CHAPTER TEN

Arriving at the airport, Gabriella pulled open the door and stepped out. She looked up into the sky and basked in the sun's rays.

"The sun is so beautiful today," she said to herself, feeling the wind as the other cars rushed by. Slinging her purse around her shoulder, Gabriella closed the car door and progressed into the airport terminal, ready to see her friend again.

Trevor had called and told Gabriella that he was coming in this morning with his girlfriend, Christine. Gabriella was excited that Trevor was coming up, It had been years since she had seen him, even though in that time, he had cause a lot of trouble.

"Forgive and forget." That was Gabriella's motto. She would never stay mad at any friend for so long.

The doors slid open and Gabriella stepped in, instantly feeling the drastic temperature drop that airports usually had. She rubbed her upper arm, the goose bumps running up and down her arms.

Slowly, she made her way into Trevor's terminal, taking a seat in one of the red chairs. She pulled out a magazine that she brought with her. A note fluttered out and Gabriella bent down the pick it up.

To the woman I love:
No matter where you are, whether we only a short distance away, a couple hours away, or even miles away, just remember that you're always on my mine.
From the man that is in love with you,
Troy Bolton

Smiling, Gabriella folded up the note and pulled out a piece of paper. With a pen in hand, she began to write something. She didn't know what it was. Maybe she could use it for a future song or maybe it was just a love poem to Troy. She didn't know.

She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't notice Trevor and Christine stand in front of her.

"Hey Gabs," Trevor said. She jumped at the sound of her name. Cautiously looking up, she saw that it was Trevor along with his girlfriend, Christine.

"Trevor!" Gabriella hugged him around the neck, "It's so great to see you again!"

"It's great to see you too, Gabs!" he said, returning her hug, "I want you to meet Christine..."

"Hello," she answered politely, shaking Gabriella's hand, "It's great to finally meet you. Trevor is talking about your upcoming wedding constantly."

"I never told you about the wedding," Gabriella said to Trevor, "How did you know about it?"

"Gabs, I knew from that moment you left the club that you and Troy would end up together," Trevor answered, smiling, "Plus who do you think told him to ask you by hiding the ring in a dessert?"

"You're still the same guy who is full of himself, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Christine responded, "and that's why I love him."

"Well," Gabriella said, "Where are you guys staying?"

"This fancy hotel...Christine knows that details," Trevor answered.

"Well, at least let me show you the city!" Gabriella exclaimed.

"Alright Gabs. I'd love to see that city of New York."

"Come on!" Gabriella answered, leading them to her car.

Troy's Basketball Practice

Troy was late to basketball practice. He was worried about Gabi and how she had to leave in a hurry. He just hoped that nothing bad would happen to her.

"Troy!" Chad said as he walked into the gym in the middle of practice, "Where were you?"

"I'm sorry, I guess I have a lot on my mind right now," Troy answered, trying to push the thought of Gabriella in trouble out of his mind.

"Well, you'd better change and get to drills before Coach gets angry," Chad responded, spinning the basketball on his two fingers.

"Yeah," he answered, walking to the locker room. Troy was seriously getting tired of how all the guys expected so much from him on this team. Maybe, basketball isn't the thing that his heart truly wanted to do.

Changing into his practice shorts and jersey, Troy thought about maybe following Gabriella's path and becoming a singer and maybe ask Gabi if they could be a dynamic duo.

"No, that's stupid," Troy said to himself, looking at his reflection in the mirror, "Basketball was what I was meant to do."

Running out of the gym, Troy met the Coach's scolding and he told him to do extra drills. Without arguing, Troy followed his orders, still worried about Gabriella.

Toward the End of Practice

"Okay boys, go ahead and shower up," Coach said, meaning the rest of the team besides Troy and Troy knew it.

As the rest of the boys left, Coach walked over to Troy. "What's goin' on with you, Troy? You don't seem to be focused."

"I'm fine Coach," he answered, "I've just go a lot on my mind."

"Well," he sounded stern, "Get your head out of the clouds and into the game."

Troy watch the Coach walk away and he picked up a basketball and practiced his shots, missing more than sinking them.

The door opened and Troy turned around, seeing that it was Gabriella rushing in the see him.

"Gabi!" Troy dropped the basketball that he was holding and run over to Gabriella.

As she was picked up into his arms, Gabriella passionate kissed Troy, entirely losing herself in the kiss.

"Guys, get a hotel room."

Letting go of her, Troy looked over to see that it was Trevor who had made the remark. Following him was Christine, a little reluctant to come in.

"Hey Trevor," Troy said warmly, placing his arm around Gabriella's waist, which caused her to giggle.

"Troy, it's great to see you again," he answered, gently encouraging Christine in, "Troy, this is Christine. Christine, Troy."

"Pleasure to meet you," Troy said, extending his free hand.

"Nice to meet you too," she answered, taking his hand, shyly avoiding eye contact with him.

"Well, Troy," Gabriella asked, "What are you doing? Where's the rest of the team?"

"I've got to stay after a bit, I was late to practice," Troy answered, kissing the top of her head.

"Troy!" Coach had returned, "Get to practice! Our big game is coming soon. You three," he pointed to Gabriella, Trevor, and Christine, "The gym is closed while practice is still going."

"Sorry Troy," Gabriella said, hugging him, "We'll go. But promise me that you'll call as soon as you're done?"

"Promise," he answered, "Sealed with a kiss."

Once again and their lips met, the passion stronger.

"Guys, seriously," Trevor injected, "Get a hotel room."

Without paying attention to him, Troy and Gabriella continued to lose themselves in the kiss. Troy, knowing that he had to get to practice before Coach came back, pulled away slowly.

"Gabi," he said, once again kissing the top of her head, "I love you."

"I love you too."

One last peck on the lips and Gabriella scurried out of the gym, looking back and blowing Troy a kiss before she exited the doors, which coldly slammed shut.

Troy picked up a basketball and made a shot, which missed.

"Maybe I should cut a song on Gabi's album..."

Another shot, which made it.

"But basketball was what I grew up on..."

Another one, this one missed.

"I feel that singing is, how do I want to put it, more me..."

The ball went up, and sunk into the net.

"Dad raised me on basketball and was so excited when I was drafted to play for the Knicks..."

The ball bounced off the rim of the hoop.

"It's was thanks to that very night that I meet the love of my life. Thanks to karaoke, thanks to singing..."

This mental battle went on for a while, each shot helping him make his decision. After about a half an hour, Troy took his last shot, which missed and left to go get changed.