A WEEK LATER

I looked out my plane window, staring at the sky, clouds, and the desert beneath me with happiness. My old world would be a reality in just a few minutes and I was so excited to see all of my friends again, especially Troy. The plane tilted foward as I dreamed about the life I had in Albuquerque with my friends at Eastside, dazing off into my own world. A lot has happened this past week like Troy and I getting back together, selling the apartment, and packing a lot! But to me, this all seemed like a fairytale. Maybe my mind was thinking this because of my limited sleeping hours (usually 3, 4, or maybe if I was lucky, 5 hours of sleep). But I really didn't care what I thought. It's that I'm going to be home is call I really cared about.

My dreamy thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the squeaky breaks of the plane. I set up my area where I had found it probably 8-9 hours ago and walked behind my mom, if I could ever keep up with her. My mom traveled a lot before she got married to my dad, who had gotten killed in a plane crash when I was only 3 on the way back from a business trip, and said she got on planes a lot, so this was pretty normal to her. Compared to me who has the car legs, but absolutely not the legs that can adapt to being on land right after a plane flight. Trust me. So, I was in a very bad situation.

Thankfully, I caught up to her right before she called security for me. We picked up our '500' pound suitcases at the luggage area. I was about ready to collapse when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Gabriella!" It was Taylor, who was only just a few feet behind me right beside an aisle of chairs.

I dropped my luggage and ran over to her. "Taylor!" Our arms enveloped each others' bodies in a huge hug as we started crying a little, thinking it was only a miracle that I was here. We eventually let each other go and wiped all the tears on our faces.

"I missed you like crazy, girl!" You don't know how much we need you back at Eastside. And I mean we. Trust me." Taylor said to me.

"I missed you too! And I cannot believe my mom got a promotion that actually landing us here back in Albuquerque and not anywhere else!" I replied back.

We once again hugged each other so tightly, we could barely breathe, but we haven't seen each other in forever it seemed so we didn't care. We were about to start crying again when suddenly, I heard another familiar voice. Only this time, it was closer than Taylor's voice had been.

"Excuse me, ladies." Troy stood in front of us having the most confused look on his face, thinking to himself what in the world what we were doing. Taylor and I pulled away, slightly embrassed since Troy had seen all our girl hug and practically saw our tears, too.

"I'll let you two talk." Taylor walked away from Troy and I to her seat in the aisle she was sitting in, probably waiting on us to do something romantic or something.

"Oh my god! I can't believe you're here, right now in front of me!"

"Me, too!"

We both wrapped our arms around each other, not wanting for anyone else to interfere. Neither of us wanted to let go of the other one, but we finally stopped. But before we pulled away, though, our lips brushed against each others'. I smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Hey, if you're not too tired or anything, I was wondering if you could come with me somewhere."

"Where to?" I asked.

"That I can't tell you." Troy smiled at me again.

"Sure. Just let me ask my mom. If I go off with you without her knowing, she won't let me go anywhere."

He laughed at my comment. "I'll wait on you. Trust me. Now that you're back, I don't want you out of my sight!"

A FEW MINUTES LATER IN TROY'S CAR

"So, how was that 'lovely' plane ride on the way here?"

"I can't remember it. Most of the time, I was sleeping. I haven't had a good night's sleep for I don't know how long."

"Ah."

"So how was Eastside while I wasn't here?"

"Things were..different..without you being around. It may just be me, though, since I'm your boyfriend." Troy then stopped the car in a parking lot and got out a blindfold. "Turn your face toward the window," he instructed. I did what I was told as he pulled back my hair. Suddenly, I couldn't see anything.

"Troy?"

"Yeah?"

"Why did you blindfold me?"

"Like I said at the airport, I can't tell you."

"Okay, fine. I'll wait."

"Good. Because you're going to love me even more when you take your blindfold off."

10 MINUTES LATER AT TROY'S HOUSE

"Ok, we're here. But don't take the blindfold off just yet." I could hear the door slam on the driver's side as I waited in the passenger seat, ready to get out. He then opened my door for me.

"Ok. Step out of the car." He grabbed my hands as I got out of his car and onto concrete. He guided me around as I thought of things that would happen when I opened my eyes. Maybe it would be a romantic picnic, just for the two of us. Or maybe he wanted me to see his new dog or something. He finally stopped me on a balcony of some sort.

"You may take your blindfold off..now!" I untied the fabric as everything can into view.

"SURPRISE!" I gasped. We were over at Troy's house, on his balcony where he was giving me a welcome home party where everyone in our grade or in surrounding grades at Eastside!

"Oh my god, Troy! Thank you sooooo much!" I put his arms around him and kissed him.

He smiled. "See, I told you'd love me even more! Now get your bathing suit on and let's go swimming."

I paused. "Troy. I don't have a bathing suit."

"But I have one for you. Remember? You come swimming here all the time."

I know thought about Troy and I swimming. "I'm so dumb!" I now remembered I left a bathing suit here at Troy's. "Ok. Let me go put it on." I ran to the poolhouse. I was going to go swimming with Troy, have fun with my friends, and most of all, enjoy high school. Just like things used to be.