Chapter 12

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"YOU DID WHAT?"Gabriella pulled the phone away from her ear while Taylor just kept yelling.

"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? HE CHEATED ON YOU W-W-WITH THAT SLUT!"

"Taylor, you need to listen to the story, I mean it was all a set up. Sharpay wanted to make it look like something that it wasn't."

"Yeah, that is what he wants you to think." Taylor said in a lower tone.

"Tay, you know I wouldn't believe it if it wasn't true. He even brought her to my house to explain the whole thing."

"He brought Sharpay, to your house. And you were ok with it?" Gabriella sat there for a second to think of a delicate way to put it. But, she couldn't so she just said it.

"No, I wasn't ok with it; I beat her to a pulp."

"Whoa, you beat Sharpay up?"

"Um, kind of….."

"That's my girl." Said Taylor proudly. Gabriella just smiled. She knew Taylor wouldn't mind her doing that to Sharpay, in fact, she was probably disappointed that it wasn't her throwing the punches.

"So, can you get over this whole and at least try to be civil to Troy?"

"I guess I can arrange that, but I swear to god if he pulls anything like this again, I'm kicking his ass."

"Ok Tay." Gabriella said laughing.

"Why are you laughing? I was being serious." Taylor said. Gabriella giggled nervously and then told Taylor that she would call her later. She hung up the phone and walked over to her balcony. Troy was just finishing up planting the tree.

After they had made up he had insisted on finishing the job. She took that opportunity to call Taylor to tell her everything that had happened. She looked down at him and saw that he was sweaty and probably thirsty, so she went downstairs and made some lemonade and decided to join him outside.

"Look at you working hard; I thought I would bring you some lemonade." She said while she carried a tray with two glasses and the pitcher.

"Oh wow, thanks Gabriella. That is really going to hit the spot." He put the shovel down and took a seat on the ground. She set the tray down and sat down next to him. She poured the lemonade into the two glasses and handed one to Troy.

"So, are you almost finished up here?"

"Almost, I'm just putting all the dirt back into place so your mom won't kill me." Gabriella smiled and looked up into the trees. She noticed that the leaves were already changing colors. The summer had gone by so quickly, she hadn't even realized that it was almost going to be fall.

"What are you thinking about?" Troy said leaning closer to her.

"Oh nothing. Just random things. You?" he didn't say anything and leaned in to kiss her. He pulled away and she didn't open her eyes. She had missed him so much, she felt like she had to remember every second they had together.

"I was just thinking about how good it feels to do that." She opened her eyes and looked at him.

"How good it feels to do what?"

"Just to kiss you." She smiled and leaned in to kiss him again.

"I was just thinking the same thing." She whispered softly. She put her glass down and lay back on the grass. The last few days all seemed like a blur. Kind of like they had never happened. Just being there next to Troy at that moment, that made everything alright. She looked over at him, he was drinking his lemonade. She noticed just how much being with him meant to her.

She felt so comfortable with him. Like she didn't need to be with anyone else. Or like she could just be herself. Even at the ski lodge, there was just this instant connection, it had to be fate that she had ended up at his school, even that she was there with him, sipping lemonade in her backyard.

She watched him just staring at the tree he had just planted. She felt so horrible for treating him the way she did. He didn't deserve that, especially after everything he had done for her. She started to feel really emotional as tears started to fill her eyes. Troy looked over and saw her looking down.

"Gabriella? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just wanted you to know, that I am sorry. It was just all so sudden, and I saw you…."

"Hey, look at me. You have nothing to be sorry about ok? I am just happy that you gave me another chance. It's been really hard these past few days. I don't even want to think about what would've happened if you hadn't given me the time of day."

"That's not going to happen Troy. I just needed some time."

"I understand. I just love you so much."

"And I love you so much……it almost hurts." She whispered. He put his drink down and leaned over to kiss her.

"I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you Gabby."

"Nothing is going to happen to me."

"I don't know that, you don't either. I just don't know how I would live. Just knowing what I had with you and not being able to ever have that back…."

"You are being a downer…." She said and smiled. He smiled back at her and put his arm around her.

"Just promise me that whatever happens, you won't forget me." He said to her. She could tell that he was being really serious and it worried her. Troy usually looked at the positive side of things, why all of a sudden all this?

"I promise. I could never forget you." She closed her eyes and buried the face into his chest. There was nothing in this entire world that would ever forget Troy, he was her heart.

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After Troy had left, Gabriella hurried up and showered and started to get ready. They had agreed that they would go out and get some dinner and spend the night together.

She just couldn't stop smiling. Today was one of the best days she had had in a long time. She was just so happy everything had worked out. And not in the way she had thought they would, she had thought that they would talk to get closure from the relationship. Not that he would come and they would get back together. She started thinking about the day and then realized what had happened.

"Oh my god, I forgot about Sharpay….." she said to herself. Of course, she was still a little upset about what she had done, but Ryan was right. She wasn't a resentful person. She picked up her phone and began to dial Sharpay's number and then remembered that she probably wouldn't answer after what had happened. So then she decided to call Ryan.

"Hay Gabby." He said kind f grumpily when he answered.

"Um, hey. Are you ok?"

"Yeah I am great. Sharpay on the other hand…."

"Oh right….again I am so sorry."

"It's ok. So what did you need?"

"Actually I was going to come over and talk to Sharpay…"

"Why?"

"I talked to Troy."

"Oh you did? How was it…..did you listen…"

"Yeah, everything is fine. We worked things out. That is why I want to talk to Sharpay. I think I owe her an apology."

"Well I think you should apologize only if she does first."

"Ok…do you think I could swing by?"

"Yeah I think so….but I won't tell her. She might have a heart attack. Do you mind if I am there when you talk to her? I don't want her to like have a stroke or anything."

"Yeah its fine. I will be over in a sec."

"Ok see you soon." And with that Gabriella was out the door.

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Gabriella pulled up at the Evans' house soon after talking to Ryan. She saw him at the window and motioned for her to wait outside. She nodded and turned her car off. As soon as she stepped outside she saw the front door open. Ryan came out first closely followed by Sharpay. Gabriella took one look at her and quickly raised her hand to her mouth.

Her face was swollen and covered in scratches. She had already started to bruise but, not too much at the moment. Her hair was pulled back in a pony tail but you could still tell there was a huge chunk missing from the top of her head. Her nose still had some dried blood caked on it, probably because it was still too painful to wash off. Just looking at her made Gabriella wince.

"Hey Sharpay…" she said wearily.

"Hi." Sharpay said shortly. Gabriella could feel the tension between them and really didn't know where to start.

"I just came by to talk to you, do you have a minute?"

"Yeah, I guess." If it were another situation, Gabriella would have thought that Sharpay was being rude.

"So, I am sorry about the way I treated you earlier."

"Yeah."

"Yes, I am….." Gabriella waited for her to respond but got nothing.

"Ok I guess we are all done here." Gabriella said and turned for her car.

"No, wait, I think Sharpay needs to say something to you now. Sharpay? Ryan said pushing his sister in front of him.

"Gabriella, I'm sorry." Sharpay said slowly. Ryan elbowed her and then smiled at Gabriella.

"I'm sure there is more to it. Right sis?"

"Ok….GabriellaIamsorrythatImadeyouthinkthatTroycheatedonyouwithme." she said all at once. Sharpay then looked down and began to clear her throat. Gabriella knew this had to be hard for Sharpay; she had probably never apologized for one thing in her entire life.

"Well then, I am guessing that is all? I will be on my way." Gabriella said. She just didn't want to make this any more painful than it already was. She was about to open her door when she was surprised by Sharpay sobbing.

"Wait, Gabby. I really am sorry. I already told Troy, and I did need to tell you. I am sorry you had to be dragged into this. I am sorry I made you feel so horrible. I am sorry that I was so selfish. And most of all, I am sorry that I made you doubt the person who loves you more than anything."

"I accept your apology." Gabriella said softly. She then went up to Sharpay and gave her a hug. Sharpay clung to her tightly and Gabriella let her cry on her shoulder. After Sharpay was done Gabriella looked at her and smiled. Everything would be ok.

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Ok so now you think everything is good right? Well there are only a few Chapters left…..so keep in mind that they did crash in the beginning…….that is all I will say……Keep reviewing you guys! It really means a lot to me and you are all so awesome! Thanks!