Hey everyone! Thank you so much to Grace, Pumkinking 5 and Lia for your reviews on the last chapter. Yes, Lia Etrea were supposed to be a smaller island but then I figured out hey what would happen if it were larger and several ideas started playing in my head, so yeah. That's how that escalated, haha!

This chapter isn't too cheerful either and a warning already now, the next couple of chapter won't be pretty either. I am thinking about doing a quick re-write on the next chapter so it doesn't get to dark… As it is now it should not conflict with the T rating but I am concerned about what you as readers will think about the event.

School starts Monday the 20th for me but most of the next couple of chapters have been written and school should not take up as much of my time as last year. Finishing with all my thoughts and warnings here is chapter 26!

Monday 4th of February
Troy's POV
It was Monday evening and I were on my way towards her house. We had briefly spoken on the phone earlier and despite her not having said it, I just knew she didn't have a good day at school. I had delayed my visit slightly planning my surprise and waiting for the worst of the rain to stop.

Turning onto her street, the pavement was dark and the previous rain were illuminated by the dim street lights. I spotted her house and noticed that Maria's car wasn't parked anywhere. That would most likely mean two things, she was either working late or traveling again. Believe me, Maria were a great woman but I was starting to question if she noticed how much it hurt Gabriella every time she had to travel or work late.

Not wanting to take any risks about possibly encountering Maria I walked into the garden. Looking up towards her balcony the lights were on and the curtains closed. The light from her room reflected the small puddles and water that had been collected on several of the tree branches. I knew it were risky what I were about to do, but to me it was worth it. Quickly I tied the rope to the tree and secured the basket before I called her.

"Hey Wildcat," her cheerful voice greeted me. "How are you feeling?" she questioned concerned. "Hey Brie. I feel better but look outside your door," I told her and shifted my gaze up towards her balcony. I saw the door being pushed open and she stepped outside wearing a beautiful simple purple dress. "Pizza delivery," I said taking the phone away from my ear as she hung up. "Shh," she mock hushed me as she were laughing.

"Margherita pizza just the way you like it," I told her more quietly as I showed the basket that were attached to the rope. She walked over to the rope and started hoisting the basket up towards her balcony as I climbed up being careful of slipping on the wet branches.

As soon as I put my feet down on the white wood Gabriella looked on me, her face filled with concern. "Troy," she started her voice soft. "You need to be careful with your arm, and you're sick," she told me brushing her thumb on my cheek.

"I feel better Brie I promise," I reassured moving forward to kiss the top of her head. As my eyes locked with hers I saw the relief and the smile playing on her lips. "Come on," she said taking my hand as we walked inside her bedroom.

She closed the door behind me and put the basket down on the floor. I opened it and took out the folded picnic blanket, placing it on the ground. "I'm just going to grab something," Gabriella said and walked out of the room. I heard her walk down the stairs as I laid out the various items on the blanket. The last thing I did as I heard Gabriella walk up the stairs were to place the flowers between us.

"Mmm. It smells so good," Gabriella said as she entered the room with a lighter in hand. She moved around the room to light the candles that were placed on her desk and bookshelf. She placed the lighter on her dresser before she sat down opposite of me.

"What is a dinner complete without chocolate covered strawberries?" I questioned taking out the bowl. "How did you know Margherita pizza were my favourite?" she questioned stretching to take a piece. "Just a lucky guess," I said with a smile and took a piece for myself. "I am just joking. You told me some time ago."

"It's so sweet of you to remember such small details," Gabriella gushed. "Well I don't think it is such a small detail to remember."

"It's been so long since we have spent time together. I missed just being us," Gabriella told me with a smile. "I know what mean. I had never anticipated basketball being so crazy when Chad talked about us getting to the finals again," I said and reached forward to the glass taking a sip.

"You know that if you had called me a little earlier you didn't have to climb the tree. You could have just used the front door," she said with a smile. "I didn't know what your mom would have thought about it," I admitted to her as she sighed putting her pizza down. She looked down on the ground, her whole frame sinking.

"Mom isn't home right now," she admitted quietly. "She should be home a little later though," she said avoiding the question.

"I'm sorry to hear that Brie. She seemed to be gone a lot now," I remarked and Gabriella nodded sadly. I scooted a little closer taking her hand, squeezing it gently. Looking at her eyes tears were glimmering and they held so much sadness while her smile showed love.

"Hopefully it should get better soon. It's not long before summer break and hopefully we could spend some time together before I move away for college or mom moves again," she said and a single tear glimmered in her eye. I used my thumb to gently brush away the tear that left her eye.

"What do you mean?" I questioned a little confused. "Mom has always moved a lot due to work and when we moved to Albuquerque just after New year's eve last year she promised that we would stay until I graduated." She stopped and I understood what she meant. "So you don't know where she will move when you are finished with high school," I finished and she nodded.

"I guess that is part of the reason why I have applied for various schools. I know that mom will know approximately where she is moving by the time I have to make a decision," she confessed. "Where have you applied?" I questioned out of pure curiosity. "Yale outside of New York, Stanford in California, Royal college of Etrea, University of Albuquerque, New York university and University of Washington," she listed up.

"They are quite spread," I observed and she nodded. "Does it have anything to do about your mom moving?" I questioned curiously and she nodded. "Yeah. I applied for a lot of colleges on either coast because that is most likely where she will be relocated. Before we moved to Albuquerque we stayed in Iowa so statistically speaking…" she trialled off. "Luckily that is still several months away," I reminded her trying to cheer her up. "You're right. For all I know she could still end up staying in Albuquerque," Gabriella said and I saw at once she was not even convincing herself.

"Do you like strawberries?" I questioned showing her the bowl really trying to distract her. "Oh that looks so good," she gushed reaching forward to take one. "Mmm that was so good," she said putting the end on her plate.

We were just sitting there talking and having fun sharing the strawberries well into the evening. "Do you want the last strawberry?" I questioned looking into the bowl. "You can take it," she said taking a quick glance into the bowl. I picked it up holding it in front of me. "This might be the best strawberry you have ever tasted but you wouldn't know," I teased and looked at her as she laughed. "Well then," she said and reached forward to take a bit. "You were right Wildcat," she said as I ate the rest of it.

"It was great to spend time with you again Wildcat," she said as we were standing outside on her balcony. She had asked if I wanted to use the front door but I thought about Maria coming home at any time.

"I really enjoyed it Brie. Call me if there should be anything all right?" I questioned her and she nodded.

"I will. Goodbye Wildcat," she said taking my hand. "Goodbye?" I questioned surprised. She gave me a small smile stepping closer laying a hand on my neck, brushing her fingers through my hair.

"I meant goodnight," she told me softly and I leaned in to kiss her but she turned her head away so I kissed her cheek. "I love you Troy." "I love you too Gabriella," I said as I climbed over the railing and down on the ground starting the walk home.

Thursday 7th
It was Tuesday morning and English were just finished. Taylor were sick and had cancelled today's scholastic decathlon meeting during free period. Coincidently the teacher for Gabriella's class of choice had become ill as well and they had decided just to cancel it. Of course Gabriella had her AP classes at the end of the day that she had to attend. At this point Gabriella were now walking around the halls of East High to pass time. None of her friends were out of their classes leaving Gabriella alone.

Walking into the girl's bathroom she locked herself into a stall and it wasn't long before she heard voices.

"Ugh. I am like so pissed off!" she heard one of them say and she immediately recognized it as Brittany one of the cheerleaders.

"Why that Brittney?" the other voice said and Gabriella presumed that being Alexandra. Her follower who did everything that Brittany asked her to.

"Who Alex, who," Brittany corrected her glaring at her friend. "And it is that Montez girl. She is just a geek!" Brittany spat and Alexandra frowned a little looking at her friend.

"Think about it! How could she get someone like the Troy Bolton? The number one jock and most popular boy at East High. Just to top it all off he is the future king of a whole freaking country! She means nothing," Britney spat and Gabriella felt tears burn in the back of her eyes.

"I did some research and look at this," Brittany said and Gabriella heard the ruffling of a paper. "No way," Alexandra claimed. "Uhu, it's true. Second in line for the throne. Look who have been lying to all of us." Brittany remarked sassily.

For the second time within the two short hours she had been at school someone had made a comment behind her back about her relationship with Troy.

The exact same thing as the day before…

"Anyways have you done the algebra?" Brittney asked her voice fading as they walked out of the bathroom.

Walking out of the stall she turned to look at herself in the mirror which turned to be a big mistake. As she watched the first couple of tears broke free, the rest followed in a never ending stream. Gabriella steadied herself on the sink while she sank towards the floor and her hands falling towards the tiled floor. She began to cry with the force as if someone had just punched her in the gut.

Several minutes later the tears stopped and she wiped her sore eyes slowly getting up from the floor. She brushed herself off and dared to look at herself once more in the mirror. The girl that looked back at her she didn't recognize. Her usual tanned skin was now dull and slightly pale. Her once lively eyes were missing the spark and red from all of the crying. Her cheekbones were sticking out more and she was surprised that her friends haven't made a comment about it. Maybe they hadn't noticed or felt like they couldn't say anything…

She splashed some cold water on her face before walking back into the hallway ready to cover it up again.

Walking back towards her locker she tried to be productive and found her chemistry book. As she spun the combination and opened the door a white piece of paper fell out and landed on the floor by her feet. She didn't even have to look at to know that it was from Brittany, so she just curled it up and threw it into the locker along with the others she had received. Closing the door with a small thud, she slide down the door and sat down. The energy that were left in her seemed to drain away after everything that had happened. Pulling her knees up to rest her forehead on she only looked up when someone touched her shoulder.

"Hey Gabi!" Kelsi's cheerful voice was sounded as she sat down beside her friend.

"Hi Kelsi. No class?" Gabriella questioned confused looking at her. "No I were in the auditorium writing something for the musical but the piano were being tuned," she explained. "How are you doing?" she asked.

"All right," Gabriella lied and Kelsi looked concerned at her.

"Rough day?" she continued looking at her friend. "Something like that," Gabi mumbled. "There has been a lot going on," she continued.

"You want to talk about it?" Kelsi asked not looking away from her.

"No it's okay," Gabriella assured Kelsi, not really knowing how to tell her friend about all of this. "All right. Remember that I'm here if you need to talk or there is anything," Kelsi said sensing that she wanted to be alone.

"Thank you," Gabriella said giving her a genuine smile for once.

"See you at lunch?" she questioned standing up. "Sure," she replied and Kelsi walked away giving her a small wave.

"Hey Gabriella," Kelsi said as Gabriella approached her table during lunch. "Hi," Gabriella said as Kelsi hurried to collect her notes and books. "I thought I had to eat alone," she said putting them away.

"Nah. Thought I could join you. Both Chad and Troy are at practise so. Tried to convince them to eat but…" Gabriella said with a small smile. "They'll come around. The championship game isn't that far away so I understand that they want to get all the practice they can," Kelsi reasoned as Gabriella sat down with her tray.

"Yeah, Troy has been joining them despite his wrist. He is hopeful that it will heal enough so he can play if they qualify," Gabriella told her taking a bit out of her salad. "Did the piano turn out all right?" she questioned and watched the grin rise on her friends face.

"Yes! It sounds so much more beautiful now. That reminds me, we should figure out when we can practice with everyone. The music is finished but I want to hear your opinion. Do you have time this week or next perhaps?" "Yeah. Maybe free period on Thursday?" Gabriella questioned.

"That would be great," Kelsi agreed with a smile. "I can't wait to see what you all think about this musical," she gushed and smiled.

That was it! I know I said it wouldn't be pretty and I feel so bad for Gabriella, despite me deciding to write this... oh well..., but there was some fluff. I swear to you all it will get better in the next chapter or the chapter after that depending on how long I want them to be. Oh and also this has to be one of my fastest updates to date so I am sorry to say don't expect them to come this quickly. I had hoped to update on the 25th but as it turns out we are going to Sweden again so I will see what happens.

Your thoughts, ideas and opinions are always welcomed and I regularly check both reviews and my PM's ;)

Again thank you so much for all your support you guys are all amazing!

-FreeFlyingWriter