A/N: Hello wonderful people! Guess what today is! It's 1-1-07! That's right it's New Years Day! HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'm being nice and updating faster. Also, school starts back up tomorrow and I have a ton of other projects due, so I might not have enough time. I'll try to get it in on the weekends though. Anyway, thanks for the reviews guys! I really appreciate them!

megan: Thanks! And thanks for the input, it's gonna be my first oneshot, so if it's not as good as all the other's you've read, I'm sorry! But I'll try my best!

ILuvLucasGrabeel: Thanks! And thanks for the input!

xXDramaSXx: Thank you so very much! I'm glad you read my other story! And thanks for the input!

Vanessa Turner: I know, it's great that they still love each other. And Leslie's just evil :)

LucasAshleySupporter: Thanks for the input! Happy new year to you too!

Okay, those are the reviews that I got, sorry if you reviewed and didn't include you, but like I said, I'm not getting my email alerts lately so I have to check back here to see who reviewed. Anyway, here's the next chapter!

This Is War

Chapter 16: Déjà Vu (Kinda)

In the next few days, the boys finished moving the boxes in the basement. They started fixing the first floor. They were now raiding Gabriella's closet, scooping out all the unwanted junk and forgotten knickknacks.

As they were looking in Gabriella's closet, Zeke found a small box with Gabriella's name and address written on it, but no return address. As he was beginning to open it, Gabriella came to the closet to check on them.

"Hey guys, just came by to see how you were doing. I can't thank you enough for helping me out."

Zeke quickly put the box where it was before and turned to Gabriella with a huge grin on his face.

"No prob Gabs." Chad said.

"Yeah, you know we always got your back." Troy said.

That triggered it. Gabriella fell into tears then and there.

"Gabby, what's wrong?" Jason said, coming over to her trying to cheer her up.

"Nothing, it's nothing. It's just that, Ryan used to always tell me that. That he always has my back no matter what happened." Gabriella explained.

"Oh. Sorry for saying it then." Troy apologized.

"No, it's okay, you don't have to apologize. You didn't know. Besides, I like it when you say it. It reminds me of him."

"Then why'd you start crying?" Zeke asked sincerely.

"Because knowing that I won't be able to see him for a couple of years just pains me. I know I love him, but at the same time I'm mad at him for cheating on me."

"Gabs, do you honestly think he would cheat on you?" Jason asked.

"I bet Leslie really did set him up. She won't admit it because she's evil like that. And I don't think Ryan's loved anybody like he loves you." Troy said.

"And it's obvious that you seriously love him back. So, why go to Albuquerque?" Chad said.

"Because I have to! My dying mother is there and I have to protect her and care for her! It's hard, it really is, but I have no choice! I know I love him and all, but… it's just not going to work out." Gabriella said.

"Then why don't you tell him that you love him?" Zeke asked.

"Because… it would just make it a whole lot harder to say goodbye." Gabriella said. After a few minutes of letting her tears flow, she finally composed herself and stopped crying.

"Come on. We'll help you make lemonade." Troy said as he led everybody into the kitchen.

The days seem to just fly by and soon, it was almost time for Gabriella to leave New York.

One day, a few days before Gabriella leaves, she checked her mail and found yet another unsigned letter addressed to her.

Gabriella,

I hope you've been taking my letters seriously. This is not a joking matter! I'm dead serious! You have to protect the girls! The day you leave New York is the day Leslie starts her plan. She's going to have somebody pick the girls up. And since the sub doesn't know Ryan, she's going to let them go with the stranger. Then the guy is going to take them to some apartment and tie them up. The girls don't know this part though. Then Leslie's going to do to the girls what you saw in the picture a while back. So if you don't want that to happen, I suggest you can come up with a plan. I can't do it myself because I'm in a very tight situation and I might get killed. But she doesn't expect you to be here because you're going to Albuquerque. Anyway, I hope you act soon because the girls need you now more than ever. And don't try to mention this to Ryan either. Trust me, he will go berserk. He will kill somebody and end up in jail. So keep it quiet.

From,

A friend

But how does he know this stuff? I think I'm being stalked! Gabriella thought. She kept thinking about what she read and find it rather scary yet she knew that it was no joking matter. She had to protect the girls no matter what. After all, they might become mine someday. She thought. She closed the letter up and resumed packing her bags.

The next day, Gabriella went on one last shopping spree with her friends before she leaves for Albuquerque. They were at the food court at the mall.

"Gabby, when are you leaving?" Sharpay asked.

"My flight leaves on February fourteen at noon." Gabriella answered.

"But that's Valentine's Day!" Taylor shouted.

"Yeah! You can't just leave us like that!" Kelsi said, holding her seven-month (and still expanding) stomach.

"What about your guy?" Lataysha asked.

"What guy?" Gabriella asked back.

"RYAN!" Everybody shouted. Gabriella was taken aback. "What about him?" She asked.

"What about him? You're gonna leave him! On Valentine's Day! What the heck is wrong with you?" Sharpay asked demandingly.

"Don't you love him anymore?" Taylor asked.

"I DO! I love him! With all my heart! I just don't have the courage to say it to his face because I'll look like a fool!" Gabriella shouted. Some of the bystanders and passersby stared at the group.

"Why are you mad at him anyway?" Lataysha asked.

"Because! …Just because!"

"Gabriella. You can't trick us with that. You just don't get mad at someone 'just because'. There has to be a reason." Kelsi said.

"There is, but I can't tell you guys."

"You can't or you won't?" Sharpay said. Gabriella pondered on this for a while. If she tells them, they will get really mad and start searching for Leslie. She doesn't need that kind of stress especially when she's going to leave for her dying mother.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Taylor broke the ice by asking, "I thought we were here to shop."

This is it. The day Gabriella goes to Albuquerque. Ryan can't help but think about what he'll do without Gabriella. For all he knows, she might never come back.

As he poured breakfast cereal in his bowl, and the girls', tears fell down his face, and dropped in the cereal. But he could care less. In fact, he doesn't care at all. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He put the box of breakfast cereals down and took his seat. He put his hands up to his face and started to sob quietly so nobody could hear him. He put his head on the kitchen table and ran his hands through his hair, messing up his perfectly good hairstyle.

After a few more minutes, he felt a pair of small hands rubbing his back.

"It's okay daddy." He heard Rachelle say.

"Let it all out." Roxanne said. Ryan continued to cry until he realized that the twins have finished their breakfasts and put their bowls in the sink. He slowly got up and wiped his cheeks and eyes from the tears. He then went to the sink and began cleaning up his daughters' bowls and silverware. After having done that, he sat in the living room for a while, not caring about his own breakfast, and started thinking.

After a few minutes, he started dialing a familiar number waiting for the other person to pick up.

"Hello?" He heard his twin say.

"Sharpay. Do you know what time Gabriella's flight leaves?" Ryan asked frantically.

"Yeah, she said it leaves at noon. You sound like you've been crying are you okay? Do you want to stay in, I can take the girls to school for you." Sharpay offered.

"No, I'm fine. Seriously. I'm fine."

"Ryan, stop lying to yourself. You're not fine. Why don't you go and see her one last time before she leaves?" Sharpay asked.

"I can't do that. She doesn't love me anymore. She hates me. She never wants to see me again." Ryan reasoned.

"Ryan, you do not know how wrong you are." Sharpay said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You can figure that out for yourself little bro. You're grown up now, it's time to take charge and be your own man. Don't be pushed around. TALK TO HER." Sharpay said before she hung up the phone.

Ryan put down the phone and sighed deeply. He knew Sharpay was right. He knew he just couldn't be a pushover all his life. He almost made the mistake of moving away from Gabriella. Gabriella ran after him. Now it was time for him to run after Gabriella. He can't let Gabriella make the same mistake that he almost did.

A few minutes later, the girls came downstairs with their book bags in hand. They didn't need to say anything. They knew their dad wasn't in the mood. They just obediently went in the car and strapped themselves up themselves.

Ryan grabbed his car keys from the counter and rushed to the car. He didn't even bother checking the girls' seatbelts. He slammed the car door shut, making the whole car shake. He shoved the key into the ignition and jerked it. The key almost broke from the force of his hand, but fortunately, the car turned on. Ryan quickly backed away from the garage and sped all the way to the girls' school, not even taking notice that he was way over the speed limit. Good thing the cops weren't around.

A few minutes later, they finally arrived at school. As the girls saw that it was only 8:15, they knew they were a little bit early. Ryan calmed down a bit after his rampage and escorted the girls to their classrooms. Normally, the girls would object but seeing the behavior their dad was a while ago, they thought it would be safer not to say anything. They were right.

As they entered the classroom, Ryan saw that Gabriella wasn't at the teacher's desk, instead an elderly lady, wearing a hairnet was sitting in Gabriella's seat. The lady took notice of the trio and greeted them.

"Why, hello! I'm Mrs. Henry. I'm the substitute teacher while Ms. Montez is gone. How can I help you?"

"Um… these are my girls, Rachelle and Roxanne Evans. They're in your class. I just want to get them acquainted with you." Ryan said as the girls waved at Mrs. Henry.

"It's very nice to meet you girls!" Mrs. Henry said.

"Also, do you know if Ms. Montez is still here?" Ryan asked.

"Actually, she just left a couple of minutes ago. She left me a couple of lesson plans and whatnot."

"Okay, thank you very much. It's nice meeting you Mrs. Henry. Bye girls, love you." Ryan said as he rushed out of the classroom.

"Love you too dad!" The girls shouted as they took their seats.

Ryan was waiting patiently on Gabriella's front step, waiting for her to open the door. He had been ringing the doorbell since he got there about five minutes ago, but nobody has been answering. He looked at his wristwatch and saw that it was only 8:35. Where could she be at this time?

Ryan gave up ringing the doorbell and went back to his car. He took out his cell phone and started dialing digits.

"Hello?"

"Hey Shar. Have you by any chance seen Gabriella?"

"No, but it's great to know that you're taking my advice." Sharpay said before they both hung up.

In the next few minutes, Ryan had been calling everyone on his list, trying to figure out where Gabriella was. He even called Leslie but all he got was, "I don't care about your stupid whore of a girlfriend. Fuck off."

Meanwhile, Gabriella is sitting in her car outside of Leslie and Troy's new apartment. She found out that Leslie and Troy moved to a different apartment just after New Year's Day and Gabriella was able to pull some strings together to figure out where she lived.

She was waiting for someone to come out of the door. She didn't want the girls to get hurt. It was the least she could do for Ryan after she sent him hate vibes and other hateful things.

Gabriella looked at her watch and saw that it was only nine in the morning and the girls don't get out of school until two in the afternoon.

Gabriella decided to spend the rest of her time calling the airport and rescheduling her flight.

"Hello, New York International Airport, how may we be of your service?" The attendant on the other line finally answered after being on hold for what felt like forever. (A/N: Totally made the airport up. I know nothing about New York)

"Hi, this is Gabriella Montez, I have a flight scheduled for noon today going to Albuquerque, and I was wondering if I could reschedule that until later in the day, maybe around 4:00." Gabriella asked.

"Um… the closest we have to 4:00 towards Albuquerque is at 5:30 pm. Is that alright?" The attendant asked.

"Yes, that'll be fine. And also, could you add two more tickets to that please? I'll be having someone coming with me. I'll just pick up the tickets later on there at the airport."

"Yes you can. I'll have them ready for you. Can I please have your credit card number so I can charge it to your account?"

Gabriella gave the attendant her credit card number, thanked her and hung up. Gabriella noticed that it had only been half an hour since she last checked. She just leaned back in her seat determined not to fall asleep so she could catch Leslie in the act.

A few minutes passed and Gabriella's phone started ringing. She checked the who the caller was and saw that it was Sharpay.

"Hey Shar, what's up?" Gabriella answered.

"Hey Gabs, are you on your way to the airport?"

"Um… actually, I'll be on my way in a few minutes." Gabriella said, pretending that she was still going to the airport.

"Oh, okay, well expect Ryan to be there."

"Why?" Gabriella asked nervously.

"He's been looking for you all morning."

"He has?"

"Yeah. Where are you anyway?"

"Uh… gotta go, bye!" Gabriella said as she quickly hung up. Ryan's looking for me? Why? Gabriella asked.

Gabriella started up the ignition and headed for the airport. What the heck? I'll see him one last time.

About an hour later, she arrives at the airport. She approaches her supposed to be terminal and waited for Ryan to come and see her one last time. He should be here by now. Gabriella thought. She decided to sit down on one of the chairs and wait for Ryan.
Meanwhile, Ryan is driving to the airport as fast as he could, he saw that he only had one hour left before Gabriella would leave for Albuquerque. I can make it. I know I can. He thought.

He finally arrived at the airport and found a decent parking space. He didn't bother locking his car; he just started sprinting towards the airport. As he asked the attendants which plane's terminal was for Albuquerque, New Mexico. When he got his answer, he ran straight to the terminal, tripping over someone's dog. He apologized hurriedly, quickly patted the dog and started running again.

As he approached the terminal, he started to slow down and look for Gabriella. He started asking people, describing Gabriella to them, but all he got were headshakes and, "I'm sorry". Finally, he reached the terminal and took a seat. He put his head in his hands and breathed quietly.

While he was sitting quietly, he hears someone sobbing behind him. It sounded strangely familiar.

As Gabriella sat in her seat, she thought about what it would be like to be back in Albuquerque. She'd be excited to see one of her old homes but at the same time, she'd miss everybody in New York. Especially Ryan.

She began to sob as quietly as possible, so no one would hear her. Until…

"Gabriella?" She heard a voice say. She turned around to see who it was and saw the face of none other than Ryan Evans.

"Ryan."

"Listen, Gabriella, I love you."

"Ryan, I-"

What do you think she's gonna say? Hmmm... I don't know. LOL Kidding! I know what she's gonna say. Sorry to leave you guys hanging! And I might not be able to update anytime soon in the week because my parents are already bugging me about taking too long on the computer (I don't blame them, I spend most of my time online), plus I have homeworks and projects, and overdue books that I still need to return!

Anyway, since most of my reviewers said they want a Lushley oneshot, I'll give them a Lushley oneshot. Expect it maybe two weeks from now, since I don't know how to do a oneshot, it's my first one. So, I still have to type it up and stuff. Anyway, have a safe and happy new year!