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Chapter 11 – Questions Answered

Over the next few weeks, Troy and Gabriella never saw or talked to each other. After a week she finally stopped calling him, concluding that she was never going to talk to him because he wasn't going to answer her calls. Troy was trying to get over the feelings he had for Gabriella but was finding it much harder than he thought. Maybe it would be best for both of us if I just left. I wouldn't have to worry about getting over my feelings so quickly because I wouldn't have to see her. With these thoughts in mind, Troy began packing his things.

Troy had just zipped up his suitcase when he heard a knock on the door. He looked out the spy hole and saw that it was Gabriella. He panicked. He couldn't see or talk to her right now. His feelings were too strong. And if she saw his suitcases she would ask what was going on. He couldn't lie to her. Her knocking didn't stop though. "I know you're in there Troy Bolton! Please….just let me in. I need to talk to you."

Troy debated on what to do. His heart was telling him to let her in, but his head was telling him to ignore her incessant beatings on the door. When her knocking ceased, he thought she had left, but then he heard her talking very quietly. She sounded like she was crying.

"Troy please let me in. I know the answer I gave you to your question the last time we talked was not what you wanted to hear. But you have to understand where I was coming from. I wasn't ready to get married yet. I didn't even know how to be a good mother yet. I was still learning. I was so scared because this was a huge thing in my life that I had to conquer by myself. That's how it has always been. And I didn't think I could handle another big thing in my life to get used to."

"But if you had let me into your life, you wouldn't have been doing all this alone." Gabriella looked up from her spot by the door with tears streaming down her face. She hadn't heard the door open. "I would have been there for you to help you raise Annabelle. I wanted to be there for you but it seemed like you just wanted to push me away."

"I wasn't trying to push you away, Troy. I loved you so much. But I didn't think I could handle it at that time." Troy looked down and saw that Annabelle was fast asleep in Gabriella's arms. He reached out and touched her cheek. The love he felt for her a few weeks ago was just as strong now as it was then and he knew it would never go away, just like his love for Gabriella.

"Do you want to come in?" Gabriella nodded. She walked in and saw Troy's suitcases.

"What are the suitcases for? Are you going somewhere?"

Troy looked at the suitcases then back at Gabriella. "Yeah." Troy led Gabriella over to the couch to sit down.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know really. Anywhere but here. Brie, over the past few weeks I have been miserable. I can't live without you in my life and I came to the conclusion that if I couldn't have you then I couldn't live here. I don't think I can stand to see you when I have these feelings. I have tried to get over you but it's impossible. I think it would just be easier on both of us if I went my own way and left you to find someone who you will love just as much as he loves you and Annabelle. So I guess what I'm trying to say is goodbye." Gabriella started to cry. "Brie, please don't cry. You know I hate it when you cry."

"Then don't leave!"

"Brie, you know I have to. I think it would be so hard to just be your friend with all these feelings that I have for you. I don't think I could handle it."

"Then don't just be my friend. If that offer still stands from a few weeks ago then my answer is yes. I can't live without you. These past three weeks have been absolute torture not being able to talk to you. I love you so much, Troy, and I don't want to live my life without you."

"You'll marry me?" Troy and Gabriella both had tears running down their faces.

"Only if you do one thing for me."

"What's that?"

"Propose in a more romantic way."

Troy laughed. "Now that I think I can do." He leaned over and kissed Gabriella.