A/N: Reviews were awesome, tahhh! :)

This chapter focuses slightly on Gabi's portrayal of events....

Disclaimer: Zilch. Nope. Nada. Happy now?

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Gabriella Montez, soon to be Bolton, smiled as she stepped into the lift that led up to her 8th floor luxury apartment. Some people might find it annoying living that high up, but Gabriella thought of it as a blessing. Up there was where she got away from the paparazzi, the media, the lies. Not to mention the lovely city-scape view she got from her living room window.

It was also a wonderful place to think. Up in her and Troy's one bedroom apartment was where she had shared doubts on her and Troy's relationship, thought about her future, and their future. She now needed time to think about her best friend's situation.

That's right. Taylor Annabelle McKessie was back. 21 years of age, and just as beautiful, she brung with her a 2 and a half year old toddler by the name of Jordynn Jazmine. Gabriella was unsure of the surname, but almost certain JJ would have taken on McKessie. Even though it would have been better to take on the last name of her father, Gabriella knew Taylor cut all ties with that particular person when she scanned the results of her fourth positive pregnancy test. Now, JJ has spent almost 3 years of her life without a father, and that's 3 years one man didn't know he had a beautiful child.

Gabriella sighed as the lift doors opened and walked towards apartment 34B; hers and Troy's. She fumbled in her Balenciaga purse for her house keys, and, finding them, she put them in the lock and opened the door. She caught sight of Troy's shoes by the door, and his jacket hanging up.

"Troy, I'm home!"

He didn't answer her. She walked towards the kitchen, and grabbed a bottle of water out the fridge. The TV was blaring an old Lakers game, so Gabriella figured Troy was in there. Smiling to herself, she walked through the doorframe to the adjoining rooms, and saw Troy sitting on the sofa, staring blankly at the screen, while Chad lay on the separate sofa, asleep, several beer bottles at his feet.

"What the hell, Troy?"

She watched as Troy snapped his head up to her direction. He looked confused for a moment, then a bit sheepish.

"Uh, hey baby. I thought you were at your mom's?"

"I was, Troy. But i had to come home sometime," She replied, giving him a weird look.

Troy nodded as Gabriella surveyed the room. "But, hey, i see you guys had fun," She said, eyeing Chad suspiciously.

Troy laughed nervously, glancing at his intoxicated best friend, who had a sad expression on his sleeping face.

"Yeah, well, he had a lot of things to think about today,"

Gabriella looked away guiltily as Toy gave her a knowing look. "Poor Chad," She managed to croak out. She hated lying to Troy, they were going to be married for God's sake, but if Taylor wanted Chad to know she was back, she would've told him herself.

"Yeah. I don't think he'll be going home tonight though, is that okay?"

Gabriella nodded. "Totally fine," She smiled up at her fiancé.

Troy reached forward and kissed Gabriella on the forehead, making her giggle. "I missed you," He whispered, before pulling back, looking her dead in the eyes, "How was your mom's?"

Gabriella swallowed hard. "It was great Troy..."

... ... ... ... ... ...

Chad woke up to the sunlight streaming in through the window. He tried to sit up, but the sharp pain that shot through his forehead forced him to lay back down again. Through his pounding headache, he established he was on Troy's sofa, and by the looks of things, bottles strewn here and there, he got pretty drunk last night. That would explain the headache too.

"Ahh, sleeping beauty awakes,"

Chad looked up to see Troy grinning smugly at him from the kitchen doorframe, dressed in his old Wildcats warm-up jersey and sweat pants. "Had a good night?"

"Shut up Troy, and leave him alone," Gabriella replied, slapping Troy across his chest, before walking into the living room with a steaming cup of coffee, and two paracetemol tablets, setting them down on the table in front of Chad. "Here Chad,"

"Thanks, G," Chad croaked out, finally sitting up on the sofa and reaching for the coffee. "And sorry for the whole crashing on your sofa thing -- ,"

Gabriella raised her hand as if to silence him. "We're practically family Chad. And, i wasn't gonna wake you in your state!" She giggled.

Chad looked embarrassed. "Err, yeah, i just had a few things on my mind yesterday. No biggie,"

"Yeah, Troy said," Chad shot a glare at Troy, who raised his eyebrows before walking into the kitchen.

Gabriella straightened herself out. "Well, Chad, i hope you get better soon. I f you're hungry, just ask Troy for something, yeah?"

"Over my dead body!" Troy called from the kitchen.

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "See you later Chad. Bye Troy!"

She walked into the hallway, and both boys heard the front door close. Chad stood up, stretching himself out in a yawn, and padded into the kitchen, mug of coffee in hand.

He caught Troy standing over the stove, frying sausages in a pan, by the looks of it.

"Whoa, the Bolton cooks! Tell Zeke he has some competition," Chad joked, leaning on the counter.

"Fuck off, idiot. Do you want eggs, dude?"

Chad's stomach rumbled. "Hell yea," Troy laughed. "Where did Gabi go, by the way?"

Troy sighed. "She say's work wanted her in early. I think its bull shit though,"

Chad nodded, taking a gulp of his coffee. "You think she's gone to see Taylor?"

"Probably. I mean, work's never got her out of the house that quick ever before,"

Chad thought for a moment before looking back at Troy. "How long do you think she can keep this lie up for?"

"Knowing Gabriella, not long," Troy laughed, "The guilt will get her, hard,"

Chad smiled, as Troy plated up both fried breakfasts.

"Best hangover cure there is," Chad grinned hungrily; as both friends sat down to eat.

... ... ... ... ... ...

Butterflies of nerves shot through Gabriella's stomach as she looked up at the house she hadn't been in for a couple of years. Gathering all her strength, she took a deep breath and walked up the pathway, ringing the doorbell when she got to the front door. It was a few minutes before the door was opened.

"GABIIII!"

Gabriella smiled at the woman in front of her. She was quite small, and her skin tone was a little lighter than Taylors. She was curvy, and her well defined body was hidden under a pink towel dressing gown. Her hair, which was normally a mass of crazy curls, was pulled back into a tight, high ponytail. Her skin was flawless, but her chocolate coloured eyes popped out gorgeously.

"Hey, Denise," Gabriella smiled, and pulled the 25 year old into a warm hug. "Sorry for coming this early,"

"Oh no, it's fine," Denise smiled, "You wanna see Tay, right? Come in,"

Gabriella walked into the house, following Denise as she led them into the living room. Gabriella's smile became even bigger as she saw JJ dancing along to an old Barney episode on the TV, wearing a mini-Lakers kit. She saw Taylor sitting on the sofa watching her, drinking a mug of coffee, and went to sit beside her.

"Hey," She said, smiling towards her best friend.

Taylor turned, a huge smile erupting on her face as she hugged Gabi. "Oh my god! Hey!"

Gabriella smiled. "How was your first night back in Albuquerque?"

Taylor laughed slightly. "Fiiiinee. I think JJ found it more interesting though,"

Both girls took a minute to smile at the young girl in front of them, who was completely oblivious as she kept dancing and giggling along with the big purple dinosaur on the TV screen.

"She really is gorgeous, Tay,"

"Yep, i know," Taylor grinned, "I had to listen to Dee saying that around 200 times last night,"

"Yeah, well, she hasn't seen her since she was tiny,"

Taylor picked up on Gabriella's half-negative attitude. "What's up?"

Gabriella shook her head. "It's nothing,"

Taylor rolled her eyes. "Gabriella Anne Montez, i might have been gone for 3 years, but i can still tell when you're lying," She sighed, "C'mon, tell me what's up?"

Gabi bit her lip. "Well, last night, i came home and Chad - ," She waited to see Taylor's reaction at the sound of her ex-boyfriends name, " – was completely drunk and passed out on the sofa. Troy said he had had a lot to think about that day,"

Taylor looked down at her nails. "I see he's still using alcohol as some sort of stress reliever," She joked half-heartedly, "Gabi, you should be pleased it's not sex,"

Gabriella didn't laugh, simply raised an eyebrow. "It would mean a lot for you to see him,"

Taylor sighed, louder this time. "Gabs, he hates me, you know that,"

"He does not hate you!"

"Oh, so i leave for three years, without saying anything, and expect him to welcome me with open arms?"

"You sent him the text," Gabriella reasoned.

"Yeah, nice touch, wasn't it?" Taylor snorted, "Sending him one text, in 3 years,"

Gabriella chose to remain silent at this point. Quietly, she said, "He misses you, Tay,"

Taylor shot her head around. "Wh-What?"

Gabriella smiled softly, and placed her hand on Taylors. "He doesn't admit it, but i know. When someone talks about you, he'll go silent. I've caught him crying sometimes, and i know Troy has too. He even still carries around a picture of you two in his wallet. He misses you, Tay,"

She could see the tears already forming in Taylor's eyes. "But... But, i broke his heart Gabi,"

"Hmmm, i suppose," Gabriella replied, "Doesn't mean he stopped loving you,"

Taylor smiled, but quickly wiped it off her face with a shake of the head. "He doesn't wanna spend time with me. I was just his high school crush. He's famous now; probably has models draped over him left, right and centre,"

Gabriella shook her head violently. "No, no, no! He's not like that, Tay. If anything, he lives alone,"

"Alone?"

"Yeah, in his Gran's old house. Did it up, mind. It's a bit lonely, i should think, Chad living alone in a four bedroom house,"

Taylor looked at her best friend in shock. "Are you serious? Wow, poor Chad,"

Gabriella nodded. "Hmm. Would explain why he spends a lot of time at my apartment,"

"I never would have guessed..."

"Yeah, well you leaving affected us all Tay, especially Chad,"

"I know, i know. I'm sorry,"

Gabriella pulled Taylor into a hug. "You're here now, that's all that matters,"

Both girls pulled back, and Taylor immediately squealed, "I wanna know about the others!"

Gabriella laughed. "Well, me and Troy are to be married, as you know, Chad is single – ," Gabriella kinked an eyebrow at her friend, who rolled her eyes, before continuing, "- and drafted for the Lakers, just like Troy. Zeke and Sharpay got married one year after you left, and our now settled and trying for a baby, Ryan has a place on Broadway with his girlfriend Cassie, and we lost touch with everyone else," Gabi finished with a shrug.

"Whoa," Taylor said, a shocked expression on her face, "Wait, back-up. Did you say Zeke and Shar are married?!"

"Uh-huh," Gabriella nodded, "For 18 months now. Had the honeymoon in Hawaii,"

"I wish i could've see that,"

"We missed you there. Shar freaked out, though. Had one less bridesmaid," The friends giggled as Taylor imagined Sharpay freaking out in a beautiful wedding gown.

"And, they're trying for a baby?" She asked again.

"Yeah," Gabi smiled, "For about a month now. Maybe you could give her some tips," She finished with a smirk.

Taylor shot her a well defined death glare. "Yeah, sure. How about, 'It hurts like a damn bitch!'"

Gabi laughed. "All worth it in the end though, right?"

Taylor looked over at JJ, now content in front of an episode of Spongebob. "Yeah, it really is,"

Gabriella followed Taylor's gaze and felt a huge smile spread to her face too. "The gang will love her,"

Taylor gave her a 'You-must-be-kidding-me' look. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly. They'll take to her amazingly,"

"Yeah, and they'll ask questions about her father. What am i meant to say? I don't know?"

"You could always tell them the truth," Gabriella responded quietly.

"Yeah, cause that would really go down well, Gabs!" Taylor responded, sarcastically.

Gabriella shrunk back, shocked at Taylor's sudden outburst, but knowing she brought it on herself. Taylor, on the other hand, ran a hand through her hair before smiling at Gabi apologetically.

"I'm sorry Gabs, it's just...tough, y'know?"

Gabriella nodded. "I understand,"

Taylor sighed, relieved. "Well, I'm going to get dressed. Look over JJ for me?"

"Yeah. Course," Gabriella smiled, happy that she was spending time with her god-daughter. Taylor smiled in thanks, and rushed up the stairs.

Gabriella got up off the sofa, and walked over to JJ, who was sitting in front of the TV. She sat behind her, and the toddler turned around and smiled at her, letting Gabriella know she had a full set of teeth, and the signature McKessie smile. Gabriella pulled JJ onto her lap, and the toddler giggled. "Hewwoo," JJ said, and Gabriella smiled at the mispronunciation of the word.

"Hello," She whispered, still smiling. JJ turned back towards the colourful cartoon on the screen, and Gabriella kissed the top of JJ's head.

But yet, Gabriella still felt this wasn't right. This shouldn't be her, being the second mother to someone else's child. And, if growing up without a dad showed her anything, it was that the world was a lonely place.

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A/N: Yo... That chapter, like i said, was Gabriella's perspective, and a teeny amount of Taylor insight... Rest will come up later ;]

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-EmilyGrace xoxo