Thank you Grace, Guest and pumpkinking5 for your reviews on the last chapter! I am so terribly sorry that it has been so long since my previous update. Unfortunately, a lot has been going on in my life since last time and sadly writing, in general, had to take a back seat for a while. Luckily I am on my Christmas break and sick so I have had the time to finally get this chapter up!

Hope you all like it! –Sadly editing has not been done, so all mistakes are my own-

"It's a key to my house. I wanted to give it to you for valentine's day but I figured out our mothers didn't need to know. Whenever you feel alone or just need some company I want you to know that you can always come here. Now whether I am home or not," Troy told her and she wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you Troy. It means a lot."

Gabriella's POV
Monday March 3rd

After speaking to Calvin and Makayla about a week ago I felt like we had moved on from everything that happened during last Christmas. Calvin had apologized about what had happened and given an explanation as to why, which were pretty much what Troy had told me during the PE lesson. Everything had eventually returned to normal, and school were focusing more and more on our graduation in June. At my last doctor's appointment, they told me I were gaining the weight that I should but I couldn't stop taking my medication despite how much better I were feeling.

Today, our history class had been cancelled last minute, because our teacher was sick with the flue. After being told we were allowed to leave the class Troy had come up to me and questioned if I wanted to go up to the rooftop garden with him. So despite it being early March we were sitting on the bench in the garden. I was sitting on his lap with his arms wrapped around me keeping me warm.

"Troy?" I questioned him turning my head to look up at him. "Yes?" he questioned meeting my eyes.

"I just realized you never told me one important thing," I stated and he frowned a little. "What could that be?" he questioned puzzled taking my hand.

"When your birthday is!" I exclaimed and he gave me a small smile. It was nothing like the usual and he almost looked a little sad?

"I told you mine."

"How could I forget? Your born 14th of July," he stated looking at me. "I guess I didn't tell you because of everything going on, it didn't seem that important," he stated but I looked at him.

"Come on. Don't tell me we have passed it," I told him but he shook his head.

"No. I was born the 10th of March 1990," he told me and my eyes widened. "Troy you're turning 18 in a week!" I exclaimed looking at him in disbelief. He only shrugged his shoulders.

"It didn't seem that important with everything else that were going on. It isn't much to celebrate anyways," he told me gloomy, shrugging his shoulders. Studying the features of his face I noticed the light in his eyes were gone. The smile that he always had on his face just wasn't there.

"You're really not excited are you?" I questioned him quietly as I realized, and he nodded slowly.

"I used to be when I was a kid," he shared softly after some time. "According to this ancient rule when one turns eighteen one are legally allowed to claim the throne," he recited and I looked at him a little puzzled.

"If something were to happen to my grand-parents, my parents will be the one to take the throne. Now if they are un-able to it will be passed down to me and I am not ready for that," he confessed his voice getting thick.

I swore I could see a small tear glistering in the crocks of his eyes.

He looked away from me as I took his hand.

"Troy," I started softly but he didn't look at me. "You still have years to prepare," I tried to reassure him and he meet my eyes before I continued, "your parents will help you before it's time. I will never know what it feels like to have that kind of pressure but know that I will always be there for you," I assure him and now I could see the genuine happy smile returning to his face.

"Thank you Brie," he told me leaning down to kiss my lips softly. "You always make things better."

"I need your help," I stated to the other girls as we were gathered to practice for the musical. "Troy is turning eighteen next Monday and I really think we should plan a surprise party for him," I shared with them.

"That's a great idea. When could we have it?" Taylor questioned and Sharpay started looking at dates.

"If we want to have it as close to his own birthday as possible it should be this weekend, which would be the 7th or 8th," Sharpay shared with us all and they looked at me.

"I think it would be the easiest to do it on Friday. That's the 7th right?" I questioned and Taylor nodded. "I will ask mom if we can have it at my house. It would make it the easier to get him there without suspecting anything," I reasoned with them as they nodded agreeing.

"I can ask Zeke if he could help with food preparations. His cooking is amazing," Sharpay gushed and we all smiled. "I can try to inform the guys and make sure they know it is a surprise for Troy," Taylor volunteered.

"Regardless if we can have it at my house or not I can ask mom if she could make a batch of her brownies," I volunteered. "They are so good," Taylor gushed but we were interrupted by Ryan.

"All right, let's get back to it," he called us all and Kelsi smiled looking at me. "Come on," she told me with a smile helping me up from the floor.

"Mom?" I questioned that evening while we were eating dinner. "Yes?" she questioned looking at me.

"Could I have someone over on Friday after school?" I questioned and she looked at me. "Who would that be?" mom questioned interested.

"I learned today that Troy's birthday is next Monday and we thought about having a surprise party for him this Friday.

"I don't see why not," mom told me without hesitation. "Who would come?" "Just the usual gang. Taylor, Chad, Troy, Jason, Sharpay, Zeke, Ryan, Kelsi and Martha," I listed to her.

"Sounds all right. Would it be all right if you were home alone?" she questioned and I smiled. "If we could," I told her smiling slightly. "A couple of people from work are planning on going out next Friday for a drink. We shouldn't be too late," Maria told her daughter.

"That's fine," Gabriella told her mother. "Would you need any help?" she questioned me and I nodded.

"Sharpay were going to ask Zeke if he could make some food, mostly American dishes, but if you could make a batch of your brownies," I questioned her.

"I can do that. Let me know if there should be anything else."

Friday March 7th

"So I will ask him to come over a little while later. How much time would we need?" I questioned Taylor who looked over at Zeke.

"About an hour?" he suggested.

"Sounds good. Then I'll ask him to come around five?" I questioned them and they nodded. "Chad told me he has his car and the same with Sharpay so we are probably going to drive there. Is your mom home?" Taylor questioned looking at me.

"I don't think she will be. She told me here the other day she wouldn't be home until later in the evening," I told her. "So if I am walking home with Troy then you'll need this," I told her and gave her the key.

"Thank you. Hopefully we would have started by the time you come home. Were your mom going to make the brownies?" Taylor wondered. "Yes, she put the batch in the fridge so all we had to do is bake it," I reported to her.

"Got it. I will send you a text if there is something urgent but we should manage until you come," Taylor assured her friend. "Good. I have to see if I find Troy before practice. See you," I told them and hurried out of the room.

Walking down the hallway towards our lockers I found Troy not long after. "Hey Troy. So I was wondering if you would come over a little later? Mom reminded me about something I had to do after school so I have to postpone it a little," I told him and he nodded.

"That's fine. What time then?" he questioned me. "Around four?" "Sounds good. I have to run, if not I'll be late for practice," he excused himself closing his locker door.

"Okay. Walk together after school?" I questioned and he nodded. "I'd love too," he answered me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before he hurried down the hallway. My hand went up to touch my cheek and a smile formed on my lips.

He had no idea.

"How is everything going?" I questioned Taylor as I found her in the kitchen along with Zeke.

"We're good here. Zeke is working on the food which should be ready in time," Taylor told her friend and looked at Zeke for confirmation. "Yes we are good here," Zeke confirmed putting a lid on a pot.

"Good it smells really good," Gabriella said with a smile. "I think you should check with Sharpay, Chad and Jason who are doing the decoration. Martha, Ryan and Kelsi are somewhere discussing something about the musical," Taylor informed her friend.

"Yell if you need anything," I told them before walking into the living room. Chad and Jason were currently blowing up a pack of balloons while Sharpay were tying several of them together.

"Everything all right?" I questioned looking at the three of them.

"We're great," Chad assured her tying a knot on the balloon. "Yeah," Jason breathed looking at the half inflated balloon. He shook his head before he started inflating it again.

"Tell me if you have any questions," I told them and Sharpay smiled. "We will," she assured me before I walked back into the kitchen.

"So when did you ask Troy to come?" Taylor questioned me as I were finding the plates.

"Around four," I told her looking at the clock. 3:40PM

"The food should be finished any minute now. We decided to wait a little with the brownies since they are best while they are warm," Zeke told me and I nodded putting the glasses on the counter.

"Sounds good," I agreed turning to find the silver wear. "Is there anything we're missing?" I questioned Taylor as she looked over everything.

"I don't think so," she stated looking around.

"We're finished with the decoration. Do you need any help?" Sharpay questioned as she entered the kitchen a little while later. "I think we're just about done too," Zeke announced turning down the heat of the stove.

"Great he should be here any minute now," I announced just as Ryan, Martha and Kelsi came.

"So should we all hide and really surprise him?" Sharpay questioned looking really excited about the idea. "Really?" Chad questioned but Kelsi had a smile on her face. "I think it's a great idea," she encouraged while Taylor and Martha were both nodding agreeing. Just then there was a knock on the door and I looked at all of them.

"Come on," Sharpay said and they all moved into the living room hiding. "Shh!" I heard Ryan hiss and I frowned while a smile playing on the corner of my lips.

"Hey Troy," I answered with the same smile as I opened the door. "Hey Brie," he told me and walked inside. Once I closed the door he leaned down kissing my lips softly. I blushed knowing that the others must have heard us, being so close.

"So did you finish helping Maria?" "I did," I lied nodding my head. "Come on I want to show you something," I told him and guided him inside the house.

Troy's POV

Gabriella seemed a little hesitant as our lips meet in a kiss. Did she doubt our relationship after everything we have been through? Studying her face as we broke the kiss I saw the same features as when we first meet. The shy and smart girl I fell in love with.

"Come on I want to show you something," she told me and lead me into the house. With her leading the way I noticed how quiet the house was. Could Maria really be home? Walking inside the living room I did not expect the sight that met me. The entire Wildcat gang jumped up shouting,

"Surprise!" I looked at them startled not quite grasping what just happened. Something warm were gripping my hand and I knew at once it was Gabriella's even without looking. My eyes were still fixed at the scene in front of me.

After what felt like several minutes, but it could not have been more than half a minute, I managed to put on a smile – although it never reached my eyes. At any other occasion I would be much more cheerful about the fact that my friends had arranged a party for me but not this year. Anyone else would have walked straight into the crowd, despite how small or large, with a much more genius smile or enthusiasm. Not me - not this year. My feet almost seemed plastered on the floor making it impossible to move. But somehow I convinced them with my smile and managed to walk a few more meters inside the room.

"How?" I questioned puzzled as Chad had a bright smile on his face. "That's easy. It was all Gabriella's idea," he stated looking at her.

"Well, I couldn't have done it without you guys," she shrugged smiling a little.

"Thank you, everyone. I did not expect this," I told all of them and at this point, a genuine smile spread on my face. Sharpay glanced at me flashing a smile and her loud voice shot through the air breaking the short, but eerie silence, as she threw herself into singing happy birthday. Within the first sentence ending everyone joined her happily.

It was late. I hadn't looked at the clock for several hours but the darkness outside showed me it was late. Maria had never been home. It was just something she made up to pull off the surprise party.

"Did you have a good time? I know what you told me earlier about your birthday but I felt that we could not celebrate it," she rambled and I smiled.

"I had fun, Brie. Thank you," I told her kissing the top of her head. "I actually enjoyed finally spending time with everyone and I am pleasantly surprised about Zeke's cooking and your mother's brownies," I grinned and she smiled.

"They are the best," she confirmed putting the towel down on the counter.

Looking at my girlfriend I could not help but smile. Never in a million years did I ever think that I would be granted the opportunity to live a seemingly normal life. Of course, my parents were wonderful and tried their very best during my childhood but it had its limitations by being who we are.

As a result, my parents did not tell me who I was until the year I started school. Believe me, I do not grudge their decision, but it made me have to find my place in society once again. All while I was starting first grade that same year.

I meet Marcus at school, who seemed familiar somehow. Turns out it was his father I thought he looked like, seeing as he was working in the technology and research sector. I had seen him around the castle a couple of times…

Marcus and I became friends pretty fast. He saw me differently than everyone else. He looked past the fact that I was a prince who might have something to do about his father's work? To this date, I still do not know, but I am immensely grateful for our close friendship. He somehow became the brother I never had, and for several years he celebrated Christmas with our family. Sadly, he announced to me about two years ago that they had to move away. They moved west to a town called Ueta. It is a good 8 ½ hour away by car so visits became rare.

Despite having him as my best friend school became a problem. As a consequence, my parents decided that it was for the better if they hired a private tutor for me. It really gave me an advantage in learning while at the same time I got the opportunity to travel with my family overseas. Therefore, by the age of eight, I could almost speak Thai, Arabic and French fluently. English and Japanese I spoke by the age of 3, and Chinese the year later.

The same year Marcus announced his move, I decided to try regular school again and I enrolled in the same school he would have gone too. It was strange to return and I got reminded once again why I choose not to attend public school. I was lucky after Christmas and meet some exchange students from abroad. They were from Japan, Singapore and China. I had a great time hanging out with them, but we never formed a close friendship. Today I do not have contact with any of them.

As a result of my best friend moving away and school not becoming any better I asked my mom if I could study abroad. After a long discussion involving my dad and my grandparents, we decided on America and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Just shy of a week later I started an argument with my parents about security. I did not see it necessary to have Ted, or security, shadowing me at school because no-one knew who I was. My parents, especially my father and grandfather, thought differently. After several days of discussions, we agreed on that I did not need security unless they discovered who I truly was or another threat arose.

Needless to say, the "talk" we had after I revealed that I wanted to tell the truth to Gabriella was not pretty. After some persuasion, they saw my side of the case and mom convinced dad that I was fine. Then again when the rumours around school leaked about who I was they pushed on the subject again. I narrowly managed to avoid security, but I do have a suspicion that they have organized some form of protection…

Needless to say the fact that I and my family haven't seen eye to eye on every subject I am still immensely grateful for everything they have done for me. I realised as I grew older how fortunate I have been despite being in the centre of attention. My family really did their best in trying to give me an almost normal childhood, and the people surrounding me really loved me for me.

Now as I have lived almost seven months in Albuquerque I have friendships that I want to treasure and memories I want to keep forever. Looking at Gabriella standing beside me, I only get a bigger confirmation about what I have experienced. She truly loved me for who I am and I do not intend to let her go.

I thought about Troy reflecting a little about his life as he turns 18 and I also wanted to sum up the bits that have been scattered across previous chapters. Did you like the way it turned out? Please let me know I always love reading your feedback!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

-FreeFlyinWriter