Chapter 8: How I Know You

The Mall…

"Have any of you guys had luck finding a costume yet?" Troy asked as he was at the mall with Chad, Taylor, and Gabriella, "C'mon I don't want to spend all day here!"

"Look as much as we hate spending our money on finding a costume to wear for this stupid party…at least I don't have little miss country princess up my ass to criticize me on what I'm wearing," Chad added as he picked something out, "How about this?"

"That would look…suitable I guess," Taylor replied, "So Gabs have you found something to wear to the party next week?"

"I don't know...well my dad used to have some of these costumes that his company had during a party one time in New York and he decided to gave them to me," Gabriella said, "I haven't looked much into the trunk so I'll probably check it out later."

"Really…is it mostly women's dresses?" Troy asked, "Or did your dad pack some other costumes too?"

"If you want…I can give you some stuff for you to try and you can decide what to wear next week," Gabriella said, "You can come by my house afterwards and select."

"Alright we're ready," Taylor and Chad replied as they finished paying, "We're good to go."

"Finally it took long enough," Troy joked as they spotted Sharpay, Ryan and Zeke, "Let's go before we're spotted by…"

"Hey guys!" they all heard Sharpay from the one end of the mall, "How's it going fellow chums? Well I see that you guys are shopping for costumes for our party this Saturday."

"Pretty much…have you gotten a costume yet Sharpay?" Gabriella asked.

"Yeah Ryan and I have already put a deposit down last week," Sharpay added, "Besides I'm just here trying to help Zeke find something to wear next week…but all the costumes he's been picking out don't suit him too well."

"Actually Sharpay…you were the one actually picking out what I should wear," Zeke said, "I like to suggest…that…maybe…huh…well can you at least let me pick out my own costume instead?"

"Excuse me?" Sharpay snapped, "C'mon Zeke like half of the stuff you picked out weren't acceptable and it was made second hand by people who don't know how to stick up fabric properly! I just want you to find something that looks fabulous on you and nothing that is ripped and tattered up!"

"He did if you have at least paid attention to your boyfriend instead of wander around JC Penny the last half an hour to sample new makeup," Ryan protested, "I wonder who does your boyfriend spend more time with on occasional outings…me or you?"

"Well…it was a new cosmetic line out and I…just…wanted to sample it," Sharpay slowly replied as the others were giggling, "So Gabriella, my little idolized Cosmo Girl, have you found a costume yet for Saturday?"

"I think I might have one from home," Gabriella answered, "You know me…I can't literally run out of clothes that easily."

"Alright sis we're going to find your boyfriend a costume," Ryan added, "And you…better be there and pay attention to what he wants…gosh I feel like a third wheel on most of these dates sometimes."

"At least it's good having you around Ryan," Zeke whispered to him, "It's like a two man job when going out with Sharpay."

"So…we're see you guys later then," Troy replied as he left with Taylor, Gabriella, and Chad.

"Yeah and enjoy the rest of your day," Ryan replied as Zeke and Sharpay walked ahead, "I better go catch up with them."

Montez Household…

It was the day of Sharpay and Ryan's Birthday party and Troy drove his truck to pick up Gabriella head off to Lava Springs for the party. Troy decided to go as a 17th century Baroque Gentleman. He parked the truck in the driveway as he stepped out and knocked on the door to the Montez household. He looked at the house in amazement as it was about one of the hugest houses in the neighborhood like Sharpay and Ryan's house in a way. It was a giant model home that he used to read about in one of those home design magazines and he could guess that both Gabriella's parents must have high powered careers to afford all of this.

"Hi…huh Ms. Montez I'm Troy," he replied to her mother, "I'm…here to pick up Gabriella for the party."

"Oh hello Troy I'm Gabriella's mother," Ms. Montez replied as she invited Troy inside, "Come in…Gabriella is upstairs still getting ready in the bathroom. You can wait in her bedroom for you."

"Thank you Ms. Montez," Troy replied, "Which way is it to her room?"

"Just go up the stairs and it's the room with the balcony facing the backyard," Ms. Montez replied as Troy went upstairs, "It's the door down the end of the hallway."

Troy went upstairs and made his way to Gabriella's bedroom. It was the very first time he was in Gabriella's house, let alone the first time he saw her bedroom. He looked around the room and noticed it was very clean, neat, and with a mental picture in his head reminded him of one of those bedrooms he read about in those rich, designer housing magazines. He looked at all the stuff around the room including the pictures and then he noticed a chestnut brown teddy bear wearing a suit and top hat on the bed. He picked up the teddy bear and for some strange reason Troy felt like he had seen this before…and then he was having a small memory the night of the car accident.

Flashback…

About four hours passed since Troy heard the news about his parents' death. He just laid in bed staring at the teddy bear one of the nurses left for him on his nightstand table next to his bed. Troy kept crying about the fact he would be alone and never see his parents again that he decided to get out of his hospital bed and began to walk down the hallways in the children's ward with the teddy bear in hand.

"Are you alright?" Troy slowly asked the girl, "Why…why are you crying?"

"My mommy died and she left me alone and now I have to go live in this place with all these strange people I don't know," Gabriella said crying, "I want my mommy back! I don't want to be alone anymore and I want to go home with my mommy…but she's gone!"

"My mommy and daddy are gone too," Troy sighed as he began to tear up too, "They died in a car accident the doctor man told me…I woke up and found mommy and daddy gone. People cry and they say when it rains people cry more."

"You have a lot of bandages on you…are you hurt?"

"They said I was in a car accident and I lived…but mommy and daddy didn't but I'm good. I feel alone without my mommy and daddy around that I don't get to go home to all my toys and all my favorite things."

"I don't know…but I don't want to be alone," the little girl sighed as she grabbed his arm, "Will you…will you stay with me? I don't want to be alone and I'm scared of the thunder."

"Boys aren't suppose to be scared…but I am sometimes too. I will stay with you don't worry I promise…so we don't have to be alone and scared of the thunder." Troy just sat there with his new friend as they heard the thunderstorm outside. She clutched onto the teddy bear Troy had in his hand and held the other arm of the bear. They sat and watched through the window the rain outside.

"I miss my mommy and daddy," Troy sighed looking out at the window, "I don't know where they went or where they are. They told me I have to be strong no matter what."

"You look strong…because you're not scared of the thunder like me," the girl said, "Does this mean I'm not alone anymore."

"Don't worry…you're not alone," Troy slowly smiled, "You're with me…and I'm not alone too because you're brave."

End of Flashback

"I see you're getting acquainted with San Diego Bear?" he turned around and saw Gabriella standing in front of the door, "I guess my mom let you in…oh my look at the handsome Wildcat in his Baroque costume!"

"Oh my gosh…Gabriella you look…I mean I didn't expect…I guess we do have transparent minds or something," Troy smiled blushing, "The dress…it looks beautiful on you…you look very lovely." He stared at Gabriella for a moment as she was wearing a navy blue 17th century Baroque dress. She looked pretty amazing and she just smiled at Troy as he was still holding the teddy bear.

"I guess we're going as a historical couple I guess," Gabriella smiled, "Who would have thought that this would happen…but I'm glad it did."

"Well with the costumes you gave me this was about the only one I thought that looked decent and appropriate enough for milady…so are you ready to get well acquainted with the high class society all over again Miss Montez?"

"As a matter of fact…I am except I may need some help here with my dress," Gabriella replied as she was staring in front of the mirror, "Huh…would you mind helping me tighten up my costume here at the back…it seems a bit loose still or are you still busy getting to know my teddy bear you're holding?"

"Oh sorry…my apologies I didn't know," Troy replied as he put down the bear and helped Gabriella out with her costume, "I do say you look pretty…I really like the costume on you."

"Thanks again for the comment Troy…I couldn't help but notice you seem to be getting acquainted with my teddy bear. It's okay I don't mind most people think it's stupid for a girl like me to still have stuff animals around…but I do especially that one. I call him "San Diego Bear" well that was the name given to him…I find comfort in him."

"How long had you had him for?" Troy asked, "It feels like…I might have seen that teddy bear before…I really don't know but I think I must be imagining things or something."

"I had it for a long time now…but all I know is that teddy bear is one of the only few things left of my old life that meant a lot to me. It was such a long time ago I wish I could remember him but I don't…he was like my best friend at the time when I was at that orphanage I was staying at a long time ago. For some reason I didn't want him to go…but he had to because someone told that God always has plans for all of us and for us it was to leave that place. We may not remember each other anymore…but somewhere inside I still have a memory of that time."

"Your friend must have met a lot to you…we're like two peas in a pot my mom would describe situations like that," Troy smiled as he finished tighten the back of Gabriella's dress, "I'm sure he'll remember you someday and maybe…maybe you'll find each other."

"Thanks Troy…c'mon we got to get going before Sharpay blows her cap," Gabriella said as she put on her necklace, "This is the only necklace I wear every time…I really like it."

"What's it suppose to be?" Troy asked as he curiously stared at it, "It looks familiar."

"It's half of a yin-yang symbol," Gabriella replied as she stared at Troy's, "Yours looks a bit like mine too…anyways there's no time to discuss we got to move it."

Lava Springs Country Club…

Troy and Gabriella arrived at the Lava Springs Country Club as they spotted their friends waiting by the entrance of the building before heading to the party area. After Troy parked his truck, him and Gabriella spotted the gang waiting for them. Chad was dressed up as a 1920's mobster while Taylor was dressed as a flapper and Kelsi went as a princess while Jason was dressed up as a knight. Zeke was dressed up as a chef and Martha went as a hippy.

"Looks like somebody is pimping a new look Chad," Troy teased, "Very classy and very gangster of you."

"And this is coming from a guy who is dressed up like a high class stuck up somebody well you could give me credit for coming in style during the turn of the 20th century," Chad teased.

"I love that dress Gabriella it looks amazing," Kelsi and Taylor commented, "You always love to struck the New York Fashion scene don't you?"

"You could say that…or it's just another outfit from one of my dad's fashion lines," Gabriella added, "But I really love your costume Taylor it looks amazing and Kelsi, the princess costume does really suit you."

"So…who's ready to face another Evans Birthday party this year?" Troy replied, "Shall we?"

"Let's get in…and at least enjoy it this year without any bust ups," they all agreed as they walked into the party area, "Wow…for rich folks like the Evans they have it made."

"Hey I'm so glad you guys can make it," they all heard Ryan replied as he was dressed up in a Zorro costume, "I hope you like the party."

"This looks wonderful Ryan and happy birthday," they all said, "So…huh where's huh…"

"Well it's so fabulous that you guys have finally made it!" they all heard Sharpay as she was dressed up as a Spanish madam, "Oh Gabriella I absolutely love the dress…I could say you look good in anything…hey you and I have good fashion costume tastes!"

"Thanks Sharpay and Happy Birthday," Gabriella replied as she stood closer to Troy, "We left your presents by the table with your parents."

"I can't wait to open up my gifts," Sharpay replied as she pulled Zeke and went off, "Well c'mon honey I want to go dance!"

"Anything for my birthday girl," Zeke smiled as the two kissed and went off.

"Are you going to stand there all night babe or are you going to ask me to dance?" Taylor smiled looking at Chad.

"You know I don't dance," Chad said fixing his hat, "I suck at it Tay."

"Well you're going to learn…whether you like it or not!" Taylor replied as she dragged Chad to the dance floor.

"So...huh do you want to dance Gabriella…I mean if you don't want…I understand…" Troy nervously asked, "I really…huh you…"

"Troy…it would be my pleasure," Gabriella as the two went to dance.

A couple of hours has passed and everyone was enjoying themselves for once at Sharpay and Ryan's birthday party. Everyone ate most of the food that was being served and everyone was getting into the events and activities of the party. They all watched as Sharpay and Ryan's parents presented them with a Mercedes Benz for Sharpay and Lincoln Navigator Truck for Ryan as birthday gifts. To the others, this wasn't any normal birthday party they attended of theirs, it was always something that involved money and glamour and style. However, with Gabriella being at the party it felt like the same old routine all over again with whatever parent she was living with in another state or so.

Gabriella was sitting at the table as she watched her friends gather around Sharpay and Ryan as they were beginning to open their presents. She didn't have friends before coming to East High and if she did make friends before then, they would only probably be friends with Gabriella because of her glam lifestyle. Looking at Sharpay and Ryan with all the things they had made her feel they weren't afraid to show how powerful and rich their family was, but what mattered was at least their parents loved them, naturally without putting a price tag on it. Gabriella felt like something was missing…and she literally felt it since she was a kid.

"Hey…what are you doing here all alone at the table?" Troy asked sitting down, "Sharpay and Ryan must love all those presents they got...and they're lucky to have parents like that who love them so much."

"Do you ever feel that sort of envy that at least they had their parents with them all their lives while we didn't know ours?" Gabriella asked, "Don't get me wrong I do love my parents, the ones that raised me for the last eleven years, but my real parents I really don't know much about them except the fact my mom was sick and she died…but my real dad, why couldn't have found me all those years ago? It's like he didn't want to find me and my mom left me alone to face this world at the age of five not knowing if I'll…love anyone or if they love me."

"If your real dad was to show up one day…would you ever go and live with him Gabriella and start a new life with him? That's what I felt when my parents died and if it wasn't for the Boltons I wouldn't know what it's like to have a real family. It's like when I'm talking to you I feel connected to you in some strange way and the more I'm with you I begin to get a better understanding of my old life. I try to make sense of both lives I have and finding some sort of closure to them. When I was back at the orphanage…I thought no one wouldn't want to adopt me and I spent nearly all my time with this little girl I used to know…she meant something."

"You get that feeling sometimes that you don't remember a person but somehow the memories you have of them stays with you forever. The day I got adopted…it felt like I left something behind…more like my memories of that time I had with that him, my friend. He promised he'd come back for me and I waited…but he never did. The life I'm living now with the Montezs I use it in a way to forget everything that happened in that orphanage…I didn't want to relive the fact my mom died, or the fact I was bullied, or the fact that the one person who I thought of as family was the first person I was in love with and he broke his promise to come back!"

"Do you wish you could see him again?" Troy asked sympathetically, "If you saw him…what would tell him? I would have told that girl I was with the same thing…she was the first person I ever loved."

"I'll tell him…that you were first person I ever loved and that you don't find your true love so early at the age of five," Gabriella answered, "I guess…we both did at one point lose our first loves at five didn't we?"

"You could say that," Troy replied as he suddenly leaned closer to Gabriella, "But…when you lose something…somehow you regain something new in return."

"I like that…I would want something new instead," Gabriella replied as she leaned towards Troy and the two kissed, "And this…this is what I want." It felt like something new that the two felt something extraordinary happen and as the two were embracing kissing each other they didn't notice that their necklaces were getting tangled.

"Oh my gosh I think I got my necklace stuck to yours…I'm sorry here," Troy suddenly said as the two stopped kissing, "Here let me help you."

"Here I insist give me a minute," Gabriella said as she tried to help Troy untangle the necklaces until they suddenly stopped. She was shocked to discover that Troy's necklace literally matched and fitted the other half of her necklace as Troy looked on as their necklaces formed the entire yin-yang symbol, "Wow…this is something…did you see?"

"This…is literally impossible," Troy suddenly replied shocked, "When…I said it felt like I've known you before…now I literally mean it…I did know you before."

"This is great…in a very shocking turn of events," Gabriella replied looking at Troy, "Not only I had my first kiss with a guy I liked…but somehow I'm feeling you and I have some history together once upon a time…and this…is the proof of it all."