Hey guys,

I just wanted to give you a heads up. I'm moving into my new apartment with my boyfriend this weekend. We are now going to be living in a one bedroom apartment, it's close to my parent's house but far enough and it's a block from a grocery store! I love it and I think it's perfect for our first apartment. I'm excited, we've been friends for almost 9 years and dating for like 5 years. I think we'll be just fine. We want to get married but not right now weddings are expensive and I still have college loans and credit card debt. Give or take two or three years some of my loans will be gone and my credit card debt long gone and we'll be okay.

But here's the part that matters more to you guys LoL, I'll be busy unpacking and cleaning, plus we don't have the internet set up yet so it'll be a little bit before you see chapter 25. Unless I visit mom and dad and bring my laptop so I can steal some good old fashion internet go-go juice. We'll see and since I'll be without internet I'll be working on my new story which came to me two days ago while listening to some country music. Hope you guys keep reading and reviewing the story, I love reading what you guys say and what you think is going to happen.

Till our next internet vibe I love you and I'll be writing something good for our next adventure I promise.

Love

Anais,

Eddie knocked on the door softly.

"Go away I do not want to talk to you."

"It's me," Eddie said in low voice. "Open up Gabs."

There was a pause as the lock clicked, and she opened the door. Gabriella looked back at him with puffy eyes. "I'm so sick of crying."

Eddie walked into the room and closed the door behind him. "Dads leaving for the night and mom went to bed," he said pulling up her computer chair and taking a seat.

Gabriella fell on her bed and reached over for her crumpled tissue, "Am I wrong?"

"No," Eddie said shaking his head a little as he let his shoulders fall. "Mom totally back you up, she told him you were right."

Gabriella nodded as she looked back at Eddie, "Then why do I feel like such a bitch."

"Because you're not a mean person and you don't have a mean bone in your body," Eddie said getting up from the chair. "You're too nice and it doesn't surprise me that this hurts you so much." Sitting down on the bed next to her he let out a sigh and grabbed a new tissue from the box on her nightstand and handed it to her, "I am surprised you did it at all. You got balls sis."

Gabriella laughed as she brought the tissue up to blow her nose.

"So," Eddie said with a shrug. "Where were you today?"

"At Sharpay's house we had a girl meeting," She said sniffling.

"Sounds serious," Eddie said picking up one of her stuff animals. "So what this I hear about you and Troy?"

An avoidable smile pulled at her lips, "What have you heard?"

"What do you want to tell me?" Eddie nudged her.

Gabriella laughed a little as she shrugged. "Ugh where to start, there are so many problems. He's going away for college, Aaron and Stacy threatened him, I kept throwing myself at him, he kept turning me down."

"Whoa," Eddie raised a brow. "Care to explain to those of us who missed the last episode?"

Gabriella let out a sigh as she began to tell him the story about Troy and her and what was going on. She told him about the pictures about Troy throwing the game, about Stacy and Aaron having lousy sex about all the things Sharpay and Taylor said to outside one the front lawn when Troy kissed her good night.

"Wow," Eddie said with a wide eyed expression. "And I thought Kelsi agreeing to be my girlfriend was crazy."

"Yeah you have no idea," Gabriella said leaning back in the pillows.

"Well it sounds like you really like him and I know that he likes you. I mean come on the guys been hooked since he saw you standing over us with a pizza slice hanging from his mouth," Eddie said with a laugh.

"ah, Back in a simpler time," Gabriella said thinking back. "God that seems like years ago."

"I think it was only a month ago?" Eddie said thinking back. "So, you guys dating or what?"

"I don't know," Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "Seems like I should just quit while I'm ahead?"

"Well you're not ahead yet," Eddie said with sigh, "What are we going to do about Stacy and Aaron?"

Gabriella was silent for a moment as she thought about it. "Well we called the school from Sharpay's house and tipped them off about steroid use on the football team." Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know what else to do I'm not good at taking revenge. But Sharpay and Taylor seemed to think it was a deal breaker."

"Good thing you have Me," Eddie said with a laugh.

"Hey, why didn't you tell me about Aaron being a dick like that to you?" she said looking at Eddie, "If I'd have known he was being a jerk to you I would have gotten rid of him ages ago."

Eddie shrugged. "I don't know, I mean I thought you loved him and I just wanted you to be happy and not think that every guy was like dad."

Gabriella smiled as she leaned forward to give him a hug. "I love you but the next time one of my boyfriend's beat you up or stuffs you in a locker, tell me, because I'll get rid of him asap no one messes with my little brother."

Eddie hugged her back. "I really like Troy, he's great for you."

"So you're not mad?"

"About what?"

Gabriella shrugged, "Me potentially dating your best friend?"

Eddie shrugged and leaned back on the bed, "I been secretly hoping you two would end up together."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Eddie let out a laugh, "What was I supposed to say? That wouldn't sound weird or creepy."

Gabriella laughed and then Eddie laughed and then they were both laughing uncontrollably.

The next day at school Gabriella sat down at the piano, the auditorium was empty. Her fingers gently rested on the keys, it had been a long time since she sang something she wrote, even longer since she played the piano. Gabriella hit key and the room vibrated with sound. Gabriella hand jerked back and she wiped her hands on her jeans.

Today was the pep rally and instead of being in her usual cheerleading gear, she had on a blue jeans and white tang top under her green button up shirt. In a way not having to worry about the pep rally was a relief. Not having to come up with cheers or moves, the school was next to empty people were getting ready for tomorrow's big game for the party that was to follow. Gabriella let out a breath and placed her hands back on the keys.

Upstairs in the balcony, Troy leaned further over the railing; originally he came up here to draw, but the sound of a single note traveling through the room caught his attention. Looking down he watched as she stared at the keys on the piano. It was as if she was fighting with herself, debating if she had something to say. Did she know he was in here, was she getting his attention. Troy took a small breath as she placed her hands back on the keys.

At first it was a slow melody, she stumbled and then started over. Troy ducked back into the dark she had no idea he was up there. Troy sat still as he glanced over the railing a little more to get a better view. She's placed a note book in front of her and then began to play again. Her voice slowly drifting up to him, "What makes a man work 'til his kids get too old to kiss and hug, Keep on climbing that imaginary mountain when is enough, enough What makes a man build a kingdom only to lose his woman How high is too high, How big is too big, How far will we go just to slip off the edge?"

Troy placed a hand over his mouth to quiet is own breathing to hear her better.

"Yeah, we all fall down," Her voice echoed around her as she let the notes wrap around the words. "Life takes us out, the sky starts spinning, when our heads get above the clouds, the higher we fly the harder it feels when we hit the ground." She paused as silence filled the room. Taking a deep breath she started off softer. "Yeah, we all fall down, Yeah, we all fall down"

"How does a man pick himself up when he's let himself down, Tell me where does he find the courage to turn his world back around? Will he break down and cry like someone just died, What can you say about the man he used to be? When he can even speak though he's dying to scream" Gabriella's voice loudly boomed from the walls as she looked up to blink back tears. Her fingers kept moving and she shut her eyes listening to music. "Yeah, we all fall down, When we find out, That the sky starts spinning when our heads get above the clouds, The higher we fly the harder it feels when we hit the ground, Yeah, we all fall down Yeah, we all fall down"

Faster she began speeding up "He's the only one to blame, And the only one to lose, How low he must go, To win back his soul." Gabriella lifted a hand as to wipe a tear as she came to a slow stop almost coming out in sobs then a melody. "Yeah, we all fall down, Yeah, we all fall down."

Troy leaned back in his own chair as her thought about Gabriella, about her song, her father. Troy let out a sigh, he almost felt like he was drowning in voices that weren't his own. Consumed with the grief and loss of his own father and touched by the words in her song.

Later on that day Gabriella shut her locker, locking her notebook away inside it and turned to walk down the hall, she was on her way to the auditorium for the prep rally. She turned on the camera making sure it has charged and loaded. When she got into the gym there were reporters sitting in the front row by the principal. Gabriella rolled her eyes as she clipped on her year book badge and continued to the locker room. The gym was filling up fast and the cheerleaders were doing their thing Gabriella paused to get a picture of Sharpay in front with her pom-poms. She smiled and then got one of the stands. Turning around she knocked on the door to the locker room.

"Year book!" she said as she pushed the door open a little. "Everyone decent?"

"Come on in Gabs," Chad said opening the door further.

Gabriella walked in and smiled as everyone turned their attention to her. "Hey boys, I'm here to get a year book photo. If you all want to huddle up I can get one really quick."

"Alright," The couch looked over at Gabriella. "You going to be there tomorrow."

"Of course I want a winning shot for the year book." Gabriella winked over at Troy.

"First of many I'm sure," Coach said with a smile as he looked back at the team. "Come on boys let's give the lady what she came for."

Gabriella smiled as Eddie got into position alongside Zeke; she was so proud of him for getting on the team and just making friends. He was going to be just fine when she left for college. "Alright, ready, say Wildcats!"

There was a loud roar of pride as they sounded off all at once and Gabriella snapped the picture and then another to be sure.

"Thanks," she said once she had the shot. Waving good bye she headed for the door. Until Troy walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey?"

Gabriella smiled, "Hey,"

"You look adorable today," he said picking up one of her braided pigtails and giving it a soft tug.

"You don't look so bad either," she smirked as she kept one hand on the door poised to leave.

Troy bent down his smile sly as he pressed a soft kiss on her lips. There was a woot and whistle and Gabriella pulled back and sheepishly looked up at him. "What was that for?"

"Because it's been to long since the last time," he said with a half-smile as he gently lifted his finger and taped her nose. "You want meet up after this?"

Gabriella shrugged a small blush coming to her cheeks, "Sure meet me out in the parking lot after school."

"Great," he said with a small smirk, "It's a date."

Gabriella nodded her smile ear to ear as she looked back at Eddie and gave a small wave as she left the locker room and went back out into the chaos that was the crowd. Gabriella sat down in the bleachers next to Taylor who had a camera as well. "So how did things go with Troy?"

Gabriella tilted her head. "I think we're going on a date later?" she said with a small nod.

"That's promise," Taylor said extending a hand. "I can't wait for the game tomorrow it's going to be amazing. I just know it."

Gabriella nodded as she looked at the picture in her camera; Troy was smiling in the photo his blue eyes looking her way. Her finger wondered over it and she wondered what he had to say to her. If he might ask her to his girlfriend, wasn't she? Should she just assume? Should she ask? "I'm going to go stand down on the side lines for some good pictures," she said leaning over to Taylor.

"Sure no problem, I'll try to get shots of the crowd from the inside" Taylor said as she held up her camera.

After school Gabriella waited in the parking lot by her car. Her father had apparently left her her phone and keys in living yesterday with a hand written note that apologized for letting her down. Shaking her head she tried to clear her mind, she didn't want to think about her father right now. She just wanted to think about Troy. She was sitting on the hood of her jeep waiting eagerly when suddenly Aaron appeared from nowhere.

"You called the school didn't you?"

Gabriella jerked her attention towards him. "You threatened Troy with naked photos of me?" she countered. Gabriella jumped off the hood and onto the floor. "What did you expect I was going to do?"

"They made us pee in a cup!" Aaron grabbed her arm. "My entire future in football might be shot because of what you did."

"I didn't do anything you're the one who took the drugs not me," Gabriella said pulling herself away from him.

"Your nothing but a little bitch," Aaron shoved her into the jeep. "I might not even get scholarship because of you."

Gabriella flinched at his voice. "I'm sorry but…"

"But what?" Aaron raised his hand and Gabriella braced herself as his open hand came right into her face throwing her back against the car and knocking her to the ground.

"Hey!" Eddie's voice shouted out and he came running full force throwing himself on Aaron's back. "Son of bitch," he shouted pounding on Aaron's back.

People began taking noticed of the fight going on in the parking lot. People were running to see the commotion. Aaron reached out behind him and pulled Eddie off of him and to the ground. Eddie punched him in the eye and Aaron let out a growl as he shoved Eddie against the car.

"You wanna be a man now?" Aaron taunted as he lifted his fist. "Now you're going to learn to take punch like one." Aaron fist slammed into Eddie's stomach and Eddie hunched over in pain.

Aaron took a step back to brace for another punch and Troy palm slammed into his nose and then before Aaron could react Troy ducked and punched him directly in the balls with a closed fist.

Aaron fell to the floor, and Troy stood up. Looking over at Eddie he placed a hand on his shoulder. "You alright?"

"He hit her," Eddie voice was harsh, clearly still trying to get his breath back as he stood there hunched over and pointing at Gabriella who was still on the ground.

Troy looked over by the car to see Gabriella holding the side of her face looking back at Aaron who was trying to get up. Troy didn't hesitate, making his way over he used all his anger in one swift punch to the face Aaron was down again. Troy shook out his hand, "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

Gabriella face was still in pain as she winced on the ground watching all the commotion. Taylor and Chad appeared in the crowd racing to her side. They helped her up and pain shot through her back from hitting the car and the more she moved the more pain she felt.

"Oh my god are you alright?" Taylor held up Gabriella's face and Chad brushed some hair away from her eyes.

"Eddie?" she mumbled, it hurt to move her jaw. Gabriella looked at her friends as they examined her face.

"He's okay!" Kelsi was already at his side helping him stand up straight. People in the crowd began to move out of the way as one of the teachers appeared and began to help Aaron from the floor. Troy lifted his hands in up as the principle also appeared.

"My office now!" he yelled over all the commotion.

A few minutes later, Troy sat in the office alongside Eddie, Gabriella and Aaron who was holding a wad of tissues to his nose.

"I don't know what's going on here but I do know consistency when I see it," The principal said slamming his hand on the desk. "Because the parking lot is part of school property I can and will make sure there is punishment."

"Sir, he hit Gabriella first," Eddie said leaning forward and pointing at Aaron.

The principal looked over at Aaron. "Did you hit her?"

Aaron looked up at him over the bloody tissues and slightly darkened eye, he nodded.

"So you hit him to defend your sister?"

"Yes sir," Eddie said with a nod.

The principal looked over at Troy. "Then why did you hit him?"

"He annoys me." Troy said keeping his eyes straight ahead. "And he was going to hit Eddie again, all I did was stop the fight." Troy added.

"And what relation are you to them? Or are you just the Good Samaritan in all this?" The principal said crossing his arms.

"I'm a friend."

"Just a friend," he said leaning back a little. He began to rock slowly behind his desk he looked down at the floor as the room was silent.

"Fine, I'm her boyfriend," Troy glanced over at Gabriella and let out a sigh as he looked back at the principal "And she didn't do anything."

"I beg to differ," he said holding up a finger. "You see I figured this was about you." The principal said looking at Gabriella. "You've been in my office a lot lately," he said tilting his head. "Three occasions all having something to do with Mr. Bolton or Mr. Thompson, shall I assume this is the last time or should I take the next step and expel you on the strike three rule?"

"No sir," Gabriella shook her head as she looked at her brother then back at him. "Eddie was just protecting me and things just got a little out of hand, it's not going to happen again."

"He hit you," Troy said not looking her way. "None of this is your fault, he threatened you with naked photos, he stuffed Eddie in a locker. In the last fight he threw the first punch, in her fight it was his mistress who started it, none of this is your fault."

"Troy," Gabriella looked at him, her eyes wide.

"What?" The principal looked from Troy to Aaron to Gabriella. "What the hell is going on?"

"Nothing." Gabriella said shaking her head. "Nothing is going on, Aaron just lost his temper and that's all."

"Really?" Troy looked over at her. "You're really going to just let this slide."

"Troy shut up," Gabriella said with glaring eyes.

Troy tossed his hands up and looked the other way.

"Is someone going to explain this to me?"

Gabriella turned to Eddie. Who looked back at her and nodded. "Sir, with all due respect, we would like to keep some matters private the issue at hand is the fight that happened today on school grounds nothing else."

"Fine by me," he said looking at all of them then landing his vision on Gabriella. "So you want me to make you an exception to the rule?"

"Yes sir." Gabriella said biting her lips.

"Kids these days." The principal fell into his seat. "I miss kindergarten students. They're so much easier to deal with." He looked back at the four faces looking back at him. "You three have two days detention for fighting on school grounds I'm not going to put it on record because point blank I'm not sure I know how to explain it." he said folding his hand in front of him. He gave pause then looked at Aaron, "As for you, you struck a female, started the fight and there's still the matter of a drug test." The principal let out a sigh. "Two weeks suspension, do it again and I'll expel you. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir," Aaron said looking back at Troy with annoyance.

"The rest of you are free to go. You, however," The principal pointed at Aaron, "Go to the nurse and make sure that nose isn't broken."

Gabriella was the first up as she left the office Troy got up just as quickly to follow.