AN: Four more chapters left! Awwww. But they're all pretty long, so it's all good.

You know, something I noticed is in this HSM story and Time Will Tell, people are confused about the shipping. They're not sure if it's Troyella or not. Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not here to reassure you about anything, I just felt like pointing that out. )

And, if you read the summary for my new HSM story on my bio, you'll see that it may not be Troyella either. Hmmmm, just what exactly does MadiWillow ship? Who knows. But I'm not one of those people to put the ship in the summary – I mean, I like it when people do so I know which stories to avoid – but then it seems like there's no point to the story. It's like, oh I know they're together, I won't waste my time reading it.

Oh, and, um, please read and review my story Basketball Superstar's Diary, because it's gotten like 3 reviews for it's latest chapter. Pleaseee?

Okay, enough of my rambling. My birthday's in three days, and here's the next chapter!

Title: Where She Belongs
Rating: T
Author: MadiWillow
Summary: Ms. Montez's company transferred her back to San Diego, California. Troy and Gabriella lost touch after the move, but what will happen when they meet up again in college?
Genre: Romance/Drama
Chapter: Chapter 8

They all stumbled into Ryan and Kelsi's apartment at around five in the afternoon, after the beach trip. They'd had a great time – for the first hour or so, the girls had sunbathed while the guys had gone swimming, going out so far that the girls couldn't even see them. Then, since the girls felt like they were fried from sitting out in the sun for so long, they'd gone in the water a little.

Not very deep though – just knee deep. Then the guys had come back and started splashing them, daring them to get in the water. Sharpay had screamed and ran out when Zeke tried splashing her, but Gabriella had decided to go in anyway. She'd run out, splashing water with her legs, and dived in. The cold water had felt so good on her burning skin. She surfaced a little ways away form the group, who were all cheering. Troy had then swum out to her and suggested they swim out together. She'd said yes, so they'd ended up swimming out so far that they could barely see the beach anymore before they'd turned back.

When they got back to the beach, they started a game a beach volleyball with the other college kids that were there. One of the guys there had tried hitting on Sharpay, but he'd learned his lesson after Zeke was through with him.

"Let's go dancing!" exclaimed Sharpay as soon as they'd entered the apartment. This was met with excited squeals from the girls, excluding Gabriella, and groans from the guys. "Again?" asked Chad. "We did that last time."

"We're going to a club," said Taylor warningly to Chad.

Chad sighed. "Fine."

All the four girls quickly scrambled to their rooms or the bathroom with their clothes, makeup, and hair products while Gabriella stayed rooted on the spot. "Dancing?" she asked to no one in particular.

"Yeah," Troy answered her as Zeke, Ryan, Chad, and Jason went to their rooms/suitcases to find something to wear. "What, you don't like dancing?" he asked teasingly.

Gabriella looked at him. "You know me well enough to know that, no!"

Troy laughed. "I know," he shrugged. "But you might as well come, right? Maybe you'll end up liking it."

"Maybe," said Gabriella skeptically.

"You can use the room first," he offered, grinning.

She smiled at him. "Thanks."

She went down the hall, past Taylor and Brooke who both changing and getting ready in the bathroom towards her and Troy's room. She dug through her suitcase but couldn't decide what to wear. She'd never been to a club before, and she didn't really know how to dress for one. She decided on her tightest pair of jeans and a low-cut white shirt. Looking at herself in the mirror, she frowned. She didn't really look like herself.

She dug through the shoe section of her large suitcase and found a pair of high heels she'd decided to bring at last minute. Well, actually, Jessyca had told her the night before that she had to bring them, so she decided to. They were black, two inch heels with a pointy toe. She'd never worn these before, either. She didn't really have a place to wear them.

Gabriella took her hair out of braids and ran a comb through it a couple times before she decided it looked fine down. She reapplied some mascara and lip gloss and was ready.

She transferred her phone, iPod, and gum into her purse with her wallet and wobbled out into the family room, where all the guys were already ready except for Troy.

"Wow," he said when he saw her. "You look great."

She blushed. "Thanks. Um, you can use the room now."

As soon as Troy had closed the bedroom door behind him, Ryan said, "So, Gabriella, what's going on with you and Troy?"

Gabriella blushed even harder. "Nothing!" she said loudly.

"Mhm," said Jason, winking at Zeke.

"Really!"

"Then why are blushing?" asked Chad teasingly.

"Because it's an uncomfortable subject!" cried Gabriella. "We used to date, and this is, like, the second time we've seen each other since our breakup three and a half years ago! It's awkward."

"It's awkward because you still like him," said Zeke knowingly.

Gabriella shook her head. "No, because I like my boyfriend."

"How do you know that instead you like Troy?" asked Ryan. "Maybe this Jeremiah guy is just a distraction."

She raised her eyebrows. "Or maybe, I really like him."

"Do you love him?"

"Yes,"

"Then why did he make you cry earlier?"

"He didn't!"

"Well, he made you run out of the apartment,"

"Look," said Gabriella impatiently. "I love Jeremiah, but sometimes he has mood swings that upset me."

"Why does he have mood swings?"

"I don't know!"

"Did Troy ever make you cry?"

Silence.

"What?"

"Did Troy ever make you cry?" repeated Ryan.

"Well, yeah..." said Gabriella, not knowing what he was getting at.

"Did he apologize right away when he made you cry?"

"He only really made me cry that one time before we got together, and he waited a couple of days,"

"But that's just because he didn't know why you were upset," said Chad quickly. "But once we told him, he apologized right away, didn't he?"

"Yeah, I guess so," said Gabriella. "But, what does this-,"

"Jeremiah hasn't apologized yet, has he?"

"Well, no-,"

"So that makes me think he's not the right guy for you,"

"Will you guys please stop?" said Gabriella loudly, fed up. "I love Jeremiah. I don't love Troy. Troy doesn't love me. Troy and I aren't going to get together. Okay?"

They didn't answer; instead, they were looking behind her. Gabriella whipped around and came face to face with Troy.

Oops, she thought. Wait, oops what? I just stated the obvious. Troy knows I don't love him... right?

"Oh, hey," I grinned.

"Hi," he said quietly, his eyes filled inexplicably with hurt. Did he think we had a chance? Gabriella asked herself.

There was an awkward pause that was broken by Taylor, Kelsi, Sharpay, and Brooke walking into the living room, all wearing tight clothes and short skirts with heels, like Gabriella. "Ready to go?" asked Brooke in her accent.

The five guys and Gabriella nodded solemnly. However, the other girls didn't notice the tense atmosphere. They were too excited for going out.

"Should we get dinner first?" asked Taylor. "It's only, like, six."

"Sure," said Gabriella.

"Alright, I know the perfect place," exclaimed Kelsi. "Me and Ryan always go there."

"Oh, that place?" said Ryan. "It's great; they have awesome burgers."

"Let's go!" squealed Sharpay, and the four girls ran out of the apartment as fast as they could in heels. Gabriella looked over at Troy again to see him looking deliberately away from her before she followed her friends.

They had to split up, because both Ryan's and Jason's cars could only fit five people each. So Jason took Brooke, Kelsi, Sharpay, and Zeke while Ryan drove Gabriella, Troy, Chad, and Taylor.

Chad, Taylor, and Ryan laughed and joked for the whole five minute car ride, but Gabriella and Troy – who had ended up being seated next to each other – remained silent. Gabriella felt really guilty. She didn't mean to make Troy upset, but still – she was dating someone else, and she did love him. Did he really think there was a chance of them getting back together?

So why did she feel guilty? Was it because she really did want to get together with Troy? That might be nice, but I'm with Jeremiah now, Gabriella told herself forcefully.

Dinner was an awkward affair. However, it did make Gabriella realize that her friends were definitely trying to get her and Troy together. They made a big deal about seating, and it turned out that Gabriella sat at the end of the table, next to Troy and across from Taylor. The first thing Troy did was bury himself in his menu without saying anything.

"So, Gabriella," said Taylor. "Are you having fun so far?"

"Yeah. I'm having lots of fun!" lied Gabriella enthusiastically. She had been having fun, like at the beach – but now she wanted nothing more than to go home and get some rest. She really didn't feel like dancing, or drinking, or whatever it is that the other's had in mind.

Taylor kept trying to get both Troy and Gabriella to talk, but whenever she asked Troy something, he'd give a simple, one-word answer before turning around to talk to Jason, who was on his other side. Taylor raised her eyebrow at Gabriella, who in turn mouthed "later" to her before glancing at her menu.

The waiter came and Gabriella ordered a simple cheeseburger with a sprite before Taylor excused the two of them to the bathroom. Gabriella looked at her, confused, but Taylor grabbed her arm and practically dragged her to the ladies' room.

"So, what's going on with you and Troy?" she demanded, once they were in the bathroom. "You guys were having so much fun at the beach today, and suddenly you guys won't even talk?"

"Well, I don't know what you guys are planning," said Gabriella, slightly angry. "I mean, why are you all trying to set him and I up?"

"What? We're not," said Taylor, unconvincingly.

Gabriella let out a laugh. "Sure you are. You have us sharing a bed tonight. You made it so he and I would fly down together. We're sitting next to each other at dinner. Tonight, at the club, you all are going to be off with your boyfriends so it'll just be us stuck together." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Is Troy in on this, too?"

"It's just-," Taylor started, and then hesitated. "You and Troy are perfect for each other. You may be trying to deny it, but we know you guys are meant to be together. Why are you fighting it?"

"Because I don't like Troy in that way!" exclaimed Gabriella. "I love Jeremiah, and no one else!"

"Are you sure?" accused Taylor. "Ryan told Chad and I what happened on the phone before we went to the beach."

Gabriella opened her mouth in indignation. Did everyone have to know about her life? "Every couple has fights, Taylor," she said. "You can't tell me you and Chad don't fight."

"Well, we do," admitted Taylor. "But your boyfriend seems... troubled."

"Thanks," said Gabriella sarcastically.

"Look, Troy really likes you, he told us all that he still loves you and wants you back-," said Taylor.

"He told you that?" interrupted Gabriella. "He-he actually told you that?"

Taylor nodded. "Yes, he did. And to answer your question, yes, he's in on this."

"Well then I'm the most horrible person ever," groaned Gabriella, leaning against the bathroom wall.

"Huh?"

"Chad, Jason, Zeke, and Ryan were grilling me about Jeremiah and Troy while the rest of your were getting ready, and I got so annoyed that I just said that I didn't love Troy and that we're not going to get together," she looked down. "And he heard."

"Oh,"

"Why do I feel so guilty about this, though?" exclaimed Gabriella in frustration. "Because I really don't love Troy. I used to, but I don't anymore. I love Jeremiah. I love Troy as a friend."

"Maybe because you're too nice, and you don't like hurting people's feelings," said Taylor quietly.

"I feel awful," whispered Gabriella.

Taylor put her arm around her friend's shoulders. "It's okay, Troy's a strong guy. He'll get over it, and accept that you guys are over, and he'll find someone." As Taylor said that last statement, Gabriella felt herself tense up. She didn't want Troy to find someone else.

Aren't we a little selfish?

The two of them left the bathroom and made their way through the other tables to their own. When they got there, Troy looked up and smiled at Gabriella. She had a suspicion that they had all been asking Troy the same thing Taylor had asked Gabriella.

"Hey guys," said Gabriella as she sat down.

"You were sure in there for a long time," said Sharpay, staring intently at Gabriella.

The two girls just smiled and didn't say anything.

The rest of dinner passed much smoother than it had started. Gabriella and Troy were talking to each other, for one thing, as well as with everyone else.

It went by quickly, and suddenly, it was 7:30 and they were getting up to go to the club.

"So, um, what's this club like?" asked Gabriella, trying to sound nonchalant, as they made their way to the cars.

"Oh, you know, lots of touchy-feely drunk people wandering around," said Troy seriously. "Make sure you're with someone at all times, or else some guy might try and take you."

Gabriella looked up at him in alarm, but instead saw a smile on his lips. "Oh, you're so mean!" she cried, hitting him on the arm.

"Ow," Troy pretended to pout, which Gabriella laugh. She caught Taylor's eye, which winked at her before entering Ryan's car. Gabriella climbed into the backseat next to Taylor, horrified to realize that she had just been flirting with Troy just an hour and a half since exclaiming that she didn't like him in that way.

"Nice," whispered Taylor, very quietly, as Troy was climbing in. Gabriella shot her a warning look, but Taylor just grinned and stayed silent.

The ride to the club was much more fun than the ride to the restaurant had been, especially since Troy and Gabriella were speaking again. They joined in on the joking and laughing, definitely having a good time.

They pulled into the parking lot of the club to see that a long line had already formed outside of it.

"Wow," said Gabriella as they parked.

"Yeah, this is the most popular club in San Luis," said Ryan as he got out. Gabriella, Taylor, Chad, and Troy got out after him. Taylor, Chad, and Troy didn't look all that impressed, so Gabriella figured they'd been so this club before. "Is it fun here?" she asked them.

Taylor nodded excitedly, Chad just shrugged, and Troy said, "Well, not really. But that's probably because whenever we come here I'm always left alone."

Gabriella giggled. They walked to the back of the line after being joined by Jason, Brooke, Kelsi, Sharpay, and Zeke, and waited.

"So, um, what is it really like here?" asked Gabriella.

Troy looked at her. "You've never been to a club before, have you?"

She blinked in surprise that he'd figured it out. "Well, no," she admitted.

Troy just nodded; he didn't seem to care. "Well, it's basically just a huge mob of sweaty drunk people grinding on each other," He shrugged. "It's probably fun for people who, you know, drink a lot and like to dance, but, I don't know. I guess I'm just not big on the club scene."

Nodding, Gabriella said, "Yeah, I'm probably not either."

"You and Jeremiah don't go to clubs?" he asked as they moved up in line.

"Um, no," answered Gabriella. "He goes to bars almost every week, but I never go with him."

"How come?"

"Well, I don't know," she shrugged. "Like I told you last week, drinking isn't that appealing to me."

Troy nodded his understanding.

"Are, uh, these guys big drinkers?" asked Gabriella, referring to her friends.

Troy did a half-shrug. "Kinda. Well, not big drinkers but they'll probably get drunk tonight."

Smiling, Gabriella remarked, "So, I guess tomorrow we'll just be hanging around the apartment, huh?"

"I guess," said Troy. "You and I need to stay sober, because someone'll need to drive these guys home."

"Yeah," she looked over at Sharpay and Zeke, who'd started making out. "Then maybe tomorrow, while they're all in bed with huge hangovers, we can go and do something."

"Sounds like a plan," he grinned.

They moved up in line steadily for the next half hour or so, until finally they got to the door. After flashing the bouncer their I.D.'s, they entered the dark club.

"Geez," breathed Gabriella, but no one could hear her because of how loud the music was. It was turned up so loud that the place was vibrating, and the bass was a constant thump, thump, thump throughout the place.

"Come on, guys!" screeched Sharpay leading them over to the bar. All of them ordered beers (they weren't carded). Kelsi passed one over to Gabriella.

"Oh, no, I'm fine," smiled Gabriella, slowly pushing the drink away.

"Come on, try it!" said Kelsi enthusiastically. Gabriella glanced at Troy, who was holding a beer but not drinking it. He gave her a half shrug.

Gabriella relented and took the beer, sipping it. It tasted awfully bitter. Trying to keep her face straight, she lowered the beer from her mouth and said "Uh, yum."

Chad and Zeke had already finished their first beers and ordered seconds. Then Sharpay, Taylor, Brooke, and Kelsi led their respective boyfriends, beers still in hand, to the dance floor.

Gabriella sighed and sat down at the bar. She stared at her barely touched beer. "Um, can you get me an apple martini?" she asked the barman.

"Sure thing," he said, disappearing to make her drink.

Troy sat down next to Gabriella and took another swig from his beer. "Having fun yet?"

"Oh, tons," she grinned. As Troy took another drink from his beer, she said, "I thought you said we weren't going to drink tonight."

Troy shrugged. "I have a high tolerance for alcohol. I can drink a beer, sometimes two, without getting buzzed." The bartender came over and placed Gabriella's apple martini on a cocktail napkin in front of her. "What about you? I thought you weren't supposed to drink?" he grinned cheekily.

Gabriella smiled back. "Well, I probably won't have another drink after this, even if I like it." She took a sip and it tasted wonderful. Much better than the beer. "Mmm." She and Troy sat in silence for a few minutes, while Troy finished his beer and Gabriella sipped her martini. "So what are we supposed to do?" sighed Gabriella, looking over at her friends. They were all dancing in the middle of the dance floor now, in a way that she never would have expected to see from Taylor or Kelsi. Every once and a while they'd put their head up and take a long chug from their beers.

Troy shrugged again. "Just talk, I guess."

"Like friends?" said Gabriella tentatively.

He looked at her for a moment before declaring, with a tiny sigh, "Like friends."