A/N: YAY!!!! I FINALLY GET TO POST THIS CHAPTER!!! Hehe. I'm so excited-and I hope you all are too! And sorry for not posting sooner…I just couldn't find the time!

Are you ready for this? Please R&R!!!

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Chapter 7: I'm Leaving

Gabriella wiped the last of her tears away, as she reached her and Taylor's dorm. She flung the door open, to see Taylor sitting there, watching television.

Gabriella just groaned, as she rushed to her room…and started flinging clothes everywhere. A few seconds later, Taylor arrived…giving Gabriella a confused look. "Gabi…what are you doing?"

"Going away" She muttered, as she started stuffing clothes into her suitcase.

Taylor's eyes widened. "Going away? What do you mean going away? Where ARE you going? And what about school…and the team? You can't just LEAVE!" She exclaimed, trying to figure out what was happening.

"I can…and I will!" Gabriella replied back harshly, as she ran into the bathroom and grabbed her toothbrush and any other bathroom appliances and stuffed them into the pockets of her suitcase.

Taylor just groaned, as she followed Gabriella back into her room. "Gabi…" She started in a softer tone, "Will you at least tell me what's going on?"

Gabriella glared at Taylor. "You should know what's going on; you didn't just leave Troy and I alone in the gym!" She yelled at her best friend, as she zipped up her suitcase and headed towards the front door.

Taylor ran in front of Gabriella and stopped her from heading out the front door. "Gabriella…just hold it a sec! What happened with you and Troy?" She asked, still wondering about a million questions.

"I don't have time to tell you right now…" Gabriella whispered, but then she looked Taylor directly in the eye, "Listen Tay. I can't explain it all…but I will. Soon enough, okay? And I'll be back before Friday, so I will be there for the game, and I don't even have a class till then, okay?"

Taylor paused for a moment…before hesitantly nodding. "Okay. But…be careful, will you?" She asked her friend, worried for her.

Gabriella smiled at her and gave her a quick hug. "I'll be back before you know it! Please run a GREAT practice for me, kay?" She asked her before pushing Taylor aside, and walking out the door.

Taylor just stared at the door where Gabriella just left. She only had one question:

What just happened?

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Troy threw the basket ball in the air, trying to make the shout. Bang! It hit the side rim of the net, throwing the ball off to the side and making small bouncing noises that got softer and softer.

He groaned as that was the 35th attempt of trying to make a basket, and he missed all of them. Man, Gabriella is really messing with my head.

Troy heard a sound coming from the opening of the gym, and saw Chad coming towards him. "Hey dude" Chad greeted his best friend, but stopped when he saw Troy standing there like a dead man…when the ball was over at the other side of the court.

"Dude…is everything alright?" Chad asked his friend, concerned for him.

Troy turned to his best friend and glared at him, "Does it look like I'm alright?" He snapped at him, as he rubbed his forehead self consciously.

Chad held his hands up in surrender, "Sorry man. You just seem like really stressed. Like something HAPPENED between you and Gabriella….am I right?" He quizzed Troy, smirking at him.

"Now's not the time for your 'jokes' Chad…my life is so messed up right now…" Troy groaned, as he set himself down on the floor, and rested his hands over his eyes.

Chad sighed and sat cross-legged on the gym floor next to him. "Dude…what happened with you and Gabriella?" He asked curiously, knowing that Gabriella was the most obvious reason for him feeling so bad right now.

Troy looked over at Chad, and just as he was about to respond, someone ran in through the gym doors.

"CHAD! TROY!" Taylor called to them, as she ran over to them out of breath.

Troy immediately sat up, thinking something was really wrong. "Babe what's wrong?" He heard Chad ask her, but Taylor was just looking at Troy the whole time.

"Gabriella left" Taylor said plainly.

Troy looked at her confused. Left? What the hell is she talking about? Troy thought to himself as he asked aloud, "What do you mean she left, Taylor? Left where?"

Taylor crossed her arms uncomfortably. "Well-she wouldn't really tell me. And I don't know how much she would appreciate me telling you this but…here I go. Gabriella just ran inside of our dorm, and started throwing stuff in her suitcase, and she wouldn't answer any of my questions…but when she finally did, all she said was that she'll be back by the game Friday…and for us not to worry about her, that she needed to think apparently. I have no clue where she's going, and frankly, I'm worried."

Troy let out a breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "Shit…" He cursed under his breath, as he looked back up at Taylor. "Did you follow her to see?"

Taylor shook her head. "No, because she told me not to. And-and I was being a good friend and just trying to help her out by doing what she said for me to do…to not worry."

By the time Taylor finished that sentence, she was almost in tears. Chad grabbed her and held her close as she cried, whispering soothing things into her ear to get her to calm down. "Calm down baby, it'll all be fine. We'll find Gabriella…don't you worry."

Troy nodded, exactly agreeing with Chad. "Look Tay…I know you promised her but…look, let's just say I really messed up. And-this whole thing is entirely my fault. I'll find her. Don't worry about that. Even if it takes me her whole trip I WILL find Gabriella Montez."

And with that, Troy ran out of the gym, getting ready to search for Gabriella.

Taylor stopped crying and looked over towards the gym doors, where Troy just ran out of. Chad sweetly kissed the top of Taylor's head and murmured, "Those two are so perfect for each other it's incredible."

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185…186…187. Gabriella paused in front of someone else's dorm room, and knocked on it slightly. She let out a huge breath, before the door cracked open and there appeared Jason, her boyfriend's face.

"Gabi! What a nice surprise! Come on in, babe" He exclaimed, letting her in.

Gabriella smiled slightly, as she stopped in his doorway. He eyed her luggage, and looked at her suspiciously, wondering if she cared to explain. "Look Jason…I can't explain everything right now…but I promise I will."

"Okay…" Jason replied, a little weirded out. "But where are you going?"

Gabriella pursed her lips as she looked around the room for a moment. She finally locked gazes with him again. "I need to get away. You know, clear my head for a few days."

Jason crossed his arms and eyed her again. "Are you sure about that?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"Jason…please don't try to tell me what to do…" Gabriella replied softly through gritted teeth. "I really just need your support here. I haven't told anybody else where I'm going, including Taylor, and for now, it's going to stay that way."

Jason sighed, as his face softened a bit. "Look Gabriella…lately I've been worried about you, okay? I mean-ever since that Troy guy came you've been acting all weird on me. Can't you at least tell me what's going on?"

"NO!" Gabriella yelled furiously at him. "Please DON'T bring Troy into this; it's…it's not even about him. Well I mean, I don't know. Just, give me some time to think."

"If you needed some time to think, then why'd you come over here?" Jason muttered under his breath, but unfortunately Gabriella overheard it.

"Excuse me?" She asked him in a rude voice. "Listen Jason, I really don't know what's going on with you lately but…it's getting really pathetic. Like, jealousy has taken over your body!"

Jason was furious by this time, "I'm only jealous because everyone can see clearly that Troy wants you! It's so damn obvious, it's about time that, you, Gabriella, need to realize it!"

Gabriella took a step back. She really wasn't expecting that reaction from him…but she realized by the actions that happened earlier, that probably was true. But she wasn't so sure what feelings she had for anyone at the moment.

"I know I know…" Gabriella replied softly, "I just. I just need to THINK, I mean, do you think this is easy for me? I mean-this is ME having to deal with all this anyway!"

Jason looked at her, almost as if he was heartbroken. "So are you saying that you have to just think about who you have more feelings for: me or Troy? Is that it?" He screamed at her, looking at her with saddened eyes.

Gabriella looked down, as she bit her lip. When she directed her eyes toward Jason again, he saw tears forming, and threatening to fall from them. "Just give me time, Jase" She told him, as she picked up her suitcase again, heading towards the door.

"Fine. Take some time, whatever, see if I really freaking care!" He yelled furiously, looking at her angrily.

Gabriella looked at Jason with sad eyes, and then burst into tears as she ran down the hallway, and away from Jason. Also, away from the rest of UCLA.

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Why does my life have to be so complicated, God? I mean, these are two guys that both have had my heart at one point but…I'm not so sure who's won my heart now. When I'm with Troy I feel one way but…when I'm with Jason I feel like someone totally different. I feel like I'm in The Notebook; having to choose between my first love, and my love now. What do I do, God? I know people have told me to follow my heart but…I don't think my heart is enough advice in this situation. I'm in too deep.

Gabriella sat in the airport terminal, silently fiddling with her hands while thinking these thoughts. Tears were streaming down her cheek by thinking about the fights she had with both those men, and every once in a while, people would glance at Gabriella and feel sorry for her. She always hated that.

"Flight 456 to Albuquerque, New Mexico is now boarding."

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OH WOWWWWW. LOL. That was actually quite sad for me to write. I tend to write a lot of fights and drama in my stories but hey…a story has to be interesting, right?

Next Chapter: Gabriella gets some advice from someone back in her hometown that just might help her decide what to do. Plus, Troy tries to search for Gabriella…running into Jason in the process. What will happen? Stay tuned!

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