Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

Six Months Later

Gabriella drove up to her apartment building in her dark red Trailblazer. She looked around to see if someone was watching her as she did every night. She climbed the stairs to Apartment 14. She unlocked and opened the door. Gabriella walked into to see Troy walking back and forth while rocking a sleeping Jesse in his arms.

She heard him humming You Are the Music in Me. She grinned at the touching sight. Troy smiled at her. He put a finger to his lips and pointed to Jesse's nursery. She nodded and Troy went to go lay him down. Gabriella went and got a bottle of water from the refrigerator. She took a few gulps.

Her kickboxing class was brutal but she was seeing results. She was nearly back to her old size, for example. Troy then stood at her kitchen counter. "How was your class?" He asked.

"It was fine. He wasn't a handful, was he?" Gabriella wanted to smack herself for not thinking of anything else to say but she wanted things between her and Troy to remain simple.

"No. He was really happy to see me." Troy replied. An uncomfortable silence erupted between them. "Gabriella, we need to talk?"

"About what?" Gabriella asked and took a sip of water.

"About us." Troy said. Gabriella sighed and put the water bottle back in the fridge.

"There is no us, Troy, and let's leave it at that." Gabriella said.

"You just can't keep avoiding the subject. It's obvious we still have feelings for one another." Troy said.

"Where's your proof, Troy? Huh?" Gabriella said.

"The proof is sleeping in the next room." Troy pointed to Jesse's nursery. Gabriella couldn't think of a comeback. She was speechless. "See! You've got nothing to say!" Troy said.

"Oh just leave me alone, Troy." Gabriella cried. She went into her bedroom and locked the door.

Troy knocked on the door. "Gabi, come out. I'm sorry. Just please come out." Troy said and knocked again.

"Just go away, Troy. I can't believe I waited for you at the stupid gate." Gabriella said from the other side of the door. "Why did I ever fall for an unfaithful, dim-witted basketball player?" She muttered in Spanish.

"What gate? Are you talking about that day at the airport?" Troy asked.

"Yes." Gabriella replied.

"I came back, Gabi." Gabriella froze. She thought she misheard him. "I was almost to my gate but I ran all the way back hoping to catch your plane. Only I got there too late. It was already on the runway." Troy said. Gabriella put her hands over her mouth and tears rolled down her face.

Troy thought he could hear her crying on the other side of the door. He waited but the door didn't open. Gabriella cried on the other side and she couldn't believe what she heard next.

Living in my own world
Didn't understand that anything can happen when you take a chance

Troy still had his amazing voice. He waited for Gabriella to respond but heard nothing. And then…

I never believed in what I couldn't see
I never opened up my heart to all the possibilities

Gabriella still sang beautifully. She finally opened the door. "Gabi, I'm sor…" Troy was cut off by Gabriella's lips meeting his. They threw their arms around one another. They kissed passionately and went into her bedroom.

Everything seemed perfect but tomorrow is another day.

The Next Day

Gabriella was in a very good mood when she went to work. Taylor had even taken the day off to watch Jesse. However, Taylor could take the day off whenever she wanted. She co-owned a chain of luxury hotels with a friend from college.

Gabriella had a great day. She only had to perform two surgeries. She finished her rounds and consults. Then he shift finally ended at five o'clock.

Gabriella exited the hospital and headed to her car. She was looking for her keys when she heard, "Montez? Gabriella Montez!" It was a woman's voice she didn't recognize. Gabriella turned around and recognized her. She knew her from two places: Troy's dorm room and a celebrity gossip magazine she read at a doctor's appointment. It was Troy's blonde Barbie.

"Katie Reynolds." Gabriella said coldly. If there was anyone Gabriella hated more than Paul, it was definitely Katie Reynolds. "How's the nose?" She asked sarcastically.

"It's Kate now. And my doctor said I was lucky that it wasn't broken." Kate replied fiercely.

"What do you want? And hurry up before I actually break your nose this time." Gabriella said impatiently. She desperately wanted to get in her car and run Kate over but she was resisting temptation.

"I came to ask you a question. What is going on between you and my fiancée?" Kate held up her left hand and exposed a huge diamond engagement ring.

"Fiancée…? You and Troy are engaged?" Gabriella asked surprised.

"Yes. For nearly a year now." Kate replied. Gabriella was speechless but then she was suddenly filled with anger. "I overheard Troy and his parents talking about how you had their first grandson. Now I'm guessing you got pregnant just so you can get Troy back. So I'm here telling you to stay away from him."

Gabriella was now pissed off. "Kate, beso mi asno! Like I would ever want Troy back! I saw you in a magazine with that brand new Mercedes he bought you. At least I'm not a shady, self-centered, gold digging bitch!" Gabriella snapped.

Kate then went up to Gabriella and slapped her. Gabriella was more furious than shocked. Kate tried to slap her again but Gabriella blocked the slap and slapped her back.

Later

Taylor and Jesse were just chilling on the couch watching TV. There was a knock on the door she stood and picked up Jesse. Taylor opened the door and there stood Martha Cox. Martha was supposed to be on tour with some popular boy band as their choreographer. "Oh my god! Martha!" Taylor cried. The two friends hugged and Jesse began to cry. "Oh, sorry! It's okay, Jess." Taylor said to Jesse.

"Oh my god! This is Jesse!" Martha cried. Taylor handed him over to Martha. The three of them sat down and talked about the tour. Then they watched this popular celebrity gossip show to see what they were saying about whoever they knew tonight.

"Where is Gabriella? She was supposed to be home an hour ago. We always make fun of celebrity gossip. And I need to get home before Darius kills Chad." Taylor said.

"Don't you mean before Chad kills Darius?" Martha asked.

"No, I mean before Darius kills Chad." Taylor said and they giggled.

TV: "Breaking news! Kate Reynolds, the fiancée of Troy Bolton, number 14 for the Phoenix Suns, was involved in a vicious catfight earlier today outside of the Phoenix County Hospital. She and an unidentified woman had an exchange of words and punches which ended in them being taken away by Phoenix's finest."

Taylor and Martha froze. "Doesn't Gabi work at Phoenix County Hospital?" Martha asked while Jesse was trying to eat her fingers. Taylor turned up the TV.

"According to onlookers, who witnessed the entire event, Reynolds accused this woman of having an affair with Bolton and also having Bolton's child. A witness even provided us a video."

"I came to ask you a question. What is going on between you and my fiancée?" Kate held up her left hand and exposed a huge diamond engagement ring.

"Fiancée…? You and Troy are engaged?" Gabriella asked surprised.

"Yes, for nearly a year now." Kate replied. "I overheard Troy and his parents talking about that you had their first grandson. Now I'm guessing you got pregnant just so you can get Troy back. So I'm here telling you to stay away from him."

"Katie, beso mi asno! (kiss my a**) Like I would ever want Troy back! I saw you in a magazine with that brand new Mercedes he bought you. At least I'm not a shady, self-centered, gold digging (bleep)!"

Katie then went up and slapped Gabriella. Katie tried to slap her again but Gabriella blocked and slapped her back knocking her back. Katie then walked up to her and grabbed her hair. Gabriella broke free and rammed her into a nearby car, the car alarm went off. They continued to punch, kick, scratch, and scrape at each other. Then out of nowhere, two officers came and tried to separate the two, who kept clawing at each other. Then the two cops handcuffed them on different cars.

"GABRIELLA MONTEZ! YOU'RE A DEAD WOMAN!" Katie screamed.

"USTED SABER DONDE A ENCONTRAR ME, YO SERA SER ESPERA!"(You know where to find me, I'll be waiting)Gabriella shouted back and continued to insult Katie in Spanish.

The cops read them their rights while they led them to separate cars.

"For those just tuning in here's a replay."

Taylor and Martha stared blankly at the television screen. Then Gabriella's home phone rang so Taylor answered it still in shock. "Hello?"

"Taylor? It's Troy. Why are you still there? Shouldn't Gabriella be home by now?" Troy asked.

"Troy, turn on your TV to channel three." Taylor said plainly. She was still gaping at the video.

Troy was silent on the other line. "Holy Sh-!" Taylor heard Troy cry before he hung up.

Gabriella and Kate sat in opposite jail cells across from one another. The two women were staring daggers at each other. Kate kept an ice pack over her black eye while Gabriella examined the scratches on her arm. Their stare down was then interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Troy accompanied a female police officer. The officer unlocked Kate's cell first, then Gabriella's. "It's your lucky night, ladies. Your boyfriend bailed you both out." The officer said with a small chuckle.

The two women then stepped up to each other. They had unfinished business. Troy then jumped in between them and motioned to the officer to give them privacy. The officer left. "Kate, my car is out front. Go wait for me." Troy pointed to the door but Kate wouldn't move. "Kate, please just go and wait in the car!" Troy said. Kate took the keys from out of his hand. She flipped her hair in Gabriella's face and left. Gabriella opened her mouth in shock and attempted to grab her but Troy held her back.

They were both alone now and an awkward silence filled the room. Troy stepped towards Gabriella. He tried to caress her face but she backed away. This hurt him but he hid it well. "Taylor is out front. She'll give you a ride home." Gabriella headed for the exit. "I wouldn't do that if I was you." He said.

"Do what?" Gabriella said with disdain.

"The parking lot is full of reporters." Troy said and Gabriella groaned. Troy took off his Phoenix Suns jackets and tried to put it over her head.

"What are you doing?" Gabriella cried.

"Hiding your face from the cameras. Remember you told me that you didn't want any pictures of you and Jesse in the tabloids." Troy said.

"Oh…right," was her only reply. Gabriella was surprised he actually remembered that conversation. She allowed him to put the jacket over her head and she clutched it tightly. They walked towards the front door and she could see countless flashes from cameras.

"You ready?" Troy asked.

"Yes." Gabriella answered. The two exited the police station. She could hear camera shutters coming from all directions continuously. She could also hear questions like, "Troy is it true you have a baby by another woman?" "Troy!" "Why all the secrets?" And more questions of the like.

Troy opened the passenger side door to Taylor's car and Gabriella climbed in. Troy blocked the photographers' view of Gabriella until they drove away. "It's safe now." Taylor said. Gabriella took off the jacket and tossed it in the backseat.

"Where's Jesse?" Gabriella asked when she saw he wasn't in the back.

"Don't worry! He's with a friend." Taylor said. After making sure they weren't followed, they parked in front of Gabriella's apartment complex. Gabriella was so excited to see Martha.

Troy slammed the door behind him as he and Kate entered his house. He entered the kitchen as she was getting another ice pack for her black eye. "Just what the hell did you think you were doing, Katie?" Troy yelled furious.

Kate groaned as she put the ice pack on her eye and she glared at Troy. "What did I think I was doing? More like what have you been doing? Or should I say who?" Kate snapped. She walked out of the kitchen and went into the living room. Troy followed her.

"What are you talking about?" Troy asked.

"Oh, I think you do." Kate said coldly. She flung a brown envelope at Troy and he caught it. He opened and pictures spilled out on his hand.

The pictures showed Troy and Gabriella leaving Jason and Kelsi's wedding reception together. Gabriella kissing Troy on the cheek before she was attacked by Paul Curtis. Them kissing in Gabriella's hotel room and having sex. Them kissing at the airport. Gabriella's leaving a women's clinic and Gabriella pregnant. Troy visiting Gabriella at the hospital. Troy entering and leaving Gabriella's apartment. Troy with Jesse. Gabriella with Jesse. Gabriella and Troy kissing in her apartment the night before.

Troy remembered last night. He had closed the blinds as they were undressing each other. Troy threw the pictures and envelope down onto the glass coffee table. He ran his hand through his short brown hair while Kate was staring daggers at him. "So you're having me followed. This is sick!" Troy snapped.

"No. I actually got those in the mail this morning. You lied to me. You told me you were at Chad's and lost track of time… Here I am trying to plan a wedding and you are off SCREWING YOUR EX AND GETTING HER PREGNANT!" Kate screamed at him.

"Whether or not I'm sleeping with Gabriella is none of your damn business, Katie!" Troy snapped. Kate was fuming. Then she threw her ice pack at him. Troy wasn't expecting it so it hit him in the chest. "Really, Katie!" Kate then took of her left stiletto heel and threw it at Troy, who ducked and the shoe hit a vase. "Damn it, Katie! My mom bought me that!" Kate then took off her other stiletto heel and threw it at him. He ducked again and it collided with the wall leaving a hole. "Screw this!"

Troy ran up the stairs. He saw her reaching for something else and ducked. A PS3 controller flew over his head and impacted the wall. Troy stood erect and gave Kate a dirty look. "You crazy… Whoa!" Troy ducked again to dodge another PS3 controller. Troy went into the master bedroom and got one of his Phoenix Suns duffel bags out of the closet. He threw in as much clothes and shoes the bag would allow.

Troy was walking back down the stairs when he had to duck again. His basketball flew over his head, hit the wall, and rolled down the stairs. He gave Kate another dirty look and then picked up the ball. As he headed for the kitchen, a magazine hit him in the back of the head. "OW!" He yelled. He rubbed the back of his head and shot her another dirty look.

Kate just flipped her blond hair and headed upstairs. Troy grabbed his car keys and went into the garage. He threw his back in the back and got into his new truck. He started the truck, opened the garage door, and drove out. After closing the garage door and opening the gates, Troy drove off with reporters and paparazzi taking dozens of pictures.

After dodging the press and paparazzi, Troy went over to Gabriella's but she refused to talk to him so he left and headed for Chad and Taylor's. Troy rang the doorbell holding his keys in one hand and his duffel bag in the other. Chad opened the door holding 18 month year old Darius in his arms. "Another fight?" Chad asked plainly.

"Another fight." Troy said. Chad stepped aside and let in his best friend. Troy dropped his bag by the living room couch and flopped down onto the cough making a heavy sigh. Chad put Darius down into his playpen and gave him his sippy cup.

Chad went into the kitchen and returned with two cans of Pepsi. "I have beer but Taylor thinks it's a bad idea to drink in front of Darius." Chad said and Troy nodded. "So…how bad was this one?"

"She threw stuff at me." Troy replied. Chad winced and took a sip of his soda. "She threw her shoes at me. Hell, she even threw parts of my PS3 at me!" Troy complained.

Chad let out a whistle. "You really pissed her off this time. This is the first time she'a ever thrown stuff at you." Chad said and took another sip of Pepsi.

"It gets worse." Troy said.

"How can it get worse than that?" Chad asked taking another sip.

"Someone sent pictures of Gabriella and me to Katie…Kate." Troy said. He kept forgetting she prefers to go by Kate now. Chad choked on his soda and coughed. Chad patted his chest until he calmed down.

"Who?" Chad asked. Troy shrugged his shoulders and looked blankly at his unopened can of Pepsi.

"Da da." Little Darius said from within the playpen. The little boy was rubbing his eyes and yawning. Chad put his soda down onto a coaster on the coffee table and got up. Darius reached for Chad and Chad picked him up. They two went upstairs.

Chad soon returned with a baby monitor. They heard Darius snoring. "Chad…how did you know Taylor was the one?" Troy asked. He was still looking blankly at his unopened can of Pepsi.

"I didn't at first…not until my second season with the Suns." Chad said.

Chad had just come home late from an unscheduled basketball practice and Taylor was furious. "Am I even important to you?" Taylor cried.

"Of course you are." Chad replied.

"Well, I don't feel important to you! You come home late and your only excuse is that your coach called for a last minute emergency practice!" Taylor cried.

"It's the truth. You know that I would never lie to you. In fact, you can always tell when I'm lying." Chad said. He caressed her face and she removed her hand from her cheek.

"A call would've been nice but nooooo. Since I didn't know you were going to be late, I wasted my time and my good food waiting for you." Taylor snapped.

"I'm sorry. I know I should've called but coach…" Chad sighed. "You know what; I'm not going to make a pointless excuse. I've should've called and I'm sorry." He said.

They stood across from each other. Taylor crossed her arms. "Chad…I respect your basketball career but it's getting in the way of our relationship. Excluding our two years dating in high school, we have been together for nearly two years, Chad. I know you love basketball and you say you love me but I feel that you love basketball more than me and I will always be the second pick. I don't want to make you choose between basketball and me so…" Taylor said somberly.

"Marry me." Chad said on an impulse. Taylor froze in shock. They stared blankly at one another for what seemed like hours when only seconds had passed.

"W-What did you just say?" Taylor stuttered in shock.

"I asked you to marry me." Chad repeated and he knelt down on one knee. Taylor uncrossed her arms in shock and her eyes widened. "Tay, I could never ever possibly meet another woman like you. If you just say the word I would…I will give up my basketball career for y…" Taylor interrupted him.

"Yes." Taylor answered smiling. Chad stood up and they embraced. The two kissed passionately and happily.

"Marry me this weekend." Chad said.

"This weekend? What about the wedding and et cetera?" Taylor asked.

"I don't care about all that. I just want it to be me and you." Chad said and Taylor smiled.

"Fine but you will be wearing a suit." Taylor said.

"Deal." Chad said and they kissed passionately again.

"Yeah, I remember you calling me a couple days later telling me you guys eloped. Everyone freaked, especially your parents." Troy said and the two chuckled. Troy's smile then faded and he once again looked down at the unopened can of soda in his hand. "I've been having second thoughts about marrying Katie…Kate."

"Because of Gabriella?" Chad asked and Troy nodded.

"I think…" Troy rubbed his eyes and put the soda can down onto the table. "I think I'm falling for her again. In fact…I don't think I ever stopped loving her but I've screwed it up again. I keep ruining the best thing that ever happened to me. But I know that I do care about Kate." Troy said.

"But do you love Kate?" Chad asked.

"We've been together so long…" Troy said.

"But do you love her?" Chad asked. By his expression, Troy was actually thinking about Chad's question but he never answered it.

Martha had left and Gabriella had just put Jesse to bed. Gabriella plopped down onto the couch next to Taylor and sighed deeply. Taylor was eating a bowl of ice cream. "I slept with Troy." Gabriella blurted out. Taylor stopped eating, put the bowl down onto the table, and looked at Gabriella. "I know. I know. What was I thinking? How could I make the same mistake twice?"

"Actually I was going to say this. Were you two at least safe this time?" Taylor said calmly, not wanting to sound like Gabriella's mother.

"Um…kind of," said Gabriella. Taylor's eyes widened. "He didn't have any protection and I didn't either so I took the morning after pill." Taylor continued to stare at her. "Please stop that! I feel bad enough already."

"Okay. This explains why he called you today and why you were also so incredibly perky this morning." Taylor said and Gabriella hid her face in his hands. "Was it at least good?"

"Saying 'good' would be an understatement. I've been with other men but Troy is just amazing…" Gabriella said bluntly.

"Okay!" Gabriella shut up. "So…what are you doing to do?" Taylor asked.

"Isn't it obvious, Taylor? He's engaged! I have to end whatever is going on between us…which is going to be difficult." Gabriella said.

"Why? It sounds simple, really." Taylor said.

"Because…" Gabriella sighed. "Because I think I'm starting to fall for Troy again." She said somberly. Taylor hugged and comforted her friend as Gabriella stared blankly into space only wanting to go back to last night with Troy.

An ordinary delivery man carried a plain, brown box into the official offices of Snapshot, the celebrity magazine. He dropped off the mystery package at the office of reporter, Carson Blake, the reporter who could crack any story before any other magazine or mass media.

Blake returned from lunch to find the medium-size box outside his office door. His name was written on the package and the addresses in black Sharpie ink. He simply picked up the box, which was quite heavy, and entered his office closing the door with his foot. He put the package down on his box, contemplating whether or not to open it after what happened last time he got a mysterious package. It was some of his sentimental belongings in pieces and they had been torched. He saw it as proof he was good at his job.

"What the hell." Blake grabbed his box cutter out of his desk and opened the package. He picked up a red and gold yearbook from East High School. He put on his reading glasses and began flipping through the yearbook. "East High Wildcats."

He looked at a picture of the Scholastic Decathlon team and recognized two faces: Taylor McKessie and Gabriella Montez. Another picture was of the East High Varsity Basketball team and he recognized more faces, especially Chad Danforth, Zeke Baylor, Jason Cross, and Troy Bolton.

Blake continued to recognize more people as he flipped through the yearbook, including Kelsi Neilson-Cross, Martha Cox, Sharpay and Ryan Evans. Then he found a picture of Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez captioned as Cutest Couple. Then he found another picture of many of the people he recognized captioned Best Friends Forever.

Blake closed the yearbook and set it aside. He went through the rest of the box and found more pictures of Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, and he was happy that some looked recent. He found a group picture of them and their friends while they worked at the Lava Springs Country Club. Then he picked up his phone and called his editor.

"Vanessa, you won't believe this but I have a story that's going to sell big. I just need a couple hours to research it and then write it." Next, Blake called his wife. "Honey, I'm sorry but…"

"You're working late and you need me to pick up the girls from practice. There will be a plate of food in the oven for you." She said.

"I don't deserve you. I love you, you know that." Blake said.

"I know. I love you too. Make sure you keep an eye on the time." She said.

"I will. Love you. Bye." Blake said.