Chapter 13

Gabriella sat on the bench with the locket in her hand. She could remember the day Troy gave it to her like it was yesterday.

Flashback

18 year old Gabriella Montez was leaning against the biggest oak tree in Albuquerque, waiting for her boyfriend to arrive. He had called 10 minutes ago and had told her to meet him in the park by their tree; he said that he wanted to give her something and to meet him here. And so, here she was waiting patiently by this tree, when her boyfriend for 8 months is 15 minutes la—

"AH!" Gabriella screamed as the deep voice boomed behind her; it was soon followed by warm, strong arms wrapping around her petite waist, a husky voice laughed in her ear. "Troy Bolton! Don't scare me like that!" she twisted in his arms to look into his eyes, which were brightly shining a brilliant cobalt blue.

"I'm sorry," Troy said, breathing deeply to contain his laughter. "I love you, Brie." He brushed a stray hair from her forehead, he smirked at her smile and the way her eyes closed happily when the skin of his fingertips brushed her temple. "I really do…love you."

"I love you too, Troy." Gabriella said, fiddling with the drawstring on her hoodie, "I need to tell you something." Her eyes turned down and her thoughts went to two weeks ago when she made hot, passionate love to each other, and then two days ago; when she found out she was two weeks along in her pregnancy.

"Me first," Troy said, he was suddenly nervous and his eyes copied hers; they looked down. He cleared his throat.

"You first," She agreed. Troy smiled, "Right, turn around."

Gabriella stared at him, confused. What did he mean 'turn around'? "Oh, come on Gabriella." Troy said, a wide smile revealing his perfect white teeth. "I got you something."

Her eyes narrowed a bit, but she turned around. "Now, close your eyes." Gabriella heaved a heavy sigh and did as she was told; it wasn't long before she felt a cold chain against her skin and rest in the hollow of her throat, and Troy's warm hands clasping the chain together. She opened her eyes when Troy's hands pulled away, but rested on her shoulders. Instinctively her hand flew up to the necklace and in that moment she forgot what she was going to tell Troy, what was it she wanted to tell him? She couldn't remember.

"I love you Troy."

"I love you too, Brie."

End of flashback

Gabriella blinked back tears, but felt them fall anyway at the memory. Suddenly, the locket in her hand felt a lot heavier, I need to know, she thought, I need to know why he cheated.

She didn't know what she was doing, for a while it seemed like her body moved on its own accord, until she reached her dad's car; where she saw the bulgy shape of him in the driver's side window. Did he plan this?

She marched to window and knocked on it, her father looked up at her with a wide, toothy grin on his lips. "Mija," he asked, his smile making his face glow. "What's going on? Something wrong?"

She ignored his question and asked: "Papi, I'm sorry, but I need to know—you said you've kept in contact with him—I need to know where Troy lives, I need to talk to him." She rambled, "Please, I know I said—"

"Mija," he interrupted, "it's alright." He reached to open the glove compartment and pulled out an envelope that had turned brown with age. "He had wanted me to give this to you whenever I had the chance, but with the divorce and your mother taking you with her—"

"Papi," Gabriella finally knew where she got the rambling from. Her dad; she suppressed a giggle.

"Sorry, mija." He handed her the envelope and told her that she could walk there or call a cab, he had last minute 'surprise' shopping to do. She agreed and moved her feet with pride and kept her chin up as she walked.

Troy and Angie

"Glad, you're feeling better, Ang." Troy said as he put an ornament on the tree that they had gotten earlier that morning—say, about 6:30 a.m., thereabouts. Oy.

"Yeah, I'm glad too." She said, as she picked up a piece of popcorn and carefully pricked the needle that she held through, but ended up pricking her finger instead. "Ouch!" she exclaimed, "sweet Moses! That hurt!" she put her bleeding finger in her mouth; something she's done forever, something Troy still does.

"What's wrong?" Troy asked, "Angie, come on, let's get a band-aid on that." He said when he saw her sucking on her bloody index finger. "Yeah, sure." Troy led her to the bathroom, but stood frozen in the foyer at the sight they both saw. They couldn't believe their eyes, they thought that what they were seeing was a dream.

Gabriella's POV

I stood in the foyer of the great mansion. The butler, in my opinion, should be fired. If he just let's anybody in, then I don't think he'll do a good job. But, I was in total awe to care about that. The whole thing was pristine and—completely decorated..like….santa's workshop? Angie must have done this, I thought.

"Mom?"

Regulare POV

An awkward silence surround everyone. They were all still in shock…."Gabi." Troy choked out, it was a wonder and a miracle he could talk. He'd hadn't seen Gabriella for 11 years. 11 fucking years! "is it…is this a…..what are you….i don't—"

He was interrupted by Gabriella crashing into his arms and her own snaking around his waist. Angie just stood off to the side, mildly confused, but feeling a slow smile creep on her face. She felt…very pleased. She didn't know why, she just did. "I lo….missed you." Gabriella said into Troy's chest. She felt the tears that she had been holding fall, and there was no stopping them.

Troy wrapped his arms around the crying Gabriella and rubbed her back soothingly, and gently. "I've….missed you….still do." He caught the cut of the words when Gabriella spoke. He couldn't help but feel uforia at the thought of her still loving him. Because he's known that he's still in love with her.

Dear Diary,

YES! My mom and dad together!

Oh yeah! But, hey, that doesn't mean

That my plan to get rid of the slut is canceled.

Nope, still in motion baby. Just have to lie and wait.

*evil chuckle* uh oh, parentals are looking at me

Weird, gotta go. Love ya! Bye!

Tootles- Angie