Disclaimer: I own nothing

Learning to Breathe

Hello, good morning, how you do?

What makes your risin' sun so new?

I could use a fresh beginning too

But all of my regrets are nothing new

Gabriella rolled over and shut off the alarm. She walked across the hall and into the baby's bedroom. She pulled her 18-month-old sister, Erin, out of her crib and began to rock her until the crying stopped. She set her back down once she was settled and went to change and get ready for school. Then she walked back into the room to get Erin ready for the day.

Gabi set her up in the living room in her play pin and fixed herself some breakfast. 15 minutes later the nanny arrived and she was on her way to school. She parked her car in the lot of East High and walked into the spacious white hallways. She went to her locker and put her stuff away just as the bell rang. Then she headed off to homeroom.

Troy rolled over and shut the alarm off. He crawled out of bed ready to face the school for the first time since it happened. He wiped his tears away and got dressed. He met his mom in the kitchen and sat down for breakfast. Soon they were joined by his dad, who said a quick goodbye and that he had a morning department meeting and had to be at the school early.

15 minutes later Troy walked out to his car and sped off to school. He walked into East High and was greeted with the "Hi how you holding up man?" from everyone that passed him, except for one girl, who was quickly shoving stuff in her locker. He walked over to his own locker, a few down from her's and began to put his own things away. The bell rang and he went off to homeroom.

So this is the way, that I say I need you

This is the way, this is the way

She went to her classes, did the work asked of her, turned in her homework and tried to stay awake, all for lunch, which was just half a period away.

He played to the best of his abilities, trying to make every basket. He did all the exercises, he turned in his work, he took his tests, all for lunch, just half a period away.

It was finally lunch time, she made her way past the cafeteria, where all the students were living their carefree lives and up the steps to her favorite spot, THEIR spot, unbeknownst to their friends.

He quickly ditched his friends and went out to the back lot. He circled the school and quickly went into the back door. He made his way up the steps to the one place that was now his haven, in a world of chaos. It was THEIR haven, unknown to all their friends.

That I'm learning to breathe, I'm learning to crawl

I'm finding that you, and you alone can break my fall

I'm living again, awake and alive

I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies

She was standing with her back to him, she sighed contentedly as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She knew his touch, his smell, his everything. She melted into him and he took a deep breath, taking in her scent that made him shiver. They stood like this for five minutes. Finally she turned around.

"I missed you." She said with a small smile. He leaned down and gave her a small kiss, just a sweet gesture saying he cared and that he'd missed her too. She'd been the only one really there for him. And it was unexpected. But he had been the only one there for her. She had no one, but now she had him.

FLASHBACK

Gabriella was sitting in her English class, two police officers walked in, "Gabriella Montez." She looked up, confused, no one in East High really knew who she was. Sure she was part of the science club and on the Decathlon team, but she was still a nobody. She had a mom, a dad, a little sister, she was 18, a senior, she very average in every way. She nodded and followed them outside.

"I'm sorry to inform you that your parents were in a plane crash. They both perished."

She was told that since she was 18, she could have custody of her sister and live on her own. She sold the house, got an apartment, got a job at a local bookstore, and got a nanny. She scheduled the funerals and was standing at the graves, which were side-by-side when she felt someone's presence.

"If you need anything, let me know." She looked up and found Troy Bolton, East High's king, the golden boy standing there, all alone, no cronies backing him up. He didn't apologize or try to comfort her, he was just there.

"Thank you Troy." She said with a smile

Troy Bolton was waiting in the gym with the rest of his teammates, wondering where the coach, his father was. Suddenly the doors burst open and his uncle came running in.

"Troy, your parents asked if I could bring you to the hospital. Your brother was in a car accident." Troy was out in a flash, scared for his older brother, his best friend. All of his friends were there, for a while at least.

"Troy, we're going home. You should come with us." His mother whispered to her youngest son.

"No, I'm going to stay here." He replied. Lucille and Jack Bolton nodded and left their two sons, they needed to get out for a while.

The door opened again, Troy looked up, and was surprised to see Gabriella there, with a baby in her arms. She sat down in the chair next to him. They sat in a comfortable silence for about 15 minutes.

She slipped a piece of paper in his hands, "Call me if you need anything. Or if you just need a place to run to. We have room." She got up and walked out. She offered no apology or sympathy, just help.

Hello, good morning, how you been?

Yesterday left my head kicked in

I never, never thought that I would fall like that

Never knew that I could hurt this bad

Troy took her up on the offer. After the burial, he didn't want to go to the wake. He stood by the grave, alone, until she came up, again sporting the baby. She gently took his hand and guided him away from the grave, and to her car. He got in and they drove to her apartment in silence. He fell asleep, with Erin on his stomach, on her sofa after eating a good home-cooked meal.

END OF FLASHBACK

Now here they were, the school had no idea that they were friends. This had become their spot. It was the science club's garden. An roofless room on top of the school. They met there during lunches and free periods. The basketball team still held free period workouts, but Troy decided he didn't want to join in, no one said anything. Both of them had felt a great loss, and had heavy weight on their shoulders', but they found comfort in each other, and they were all they needed.

I'm learning to breathe, I'm learning to crawl

I'm finding that you, and you alone can break my fall

I'm living again, awake and alive

I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies

These abundant skies, yeah

Abundant skies, yeah

The bell rang, bringing the couple out of their thoughts. "I'll be back here during free period." Troy whispered in her ears.

"I'll be here as soon as I can." She replied. He leaned down and kissed her gently. Somewhere along the lines they became a couple. It was all secret of course. They knew the school would never approve. They really didn't care if it got out, they just didn't show any public displays of affection, it wasn't them.

This is the way that I say I need you

This is the way I say I love you

This is the way I say I'm yours

This is the way, this is the way

Free period came, "Dude, come on just one game." Chad begged his best friend

"No." came the stony reply

"Captain, I know you're sad, but you need to step it up, or we're going to lose to West High." Zeke scolded him. Troy snapped. He shoved Zeke against the locker.

"You actually think that I give a damn about West High right now? My brother, my best friend just died. I get time to mourn I get time to not focus on basketball 24-7 I need time." He shook Zeke forcefully, "You all need…" A hand was on his shoulder. It was a familiar touch, gently and kind.

He let go of Zeke and turned around, he looked down into the sad brown eyes of his girlfriend, the person he actually loved. She didn't look scared, as the rest of the school did at this point. She didn't look worried that he was losing it like they did, she didn't look on disapprovingly, she didn't look any of these things because she understood. Instead she just held out her hand. He looked at her and took it. The school watched as Troy intertwined their fingers and the two walked away. They both looked sad, but content to be with each other. No one said a word.

That I'm learning to breathe, I'm learning to crawl

I'm finding that you, and you alone can break my fall

I'm living again, awake and alive

I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies

The two made their way up to their spot. Gabriella led him over to the bench. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. She snuggled deep into him, he kissed the top of her head. And they just sat there, she didn't say anything about his actions, no scolding or worrying. She knew he didn't need it. They didn't notice the eyes of their friends from the doorway, as they watched the couple interact perplexed by the relationship they had no idea existed.

Yes, I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies

These abundant skies, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

I'm learning to breathe

I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies

"I love you Ella." Troy said, as he rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

"I love you too Troy." She said, twisting around to give him a kiss on the lips. He responded, running his tongue on her bottom lip, she opened her mouth and their tongues danced together, blissfully unaware of their audience and their surroundings, truly happy for the first time in months.

Hello, good morning, how you do?

How you do?

How you do?

Song: Learning to Breathe by Switchfoot

Review!!

Mollie XOXO