Chapter 17:

It's Over

"What's this family meeting about?" Emil asked as he and his siblings moved into the living room. Their parents were looking to the ground, a sad expression written across them. "Mom? Dad?"

"Why don't you guys sit down," Lucille said. The three sat down awkwardly and waited for their parents to speak.

"You see, we've been living here since Troy and Leilani were born—"

"Leilani and Troy," Leilani said.

"Honey, this is not the time for jokes. This is serious and you'll probably hate us for saying this."

"What's going on?" Troy asked.

"My job has been transferred," Lucille said.

"To like some other part of Albuquerque, right?" Troy asked nervously. His hands were clammy and he hoped to God that he won't have to leave Gabriella behind.

But Lucille shook her head sadly. "To Maine. And it's a really good deal. We'll be leaving in two days."

Troy shot up out of his seat and shook his head. "No. I'm not going."

"Troy—"

"You can't just take us away from all of our friends like that."

"Troy, you guys can still talk. And you'll make new friends," Lucille tried to reason.

"Bullshit! You're always thinking about yourself. Have you ever taken a fucking break and thought about our fucking feelings?"

"Troy, don't you dare talk to your mother like that," Jack said, standing up as well. His eyes burned into Troy, but Troy didn't back down. "Well it's true," Troy said despondently. "And I'm not going." With that said, he turned and walked out of the house. The front door slammed hard behind him and the Bolton household became silent.

"I think he's mad," Emil spoke. Leilani sighed and ran after him. She went to the one place he always went when he was angry.

Leilani carefully climbed up the ladder of their tree house. She sighed sadly when she saw Troy sitting on the ledge looking completely broken. "Troy…" She came and sat down next to him. Shock raked her body when she saw his tears. "Are you crying?"

"I'm not leaving. I'm not leaving Gabriella behind. We were supposed to have more time together."

Leilani hugged him. "Sometimes stuff happens at the speed of light. Gabriella would be going anyway, Troy. You knew this was only temporary."

"I don't care," Troy snapped. "And I'm not going. They can't make me."

"But what about Emil and me? Besides Troy, where would you go? To Rosie? What do you think will happen when Gabriella leaves?"

"I'm not going," Troy repeated. Leilani sighed and nodded. "I know. And once you've made up your mind, you'll never change it." Leilani stood. "I'll see you later." She climbed back down the ladder and then pulled out her phone. She dialed a familiar number.

"Hello?" the voice said.

"Gabriella, I need your help."

…

"I have to go," Gabriella said. She quickly slipped her flip flops on and her jacket.

"Where to?" Maxine asked.

"Troy's house. They had their family meeting and the topic wasn't happy."

"What happened?"

"They're moving." Gabriella quickly walked out of the house. She got into her car and sped off down the road. While she drove, she couldn't help but let some tears slip. This was the first time she cried here in New Mexico. If you would've told her she'd be crying over a boy, she'd laugh in your face. But now she was and inside she was slowly dying.

She wondered what it will be like when she has to leave New Mexico as well.

Gabriella pulled up into the drive way then got out. Leilani quickly ran up to the car and hugged her tightly. "He's in the backyard in the tree house. Be careful with the ladder, too."

Gabriella nodded. "Okay. And thanks for calling me, Leilani."

"You're the only one that can make him feel better." Leilani smiled. "Now go get your man."

Gabriella opened the gate to the backyard and stepped in. Slowly, she made her way over to the tree house and climbed up. "You can't change my mind, Leilani," Troy said.

"Can I?"

Troy turned and smiled. Gabriella came and sat down next to him. "You shouldn't have come."

Gabriella wrapped an arm around him. "Why not? You're my boyfriend and I love you. What else do I need to come over here?"

Troy sighed. "I knew this day was coming. Well, except I thought it would be the other way around and we'd have a few more months. But that's not the case."

"You need to go Troy," Gabriella said reluctantly. "You can't pick me over family."

"Yes I can and I will."

"No. You've known me for two months while you've known your family your whole life. You have to go Troy. We can write and call and Skype. And we'll still always be together."

"I'm not with you if I can't hold you and hug you and kiss you and talk to you in person. And I'm not complete either."

"You'll have to be," Gabriella whispered. She tried to push the tears back up, but they came. "How did I get here? I turned around and there you were I didn't think twice or rationalize 'cause somehow I knew. That this was more than just chemistry I mean I knew you were kind of into me, but I figured it's too good to be true. I said pinch where's the catch this time, can't find a single cloud in the sky help me before I get used to this guy." Gabriella smiled. "I thought of that song when I first saw you at the park. But…then I realized that that isn't our song."

"What is?"

Gabriella smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. She stilled her hand at his neck then pulled him to her for a kiss. "Our song is anything you want it to be," she said, pulling away from his lips.

"No title?"

Gabriella smiled and stood. Troy stood also and grasped her hands in his. He wiped at her tears with the pad of his thumb. "I don't want to go," Troy whispered. His voice became shaky and hoarse and Gabriella knew he was going to cry. "Don't cry," Gabriella begged. "I'll come visit you whenever I can."

"But not everyday."

"Troy…"

"I'll go to California with you," Troy decided. Gabriella grabbed his face between her hands and shook her head. "Troy, you can't. You can't leave your family behind and don't say you will."

Troy grabbed her hands. "Please don't make me go."

Gabriella sighed. "I'll miss you, Wildcat. But sometimes we have to say goodbye."

"Not goodbye," Troy pleaded. "Until next time or see you later."

Gabriella shook her head and took her eyes away from his. "Goodbye, Troy. I love you." Gabriella kissed his cheek before turning and climbing down the ladder. Troy walked further inside of the tree house. He laid down on the hardwood floor and looked up at the plain ceiling.

He stood a minute later and walked over to a shelf. On the shelf were pictures of him and Gabriella.

"The day a door is closed the echoes fill your soul. They won't say which way to go just trust your heart. To find what you're here for open another door. 'Cause I'm not sure anymore it's just so hard." Troy hit a wall with his fist. The vibrations of the tree house didn't shake him though. It only made him cry harder.

…

"Gabriella, what happened?" Rosie asked as Gabriella came into the house. Gabriella shook her head and hugged Rosie. "It's done," Gabriella cried. "It's over."

Really short chap, I know. But bear with me. Oh, and review!

Thanks!-Brittany