Julian stepped out of his rental car. When everyone realized who it was, the cameramen started flocking toward him, not just because they knew who he'd been dating lately, who he'd be showing up with, but because of who he was himself. He was a New York Jet and he was a celebrity in his own right. That and they knew Ella Leigh was sitting in the passenger side as well. This was her high school reunion after all.

He handed the keys to the valet before walking around to open the passenger side door. Opening it, he took Gabriella's hand as she turned, both of her feet hitting the pavement at the same time. She smiled up at him before turning her gaze over to the cameras. She lifted her right hand, waving to the cameras. She knew how to play it up for the cameras and she always had. Julian walked with her past them toward the entrance to the convention center. The doorman held the door open for them, keeping the paparazzi from coming in behind them.

Gabriella's smile quickly faded and she was thankfully able to breathe. "I need something to drink," she said, leaning over to him as the walked across the lobby, following the signs toward the ball room.

He brought her hand to his lips, smiling down at her. "We'll get you a water when we get into the ball room, mi amor."

She smiled up at him, nodding. "Gracias, Jules," she said, walking with him into the ball room. She was glad in here she was Gabriella Montez and not Ella Leigh, Hollywood actress. She loved her place in the world, she loved her career... but she didn't love what it cost her... But she wasn't thinking about that tonight. She was avoiding anything that had to do with Troy at all costs. Julian led her over to the bar and ordered himself a beer and a water for Ella. The man handed Julian the drinks and Julian turned to her, giving her the water after twisting the lid off slightly.

"Para tu, mi amor."

She smiled at him, taking the water, taking the cap off the rest of the way. "Gracias, Julian."

She took a long drink of the water, looking over the ballroom. She was looking for him, even though she would deny it up and down. She looked over at the door and remembered a time when she and Troy had walked into an event like this, all dressed up, and walked out crowned Prom King and Queen.

He held her in his arms as she looked up at him. She hadn't even told Taylor or Sharpay that he had asked her to marry him. It was their little secret, and for now, that's what she wanted. He held her as they danced on the dance floor and it was as though no one else existed in the world.

"I love you, T," she whispered, her eyes shining brightly up at him.

His pristine eyes shining down at her as he held her in his tender embrace. "I love you, Lily."

She laid her head down on his chest, right over his heart, her favorite place in the world. "I still can't believe we're getting married. It's a while away still, but–" She quickly looked up at him. "You're still going to do basketball, right?" Shaking her head, she looked up at him, holding onto his triceps tightly. She wasn't anywhere near as strong as him, but she held on firmly. "I don't want you to put off or not do anything because of me, T!" She was serious, and she didn't want him to not do anything because of her.

He lifted his hands from where he was holding her around her hips, placing them around her neck, making her look at him. "Lily, shhh shhhh! Loook at me, ok? Ok? Look at me." Her eyes met his and she sighed softly. "I love you, ok?"

She nodded, biting her lip softly. "I love you, T." He smiled, rubbing her bottom lip with his thumbs. "We're goin to be together forever, remember? You're going to be off filming a movie somewhere. I'm going to be off with my team somewhere. We'll meet up in June and I'll be with you until preseason. We'll have downtimes where it's just you and me. We'll have a huge house somewhere. California. Beach house. Santa Monica, like you've always wanted."

She smiled, turning her head down slightly. She always loved the European buildings and the theaters. Plus, it had the best shopping. Who could go wrong? She lifted her arms up and wrapped them around his neck, lifting her feet off the ground. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she squealed. "T! I love you!" She did, not just because he said they could live in Santa Monica, but because of everything he said they could have together. She wanted that with him. She wanted everything with him. He kissed the side of their head as they heard the prom committee chairman speak from the microphone form the stage.

"And now it's time to announce the king and queen for this year."

Troy set Gabriella down on her feet and they both turned toward the stage. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his hands on her stomach, holding her against him. The chairman opened the first envelope, speaking into the microphone.

"Drum roll, please?" The drummer, a classmate sitting at his set on the stage behind the chairman, lazily but jokingly lightly tapped at the rim of the drum. Everyone laughed at him. "Very funny," the chairman said, shaking his head as he spoke back into the microphone, "not that it's any surprise anyway." He looked back up into the crowd. "Troy Bolton."

Gabriella looked back up at Troy, smiling brightly, turning in his arms, wrapping her own around him tightly. He held her against him as she whispered against his ear, "Congratulations, baby!"

He pulled back, kissing her lips. "Thank you, babe!"

She smiled, biting her lip and stepped back as he walked up onto the stage, letting them place the crown on top of his head, handing him his scepter. He held up his scepter and the crowd cheered for him as he shook his head. Gabriella clapped for her - she blushed softly - fiancé. He looked so... regal up there, so sexy. She loved it. Holding her hands like she was praying to her lips, she smiled brightly up at him as his eyes connected with hers. She mouthed "I love you" up to him as he mouthed "I love you" back.

The chairman stood back up to the mic and asked, "Can we get a drum roll again for queen?"

The drummer yelled back up to him, "Do we really need it? Just tell Gabi to come up here and get it over with!"

Everyone laughed again and the chairman shook his head, opened the envelope. "We have to follow the rules. But if I can't get a drum roll," he read the name in the envelope, "Gabriella Montez."

Everyone cheered and Gabriella smiled, not her usual smile, but the smile she usually gave to make others happy, walking up on stage. She let them place her tiara on her head and took her scepter, turning to Troy. Only then did she really smile.

"The king and queen will now share a dance together. Clear the dance floor," the chairman said, letting them walk down the stairs toward the center of the dance floor together.

"Did you expect this?" Gabriella asked as Troy pulled her into his arms.

"No," he whispered against the side of her head, holding her close to him. "You're sparkling," he said, kissing her temple. She blushed, not something she usually did, but it was something he made her do easily. "You'll always be my queen."

She leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'm not a queen, T. I'm just me."

He shook his head, letting his hand move over her back. "You're not just anything. You're everything to me. You're the person I want to be with forever, Lily. I love you."

She smiled, turning her face up to look up at him. "I love you, T, more than anything and I always have. Por siempre." She reached up, placing her hand on his face, reaching up to press her lips to his.

She'd said those words often enough that he knew what she meant. It meant forever. She was his forever and he was hers forever. She pulled back, smiling at him.

"You're my king, T. Forever. You own my heart and my soul. You own me. I'm yours."

He held her closer to him, leaning his head against hers. "We belong to each other."

The song they were playing couldn't be anymore perfect for the two of them. He didn't think it was the original song, a cover probably, but it was perfect. He was sure it was called We Belong, and it was true, they did belong to each other. It was a good song, probably a song his mom listened to when he was a baby, but as they danced to it here on the dance floor, he held onto Bri with everything he had and he knew he'd never let her go no matter what came, no matter what happened to them. He spun her out as everyone else started dancing with them.

They had picked the best song for them to dance to, knowing she'd not like a slow song to dance to. She wasn't like that. It had started out slow, but then it had picked up. It was perfect. She picked up her feet and started dancing around him, her smile big and bright just for him. He smiled back at her, just as bright. It was right, just for each them.

The night was perfect, and as they went home together, it ended just the way their nights usually did, making love. That night was magical. How could it not be when they had both been crowned royalty? They were in love and the night had been perfect. They loved each other and they didn't need anyone but each other.

And then she saw him. She was dancing with Julian, wishing her back was to the door like Julian's. It had been hard when he had been playing for the Lakers before becoming their coach. Seeing him on billboards, commercials for Subway sandwiches, antiperspirants, T-shirts, underwear, on the covers of Sports Illustrated magazines... It was easier now that he was their coach. Gabriella didn't have to worry about seeing him on the TV. If Jules asked if she saw his games, she'd tell him she was too busy to watch. She'd never missed a game of Troy's in high school. She loved watching him play. She had loved him getting all sweaty. It was really sexy, but it was different with Julian. She always insisted he showered before coming over to see her. Things were completely different with Julian.

Her eyes connected with Troy's before she could even pull her eyes away from his. It took everything she had to keep from freezing. "Ummm... querido. I need a breather." She smiled up at Julian, rubbing his arm slightly.

"¿Está bien?"

She nodded, avoiding the door at all costs. "Sí. Apenas un respiradero, querido."

He took her hand in his grasp, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Aquí l'esperaré."

She smiled, nodding before walking away from him. She needed to get away. There was only one place she could get away to without him following. The womens' restroom. She pushed the bathroom door open and walked directly to the counter, leaning over, trying to catch her breath. From behind her she heard her best friend and manager's voice come up out of one of the stalls.

"G?"

Gabriella lifted her head to look at her through the mirror as Taylor washed her hands.

"G, what is it?"

Gabriella looked down, pulling two tissues out of the box offered on the counter. "I should have stayed in LA. I don't know why I came."

Taylor rinsed off her hands, pulling a couple paper towels out. "You came because it's your high school reunion," she said as she dried off her hands before using the paper towels to turn off the fawcets, turning to toss the paper towel away.

Gabriella shook her head. "No, I should have let you come home without me and not asked for time off the set. You need to start staying home as it is, Tay," she said, resting her hand on her best friend's stomach.

Taylor placed her hand on her best friend's hand over her stomach. "I've spoken with my doctor. She says I've still got another month until I need to stop traveling, unless she tells me differently between now and then."

Gabriella nodded, taking her hand back, turning back toward the mirror and trying to breathe.

"Now tell me what you're doing in here, G." Taylor instructed, placing her hand on Gabriella's back.

Gabi looked at Taylor in the mirror, looking like she was looking for the right answer. "Trying to find a good excuse to ask Julian to leave with me."

Taylor tried to figure out Gabriella for a moment and finally decided there could be one reason for her run from the room screaming. "Don't you think it's been long enough? So you ran away from him when you were 18. You're 28 now. You're a grown woman. I know you miss him."

Gabriella shook her head. She didn't want to hear this, even though she knew she was right, she didn't want to hear it. "He's with Sharpay, Tay," Gabi said, making an argument she didn't even like herself. "I'm marrying Julian."

Taylor took Gabriella's hands in hers, looking into her eyes. "I've watched you for ten years, G. I know how much you still love Troy Bolton." Gabriella turned her head away from Taylor. It was the truth, but she didn't want to listen. "I've seen how you've hurt yourself over him. G! You ran away from your home and your friends because of your love for that boy!" Bri closed her eyes, turning her head down to the floor. "I don't care if he's out there with Sharpay. I want you to go out there and talk to him. Just walk right on out there and talk to him." She placed one hand on her hip and pointed toward the doors, her lips tightened in a thin line.

Gabriella stared at her best friend, taking a deep breath, shaking her head. "Tienes suerte te amo, cuchara." Gabriella shook her head and turned around walking out of the doors of the bathroom, heading back out toward the dance floor. Julian walked up to her and she smiled at him softly. "I need to do something. If I don't, it's going to bother me all night, querido."

He nodded slowly, rubbing her arm as she stepped away from him.

Gabriella laid staring up at the ceiling of Taylor's bedroom. She hadn't gone to school that day. She was avoiding Troy and she wasn't going to talk to him. Not anymore. She didn't know how she was going to get away with that one, but she was. She was breaking up with him, and they were through. No matter what, they were through.

"Do you have a ball or something, Tay. Something I can throw at your ceiling?"

Taylor shook her head, leaning down to pick up a tennis ball. "Here you go."

Gabriella took the ball from her and started tossing it at the ceiling, imagining Troy's face on the ceiling. They had done nothing but fight for the past two weeks and she hated it. She was either yelling at him or crying. She wasn't one to cry, but all she did during the past few weeks was cry. And she and Troy hadn't fought anywhere near this bad. In fact, she couldn't remember fighting with him near this bad, or this much ever. It was horrible and she knew if she didn't end things with him, she'd destroy him.

They heard a knock on the door downstairs and Taylor said she'd be right back, leaving Gabi to toss the ball at Troy's imaginary image on the ceiling. Downstairs, Taylor opened the door, rolling her eyes when she saw Troy standing on the front porch. She silently cursed Chad in her head. She was already half way over to his house in her mind, ready to chew him out for betraying her confidence. He wasn't supposed to tell Troy that Gabi was here.

"Where is she, Taylor?"

Taylor shook her head. "Who?" she played up her coy innocence as much as possible.

Troy shook his head, about to tell her Chad told him she was here when Gabriella called from upstairs, "Tay, do you have any strawberry ice cream? Strawberry syrup? Mmmmm! And some strawberries?" Her favorite food was strawberries, that Troy knew, but right now, he just needed to get up to her.

"She's not here," Taylor said, standing in front of the door, holding it firm. But she was only a girl and Troy wasn't leaving without seeing Bri. He pushed the door open, causing her to land against the wall, not hard enough to hurt her, but enough to get the door out of her hand and let him through.

"I wasn't born yesterday, Taylor! I just heard her and Chad told me she was here. If you want to yell at someone, go yell at him. He's waiting for it anyway," he told her, running up the stairs. He ran up into the room, kicking it open, startling the daydreaming Gabriella. She missed the ball and it came down, hitting her in the breast. "How long did you think you could avoid me?"

She sat up, glaring at him when he came barreling in the door, looking at it behind him, then back at him. "I don't think Tay really wants you in her room."

He completely ignored her and turned to shut the door before turning back to face her. "I'm not leaving. Not until we talk."

He sat down on the bottom of the bed and she shook her head, pushing herself off the bed, walking over to the window. "Talk to yourself. I'm not talking to you."

He stood, not giving up. Following her over to the window. "Why do you want to do this? Whenever we talk, we just fight! I'm not in the mood for another one!"

He turned her to face him and she glared up at him. "That's because you refuse to listen."

She pulled her arms from him. "Listen to what? You yelling at me?"

He got right up in her face, yelling right down at her, "I don't yell!"

She was two seconds away from leaving him right there. She didn't want to do this, especially there in Taylor's house. No one was there but Taylor, but she had hurt Troy too much and she didn't want to hurt him anymore.

"What the fuck do you call that?" she asked, pushing him away from her.

She was sick and tired of this. All they ever did was fight these past few weeks. It was all her fault, but all they did was fight and she was ending it.

"It's called you being a fucking pain in my ass!"

She pursed her lips at him, breathing in deeply. "Yes, I am a pain in your ass, but you're a –" she took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Just leave." She turned to walk away from him and he grabbed both of her shoulders, prohibiting her from going anywhere.

"I'm not going anywhere, Lily!" She shivered slightly looking up at him, but not from the cold. The tears were going to fall and she couldn't keep them at bay. "I can't do this, T. I won't! I'm not going to do this!" She turned her head away from him, closing her eyes and he pulled her tightly against him. "Troy, don't," she pleaded with him, calling him by his given name because she wanted him to know she meant it, but he wouldn't listen.

"We have to talk about this! We have to talk about her."

She let go of a few shaky breaths, staring up into the eyes she loved so much. "Why, because it will make YOU feel better? I CAN'T do it, Troy! DON'T you UNDERSTAND? I just CAN'T! I CAN'T!" She screamed up at him. "Discuss her with yourself."

He shook his head, yelling back down at her, "You can and you WILL! We need to discuss what happened to our baby girl!"