Chapter 24

Recap

"Just friends? I doubt its gonna stay in that level." Gabriella laughed a little but inside, her heart was screaming but she couldn't hear. It seemed like it was trapped somewhere along with her past.

"I don't know." Amy mumbled softly, glancing at Troy and back to Gabriella.

"But do you like him?" The brunette questioned bravely, against her will.

"Yeah.. I do but… I always feel this emptiness in Troy and somehow, I know I can't fulfil that emptiness. I actually thought that it was you that his heart calls for, considering at how much he talked about you… but then, he concluded the subject by saying that you're getting married." Amy explained and Gabriella stayed quiet so Amy continued.

"I don't think Troy's heart belongs to me… But I'm sure that your heart calls for Aaron and vice versa." Amy said with a smile but Gabriella continued to stay silent.

"It does call for Aaron…. Right?" Amy questioned slowly as Gabriella turned to look at her with an expression in her eyes that made Amy frown.

End of Recap

Gabriella had a look of guilt and uncertainty written all over her face, but suddenly, it broke to a huge smile.

"Of course it does. I wouldn't marry someone I don't love." Gabriella giggled and Amy sighed in relief.

"You really had me there." Amy said, laughing along with her.

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Troy stared at Amy and Gabriella with a soft smile on his face. He could see similarities between the two of them. They both had a similar smile, a genuine laugh and the same personality.

"I think that's what attracted me to Amy. She reminds me of Gabriella." Troy thought, realising why he also loved talking to Amy.

"Troy I know they're both gorgeous but dude, stop looking. You're beginning to look really obvious." Aaron laughed as he gave his best friend a soft pat on the back.

"Oh right." Troy replied sheepishly, his cheeks reddening.

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"So, what do you think is happening inside there?" Sharpay asked as the rest of the gang peeked through the window, spying on their friends. They followed Aaron and Gabriella to Troy and wanted to witness if there would be any awkward situations between the four of them.

"Guys I don't know if this is good but somehow, I can see that Troy has a little thing for Amy." Chad, as Troy's best friend, announced honestly.

"What? Are you crazy? I can't even see connection." Casey exclaimed as the others turned to look at her.

"Aren't we supposed to be encouraging Troy to go out with Amy?" Taylor asked rhetorically.

"Oh right." Casey said sheepishly, finally remembering their plan.

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"So.. how about a double date?" Aaron suggested and Gabriella almost choked on her own saliva. Luckily, nobody noticed.

"Double date?" Troy questioned as he took a split second to look at Gabriella before his eyes landed on Amy.

"Is there another meaning for double date Troy?" Amy laughed as Troy laughed along with her. Gabriella couldn't help but feel something inside her churn. Not in a good way.

"What do you think Gabriella?" Aaron turned to his girlfriend.

"Yeah. Of course. Double date will be good." Gabriella answered with a soft smile.

"That's settled then… but we have two problems." Troy said as the others cocked their eyebrows.

"What problems?" Amy questioned.

"Uhh.. I don't know.. maybe the fact that my leg is busted and the fact that a marriage is happening in exactly a week?" Troy reminded them.

"Oh right.. well, how about Tuesday, day after tomorrow? We can just go to a restaurant. I think you can use crutches by then." Aaron suggested and the others shrugged.

"Sounds cool with me." Troy agreed.

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Troy, Gabriella, Aaron and Amy sat on their seats. The restaurant was casual but extremely nice. The restaurant was only walking distance from Gabriella's house.

"So, which one of you boys pick this restaurant?" Amy questioned curiously as the waiter laid down their food.

"If Gabriella is considered a boy, then yeah.. she picked it." Troy said as Gabriella kicked him under the table.

"Ahhh!!! Gabi you do know I have a broken leg right?" Troy exclaimed in pain while Gabriella's eyes widened in realisation.

"Oh crap!!" Gabriella panicked and rushed over to Troy's side.

"Gotcha!" Troy laughed and immediately received a smack on the head. The other also laughed at Gabriella's freaked-out expression.

"That was not funny." Gabriella grumbled with a playful frown.

"What if you really kicked my broken leg huh?" Troy challenged.

"But I didn't." Gabriella retorted with a smile.

"Do you guys want us to leave the room or something?" Amy asked with a laugh and Troy and Gabriella immediately looked down sheepishly.

-

The four of them were already having their dessert when Aaron's phone rang. He excused himself and went outside for a few minutes and came back.

"Guys I gotta go. I completely forgot that I promised my dad I'll be home at 8pm to help him fix up the garage." Aaron said apologetically.

"Oh ok, then let's go." Troy said, grabbing his crutches from under the table.

"But I feel bad dragging you all outta here." Aaron said with a frown.

"How about I just drive them?" Amy offered.

"I usually don't let girls drive people but are you sure?" Aaron asked once again.

"Definitely. I want to get to know Gabriella more." Amy said, smiling at Gabriella.

"That's cool then. Thank you so much Amy. I owe you one. See you guys. Bye Gabs!" Aaron said as he bent down and gave Gabriella a kiss. Troy immediately looked away, as usual.

-

A few minutes have past and the three of them were enjoying their dessert. They were just talking about their plans in the future and random stuff.

"So Gabi, what are you planning on doing once you get married?" Amy asked as she took a huge bite from her ice cream. Troy on the other hand, stiffened at the question.

"We go back to college, here in Albuquerque." Gabriella answered.

"Oh yeah, how about you Troy? What college are you going to after the holidays?" Amy asked and Gabriella's ears perked up. Troy wanted to avoid the question but sooner or later, he would have to tell them, especially Gabriella.

"Actually… I'm not planning on going to college next semester. I'm gonna take a break." Troy explained slowly as he felt Gabriella's eyes on him.

"A break?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"Yeah… well, since my course in college is basketball and college starts in less than a month, I doubt I can play because of my leg. So… I'm gonna take a whole semester off." Troy continued. (I'm not really sure if you can take a semester off in college and go back so, bear with me here.)

"Troy… what are you planning on doing for a whole semester?" Gabriella asked in a very low tone. Troy gulped and turned to Amy as if asking for help but all he found was a look of confusion.

"I'm going to Australia." Troy stated quietly and Gabriella dropped her spoon forcefully on the bowl of ice cream.

"Oh." Amy muttered, not understanding the whole situation.

"How about you Amy?" Troy asked desperately trying to move the spotlight from him.

"I'm going back to college too." Amy replied with a shrug.

"That's great Amy. It was a very nice dinner. It was a great talk." Gabriella said, shooting Troy a look.

"But I should get going. You guy can continue your dessert ok? I'll just walk home Amy. I don't live far from here." Gabriella said as she grabbed her purse and walked towards the exit.

"Umm.. bye?" Amy said, clearly confused while Troy just looked down.

-

There was an awkward silence between the two until Amy broke it.

"I'm confused. What's going on?" Amy asked curiously.

"I really don't want to explain right now." Troy said softly as he continued eating his ice cream.

"Aren't you gonna go after her?" Amy questioned.

"Oh she'll be fine. Gabi is a strong girl and can be aggressive at times. Besides, I don't want to leave you here all alone." Troy said, smiling weakly at Amy who just nodded. There was another silence and Troy finally set his spoon down.

"I'm so sorry Amy." Troy said as he quickly grabbed his crutches and hurried off to chase Gabriella.

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"Why does he still want to go to Australia? Out of all the places he wants to visit, why does it have to be so far?" Gabriella mumbled to herself as she continued to walk. Suddenly, she stopped and thought her reasons over.

"Wait--- I don't have any reason to stop him from going… I mean, he's going to my wedding… Then why don't I want him to go?" Gabriella thought and suddenly heard someone calling her name.

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"Gabi!!! Gabi stop!!" Troy yelled as he hopped on his good leg since he wasn't really used to using his crutches yet.

"Troy?" Gabriella questioned as she spun around.

"The one and only." Troy exclaimed breathlessly.

"What the hell are you doing chasing after me? That's not good for your leg!" Gabriella scolded but Troy merely rolled his eyes.

"If that's what it takes…" Troy mumbled.

"Let's sit on that bench so we can talk." Gabriella said softly.

-

"Troy why are you going to Australia?" Gabriella questioned.

"Because I have to find a place that I can wreck after you get married to Aaron." Troy thought in his mind.

"I have the same reason as before Gabi." He answered.

"What? Clearing up your head? Troy you seem fine now." Gabriella reasoned.

"Gabi there are a lot of things I want to tell you but I can't." Troy admitted as Gabriella stared at her.

"Why can't you?" She questioned.

"Because if I do tell you, everything's gonna be complicated. Gabi, when the time is right, I promise you that I will tell you everything. I just really need a break." Troy explained.

"I still don't get it." She said, almost inaudibly.

"Why don't you want me to go anyway? I mean, you're going to college and Aaron is gonna be there with you." Troy said and Gabriella suddenly paused to ask herself.

"I.. I guess… I'm getting used to you being around." Gabriella confessed.

"You got Aaron…" He said.

"Its not the same you know… I don't know.. its just.. there's something about you…" Gabriella said part by part.

"What are you saying?" Troy asked but when he turned to look at Gabriella, he found her looking at someone else.

"Wait--- for some reason…. I know that girl by that huge tree… I—I can remember her face…. Do I know that girl?" Gabriella asked as she pointed at a certain blonde by a tree. Troy followed her gaze and his eyes widened when he saw who it was.

"Yeah… you… know her…" Troy breathed out.

"I can really remember her face from memory… am I close to her or something because she's the first face I remember… What's her name?" Gabriella questioned with excitement and curiosity.

"Samantha."

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Dang, out of all the face Gabriella would remember???!!! I hope you like this chapter. Please review.