Feeling as if her eyelids were glued together, Gabriella pried them apart, grateful that her white curtains kept out at least some of the sunshine now invading her room through her balcony windows. She groaned as she rolled over onto her back, feeling the dryness of her lips, skin, and throat from the constant crying she had done through the night. 'Bet I cried all the water in my body out and then some last night,' thought Gabriella, rubbing her eyes a little before she turned her head to look at her alarm clock. 'Ugh, 11:06? I haven't slept in this late since, well, never.'

"Gabriella! It's time you get up and out of that bed! I'm surprised Tristan hasn't woken you up yet," said Mary as she gently knocked on the door before opening it and peeking her head in. One look at her daughter though explained Gabriella's unusual behavior. "Sweetie, what's wrong?"

Gabriella sniffled a little as she allowed her mother to gather her into an embrace. "Tristan… He and I ended things, well I ended things yesterday. I kicked him out after a big fight. I love him but there's just too much… history or something. Tristan even told me how many times he cheated on me last year which I admittedly asked for but it didn't make anything any easier."

"Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry you had to go through that, especially alone. So Tristan is back in L.A.?" asked Mary, kissing the top of her daughter's dark head.

Gabriella nodded. "As far as I know. God Mom, why does this hurt so much when I know deep in my heart that I did the right thing? To free him to love another who truly loves him back, the way he deserves? Despite our history together, he'll always be my first love."

"And that is exactly why it hurts so much. This is the first time you've ever had to realize that sometimes you just aren't meant to be, even though your gut used to tell you otherwise before. It'll hurt like this for a while but it will get better, I promise you Gabriella," soothed Mary, brushing back some of her daughter's dark hair again. "Everything will work out for the best."

Gabriella clung to her mother but nodded her head in acknowledgement, allowing some more tears to cascade down her face unchecked as she absorbed the comfort her mother offered, knowing she needed that and all the strength she had to get through this.

By the time Taylor was able to make it to Gabriella's house that afternoon, Gabriella had managed to gather herself together again, dressed in a knee length jean skirt and purple baby tee with her hair pulled up into a half-do. Mary had helped Gabriella clean up the glass from the broken frame and had disposed of the now broken picture frame, saving the picture to be tucked away in a box that Mary had also helped Gabriella put together. Everything that reminded Gabriella of Tristan and their history was now tucked away in a box, somewhere in the house that only Mary knew to help Gabriella try to move on and not dwell on the pain.

Mary had given Taylor a small smile, grateful that Gabriella's best friend here in Albuquerque had made it, and allowed the dark girl in, hoping that Taylor's presence brought happiness to her daughter. Taylor gave Mary an understanding look before she dashed up the stairs, halting only when she reached Gabriella's bedroom that was now filled with upbeat music from the popular music radio station.

"Hey, I thought we'd agreed! No rocking out without me!" exclaimed Taylor, smiling more as she saw Gabriella turn her head and smile at her.

Gabriella simply shrugged. "What can I say, I needed something to get me out of this serious funk and mood. Music is the best medicine!"

"Amen!" agreed Taylor, taking a seat next to Gabriella on the quilt on Gabriella's bed. "So, do you want to talk about it or fast forward to where I plan to take you today?"

"Well, I think you should know that I did end things with Tristan after our talk and I still feel horrible for it. He may have been a jerk last year and at the end yesterday but we had so many more memories and times where we were truly happy too. I can't just forget about those," said Gabriella, giving Taylor a sad smile. "But, as my mother and Sandy have made me realize, Tristan will always be my first love, no matter what, and despite how things ended, I'll always have him somewhere in my heart."

"Which I fully agree with. Tristan will always be that special someone to you but you have to remember too that breaking up also leaves you with room to look towards someone else as being the possible one for your future, maybe a certain Wildcat even. I'm not saying now, God knows it is too soon for you, but later on when you are ready, I don't think you'll be disappointed in what you did yesterday," replied Taylor, giving Gabriella a firm hug. "Everything happens for a reason Gab."

Gabriella nodded her agreement, pulling back and letting out a sigh. "I know Tay. I just hope this was for a good reason. So, anyway, where are you taking me this afternoon?"

"Well, I figured we could go grab some ice-cream at your favorite parlor but only after peeking in on the boys to see how their scrimmage against each other is going," explained Taylor. "I figured they'll need a cool down too but I mainly want you to get out of this house, get some fresh air, and see that life is still going on outside these walls. It's the best therapy my big sister and I could think of for you. What do you say? We don't even have to see the boys if you don't want to. Again, you'll know when the time is right."

After thinking for a few moments, Gabriella agreed to Taylor's offered plan. "Actually, that sounds like a great idea. I haven't watched them play in a while and ice-cream does sound pretty appetizing right now. I tried to go right after the chocolates last night but was disappointed to find the box in the trash. My mom must have finished them without me knowing."

Taylor laughed at the image Gabriella presented. "For some reason girl, I have a hard time seeing skinny little you with puffed out cheeks filled with chocolate."

"Maybe so but it was oh so true!" returned Gabriella, getting up from the bed. "Shall we go then?"

"So we shall," replied Taylor linking her arm through Gabriella's as the two girls went downstairs and got into Taylor's car, heading straight for Troy's house.

Once there, Taylor and Gabriella both got out and walked up the driveway leading to the Bolton's house. They went around the side and through the gate, towards the sounds of a bouncing basketball and scuffling feet accompanied by groans and grunts. In addition to those sounds, Gabriella and Taylor could hear curse words being spewed, all from right around the corner where the basketball court was located. Not wanting to distract any of the boys, Taylor and Gabriella silently agreed to keep quiet before turning the corner, halting in their tracks as they saw Jason and Zeke both playing with their favorite basketball t-shirts on as they tried to block Troy's and Chad's passes and shots, both of whom were wearing only basketball shorts.

Both girls felt their mouths dry as they watched the sweat glisten on both boys' bodies, Gabriella with eyes only for Troy while Taylor stared at Chad. "Shit, when did those boys get so buff?" asked Taylor, knowing she had felt Chad's chest muscles and arm muscles before but had never seen them displayed like they were now.

"No idea Tay, no idea, but I certainly like," drooled Gabriella, unaware that the four boys on the court had stopped playing in order to sit down and drink one of the many water bottles scattered on the lawn. Gabriella's brown orbs just followed Troy's body as it moved, admiring its grace as well as its strength before she finally noticed that he had stopped moving. Her eyes traveled up his glistening chest, up his neck, and finally up his face until her eyes met his just after seeing a big smirk on his face.

"Enjoying the view ladies?" called out Chad, startling both girls out of their staring. "And you all say that we're bad at leering at you and checking you out all the time."

"Well you are. At least I'm not trying to peek down your shorts the way you do to me when I'm wearing a lower neckline that will allow for a glance at my chest," got out Taylor, satisfied with her comeback as Chad nodded his defeat on the point.

Gabriella allowed Taylor to grab her hand in hers as the two girls walked over, taking a seat on the lawn together between Chad and Troy. Before Gabriella could sit down though, Troy grabbed his discarded t-shirt and fluffed it out before laying it on the ground for her to sit on. "Can't have you getting all dirty with dirt and grass stains, right?"

"Such the gentleman," replied Gabriella, blushing a little as Troy kissed her cheek, keeping his still sweating body away from her a little. "Isn't this your new Celtics Championships t-shirt though?"

Troy shrugged his shoulders. "It is but despite that shirt being a cherished momento of an amazing season and championship series for my boys, I'd rather it be used to keep your own clothes clean. Heaven help me if your mother sees stains that will make her think we were doing something other than just sitting here, behaving."

Gabriella genuinely laughed, warming not only Troy's heart but also making Taylor smile more as she watched the two continue to flirt with true care for each other in their eyes. "There is certainly something more brewing just below the surface now for them. If only we could get it to bubble up quicker to help make Gabriella realize that Troy was the reason why everything happened this weekend," murmured Taylor, unaware that Chad heard her.

"What happened this weekend Tay?" asked Chad, taking another gulp from his water bottle. "Everything okay?"

Taylor looked away from Troy and Gabriella to look over at Chad, Jason, and Zeke, seeing the other two were now paying attention to her as well, and decided that they may as well know the truth. "Gab broke off her casual dating with Tristan this weekend."

"She what?" asked Chad, instantly looking over at Gabriella and Troy to see if they had heard them, relieved when it looked like they were only focused on each other still. "What caused it?"

"It was time, Gab felt it was right. Don't get me wrong, the girl is broken up about it, trust me. I actually brought her over here in hopes you guys could help me cheer her up, remind her that there are other guys, in particular one over there," said Taylor while tilting her head towards Troy. "I just want my best friend to be happy."

"Are you kidding Tay? Troy would be more than happy to help her forget all about Tristan," stated Zeke, wiping his forehead again with the damp t-shirt he still wore. "This is the opportunity our boy has been wanting for so long, well since he saw Gab at that party towards the end of summer at least."

"I mean, it's almost as if Troy senses it already, the way he's already laying on the Bolton charm on her over there," observed Jason, causing all four teenagers to look back over to where Troy and Gabriella were still talking, focused only on each other.

Taylor shrugged her shoulders a little. "He may be flirting with her now but I don't think he realizes that she really is a free agent and I'm not sure if she's even ready to tell him to be honest."

"What are you talking about?" asked a puzzled Jason.

"Gabriella found out some other things yesterday when she was talking to Tristan about everything, well maybe arguing may be the better term but anyway, I'm not sure if she will want to rush into a similar situation is all I mean," explained Taylor. "Anything more and you'll have to ask Gabriella herself. This is her story but I thought it best you guys know, so you can help me bring some happiness and life back into that girl over there."

Chad looked over again to see that Troy had managed to get even closer to Gabriella without allowing his sweaty body to touch hers. "Well, if that's all you want, I think Bolton has it under control."

Zeke, Jason, and Taylor turned their heads just in time to see Gabriella playfully shoving Troy for something he must have said before he quickly recovered and wrapped his arms around her body, securing her to his side, despite her playful protests. 'Chad just may be right, unusual, but right just the same,' thought Taylor as she watched the scene play out with another smile on her face.

"Troy!" squealed Gabriella as she tried to squirm away from him, desperately wanting to escape his tickling fingers as they ran over her sides while he managed to maintain his tight grasp on her. "Stop, I can't breathe!"

Troy only rolled his eyes, pausing only for a moment while he said, "You have to admit it though! Declare it to the world! Troy Bolton is the sexiest and most charming sweaty man there is alive!"

"No!" exclaimed Gabriella, laughing uncontrollably as Troy's tickling torture continued. "TROY!"

"Say it!" pushed Troy, secretly just enjoying having her in his arms and on his lap now.

"Fine! Troy Bolton is the sexiest and most charming sweaty man there is alive!" yelled Gabriella, tumbling to her left as Troy unwrapped his left arm from around her, letting her flip onto her back onto his t-shirt, still laughing. "Happy? I said it. However, I must add that Troy Bolton is also one of the smelliest sweaty men there is alive too!"

Troy just smirked at her while he laughed at her failed attempt to insult him. "Baby, what you are smelling is pure male musk. They could bottle this and it would sell straight off the shelves in minutes by adoring women wanting their men to smell like me."

Gabriella groaned at this. "Please! Conceited and cocky much?"

Just as Troy was about to pounce on her again, a female voice interrupted. "He's a guy Gabriella. That's like a natural talent of theirs," threw in Taylor, making both Troy and Gabriella look over at their friends, realizing for the first time that they were all staring at them.

Gabriella giggled a little. "I guess you are right Taylor."

Troy rolled his eyes at this exchange and decided it was best to change the topic. "Anyway, to what do we owe the pleasure of you two coming over on this Sunday afternoon?"

"Oh, we just thought it would be nice to get out and see the beauty that is outdoors before treating ourselves to some yummy ice-cream at Gabriella's favorite ice-cream parlor," answered Taylor, smiling as she saw Gabriella give her a look of approval as the brunette sat back up on Troy's t-shirt, running her hands through her dark waves. "You guys wouldn't want to join us now would you?"

"Duh, ice-cream after playing like that? We are so in!" declared Jason, getting up and bouncing on his feet.

"Chill dude, honestly. You would have thought we said a bikini clad Kelsi was waiting for you there or something," replied Zeke, chuckling as Jason did his best to glare at him before breaking out into a grin.

The rest of the group laughed at the pair before Chad and Troy both got up and then offered Taylor and Gabriella a hand up as well, Troy purposely pulling a little too hard so that Gabriella landed smack against his chest. Instead of pulling away immediately like he expected her to since Troy was, in all fairness, rather sweaty and sticky from playing basketball, Gabriella surprised him by wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his right shoulder before laying her head momentarily there. Those actions alone were enough for Troy to realize again how very fortunate he was to have this chance with a girl who really seemed to care for him as Troy Bolton, the average teenage guy, and not Troy Bolton, the superstar basketball god many other girls saw him.

'Not to mention she isn't high maintenance enough to worry about me getting her all sweaty,' he thought as he tightened his embrace around her, kissing the top of her head before Chad cleared his throat extra loudly. "All right Danforth, we get the picture!"

Gabriella reluctantly stepped out of Troy's arms but realized in that instant how very safe and well cared for she had felt just then, despite the heat and sweat that Troy's body was giving off and letting out. 'That has to mean something, right? A girl can't not notice all that while she's in the arms of a guy unless he means more to her than just a friend right?'

Seeing Gabriella lost to her thoughts, Troy just shrugged before snatching up his Celtics championship t-shirt from the ground and pulling it over his head after using a towel nearby to wipe his face and upper body of the sweat that still clung to his body. He threw the used towel up onto the porch, making a mental note to retrieve it later, and then led Gabriella over to the four waiting friends, making sure to hold her hand tightly in his.

It wasn't until Chad was onto his second double scoop Rocky Road ice-cream waffle cone while the small group of friends were lounging in the ice-cream parlor that Troy realized that this was the same weekend that Tristan was supposed to be in town. 'If he's here, what is Gabriella doing here, with us, with me, without him?' he wondered, nibbling on the bottom of his sugar cone, suddenly perplexed but not knowing if he really wanted to bring the subject up.

Gabriella cocked her head to the side as she licked at her Cookies and Cream ice-cream on a sugar cone as she saw the confused look cross Troy's features. She felt a soft jab in her left side and looked over to see Taylor also nodding towards Troy. "Maybe you should talk to him now. Boy could actually be getting smart on us and may be piecing everything together. Either that or he is just as bad as Chad now and is pondering whether or not he should get that second cone," murmured Taylor, being careful to not be heard by the three boys on her left of the booth.

The brunette sighed as she watched Troy absently pop the last of his sugar cone in his mouth as his now light blue eyes gazed out the window nearby, an almost unfocused look to them. "Troy? Do you want to take a walk maybe?" Troy snapped his head around and refocused on Gabriella, looking curiously at him. "Umm, sure. Some fresh air should be good for us and it'll give Chad time to make it to his third waffle cone and polish it off too."

Taylor heard and rolled eyes. "Seriously, you two know each other too well."

"Happens when you're best friends for so long. Where you going man?" asked Chad as he watched Troy and then Gabriella slip out of the booth.

"Just for a walk," supplied Troy, resisting the urge to roll his eyes as he saw Chad, Zeke, and Jason all make crude gestures before Taylor properly smacked them, or what she could reach of them. He smiled, allowing his happy mood to slip back into place, as Gabriella unconsciously slipped her hand into his while she started eating parts of her cone now. "So, what's up?"

They found a bench a few yards down and sat down, Gabriella still munching on her sugar cone. Troy watched her in silence for a few moments, wondering why she asked him to go walk with her. "Something on your mind Brie?"

Gabriella took her time and allowed the ice-cream she just bit off with the pieces of the cone sit melting in her mouth as she thought how to best broach this subject. In truth, Gabriella still hurt and was troubled by the previous day's events but also realized that Troy should know, that the past hour or two with him had helped soothe those feelings even more. "Well, what were you thinking about?" asked Gabriella, deciding to turn the tables on him a bit.

Troy blinked a few times, surprised that she was now asking him the questions. He scratched the back of his neck as he debated what to tell her, his eyes taking in the random passing of people on the sidewalk and cars in the street. Before he could answer, Troy's cell rang, a ringtone he recognized as his designated one to warn him when Sharpay was calling. He reached into his jeans and hit the silence button, relieved when the ringtone stopped.

"You could have answered Sharpay, I wouldn't have minded," stated Gabriella, surprising Troy once again.

"Either you are psychic or are way more observant than I give you credit for," said Troy, his eyes trained now on Gabriella's face as she polished off the rest of the ice-cream cone and then used a napkin to wipe her hands.

"I could scare you and say psychic but that'd be a lie. I'm a female, we're all more observant than males give us credit for," replied Gabriella, a small smile on her face. "I realized a few weeks back that it was Sharpay calling accompanied by that ringtone and haven't heard it for anyone else. Guessed it was an exclusive to her. Apparently, my hypothesis was correct by the look on your face and your reaction."

Troy rolled his eyes at Gabriella's choice of words. "Only a scholastic decathlon geek would use hypothesis as a normal every day word and yes, you were right." He heard a long beep that indicated he had a voicemail and rolled his eyes again as he hit the ignore button to clear the alert.

"Honest, you can check the voicemail, I won't freak," promised Gabriella. "It could be important."

"Are you kidding? It's Sharpay we are talking about here," replied Troy, grinning as Gabriella giggled. "It can wait, she can wait. I'm here with you."

As Troy brought both of her hands into his own and scooted closer to her, Gabriella knew that the time was right, that she had to tell him about everything from yesterday. "Troy, I have something to tell you."

Troy saw the change in her brown eyes, a change that indicated only something serious and possibly life changing was going to come out of her mouth next. "You aren't pregnant with Tristan's child and going to run off with him to get married in Vegas are you?" he blurted out, instantly kicking himself for his lack of tact and baring his insecurities out to her, fully, in all their glory.

Gabriella stared at Troy, shocked, for a few moments before she dissolved into giggles. "Actually, no. It has always been a dream of mine to get married by Elvis though, in one of those drive through chapels."

"What?" exclaimed Troy.

"Kidding!" returned Gabriella, laughing a little more now at his reaction. When she calmed down a few moments later, Gabriella tried again. "So Troy, in all seriousness, I do have something to tell you. Yesterday, well, you know how this weekend I kinda blew you off because Tristan was coming?"

"Yup, and as far as I know, he came, right?" he returned, wondering where this conversation was going to lead.

Gabriella nodded her head in confirmation. "Tristan is gone now though," she said simply, raising her eyes to meet the intense stare of his blue eyes that were darkening as he absorbed what she was telling him.

"Like gone back to L.A. to come back next weekend gone?" he questioned, not wanting to get his hopes up. Troy unconsciously squeezed Gabriella's hands a little tighter, showing her that he was just as anxious to hear Gabriella say what she had to say as she was to tell him.

"Tristan is gone for good, at least as someone who I'm casually dating," explained Gabriella, warmed a bit by seeing the relief and excitement mix together in those blue orbs of his. "I, well I ended that phase of our relationship with him yesterday. He should be back in L.A. by now."

Troy's heart rate picked up rather quickly, his excitement growing with each word she uttered, confirming that the day he had waited for was here. "Umm, I'm sorry?" he offered, making Gabriella laugh despite her mix of emotions that she was currently experiencing.

"Whatever Troy, I know you aren't," replied Gabriella, shaking her head at him.

"Well I am though," Troy defended. "If you are hurt in any way, shape, or form by what happened yesterday, I am sorry. And knowing you and the fact you never do anything unless your heart is in it, you did get hurt and for that I am sorry you had to go through that."

After Troy's right hand pulled away from her left, he wrapped his right arm around Gabriella's shoulders, pulling her body closer to his while her head leaned against his shoulder, resting there as both allowed comfortable silence to envelope them both. After a few moments of controlling his emotions and thoughts, Troy ventured to ask the question that was burning on his tongue. "What does this mean for us Gabriella?"

He heard her soft sigh before she pulled away slightly so Gabriella could look him in the eyes again. "I want to say that we can move forward from here, and I do want that, but Troy, I can't do that right away. As much as I adore spending time with you like this, and I know better now what I feel for you is true, I can't rush into this with you. You're right, I did hurt, quite a bit actually yesterday, and I need to give myself time to heal, time to deal. It would serve no purpose to start dating you more seriously right now when I'm still trying to recover, trying to find the final closure I need on this. In fact, I'm afraid it would be more of a disservice to us both if I did that and I want us to have the best chance possible Troy."

Troy listened to every word that Gabriella said, feeling his own mix of emotions begin to stir within him. He felt happy that Tristan and Gabriella were finally over but sad that she had to get hurt in the process. Among those feelings were also those of excitement that he had an even better shot of one day making Gabriella his girlfriend while he also felt disappointment in having to wait. 'But if she needs time, she needs time. Gabriella always has reasons for doing things, like the separation to date other people over the summer to avoid any ill will caused by stories one may hear of flirting or cheating or anything like that. Not that I would have cheated on her anyway but just the rumors.'

"Is that okay Troy?" she asked, her voice quiet.

Without hesitation, Troy gently kissed her forehead before he said, "Of course Gabriella. That doesn't change anything for me. I still want to wait for you and I understand what you are saying. I'm just happy there's still hope for us one day."

Gabriella gave him a grateful smile before she allowed him to bring her body closer to his, her head resting on his shoulder again as they both focused on their own thoughts at that moment, content that although this was a bit of a step back for Gabriella, it was a huge step forward for them both for the future.

Sharpay narrowed her eyes as she watched the scene unfold in front of her, hating the jealous feeling clawing at her from inside her gut at the sight of Troy and Gabriella being in each other's arms out in the open. 'Fine, you can ignore my calls all you want Troy but I will get you back, if for no other reason than to save you from that tramp,' promised Sharpay in her head as she continued to watch the two.

Her attention was drawn away from them though as her cell phone rang. Sharpay rolled her eyes but stopped as soon as she saw who it was. "What are you doing calling me? You have a job to do and so far it looks like you are failing!" she almost shouted into the phone, using some restraint as she remembered in time where she was, parked on the side of the street with people walking by her pink Mustang with its top down.

After hearing his response, Sharpay felt her jaw actually drop. "You absolutely cannot quit on me now! No, we have too much riding on this plan mister. I already paid you half of our deal too!"

Sharpay's eyes took on a more fiery look behind her oversized white framed sunglasses as she listened to the words from the other side of the line. "No, no, no! You are going to deliver on this or so help me God I'll find a way to get you for flaking!"

When Sharpay heard the distinct click of the line ending, she barely suppressed the urge to scream her blonde head off out of frustration at what just happened. "Fine Tristan, if you want to quit and be a wuss, I'll just show you what you are screwing up. I'm sure you won't be singing that tune after just a few of these pictures," she said to herself, pointing her phone at Troy and Gabriella who were still sitting on the bench across the street now conveniently sharing a sweet kiss. Sharpay made sure she saved them before she sent each of the four she took to Tristan's cell phone and email with the message attached to each asking him if he could really let Troy have his girl, if Tristan could really let go of Gabriella so easily when that could be him.

Satisfied she accomplished the most she could from where she was, Sharpay started her car just as she saw Chad, Zeke, Jason, and Taylor approach the couple. 'Tata for now you two but trust me, once I get Tristan back in the game, you won't know what hit you.'

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