Alright guys thank you so much for all the love. I believe this is going to be the end of this story. This chapter is kinda long, but I hope you enjoy it none the less. I want to thank all of the following reviewers: Favor1234, Sciencefreak2007, mzwendy85, lilmissmonique, kuropie, CHAYLORISAWESOME312, look at the stars, ., serena's girl 4-ever, CuteANDSexxxy17, nayla1988, Yellow-queen18, baby2ludaris, AyaneC, BabyGlover, chaylorlover101, Babys2245, blueprincess972, HelloLish, xoxocbluelover, and LuvTaylorfics. If I have forgotten you, I am so sorry, no harm intended. Also I want to thank all the people who clicked on my story just to give it a read. Here goes nothing, I hope you enjoy. Finally finished one.
Old Endings, And New Beginnings
Gabriella ran up the stairs, to what use to be her and Troy's secret hide away from the East High Wildcats world. She couldn't believe her life as of late. 'I love Troy so much, and it hurts beyond belief that he doesn't love me the same way' she thought. Tears were coming down into a steady flood on her face. She could be heard audibly crying, while looking out to the beautiful mountains that surrounded their school.
This was how Chad found her. Clutching her chest and struggling for air to breathe while she cried away her sorrows. Chad couldn't fathom how Troy and Gabriella had fallen apart. Sure it irritated him to see Taylor and his best friend playing suck face in the cafeteria, but if he was being honest with himself, which he had been doing a lot lately, he never really loved Taylor. Sure she was fun to hang out with and a really good kisser but there wasn't a deeper level connection between them.
But Troy and Gabriella had experienced that deeper level, and yet their relationship still hadn't worked out. Whatever the reason for their breakup, it still was a pathetic sight to see Gabriella so broken like she was.
Chad walked quietly behind her and cleared his throat to let her know his presence was there. Gabriella startled by the sudden noise turned around and starred at Chad through her blurry eyes. Without one word he reached his arms around her small frame and she immediately accepted the embrace and continued to cry with her face buried in his chest.
With huge gasps and strained moans, Gabriella proceeded to let all of her anger and miseries from the last year escape through her tears. Never in her life had she been this vulnerable with anyone besides her mom and Troy. "I can't believe I lost him" she said through muffled cries.
Chad, who usually was not equipped to deal with the matters of the heart, rubbed Gabriella's back in a soothing way and continued to tell her to 'Let all her feelings out for good'. The only person he had seen this broken was Taylor at her mother's funeral, and Troy was the one consoling her then. If he had known then that things would completely be different by time spring came, he would have laughed straight in their faces.
Once Gabriella crying had substantially subsided, she pulled away from Chad and went and sat on a little bench. She starred out at the beautiful landscape that surrounded her school. "What am I suppose to do now?" she asked. It was a rhetorical question but she honestly didn't know. Troy had been her everything for almost two years.
Chad walked over and sat next to her. She didn't turn to look at him; she just starred out at the scenery as tears once again rolled down her face. Chad sighed aloud, "Gabriella….don't take this the wrong way but you just have to move on" he said.
"I guess you're right, but he was such a big part of my life, and when I started to lose him, I got scared. I didn't understand what was going on…it turned me into and is still turning me into a person I don't like" she replied.
"And what kind of person is that?" Chad asked.
"A jealous, bitter, and angry person. I mean Chad he cheated on me, dumped me, and totally embarrassed me today" she said getting a little upset.
"To my recollection he never slept with Taylor" said Chad questioningly.
"No…but he kissed her and they both tried to play down the fact that it meant more to them" she said quietly, "besides he didn't have to physically cheat in the sense of the word, he checked out on our relationship, long before he and Taylor ever kissed".
"But you have to admit Gabs, what they have, any body can see that it's something special…..I don't think what I'm saying is coming out right" said Chad stuttering once he saw the look on her face. "It hurt a little to see those two today, but I have to be honest, Taylor and I were never meant to be. Sure she was great to hang out with, and she was a good kisser…"
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Sorry….bad choice of words" said Chad quickly. "What I mean to say is that I cared for Taylor a lot, but I knew that she wasn't the one I was supposed to give my heart to. Have you ever thought about the fact that you and Troy weren't meant to be? That maybe Troy came into your life so that you could find the right one….and maybe…just maybe Troy wasn't it. He couldn't have been it." said Chad hunching his shoulders.
"But our love was so real…I felt it" she said quietly.
"I don't doubt your love wasn't real Gabs. It just wasn't meant to last" he replied.
Gabriella stood up and started to pace a little around the top of the roof. "You know it's not even the fact that he dumped me!" she said angrily. "He just made out with her in front of everybody……everybody in school Chad! I felt like an idiot…and I asked him not to parade his relationship around, and he did it anyway! He couldn't even wait twenty four hours before he made a fool out of me!" she yelled while tears swelled up in her eyes.
"Gabs I understand your anger, and you better believe that they are feeling guilty right this very minute, but you have to move on. You let Troy have this weird sort of power over you. You had a life before you even knew Troy, and you will have a life after him…..I'm gonna make sure of that if it's the last thing I do" he said walking over to her and putting one arm around her shoulders, while wiping her tears away with his other hand.
"Besides, I know your grades have taken a beating through all of this drama".
Gabriella couldn't help but to smirk, Chad could be a really good guy sometimes. "Yeah they aren't looking to hot right now" she replied.
"Seriously, we have hella parties coming up, prom, and graduation. There is more to life than Troy and Taylor….they have moved on…so should you".
Gabriella shook her head in acknowledgement to what Chad said. 'I guess it's really time for me to let it go' she thought to herself.
"Chad can you take me home please, I really don't feel up to anything today" asked Gabriella.
"Sure Gabs, no problem" he said. He intertwined his fingers with hers, and they walked all the way to his car like that. Thankfully they didn't run into anyone on their way out of the building. They got into his car, and drove home in complete silence. Chad knew Gabriella was pondering everything that went on over the past couple of days. He noticed out of his peripheral that she was still crying silently to herself. As much as he tried to tell her that things would get better, he knew it would take some time for her to totally get over Troy. 'I guess she's got to go through her own mourning process too.' he thought to himself.
Once they reach the Montez residence, Chad helped Gabriella out of the car and into her house. "You call me if you need anything Gabriella, I mean it" said Chad seriously.
"I will……..I promise" she said. Chad took this as his cue to leave. "Please take care of yourself Gabs" he said half smirking at her. She smiled politely back at him as he walked out the door. Shutting the door she decided she didn't want to be in her room sulking. Everything in that room reminded her of Troy, so she went outside to the hammock, curled up in a ball and continued her self made pity party.
Back at school, the day went on sort of uneventful for Taylor and Troy. They agreed together to go and talk to Gabriella after school, since Taylor did not see her doing their science class. The teacher made sure she apologized for being disrespectful to the class yesterday by causing a scene. Not only did she have to apologize but she had to do both parts of the project since Gabriella wasn't any where to be found. After the bell rang for dismissal, Taylor went directly to Troy's locker and waited for him.
'I really messed up today, I never meant to hurt her they way I did. We just have to go over there and make sure that we apologize and that she knows we're sorry' thought Taylor to herself.
"Hey gorgeous" said Troy breaking Taylor out of her thoughts. He bent down and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "So you ready to go do this" he asked her while opening up his locker and grabbing his books and taking his jacket out.
"As ready as I'm gonna be" Taylor said.
Troy grabbed Taylor around her waist and they headed out of the school building towards his car, "Dad is not too happy about me missing practice, and Chad hasn't said one word to me today. So he's another person I have to apologize to" said Troy helping Taylor into his truck. He walked around to the driver's side, hopped in and started the ignition.
"This isn't going to be easy Troy, I mean we really did mess up today" said Taylor grabbing Troy's free hand. She started to play with his fingers nonchalantly, while Troy drove the familiar route to Gabriella's home. He loved the fact that they were already so comfortable around one another.
"Yeah I guess you're right, but I don't want to have to apologize all the time for kissing my girlfriend. Yes today we were a little inconsiderate, but Taylor we're together now and I want everyone to know it" said Troy.
"Troy we were very inconsiderate, I mean you saw the look on Gabriella's face…..what we did crushed her. I want for everyone to know we are together too, but maybe next time we shouldn't be so public about it" said Taylor.
Troy sighed very heavily, all this drama was getting on his nerves. He just wanted to move on and start fresh, with his new girl that he loved very much. "Tay, I'm just tired of all of this stuff. I thought that when Gabriella and I broke up, it would be the end of all this drama" he said a little frustrated, while he slowed down in front of the Gabriella's house.
"Yeah me too, but we handled things irresponsibly today. I just think we should apologize Troy, I would want an apology" said Taylor unbuckling her seat belt while looking at Troy. She loved the way his silhouette looked, these were things she noticed before but now she had the freedom to really appreciate them.
Troy reluctantly got out of the car and helped Taylor out. "If this makes me look like a better boyfriend and man, than I'm down" he said pulling Taylor into a quick embrace. "It definitely does" she replied, rubbing the side of his face.
The pair walked up to the Montez house. "Gosh, it's been forever since I've been here" said Taylor quietly. "Seems like a whole other life".
Troy knocked on the door, waiting for a response. Ms. Montez opened the door after a short while and was a little shocked to see both Troy and Taylor standing there together. "Hey Ms. Montez, is Gabriella home? We really need to speak with her" said Troy looking a little flustered.
"She is home Troy, but after what happened yesterday, I didn't think I would see you here at all. And I don't know what happened in school today, but she's been outside on that hammock curled up refusing to say one word to me" said Ms. Montez angrily.
Troy couldn't help to blush, "I knew this was a bad idea" said Troy quietly to Taylor.
"Yeah Troy…..a really bad idea" countered Ms. Montez.
"Ms. Montez please" cut in Taylor, "We really need to speak to Gabriella, it's been a lot of misunderstanding going on, and we just want to straighten things out if you don't mind" said Taylor pleadingly.
Ms. Montez just starred at the odd couple, she really didn't have any ill will towards Taylor, especially after the way her own daughter treated her, but she was very pissed at Troy. Against her better judgment she let them both in the house. "Gabriella has been outside all afternoon since I've been home" she replied.
"Thank you Ms. Montez" said Taylor. Troy really couldn't force himself to say anything. Ms. Montez had never been that hostel towards him before and he didn't know how to take it.
They walked outside, and sure enough they saw Gabriella curled up into a ball, lying on the hammock. Gabriella didn't hear them approach, after an afternoon of crying she had finally calmed herself down enough to drift into a nice sleep.
Taylor nudged Troy and nodded her head towards Gabriella. He took it as his clue to go and gently wake her up, he walked over and tapped her softly, "Gabriella" he whispered.
Gabriella awakened startled; she tried to figure out her surroundings when she caught a glimpse of the last two people on earth she wanted to see. Once Troy saw the disappointment in her face he backed up and stood right next to Taylor. Gabriella stood up, "What the hell do you want?" she said with venom in her voice.
Taylor was taken back by the hostility, but Troy spoke right up. "Gabriella I came to apologize for my behavior in the cafeteria today…..we both did" said Troy. "Yes, Gabriella I am so sorry for what happened today" chimed in Taylor, "It was totally insensitive and very selfish….and Troy and I wanted you to know that we're really sorry and it will never happen again".
Gabriella just looked at both of them with disgust. "Do you accept our apology?" asked Troy hopeful.
"Sure…..whatever" she replied. She turned her back and sat back down on the hammock. "If there's nothing else, you two can show yourselves out" she said not bothering to look at either one of them.
Taylor had turned to leave, but she heard Troy speak. "That's not all Gabriella" he replied. "I want this feud between all of us to end….I want all of the drama to stop" he said to Gabriella matter-of-factly.
"You want what drama to stop?" asked Gabriella feeling the anger rise in her.
"I want all of us, to just take responsibility for our part in everything, forgive each other and move on. Gabriella I don't want you to hate Taylor or myself when you see us at school. I pursued her, and the whole time I did, her only concern was that she didn't want to hurt you, that's why she said that we couldn't be friends anymore, she was afraid of her feelings for me and she didn't want to hurt you" he said strongly.
Without giving Gabriella a chance to respond he went on. "Taylor I want you to forgive Gabriella for not being there for you, because even though she wasn't there, other people filled that spot, Sharpay, Ryan, and me" he said looking directly at Taylor. "And if nothing else I wish you guys can forgive me for everything that I did wrong. Gabriella I never meant to hurt you the way I did, I never meant to break up with you the way I did. I didn't want you to find out about Taylor and me the way you did, but it happened and right now I'm just asking forgiveness, for the benefit of us all….so we can all move on" he said looking between his new love and his former love.
Gabriella fought the tears that were seriously trying to come down her face, she finally gave up and just let them flow freely. "Taylor let me start with you; I know that I haven't been a good friend to you. I suck for not being there when your mother was sick, I suck for not being there when she died, and I suck for not being there through the aftermath. I just realized now that I never apologized for what I did, so Taylor I am so sorry that I was a horrible friend, but more importantly a horrible person to you. You were woman enough to come here and apologize only after a couple of hours of knowing what you did was wrong, and it took me months to say that I was sorry, but I truly am" said Gabriella flustered.
Tears immediately started to fall down Taylor's face. "But the fact remains that our friendship is damaged beyond repair. You and I both know that, and even though we have apologized and I know later on down the line we will truly forgive one another. But you and I will never be friends again….and that is the honest truth" she said still trying to calm herself down even though the tears were coming down in a steady stream.
Taylor shook her head in acknowledgement; she was too upset to say anything in response. It hurt to know that her one time friend and sister didn't want anything to do with her anymore. She always held out the hope that she and Gabriella would reconcile….but it was apparent, finally that it wasn't going to happen.
"As for you Troy, you really have some nerve talking about drama and forgiveness, because all of this started with you".
"Gabriella….."
"No Troy…" she put her hand up to stop him. "Let me finish. I don't think you ever realized how important you were to me. I was willing and to give up the best friendship I ever had for you, which ended up happening. Troy you were my first everything….. my first date, my first kiss, and my first lover. The first person I ever felt comfortable enough around to feel completely vulnerable. You will always hold a special place in my heart, but right now I really hate you….and that feeling isn't going anywhere, anytime soon. I have the right to be angry! You dumped me yesterday Troy, after sharing my whole life with you for two years, you dumped me! And less than 24 hours later, you're hugged up with my best friend Troy, making out with her in front of everyone! How do you think that makes me feel?!" she shouted at him. "I'm sitting here crying my eyes out over the relationship we both just lost, and you didn't even give it a day before you're with her!" she said.
He didn't respond. He heard Taylor crying quietly next to him, but he didn't take his eyes off of Gabriella. There was an awkward silence between the trio, both Gabriella and Taylor were trying to calm themselves down. Troy felt a few tears slide from his eyes…this was just too much for him.
Gabriella had finally calmed down enough to talk again. "Look, I don't blame either one of you for falling in love with each other. Troy you are a great guy, and I know what Taylor feels for you, because I feel it too. And Taylor you are a great girl and you deserve love especially after everything you have been through this year. I just hate the way things went down and it's gonna take me sometime to get over it….but trust me I will get over it….somebody told me today, that I just have to move on and that is what I intend to do" she said quietly. "You guys have my blessing, be in love, just try not to be in love in front of me" she said half jokingly and half seriously.
"Thanks, Gabriella….I don't know what to say" said Troy clearing his throat.
"Don't say anything Troy, just go please. I'm really tired and I've cried about my body weight in water. You guys can show yourself out around the side of the house" said Gabriella. She didn't wait for them to respond; she just walked in the house and shut the door behind her.
Troy turned to look at Taylor who still had tears in her eyes. "C'mon Tay, let's get out of here" he said pulling Taylor gently. He lead her around the house and out to the front. They walked slowly and in silence to his truck. He opened the passenger door; before she got in he turned her around and wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed the top of her forehead. "I love you Taylor McKessie" he said softly.
"I love you too Troy Bolton".
"So since we have her blessing, let's be in love and stay in love. Let's start a new beginning together" he said quietly hugging her.
"Forever" she replied quietly.
"Forever" he responded back. He gave her one last kiss, before he got in the truck himself. Instead of going home he decided to take her to the place where it all started for him. Once they arrived in the park, he grabbed her hand as they walked slowly pass the gazebo. Walking in silence they took in the beauty that was all around them. He spotted the hill that signified so much of what he and Taylor had become. At one point in time they were just friends, but out of that friendship grew a love that he didn't even know he was capable of feeling. Out of something as tragic as death, love seemed to prevail. Never in a million years did he think his senior year would end like this, but he was thankful.
She too was pondering on the state of things. As bad as she felt about hurting Gabriella, she was more elated that she was finally receiving the love she was longing for, for so long. The start of the school year was horrible for her, and even though she lost her friendship with Gabriella, she gained so much more in return. A new brother and sister in Sharpay and Ryan, and a new boyfriend who was also turned out to be her new best friend. Even with all the drama that the year had produced, she still found herself thankful, that she was capable of loving, and getting love in return.
They walked towards the hill. Upon reaching it, he stood behind Taylor and placed his arms around her waist. He kissed her cheeks and whispered in her ear how much he loved her. She whispered back to him professing the same thing. He knew how much he hurt Gabriella, but like she said it was definitely time to move on. Taylor turned around and looked up at Troy with all the love she could muster, she leaned in and kissed him passionately, which he responded to with an intimacy neither one of them had ever experienced before. Once they came up for air, Troy grabbed her into a big hug, "To new beginnings" he whispered.
"To us forever" she replied.
Nothing else needed to be said. They stood as two lovers, embracing each other on top of a small hill, expecting nothing but the deepest love, which they both deserved in the end.