Troy's POV

I shed one tear as I looked at the things before me; I broke my heart all over again. The first thing I noticed was something lime green. I picked it up and clenched my jaw, for I felt like I wanted to scream bloody murder. It was a shirt, Gabriella's shirt. I thought about how if anyone had seen that I had Gabi's shirt, that they'd probably think we had slept together, but we hadn't… well we kind of did.

Flashback:

I heard a knock on the front door, "I'll get it!" I said, probably before they realized that someone was at the door. I walked towards it casually; I peaked through the window next to the door and saw Gabriella. She looked as if she had just gotten into an argument or something, as she stood there, bouncing in place.

Once I had seen it was her, I immediately flattened my hair and swung the door open. "Gabriella?" I asked, I was a bit confused at why she was at my house at eight. "Troy, oh Troy, Do you mind if I stay here for tonight, I won't be any trouble I promise, I just got in a fight with my mom and I don't have anywhere to go…"she smiled, a dim one at that, but it meant something. I just kind of stared at her for a few moments, then she looked away and a tear fell down her face. "Yeah, sure, I have a bunch of spare rooms, you can just pick whichever one you like" I said welcoming her in.

She followed me upstairs and I showed her the rooms, she picked one and shut the door. I figured I would see her in the morning. So, I went back to my room, closed the door, and started to get changed. I heard a faint knock on my door, "Come in" I said, figuring it was Katherine. Gabriella peeked her head through the door, as soon as she saw me, standing there shirtless she blushed and apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean to…" she said backing away, "No, it's fine, what'd you want?" I asked, I did feel a little uncomfortable.

"Well, I just couldn't get to sleep in this itchy shirt; I was wondering if I could borrow one of yours, it doesn't even have to be clean." She looked down at the floor, refusing to make eye contact. "I'll get you one, then we can talk about what happened between you and your mom" I said, I figured she expected me to ask. "Thanks" I pulled a shirt from a drawer, it was a normal red and white East High t-shirt. "You can change in my closet I guess, unless you'd rather change in the bathroom" I said handing her the shirt.

She took the shirt and went into my closet, I couldn't help but notice that she didn't close the door all the way, I mean, I was a teenage boy right?? But I refused to look no matter how much I felt I needed to. She emerged and we talked for hours until she told me she was too tired to talk anymore. "Do you want me to carry you back to your room?" I asked, expecting her to say yes. "No, right here's fine" she said grinning and slipped under my covers. She moved as close to me as she could, and then she just started randomly picking at my hair.

I woke up the next morning to find my arm around her, but later that day she said that she was emotional and wasn't thinking clearly…

End of Flashback

I gripped the shirt tighter and threw it back into the box. The next few things I noticed were notes, bunches of them. They were all from World History class. We sat next to each other, practically every day we would write random things to each other. I picked up one of them and began reading to myself:

(AN: italic is Troy, underline-italic is Gabriella)

Did you notice the tie that Mr. Hopkins is wearing??

No, what's with it.

If you look long enough, you'll see that it's got little sponge-bob's on it!

What?? That's whacked.

I know. So what are you doing later?

Nothing, just more basketball practice, you?

But I thought that we were supposed to get in extra rehearsal time, you know, 'cause the musical is next week…

Oh. I forgot, I guess I will just ditch b-ball practice… see you after school?

Okay.

I smiled. It was cute how she dotted her i's with little circles. Then I frowned. We didn't pass notes anymore.