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Gabriella paced in her room, resisting the urge to scream as she heard Taylor's continual pleas for Gabriella to come over and get ready with her, Martha, and Kelsi. "Taylor, I love you like a sister but please, don't ask this of me. I've already told Troy that I'd go to Chad's party tonight but I don't want to go all out, I still don't feel like I should even be going."
"Gabs, it's been over a month since whatever happened between you and the Evans twins and even more time, possibly more than two months, since Tristan, well since he died. You need to let yourself go and have some real fun!" exclaimed Taylor, knowing she sounded a bit out of character but recognizing at the same time that she really wanted Gabriella to enjoy the rest of senior year at East High with the rest of them. "I know you've made amazing progress, I'm not ignoring it, but I just want to make sure you enjoy senior year with no regrets."
"Or as little regret as possible… I get it Taylor, honest I do. Look, I don't want to be a bitch about this but I'm still taking it one step at a time and I know you are just excited about the party at your boyfriend's house and just the gang really getting back to where we all used to be. I hate being this killjoy but I'm just not completely ready to party hearty, okay? Please understand and trust me, I will be there, girl scout's honor," returned Gabriella, hearing a long sigh on the other side of the phone.
There was a pause before Taylor finally said, "All right, point taken, even if you aren't a girl scout. Look Gabriella, I really don't mean to be pushy. Hey, social things aren't huge on my priorities either but I just want to make sure you enjoy what you can of senior year. It only happens once in a lifetime right?"
Gabriella smiled at the optimism and social energy her best friend possessed right now, which was a tad different than the normal, studious Taylor Gabriella had come to know. "That is true. I'll see you at the party, k?"
"Deal. See you in a few hours Gab," Gabriella heard Taylor say before Gabriella closed her cell phone and put it on her nightstand, her eyes catching sight of the picture frame with the picture of her and Tristan still in it without glass.
She grabbed it and sat down on the side of her bed, studying it for the millionth time in the past month, still oddly okay with it not having glass in front of the photograph. The picture frame represented so much to Gabriella, just as it was. It was how Gabriella learned about how Sharpay had messed with Tristan's psyche, it represented a very happy memory with Tristan, and it also stood for the unconditional young first love Gabriella shared Tristan, even if it was only for a short while. As time had moved on since confronting Sharpay, Gabriella's appointments with Dr. Johnson had also decreased, now seeing him steadily once a week, having recently reduced it down again from twice a week. With time, Gabriella was learning to be stronger as a person for herself foremost, understanding that Dr. Johnson, her mother, Troy, Taylor, Sandra, and all the other friends she had were right in saying that Gabriella still had a whole lot to live for, for many years to come.
Despite knowing it was only what she thought of herself that mattered, knowing that Gabriella had the support of the rest of their little Wildcats gang, Chad, Jason, Kelsi, Zeke, Martha, and Ryan made it that much easier, especially after she told them about Tristan's suicide. As for the knowledge of her cutting, Gabriella had decided to keep that to those who already knew, ending with Chad being the newest with the knowledge, limiting even that group down to only Dr. Johnson, her mother, and Troy as far as what Sharpay really had done in all the past months since the summer.
Gabriella thought back to the past four weeks, the last month, and could visualize her progress, seeing herself get more determined to get better but also seeing her appreciation of life getting that much more deep. She still studied, hard, but Gabriella had made an active effort to also do more social things like go to more of Troy's basketball games and go with her mother to some of the community events Mary liked to go to. Tonight though, tonight would be a first, attending a party since, well, since the end of the summer practically, when she had first come home from Los Angeles and her internship.
Distantly, Gabriella heard the doorbell chime from downstairs and shook herself from her thoughts, putting the frame back down next to one of her and Troy, smiling more as she glanced at it before heading down the stairs. 'Who could it be in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday?'
A gasp escaped her throat as she peeked through one of the windows next to the door and spied Ian standing on her porch. "Ian!" she exclaimed, immediately throwing open the door.
"Ella!" he returned, scooping the brunette up into his arms, embracing her warmly and tightly before setting her back down on her feet. "It's so good to see you!"
"You too!" Gabriella replied, meaning it from the bottom of her heart. Gabriella and Ian had kept in contact frequently over the past two months, leaning on each other when no one else would quite understand, but both had seen in each other the same thing that Gabriella saw in herself, the slow healing of a wound neither had ever thought would heal two months ago. "What are you doing here?"
"What? I can't come surprise darling Ella? You don't have like a naked boyfriend running around the house or something though do you? That would be so awkward yet hysterical," teased Ian, grinning as he saw Gabriella's roll of the eyes. "You know, seeing you do that in person is so much better than just imagining you doing it!"
"All right, all right. Besides teasing me, what else brings you here?" asked Gabriella, letting Ian into the house and closing the door behind him.
Ian chuckled, shaking his head a little. "Always the observant Ella, a great people reader too. I confess I come on partial business but I did want to see you."
"Well I'm glad you made the trip but what's with this partial business?" queried Gabriella, taking a seat next to Ian on the sofa in the living room.
She sensed the change in Ian's demeanor before she even looked at him, seeing Ian nervously tap his fingers against the box in his hands before deciding on what to say next. "A big reason why I came is because I am here to give this to you, on behalf of Aunt Lydia."
Gabriella swallowed, her stomach twisting in knots as she thought of Tristan's mother and the last few memories she had shared with her. "From Tristan's mom?"
Ian saw how suddenly pale and quiet Gabriella got, understanding why she would react this way, the way that Ian had anticipated. "I promise it's nothing bad, at least the present is. I'm not sure what the note says but if you aren't ready, we can totally pretend I didn't come here with this in my hands."
As much as Gabriella would have loved to have done just that, to pretend that Ian didn't come with another motive than to just see her, something in the pit of her now nerve-filled stomach told her to take the package from him, to open it. Having learned from the past, Gabriella knew that her gut was usually right or at least was trying to tell her something so she listened to it, reaching out with her hands to take the box that was now sitting between her and Tristan's cousin. "No, I should look at this, whatever it is."
Ian just nodded his head, watching as Gabriella slowly put the package on her lap and stared at it for a few moments before lifting the lid of the small box. Gabriella decided to read the note that was resting on top of another box first, gathering her courage to read even more blame coming at her from Lydia. To her surprise though, the note's contents were quite different than she would have ever imagined them to be.
Gabriella,
You must be so worried right now as to what I could have possibly deemed so important to give to you that I sent my nephew to you. I know that you and Ian are close, probably closer now since Tristan's suicide, and I thought it would be good for you two to see each other again but also to make sure this safely got to you. If you haven't opened it already, the content of this box is something I think Tristan would have wanted you to have, what I have selfishly kept for some time but realize now belongs to you.
I know you and I never got along, I know that you probably think the worse of me as I have you. That's only fair. A certain blonde young girl though recently made me realize how very unfair I have been to you Gabriella. The girl goes to school with you and was accompanied by her parents who had come specifically to L.A. to see me. I think you know this girl and although she didn't speak of you much, what she did say caught my attention, of how her twin had told her that you had protected her name even when she didn't deserve it, and I have to say she didn't after what she told me. However, what I'm realizing now, with the help of my grief counselor I've been seeing, I hear you have had to see one of sorts too, is that Tristan took his own life for his own reasons and that nothing any of us could have done could have definitely saved him. What I'm trying to say in a not so elegant way here is that I'm sorry, for having made you feel worse at a time when you were so vulnerable. We all were so down and upset at that time and I took all my frustration with God and everything else on you, which was unfair and very not adult like of me. In fact, the picture of the girl I got when I talked to Sharpay reminded me of the way I know I treated you and this is in some ways a way of representing my apology to you.
There's quite a bit of water under the bridge between us Gabriella, but I want you to know that I recognize that Tristan really loves you, I'm sure he still does from wherever he is, and that I appreciate you being there for him in ways I couldn't be, wasn't allowed to be, as his mother. I still struggle on a daily basis with what has happened as I'm sure you do and want you to know you have one less burden to bear, I don't blame you for Tristan's leaving us prematurely, not anymore, that is if I even truly did before.
Sincerely,
Lydia
Gabriella blinked back the tears that had gathered in her eyes as she read Lydia's note, appreciating every word. In truth, part of the guilt Gabriella had been feeling was due in part to thinking that she did take away Lydia's son, not even necessarily in death but by allowing Tristan to visit Gabriella whenever he got the time, time he could have spent with his family. It had taken Gabriella some time but she had learned to accept the fact that it wasn't true, that even Tristan himself didn't blame her and that meant a lot more than anything else. Slowly with time, Gabriella had learned how to cope with the mourning and grief as they too subsided, leaving Gabriella to adapt to living a normal life to the best of her ability without someone who meant so much.
When Gabriella managed to clear her eyes of the unshed tears, wiping her face of those that had rolled down her cheeks, Gabriella was surprised when Ian was no longer sitting on the coach with her. She looked around and didn't see him anywhere. Gabriella was about to call out to him but remembered the box inside the bigger box and knew she had to open this on her own, grateful for Ian's sensitivity in leaving her alone.
With shaky hands, Gabriella took the small box out and put the original box on the floor, swallowing hard as she stared at it for a few moments before licking her dry lips moments before she opened it. Her breath escaped as Gabriella first laid eyes on the very same class ring Tristan had teased Gabriella with this past summer, telling her that he'd win her back one day and give this to her, despite how attached Tristan was to the ring. After a few moments, Gabriella dared to pick it up, shivering at the coldness of the metal as it laid on her palm, Gabriella first looking at the green gem that was part of the school's colors, green and black, amazed at how close the gem's color was to Tristan's own eyes. She gingerly picked it up with her left hand, turning it to one side so she could see Tristan's name with a football underneath and then to the other side to see what should have been his graduation year on the other with a Spartan, the school's mascot, below the numbers.
A smile ghosted on her lips as she recalled the pride and excitement Tristan always seemed to possess when he talked about it, this ring being the symbol for so many things to him. It was a representation of his favorite sport, success in graduating with a high GPA despite being part of so many sports, and so many other parts of Tristan's history that he had spent at that high school. Somehow, just holding it as she was, Gabriella felt even closer to Tristan than she had in the last few weeks, especially as the dreams stopped coming with him in it.
When Gabriella was placing the small box onto the coffee table, she spied a black cord lying on the bottom, realizing that Lydia had provided a means to wear the ring that would be close to her heart. Gabriella made a mental note to make sure to write her own note to Lydia later this weekend as she picked up the black cord and slipped the ring on, holding both ends of the cord while trying to debate on how best to make sure she'd never lose the ring while also being able to slip it off and on. 'Too bad I wasn't a true girl scout. I'd know how to make all sorts of knots or is that only boy scouts?'
Not thinking of any other brilliant ways, Gabriella decided to just tie the ends in a knot near the end of the cord so she had enough space to slip the necklace over her head while keeping the ring securely there on the cord. Feeling the weight of the ring was somehow a comfort to Gabriella, knowing that it was there, that it was a physical piece of Tristan. She smiled again as she thought of her ex, realizing that she would always love Tristan and would always make an active effort to remember the good times more than the bad. 'Strange, even with all of our problems, arguments, cheating, the whole works, I still feel such a pure bond with him.'
"You all right?" asked Ian, walking back into the room, seeing her glossed over brown eyes.
Gabriella looked over at him and nodded. "I think I haven't felt this good in a while actually."
"Good," said Ian, curious as to what his aunt had written Gabriella to change her demeanor so much but satisfied in knowing that whatever it was, Gabriella was the better for it. "Well, my job is done. I'm not sure if you have plans for tonight but I thought we could maybe do a dinner before I catch a flight back to L.A. tomorrow morning. You game?"
Gabriella was about to agree before she realized what time it was as she glanced at the VCR and remembered that Troy would be over in under an hour. "Actually Ian, I have plans already but I am sure you would be more than welcome tonight."
"What exactly are you doing?" questioned Ian, not sure if he wanted to tag along if it was a date night.
"My friends, mainly Taylor and Chad, along with Troy, they want me to go to this party Chad is having at his house tonight. Troy and I were going to get some dinner beforehand though. Please consider coming Ian! I really would like the chance to catch up in person," pleaded Gabriella, standing up from the couch and picking up the boxes. "They say it'll be fun!"
"And I think that's something we both need. I'm glad you have such awesome friends out here in New Mexico, Gabriella. I know mine have been my support system along with you and my family. Sure, why not? As long as it's cool with Troy though, got me?" returned Ian.
A smile spread across Gabriella's face again, nodding her head. "Oh, he'll totally be fine, trust me!"
When Troy, Gabriella, and Ian walked up to Chad's house after a delicious Mexican dinner, all three were immediately assaulted with the loud noises come from within. "Wow, you guys really know how to turn things up here in Albuquerque," remarked Ian, chuckling with Troy as Troy opened the door only to increase the volume of the noise.
Gabriella walked in ahead with Ian and Troy right behind her, her eyes searching the first room for any of their friends, seeing only kids that she recognized as classmates. The trio continued to walk through the house until they got to the kitchen where they found Chad, Jason, Ryan, and Zeke all chugging a beer in an apparent contest with Kelsi, Martha, and Taylor watching nearby.
"Hey everyone," greeted Gabriella, gaining the instant attention of the girls who grabbed her in a hug while the guys continued to chug their large can of beer. "I see we didn't miss much."
"Oh, definitely not unless you count watching your boyfriend trying to prove how manly he is by drinking an alcoholic drink way faster than he should a productive use of your time," returned Taylor, sarcasm heavy in her words. "Who did you bring with you?"
"Oh, sorry," apologized Gabriella, walking over to Ian, who was lingering near the entryway of the kitchen while Troy was busy congratulating Chad for finishing his beer first. "Ian, I want you to meet my best friend Taylor McKessie and close friends Kelsi Nielson and Martha Cox. Girls, this is Ian, Tristan's beloved and favorite cousin."
All four shook hands before Gabriella introduced Ian to the guys, who were all done now, Jason having let out a loud, deep burp for which Kelsi scolded him for immediately. "Honestly, how gross do these boy contests have to be?" she complained, rolling her eyes as Jason tried to win her over with his vulnerable, sad look. "Not working tonight Jason."
"It will eventually," Jason threw back, having known from prior experience that Kelsi would hold off on being annoyed with him for only so long. "So Ian, you want a beer?"
Ian looked at the freshly opened one that Jason was offering and shrugged, taking the bottle from the other guy's hand. "Thanks Jason."
"Good party man, as usual," Troy complimented Chad while they were both leaning against a kitchen counter. "I see all mixes of people here, very nicely done."
"Hey, never one to discriminate, right? Well at least these days," answered Chad, grinning. "We so have to hook Zeke up though, he needs a good distraction from his former crush."
"Emphasis on the former, although she does seem a bit more chill these days," remarked Zeke, earning a nod of agreement from Ryan.
"Sharpay is definitely far more level-headed than I have ever seen her before and that says a lot since I'm her twin. She still has her drama queen moments though, that's for sure," added Ryan, earning some chuckles from the other guys.
The group of teenagers fell into a nice conversational rhythm, using the time to just talk about random things while some of them tried to get to know Ian better. When Gabriella had gone to the fridge to pull out a bottle of water, she felt herself captured by two familiar and strong arms as Troy pulled Gabriella back towards him until her back was flush against the front of his body.
"Where exactly do you think you're going Brie?" questioned Troy, his voice low and husky as he whispered into her ear.
"Right here, where I belong?" offered Gabriella, giggling as Troy nuzzled her neck with his nose, freezing a little as she felt Troy stop only to feel the weight of the ring get lighter as it was pulled upwards. Biting her lip a little as Gabriella thought of how Troy would react, she held her breath as Troy managed to bring the ring out from under her green sweater, becoming more nervous the longer he held it in his hand without saying anything.
Unable to take it any longer, Gabriella turned herself around so she was now facing him, studying Troy's face as his cerulean eyes continued to stare at the ring before he asked, "This was Tristan's?"
Gabriella nodded, watching for any change in Troy's eyes as she did so. "His mother sent it with Ian to me. It's sort of a memento she wanted me to have as well as a peace offering of sorts between us."
She watched Troy forcefully swallow before he carefully tucked the ring back under her sweater, finally raising his eyes to meet hers. "That was good of her. How does that make you feel?"
"Better," Gabriella replied truthfully. "I think a part of me was holding out in hopes that this would happen but another part of me didn't hold its breath waiting for it, realizing that what she thinks is not what will make everything better. I'm the only one that can do that and I think it can only get better from today. Are you all right with me wearing Tristan's ring though?"
Troy licked his lips as he gave her question good thought. "Am I jealous? Yes. Do I understand though why you want to wear it? Definitely. You've come a long way though Gabriella, from two months ago especially, but we as a couple have also come a long way too. It'd be foolish of me to deny you something that clearly means the world to you just because I was a bit jealous of your first love."
"Thank you," Gabriella said, kissing Troy lightly on both cheeks before planting a tender kiss on his lips. "And for the record? Tristan may have been my first true love but I know you will be my last and that's such a deeper connection Troy. You've been through so much with me and have never let me down, even when you thought we were over. I hope you realize that you have nothing to be jealous of."
"I do but hearing you say that though makes it that much easier," admitted Troy, bringing his right hand up to brush back some of Gabriella's dark locks back, seeing some of the faint scars that still lingered on his hand and probably always would. "We both have our pasts but this, what we share, is all about the future, right?"
"I'd say so," agreed Gabriella, leaning up and kissing Troy once more. "I love you Wildcat."
"I love you too Brie," answered Troy, kissing her again for good measure.
"Hey, lovebirds, we're going to go dance!" called out Martha, an excited smile on her face. "You coming?"
"Sure," returned Gabriella, smiling back at her friends as they left the kitchen, taking Ian with them as he was busy talking with Ryan. "Guess we better follow."
"Guess so," echoed Troy, straightening up while he wrapped his left arm around Gabriella's waist a little bit more. "Who would have known at the end of summer when I saw you for the first time in months in this very room that we would have gone through so much between then and now?"
"Definitely not me but that's part of the beauty of life, the unpredictability that keeps things from getting boring and stale," said Gabriella, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"And my philosophical Gabriella emerges," joked Troy, kissing the side of her head. "Come on, let's go show those guys what dancing really looks like."
Gabriella and Troy quickly found their friends, who were all dancing together to the latest popular music, soon getting lost in the music with them. They continued to enjoy the fun atmosphere shared by everyone in their group of friends but most importantly knew in that moment that the bonds of friendship and love were stronger than ever.