going to look different the longer you look at it." She laughs dryly at this without turning around, so I add, "And besides, you already have it booked for May 13 and that means you don't have to come back until at least April 15th."

At this, she finally turns around to face me and smiles. I could lose myself for hours in that cheeky, infectious smile. I can feel my mouth stretch into a wide smile just seeing her looking so happy, the morning light bathing her features in a golden haze as it spills in from the large windows looking down on the bustling streets of New York City.

"You're such a guy." She laughs.

"Now that's where you're wrong," I correct her, my tone mockingly serious, "If I'm such a piggish guy, I wouldn't have come with you at 6 in the morning on a Saturday to this stupid place again."

"Oh, shut up. You didn't just come here for me."

"That's true. That blonde chick living in my apartment might've had something to do with it too."

"Oh, so we're referring to the fiancé now?" she asks, jokingly.

"Well, that depends. When you say 'the fiancé' do you mean yours or mine?"

"Yours."

"Oh, I knew that I knew that blonde hot chick from somewhere." I grin at her but she raises an eyebrow.

"Wow, Bolton. Better hope I don't tell Sharpay that she's that forgettable." I laugh and she steps into my arms and smiles, "I can't believe it's all happening."

"Yup." I say, wrapping an arm around her waist and taking her soft hand in mine as we begin to sway to invisible music, "We're getting old and getting' hitched."

"It just seemed like yesterday that we were Biology partners and I had a massive crush on you." She laughs, thinking it over.

"Massive, huh?"

"Yea."

We simply look at each other for a long time as we dance, remembering when life came with far less worries and for a moment, it almost seems as if Gabriella is the one I'm marrying.

Gabby's Point of View

Troy never knew that I had once had strong feelings for him. I even loved him. God, it feels like yesterday what is actually almost five years past. Funny how you never end up being happy with the people you expect. Of course, I am happy with Troy, but I had it all pictured differently freshman year. That is, until Nate arrived.

You take me in again

Undercover

Skin to skin

And I am drowning in the way you move

You ask what's on my mind

Slowly running out of time before she calls and you say

"I do"

If you had asked me before my first day at East High if I would fall in love and marry out of high school I would have told you I'm too young.

If you asked me halfway through freshman year if I would fall in love and marry anyone out of high school that wasn't Troy Bolton, I would have told you not a chance.

If you asked me at the start of sophomore year if I would fall in love and marry anyone out of high school that wasn't Troy Bolton, I would have told you that his name is Nate Archibald and he looks like Leonardo DiCaprio.

And, here I was, going over the last details of my wedding to said Leonardo look- alike with other fore-mentioned heartthrob, Troy Bolton. We were dancing: just two friends swaying to unheard music alone in an expensive ballroom. But, at this moment I am suddenly reminded of how I loved him instead of my fiancé not so long ago.

And nothing's gonna stop me now

And no one's gonna hold me down

There's nothing left to fight for

She'll make you a beautiful wife

"What are you thinking about?" he asks in a sweet voice as we rock back and forth. He's just close enough for his warm breath to tickle my check ever so little.

"Forty-seven days, including today. In forty-seven days, I will be Mrs. Gabriella Archibald."

He looks into my eyes with a calm expression in his blue eyes, "Yes, and in 73 days, I will cease to be the single Troy Bolton."

I want to kiss him. His lips look soft and he's holding me close. I know that he would never let me fall. In 47 days, I won't be kissing him. So, I lean up quickly and press my lips to his fearlessly. He kisses me back, just like I knew he would. He kisses me for a long time.

Just say you've had enough

Raise your hand I'll call your bluff

You seem to forget all the games I play

Don't take a chance on me

Wear your heart all on your sleeve

You know I'm never gonna get it right

-She'll Make You, Meghan Tonjes