A/N: I give a million apologies as to my lack of updating, especially after I said that I would update more. I feel like I've let people down and I'm sorry but things have been horrible the past 2 months or so. I've been dealing a lot with school, my parents are separating, and not to mention but I did catch a bit of the swine flu and I'm fully recovered and cured! So, there's just been way too much going on right now but I did manage to finish this chapter. I honestly think that it could've been better but I just wanted to update so bad already, so I did what I could. I hope you guys like it!


'Dammit.'

That was the one word that popped up into Troy's brain at that moment.

The one word that could some up everything that he felt.

What was he going to do? He wanted nothing more than to run after her and just wrap her up in his muscular arms and tell her that he was so sorry but he knew that was nowhere near possible. Things were never that easy and this definitely wasn't going to be. This was a task that was on a completely different level than the beginner's level. Troy's head thrashed from side to side to see if anyone noticed how Gabriella rapidly left the balcony and if they noticed why. Thankfully, no one had.

He tried to act as calm as he possibly could which was becoming hard to do with every second that passed. The little speech that he mentally prepared for when he saw her just flew out the window and crashed against the pavement. He froze in his steps and panicked as he tried to create a plan B for what he should do next. He had to take action and quick because he was more than sure that she was freaking out like there was no tomorrow. He was sure that she probably felt confused and overwhelmed but he had to do what was right for the both of them even if she did end up hating him for everything he put her through. Even if it meant that he had to show up to some place that he wasn't even invited to just to get her to listen…or just to even face him when in reality, it was he who was scared to face her.

But he knew that he wanted to be with her from the moment that he saw her again at the lobby of his show. The way she spoke so softly and her sweet laugh just hypnotized him. Her long dark curls and beautiful mocha eyes seducing him with every flutter and flip. Her intelligence that intimidated him yet turned him on. Her way of listening and never judging you. Everything made her just that much more perfect.

Shaking his head to dismiss his thoughts, Troy peered through the windows of the French doors that led to the party. He scanned the room for Gabriella but it was too dark inside for him to even see her.

It was going to be one hell of a long night.

Gabriella was at lost for words. Did she see what she thought she saw? Or whom she thought it was? Her mind must've been playing tricks on her. It was always playing those cruel tricks on her vulnerable little brain.

'Yeah, that's all it is…too much stress is making you see things', she concluded but she knew it was a lie when she looked back once she ran inside. He was still standing there looking somewhat confused. She was bewildered that he was even there. How did he get there? How did he even know about the event? Then it suddenly hit her. There was only one answer for those questions.

Chad and Taylor.

Should Gabriella have felt furious? Perhaps betrayed? Or maybe even thankful? She didn't even know. At that exact moment in time, she felt so confused about everything. She felt mixed emotions about his presence. Part of her wanted to leap for joy that Troy was even there and part of her felt bothered by that. But why was he there? Was it just for the party or was it for her? It would've been self centered of her to assume that she was the reason but it seemed like it was the only one…or at least she hoped it was.

Checking back again, she saw that he hadn't followed her which made her feel a bit relieved.

Gabriella walked back to the table that Taylor was sitting at and was greeted with a wide smile from her best friend. This was the perfect opportunity for her to speak to Taylor since the musicians were taking an intermission and there was no loud noise besides everyone talking.

"Hey, little miss party animal! Where have you been?" asked the chocolate beauty.

"Mingling but that's not important right now. Listen, can I talk to you?" Gabriella asked anxiously.

"Whoa Gabs, you just got to the table and you're already trying to get away? We haven't even danced yet! Come on, just sit down, relax, have a few drinks – " Chad was abruptly cut off.

"Not now Chad. I'll get to you in a sec but right now I just want to talk to Tay and only Tay. So, sorry but back off." She replied as she pulled Taylor by the arm to stand up and moved a few feet away from the table so that Chad wouldn't overhear. Chad sat there looking shocked at how she was acting but shrugged it off when he saw Megan Good sitting at the table next to his.

"Geez calm down. Is everything alright?" asked Taylor as she surveyed her arm from the tight grip Gabriella had.

"You knew." The Latina said as she eyed Taylor.

"Knew what? What are you talking about?" Taylor looked confused but it wasn't enough to hide Gabriella's suspicion that Taylor was in on everything the whole time.

"Taylor, please don't lie to me, okay? Just cut the crap as of now because I'm not in the mood for that."

"Okay…" Taylor looked at her friend with uneasy eyes as to how she should bring up what she knew that they were talking about.

"I know that you were in on Troy coming tonight. I saw him with my own eyes and that would explain why you and Chad have been acting all weird. Plus, that also explains why Chad isn't staying with us." Gabriella stared at her friend dead in the eyes as if to prove her point.

"Okay, you got me. I admit it. I knew he was coming but I swear it's for a good reason. He's not here to ruin things even more than he has but he's here to make things right…to just try and make them better, I swear."

"And how would you know if I was even ready to see him?" Gabriella asked as she threw her hands up exasperatedly.

"I don't but you would have to end up seeing him again sometime so why not now? You just can't avoid him your whole life, especially when he's here just for you."

"Taylor…"

"Gabriella. I know that you're confused and most likely mad about this but I was in on it because I know that he cares about you and you obviously still care about him. I know that I probably crossed the line of the best friend code but I just want to see you happy so please don't bite my head off for it." She pleaded. Taylor felt nervous as she waited for Gabriella's reaction. Her intentions were pure and she hoped that her best friend would see that.

Gabriella faked a smile and a small wave to a few people that passed by, trying her hardest to pretend that everything was alright when in fact it wasn't. She waited until the passers were out of earshot before she responded. "I understand, really, I do. I just…I just don't know what to do. I wasn't expecting any of this at all...especially so soon. I guess it's just taking me by surprised and the shock factor is way too high for me to handle right now." Gabriella said with such a vulnerable expression on her face. She felt so lost. How was she going to contain herself when she saw Troy again? Would she cry? Would she feel anger and slap him? Would she stay quiet and speechless? Would she be strangely happy? She had no answers to any of her emotions and it was taking its toll on her brain.

"Don't stress it. I'm sure Troy will understand that you need your space at first because this isn't easy but please give him a chance to at least state his piece. Don't just shut him out without listening to him first." Taylor said as she embraced her friend and tried to calm her nerves.

"I'll try. By the way, I don't appreciate how you guys forced the situation but I do understand the intention behind it."

"Again, I'm sorry. I really am but I wouldn't have don't it if it weren't for a good cause. Now let's just sit down and enjoy a few drinks, okay?" Taylor put on her brightest smile and guided Gabriella back to the table to sit down and gulp down a few martinis.

"By the way, Chad, I'm in on the whole thing and I know that you know what I'm talking about." Gabriella said as she sipped on her drink and looked at him directly.

"It wasn't my idea, I swear!" Chad said as he raised his hands up in defense.

"Didn't accuse you of it. Oh and before I forget, you and Bolton are staying in the guestroom in my house. And no, I'm not accepting 'no' as an answer and that's final."

"What?! Are you sure you want us – I mean him – to be there? For an entire weekend? We don't want you to feel uncomfortable at your own place." Chad looked at her as though she might have gone crazy. He appreciated the gesture but he wasn't sure if that's something that she wanted to do or if it were something that she felt that she was obligated to do.

"I'm sure. I can't run away from him forever, right? Might as well just get everything done and over with…or at least the awkward part." Gabriella said and downed her martini.

The gears began to twist and turn in Chad's brain as he tried to process the new information. She wanted Troy within her presence. There just might actually be hope for him then to gain what it was that he was there for – forgiveness. Chad arose from his seat and walked away in search of Troy.

Troy still couldn't figure out what exactly he was going to do. He knew what he wanted to do before they arrived to the party but now that he was actually in the situation, he wasn't quite sure anymore. He knew that he wanted to just tackle Gabriella and just straddle her until she listened but he couldn't just do that…he'd probably get arrested for pulling such a stunt.

He looked around at his surroundings and took in its silence. He was in the bathroom.

Troy let out a deep breath and turned on the faucet to sprinkle his face with its clear liquid. He'd been hiding in there for what seemed like hours but in reality, it was just thirty minutes. If anyone had seen him enter the bathroom, they're probably assuming that he drank too much or his stomach couldn't handle the food.

But he didn't care.

He didn't have anyone to owe an explanation to. Besides, it wasn't like anyone was out looking for him.

'I don't even think they've noticed that I've been gone since we got here'.

Just as Troy had that thought, the bathroom door swung open and there he was face to face with a Jonas Brother - Kevin Jonas, to be exact.

Troy continued to stare at his reflection in the mirror and just ignored the older brother who was a few years younger than him. Suddenly, Kevin began to wash his hands at the sink next to him. "Enjoying your night?"

"Not as much as I could be…" Troy replied.

"Yeah, I get you dude. Same here. I'm not really into the party scene as much as Joe is. It's pretty much all for the publicity and what not. I just want to be at home actually."

"Seriously? You're a celebrity…why would you rather be at home than here? You guys get free stuff that you could afford anyway just by showing up." He said as he gave Kevin an incredulous look.

"Its true…the goody bags are always awesome at these type of events. But honestly, I just want to finish the appearance so I could just cuddle on the couch with the fiancé." Kevin replied with a distant look in his eye, a look that pretty much said that there was a specific woman on his mind that he truly loved.

Troy felt a slight pang of jealousy. He wanted to have that silly grin that was on Kevin's face. He wanted to say that he could go home and just cuddle with a fiancé. He wanted that fiancé to be Gabriella just like how it was always supposed to be.

"That's awesome, Kevin. I wish you guys the best and from the pictures that I've seen online, she's quite a catch. You guys look happy." Troy said sincerely as he patted him on the back.

"Thanks man. What about you, any special lady back at home?" Kevin asked.

"Actually there is a lady but she's nothing that special. We're actually going to get a divorce…long story. But there is another woman who is beyond perfect…or at least perfect for me. She's just amazing, beautiful, all around a great girl."

"So why aren't you with that one?"

" 'Cause I fucked up and I'm only here to try and win her over…again. We have a lot of history and I'm just trying to rekindle that because I think – no, wait, I know she's the one." Troy said.

"Tough. Just hang in there. It's like when Joe and Taylor broke up. He was all chill about it but I think that's because he really had his eyes set for Camilla. If not, then those two would have probably been together still. But that's off topic." Kevin said as he shook his head

"Yeah…kind of is. But I do know what you're trying to say."

"Yeah, well good luck man. I should be getting back though. If you ever need any inspiration or a song to win the girl over, just pick up the new Jo Bro CD. Trust me, the chicks dig it." And with that, Kevin shook Troy's hand and left the bathroom.

Troy laughed at the situation and shook his head. Did Kevin just seriously give him advice and promote the CD at the same time? Now that's true talent.

Deciding that it was time to leave the bathroom and try to find his friends and Gabriella, Troy made his way to the door and swung it open. Before he could take a step out, there he was in front of Chad.

"Hoops! Finally! I've been freaking looking for you all over!" exclaimed Chad as he shoved Troy back inside the bathroom.

"Dude! Do you have any idea how gay that must've looked just now? You just pushed me into the guys room!" Troy said as he threw up his hands.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, not right now. We have bigger things to worry about right now."

"Which I was going to handle right now actually until you decided to push me in here for whatever reason."

"Just shut up, stop complaining, and listen to me. You and I, I and you, you and me, me and yourself have a place to stay for the weekend and it's not a hotel."

"Okay…big deal. Where we rooming at, your truck?"

"Not at all. We're rooming tonight with two beauties."

"Don't tell me you actually got models to talk to you. Look, I can't and I refuse to go for that because all I want is to be around Gabriella and you know that!" Troy began to pace in the bathroom.

"Exactly, retard! We're staying at her place with her and Taylor."

"What? Why? How? Explain." He stopped in his tracks as he looked at Chad dumbfounded.

"She obviously knows you're here and she pretty much wants to murder Taylor and me but that's not important right now. I don't know why but she did say that she needs to deal with you eventually so she might as well get over the awkward part now. How? I don't know how. Did she see you?"

"Yeah, she noticed me out on the balcony when she was talking to a few celebrities. That's when she dashed out and I haven't seen her around since."

"Well duh, of course you're not going to see her if you're hiding in here."

"I freaked out! What did you think I would do? I mean, I scared her off."

"That you did." Chad said while he placed his hand on Troy's shoulder.

"What did she say about seeing me? Did you talk to her?" Troy asked anxiously.

"No but she did talk to Taylor and I haven't been able to see what she said to her. Just chill. I'm sure everything is going to be alright…eventually."

"I hope so. Let's just get out of here and try to enjoy what's left of this shindig."

"I agree. There are definitely tons of sexy models here and I noticed Megan Good giving me the eyes." Chad said as they walked back into the party.

"Before I forget, please remind me to pick up a Jonas Brothers CD."

What did you think? Liked how I added Kevin Jonas? I hope everyone liked it! I tried to give something that you felt was worth the wait but I don't know. I feel rusty with this stuff and hopefully that doesn't show. Anyway, please review and please don't bash me too hard about my absence! Review!