A/N: Hey guys! No words can express how sorry I am for not updating sooner, but here I am with a new chapter, so be grateful! Haha. There are exactly two chapters left and possibly an epilogue that I have to work on, but I have a feeling that, that shouldn't be too hard because I already know how I am going to finish this!

I hope you guys like this chapter, and once again sorry for the wait, especially for the way things ended last time...heh...sorry about that! So enjoy please! And R&R!!! I will also try and review your stories if you review mine! Thanks.

Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical or any related characters.

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Chapter 13

Gabriella focused her eyes on the spot on the now whitened wall, as if her droopy eyes didn't have enough energy to blink or much less move to stare at a new location. She had been staring at that spot for probably about forever and a day, her whole heart filled with depression and sorrow, something she didn't think she would ever be able to get out of. Her life...no matter how hard she tried to make it better, it seemed to be only getting worse and worse. More and more hurt and anger was coming in, and she was afraid that if she moved, she would do something she or somebody else would regret for the rest of their lives.

She barely heard the soft knocking of the door, and ignored that certain somebody when they deciding to let themselves in. Footsteps padded across her room, making their way to Gabriella, but she pretended not to hear, knowing exactly who it was.

"Mija?" Her mother spoke softly, and Gabriella finally broke her gaze of staring at that ever so white spot and looked up into her mother's solemn eyes. The spoke with their eyes, asking questions, and Gabriella gave her the saddening answers. Finally her mother understood, and nodded her head sadly for her daughter.

"I'm so sorry Gabi...you'll get through this...you are a strong woman" Ms. Montez suddenly reached out to brush her daughter on the shoulder, and kept her hand firmly there are she spoke from the heart. Gabriella tearfully glazed her eyes on her mother, and suddenly felt more love for her than ever.

She had called her a woman. Someone who was strong, and would get through any obstacle she may obtain. But why didn't Gabriella feel like she was worth the strength?

Bending her head down again, Gabriella let a tear drip onto the comforter of her bed, watching it as it splashed and made a slight wet stain on the purple sheets. "Thank you mom...I really mean it" Gabriella found her strength to say, barely choking it out, the first time she had talked since reliving the story of her and Troy to her mother the day before.

Gabriella's mother smiled with accomplishment. She knew her and her daughter had just gotten back onto sort of solid grounds, but it was an improvement none the less. Patting her daughter affectionately on the shoulder again, she turned to leave, but remembered a question. "Do you still want to go Mija?"

Gabriella snapped her head up to look into her mother's questioning eyes. Gabriella sighed deeply, clicking her tongue as she knew she had to make a quick decision. "Yeah..." Gabriella managed out hoarsely, "Yeah...I think we should go."

Her mother nodded again and said one more thing, "Oh yeah...honey, you have a visitor." Gabriella's eyes widened, and she instantly begged and pleaded with her mom through their eyes, but her mother kept a stern voice. "Gabi...you should see this visitor. Please, it'll help."

And with one more stride, Gabriella's mother was no longer visible to her. Groaning, Gabriella put her head into her hands for a moment, and let out a large breath that she had been holding for almost more than a day.

"Gabriella?"

The small voice came from the opening between her door and the room, and Gabriella slowly lifted her head up curiously, to see who her mother had sent in for her...

Taylor. She should have known...Gabriella had no idea what Taylor was thinking at the moment, because she was showing absolutely no expression. Partly because she is probably confused as to what must've been going on.

"Hey Tay" Gabriella spoke quietly, standing up and moving across her floor slowly, opening up the drawers to her dresser delicately, and beginning to take clothes out of it. It was silent as she folded some of them up again neatly, and began placing a small pile on her bed.

Taylor scrunched up her eyebrows as she watched Gabriella swiftly move from one side of the room to another, carefully transporting clothes as she went. She noticed Gabriella's swollen eyes, and was more confused than ever.

"Gabriella...what's going on? What happened?" The questions finally tumbled out of Taylor's mouth, her voice sounding completely determined, as if she refused to leave until she got the answers.

Gabriella paused as she set some clothes down on her bed, and let out a long sigh. She then turned to look at Taylor square in the eye, knowing that this was the moment of truth. "My mom and I are going to New York for a few days to visit some friends and family, and Troy and I broke up." Gabriella stated that last part carelessly, and turned back around as she continued the process of packing.

Taylor stood for a moment comprehending things...and finally she understood what was real. "Wh-what? How? Why? Gabriella...don't tell me it's true!" Her voice filled with despair, and Gabriella was certain that for the moment she couldn't care less about her going to New York, and all she could think about was the break-up between Troy and Gabriella.

"It's very much true..." Gabriella gulped, hearing the resentment in her voice. But before she could get teary-eyed again, her memory traveled back to the words her mother had spoken that morning. You'll get through this...you're a strong woman. So as she recalled those words, Gabriella stood tall, and spoke again, "I'm sorry Tay...but it is what it is."

Taylor heard Gabriella, but she more heard the tone of her voice. First resentment, then strength...then acting as if she didn't really care. How Gabriella managed to shrug off something that seemed like a tragedy to Taylor, was beyond belief for her. "Gabriella..."

"Taylor" Gabriella suddenly felt stronger than she everhad before, as she looked meaningfully into one of her best friends' eyes, "I'll be okay. Seriously...Troy and I have our reasons for this, and for right now...I think we both agree. It's best if we end things at the moment. It may have been hard for me to understand, but I think I do now. I hope you can understand, too."

Gabriella knew Taylor was feeling sorry for her, and it made Gabriella angry. The one thing she absolutely hated was someone feeling sorry for her, and it seemed to happen everywhere she went. It happened when Shelly felt sorry for her when things didn't work out between her and Lucas; it happened when Troy was there for her when she had her troubles with her mother; and now it was happening, when Taylor was here...listening to the story about the truth behind the break-up.

"But it's all a lie!" Taylor spoke furiously, after Gabriella had finished telling her exactly what had happened. "Gabriella, you can't possibly be telling me you're giving up...when none of it was true!" Taylor continued to yell, unable to believe that their relationship was over, just because of one phone call made by a stupid guy who liked to put false information into someone's head.

"Taylor...I know. Trust me, do you think I want to just forget about it, and accept that Troy and I aren't together anymore? If anyone is hurt most by this, it's me. I mean, it's hard for me to believe that I trusted a guy like Lucas in the first place, but it's even harder for me to believe that Troy never trusted me!" Gabriella spoke true to her words, suddenly feeling like crying it out. But she wouldn't; she was better than that, and she was stronger than that.

Taylor sighed, knowing that Gabriella's words were true, and they completely pierced her heart, exactly like they were stabbing Gabriella's. But she still insisted on believing it's not over. "Gabriella...you know that's not true" Taylor lied, but Gabriella seemed completely open to what she had to say, so she continued, "Troy trusts you. It's that Lucas guy thathe doesn't trust."

Instead of Gabriella taking in what Taylor had told her, all she did was shake her head. Standing up, she moved towards her window and gazed out into the sunlight. "If he trusted me so much, and he doesn't trust Lucas...then why did he believe him?" Gabriella questioned her best friend, and she knew there was no answer to that, by the way the whole room fell silent.

Gabriella didn't feel like talking anymore. Instead, she strained her eyes from the view of her window, as she sat on the seat right next to it. She knew Taylor was still there, by the way she heard footsteps moving across the room to reach her. But shewas no longer listening or paying attention...all of her attention was focused on the boy who was at that very moment, walking down her sidewalk.

Troy. Her face slightly grew pale, as she walked him walk slowly with his best friend Chad, and they seemed to be talking heatedly. He looked to be in no better condition than she was herself, but Gabriella completely overlooked that fact. All she cared about was the way Chad tapped Troy on the shoulder and pointed his finger up to Gabriella's window.

Gabriella caught her breath as Troy followed Chad's path to her window, and their eyes locked for one moment. She felt Taylor's hand on her shoulder, taking that as a sign that she was witnessing the whole event too. One day ago, the sight of Troy would've probably made Gabriella burst into tears. But being the strong person her mother knew she could be, she broke the powerful gaze, and moved out of Troy's sight, backing away from the window.

Taylor's eyes lingered for amoment more down the sidewalk, and watched as Troy slowly lowered his eyes back down, before they turned cold, and he and Chad continued their walk, as if Troy was completely ignoring the fact he had just seen Gabriella.

Shifting her eyes to Gabriella who was back to arranging and re-arranging her clothes yet again, she spoke softly, suddenly filled with admiration for her in her eyes. "You amaze me Gabriella Montez...you are really someone who should truly be admired by how strong youare."

Gabriella's eyes turned slightly glossy, and she smiled softly for the first time in almost a day. "Strength is nothing more than how well you hide the pain" She stated truly, and for a moment her and Taylor locked eyes, as if they were understanding each other on a whole new level. Clearing her throat momentarily, Gabriella chuckled immensely, "So...want to help your best friend pack?"

Taylor had no response but to giggle and say, "It's going to be hard with you gone these few days, Montez."

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I hope you guys were satisfied with this chapter. I was trying to get both Troy and Gabriella in there without any confrontation, or any explanation on Troy's part...and lookie there? I did it! lol.

And also, I never had any intentions of making Gabriella the sappy, I'm-no-good-anymore type of people, who mopes around because their boyfriend just broke up with them. I always wanted her as a sassy, but strong character of her own, and I am quite proud with how this turned out. I hope you guys like it, as well!

Remember...this time, if you will review, I will review your stories, and also give you virtual cookies! I seriously would bake real ones to show how much I appreciate everyone's support...but then well, I'd have to eat them all, and that wouldn't be too fair! haha. Thanks again and I'll update as soon as I can:-)