Disclaimer: I don't own any of this...except the plot

A/N: FINALLY!!!!! It's been almost four months since I updated this. It took me a while but I did it. Next will be either BD, AFY, or LST. If you're not familiar with the initials, BD is Beautiful Disaster, AFY is Anything For You and LST is Love Song Requiem, which by the way is getting good responses from all of you. So glad you're liking it.

Taking Over Me

by: LunarEclipse360

Vierundzwanzig

Every eye was on us Monday morning. I knew it was only because of Troy but still...they made me nervous. Troy squeezed my hand in reassurance and I calmed down. He was the only one who could take my nervousness away. Troy actually looked like himself today. He washed out the black dye, giving him back his dark blonde hair that I knew.

Many people looked like they'd just seen a ghost. Well I guess they kind of did since they all were made to believe Troy was dead. He walked me to my locker and kissed my cheek before heading off to his own.

"Gabriella..." I turned around and saw both Kelsi and Taylor staring at me.

"What?"

"Was that...Troy?" Taylor asked and I nodded.

"I told you he wasn't dead." Kelsi squealed and hugged me.

"I knew you would get him to remember you."

"And it's all because of you."

"And Sharpay don't forget that."

"And Sharpay." I said with a smile.

"You mean Troy was actually...alive?" Taylor asked.

"Yeah and he was right in front of us this whole time."

"What do you mean?"

"That's Alex." Kelsi said and Taylor's mouth dropped open.

"Are you serious?"

"Totally and completely serious." I said.

"But I thought..."

"Everyone thought that...well except me and Kelsi. But now everyone sees that it wasn't true."

"But how...?"

"He had amnesia. He couldn't remember anyone so his father decided that it was better that way until he saw that Troy was asking too much about his past and why he couldn't remember his childhood in New Jersey."

"So why the name change?"

"Alex was Troy's twin. He was the one who was driving the other car. He's the one who died in the crash. He's the one they buried in place of Troy. Troy's real mother lived in Jersey and so did Alex's friends. So since Troy's dad was moving them to Jersey, he thought why not just make him think he's his brother."

"What happened to Troy's other mother?"

"She died of breast cancer." I turned to my locker and took out my books. "Mr. Bolton knew that so that's why he decided to do what he did." I closed my locker and turned to Taylor. "If only he knew that there would be consequences." Kelsi smiled and Taylor sighed.

"So you were right all along." Taylor said and I nodded.

"I told you, my heart never lies." I said and walked away from them. As I walked down the hallway, I spotted Troy standing off to the side talking to a few people, one of them being Chad. His blue eyes set themselves on me and he smiled. He said goodbye to his group of friends and walked over to me.

"Hey." he said.

"Hey." I said back before he placed a kiss on my cheek. "How did the guys take your reappearance?"

"Quite well. They said they were glad to have me back."

"That's good." as we walked down the hallway, stares were sent our way from every direction.

"I just wish everyone would stop staring."

"Give them a day or two, they'll get over it and accept the fact that you're alive and well." he smiled and nodded. I smiled back and the rest of our journey to homeroom was spent in silence.

-

-

Lunch came quick and I sat at my usual table with Taylor and Kelsi. Troy came seconds later, planting a soft kiss on my cheek.

"Hey Gabs."

"Hey."

"Hey girls."

"So Troy how's your first day back? Well not back but you know memory in tact and everything." Taylor asked nervously.

"Weird since everyone keeps staring at me but I'll be fine."

"Don't worry they'll get used to having you around again. I know I already have." I said and he smiled at me.

"One question though." Kelsi said and we both looked at her. "How are you gonna get through school with the teachers thinking you're someone else?"

"My dad said that he's taking care of all of that so I really don't have to worry about it."

"So you're going to graduate with your actual name on the diploma?" Taylor asked and Troy shrugged.

"I guess so. It would make sense to."

"That's true."

"So how has Chad adjusted to all of this?" I asked.

"He's taking it pretty well. At first he was surprised but then he warmed up to the idea of having me back."

"That's good."

"Which reminds me, he said that he's sorry for before." my mood changed with that revelation. Why didn't Chad just come tell me himself?

"If he wants to apologize then he needs to do it himself."

"I'll be sure to tell him that. But may I ask what he's apologizing for?"

"I'd rather he tell you." I stood up and left the table.

"Gabi." I stopped walking, long enough for Troy to catch up to me. "Are you okay?" I turned around and gave him a small smile.

"Yeah I just...what Chad is apologizing for really hurt me? It was before I knew you as Alex." a blanket of concern fell over his eyes and he touched my arm.

"What did he say to you?"

"He...he said that I never cared about you. That I wasn't really your friend. I knew that wasn't true he knew that wasn't true but he still said it. He still made me feel like I was a traitor."

"Gabi he was just upset."

"Upset? No he was being a jackass. Just because I didn't want to go visit that bogus grave of yours. I didn't want to go because I knew you weren't dead." I touched his cheek trying to hold back my tears.

"Don't cry Gabs please don't cry." he ran his hand up and down my arm, hoping to calm me down. "I'm here now that's all that matters." I smiled a watery smile, a smile that he reflected.

"You're right. You being here is all that matters."

"Come on" he said grabbing my hand.

"What?"

"Come on." I rolled my eyes but followed him to an all too familiar place.

"You remembered this was here?" I asked as we scaled the stairs of the garden.

"Of course. How could I remember you without remembering our secret place?" he took me into his arms and took a deep breath, breathing in my scent. "I've missed you so much." I laughed and kissed his cheek.

"I thought we already established that."

"I know..." he said pulling away slightly to look at me. "But it's true. I've missed you even though I didn't know who you were." I smiled and rubbed my nose against his.

"I've missed you too." he smiled and closed the space between our lips.