Disclaimer: I don't own HSM

A/N: I would have gotten this to you earlier but I just got home a few minutes ago and haven't been home all day. I was at summer school and then I went to the movies to see Harry Potter and the Order Of The Phoenix, great movie even though they cut out a lot of important parts but still good. Then me and my friends snuck in to see Transformers, another good movie. Anyway, I've gotten three more PM's from the ones I had before. I wish the rest of you would just take some time out to tell me what you would like me to do next but whatever. Never Far Behind seems to be the most popular since five out of the six people say they want me to do it. Then it would be Beautiful Disaster and Pop Princess. If I don't get anymore PM's by time I get the next chapter out then I guess Never Far Behind is my next story.

1. Italics -dreams or short flashbacks. (All in Gabi's POV)

2. Regular font -Long flashbacks and regular POV(a.k.a Gabi's POV)

3. Long lines -the beginning and end of a long flashback unless noted

4. If a chapter ends with a flashback, the next chapter will begin in the flashback.

Taking Over Me

by: LunarEclipse360

Dreizehn

"Gabriella" I looked up and saw Troy standing in front of me. The only way I knew it was him was because of his eyes.

"Troy..."

"Gabi there's something you need to know."

"What is it?"

"It's about Alex."

"What about Alex?"

"He's..."

Before he could finish his sentence, my alarm clock went off. I opened my eyes and blinked a couple of times.

"Damn you." I said to the clock and hit the snooze button. I got out of bed and went to get ready for school.

"Gabriella, Alex is here." my mom yelled fifteen minutes later.

"Coming." I yelled back and grabbed my bag. I ran downstairs and smiled when I saw Alex standing at the front door. "Morning Alex."

"Morning Gabriella. Ready to go?" I nodded and he opened the door. "After you."

"Bye mom."

"Bye Gabi. Bye Alex. See you later tonight." Alex looked at me, dumbfounded.

"I'll tell you in the car." he nodded and followed me out the door. We both climbed into his car and headed to school.

"So what did your mom mean by see you later tonight?"

"The dinner's tonight."

"Wait. What?"

"I'm serious. She wants the dinner to be tonight."

"Wow. Talk about giving people time."

"I know. But it's better to do it now and get it over with." he nodded and glanced at me.

"So how did you sleep?"

"Good." I said, not mentioning the dream. Alex knew nothing of my dreams and I wasn't planning on telling him about them. If I did, he would find out that this isn't the only thing I'm using him for. If Troy were still here, me and Alex's friendship wouldn't be based on lies. I wouldn't have to keep from him that he's my only way of finding Troy because there would be no need to find Troy. But sadly this was how it was. Alex was merely a pawn in a bigger game. I didn't want it to be like this but if he was my only connection to Troy then it had to be this way.

"Hey you okay?" he asked and I looked at him.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just spaced out a bit there."

"You've been doing that a lot lately."

"I know but don't mind me. My head hasn't exactly been here for the past three years." he nodded, staying silent on my mention of my past. "So how was your night?"

"Okay I guess. My parents were arguing as always."

"Why?"

"Most of the time it's just stupid stuff and they make up in like an hour but other times...it's about me."

"What do you mean?"

"I just hear them argue about me sometimes. I never actually hear what they're saying but I know it has something to do with why we moved here."

"What was it this time?"

"I think it was about me this time." I nodded sadly and the conversation ended. A few minutes later we pulled up to the school and he parked his car. "Do we have to pretend in front of the entire school?"

"Sadly, yes."

"Why?"

"Cause then maybe Taylor will stop trying to hook me up with every guy in school." he nodded and grinned.

"Well then we better act the part huh?" he asked and held out his hand. I looked down at his outstretched hand then back into his sea green eyes. There was something in his eyes, something that I hadn't seen in so long I barely remembered what it was, but I know it was something good. There was a reason Alex was in my life. Whether it had to do with Troy or not...I don't know. But I did know that it was a good reason. I smiled and took his hand, lacing his fingers with mine. I don't know why I did it, it was almost like an instinct...like second nature but I didn't mind.

-

-

I sat across from Taylor at lunch and she looked at me. Her mouth opened to say something but before she could, Alex sat next to me.

"Hey Gabriella." he said and kissed my forehead, just like we planned. Taylor sat there open mouthed.

"If you keep your mouth open like that, you're going to catch flies." I said and she quickly closed her mouth.

"Gabriella what's going on?"

"Well I took your advice and moved on. Now me and Alex are...a couple." Taylor squealed so loud I think they could hear her in China.

"Oh my God. Gabriella finally." I smiled and looked over at Kelsi. She flashed me a smile before rolling her eyes at Taylor.

"Gabriella are you coming to my house so we can go over some more songs?" Kelsi asked and Alex looked at me.

"Songs?"

"I'm entering this competition at this café during the summer so me and Kelsi are working on some songs to sing." I explained and he nodded. "Sorry Kels. My mom's having Alex over for dinner so I have to help her get the house together. Tomorrow I promise." she nodded and went back to eating.

"So Alex...what do you like about our little Gabriella here?" Taylor asked and we looked her.

"Well...she was the first girl that I met that didn't want to get me in bed." I gave a short laugh and shook my head. "But seriously, she's a great person. Smart, talented, beautiful." I turned to look at him, not believing what I was hearing. Everything that he said sounded more like he wasn't faking it. Either he was a really good actor or...he actually meant everything he said.

"Seems like you really like Gabriella." he chuckled but didn't answer.

"Um...we have to go." I said and stood up.

"We do?" he asked and I nodded.

"Yeah. Remember we have that thing to do." I said, my eyes telling him to play along.

"Oh...yeah. Bye girls." he said and stood up, following me out of the cafeteria. "What was that about?" he asked as soon as we were out of the cafeteria.

"I could ask you the same question."

"I was just answering Taylor's questions."

"Yeah I know but to me they seemed more...truthful than someone could ever pull off."

"I was just acting that's all."

"I hope so." he sighed and embraced me.

"Gabriella just relax okay. I know what I'm doing." I nodded and wrapped my arms around him. Slowly, but surely, the lonely feeling in my heart was fading and it was all because of Alex. It comforted me but scared me. I had become so used to feeling alone that having it go away was frightening, especially since it seemed to be the only thing keeping Troy with me.