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Chapter 4: It's Not?

March 17, 2008

She could only see his profile, she was sure she didn't know anybody that was going to be here, but he looked so familiar. He turned his back to her. She sighed, it was probably her imagination. She'd spent too much time with Haley lately.

Haley leaned over towards Kyle, "Dude?"

Kyle looked over at her, "What's up doc?"

"Why do you think Gabi's this depressed?" Haley looked at her best friend again, "Why do you think she's thinking about him so much?"

"Hale, you're over-thinking this, it's just because we're going to college soon. This is a senior trip, duh." Haley rolled her eyes at his immaturity and opened her mouth to speak. Kyle held up his hand, "Look it's not like it's some sign and she's going to see him again. That ship has unfortunately sailed." Haley nodded and turned away, allowing Kyle to return to his conversation he'd struck up with Addison, the cute redhead he'd been earlier flirting with from a distance.

Haley shook her head, Kyle was always the flirt. Troy used to bug him about it all the time. Saying things about how he'd lead a girl on and then just ignore them. Gosh they were only in seventh, eighth, and ninth grade. They'd been so mature for their ages. Haley tapped her chin thoughtfully as she leaned against her boyfriend.

"What are you thinking about?" Zac asked as he kissed her earlobe lightly.

"Just the past." Haley smiled up at him.

"Anything in particular?"

Haley shook her head 'no', "Nope, just joining Ella down Memory Lane." Zac nodded and continued talking with Peter and Tyler about World War II. Haley shook her head, 'My boyfriend is such a dork.'

The strange boy turned around ever so slightly so Gabi could yet again see his profile. She took in his appearance. He had shaggy light brown hair that dipped just a tad into his eyes, which were covered by large brown sunglasses. He was in a blue t-shirt that looked to have some sort of design on it, but she couldn't tell what. He wore kaki shorts that came below his knees and tan flip-flops. He was muscular, his arms barely fit into the sleeves of the t-shirt and it was tight enough to define his well-toned abs.

Gabi let out a sigh, if anything he was nice to look at. Then she saw it, even if only was from the side, it was his smile. A gasp escaped her mouth as her friend Nikki went to stand next to her, trying to see what had captured her attention and brought her out of her sorrowful memories. Following her gaze, Nikki nodded in approval. "Nice eye Gabs, he's hot." The minute she said that all the girls crowded around them.

"Where?" Haley asked.

"Excuse me?" Zac pretended to look hurt, as questions about who she was looking at were tossed at her every which way, but Gabi chose to ignore them all. An unusual smile spread across her pretty face as she made her way to the opposite end of the bow, confident that it was him.

"What is she doing?" Peter asked as he ruefully watched Gabriella cross the bow, dodging different waiters that were offering her every type of alcohol known to mankind.

"Who knows." Kevin said, "I just hope he's not a freak. I don't feel like playing big brother." He commented dryly, turning his attention to the hot blonde that walked passed their group. The girls all rolled their eyes as the guys stared after her swaying hips.

Haley shoved Kyle lightly in the ribs, "That's not?" Haley shook her head, "I mean it can't be."

Kyle shook his head too, "It isn't."

"You're right, I mean there's no way, right?" Haley agreed, trying to convince herself, but was failing miserably.

Gabriella stood directly behind him, he was talking to a group of people she'd never seen before, but then again it had been three and a half years and she'd not spoken to him or heard anything about how he was doing. Big surprise that she didn't know the people then. Gabi took a deep breath, enjoying the musky scent that was coming off of him, mixed with the salty Miami air. Taking a deep breath she pushed her white sunglasses to the top of her head and spoke confidently, "Hey superstar." Even she was surprised at how sure of herself she sounded, it would've been horrifyingly embarrassing if it wasn't him.

The young man whipped around. He stared down at the tiny brunette in front of him. Taking in her beautiful features, that had gotten more unique in the last few years, and her perfectly curvy body, which was incredibly sexy since she'd grown into it, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He could still remember the last day he'd seen her.

January 3, 2005

Troy sat in front of his parents, "Tomorrow?" He looked incredulously at them.

Lucille took her son's hand as Jack went to stand by the fireplace, "Troy, I'm so sorry. This was just sprung on us two days ago."

"And you couldn't find the time to tell me in those 48 hours?" Troy jerked his hand away, his mind wandering to his beautiful girlfriend and best friend, El Bell would be devastated.

"We've been considering the offer and we've decided that with the raise involved we should take it." Jack looked at his son, who looked ready to break into a million pieces. "I'm so sorry Troy."

Troy looked up at his parents, taking a deep breath, "It's okay. It's for the best. I should go talk to Gabriella now."

Lucille and Jack looked at each other, they'd never heard Troy called her 'Gabriella'. This was going to be bad.

Troy knocked on the door and refused to meet Gabriella's gaze or respond to her once she'd opened the door. He noticed Mr. and Mrs. Montez watching them from the living room and knew that they'd known from the moment his dad got the offer. 'Great so the Montez' know but I didn't.'

Deciding that it was time to respond he looked at his girlfriend, "Gabriella, we need to talk." He saw Gabi flinch slightly, with a surprised look.

He could tell that she knew something bad was happening. Once they were safely tucked away in Gabi's room, he chanced a look at her. He cringed at the look of fear, sorrow, and dread that was etched across her pretty face. Coming out of his thoughts, which weren't good, Troy spoke.

Taking a breath and clearing his throat, "We need to break up." Troy was surprised at how easily the words slipped out of his mouth. He never expected to say those words to Gabi, ever. As far as he was concerned she was it. Maybe because he could love her as a girlfriend and a best friend. He didn't know, and he didn't have time to ponder on it.

"May I ask why Troy?" Troy chose to look over her head and out the balcony doors rather than looking at her.

"Because." He didn't want to tell her, he didn't want to hurt her. But breaking up was hurting her, so would it be that bad to tell her the truth? Troy almost didn't hear her next response.

"Not the answer I was looking for Superstar." Troy purposely didn't respond to her use of his nickname. It hurt so badly. He loved her so much. Love? Oh my god, this was terrible.

"I'm moving." He let it out. He told her. Her face fell. He knew she was hurting and he didn't know how to deal with it. He didn't know how to make it hurt less for both of them.

"When?"

Troy tried not to show the cringe he wanted to let loose, she was going to be so upset and again her couldn't prevent it, "Tomorrow morning." He heard his own reply, it was curt, short, rude.

He watched as she ran a hand through her long dark luscious curls, "Where?"

"Albuquerque, New Mexico." He wanted to break down and cry, he didn't know how to do this."

"Why?"

This time he didn't know the entire back-story, he just knew the basics, "Dad got transferred."

Then she started yelling, "Can I get more than a sentence out of you at one time?" She was frowning.

"Huh?" What was she talking about one sentence. Then he realized that he wasn't giving very elaborate answers. But what did she want from him?

"You answer in one sentence!" She was yelling in Troy's book. "You're leaving and I can't even get a little emotion from you."

No emotion was she kidding. He paced for half a second before deciding to sit down in her desk chair. "What do you want from me Gabriella?" There it goes again, the full name, "I've got nothing. I leave in the morning." He stood up and walked over to her. He had no intention of kissing her, no intention of showing lots of emotion. Cut and dry. Make a clean break. But his emotions got the best of him, Walking over to her, he leaned down and captured her lips, she felt surprised, "Goodbye El Bell." The old nickname slipped out. I turned around and walked out of her room. Effectively out of her life.

For the next two weeks he moped. He made friends. Chad Danforth was incredible and funny. His friends were awesome. Sharpay and Ryan Evans. Her name reflected her personality very well. Taylor McKessie, his girlfriend, but why she puts up with him no one knows. Jason Cross, a cooler and nicer version of Kevin, and Kelsi Neilson. His incredibly patient girlfriend. And finally Sharpay's way too patient boyfriend, Zeke Baylor.

March 17, 2008

His friends crowded around him, confused as he pulled his sunglasses off, tossing them towards Chad, letting his crystal blue eyes rest on the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his life. "El Bell?" He managed to spit out.

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Mollie XOXO