Chapter 9: Journey to the Past

Monday morning came and it was time for school again as Gabriella was getting ready. She hadn't talked to Troy since the party and after the incident with the kiss; things were beginning to get a bit complicated. It was true she did like Troy and she had a crush on him that was until she began to realize why she felt this weird closeness to him…the fact that she and Troy knew each other long ago. She spent the last eleven years trying to forget about her life before the adoption but somehow it found her, in the form of Troy Bolton…her first love she found when she was five.

"You really do find your first love at such a young age," Gabriella thought to herself, "First you lose it, then you regain something new…only to find out that the person you're in love with was once somehow connected to your past."

"Gabriella! C'mon you're going to be late for school!" her mother called.

"I'm coming I'll be down in a minute," Gabriella replied as she was coming downstairs, "I'm ready mom can we go?"

"You seem to be in a rush Gabi what is the matter?"

"Oh…it's nothing mom really," Gabriella said with a sigh, "I just…don't want to be late for school that's all."

"You seem a bit distant sweetie is there anything on your mind you want to talk about? Look you might not think I care about what is going on with my teenage daughter but I want you to know that I'll always be here to talk whenever you need an ear. Do you remember that this weekend we're going to your Aunt Rosa's place in Newport so we're expected to be there and plus I need to still deal with some of the construction of the latest developments I was assigned to work on."

"Great…just another trip to the life of insecurity and another trip to the dark side," Gabriella teased, "I understand the whole real estate business and the whole model home design stuff but why would your company send you out here when you had a good thing going on in Newport?"

"Well it's because one of our business partners needs a hand out here in Albuquerque and with my expertise I was a perfect candidate. I will still have to travel back and forth once in awhile but you understand that right?"

"Yeah I guess," Gabriella said as she got into the car while her mom was driving her, "Hey mom can I ask you something?"

"What seems to be the problem Gabi?" her mom asked.

"Do you remember…where I came from before…you adopted me from the orphanage? Was I really happy to go home with you and dad that day?" Gabriella suddenly asked, "Which orphanage did you guys adopt me from?"

"In the eleven years you've been with us you never asked about where we adopted you why all of a sudden you want to know now? If it is that important to you I'll tell you and this is apart of your life you need to know. Yes it was true we did adopt you and it was at the St. Luke's Children Group Home in Los Angeles where we adopted you when you were five years old. Your father and I were having problems trying to have kids so we turned to adoption as an alternative. We heard about you from your father because a friend of his who he used to know in college died years ago from cancer and that her daughter was sent to St. Luke's."

"So it was dad's idea to adopt me?" Gabriella asked, "And you guys turned to adoption as an alternative to have kids? I sent some time back in an orphanage called St. Luke's in LA?"

"Yes and your father's friend her name was Maria Sanchez arranged for her daughter to go to St. Luke's if in case anything was to happen to her," Ms. Montez added, "I remember your father and I were down in LA one day and we came across the orphanage and then we met with this lady Sister Kathryn who told us about you and when your father realized your name he was surprised of what happened to Maria because for the truth of the matter is…your father actually knew your birth mother because they were friends in college."

"Wow…it was meant to be that you guys did adopt me, the way Coach Bolton adopted Troy and we somehow find our way here in Albuquerque eleven years later," Gabriella sighed, "I realized that somehow all of this happens for a reason why you and dad adopted me and it makes me sad…that dad got to spend more time with my birth mother than I did…but no matter what happens you'll always be my mom and dad will always my dad, the only parents I've known. I wish…I wish that I didn't have to find out about Troy."

"What about Troy?" her mom asked, "What's wrong sweetie?"

"Oh gosh mom it's so complicated because he and I both came from St. Luke's and I was there with him while I was trying to cope with what happen to my real mom," Gabriella sighed, "I was able to talk to him about things I never talked about to anyone and told him how I fell in love with someone at the orphanage and then kissed him at the party. However, that was right after I realized that the person I fell in love with at the orphanage was Troy and now he's back in my life…and I don't know what to think except for that last day when I left."

"But you were willing to wait for him that day I remember the day we took you," her mom added as they pulled into the parking lot, "Apart of you was happy to go home with us, but the other half of you was like you were waiting for someone and you said while we were leaving 'I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you any longer Troy.' I didn't know when to tell you this but when you realize you're in love with someone you end up making choices in your life…now you got to ask yourself if you have feelings for Troy…what are you going to do? All I can say is listen to you heart inside and somehow whatever you have buried inside it will come out."

East High School…

Meanwhile in the gym, Troy and the team were running basketball practice but Troy's mind wasn't focused as Coach Bolton instructed the team to practice their three point shots. He looked at his half of the yin-yang necklace he had on and then his mind drifted back with thoughts of discovering the other half of his necklace was with Gabriella…and how she was the person part of his life long ago at St. Luke's. So much one kiss can do to a person because it made him realize he was actually in love with her all along and he was beginning to vaguely remember parts of his time with her at St. Luke's.

FLASHBACK…

"What's yin and yang?" Troy asked, "It's two different parts you said?"

"You see according to Taoism yin and yang represented complementary opposites rather than absolutes," Vanessa added, "This represents the unity of opposites by trying to find a sort of balance. The dark black part which is yin represents the element of water and air. Yin shows the dark element being dark, passive, feminine, downward-seeking, mostly representing night. The light white part which is yang represents the element of fire and earth. Yang shows the light element being active, light, upward-seeking, masculine, mostly representing daytime."

"That's really amazing I wish we had one," Gabriella smiled, "How about you?"

"That will be so cool," Troy replied, "But there's only one of it."

"That's where you're wrong," Vanessa smiled as she grabbed the necklace and purchased it for the two of them, "I know you two have been eyeing this since I told you about it so for Troy and Gabriella…I present this to you. Think of this as one of you gets to be yin, the other is yang so you keep a piece of it each until then and find a balance." She showed them the necklace as it became two separate necklaces for both of them to wear half of it.

"Thank you Vanessa," Troy and Gabriella smiled, "We like it!"

"I know you guys would appreciate it," Vanessa smiled at them, "Have fun with it."

"So…you promise you'll wear yours?" Gabriella asked, "I'll be yin since it's for girls."

"You get the dark part…I get the light part," Troy replied, "I'll be yang for boys."

"This way this means we're best friends and each of us gets to keep half of it and promise never to take it off," Gabriella smiled sticking out her pinky finger, "Is that a promise Troy?"

"A promise is a promise Gabi," Troy replied as they shook pinky fingers and putting on their necklaces, "We have to keep these necklaces no matter what…we'll always be friends."

END OF FLASHBACK…

"A promise we literally kept without knowing," Troy thought to himself as his dad came.

"Hello? Earth to Troy…practice ended ten minutes ago you seemed a bit out of tune," Coach Bolton replied, "Is something on your mind? You been acting all distant and spaced out since the party that you didn't bother telling us how it went?"

"Oh it went fine all except for the part that the girl I am totally head over heels for was the same girl I knew at St. Luke's eleven years ago and failed to realized that I was in love with her for a long time," Troy sighed as he was shooting baskets, "The truth about Gabriella was that I knew her before you guys adopted me…and that the first girl I ended up kissing was a girl who I spent my time at the orphanage looking out for and missed the day she left."

"You two were even really close before your mom and I adopted you," Coach Bolton added, "It is true even if you never realized it but Gabriella actually was an important part of your life because she was your best friend at St. Luke's and you were really sad when you found out that you had to leave her behind. You may not remember much but from what I heard you two were inseparable."

"I know this was the part of our lives we wanted to forget about but why did it come back now all of a sudden?" Troy asked, "And when it involves someone important I don't know what to think now."

"All I can suggest is that if you love her and you have feelings for Gabriella tell her how you feel and together the two of you can come to terms with your pasts," Coach Bolton smiled as his son, "I can tell Gabriella did mean something to you long ago by the friendship you two shared that you were willing to come back for her even on the day she left. Trust me you don't want to end up not seeing her for another eleven years. C'mon Troy go find her and go talk to her…it may help."

"Thanks dad," Troy smiled as he left to get changed, "I'll see you later." After Troy got finished changing he headed out the gym and into the hallways and he found Gabriella talking to Chad and Taylor by the lockers.

"Hey dude we were just talking about the party during the past weekend," Chad said.

"For once you can actually say we did enjoy one of Sharpay and Ryan's birthday parties for once though I dread going again next year," Taylor joked, "So Gabriella you must be use to parties like the one Sharpay and Ryan had this past weekend? I guess you must love that glamorous lifestyle of the rich and elite."

"You shouldn't say it's all about being rich and having money," Gabriella added, "When I went to Constance back in Manhattan half of the people who I went to school didn't know that some of the clothes that they bought were designed by my father. I mean my parents do make a lot of money, but I'm not that open about it unlike Sharpay and Ryan…and figuring out the first time I met Sharpay she was the very few who knew about my father's clothing line back in Manhattan or my mother's real estate company in Newport."

"Speaking of Newport what's it like up there?" Chad asked, "You must be excited going back?"

"You're…moving again Gabriella?" Troy suddenly asked, "To where California?"

"Don't worry I'm not going anywhere Troy…I'm just going for a visit this weekend with my mom for one of her business trips," Gabriella said, "We're staying with my Aunt Rosa in Orange County, in particular the rich gated community of Newport."

"Oh I see…hey Gabriella do you have a minute?" Troy asked.

"Huh…sure," Gabriella replied as she turned to Chad and Taylor as they left, "I'll see you guys in class…so Troy what's up?"

"Listen about what happened on the weekend I just want you to know that…huh…about the kiss and huh…" Troy replied as him and Gabriella looked at their necklaces, "About us…I want you to know that everything I said I meant it…everything I said is true."

"Which part…the part that we just found out that we were at the same orphanage a long time ago or the part that we unexpectedly were in love with each other all this time," Gabriella sighed, "You know I literally spent all this time talking to you about my past without realizing that you were the part of my past I tried to forget…because I didn't want to relive everything I felt but you…were the one thing I knew in my heart I couldn't forget. I did feel like I was in love with you for a long time…but now that I realized that you were the one I've always been talking about I don't know what to think."

"Then what are you saying?" Troy asked confused, "What…do you truly about me? If you said you were in love with me since I was five and when we first met before without realizing our past I felt like when I was with you I began to reconnect with my old life. After my parents died I thought I didn't have anyone or anything left to care for…until I met you. I know it's hard and it's very confusing to realize and I'm still not sure about certain things too…but what happened at St. Luke's all those years ago…you know and I know did mean something to the both of us."

"I'm…not sure what to think Troy…I need some time to figure out things because now after figuring out the truth about us…I don't know what to say now," Gabriella sighed as she started heading off to class, "That was just the past…with all the time we spent apart we now come from totally different lives and it wasn't like what it used to be when we were five."

"Gabriella…I just want you to know no matter what happens, just remember…I'm always going to be there for you," Troy assured her.

"I know that because it was always like that since we were kids…a promise you kept for us."

"Hey…I hope you enjoy your trip to California," Troy replied, "I know things between us are a bit complicated, but sometimes it's okay to find a place where you always reflect."

"I know Troy…I guess we did learn a lot from one another," Gabriella smiled, "Thank you."

Newport, California…

That following weekend Gabriella found herself in Newport surrounded by all of her mother's relatives and friends at her Aunt Rosa's house. She was hoping to try to sneak away for a little while since it was a party for rich people who talked about all their business deals and stuff. As Gabriella continued to chat with about half of her Aunt Rosa's socialite friends at a party, she was trying to pretend to ignore what was really on her mind and that was Troy. She was with her aunt while she heard them discussing about their family life.

"Well Rosa I got to hand it to your sister that your niece is such an excellent girl," one of her aunt's friends Claire replied, "I did hear about her success on Harbor's Scholastic Decathlon team while her stay in Newport with Lucille, but Lucille has also talked about her academic achievement at Constance in Manhattan. So Gabriella…what was it like living in New York with your father?"

"Well you could say it was no different than living in Newport," Gabriella said, "It's nothing but the same old lifestyle and routine involving the glam and money, but living now in Albuquerque I wouldn't trade it for anything. However, being the daughter of parents who make a lot of money, neither of my parents aren't afraid to show their status, just like the rest of you people Mrs. Smith because you are proud of your wealth."

"Trust me Claire my sister loves Gabriella a lot," Rosa smiled, "And she is such a wonder."

"Lucille always used to brag about her to the Newport Group and she and Miguel are proud to have a daughter like her," Claire added, "I guess brains, looks and style runs in the family and you are truly Lucille Montez's daughter, the gene pool does run in the family."

The comment that her aunt's friend made literally rocked Gabriella inside and it was something she knew to be a lie. She did have parents before the Montezs and it was hard to hear all of these people gossip about a fabricated lie created.

"Gabriella where are you going?" Lucille asked, "Honey what's wrong?"

"And why would it matter? I just feel guilty hearing about something I wish to believe was true when in fact it's not because I don't want to tarnish your reputation or dad's," Gabriella said with frustration, "You guys built a lifestyle girls my age would want to live…but in reality I was never born into it to begin with. Did you seriously tell those people I was your biological daughter?"

"Listen sweetie you have to understand that…reputation and status is what matters in places like this and if they found out the truth about you I don't know what they'll think," her mom replied, "The family knows but for the interest of fairness you're still my daughter whether or not we're blood or not."

"Yeah thanks for assuring me and letting me discover that sometimes you guys and the gossip about this whole lifestyle makes me question everything I know about myself," Gabriella replied as she left, "Look I need to just get some air for awhile…for your information I figured out there is something I'm missing in my life, and it came from the life I knew before this."

"Gabi where are you going?" her mom asked, "You can't walk out on a party like this."

"You're good at covering up for me," Gabriella said, "I'm just going to find a place to reflect upon things and think." As soon as Gabriella left and got in the limo they rented, her mom pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number.

"Hi, this Lucille Montez calling," she replied, "I…was wondering if he is available? Oh he stepped out…I'm guessing he might be heading to the same place where she might be going I guess. Yeah…those two do think alike I notice."

St. Luke's Children Group Home…

After Gabriella left her mom's party, she was in the limo that her aunt rented for them during the weekend and surprisingly she found herself in front of St. Luke's. It has been over eleven years since she was last here and this was where it started everything. The place still looked the same and she saw kids outside playing and she was imagining her five year old self playing by the playground with Troy. The memories continued to come back to Gabriella's mind, especially when she spotted the gazebo in the courtyard where she and Troy had one of their last meetings before parting ways.

FLASHBACK…

"You should be lucky Troy that you have a family," Gabriella added, "Be thankful that you get a new mommy and daddy who will love you…don't get up like me without a daddy who I don't know where he is. Sometimes I dream about him and I dream sometimes he would take me away and I get to live happily ever after…but I don't know who my daddy is and mommy never told me about him. I got no one left to talk to or a family left…except for you because you were like my big brother who protected me."

"You were like my little sister too," Troy sighed, "I want to go…but I don't want to leave you behind too. I won't get to protect you from all those mean bullies and stuff because I like protecting you and I like seeing you smile and feel better. You're my best friend in the whole world…but I promise I'll remember you and see you again…I hope so. We can runaway and hide so that they don't separate us…we could hide in the museum just you and me!"

"You don't know that do you?" Gabriella asked, "Troy…these people…they seem nice and they want you as a son…they're your family from now on. You promise me you be thankful that you still have someone who will be your new mommy and daddy…they love you because of your mommy. I know it's sad…but you taught me to be brave and have courage and not be afraid of anything, especially bullies…I promise if you go I'll…stick up for myself and I'll be just like you Troy." Gabriella just stood there trying to smile with tears in her eyes.

"I'm not brave…I just say I'm brave and strong just to look like a big boy," Troy sighed as he started to cry, "I'm…I'm really scared because I don't know what's going to happen when I leave because you might leave too if I do…but you listen to me Gabi and listen well. Don't let anyone make you cry and you can't cry anymore because it shows you're weak. If anybody tries to tease you remember what I said…you got to have courage and stand up to bullies and show them you're not weak. Don't let other kids hurt your feelings and always smile…even when something is bad, just smile a lot okay and be happy. If anyone gives you problems…you can always count one me to deal with it you got that? Don't ever be afraid."

"I'm afraid…you won't remember me and I won't remember you," Gabriella sighed as she took his hand and gave him her charm bracelet, "But I'll try to be brave and have courage and smile a lot so I can be happy…if you're afraid then I'll be afraid too….but I want you to be happy and I'll be happy for you. Remember you always be yang and I'll always be yin and I want you to have this…so it can bring you good luck wherever you are. I don't want you to go but you have to…and I won't cry when you go…I'll be happy like that big Buddha we saw at the museum. I'll remember to be brave, have courage, smile and stand up to bullies."

"And I won't cry too…I promise and you always be yin and I'll always be yang," Troy smiled as the two of them put the necklaces together as Troy gave Gabriella his teddy bear, "That's a promise…but someday we'll remember each other I hope and I promise…I'll come back for you and you just wait for me…I promise I'll come back for you. I think you should have this because you gave me something…so I have to give you something too. You can have my teddy bear I call it San Diego Bear because I was born there…so you can sleep with him from now on and tell him stories…that way you won't be alone."

"Thank you Troy," Gabriella smiled as they both hugged, "You'll always be my best friend no matter what…even I won't remember you…I'll think of you as family."

"You'll always be my best friend too," Troy replied back, "I'll…come back for you…but if I don't remember you…then just remember I'm sorry for not keeping my promise…but you'll always be family no matter what."

END OF FLASHBACK

"Somehow one day we would find ourselves back to where it all began…right here," she turned around and was surprise to find Troy there; "It does bring back old memories don't it?"

"You could say that," Gabriella replied, "What…what are you doing here in LA?"

"I had to come…to make sense of things and to come to terms with everything that has happened and to realize why everything happens for a reason. I was driving and then I kept driving and I literally found myself in Los Angeles and I parked my truck at some motel about 5 blocks down from here. We grew up in two different worlds but being here we could tell before we were from the same world, a place where we tried to find out about who we were, what we wanted, and to stay friends no matter what."

"But eventually we were bound to leave this place one way or another Troy…the one thing we left was the memories we had of one another…and also our hearts. The truth of the matter was I didn't want you to go and the hard part about it was watching you go leave for your new life in Albuquerque and I waited for you for two months to come back and you promised you would come back for me. Apart of me didn't want to leave St. Luke's because I believed in the promise you made to me…even if I didn't remember you that you were always going to be the family I had while I was here and I wouldn't forget you."

"And I made that same promise too Gabriella…but I even held true to my promise two months afterwards and I wanted to come back for you," Troy replied as he revealed the charm bracelet Gabriella gave him and a picture, "You gave me your mom's charm bracelet so it can give me good luck whenever I am but I couldn't stop thinking about you after you left. This picture I found the day you left…the day I tried to come back to keep my promise only to realize I was too late. No wonder why we wanted to forget St. Luke's was because of how we parted ways and how we realized at such a young how it's like to give your heart to someone that means so much to you or…"

"Or to realize…how much we never knew how in love with one another we were," Gabriella completed his thought, "If I knew…then I would have asked for the cab to turn around but I couldn't…because I gave up what I truly wanted in my heart just to be given a second chance at a new life. I literally stopped believing but to hear you say that you came back for me…I know now in my heart you kept your promise. Now you're here…I wanted to tell you from so long ago that…I always loved you Troy Bolton and I never stopped for all these years."

Troy took Gabriella's hand as he leaned forward towards her face and instantly they began to kiss again. It wasn't like the unexpected kiss they had before at the party, this one…was the one that truly completed the locked secrets in their hearts for all those years and to bring the closure they wanted.

"That's what I always wanted to hear all these years those words," Troy smiled kissing her back, "I've always love you Gabriella Montez and I promise this time…I will never lose you again. I lost you once and I waited all these years to see you again…I promise it's you and me together from now on."

"I know that," Gabriella smiled as they hugged, "With you…we finally got our closure."