Alright, so to let you in on a little secret, I have to confess that this has been written for a while. But I didn't really like it so I didn't post it...So yeah. But you tell me what you think. Kay? )

Disclaimer: I own just as much as everyone else. Which is like my plot line. SO yeah.

Chapter 7: Some Feelings Don't End

Gabriella stepped out of the bathroom into the small hallway, her head buzzing and her hands still slightly wet. Wiping them gently on her jeans, she shrugged her shoulders, doing her best to stop the chills from being in his apartment crawl down her spine. He'd already shown her around the luxurious apartment, and he'd mentioned the fact that he tried to spend as much time in it as possible as to avoid Karissa.

She had then asked if he really loved her.

To which he then said, "You want some dinner?"

It was just like Troy to steer away from the subject at hand. He always did and he always had. Sure, it was slightly nosy of her for to ask such a personal question, but being nosy was something she needed to be if he was ever going to open up to her again…for them to at least be real friends.

Gabriella stepped into the living room and kitchen area, watching as Troy turned the knob on the sink, the water rushing from the spout. He rinsed his hands quickly, before turning off the water and looking up at her, his blue eyes so welcoming…she felt herself fall into them. "It's ready," he nodded toward two plates, food covering them. She smiled, and nodded.

"Look's delicious." She walked over to a stool and sat down slowly on it.

"Well, it better be. I was never much of a cook…that was always Zeke's thing," he smiled at her, his eyes dancing as he mentioned the high school memory.

She laughed, "How could I forget?"

He grinned, rounding the counter and sitting down on the stool next to her. "Well," he picked up the glass full of water, "Here's to old memories."

Gabriella nodded, and added, "And to new beginnings." He smiled, clinking his glass with hers and taking a sip as she did so as well.

----------

"You know," Gabriella placed her fork and knife on the plate, cleaned free of all remnants of food. She rounded the counter and stood next to him, placing her dish into the sink. "You actually did pretty well, Bolton." She grinned, squeezing some soap on to a sponge to help him with the dishes.

Troy pretended to look surprised, "Well, Montez, maybe I should add cooking to my list of hidden talents."

She rolled her eyes playfully, "Right up there next to singing and wooing freaky math girls you meet on vacation?"

Troy paused, his mind obviously trying to rouse up something to answer with. But it took him too long, and Gabriella found it her responsibility, her cheeks reddening, to come to his defense, "No need to answer that." She looked down at her plate, and began scrubbing harder, her pruned hands beginning to ache after a few minutes of silence.

"Gabi," he put his hands on hers, stopping her from further scrubbing.

And as she stopped, their eyes connected for one exhilarating moment.

"Um," she looked down, her cheeks flushing a light magenta, "I should…I should go…" she pulled away from him, maneuvering away from the counter as she hurried to scrounge up her belongings.

"Gabi, please, don't leave. I'm sorry…" he moved toward her.

"Troy, don't." she finally looked up at him, "I don't want to get into your personal life. It's fine. Done."

"Gabi, please, it's not done. I've been avoiding everything you asked about Karissa today, and I'm sorry for that. Please, I'll explain everything…just, don't go." His blue eyes were pleading, and as she looked into them, she felt herself melt, and some odd feeling washed over her. Sighing, she put her jacket and purse down.

"Fine."

Troy bit his lip, and shoved his hands into his pockets. "You wanna go, um, sit?" he tilted his head towards the couch and chair in the living room part of the apartment, his eyes smiling in some sort of nervous way. She nodded, and went over to sit on the couch properly, being careful not to get too comfortable. She was afraid of what he might say…she didn't want him to bring up the past, but at the moment, it seemed inevitable.

"Well…I guess I should explain myself then."

Gabriella nodded; her eyes blank.

"Okay…" he sat down on the chair, bending over, his elbows resting on his knees and his body faced towards her. "Well, to answer your question as to if I really love Karissa…um…well, I don't know how to answer that. To put it truthfully, she's the only one I've ever been with since…you." Gabriella's breath hitched in her throat, and blushing, she looked away. "Sorry…" he muttered, looking down. Then he continued, "She was, uh, something I guess I needed in my life at the time…someone who was controlling but could still love me…

"She was always expecting a great deal out of me, and I needed someone to do that…because, well, my life was a mess. She helped me get a hold of myself…and now I feel like I kind of owe her something…"

"Troy, you shouldn't have to owe her anything. And even if you want to repay her for helping you, or whatever, you shouldn't tell her you love her because of that." She cringed at what she had just said…now she felt like some sort of counselor. Luckily, Troy didn't seem bothered. He just leaned back in the chair, his eyes shooting to the far window.

"Yeah, the weird thing is, I know that. And I think I always have known that. But…" he paused in thought, then spoke again, "You know how Karissa kind of has…mood changes?"

Gabriella nodded.

"Well…she's always kind of been like that…I don't know why, I guess its just part of her personality. She kind of expects a lot out of me…and I used to be ok with it…but now. See, the thing is, when I say 'no' to her or don't do what she wants me to, she gets all…"

"Menstrual?" Gabriella interrupted, hinting a smile.

Troy grinned, "Yeah, I guess you could call her moodiness that." He paused then, sighing slightly, "But the thing is, Gabriella, that I don't think I can put up with this anymore. I mean, I'm sick of not getting to love…who I want to." He looked down, the mushiness of his little speech becoming obvious to himself as his cheeks reddened.

Gabriella bit her lip.

"I missed you Gabriella."

Gabriella's eyes shot to his. She had thought they had steered away from the topic…But obviously that wasn't true. Looking down again she nodded slightly, "I-I missed you t-too…" She felt some sort of odd sensation in her stomach all of a sudden, and tears sprung to her eyes, however, she didn't let them fall.

"You didn't have to leave."

Ouch…she wasn't expecting that at all to say the least. She felt the tears burn her eyes, and she gulped, not saying a word.

There was a silence that then loomed over the pair, and Gabriella felt obligated to speak up, but every time she opened her mouth, nothing seemed to come out. Eventually she gave up, and sighed.

"You hurt me Gabi."

Gabriella stopped, anger rising in her chest. In her mind, she scrounged up something to say, and she looked at him, anger and sadness blazing in her eyes. "God Troy. Why do you blame me for leaving? You're the one who just stood there and watched me runaway." She stood up forcefully, grabbing her bags as she did so.

She watched him freeze slightly, possibly from the words she spoke, "I'll be seeing you, Troy." And with that, she left the apartment, not even bothering to close the door.

A thought immediately tumbled into Troy's mind. It had been the night of their triple victory, him having just won the championship game, her having lead the Decathlon team to their first win, and both of them, as a couple, having been handed the leads in the Winter Musical. It had been a whirlwind…except for that moment, when he had walked her home…

Flashback.

The wind was chilly, the star sparkling up in the heavens above the couple. Chills ran down their spines as Troy, his hands tenderly shoved into the pockets of his white basket ball track suit, paused at the door to Gabriella's house.

"Well, um, I guess we've made East High history, huh?" she shrugged, the slight shawl she was wearing dripping from her shoulders. With a grin, she looked up at him, her big brown orbs shining. He felt his breath hitch at the sight of her smile…at the fact that she was right there…within his reach…

"Yeah, I guess you proved even freaky math girls can do something renown," he grinned at her, watching her as she rolled her eyes and playfully slapped him in the arm. He backed away in mock defense.

"Hey," she pouted, then her eyes shot open, "And now I see even lunk-head basketball boys can get foiled from finally kissing a girl." Her brown eyes shone with silliness, and Troy gaped.

"Wow, what a comeback."

"I've got a few more up my sleeve," she giggled, moving closer to him before backing away. There was a moment's silence as the couple both stared at the tiles on the porch, before Gabriella finally spoke up again… "Well, I'll be seeing you, Troy." And with that, she had vanished into the Montez household.

End Flashback.

Oddly enough, the two hadn't gotten together officially until about a week later…when Troy had finally worked up the nerve to kiss her. But even now, as he sat in his living room years later, he could remember the feeling he had felt as she had said those words, 'I'll be seeing you, Troy.' They were vague words, ones that he had only heard ever escape Gabriella's mouth.

And in both cases, they had and would cause some serious changes to his relationships, and his life.