Gabriella slowed down her walk down the aisle and slid her hands over the spines of the books, smiling at the familiar scent of pages. Seeing an intersting title she pulled one from the shelf and leafed through it before reading the back. Deciding to give it a try she added it to the pile in her arms and continued down the aisle.

"Gabriella, there you are!" Taylor suddenly appeared and smiled at her. "I can't believe I lost you in a library!" Gabriella smiled back and chuckled.

"Now that's something you don't hear everyday!" she retorted. They giggled and together went to the desk and checked the books out. On the way home they ran into Chad and Jason and joined them on the way back.

"Hey Gabster!" Chad greeted, puuting an arm around her shoulder and Taylors'. Gabriella smiled and shrugged out of his grip.

"Ew Chad, take a shower, you stink." She announced, laughing. Chad rolled his eyes and turned to Taylor.

"I bet you like that don't you?" he asked her. Taylor laughed and moved next to Gabriella.

"I'm with Gabs on this one. You need a shower." Chad scoffed and started talking to Jason. Once they reached Chad and Taylor's house Jason said good bye and continued down the road.

"Well since you were so mean to me, I'm not going tell you the news." Chad teased looking at Gabriella.

"What news?" she asked, curious.

"Nothing…" he retorted turning around.

"Chad Danforth!" Taylor yelled and he turned around, cringing at the tone of her voice.

"You tell her this instant."

"Troy called and he wants you to call him back." He said in a rush and then hurried off, like a puppy afraid of being yelled at. Gabriella gasped and gave her best friend a high-five.

"Nice going girl!" she cried. Taylor smiled and propelled her to the phone.

"Thanks, now call Troy, I know you're bursting to." Gabriella grinned.

"You know me well." She dialed his cell number and waited in anticipation as it rang.

"Hello?"

"Troy!"

"I took it you got Chad's message?"

"Yes." She said with a giggle.

"Good. How are you?"

"Alright. I went to the libray today. But I miss you."

"I miss you too Brie.

"What did you do?"

"I worked…and ate. That's about it." He laughed. She laughed too and leaned against the counter. It was so good to hear his voice!

"Only one more day!" she reminded him.

"Can't wait." He replied quietly. "As soon as I get home we are going to a movie."

"Alright, it's a date." she said with a giggle. He laughed quietly.

"Maybe a bit more then that…" he said

"What do you mean?"

"I want to ask you something when I get back. It's important." He said, his voice mysterious. She bit her lip, knowing very well what he was going to ask her.

"Alright, I'm looking forward to it." She said after a moment of silence. She heard talking in the background.

"Oh shoot Gabi, I have to go. Something about a chicken; I don't know. I'll try to call you back later on tonight ok?"

"Alright. I'm holding you to that." She replied. She heard him laugh.

"I love you Gabi.

"I love you too Troy." She said and then hung of the phone. She blinked back tears and closed her eyes. Hearing the sound of someone entering the kitchen she opened her eyes again and smiled at Taylor.

"You don't look so happy Gabs. Is everything alright?" Taylor asked.

"I'm fine, I just miss him so much." She retorted, her voice husky.

"He'll be home before you know it." Taylor soothed, giving her a hug.

"I know, that's what I keep telling myself." Gabriella admitted, smiling at her best friend.

"Now come one, let's go find stinky boy and get us some supper." Taylor announced and together they linked arms and skipped down the hallway. (AN: Sort of like what Chad and Troy do at Lava Springs in HSM 2)

A half and hour later Chad, Taylor, Gabriella, Jason and Kelsei all sat around a table at their favourite restaurant, Benny's Burgers (AN: I completely made that up :P) waiting for their food to come.

"So Gabriella, why's Troy gone away?" Kelsei questioned.

"Buissness trip." She replied with a small smile.

"Is he still a computer analogist?" Jason asked with interest.

"Yeah. He seems to love it!"

"That's great." Kelsei and Json chorused in unison. Just then the waitress came back with their food and a silence streched over the group as they began to eat.

"So Gabs, has Troy proposed to you yet?" Taylor asked. Gabriella looked up from her salad in surprise.

"No...not yet." she admitted, her voice quiet.

"Well I'm pretty sure he will soon. He loves you a lot Gabster." Chad said sincerely. She smiled

"I know. He reminds me of that constantly." She said, a smiled fixed on her face. She slipped her hand into her pocket under the table and felt the note in there from Troy. 'Just one more day.' She thought to herself.

That night she lay in bed and waited for Troy to call. It was 11:00pm and she knew he would call sooner or later. He always did. But the night wore on and still the phone did not ring. Glancing at the clock she read 2:00am. She sighed and turned off the light, wondering why he didn't call.

The next day she woke up with a heavy feeling in her heart. She grabbed her cell phone and saw he had called around 5:00am. It was 10:00am now so she dialed his number and waited.

"He Gabi." He greeted.

"Hi, sorry I missed the call." She replied, sitting up in bed."

"No problem, it turned out that the situation wasn't about a chicken like I thought-" Gabriella snorted. And Troy chuckled a little too. "Guess what?" he continued.

"What?"

"I'm coming home early."

"WHAT!?" she screamed into the phone. "HOW?" Troy laughed and she did too.

"It turns out the guy who was supposed to present today couldn't make it so I'm flying home this afternoon. I should be there sometime this evening. I'll come right to Chad and Taylor's and get you okay?" I nodded vigourously and then remembering he couldn't see him said, with a hint of humor,

"Alright. But what about our date?"

"We'll just have it tomorrow." He replied.

"Okay. Oh Troy, I so glad you're coming home early. I miss you so much!"

"Me too honey. Me too." He replied and she noticed his voice sounded thick with emotion. Just then Taylor knocked on the door and poked her head in, gesturing that breakfast was ready. Gabriella nodded in understanding and then sighed.

"I have to go Wildcat, breakfast is ready."

"Alright see you tonight sweetie."

"You too. Love you!"

"Love you too Brie." She hung up the phone and dashed out to the kitchen.

"You guys, you guys guess what?!"

That night she sat on the couch and checked her watch again. 8:23. Taylor chuckled and sat down on the couch beside her.

"He'll be home soon." She said, watching her lovestruck friend look eagerly out the window. Gabriella nodded and grinned widely. "Are you sure you don't want us to cancel our supper and stay with you?" Taylor asked.

"Of couse Taylor, you two go and have fun. Who knows, we might even come and join you."

"I'll hold you to that." Taylor announced and hugged her friend. "Okay, call me if you need anything." Gabriella nodded again and then waved to the couple as they left. 9:30.

"C'mon Troy." She muttered excitedly. Just then the doorbell rang and she sprinted over to it. "Troy! I knew-" she broke off and looked at the offical looking man standing before her.

"Gabriella Montez?" he asked. She nodded and gulped. 'Oh god, not again.' She thought. 'Not Troy.' "So you know a person named Troy Bolton?" he asked and she was just wondering how he knew that when she remember what she had said when she had opened the door.

"Yes." She squeaked.

"I am sorry to have to tell you this, but Mr. Bolton was in a plane crash and was injured severly."

AN: Thanks for th review guys. Love them! Here's the next chapter. Enjoy. R&R It makes me giggle!