Summary: 21-year-old Troy Bolton has lived in Albuquerque all his life. What happens when he starts to fall for his new neighbour 15 year old Gabriella Montez? When Gabriella starts falling for him too will she believe her friends who say it's just a crush? Troy's friends also warn him not to think anything of his feelings. When the two are left home alone over Christmas will sparks fly? And how will their parents react? Troyella.

A/N: Hey thanks for the reviews. I just want to say this story is coming to an end soon now. There are about 3-4 chapters left and an epilogue if people want one. I'm trying to make the chapters as long as possible. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any original characters.

Chapter 36

Troy avoided Gabriella and his parents as much as he could. He had called Chad and told him everything and all Chad had told him to do was to let nature take its course and whatever was meant to happen will happen. Troy had spent the whole weekend also trying to avoid being seen by fans. He knew he had to talk to Gabriella so that he could understand more. She was carrying my child even if it was only for a short period of time but we still conceived a child. Troy told himself as he walked through the halls at east High.

With Gabriella

Gabriella was in her 3rd period class, her junior year, when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Gabriella's jaw dropped as Troy opened the door and several students just looked on star struck that the Troy Bolton was in their classroom.

"OMG! Isn't that Troy Bolton?" a guy shouted across the room to his friend.

"Isn't Troy Bolton fit!" another girl shouted across the room to her friends as Gabriella blushed.

"Miss Montez I was wondering if I could talk to you. Can I come in?" Gabriella nodded as Troy walked in.

"Everyone get back to your work now or I will give you 2 hours worth of extra homework!" the whole class went quiet as Gabriella smirked triumphantly at the class. "Hi." She turned to Troy.

"Hi." Troy said as he walked closer to her. "Look if I remember correct this period is over soon right?" Gabriella nodded. "Well do you have a class next?" Gabriella shook her head still a bit in shock. "Well can we talk in private?" Gabriella nodded. "Are you actually going to speak or are you going to stay silent?" Gabriella looked down embarrassed.

"Sorry." Troy smiled as he lifted her head to look at him.

"I'm going to wait in here if that's ok? I don't feel like being harassed by a load of school kids, mainly girls who see me and just think I'm some hot guy and want to try and 'bag me'." Troy smiled as Gabriella frowned at what Troy said. He too then realized what he said. "Gabi I'm sorry I didn't mean that." She nodded as Troy sat down on her chair and pulled her down to him and hugged her. The whole of the class were watching in interest as their teacher was hugging one of the most popular basketball players ever.

"Miss Montez have you got…" Taylor stopped when she saw all the students watching something. She looked to the side to see the pair hugging as the bell went. "Ok everyone pack up and move it out and leave Miss Montez and Mr Bolton alone." Some of the students glared at her hoping to stay and talk to their teacher and of course the hot guy with her. "If people don't disappear from that door in a minute they will be serving a weeks detention with me or coach Bolton!" Taylor threatened as the students scurried away as Taylor turned her attention back to the couple who obviously had forgotten where they were.

"Why didn't you call me?" Troy asked as Gabriella held onto him.

"I was so scared and hurt that I didn't know what to do." Gabriella admitted as Troy ran his hand through her hair.

"I would have been there with you if you had of called. I would have done anything for you." Gabriella smiled as Taylor coughed making her presence known.

"Welcome back to planet earth lovers. Gabs I dismissed your class before they saw anything. Oh and Troy from what I hear you're the talk of the school so if your dad didn't know you were around he will now." Taylor told the pair.

"Taylor what was Gabi like after she lost the baby?" Troy asked as Gabriella nodded at Taylor giving her permission to speak.

"She was a wreck. She didn't talk to anyone. All she did was do to classes, work and then locked herself in her room until Sharpay unlocked it while she was in there with her nail file." Troy looked at Gabriella who looked down the whole time.

"Did she really want to tell me?" Taylor nodded.

"She had told us she was going to call you the night she collapsed. Only she didn't get chance too." Troy nodded as Taylor hinted that she was going to give them some time.

"I'm sorry I should have still called you." Gabriella spoke up.

"Yeah you should have but I can't change the past and neither can you." Gabriella looked at Troy who smiled at her.

"You don't hate me then?" Troy shook his head.

"I thought I did the other day but I'm not." Gabriella smiled and nodded.

"So does this mean we're friends again?" Gabriella asked.

"Well hopefully this friend will let me take her out when she is free. I think we also have a lot more stuff to talk about." Gabriella smiled and nodded.

"I'm free Friday night." Troy smiled.

"Friday night it is then." Gabriella got up and walked out as Troy followed her. Troy rolled his eyes when he saw her head towards the gym. Troy was receiving stares from students in the hallway as he walked after Gabriella.

In the gym, Jack was working with his current basketball team when he heard the gym doors open. He looked over to see Gabriella walking in. the whole team was use to Gabriella coming and watching them practise as she did most of the time if she was free.

"Miss Montez to what do we owe this visit?" Jack asked as Gabriella smiled.

"I brought something you might want." Jack looked at her confused as the doors opened and Troy walked in.

"I take it you two have talked." Gabriella nodded.

"A bit and we're going to talk more soon." Jack smiled as Troy came over to them.

"Hey dad. I want to say I'm sorry for going mad at you and ignoring you the whole weekend." Jack smiled as he noticed the basketball had stopped.

"Did you hear me blow the whistle?" they all quickly got back to work.

"You never change do you?" Jack shook his head while Gabriella stood in the middle of the two Bolton men.

"No now why don't you go give them a run for their money." Troy looked at his dad.

"Dad do you remember what I told you as to why I came home." Jack shook his head as Gabriella listened confused. "I busted my knee and I can't play." Gabriella looked at him in surprise. She didn't know that he was back for good and wasn't playing anymore. She assumed he was going back soon and wouldn't have to see him again.

"I forgot I needed to do something. I'll see you later." Jack and Troy nodded as she ran off.

"You really do love her still don't you?" Troy looked at his dad and smiled. "She still loves you too. You can see it in her eyes when you are around. Troy just give her time. She's still young and needs to get over the pain that she probably has had reappear with seeing you and telling you what happened." Jack told his son.

"I know. That's why I'm not mad at her for not telling me because I know she did it all for the right reasons and she needed to protect herself too." Troy and Jack smiled as they turned their attention to the basketball team.

With Gabriella

Gabriella ran out the gym and straight to the theatre where she saw Sharpay, Kelsi and Taylor. Sharpay and Kelsi were also teachers at East High with Kelsi doing music and Sharpay Ms Darbus' assistant. They also worked at a local community centre where they put on shows.

"He's back for good!" Gabriella exclaimed as she sat down next to Taylor and behind Sharpay and Kelsi who were kneeling on their seats.

"What do you mean back for good? Who?" Kelsi asked confused. She hadn't heard that Troy was back.

"Troy. He had to give up basketball and now he's moved back to Albuquerque." Gabriella explained as Kelsi and the other's mouth formed an 'o'.

"How you coping with that?" Sharpay asked as they all looked at her. "Ok obviously not good. Have the two of you talked again yet?" Gabriella nodded.

"Yeah they did and they were getting pretty close again from what I saw." Taylor spoke up as Gabriella looked at her.

"What happened?" Sharpay wanted to know more information.

"He told me he didn't hate me for not telling him." Gabriella told them. "And he asked me out for Friday so we could talk more."

"He asked you out and he doesn't hate you?" Gabriella nodded at Sharpay. "Wow he must really love you if he's not mad you kept that from him for 5 years."

"Which is why I'm so confused. Yeah I love him or at least I think I do but I don't get why he isn't mad at me." The three girls looked at her sympathetically.

"Don't worry I'm sure we will figure something out." Kelsi reassured her as the doors opened.

"Hey any chance I can talk to Gabi again in private?" the girls looked up to see Troy there. Gabriella got up and walked up to him after being nudged by Taylor and pulled him towards her empty classroom down the corridor.

"What did you want to talk about?" Gabriella asked closing the door.

"Do you still love me?" Gabriella looked up in shock.

"What?" Troy put his hands on her face.

"Do you still love me like I love you?" Gabriella stood there in shock. He loves me? He still loves me? Do I still love him? I don't know.

"Troy don't do this. I don't know how I feel and I can't deal with this." Gabriella said looking away, avoiding looking into his eyes because she knew she would melt into them if she did.

"Don't do what?" Troy asked playfully as she smiled. He lifted her head and kissed her. She kissed back for a few minutes before pulling back. "See we can't deny our feelings and you know it."

"Troy I don't want to get hurt again like I did before. Twice. Just leave things the way they are for now and give me time. I'll tell you if I want this on Friday when we have our date." Troy nodded in agreement and knew he had to wait and give her chance.

A/N: So what will Gabriella do? Does she still love him or not? I'll update college struggles later for those of you reading it but right now I'm need to go eat and then I'm going to watch the England match so it won't be till late when I start the next chapter of college struggles and get it up. Please review. Thanks!