AN: Words cannot express how sorry and grateful I am. Seriously. I've been the worst author and you guys have been the best readers. So thank you for being patient and supportive and I'm gonna shut up now before I start rambling. So on with the chapter! =)

PS: I dont know if I've written Andrea's last name before, but its going to be Robinson.

Last Time:

"You can go ahead and pick a DVD. I'll be back in a minute," said Gabriella as she headed upstairs carrying, to her relief, an asleep Alex. Gabriella decided so skip his bath this night since there's no way he'd be able to sleep again if she woke him up so she changed him into his white and blue striped PJ's before tucking him in his crib. She softly kissed his head and turned on the monitor before turning off the lights and quietly head downstairs.

"Has he slept?" asked Troy as he inserted the DVD. Gabriella nodded and plopped down on the couch, snuggling into her boyfriend. Troy wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, softly kissing her brown curls before pressing play.

Chapter 21:

Gabriella walked into East High Sunday morning, her large handbag hung on one shoulder along with a baby blue diaper bag while her other arm wrapped around Alex. Mrs. Newton called in sick and Gabriella knew Maria had to go to work today so she couldn't find a sitter.

"Now Alex, I want you to behave while Mommy works okay?"

Alex frantically nodded, excited to see his mother's work. Gabriella continued walking through the empty hallway, seeing as its only 6:30 and students don't arrive till around 7. Today is the first day for Andrea, however Gabriella is not worried in the slightest.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here," a deep chuckle came from behind. Gabriella glanced back and silently groaned as Mark jogged towards her. "What's the little cutie doing here?" He reached out to ruffle Alex's dark curls but Gabriella pulled away. Alex scrunched his face at him.

"Um, my sitter that usually looks after him called in sick, and I couldn't find a replacement," replied Gabriella shortly. She walked faster towards her office door, hoping Mark would leave her alone, but it looks like that's not going to happen anytime soon.

"Oh? Well why didn't you call me? I know this great sitter that my sister calls for emergencies."

Gabriella stifled her laugh. Did he really believe that she would actually call him for help? "Oh that's all right. Thanks anyway."

"Here let me get that for you," Mark opened the door for her and smiled charmingly at her. Replying with a weak smile, she hurried inside to her desk.

"Aww who's the little cutie?" Cooed Claudia as she got up from her desk.

"This is my son, Alex. Say hi Alex," Alex shyly waved.

"He has your eyes Gabs," commented Johnny.

"Thank you." Gabriella placed Alex on her desk and set his diaper bag on her chair before starting to pull out her files and papers out of the large handbag. "Where's Richard?"

"Oh he's not coming today. It's his son's graduation," replied Claudia as she tried to tickle Alex. Alex giggled.

"Oh."

"When is your class Gabi? Because I dont have one till third period, so I can look after him if you want," suggested Claudia. Gabriella looked up at her and sighed.

"Oh would you? Thank you so much! I actually have a class now and wont be free till fourth."

"I can look after him. I only have second and the last two," spoke Mark with a crooked smile. "Besides, I'm great with kids," he winked. Gabriella rolled her eyes. But before she could speak, a voice interrupted.

"That wont be necessary Mark. I'm free at that time," Troy appeared from the tiny kitchen. A wide grin instantly broke out on Gabriella's face. Mark scowled at him

"Hey! What are you doing here this early? And what were you doing in our kitchen," she playfully narrowed her eyes. Troy grinned cheekily and leaned to peck her lips. Mark's eyes, as well as everyone else in the room, bulged.

"Twoy!" Alex squealed and reached out for him. Troy chuckled and picked him up.

"Hey buddy." Troy turned towards Gabriella, "Babe, I thought I told you to call me when you get here."

Mark glared at him in envy, the shock state still present from what he had just witnessed.

"Woah woah! Hold it right there! Babe? Okay, what the hell is going on here?" Claudia stuttered. Johnny grinned in amusement, but deep down happy that the two finally got over their stubbornness.

"What are you talking about?" Asked Gabriella distracted, looking for her lesson plan. Troy smirked and set Alex down before going around Gabriella's desk and wrapping his arms around her from behind. Gabriella looked up at him confused.

"Gee Claud, I didnt know I had to spell it out for you. We're dating," announced Troy before pressing his lips against Gabriella's. Mark stood frozen on the side, his mouth open in disbelief and his eyes wide in disgust.

Claudia squealed. Alex's tiny hands flew to cover his ears, looking lost between them.

Johnny laughed. "Well it's about time. But can you do that somewhere else? This is a place for work and there's a two year old sitting right in front of you."

"Oh my god! Finally! I thought I'd be having grandchildren when you two got together," Claudia commented before pushing Troy away from Gabriella and engulfing her in a tight hug.

"Claud, we're just dating. It's not like we're getting married," giggled Gabriella. Mark still stood frozen as a statue.

"Yet," winked Claudia. Troy laughed and Gabriella blushed.

Mark sighed as he ran his hand through his blonde spiked hair. He knew Troy and Gabriella were attracted to each other but wasn't too worried about it as he thought that neither would do anything. At least not this soon. So watching the two lip-lock in the office in the morning had been a major shock to him. He knew he should've made his move sooner, or tried to keep the two away from each other as much as possible. Or at least have a back-up plan in case the tiny possibility of them getting together would be a reality. Groaning, he leaned his head against the brick wall.

"Do you know how stupid you look right now?" A voice interrupted his thoughts. It was free period now and the two decided to meet up in the back entrance of the school.

"They're together," stated Mark darkly, ignoring the comment.

"Uh, who are?"

"Troy and Gabriella."

"What?! That's impossible! When? How?"

"I dont know Andrea and I dont fucking care! They're together now and there's nothing we can do. Everything's ruined," growled Mark. Andrea tsked.

"I never took you for a quitter Mark. And there's always something that we can do. I did not drop my life in Florida to come all the way here for nothing,"

Mark looked at her confused. "I thought you came for Troy?"

Andrea laughed. "Oh honey, you actually think I give a damn about him? I'm so over him. Yeah he's hot and all, but so not worth dropping Florida. I'm here for a purpose and nothing, and no one, will get in my way."

"The money?"

"Mhm." Andrea stepped closer to Mark and pressed her slim body against his, looping her arms around his neck. She trailed a hand down his shirt to the top of his black suit pants. Mark felt himself stiffen and placed his hands on her hips.

"And of course, every journey has it's fun times," she gazed into his eyes and licked her lips seductively. Mark smirked and pulled her closer, causing a pleasant friction to occur in their lower regions.

"I love the way you think, baby," he said huskily before crashing his lips onto hers.

"All right guys, you've got ten minutes left so hit the showers. Great practice," Troy announced as the young wildcats hurried towards the lockers room.

"Man, I cant wait for spring break. As much as I love to play and teach ball, I'm beat," Chad collapsed on the wooden bench and reached for his water bottle.

Troy chuckled. "Yeah. Hey, how's that little trip of yours going?"

"You mean to California? It's coming great. I got everything booked and Taylor's psyched. She's already got her list of museums and historical landmarks made," he said dryly.

"Who's going to look after Michael?"

"Tay's mom."

"Oh."

"What about you? No romantic getaway planned for you and Gabs?" Chad wiggled his eyebrows. Troy threw a ball at him but Chad reflexively caught it.

"No. I dont want to freak her out. It's too early for that," Troy replied.

"I see."

"Anyways, I gotta go. Gabs is coming over tonight."

"Oo, got a hot date Bolton?" Smirked Chad, throwing the ball back at him.

Troy grinned and caught it. "Damn right I do. And dont you dare try to interrupt it."

Gabriella turned off the lights of the office and shut the door before walking down the empty hallway. School was over and she was the last one remaining in the office. Taylor suggested to take Alex home with her to play with Michael so now Gabriella doesn't have to worry about it while she's at Troy's tonight.

Troy. Just hearing his name brought a smile to her face. She cant believe how lucky she is to have an amazing man adore her and her son. Before moving to Albuquerque, she honestly thought she was going to stay single for the rest of her life. Not that she minded, because if the guy cannot accept Alex then he can go to hell. But she also would've love to have someone to spend her life with and to act as the father that Alex never had. With Troy, she can honestly say she had found that person.

"I hope that gorgeous smile is about me," a low voice came from behind. Gabriella spun around and grinned.

"Maybe, maybe not," she giggled. Troy grinned hearing the musical sound and draped his arm around her shoulder, placing a kiss on her dark curls. He took her large handbag out of her hands and Gabriella smiled at him.

"Ready to go Ms. Montez?"

"Well, I wouldnt be heading out of the school if I wasnt," she teased, slipping her free arm around his waist and lacing their fingers with the hand draped over her shoulder as they walked out of East High's doors.

"Ha ha, very funny. So how was your day?"

Gabriella groaned and dropped her head against his shoulder. "Ugh, boring and tiring. I -"

"Troy!"

Troy and Gabriella looked back and Troy groaned as he saw Andrea heading towards them.

"What do you want Andrea?" Troy sighed. Gabriella squeezed his hand.

"My car broke down and I need a ride," she pouted.

"I see. Why dont you call a cab? Or ask someone else."

"Everyone left. And there's no way I'm taking a cab!"

"Where do you live Andrea?" Asked Gabriella. Andrea shot her a look.

"102 Oak Street," she replied shortly. Troy's eyes widened.

"That's like an hour away from my place!"

"Please Troy?" She pouted. Gabriella rolled her eyes and looked away, trying her best to control the not-so-nice comments from slipping.

"What's going on here?" Troy looked over Andrea's shoulder and was relieved to see Sharpay coming their way.

"Andrea's car broke down and she needs a ride home. Hey Shar, she lives near you. How about you give her a ride?" Troy sent her a pleading look. Gabriella stiffled a giggle as she saw Andrea's panicked look.

"Oh no thats no-"

Sharpay smirked. "Sure. Besides, I wanted to talk to you about the new costumes," Sharpay grabbed her arm and dragged a grim looking Andrea towards the back parking lot.

Troy shuddered. "Just when I think she cant get any creepier, she proves me wrong."

Gabriella playfully slapped his chest. "That's not a nice thing to say,"

Troy smiled and rolled his eyes. "Please, don't pretend like you don't agree with me,"

Later that night, the two sat at Troy's living room watching a movie. Troy had his back against the arm, his legs stretched out in front of him with Gabriella nuzzled in between, her head resting on the crook of his neck, unconsciously drawing random patterns on his shirt while Troy trailed his hand up and down her exposed arm. The two sat quietly for a while before Gabriella spoke up.

"Hey Troy?"

"Mm?"

"What..um..happened with you and..uh..Andrea?" She asked quietly, not looking at the TV screen or Troy, but focused on her finger circling around on his shirt.

Troy frowned, surprised by her question. He knew she would ask sooner or later, but hoped it would be later.

"Why are you asking?"

Gabriella looked uncomfortable. "Oh um, I was just curious. But if you dont wanna talk about it then that's fine. I understand."

Troy chuckled and turned his head slighting to kiss the top of her head. "No it's fine. It's just, that time wasnt exactly the best moments of my life."

Gabriella nodded silently, never stopping her doodling.

Troy sighed and leaned his head back. "I met Andrea at the end of my second year in college. At first we were just friends, well if you can call us that since I barely even talk to her. But over the summer, Chad and I had a summer job at some club that her dad owned and Andrea would show up some times, dropping very blunt hints about us going out together. So I decided to give it a shot. At first, she wasn't so bad and I actually enjoyed her company. We dated for the next two years and marriage seemed like the next step. Now that I think about it, I was, you could say numb, throughout our relationship. You know, go with the flow. She was ecstatic when I proposed, although Chad almost passed out when I told him the news," he chuckled. Gabriella giggled lightly.

"What did your parents and Amber think of her?" Asked Gabriella.

"They hated her," he answered bluntly. "Especially Amber. She couldnt stand her. I had a two hour lecture from her when she heard the news. Mom and Dad tried to act like they were happy for me, but it was obvious that it was all fake."

"What about Sharpay and everybody else?"

"They weren't too happy either, although the girls didn't know her much. I think that's what upset them the most"

"Oh."

"So anyways, Andrea immediately started planning and everything, not even bothering to include me. We were engaged for two months before I broke it off,"

"Why did you?" Gabriella looked up at him curiously.

"Right before I proposed, Chad started going out with Taylor. Their relationship developed fast and I can see how in love they were. I knew that wasn't the case with me and Andrea. What I felt about Andrea was not even close to how Chad felt about Taylor. I wasn't in love with her, I didnt even love her. I realized that what we were doing was unfair to the both of us. She's not the right person for me. So I ended it. She, of course, was devastated. But I honestly think that she was more upset about the humiliation and that all her hard work on the wedding was for nothing than the fact that she's losing me."

"And I thought she couldn't get any stupider," commented Gabriella softly, gazing up at him. Troy chuckled and kissed her nose.

"Of course, Chad and Amber were over the moon. Even my parents were happy. I'm glad I ended it before I made the biggest mistake in my life. I knew that out there, somewhere, there's a girl for me and I should just keep searching."

"Oh," Gabriella looked down and played with the hem of her shirt before she felt two fingers lift her chin.

"But now I think, no I know, that the search is over and I dont have to look anymore beyond my very own apartment." Gabriella grinned as Troy gazed into her chocolate orbs before tenderly brushing his lips against hers