Author's Note: I want to thank you guys for the lovely reviews on the second chapter! Believe it or not, I actually started this vignette chapter as soon as I read a few of them. Told you reviews motivate me! :) This next installment goes back in time a few years. I sort of picture it as Troy's dream that he had when he fell asleep after Claire left in the last chapter, but the dream is an actual memory, and so will be the next chapter. Enjoy, and don't forget to review! :D

Disclaimer: High School Musical doesn't belong to me. Sadly. :(

Vignette #3: Forever and a Hammock

'Cause love remembers
The smell of a summer day
Lying in a hammock over fresh cut grass
And the promise of forever

Five Years Ago.

-

The bright green leaves of the tall twin oak trees in Gabriella Montez's backyard rustled in the slight breeze on the late Sunday summer afternoon. The California sun was warm overhead as it shone down on the two occupants of the woven white hammock that laced around the trunks of the trees. The backyard was quiet, except for the occasional bird chirping from the trees overhead and the faint whirr of traffic as it passed the front of the house. The pair of college students who were relaxing in the hammock were silent and wrapped up in their own thoughts and each other, all the while enjoying the other's company.

Summer was quickly coming to an end as the fall semester of their sophomore year of college drew nearer day by day. They wanted to treasure what time they had left together under the summer sun before their studies and exams tore them away from one another, with the exception of promised visiting weekends and scheduled breaks; and right now, they cherished that time by just being with one another.

"Only two more weeks left of this," Troy Bolton said softly, breaking through the calm.

Gabriella sighed and rested her arm over his chest, cuddling just a bit closer to his side, if at all possible. "And then it's back to the books. And back to the stage and gym for you." The curly brunette lifted her finger to Troy's nose, poking it playfully. He chuckled in response.

"And it's all thanks to you."

"Hey, I had nothing to do with you and basketball."

Troy laughed again. "No, but do you think I would be anywhere near a stage in college if it weren't for you?"

"Maybe, maybe not." A smirk teased Gabriella's lips as she traced patterns along his defined chest with her fingertips. "But someday I know you're going to make it big, whether it be in the theater aspect or not. You're too good at everything you do."

"Be careful, my ego is at a dangerously high level right now." Troy mirrored Gabriella's previous smirk as the tip of his nose traced along Gabriella's temple. A small giggle escaped from her lips—one of Troy's favorite sounds in the whole world. He kissed along the trail his nose left, and then pulled back and rested his head against the woven cotton of the hammock. "But seriously Gabriella. We have two weeks until our second year of college starts and two more years until we graduate again. And then you'll be spending time after that in law school and I'll be searching for a job…Our future is just flying by."

Gabriella shifted her position next to Troy so her arms were folded across his chest. Troy reflexively placed his right arm gently on her back, affectionately tracing up and down her spine with his fingers. She rested her chin on her hands, capturing apprehensive sharp blue eyes with her chocolate ones. "I think that's just part of growing up," she replied.

"When you're young, you don't have a care in the world and time seems to pass slowly. But now we're older and so much more focused on everything that time just flies right on by and we don't even realize it. Two years ago I was wishing that everything would come to a stop… but to be honest, I think I'm ready for the future, no matter how fast it hits us."

Troy became quiet for a few moments as he took in Gabriella's words. He could remember her saying that she wished time would halt, or at least slow down; but Gabriella had grown up so much since then, and she was now ready to face her future head-on. She'd always hoped that Troy was somewhere written on her slate of the future, but only time would tell. And that time was sooner than she thought.

"Yeah, I believe you're right, Miss Montez. And I've been doing a lot of thinking about my own future, actually." His fingers that were making feather-light trails upon her back came to a stop in the dip of her spine, just above the curve of her bottom.

Gabriella's expression turned playful and mocking. "Oh, really, Mr. Bolton? I do hope you didn't strain your brain too badly."

"Ha, ha, funny." He tossed a matching playful glance back at Gabriella before turning to a more serious expression. "No really, Gabriella. I've just been running this certain situation through my head for a while, but I've been to afraid to run it by you because I thought it might be a little soon." Troy ran a nervous hand through his hair, an absentminded habit he'd developed over the years.

"You can tell me anything, Troy. I have an open mind, you know that."

"I know, and that's why I finally decided to bring it up. I – I know we're still young and all, but… when I think about where I'll be in five or ten years, no matter how many times I change the scenario, you're always there with me. You mean the world and much, much more than that to me, Gabriella. I want you to be my future, since you've already been a huge part of my past and present. But don't think of this right now as a proposal… just more of a promise—at least until we graduate. Then, my love, you can be surprised when I hold out the perfect ring in front of you." Troy's right hand cupped Gabriella's cheek as he brushed his thumb along her high cheekbone, catching a few tears as they strayed from her warm chocolate eyes. Her tiny trembling hands took Troy's from her cheek and brought it to her lips; she softly pressed a kiss into his slightly calloused palm before pressing it back to her cheek.

"Oh, Troy… You have no idea how long I've wished for you to say that. I accept your promise with all my heart." Gabriella tilted her tear-stricken head towards Troy and sealed his promise with a passion-filled kiss. After realizing oxygen was vital, lips separated and foreheads touched, a smile appearing on both blissful faces.

The sound of a door springing open on its hinges broke the two from their moment, followed by the scent of fresh-baked chocolate wafting through the afternoon breeze. Troy and Gabriella turned their attention towards the back door of the Montez home where Maria Montez stood, a green apron tied around her waist that was spattered with flour.

"Hey you two, I just made some brownies and—I was interrupting again, wasn't I?"

Gabriella smiled and shook her head. "No Mom, it's fine. They smell delicious."

"You're telling me!" Troy exclaimed, his mouth nearly watering from the scent of his favorite brownies.

Maria untied the apron from her hips and waved the two teenagers over. "Come in and get some while they're warm, then! I'll pour you some glasses of milk too."

Troy and Gabriella slowly rolled their way out of the hammock one at a time. Troy took his girlfriend's hand and led her to the back door, pulling her close enough to sneak a kiss into her russet waves and to whisper in her ear. "I promise you'll be mine forever, Gabriella Montez."

And he kept that promise to the day he entered the jewelers.

So as I was writing this one, I didn't feel very pleased with it. But after reading it the whole way through, I think this one might be my favorite so far. :) What do you think? Constructive criticism is what I feed on! :D

Also, in this vignette it is mentioned that Gabriella would be attending law school right about the time the first chapter takes place. For story purposes, she had been taking night classes so not to interfere with their relationship, and that is where Gabriella had gone when the taxi came--she moved closer to her law school. :)