In My Sister's Shadow

An-I know, and I'm sorry! It's been forever and this story is almost over. I just really don't want to end it. That, and the fact that I've been terribly busy. I also have a cold and the list goes on. lol Let's get started. The winner for the trivia is mysupermanwillcome! Martha's hair clips were green. Also, xxTWILIGHTxxEdward's Lovexx, Partout Beau, snowstardreams, browneyedswimmer, HazieRox, laughter.is.the.best.medicine, HSMandChelseaFCfan, waiting-on-chris, XxXDrama QueenXxX, cheetatastic1983, LivesInLove, dramalover4, Cole-rulez, and myartismystory.mystoryismyart gave the correct answer. I'm glad most of you liked the last chapter. Just to clear things up, Troy and Gabriella are not together at the moment. As always, this will end a Troyella

Disclaimer: Nada son.

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Chapter 20

Gabriella stood in front of her room mirror. It was about two days after the talent show, and she was getting ready for school. There was a soft knock on her door.

"Come in." Gabriella said as she turned to see who her visitor was.

"Goodmorning sweetie." Her mother's voice greeted softly. Her father entered the room soon after. Gabriella sat stunned. She hadn't spoken to her parents since she yelled at them.

"Morning." Gabriella's voice was low. She wasn't sure what her parents wanted, but she didn't know if their visit was good or bad.

"We just wanted to say that we're sorry." Her father said to her. "Your mother and I just felt a bit lost. It was like we lost our daughter. Your accident hit us in the gut."

"That's right. We just wanted to keep an eye on Jasmin, too. I guess we took things a bit too far." The beauty blinked a few times before realizing what just happened. After all this time, her parents finally apologized.

"I forgive you, both of you. I think I just got so tired of always being second-best or forgotten that I blew up. My intention was not to hurt anyone's feelings." Gabriella told them.

"I don't anymore apologizing from you." Alisa said with a smile. The three of them hugged and pulled away slowly.

"I can drive you to school today if you want." Arnold offered, trying to make up for some lost time.

"It's fine. I'm gonna go in a bit earlier today. I really need to talk with Taylor." She told them. They both nodded before each kissed her and exited the room.

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Gabriella smiled at the memory. It was about 5 months ago. She was currently in her new car. It was time for her to take a trip to see him. She hadn't talked to him since the day of the talent show, and was pretty sure that she had her mind made up. Gabriella talked the issue over with Jasmin, who was a huge help. That was after Gabriella apologized for the things she said...

It was two days after Gabriella made up with her parents. She'd been wanting to talk her sister ever since the day she yelled at her. The only problem with was that Gabriella was scared. She didn't know if Jasmin was angry at her for saying those things. All she knew was that it was time for her to suck it up and talk to her. The brunette crept into the auditorium as her sister was dancing on the stage. She smiled silently as she walked closer and closer. Jasmin was so wound up that she didn't even hear. She began to spin when she finally took note of Gabriella. There was a silence before anyone said anything.

"That was awesome." Gabriella complimented. She felt as though she should say something nice.

"Thank-you." Jasmin replied. The akward feeling soon came back as the words stopped flowing from their mouths.

"I'm sorry." Piped a Gabriella. The silence was killing her. It'd never been this bad before.

"I...what did I do?" Jasmin asked her sister. She was so confused. Gabriella never really explained anything to her.

"Nothing. You didn't deserve to have me yell at you. I shouldn't have blamed you for everything. None of it was your fault. I was hurt and I needed someone to blame things on and you were there. I'm so sorry."

"So, you don't think it's all my fault?"

"I'd take it all back if I could." Jasmin smiled at her sister before bringing her into a hug.

"Well, what happened that day? Why were you so upset?" The older Montez asked.

"It's a really long story, sis." Her smile faded as Gabriella looked away.

"What do I always say? When it comes to you, I've got plenty of time." The two sisters laughed before Gabriella sat down with Jasmin to tell her about the day...and about her dilema.

She smiled at herself as she remembered how caring her sister had been that day. It was hard for Gabriella to speak of something that hyrt her, but things were okay after she got it all out. She also remembered talking with Chad that same day...

"Gabriella!" The beauty whipped around from her locker as she heard her name being called. Expecting to see Troy, she began to straightening her shirt. "Gabriella!" She turned to the other side to see Chad Danforth standing there. She stared at him for a minute before turning back to her locker. "Um, hi."

"Hello." Gabriella answered before grabbing one last book and slamming her locker shut. Chad cringed as she did this. She was definitely upset with him. The brunette walked away, greatful that acutally could now.

"Gabriella wait." Chad said as he went after her. Gabriella only shook her head.

"Why? So you can set up more of your plans that will ruin my life?" She questioned, still not looking at him.

"No! I want to apologize." This stopped her right in her tracks. She turned around slowly and looked at the bushy-haired boy in front of her.

"What?"

"I'm sorry for what I did. I don't know what I was thinking."

"You knew exactly what you were thinking. Why'd you do it?" Chad sighed before taking Gabriella's hand and pulled her out of view from everyone.

"I did it because I wanted you and Troy to break-up." Gabriella scoffed at him.

"No, really? I totally thought it was because you wanted us to be together forever." The brunette spat at him.

"You are really bad at listening, you know that?" Gabriella opened her mouth to retaliate, but Chad started talking again. "I wanted you guys to break up because I felt like I was losing him. All he ever did was hang out with you. Ever since he met you, that's all he talked about. I didn't think anything of it until he went to sit with you that day at lunch. I knew he wasn't coming back. I was just so afriad of losing him that I thought getting rid of you would make things better. He hates me. He punched me in the face and said it was my fault. Then he called you because he realized you could walk..."

"Yeah, about that..."

"Look, you've got your own personal reason why you didn't tell him. That's not the issue right now. I'm sorry for saying that I wanted the old Troy back. I don't want him. I saw how much he hurt himself, and I don't want it to go back to that. I just wanted the Troy that was my best friend. I'm sorry for setting everything up. I didn't mean for any of you to get hurt." Chad finished. Gabriella just stared. She was amazed that someone like Chad could feel that way. It wasn't like her to hold things against people, so she made her decsion.

"You're forgiven...on one conditon." She told him.

"Anything, but please don't be too harsh." He pleaded. Gabriella smiled while shaking her head.

"No, I just want to know where Troy is. I haven't seen him all day."

"Right, well last time I talked to his dad I heard Troy went away to visit his sister Christine. The one away at college." The brunette's face fell a little.

"Oh, okay. Thanks anyway Chad."

"No problem."

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Gabriella stepped out of her car and walked up to the steps. She took a deep breath and let it out before knocking on the door. She watched as it slowly creaked open and revealed a very tired Trevor.

"Hey." He greeted with a yawn. Haven't seen you in a while." Gabriella blushed and cleared her throat.

"Um, Is Troy home?" She asked, clearly trying to get away from the topic.

"Yeah, you know where the kitchen is right?" Gabriella nodded before walking into the house. She stepped quietly through the family room and into the kitchen. There he stood with his ipod in his back pocket and his hand buried under bubbles in the sink. She smiled at the sight. Troy Bolton washes the dishes. Unaware that he was being watched, Troy started singing. Gabriella giggled. This was the Troy that she never got to see. The boy groaned and turned.

"Trev-" Troy stopped himself once he realized that it wasn't his brother who had been laughing at him. "What do you want?" He asked, a bit annoyed.

"I've made a choice. I think we can be together again. I'm sorry it took so long."

"Really? I thought five months was extremly short." Troy said with a smirk. The sarcasm poured out of his voice.

"Don't be upset Troy. I told you I needed time." Gabriella said to him as she took a seat.

"Yeah, but five months?"

"I'm sorry, but I was just really messed up, okay? I want to get back together with you."

"I know, but this all got me thinking and..." His voice trailed off.

"And what?"

"I need time to think." He said in a mocking tone.

"So, you don't want to get back together?" Gabriella asked, hurt.

"I didn't say that."

"Then why are you mocking me? Am I missing something here?"

"Well, you were never the fast one." Troy said with a smile as he sat down across from her.

"Ouch. That hurt." Gabriella smiled back at him. "So, do you forgive me? We both messed up and I forgave you..."

"Of course I do. I still love you, that hasn't changed..."

"Well?" The beauty interupted. She had a smile on her face still from the little joke that made everything better.

"I still love you, but somethings have happened." Gabriella felt her heart drop. Did Troy meet someone else? "I'm moving with my uncle until I graduate. Then I'm going to college out there."

"Oh, that's...wonderful." The brunette's enthusiasm wasn't present in her voice though.

"Yeah. I can't wait. What about you?"

"I was planning on going to U of A. Staying close to home. I don't want to run away from my parents when I just got them back." She explained. "I just don't want you to go." Troy paused as she looked away from him.

"I don't know what to say. Everything's been settled."

"I know. I should be going." Troy stood and caught her arm before she could get any futher than a step.

"I'll miss you." He whispered before pulling her into a passionate kiss. "I guess this is goodbye."

"yeah..."

"I'm making another vow."

"What?"

"I promise that if I come back and we're both single, we'll get married. No questions asked."

"Troy, that's a stupid vow." She laughed.

"Yes, but you're going to agree because you still love me. We'll get married and then we'll go on our honeymoon in Fiji." Gabriella broke out smililing. There's no way that'll ever happen, but sure. I'm going to agree with you." They kissed one last time before he watched her walk. His eyes filled with tears, and he knew that hers were filled too. One thing was for sure...

They'd see each other again.

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An-There it is! The last chapter! Just the epilogue is left!

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