no reviews:( anyways ill just update for the fun of it

Chapter 2:

With Gabriella the awkwardness never stretched too far and as she unfolded her hands, the music started playing to signal the beginning of the ceremony.

"Well, shall we all proceed to our places?"

A Flowered bouquet appeared in her hands as Michelle came from behind Chad,

"Come on big brother lets go and see Bryan make the worst mistake of his life!"

Grabbing his arm she half yanked half dragged Chad to where Helene was standing along with Claire and one of her male French cousins. Which left Troy and Gabriella looking at each other waiting. Coughing he bent his elbow indicating that she should take it.

"W-Well shall we, no use holding everyone else up?"

He could have sworn she blushed slightly as she placed her arm in the gap he had left and linked them together.

"Let's do it, I have never been to a French wedding before…"

They walked towards the others as the music picked up it's tempo and Helene flanked by her mother and father proceeded up the grass aisle towards the front where Bryan Danforth, ready as he could ever be, watched with a smile on his face as his soon to be Bride approached him. Troy looked around the array of strange looking people.

He didn't see the shocked look she gave him as they walked down the aisle behind Michelle and Chad, nor did he see the thoughtful look that followed as she smiled and looked away. Taken their positions on either side of the Bride and Groom the wedding ceremony began.

Fireworks ended the wonderful day and everyone sat around in the firelight from a thousand lanterns as fireflies buzzed all around them. Bryan and Helene had flown to their honeymoon on a tropical island care of her parents as a wedding present. Taylor had sent of her brother an hour ago and was now warm by the fire thankful to take the bridesmaid dress off and now in jeans and a t-shirt, leaving Gabriella's in her's but was too comfortable to join her.

She had been daydreaming in the embers of the fire and hadn't noticed that she was being watched from across the garden hidden in shadow.

Troy was in a confused state. He watched Gabriella by the roaring fire in the garden as the light of it illuminated her face and danced along the shadows of her eyes, with emotions stirring in his chest that had no place being there. Chad had enlightened him with where he stood with her – Taylor had taken the space where Gabriella had occupied for the last few years, so where did that leave him? And why was he now so concerned?

He hadn't known her for to long, but she was an integral part of his life like Chad. Both had been his strength throughout the year at East High but where Chad's friendship had faltered at times, Gabriella's was always there behind him keeping him grounded. He could say of all the people he knew – she was the fearless one. She had stood up to some many girls of the most feared at East High for what she believed in. Made sure he was always pointing in the right direction with juggling the musical and basketball. Bossed him when he wasn't particularly bothered about handing in his homework's…and yet all through this he had thought of her only as a friend.

So why was he now looking at her like it was the first time he had ever laid eyes on her, while at the same time thinking she was some sort of forbidden fruit – that once touched he would be cursed for the rest of his life?

Gabriella was lulled by the flames flicking around the edges of the wood that was piled high on the fire that had long since lost their shape and where slowly folding under the embers that burned in orange and yellow. It had been a lovely day, marred slightly by Bryan feeling incredibly weak and needing to sit down, bringing to attention why he was injured and what sacrifice was highly paid as he lived

Seeing Troy again always made it so much harder, made Gabriella painfully aware of her abundance of feelings. But both were so keen to keep their relationship strictly friends, nothing more. The very thought made her stomach knot in a million twists. She wanted to be more than his best friend, she wanted to tell him, but she couldn't. Every time she looked upon his sapphire eyes, she could tell that he was fighting an inner battle. His feelings, for the first time, were unreadable. But she was growing irritable with it. It was torture to feel this way, to have him touch her, treat her like he actually liked her, then hear those dreaded, stupid words, my best friend.

Things were getting more and more awkward between them. And it wasn't a bad thing, it was just more than Gabriella could handle. He had almost kissed her, several times now, but she had to keep up with the act, proving to him that she could play his game also, had to pretend they were just friends. And he seemed all right with it, so why did it just annoy her?

She'd see him again, and he'd undoubtedly touch her, force the blush on her cheeks, and smile and call her his friend. If he wasn't careful she was going to make him eat that very word.

A smile crept up and she couldn't help but laugh at herself. It was all quite silly getting so worked up about it.

The last time they parted the hug alone was enough to prove it. But it was getting old, and she needed more. But that meant dropping the facade and letting it all out. Something she didn't think either was ready to face. Troy hadn't let her talk about it yet, always changing the subject, always reminding her they couldn't go there. But they both knew that was a lie. Things were different, and he had to know she knew better.

Gabriella's problem, she worried like a mother, like a sister, like a friend…like a…

She didn't know how else she worried all she knew is she did passionately, reverently and with so much fear it choked her at night when she tried to lie down and sleep.

Rest did not come forth willing – hours where spent going over her thoughts and feelings.

She would not fail him, not again. She could sense that he needed her, and by announcing her love would just make matters worse.

Sighing more into herself than anything else, she looked up from her trance of the fire and straight into the eyes of Troy.