"Knock, knock," Gabriella said poking her head into the tree house to see Troy sitting on the ground. When his baby blues looked her way Gabriella added. "Your mom said I would find you here." Gabriella said pulling her sweatshirt closer around her.

"I was just thinking, trying to get away from everything." Troy said as Gabriella nodded.

"Can I sit?" She motioned to the spot next to him as he nodded stretching his left arm out to her. Gabriella smiled sitting down next to her boyfriend cuddling into his embrace.

"The game was amazing last night." She said, Troy chuckled kissing her head.

"That's about the thousandth time you've said that."

"Well I'm serious, you did amazing." Gabriella said moving to look at him.

"Well thanks." He said lightly.

They didn't speak after that just enjoyed each other. Their one year relationship was one that was different than the others. They are best friends first then a couple, though sometimes you can't even look at the other as your best friend, the person you can tell your secrets to. You look at them as the person who could drop you from their life because of the stupid things you've done.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Troy asked breaking the silence.

"Working with Tay, 9 to 6:30 I think."

"Why so long?"

"Well we miss hours we could work when we have to be at the games. So we kind of have to get a move on that paycheck. And Christmas is coming up…"

"Oh right, did you get me a great present?" Troy asked squeezing Gabriella's arm as she rolled her eyes.

"Of course…what was it you wanted again?"

"Anything you give me will be perfect." Gabriella nodded before reaching in her pocket for her phone.

"I should go," She said looking at the time while sitting up.

"Do you have to," Troy asked with a pout watching as she moved to her knees

"Yes Troy, someone has to bring home the bacon." She winked at him before kissing him gently on the lips and pulling away.

"Fine, maybe I'll come and visit…"

"Don't you have practice tomorrow?" Gabriella stood.

"Oh shit," Troy groaned putting his hands over his eyes.

"It's fine, I think I'm going to search my dads room some more after work, maybe I'll hit something in the closet." Gabriella shrugged

"That sounds like a plan. Let me know if you hit gold," Rolling her eyes Gabriella moved to leave.

"Whatever you say."

Montez Home

Walking into her father's room Gabriella looked around with a new found determination. The room was boring with gray walls and brown furniture, nothing to look at since it definitely didn't have that woman's touch; going to the closet Gabriella opened the door slowly. Looking into the dark room Gabriella felt along the wall for the switch and turned on the lights. His closet was small and too the point with everything, business to favorite team shirts for games everything else was put in drawers. Looking around Gabriella looked for something that most likely would hold something that would give her information on her mother. But the closet had nothing in it really but clothes and foam fingers. Standing on her tip toes she looked on the top shelf and moved boxes around grabbing one in the back. Most people will hide things in the back thinking that no one will notice what they're trying to hide when really that's the first place they look.

Pulling the top off the box Gabriella saw nothing but two video tapes that weren't labeled at all. Frowning she turned off the light and proceeded out of the closet and up to the family room where she was okay to watch the videos since her father wouldn't be home until tomorrow. Placing the box on a table she grabbed the top one walking towards the TV. Before putting it in she did a prayer hoping it wasn't a birthing video or a sex tape, since she didn't need to see either. Once she had inserted the video she sat down on the edge of the table and pressed play.

The screen was black for a few moments before making a static noise and focusing to show a basketball game that seemed to be from the 80s considering how some of the fans in the stands were dressed. Sighing Gabriella moved to get up and eject the video when the TV showed static again showing something else recorded over it. Sitting back down slowly Gabriella watched as the picture came into focus.

The image was now a bright yellow room with the sun coming through the window. A woman was standing there with long curly black locks holding a baby in a pink outfit and singing to her softly.

"Lovin' you is easy cause you're beautiful
Lovin' you is all I wanna do
Lovin' you is more than just a dream come true
And everything that I do is out of lovin' you
La la la la la la la... do do do do do –"

The lady stopped and looked at the camera with a smile obviously just noticing the additional body in the room. She looked down at the baby in her arms and then at the camera.

"Look at daddy Gabriella, say hi," She grabbed the babies hand and waved at the camera. There was a deep laugh that came from behind the camera that made the woman grin before looking back at the baby.

Staring at the TV Gabriella realized three things. One, her father was happy at one time. Two, her mother did sing beautifully which must be why her father never let her sing. Lastly, she realized that she looked exactly like her mother, almost a mirror image.

Riley's Sports Goods

"So you look exactly like your mom? That's going to help us a lot." Taylor said as Gabriella shrugged.

"I guess,"

"Oh come on, all you'd have to do is say 'hi do you know someone who looks exactly like me?'" Taylor said with a grin.

"It's just kind of freaky to think about,"

"Why?" Taylor asked in confusion.

"Well I mean that's why my dad never really looks at me; he doesn't want to see her. I really just want to know why she left…"

"Well we'll figure out why she left, I promise. But right now you have a customer," Taylor said nodding towards the front of the store. Gabriella frowned looking over to see Troy coming her way with a grin on his face.

"Hey gorgeous," Troy said once he was close then kissed Gabriella softly on the lips.

"Hi," she replied softly. "What's in the bag?" She asked looking at his hand.

"Oh this is just your lunch," Gabriella raised an eyebrow reaching over the counter for the paper bag.

"It's peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. A nice apple juice and some skittles." Troy said with a shy smile scratching his neck as Gabriella peeked in the bag before looking back up at her sweet boyfriend.

"Thank you Troy, you didn't have to. –"

"I wanted to," Troy said cutting her off. Gabriella flushed looking down before placing the bag on the counter and walking around to give Troy a hug.

She buried her face into his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders kissing her head. They stayed like that for a few moments just enjoying each other when Gabriella started to pull away.

"I should get going, Chad wanted to hang out and play video games most likely," Troy said looking at Gabriella who nodded.

"That sounds fun, get your mind off the season and just have some fun."

"I guess, but I never think about season when I'm with you…so if that's the goal then maybe I should just stay here," Gabriella flushed again looking down but Troy cupped her face before she could.

"I love you," He said kissing her before walking towards the exit,

"Bye Tay!"

"Bye Troy!!" Taylor said coming back over to her friend and nudging her.

"He's so cute, I'm jealous," Taylor said with a smile as Gabriella looked at her in confusion.

"Why?"

"Cause he's more serious than Chad, he would have left me half of a sandwich and something he didn't want to eat," Taylor said with a laugh, "But that's Chad for you."

"True he ate my name on my 5th birthday cake,"

"Are you serious?! I would have killed him. You're supposed to eat your name." Taylor said going back behind the counter as Gabriella leaned on it.

"I did, but he came back to life." Gabriella shrugged making Taylor laugh and roll her eyes.

"So I was thinking of trying out for the musical," Gabriella said making Taylor stop looking through a sports magazine and look at her friend.

"What?" she asked in shock.

"I'm just saying, Kelsi told me about it and well it seems fun. I guess after hearing my mom sing I just want to have something in common with her you know? I'm crazy right?" Gabriella

"NO! No you're not," Taylor reassured her friend. "You want to have something in common with her. I get that, I mean my moms a politician which is why I took Government and Society, I wanted to have more in common with her. And this about this, if you get in the musical you can ask her to come when you find her." Taylor said with a smile.

"If I find her Tay, and if I try out." Gabriella said keeping her friend from getting ahead.

"You're trying out,"

"And why should I?"

"Because the whole gang is going to too," Taylor said with determination.

"What?! Chad and Troy in a musical?"

"Oh get off it; you know they'd have fun. And they'd do anything for you, we all would." Taylor said with a smile, "And this will just make Shar so happy since she lives for musicals and other things."

"Right, but she has a prom to plan," Gabriella said.

"Right, A Night at the Museum," Taylor said with a smile "That's just amazing that we're having our prom at a museum, it's so cool. Junior prom will be amazing."

"I don't know if I'm going…"

"Of course you are Gabriella; this isn't the time to be shy. Troy is going to ask you and you're going to say yes and we'll go and get dresses and everything will be like a fairytale."

"Unless he finds out our secret," Gabriella mumbled making Taylor's smile drop.

Chad's House

"Scabs! Tay!!" Chad yelled coming and pulling both girls into a hug.

"Hey," Gabriella said hesitantly looking at Taylor who was just as confused.

"What's going on?" Taylor asked looking at her boyfriend.

"Nothing we're just hanging out," Chad said ushering them inside. "I thought you were my mom," Chad said looking down the driveway before closing the garage.

"Sorry but we didn't want to wait for you to open the front door so we just came on in." Gabriella said in a nonchalant way.

"What were you doing drinking? Again?" Taylor asked glaring at Chad sniffing him.

"No, but my mom always asks if I changed my underwear when the guys are here," Chad said obviously embarrassed which made Gabriella laugh before heading to the basement where the guys were playing Guitar Hero.

"Hello all!" Gabriella said announcing her presence.

"Hey Gabi!" Zeke said not turning his attention from the TV.

"Hi!" Jason said

Gabriella rolled her eyes before walking over to Troy who was sitting on a couch and sat down next to him.

"Hey you," she said kissing his softly

"Hey," He said with a smile, "You're in a good mood."

"Well that lunch you made me so was so yummy,"

"Oh well I'm glad, but I just thought you were going to say that you were happy to see me," Troy said cheekily making Gabriella roll her eyes

"I am happy to see you though," She kissed him again.

"Okay none of that or I'll have to separate you two!" Chad yelled finally getting downstairs after most likely making out with Taylor.

"Oh shush Chad," Taylor said hitting his arm and going to sit

"Nobody wants to see them kissing," Chad said sitting next to her.

"But yet you're always watching when we are," Troy said with a grin as everyone laughed.

"That's not right Bolton,"

"Whatever Danforth." Troy said rubbing Gabriella's arm as she kicked off her Nike Dunks.

"YES!" Jason yelled standing up putting his arms in the air. "I won! Take that bitches!!!"

"Oh please you won by 2%" Zeke said pointing at the screen.

"You're just a sore looser." Jason said sticking his tongue out at Zeke who just shook his head.

"Well I'm done playing," Zeke said pulling his guitar strap over his head and putting the guitar down as his phone buzzed.

"Shar's here," He said going towards the stairs.

"Oh why?" Jason said looking pained.

"I thought you and Shar got along now?" Gabriella said as Troy interlaced their fingers.

"We do but now," He looked around at his friends and just shook his head, "Nevermind." Gabriella frowned looking up at Troy who had a knowing look but just shrugged.

"Hello all, I know you missed me!" Sharpay said bouncing down the stairs Zeke following behind her.

"Of course we did," Chad said sarcasticly getting a glare from Sharpay.

"Hardy har har Chadwick,"

"HEY!" Chad said moving to get up but Taylor said rolled her eyes pulling him back down.

"So are we doing a gift exchange this year?" Shar asked sitting down on a love seat with Zeke.

"Uhm, I don't know…" Jason said

"Yea I mean we have games and such.." Troy said.

"But there is always online shopping." Sharpay said. She loves activities and parties and things like that.

"It's a recession Sharpay." Chad said.

"So you're saying you're not getting anything for Taylor?" Shar asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well… of course I am! I just don't have enough money for another person..and my mom and dad and Troy."

"Oh I forgot you and Troy are a closet couple." Shar said with a smirk getting chuckles from everyone but Chad and Troy.

"We are not gay!" They both said.

"I know but you do have a lot of sleepovers…"

"Shar," Gabriella said trying not to smile as she rubbed Troy's stomach.

"Oh fine be party poopers…" Shar sat there with a pout as everyone rolled their eyes knowing what would happen next.

"Zekey," Shar said looking up at Zeke giving her that look that always makes him give in.

"Guys come on, the gifts don't have to be amazing." everyone just groaned.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"So…who'd you get?" Troy asked nudging Gabriella as he walked her home.

"I am so not telling," Gabriella said with a smile "Who'd you get?"

"Nah, I'm not telling." Troy said with a wink.

"Well I hope you didn't get yourself…or me…or Chad…" Gabriella said trying to see who's name she would get a reaction from.

"Nuh uh I know what you're doing and it's not going to work." Troy said knowing that he had gotten the worst person you could get, Sharpay.

"Ugh fine," Gabriella said with a pout walking ahead of him knowing she had gotten Chad.

"Hey," Troy said catching up and wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"Don't be like that, you know this is a secret thing." He placed kisses on her neck which made her slow her pace.

"I know, I just like knowing.." Gabriella said huskily without knowing she was.

"Mmm," Troy said kissing the back of her neck on the spine which made her shiver. "You like that?" He asked huskily though Gabriella tried to fight it.

"N – No?"

Flashback – 8th Grade

"Why do we need to learn about a bunch of dead guys?" Troy groaned as he sat in his tree house with Gabriella.

"Because we want to pass into the 9th grade." Gabriella said with a slight lisp from her retainer.

"Gabi really?" Troy said looking at her with an amused smile. Gabriella blushed looking down at her Algebra homework, his gap toothed smile was adorable.

"Sorry I don't know why," Troy put his books to the side and crawled over to Gabriella sitting next to her.

"Are you blushing?" Troy asked trying to get a good look at his best friend.

"No," Gabriella said turning so he couldn't see her face.

"Oh, cause you look cute when you do." Troy said looking down at his hands. Gabriella slowly turned to look at him pushing some of her shoulder length hair behind her ear.

"Thanks," She said softly.

Troy looked over at her and they made eye contact. Gabriella flushed again as he continued to look at her in a way she wasn't used to getting from a guy. She wrapped her arms around her stomach when it started to flutter.

"What -" She asked softly but was cut off when Troy's left hand cupped her cheek and he leaned in kissing her softly. They stayed like that for a few moments and he pulled away.

"Did you like that?" He asked shyly, Gabriella didn't know what was going on with her eyes still closed and her heart and stomach going crazy.

"N – No?" She said as more of a question which made Troy chuckle before kissing her again, this time his tongue grazed her lips asking her to open which she did moving her hands to grab his hoodie pulling him closer. She wasn't sure how she knew to do these things but she just knew to. Troy slipped his right arm around her waist letting it slip under his hoodie she was wearing and tickle her warm skin.

"Troy," Gabriella said pulling away with a red face that matched Troy's though he seemed more amused.

"Sorry," He said raising his hands with a grin that made Gabriella laugh.

End Flashback

"Troy!" Gabriella said poking her elbow into Troy's stomach as he slipped his hands under her Riley's shirt.

"Sorry," He said raising his hands with a proud grin that made Gabriella look back at him and laugh shaking her head.

"We're on the sidewalk," She scolded.

"And you have bony elbows." Troy said grabbing her arm "Need to get a warning sign for those things."

"Oh shut up," Gabriella said blushing and looking away.

"Are you blushing?"

"No,"

"I think you are, well you look cute when you blush if that helps." Gabriella looked at him hesitantly

"Really?"

"Yes," Gabriella smiled grabbing his hand and interlacing their fingers.

"You're just cute in general," She said as he winked at her before leaning down to put a sweet peck on her lips.

"I love you,"

"I love you more,"

Hmm...I wrote this chapter 2 times. LOL.

review?

xoxo Zoe