A/n: So… sorry about the long update period. I was enjoying the sunny beaches of Florida. But I'm back now, and ready to update. Now you finally get to know who Gabi picks! Not wanting to sound selfish or anything, but I would love some reviews. Thanks to those of you who have reviewed.

Chapter 7: Choices

"Troy!"Gabriella was screaming. People were looking at her, but she could've cared less. He ignored her; he didn't even look back. She chased after him. She had a feeling she knew where he was going.

A minute later she was climbing the steps to the greenhouse, the place that Troy himself had shown to her. It was beautiful, a kind of refuge. She looked around and sure enough he was sitting in the corner, looking wistfully out to the surrounding mountains. He didn't turn when she entered; he only sighed.

"Troy, I'm so sorry! Please, you have to forgive me!" she was begging now, great. Troy stayed silent; he still didn't look at her. Gabriella was getting hysterical. "Look at me!" she began to cry. The tears turned to sobs, and still he would not look at her. She turned to leave when finally,

"Why?"

"I don't know! I really don't!" she was having trouble breathing. How could she have done this to him? He, who had always been so loyal? How could she live with herself?

"I can't trust you anymore. How do I know you won't do this again?" Troy murmured. Gabriella shook her head; though she knew what he said made sense. She was still crying, but it had lessened now that she knew Troy wasn't so disgusted with her that he couldn't talk to her anymore.

"Please, Troy! I'm so sorry!" her voice was soft but urgent. She looked imploringly into his eyes as he turned to face her. They did not have the sparkle of just one hour ago. They were dull and cold. They had a glazed look, as if this was the first time he was really seeing her.

He looked so sad. How in the hell could she have done this to him? "Please," she whispered.

His eyes turned colder. He looked at her lips, as if replaying the scene he'd witnessed. Her lip gloss had been sucked away, now her lips were dull and chapped.

He grabbed her hand, and for one moment Gabriela thought he was going to kiss her. That it would all be okay. For one moment. But then he dropped her hand. He turned his head and walked down the stairs. Gabriella thought she heard him whisper, 'I'm sorry," but that might have been a desperate hope.

She stood there, watching him sink into the hallway. His figure receding down the hallway without a backwards glance. Disappearing.

The world crashed around her. She and Troy were over. She'd kissed a random stranger who she now had to face every time she went to her locker. And worse, she was hugely attracted to him, even more so than to Troy. Much more than Troy. She'd never felt such passion in her life. It was so wrong, but so right. But she'd hurt Troy so badly. She was a horrible person.

It was her free period. Her stomach grumbled, but even though she had skipped breakfast, she was too sickened with herself to eat anything. She walked over to the chair Troy had vacated and sat down.

As she looked out to the mountains, she thought about all that had just happened. She was absolutely revolting. She was a slut. A pig. A bitch.

Simply hideous.

Suddenly she heard someone walking up the stairs. Could Troy be walking up to say that he forgave her and that he couldn't live without her for even a moment? No, of course not. Though she was surprised at who it was.

Antonio. Here. Now.

Gabriella quickly wiped her tears away, not wanting to let this guy see her cry. He looked at her with that same, steady gaze he'd held her with before. She couldn't take her eyes off of him, and she didn't want to. She wanted to ask him what he was doing up here; how he found this place, but they both stood silently. Electricity burned between their gazes.

Immediately, Gabriella's thoughts turned in a completely different direction. This guy hadn't known she was dating anyone, he was obviously new here. So he wasn't a bad guy, she was the bad one. They obviously liked each other a lot. Troy had dumped her, what was to stop her from dating this guy now? They both wanted it, that much was apparent.

She was free to do whatever she wanted now without feeling guilty, because she and Troy were over. True, they were over because of this guy, but still…

Antonio gave a small smile. Gabriella's stomach did back flips. That one little smile made everything else that had happened today evaporate. He was here with her and she was here with him. That was all. She smiled back, her brain shutting off and hormones taking control for the second time that day.

His hair shadowed the sides of his face in a sexy, mysterious way. His dark brown eyes comforted her, as if he was silently telling her that this would be okay. She felt dangerous and safe at the same time. Suddenly he was right next to her, grabbing her dainty hands in his large, muscular, dark ones. Their complexions mixed beautifully. The wonderful smell of his cologne wafted into her nose.

He pulled her into him, and again, she did not protest one bit. If Troy wouldn't forgive her, then it was his loss. She was free to do whatever she wished, and no one could stop her. She could feel his muscular body pressed into hers. He was so fit! His tight black shirt accentuated the muscles in his arms as well as revealing the outline of his six-pack beneath.

He grabbed her face and she copied him. His face was smooth, and smelled like shaving cream. She had always oddly loved that smell. His lips looked juicy and beautiful. His eyes bore into hers. Their lips met yet again. Gabriella had never felt so alive. So aware of her own body. Their hips bumped as they clawed at the backs of each other's heads. Her hands stroked his back as his held her permanently to him.

This felt so good! Gabriella couldn't breathe, but she didn't care. The taste of his mouth way much better than air anyway. Finally, after an eternity, they broke apart, gasping. She could still taste him in her mouth. They smiled at each other one more time before walking down the stairs, hand in hand.

A/n: I know, the kisses are very detailed, but I just think Antonio is really hot! Now that good old Troy is out of the picture, how will Gabriella's self esteem hold up? You'll see.

And, just as an afterthought, I'm REALLY excited about Breaking Dawn, but I can't read it until I'm done with two more stupid books for school! Curse the Secret Life of Bees and a Tree Grows in Brooklyn! Anyway… Review!