A/N: Im sooooo sorry for my lack of updates you guys. I know its been practically a month but I do have a logical and tangible excuse. My older sister gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl. She is totally adorable. Okay, so anyways, I returned a few weeks ago, and began writing and updated my other story, but then I realized alerts were down. I didn't want to update this one until it got fixed because then a whole bunch of you guys would have missed it, especially since I'm writing it for you. Personal reviews are coming up but first

I want to dedicate this chapter to somebody who is just like, the absolute best person right now. She pmed her review and what she wrote totally rocked my world. In fact, if it wasn't for her (and of course, some of you guys), I don't know if I'd have the energy to continue this because all of the self doubt I'd created for myself. But she was completely inspirational and amazingly encouraging. I have no words describe how 'floating on the clouds' her pm made me feel. So to wrap this up, Justacrush, this is dedicated to you babe. I totally adore you ;p

XOXO

Sophie

PERSONAL REPLIES:

JUIICY: thanks babe, I appreciate the review

Racegurl89x: haha, I like angsty stories too, thanks doll.
YT-SK4eva: haha, I hope I didn't make you cry, that would totally leave me heartbroken. I honestly cant count as high as ten trillion billion, but ill take your word that its good. And yah, I wrote the poem for the story and I'm really glad you liked it. Oh, im soo happy now ;p

aznsmartalec: no, it isnt babe

LuvHighSchoolMusical: thank you so much for the review babe

.MPPandHSMroxmysox: haha, im thrilled by your words of encouragement, thanks so much hon
Marshmallows rock: wow, I really didn't have that many cuss words in this one, did i? Lol, no, Gabi seems to be all lucked out in my fic. Lets cross our fingers and hope it gets better. ;)

LizzieRokasGermain: hahaha, you're totally adorable babe, and I really loved your review

Shade's Lasting Fire Within: I hope I changed it up enough so that you still don't feel like its dragging on and on

loveyoumeanitbye: hahaha, you're totally awesome in reviewing for this story. I really hope Gabi gets better as well.

SimpleeLovely673: I hope you found your way again babe. Thanks so much for the review

Ineee: thanks babe ;)

LunarEclipse360: yah, it was a little heart wrenching. Oh and I did write the poem. Not exactly one of my skills, you should have seen me taking a go at it. I started with The Cat Ate the Rate and Slept on the Mat. But it turned out pretty well, I think

Cupcakes.xx: oooh thank you babe, im swimming in your words of kindness. And yah, I did write the poem

hockey-girl90: haha, if I kill of Gabriella, im pretty sure one or two of you will kill me off as well.

ZanessaFan28: loool THANKS SO MUCH BABE, AND HERE's TO A CAPITAL LETTERS WAR

JennySaysHa: thanks for the review babe, I really loved it

sugarush7z: I am totally blushing from everything you said in your review. I love, love, loved it!

Angelic Ami: I totally love you. Your review was awesome, totally got me back on my feet ;)

carito06: haha, thanks so much babe

butterflygoodbye: so much rant in such a review, and I loved every single word of it. Thanks babe ;)

xFabulosa: I hope so as well, thank hon.

zvlove4ever: thanks for the advice, and im sure to take it, but I just have to ease into the story a little bit until that happens. Thanks doll.

Amalta: I know, right? It is pretty depressing. I hope it will be more positive from this chapter on, but we can only hope.

Chapter 13: Back to the Kingdom

Its been three months Gabi. Im coming home soon. The doctors say I'm going to be okay since I've followed the regime here exactly the way they wanted me to. I've even got a badge to prove it. It really wasn't that bad down here. I got to face all my demons and overcome most of the problems that I've caused since all of this started. Except for one. You, Gabi. I think of you all the time as I sleep on a bed, surrounded by these plastered, four walls. You are what gives me hope when I feel like letting go and going back. I cant do this to you again Gabi, whether you want me back or not, just know that you are what got me through.

Love,

Troy

Gabriella folded the letter and placed it in the box that lay hidden under her bed. Another tear stain blotched out the last few words 'Love, Troy' as they always did when she read his letters. He still loved her. He still wanted her.

Gabriella shook her head. She couldn't think about this anymore. She couldn't think about him. It was over. He proved it again and again. She just cant love him anymore.

Can she?

"Gabriella! Timothy is here!" Gabriella looked up from her place to hear her mother calling out for her.

"I'm coming, mom!" she yelled back. She placed the box beneath her bed again and ran downstairs to greet her guest.

He was standing in the doorway with the movie tickets in his hand. He smiled at her when he saw her bounce her way down the stairs. She reached over and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

He tucked a stray hair behind her ear before he said, "are you ready to go?"

Gabriella nodded and tried her best to smile, the letter still lay fresh in the back of her mind.

"Are you alright, Gabi?" he asked and Gabriella was jolted out of her state.

"Yah, sure" she nodded. She remembered a time when she used to be Gabi to him. Not Tim. The other boy in her life. The one she thought she permanently cut out.

But it was so hard to do so, she thought as she grabbed Timothy's outstretched hand and followed him to his car. She could smell his cologne everywhere. She could hear his basketball dribbling every time she walked past his house. She could hear him whispering sweet nothings into her ear as she drifted away into his arms.

The roaring of the engines brought her back again. This always happened to her when she got a letter from him. Timothy never questioned her and always respected her privacy, but sometimes she wished he wouldn't be so surfaced about her feelings.

He reached for her fingers as he drove down the road. She squeezed his hand as they road in silence. She remembered meeting him. He was the first boy she could ever trust after what happened with Troy.

Flashback

"Hey, you must be Gabriella" a voice standing above her. Gabriella looked up to see a boy who was around her height with blonde hair and brown eyes, both complete contrasts to Troy, who had dark hair, light eyes, and towered above her with his 6 ft frame.

"Yah, that's me" she nodded and smiled. She finally made it out of the hospital and Troy had been in rehab for two months now. She hadn't heard much from him except for his last letter, which upset her, knowing that he couldn't bother calling her after everything that happened between them. Even thought, she wasn't sure if she would pick up.

"I'm Timothy, I'm new here. People said you're the one to come to if I wanted to join the Decathlon Team?" he asked hesitantly

Gabriella smiled and nodded, "yep, you've come to the right place"

Flashback

It was nice to have someone who she knew she could trust. Timothy was very smart and just a little nerdy, but it wasn't like she was any better. He wasn't Troy-handsome, he was cute. Definitely cute. He had a crooked grin that always made her feel better and his eyes were comforting. Not daring or passionate like Troy's. But that's okay, because comfort is what she needed. She squeezed his hand once more before letting go.

&

The next day at school, everybody seemed to be buzzed with excitement. Gabriella pushed her way through the throngs of people to see what they were waiting for or wanted. She saw long blonde hair running towards her and she waited patiently until the body under the extensions reached her locker.

"Oh my gosh, Gabbs, did you hear what happened?" Sharpay squealed and grabbed her hand.

Gabriella shook her head, "No. What happened?"

Sharpay leaned over and whispered, "Troy's back!"

Gabriella pulled away with wide eyes, "he's here? Today?"

Sharpay nodded and squeezed her hand, "Its going to be okay, Gabbs. He's changed now. He made sure of that. For you" Gabriella looked at her best friend with confused and soft eyes.

Suddenly, all this cheering started and people began to crowd around once more. The main man of East High had returned, and they were welcoming him to his throne. Gabriella shut her locker and hung her head, ignoring the crowd while she pushed her way to Chemistry. She heard Sharpay call after her, but she just ignored it and kept on going.

&

Lunch rolled around pretty quickly, and Gabriella thanked her lucky stars that Troy and her didn't share the same classes. She didn't know how she could deal with seeing him back again. How was she going to face him? The boy she loves….uh…loved. It was hard enough reading his letters already without feeling his presence. What if he was only a few lockers away from her. She rushed to her own and quickly began fumbling with the lock. Once it clicked, she unhooked it and opened her locker, throwing in her chemistry books and utensils. Once all that was done, she leaned into her locker and let out a little sob.

"Gabi?" a voice behind her whispered in her ear and she quickly jumped and turned around.

He was beautiful. His dark hair grew longer, nearly covering his entrapping blue eyes. His features were the same except his entire self seemed more…grown up, matured.

Gabriella nearly forgot to breathe until she remembered what his scent was like.

"Troy" she breathed out slowly and he reached his hand to cup the side of her face. She closed her eyes, reminiscing in his touch, until something started to vibrate in her pocket. Her eyes wrenched open and she pulled away from his touch. He noticed her distance so he backed away as well.

Gabriella dug her hand into her pocket and she pulled out her mobile. Timothy's name lit up the screen. Without glancing at Troy, she answered her phone and put it to her ear

"hello?"

"Hey Gabi, I was wondering what you were doing after school, cause I thought I could treat you to some dinner later?"

"Sure, Tim, that sounds great" she spoke in an artificial voice, "ill meet you there right after school"

She shut the phone and looked up and Troy, who still seemed to be watching her with immense curiosity.

"You're out" she stated and he laughed

"I said I would be" he nodded and moved closer, "who was that?"

Gabriella looked down and said, "Tim…my boyfriend"

Troy paused for a second before nodding and moving back, "oh"

Gabriella nodded and turned to her locker, she cant do this right now. She cant look at him.

But Troy moved behind her and whispered, "I mean everything I said in those letters Gabi. And I'll wait for you if I have to"

Gabriella shook her head and couldn't stop the tears from coming, "Troy" she whispered as she turned to him and caressed his face.

Everything inside of her seemed to be screaming. "what are you doing???", but she didn't listen.

Troy took her hand and kissed it gently, "your boyfriend's probably waiting". With that, he moved back and walked away, leaving Gabriella speechless and torn by her locker. She heard more cheering emerge from the cafeteria.

The King was definitely back

A/N: I know it was a short chapter and that I haven't updated in a while, but you have to forgive me. Plus, everything from last chapter that's been skipped over in this one, will be brought up and mentioned, so you guys wont be missing a thing. I hope you guys enjoyed this, and please, review, review, review lovies.

XOXO

Sophie