Disclaimer: I don't own the characters

A/N: I can proudly say that some of you have figured out the secret of this story. I'm not going to say who and I'm not going to say how many of you. Others are on the right track but haven't quite got there yet.

1. Italics -dreams or short flashbacks. (All in Gabi's POV)

2. Regular font -Long flashbacks and regular POV(a.k.a Gabi's POV)

3. Long lines -the beginning and end of a long flashback unless noted

4. If a chapter ends with a flashback, the next chapter will begin in the flashback.

Taking Over Me

by: LunarEclipse360

Neun

Lunch time came around and, as usual, Taylor was still talking about finding me a guy. Hell, she even made a list of guys she thought I should date. Kelsi sat across from me trying to hide her laughter as Taylor rambled away.

"So what do you think of Elliot Dean?"

"Who?"

"Elliot Dean" Taylor repeated but I just stared at her, utterly confused. "He's on the soccer team. Word has it that he's been on a mission to ask you to prom."

"No thank you." I said and returned to playing with my uneaten food. My eyes drifted upwards and saw Alex walking through the cafeteria doors. I followed him with my eyes, waiting for him to get his food. When he finally got it, I smiled and stood up just as Taylor had said:

"Well how about..."

"Alex." I yelled.

"Alex?" said Taylor and Kelsi at the same time. He looked at me, a smile creeping along his features. He walked over to the table and I sat back down.

"Hey Gabriella."

"Hey. You wanna sit here for lunch?"

"Sure why not." he said and sat next to me.

"Girls this is Alex. Alex these are my best friends Kelsi and Taylor."

"Nice to meet you." they both smiled shortly before turning their eyes on me. I looked over at Kelsi, a small grin on my face. She looked over at Alex and noticed his eyes. She turned back to me, wide eyed.

"Gabriella can I speak to you in private for a second?" she asked and I nodded.

"Sure. I'll be right back." I stood up and followed Kelsi out of the cafeteria.

"Is that him? The guy from your dreams?"

"Yeah. I met him earlier."

"He looks...familiar."

"That's what I keep saying. I feel like I've seen him from somewhere but I can't figure it out and it's irking me."

"So what are you gonna do?"

"Get to know him. Find out more about him. Maybe something from his past can help me figure out where Troy is."

"We should get back in there before Taylor starts questioning him." Kelsi said and I nodded. We walked back in and resumed our seats at the table.

"Hey now I remember you." Taylor said and me and Kelsi looked at her. "You were the guy who Gabriella ran into the other day."

"At least someone remembers me."

"I told you it wasn't my fault. I wasn't looking..."

"Gabriella chill." he said and I stared at him. Those two words brought back memories and it just wasn't the words themselves but...the way they were said. "Gabriella are you okay?" he asked and I nodded.

"Yeah I just..."

"Zoned off? Yeah we got that part." Taylor said and Kelsi glared at her.

"Look I'll see you guys later." they all nodded and I stood up, taking my tray with me. I emptied it out and headed up to the roof. I needed to clear my head and that was the only place I could. But the more I was alone, the more I thought of Troy and how much those words had brought me back to when we first met.

"Gabriella." I looked over at the staircase and saw Alex climbing them. I quickly wiped away my tears and turned to face him.

"Hey. How did you find me?"

"I kind of followed you up here." I nodded and looked out into the distance. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just having a really hard time getting over something."

"Does it have to do with the death of your boyfriend?" I turned to him and he scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"H-How did you know?"

"Well after being here for four months you kind of pick up on things. I know all about how you and your boyfriend turned the school upside down when you first came here three years ago. About how your friends tried to break you guys up. About how you and him were considered perfect for each other. And about the accident. I wish there was something I could say to make it all go away but there's nothing I can say except for...I'm sorry."

"Just stop it." I yelled as tears ran down my face. "You think you know everything. Everyone thinks they know everything but you don't. You don't know anything about me and you don't know anything about Troy. So many 'sorries' well I'm sick of it. 'I'm so sorry about Troy.' 'So sorry about your loss Gabriella.' He's not dead. He's not dead and I know he's not." Alex stared at me in shock and I knew it was because of my outburst.

"Gabriella...I didn't mean to...I just..."

"Please. Just go." I said and sat on the bench, my head in my hands. At first I thought he left but my thoughts were changed when I felt a hand on my back. My mind was telling me to push him away but my heart was telling me something totally different and my heart was the only thing I had trusted for a long time. I lunged at him and wrapped my arms around his torso. He slowly but surely wrapped his arms around me, the awkwardness evident in the way he hesitated but it soon passed as he tried to calm me down.

"It's okay Gabriella. Everything's gonna be okay." for the first time in three years, I felt safe in a guy's arms. He didn't even complain about the fact that I was soaking his shirt, he just let me cry my problems away in his arms. After ten minutes, I stopped feeling there was nothing left to cry. "You okay now?" he asked and I nodded against his chest.

"Sorry about you're shirt." I laughed as I wiped the tears from my eyes.

"It's okay. I'd rather have my shirt wet from a girls' tears than reject them from what they need."

"And what would that be?"

"Comfort." I smiled softly and he smiled back. "Come on. I'll walk you to your locker." he stood up and outstretched his hand. I took it gently and he helped me up. Out of nowhere, I hugged him.

"Thanks Alex."

"You're welcome Gabriella." he said and wrapped his arms around me. He pulled away and grabbed my hand. "Come on." we walked downstairs and to my locker. "I'll see you later okay?" I nodded and he left. I watched him walk away until I couldn't see him anymore. Then a feeling had reentered my heart, one that I hadn't noticed had left: loneliness. It seemed that around Alex, I didn't feel alone. What I didn't understand was, why did that happen? Why did a lonely feeling that had been with me since the accident disappear when Alex was around? I barely knew him.

"Gabriella." I turned around and saw Kelsi running towards me.

"Hey Kels what's up?"

"Guess what?" she said excitedly

"What?"

"Jason asked me out."

"Really?" she nodded and I shook my head. "It's about time. What was he waiting for? Judgement day?" Kelsi giggled and shrugged. "So was that all you wanted to tell me?"

"Well, actually...I wanted to ask you for a favor."

"Sure. What is it?"

"I've never been on a date before and I don't know what to wear. Strike that. I don't have anything to wear." I smiled and sighed.

"I'll come over after school and find something for you to wear."

"You will?" I nodded and she hugged me. "Thank you. I owe you one Gabriella." she said and power walked away. I was happy for my friend but at the same time a little jealous because she had someone while I had no one.

You do have someone.

"Who?" I asked the voice but as usual it didn't answer me. It never answered me, which led me to wonder if it was just part of my wary conscious that longed for Troy. Whatever it was, it was confusing but at the same time comforting. It was my only way of remembering Troy's voice and until I found him, it was the only thing I had.

A/N: okay so two of you pointed out that my story sounds like a story called Disappearing Act but I can safely say that my story isn't like that one. I've never read any part of it save the first chapter and the summary and already know that it's not like this one. I'm not going to read that story at all until I have finished mine that way no one can say that I stole my idea from that story, which I didn't since before today I had no clue that story existed and my story has been going on in my head for about two months. So now no one can accuse me of stealing anything.