Chapter 1

The welcoming breeze of spring brushed through the trees as the leaves danced along the path. It was sunset and Troy, Gabriella and Brandon were on their way home from school.

"I can't believe I'm turning seven next week!" Gabriella exclaimed excitedly.

"I would never have guessed looking how short you are!" Troy remarked as he swung his bag over his shoulder.

"Be nice to Gabriella for once Troy! It's gonna be her birthday soon." Brandon said smiling at Gabriella as he took her left hand in his. Gabriella smiled back at Brandon and turned to look at Troy.

"Come on Troy! Its gonna be dark soon. Let's hurry." Gabriella said as she grabbed Troy's hand.

"By the way Troy, what are you giving Gabriella for her birthday?" Brandon asked curiously.

"Why would I bother going to a girly shop just to get her something?" Troy said as if he didn't care, but deep down, that was all he's been thinking about.

"I don't need any presents. Just promise me that we'll be best friends forever." The cheerful girl announced, not knowing how much she meant to both guys.

"I promise Gabi!" Brandon said instantly.

"Sure. Whatever." Troy shrugged kicking a small pebble on the ground.

"I promise. Best friends forever." Troy thought secretly as he glimpsed at Gabriella who he believed had the most beautiful smile.

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Troy woke up the next morning and approached his dad who was mowing the grass in the front yard.

"Dad!" Troy called out from the front door but his father didn't seem to hear.

"Dad!" Troy tried again, a little louder this time.

"What is it son?!" Jack exclaimed keeping his eyes on the mower.

"Umm… you know.. its umm.. its Gabi's birthday next week and umm.. I was wondering.. if.." Troy stuttered.

"I can't hear you Troy! Speak up!" Jack said over the noise.

"Can I borrow some money!!? I'll pay you back real soon!!" Troy finally blurted out. Jack stopped the engine of the mower and turned to look at Troy with confusion.

"Why would you need money for?" Jack asked as he approached his son.

"Umm.. you know my best friend Gabi?.. Well.. umm.. its her birthday next week.." Troy hesitated as he fiddled with his fingers.

"And…?" Jack asked wearing an amused smile.

"You know! I want to give her something nice! I bet she's gonna bug me if I don't." Troy said defensively.

"Sorry son. You know our situation right now… I have an injury and your mom is struggling at work." Jack explained as Troy sighed and started to walk away.

"But you know, when I was your age… I didn't have any money to buy this girl a present. Do you know what I did?" Jack said.

"What?" Troy asked as his eyes brightened. Jack suddenly chuckled at his son's reaction.

"Well, I made my own present for her with the help of my old man." Jack said while Troy stayed quiet for a while.

"Oh ok… thanks dad." The motivated seven year old said as he walked away.

"My kid is growing up." Jack mumbled with a slight chuckle.

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Troy went straight to the garage and started collecting scrap of woods. After he got the right pieces of wood, he called for his dad.

"Dad can you help me make my present?" Troy asked a little shy.

"So, what are you planning on making?" Jack asked.

"Umm.. you know how girl's are.. I want to make her.. umm.. a doll house and then I'm gonna paint it baby blue." Troy explained.

"Baby Blue? Doesn't girls usually like pink?" Jack commented.

"Not Gabi… she's unique and very different from other girls and plus baby blue is her favourite colour." Troy informed.

"Oh ok. But about the paint, it's a little expensive these days." Jack advised his son who was thinking deeply.

"I'll tell you what, I'm gonna pay half of the paint while you pay for the other." Jack bargained.

"Ok. I've already thought of something to earn money. Can you just help me build the doll house?" Troy asked hopefully.

"Sure son." Jack answered with a smile.

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"Lemonade!! Freshly made lemonade!! Only for 50c!! Come on! Buy some lemonade!" Troy yelled loudly as kids started to line up.

"I want some!"

"Here give me some! I'm so thirsty!"

"Calm down everyone! Line up! Make sure you have the right change!!" Troy said as he started pouring lemonade on the white cups.

"Troy this is delicious!" Chad, one of the kids, exclaimed.

"Wow! Troy! I didn't know you have such great cooking skills!" Jason said amazed at the taste.

"You don't cook lemonade Jason!" Zeke exclaimed smartly.

"I'm pretty sure he baked it!" He added.

-

Gabriella was passing through Troy's street, riding her three-wheel-bike. As she hummed 'Mary had a little lamb', her attention was drawn to the crowd of kids in front of Troy's house.

"Lemonade? Troy is selling lemonade?... I want some too!" Gabriella said, hopping out of her bike and pushing her way through the crowd.
"Hi Troy! I want some lemonade!" Gabriella called out. Troy paused and suddenly looked down, blushing.

"What is she doing here? This is so embarrassing!" He thought.

"Hmmm.. this is yummy Troy!" Gabriella exclaimed as she licked her lips.

-

It was a very exhausting day for Troy, having Gabriella around dragging every kid in the street to his mini-lemonade stall. But thanks to her he had the right amount of money to buy the baby blue paint for the doll house.

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It was cross-country day in East Elementary School. The traces of past winter air contradicts the sun's scorching heat as the students jogged to the finish line.

"Troy!" Brandon yelled while he struggled to catch up with Troy who was way ahead of him. Brandon had always been slow that even Gabriella was faster than he was at times.

"My dad is planning an outing for us boys tomorrow. Do you want to come?" Brandon panted.

"Is Gabi coming??" Troy asked curiously, both boys covered in sweat.

"I don't think so.. 'cause my dad planned it just for us boys." Brandon said breathlessly.

"Where is the fun in that?" Troy thought as he continued to jog.

"I don't know. I have to ask my dad first." Troy said and ran up ahead when he saw the finish line and the small figure of Gabriella.

-

"GO TROY!! COME ON! YOU'RE ALMOST THERE!!" Gabriella cheered loudly from the crowd as she jumped up and down. Troy couldn't help but smile slightly at Gabriella's cheer.

"YEAH!! GO TROY!!" Gabriella yelled out as she ran to Troy, holding a big baby blue umbrella with lace on the edges, over her head. Troy had his hands resting on his knees as he reached the finish line, breathing heavily. He looked up when he heard quick footsteps coming towards him. His eyes widened when he spotted the GIGANTIC blue umbrella that Gabriella was holding.
"You were so good out there!!" Gabriella said with a huge smile, struggling to put the umbrella in the right place.

"Gabi!! What the hell is that?!" Troy said as Gabriella put the umbrella over Troy's head.

"What?" She asked curiously.

"That funny-looking umbrella!! Its not even raining!! Its so embarrassing." Troy grumbled.

"But its sooooo hot!!" She whined.

"Gabs.. just put the umbrella down. I can tell that, that umbrella is heavier than you are. You can't even carry it properly." Troy said calmly.

"Ok." Gabriella obeyed as she desperately tried to close the umbrella. Before Gabriella could completely put the umbrella down, a huge gasp of wind blew over their way.

"Whoa.. whoa!!" Gabriella said as she tried to control the umbrella. She was too late. The huge umbrella smacked right on Troy's head.

"OW!! GABI! What the hell?! Watch where you're pointing that thing!" Troy exclaimed with a frown.

"I'm so sorry!! I didn't mean it!! Sorry! Sorry!" Gabriella apologised, panicking that Troy might get angry with her.

"Its fine. Just—just put it down." Troy said, cooling down.

"By the way, do you have any plans tomorrow?" Troy asked softly as they waited for Brandon to reach the finish line.

"Umm.. I don't think so." Gabriella responded.

"Oh ok. Umm… can you come to this outing tomorrow? Brandon's dad planned it and it was suppose to be boys only but I think he's gonna talk to his dad about it. And plus, you're not much of a girl." Troy informed Gabriella.

"Oh no. I forgot. I can't go. My mom told me that we're going somewhere tomorrow." Gabriella said with an apologetic look. Disappointment immediately crossed Troy's face but he wiped it away just as quick.

"Oh. Well, its only for boys anyway." Troy said as if he didn't care.

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"What a beautiful day for an outing, right boys??" Tom, Brandon's dad, commented.

"How's your arm Jack?" Tom asked.

"Still a bit sore. Nothing too serious. So, where are headed to?" Jack asked curiously.

"Remember that forest near the Fate Temple? Where we used to go to when we were kids?" Tom hinted.

"Ohh! That forest! That should be a good place for the kids to visit. We had such fun memories there." Jack said as the adults led the kids to the van.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Brandon exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Hurry Troy! We haven't got all day!" Brandon added as he turned to look at Troy who was hoping that Gabriella would still show up.

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"Gabi! Are you ready, dear? Your father is waiting for us in the car." Carol, Gabriella's mother, informed.

"Mommy, where are we going?" Gabriella asked curiously, as she took her mother's hand.

"Some place where I used to go to with your dad when I was your age." Carol said.

"You'll love it there!" She smiled at her daughter.

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The two of them jumped in the car and drove off.

"Are we visiting the Fate Temple on our way there?" Daniel asked his wife.

"Maybe on our way home. We have a lot more to do." Carol responded.

"What's the Fate Temple, mommy?" Gabriella asked with curiosity.

"Didn't I tell you the story yet?" Carol asked, making Gabriella more interested to know about the 'story'.

"Well you see… me and your dad were best friends before just like you, Troy and Brandon now." Carol started.

"Back then we used to live near that temple and often go there and play." She continued.

"Inside the temple lie two antique chests, one for boys and one for girls. Inside them are symbols engraved on woods. A symbol from the boy chest matches a symbol from the girl chest. When the boy and the girl have the same symbol, it means that they are fated to each other and no one else." Carol smiled as Gabriella listened intently.

"Did you and daddy get the same one?" Gabriella asked curiously.

"As a matter of fact, we did." Carla answered, smiling at her husband who was looking at her in the rear mirror.

-

As the story ended, the car came into a halt.

"We're here!" Carla announced and Gabriella jumped out of the car excitedly as a van parked beside them.

"Where are we?" Gabriella asked.

"Welcome to Miracle Forest!" Jack exclaimed with a huge smile. Gabriella turned to face the familiar voice and a huge smile immediately spread across her face when she spotted her two best friends jumping out of the van.

Hello everyone!! Finally Chapter 1 is finished! Well.. to tell you guys the truth.. this is my very first story so I still need some getting used to.

I want to thank my sister 'maria-belen' for helping me write 'Cheating Fate'. For people who don't know her, I highly recommend that you read her stories, they're really good and very romantic.

I also want to thank everyone who left reviews on my trailer and the people who alerted my story and put it as one of their favourites.

I hope you continue to tune in and leave reviews. Thank You again and Happy New Year.