Memories… Troy looked down at the necklace he had given Gabriella three years ago before she moved. He had regretted giving the necklace to her, after finding out that she really did hate him. What did he do? He only had a one-night stand with her and that was it. Gabriella Montez had hated him from that day on. He sighed as the necklace drew back so many memories. It brought back the day she first moved to Albuquerque with her parents, the day he first introduced her to Sharpay and Taylor, which was a very bad idea, and how he had told her that they would be friends no matter what. What was the one thing he did wrong during those past three years? He remembered the day she came to school and he noticed she was wearing the same necklace.
"Perv!" Gabriella walked away from Troy after he stared at the necklace for some time. Troy and Gabriella were juniors in high school. Chad, Ryan, Jason, and Zeke walked up to their friend. "Dude, you should've—"Chad immediately stopped as he realized that Troy was staring after Gabriella. "You like the new girl?" Chad asked. "No; but she was my friend, best friend actually." Troy told them as he closed his locker and headed off to homeroom. He sat down in his seat and it was just two years ago, Ms. Darbus made Gabriella sit in the front. Troy kept his eyes on the clock and groaned. Gabriella looked at him from the corner of her eye. She giggled and rolled her eyes. Same old Troy… She thought to herself as Troy turned to her. "Hey, are you Gabriella Montez?" he asked her. "Yeah; you just noticed that, haven't you?" she asked him. "No; I noticed that a long time ago when you first moved here from California two years ago." Troy answered as she stared at him.
Not only Troy was looking straight into her eyes; he also knew so much about her. "Wait, the Troy Bolton?" she asked him. Troy smiled as the bell rang. She stood up at the same time Troy did. "Well, I guess I better get going. I don't want to be late for my next class. It was nice seeing you Ms. Montez." Troy turned and left.
-
Ms. Montez… The name rang in Troy's mind. It was over the summer that Gabriella had started acting mean to him. After school, Troy drove home and headed upstairs. He entered his room and plugged in a video tape. He remembered watching this during his sophomore year. But he wasn't in school most of the time.
"Troy, where are you going?" Gabriella asked her best friend as he was about to board the plane with his parents. "Oh uh…I have a basketball thing to do. I'll be back soon. I promise." Troy kissed her forehead; he smiled at her once they pulled back. "You promise…?" she looked up at him. "Of course. I gotta go." He hugged her one last time before leaving. It was the start of the school year and it was almost Christmas break. Gabriella had wished Troy would come back soon because she wanted to spend Christmas with the Bolton's, especially Troy. Finally Troy came back and she was excited, but her dad didn't allow her to see him again. "Dad, but why…?" Gabriella wanted an explanation. Her dad had never said anything about not seeing Troy again. Her dad had told her how boys like Troy can treat girls like herself. She didn't believe it and cried to her mom. Her mom was furious.
Gabriella was banned from seeing Troy over the weekends and during school. Even if she went somewhere, her dad would ask who she was going with.
-
The next day, Gabriella sat down at her desk. She didn't talk to Troy, nor did she even say a word to him. Homeroom was completely silent and Ms. Darbus was actually surprised for once. The bell rang, Gabriella stayed behind to talk to Ms. Darbus. She entered the gym and decided to watch the boys practice. Sharpay and Taylor entered the gym. "What's wrong Gabby?" Sharpay sat down next to Gabriella; Taylor did the same. "I think I'm in love." Gabriella admitted. Her two best friends looked at her like she was completely insane. "In love…?" The girls both asked. Gabriella nodded. "In love with Troy." "WHAT!?!?!" Sharpay screamed as the boys' looked towards the girls' direction. "Don't you get it Sharpay? I'm in love with him." Gabriella got off the bleachers and walked out the doors. Troy stared after her and then back at Gabriella's friends who were staring after her, shocked. "What did she say?" Chad whispered to his friend.
Troy shrugged and ran after Gabriella. He caught up with her as she was on her way to the theater. "What do you want?" she asked him. "What did you say earlier?" Troy asked her, looking into her eyes. "I don't know; but I've got to rehearse with Kelsi." Gabriella said as she turned and opened the doors. Troy entered right after her. "You're lying Montez." He told her. She stopped walking just as soon the tears started rolling down her cheeks. She turned around and ran up to hug him. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry about everything. I can't handle this. I can't handle being friends with Sharpay. I miss being friends with you, Chad, and Ryan and Zeke and Jason. I miss being at your house. I miss seeing your face. I want you Troy. I need you. I love you." Troy hugged her tightly. "Sh… It's going to be alright. I missed you too Gabs. Every single day, but…" he trailed off as she pulled back. "But what…?" she asked him. "How can I prove to you that I'm different than the others?" he questioned. "You already have Troy.
"Being my best friend, being patient with me, not hitting on me, not touching the places they would touch, and most of all…you waited till the right time to say you loved me. You are different. When you sang at the auditions, I thought that guys would be freaked out and nervous to sing in front of Ms. Darbus. I mean my ex-boyfriend wasn't all that great, but you… you're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. After three years, I still loved you, but I never had the courage to. I thought you wouldn't love me back. But it's time for us to move on. To go our separate ways and accomplish whatever career that we want; if you want to be in the NBA, that's fine with me. I'm going to move again; I don't know when, but when the time seems right. Just follow your heart Troy and we'll see each other again someday." Gabriella hugged him again as he hugged her back. She pulled back from the hug and walked up the stairs. She stood at the microphone, singing the most beautiful song that Troy heard before he walked out of the theater.
I'll see you again someday Ms. Montez. He thought to himself smiling as he walked back to the gym.