Chapter 4 - Nothings Over Until You Say So
The car just kept on driving, almost as though there was no driver in the seat, just going where it wanted. Gabriella just wanted to get away, from life, from Troy, she wasn't really paying attention to the road, but she knew this route like the back of her hand.
Before she knew it, she was at Taylors apartment, just outside of Albuquerque. If there was one person who could fix any problem in the entire world, it was Taylor. She was Gabriella's best friend, they'd known each other since the day Gabi had walked through the doors of East High. She was the best person in the world, according to Gabriella. She was always there, a comforting shoulder to cry on.
Gabriella stepped out of the car, tears streaming down her face. She ran up the the door, and pressed the button as quickly as she could... she was attracting a lot of un-needed attention. The door was opened with a "Come on up" from Taylor.
"Damn!" The lift was broken. With everything she had gone through she didn't need to climb to the 7th floor. Starting out fast, galloping up the steps, two at a time, but then her strengh had gone and her feet were dragging up the steps. She finally reached the 7th floor and knocked on Taylors door, but the door was opening already. In front of her eyes was Taylor... but not just Taylor... Chad!
"Ok, bye honey" Taylor kissed Chad passionately on the lips, she obviously hadn't noticed Gabriella was there. It took a "AHEMM" to drag them apart.
"Oh... Gabriella, whats the matter, come in, come in! Cya Chad"
"Bye"
Chad stepped out the door and Gabriella in.
Through tears Gabriella said - "What... was that"
"Honey... it was Chad, remember Chad, I had a crush on him for ages "
"I know him Taylor" Gabi interupted " But what are you doing with him"
"Oh, thats a long story, cut it short, we're dating... but Gabi, you look a mess what happened?!"
At these words, the tears started to stream again, and the only thing Gabriella could do was cuddle Taylor. In her hugs, everythig seemed to be better. She started to tell Taylor about her day.
"So, I started at the school today, its great there"
"Good"
"Yeah, the other teachers were really welcoming, and the students, very nice"
"Well, it sounds wonderful so far"
"It started when I arrived at the school, all the memories of East High, wonderful East High come shooting back, especially of 'You know who', before I know it I'm crying, I was so embarassed"
"Oh honey!" Taylor comforted her, through her sobs.
"I'm in our old classroom, I saw my seat, yours, his.
"Uh-huh"
"At the end of the day, i'm looking through my papers and I bump into someone, you know how clumsy I am" she laughed pathetically." It was him"
"Who, Gabi"
"Troy Bolton"
"Oh, honey, what has he done to you"
"He ruined my life thats what, every memory, some how, and some way comes back to him, thats probably because I loved him so much, and all the great times I had were either with him... or with you guys, which leads back to him"
"Look, you've had a rough day, honey, do you wanna stay here tonight"
"No, its alright... I'd hate to get in your way, Tay"
"You wouldn't be, you could never 'get in my way'" she laughed.
"No, its fine, i've got paper work to do anyways"
"Dinner then"
"Well, ok then"
"I knew you'd back down soon enough" "You know me too well, Taylor!" They laughed together.
The rest of that night was amazing. They laughed and talked like they were back in High School, and 15 again. Taylor made a gorgeous meal, and Gabriella couldn't thank her enough. They night seemed to go so quickly, she didn't want it to end!
It was obvious which subject would come up eventually...
"So, Taylor, whats this with Chad then"
"Whats what?" Taylor blushed.
"That, Taylor, I know when something's going on, and something's going on"
"Ok, ok, I... I think I'm in love"
When she said this, Gabriella could see Taylor's eyes light up, brighter than she had ever seen them before, she was so cheerful. "So thats what it looks like to be in love" Gabriella thought to herself. She wished she could be like that, but deep down, Gabriella knew, that she had been scarred, by Troy, the only person she had ever loved.
"Awww... Tay"
"I know, its only been 6 months, but still"
"6 months, you kept that from me for 6 months"
"Well, Gabriella, I didn't know how you would react, Chad still had contact with Troy, it was for the best, I was looking out for you" A tear came to Gabriella's eye.
"Thank you"
Gabriella stood up and rushed Taylor into a big bear hug.
"I'm so happy for you"
"Are you really"
"Whatcha mean"
"What with Troy and so on"
"Yeah, i'm fine, as long as your happy, i'm happy!"
They talked for a little while longer, until it had reached 9 o'clock and Gabriella decided to go home.
"Thanks for dinner, I had a great night, it kept my mind off of things"
"Well, I'm glad I could help"
Gabriella stepped out the door into the hall, the night chill nipping her body.
"Gabriella?" Taylor whispered "Yeah"
"Nothings over until you say so"
And Taylor closed the door, leaving a Very confused and puzzled Gabriella.
"Nothings over until you say so, whats that supposed to mean?!?" Gabriella thought to herself, as she stepped into her car and started the engine.
On the way home, Taylor's words kept circling her head, trying to make sense of it. She knew Taylor's words of wisdom always had a point, but she could not figure out where this was going.
Still confused, she parked her car in the drive way and walked up to her door. Her eyes landed on the doorstep.
Sitting there, waiting to be picked up was a single rose, in orange, very rare and her favourite. It had a message. It said-
"I'm so sorry"
Still sitting on the doorstep was an envelope. Sniffing the rose's beautiful scent and picking up the envelope, she unlocked the door and stepped inside, throwing herself on the couch.
She turned the envelope to the opening side. It said-
"I still love you"
It was obvious now who these were from. Trying to resist, but her curiousity getting the better of her, she tore the envelope open. Inside where 2 tickets, 2 tickets to her favourite restuarant, "Vittoria's"
"He still remembers" she thought.
"She pulled them out of the envelope and a little peice of paper came tumbling out too. Slightly amused, she read it-
"Saturday??"
She laughed. A date on paper. Very interesting. Then it hit her, and she smiled.
"Nothings over until I say so"...