Chapter 18 – Together Hand in Hand

AN: OME! [Lol… Oh My Efron!] Only one more chapter and then the epilogue. Just like "I'll Never Leave You", I am really sad to see this story coming to a close, but I really don't want to drag on the story line. Again, I have left it in such a way that if I was to write a sequel, I would have somewhere to start and have enough information to form a good, solid story line. However, I don't want to make this story too long… I want to move on with my other two stories!

Talk to you guys soon! I posted this early to make up for the lack of update earlier!

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Troy's P.O.V

"Gabriella, are you sure you have everything?" Miss Montez asked for the hundredth time.

"Yes mom, I'm sure." She replied.

"I just want to double check. You know I can't just bring you something if you forget…" it was true. Gabriella and I were finally off you university. Her knee had healed faster than expected, and we were here sooner than we thought. Originally, it was predicted that we would get to U of A in January, but it was now early December. Gabriella had also improved emotionally. Though most of the time she seemed to be very bubbly and happy, I knew that sometime she tried to hide her emotions from me. She wanted to look like she was strong, but inside I knew sometimes she was suffering.

And there was one memory that took over my thoughts…the first time she had a panic attack in a long time.

Being Flashback

We were sitting in her living room, watching 'Dancing With the Stars' newest season. Gabriella had always been fascinated with dancing, but she never wanted it to become her hobby. Instead, she was content with watching it with me, eating popcorn and lounging on the living room couch.

"Can't wait to see who will be chosen this year. Isn't it exciting Troy?"


"Thrilling." I said, a hint of sarcasm in my voice.

"You know that you secretly enjoy watching it with me." She teased.

"Only when I watch it with you." She laughed.

"Corny, much?"

"You love it…" I countered.

"That I do." We both laughed, and Gabriella snuggled deeper into my side. Soon, the introduction for the show was being played. We watched as the first two sets of partners were brought out. Once the third set was brought out, Gabriella tensed up immediately.

"…And now, our third set of partners, Mr. David Johnington and his partner, Hannah Ziembors…" Gabriella began shaking now. I looked to the screen to see what could have caused this attack, and then it his me. 'David' looked exactly like Daniel, same haircut an all. The only difference was that his hair was a slightly different colour, and his eyes were a bit closer together.

It also didn't help that his partners name was Hannah.

"Brie…Brie calm down…" Tears had begun streaming down her face.

"Troy! Troy he's here… He's haunting us, everywhere! It's payback!" She began screaming, her shaking becoming more and more prominent.

"Brie, calm down. He's not there, it's a totally different person." It didn't help, so I turned her around and gently rested her head in my chest. I could feel her tears wetting my shirt, but I didn't care at the moment. "Shh, it's okay Brie…I'll protect you. It will be okay." I began to rock her gently back and forth. After about 15 minutes, she had managed to calm down slightly.

"Troy?" She whispered into my chest.

"Yes Brie?" I asked.

"You sure he's not there?"

"Daniel's gone Brie. He'll never come back and hurt you. Plus, it will be hard for him to get you with me always around you." She sighed.

"Sorry."

"For what?"

"Breaking down like that. I should have more control." I stroked her hair soothingly.

"Not at all. You went through a terrible experience. I was surprised it hadn't happened sooner. Brie, you are a strong person, and nobody can deny that. I don't think anybody could have handled what had happened better than you did. You are a hero, Brie." I could feel her smiling against my chest. She raised her head, her tear-filled eyes staring at me.

"Thanks Troy."


"You're welcome Brie. Just remember that I'll always be here for you." We sat back on the couch, and changed the station to a safer, Daniel free one.

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Even though Gabriella had some more episodes after that, they decreased as time went by. It was now at a point that she only had the occasional nightmare every couple of weeks. Still, it was still such a prominent factor that the university had allowed us to share a dorm together, Gabriella being under the circumstances she was in. It helped relax her a lot.

"Bye mom." Gabriella giving her mother a hug and a kiss on the cheek interrupted my thoughts.

"Bye sweetie! I'll miss you." She hugged her daughter once more, and then Miss Montez turned to me. "You take care of my baby girl, okay?"

"I promise." And I always kept my promises. She smiled and gave me a hug too. After a couple more minutes of goodbyes, Miss Montez was driving down the road and Gabriella and I were walking through the university campus. Our luggage had arrived earlier and was already in our room.

"So… this is U of A." Gabriella commented.

"Yup. Where we're going to be spending the next portion of our lives." She smiled.

"Together."

"Yup, together." We continued exploring the grounds, and I couldn't help but notice the many stares that I was getting as we did so. It seemed that it had already been spread that 'Troy Bolton' was attending U of A, and people were learning that I was indeed taken. Whispers were heard as we walked by.

"They're talking about us." Gabriella said quietly.

"Pay no attention to them. I told you, it doesn't matter what people say about you and me being together, you just remember that we are meant to be together and we love each other, and you can overcome anything." She smiled.

"Definitely." We laced out finger together, and continued to keep walking… holding our heads up high. Soon, a puffy-haired familiar face was jogging towards us.

"YO! Captain!" Chad could be heard halfway across the campus. Gabriella and I laughed at this. Chad was never the subtle one.

"Hey Chad." I greeted when he finally arrived within talking distance of us. "Where's Taylor?"

"Off with some Chemistry buddies. She didn't think you would be coming until later." Just like Taylor to already have been adopted in a 'club'.

"That's cool. I can't wait to see her." Gabriella said.

"So Captain, what dorm do you and the missus have?" The missus. It was a joke that Chad always had. He said that since Gabriella and I acted just like a married couple so why not call us that. Typical Chad.

"Um, 345?" I asked confirming with Gabriella. She nodded. "Yup, 345."

"Man! I have a totally different building than you. Oh well." He sighed. "No point dwelling on the bad times, let's move ahead to the good." Chad walked with us as we headed towards our dorm. The whispers continued to grow louder and louder.

"Chad."

"Hmm?" He asked.

"How much exactly did you say about me?" He went silent, which was practically impossible for Chad.

"Well…"

"Chad." I gave him a stern look.

"Just the usual. You know, basketball prodigy, Smart and … Good looking" He coughed over the last two words in an attempt to cover it up.

"Chad!"

"You just said my name three times in the last minute." He said, trying to turn the attention away from himself. He wouldn't get away with it.

"Stop changing topics. Why did you say all that?"

"What!" He raised his hands up defensively. "People asked questions, I have answers.

"It's okay. No harm, no foul, right?" Gabriella said, placing a reassuring hand on my arm. I smiled.

"Yeah."

"Whatever guys. I'll see you later. When Taylor's done with her Chemistry friends I'll call you and we'll all get some food."

"Sounds like a plan dude." I replied, doing my brotherly handshake with Chad. He then headed off. We turned around and headed inside the building that held our dorm room.

"Chad's just a goofball." I muttered.

"You now he wouldn't be Chad if he wasn't." Gabriella replied.

"Touché." I said, smirking. We then burst out laughing, and many of the people in the room began staring at us. We didn't care, however, because we were together. We got into the elevator and headed up to the third floor in search of our dorm.

"Well, it's finally here. We're at university." Gabriella said.

"Yup." We continued walking down the corridor until we finally came to a stop before our dorm room. We waited outside for a while.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Yup." She replied, mimicking my earlier response. She laced our fingers again and unlocked the door.

And together, hand-in-hand, we stepped foot into the new chapter of our lives.

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AN: What do you guys think? Too corny? I hope it wasn't too dull for you guys. I'm happy that you all really enjoyed the last chapter of my story. This story had gotten so many reviews that it is amazing, and it really makes me so happy that you all took the time to review.

This chapter is also out in honor of all of the fantastic reviews that I got for the last chapter!

Luv all of you guys so much!

Review, Review, Review

Next Chapter – well you'll have to review to find out! Lol. (Don't want to spoil it!)

Xoxo,

Lar