Thank you to all my reviewers! (new and old) : D I realize I have been making a mistake in misspelling 'Kelsi.' I know, how rude of me.

Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Please Remember

A memory is what is left when something happens and does not completely un-happen. Edward de Bono

Gabriella gently traced outlines of oak on Taylor's kitchen table as Taylor herself banged around nosily in the cabinets nearby.

"What do you feel like?" Taylor asked, standing up on tiptoes to reach a bowl from the top shelf. Gabriella looked up.

"What are you having?"

"Cereal."

"Okay…that's fine." She didn't feel very hungry. Her insides had a strange empty filling to them ever since that night and it was all she had to eat to stay at least relatively healthy. Gabriella's stray came into the kitchen, Docker not too far behind her. "Hey girl." The dog stared up at her with those big eyes and went over to rest her head in Gabriella's lap. Taylor groaned a little.

"We better stick them outside. My mom would die if she new a strange, dirty dog was in her house." Gabriella stood up and opened up the slider into the backyard. The two dogs anxiously ran out starting to jump all over each other excitedly. Gabriella stood in the doorway for a minute, crossing her arms and shaking her head. If only she could be as care-free as they were. It would make life a whole lot simpler. A gentle hand was placed on her shoulder. She jumped slightly.

"Whoa girly…it's just me," Taylor said gently. She handed Gabriella a bowl full of frosted mini-wheats. She groaned a little. "It's healthy." Taylor had to interject before Gabriella had the chance to complain.

"Says who?" Gabriella teased. She took her bowl and followed Taylor out to her patio.

"So…can we talk seriously for a minute?" Taylor asked gently after a minute of prolonged silence. Gabriella found a seat on one of Taylor's faded lawn chairs, sticking her spoon into the already soggy mess. She looked up at her. She couldn't help but giggle a little.

"It's a little hard to talk seriously to someone with curlers still stuck in her head!"

"Gabriella!" Taylor scolded. Gabriella gave her a patient smile.

"Kidding…go ahead Taylor. Talk your face off." Taylor gave her another look. "Sorry!"

"I just…think we should talk…about that night…," Gabriella was quiet. Almost instantly she was beginning to remember.

Every little detail about that day was coming back.


Gabriella could remember the prickle on the grass against her bare shoulders. They stuck out of her tank-top, sub-burnt and a little overheated. The weather was hot, humid, and sticky. The sky was filled with gray clouds holding the promise of rain. An eerie murkiness loomed around her. She loved this weather. Loved the giddy and hyper feeling that was flooding through her veins. Only Friday afternoons out on the grass in the middle of monsoon weather could bring this on. Even better, Troy was there.

He had his face nuzzled into her shoulder, his hands freely attacking her ribs. Gabriella could remember her voice practically screaming with a mixture of laughter and pleads for him to let her breath. When he finally pulled up he had a crazy mischievous grin plastered across his face, his hair tousled in such a way that you could tell they had been rough housing. Like Docker and Gabriella's stray in present day, they had spent the afternoon romping around like excited puppies in the grass.

"Okay," he grinned. "I don't want to kill you."

"Well I should hope not!" Gabriella giggled, meshing her fingers together and resting them on her belly. Troy rested his head on his hand, his elbow propped up on the opposite side of Gabriella so his body was leaning up against her.

"What should we do tonight?" he asked. A small gust of wind ruffled through his hair giving it an even messier look. In the summer heat it had more of a blow dryer effect then a refreshing on.

"This," Gabriella answered simply, closing her eyes. Troy just stared at her, smiling in that goofy way. She peeked open an eye.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just staring…," Gabriella stuck her tongue out at him which landed her a gentle squeeze to her side. "Very funny." Troy sat up. "Should we call Chad and Taylor and go to that new pizza place down the street?"

"That sounds like fun," Gabriella propped herself up on her elbow. "We should ask Kelsi too!"

"Sounds good to me," Troy smiled as a gentle drizzle of rain began to slip away from the clouds above. A larger drop landed on Gabriella's face. Troy crossed his legs and leaned into gently kiss the rain drop off her face. Gabriella smiled as the clouds opened up above them.

The moment couldn't have been more perfect.

Only later would Gabriella regret suggesting Kelsi come with them.

"You can't blame yourself Gabby," Taylor said softly, loosing her appetite for the soggy cereal in front of her. Gabriella stared at her. Her insides clenched a little just thinking about all that was left of that night. There was so much left to remember. So many secrets she would inevitably have to tell. It was sad thinking back now, the weather that had made her so giddy and happy before was now unwelcome and menacing. Bringing back a barrage of things she couldn't force out anymore. She knew Taylor was right. You can't blame yourself. Gabriella swallowed past a lump in her throat.

"But I do."