"You know maybe I will take that Smirnoff after all" said Gabriella as she bent down and grabbed the bottle by Troy's feet.

"Hey are you avoiding the question?" asked Troy "Does this mean that I win?!"

"NO I never said that! I was just thirsty" yelled Gabriella "Chill a second Sparky!"

Truth was Gabriella was stalling as much as possible. She didn't know what she should say. Of course she loved Dean, she just wasn't sure in what way anymore. Lately, even before Troy, she had been feeling like they were drifting into friendship instead of a relationship feel anymore. She still loved spending time with him, there was no doubt about that, but she wanted to have that giddy feeling again. The feeling of love, and butterflies in your stomach was something she had longed for countless times in the past few months. While she was thinking about this, she found herself turning to look into Troy's blue eyes and realize she was starting to feel those butterflies again.

"Is there a time limit in this game?" said Troy impatiently "Because I don't think it's fair that you get to think about your answer this long! Plus while you've been "thinking" you've downed two of those Smirnoff's. Don't you think you should slow down a little?" He said with a concerned look on his face as he leaned over to look her in the eyes.

Gabriella didn't even notice she was drinking that much. She really was a lightweight, she didn't lie about that. She knew she would have to stop soon otherwise she'd be falling all over Troy drunk and she didn't want that on their first night hanging out.

"Alright here comes my answer, are you ready for this?" said Gabriella as she began to lean on Troy, not even noticing she was doing it.

Troy laughed "I've been ready for 10 minutes now Brie." He answered as he leaned in towards her a little too.

"I love him. I always have and I always will, I'm just not sure in what way anymore." Gabriella said, breathing out a sigh of relief for finally saying that out loud.

"Wow. Just throwing this out there, but why are you with him if you don't love him romantically anymore?" said Troy as he pulled away to look her in the eyes.

"I said I wasn't sure. I never said I didn't! and plus you can't just end a relationship that you've been in your entire life just because you have some doubts" said Gabriella as she avoided his gaze.

"It seems to me like you're just avoiding change Brie" said Troy "You know you can live without him. I thought we had this conversation before? At least something like it."

"Yeah you're right this seems a little familiar" she answered "And I'm not afraid of change, I just don't want to make rash decisions. Plus you have only known me for a day, what the hell do you know about my life?" said Gabriella as she finished off her 4th Smirnoff.

Troy was taken aback by how hostile she was with him. He didn't think she would get mad at him. He just wanted to talk to her. He did however take into account the fact that she was probably drunk at this point. He decided to let it go and just blame it on the alcohol.

"I think you've had enough Brie. Let's switch you over to water ok?" said Troy as he put his arm around Gabriella and took the empty bottle from her hand.

"I'm fine" she said as she stood up off the bumper and stumbled a little. "I think I need to pee."

Troy laughed at how blunt she was. "Well I'm sorry, but you're going to have to pop a squat somewhere because we're in the country Brie, there aren't any toilets."

"Damn… I can hold it then." Gabriella said as she sat back down on the bumper and kind of fell over into Troy.

Troy was loving the closeness, but couldn't help feeling like he shouldn't let her get this close to him. He didn't want her to be weirded out when she realized what she did the night before, he wanted to keep this girl in his life as long as possible.

"Troy…" said Gabriella, not looking up, still just leaning on him, motionless.

"Yeah, Brie?" said Troy as he turned his head to look at her, making sure not to move their bodies.

"I know this is corny and it doesn't mean a lot coming from a drunk person, but I want you to know that you remind me of my dad." She said as her voice drifted off.

"I'm sure that's one of the highest compliments coming from you, and it does mean a lot for me to hear you say that. More than you know." Troy put his arm around her and held her close as she cried into his chest.

"I'm sorry I'm freaking you out right now, this has just been the weirdest day ever." Gabriella said in between tears "It started off with me going to the store with my boyfriend who everyone thinks I'm going to marry, and honestly I used to too, and then I meet some random cashier and then he ends up being a caterer at my mom's party and THEN we end up actually talking and becoming friends, and now I'm sitting here crying on his shoulder while sitting on a bumper, piss ass drunk."

Troy started laughing, and pulled her in close. "Brie, I think this has been one of the best days of my life. You have no idea how much you make me laugh. I haven't laughed like this since…" Troy stopped short, his body stiffened.

"Since what?" asked Gabriella as she sat up and wiped her tears, looking at him.

"Nothing, we better get Sharpay, she seems to have hit her limit early tonight." Troy said as he pointed to a very clumsy Sharpay who was falling all over some guy.

"Troy, please tell me. We're friends" Gabriella said leaning in so close that Troy could smell her sweet perfume mixed with the strong smell of alcohol "Right Sparky?"

"We are Brie. I promise I will tell you some other time, just not tonight please?" Troy asked, his eyes pleading with her to agree.

"That sounds fair, but I'm holding you to that promise ok?" said Gabriella as she poked his chest with her index finger.

"I never break promises." Troy said strongly as he gazed into Gabriella's eyes intently.

Truth was, Gabriella already knew that about Troy. She was very good at picking up on that sort of thing, she knew from the moment he first gave her that elephant animal cracker that she could trust him with her life. She knew she had only felt that with one other man, and his name wasn't Dean. Frightened by the thoughts she was having about her father and Troy, Gabriella stood up so fast that she completely lost her balance. She would have fallen over, but Troy was right there to catch her.

"Come on Brie, let's get you in the van. I'm going to go get Sharpay ok?" Troy said as he was already carrying her bridal style to the van.

While Troy was carrying Brie she noticed a familiar face from across the field. She couldn't seem to quite make out the face, but the body was undeniable. No doubt about it, it was Dean.