Back to the Dream Page
"I wish you were staying here with me this summer and not going to Los Angeles," said Troy as he brushed back some of Gabriella's hair from her face. "You know it's not too late, you could still stay."
"I could but then I'd be missing out on a huge opportunity. Troy, this is so huge to have a high school internship, those are so rare, even more rare than it being for a huge entertainment company!" exclaimed Gabriella. "I'll miss you like crazy but I'm sure you'll find some other girl to date this summer, being Mr. Hotshot and all."
"Tease all you want Gabriella but it's you who is going to be catching the eyes of all those California surfing gods or stars or what have you," replied Troy. "How is it that I am so attached to you after only such a short amount of time, six months of knowing each other and five of dating?"
Gabriella shrugged as she smiled back at him. "I don't know but I know I feel pretty strongly for you too. But that is what this summer is about right? Making sure through time, distance, people, that this chemistry is right and real? At least that's what you said last night."
Troy let out a sigh. "I know what I said and I do mean it, keeping us at dating status is the fair thing to do but if you were staying here, that would be a different story all together. Lifeguarding at Lava Springs still sounds like a hot job Gabriella."
"Right, but is it as hot as the opportunity in L.A.? Besides, I get to spend the summer with my best friend who I had to leave behind when I moved here. That's a rare opportunity for me," stated Gabriella. "How about you come with me?"
"No go, need to work remember? I already committed to Lava Springs. Besides, you are leaving tomorrow morning," returned Troy. "Guess there's no changing your mind then."
"No, I'm sorry Troy, but this is for the best," replied Gabriella. "If we both return without having a relationship with someone else, maybe it is the time for us but if not, then we just chalk it up to something that might have been. Casual and slow has worked for us really well, let's not rush it for the sake of having a cemented title before we part ways Troy."
Troy nodded his head in agreement. "You have a strong point there. All right."
Gabriella grinned as Troy pulled her back into his arms and she laid her head on his chest, right over his heart. "I'm going to miss you Troy."
"I'm going to miss you too Gabriella but we'll call each other and keep in touch, right?" replied Troy.
"Absolutely, all summer," said Gabriella.
"GABRIELLA! WAKE UP!" exclaimed Sandra as Gabriella finally woke up from her dream.
"Morning," greeted Gabriella before she stretched and yawned. "God, why are you up so early?"
"Umm, it's 10 AM," replied Sandra. "Aren't we supposed to be going to that barbeque with your friends?"
"Yeah, thank God I baked with my mom last night. Did you have some breakfast?" asked Gabriella.
"No, I just woke up myself. Hey, how are we getting to the lake by the way?" questioned Sandra.
Gabriella thought for a second then remembered she had called Taylor last night. "Taylor is going to swing by in, oh God, thirty minutes to pick us up. We better get changed. Do you know if Tristan is up?"
"No idea," replied Sandra as she started to pick out her clothes.
Gabriella got herself out of bed and brushed her hair out a little before she padded down the stairs to see Tristan sitting at the breakfast table with a bowl of cereal.
"Good morning," he greeted. "I hope you don't mind but I helped myself to cereal. You look like you just got up."
"You could say that and you eating cereal is perfectly fine with me. Taylor is going to be by in thirty minutes to take us to the lake. You going to be ready by then?" asked Gabriella.
"Sure," replied Tristan as he finished his cereal and stood up.
Gabriella picked up the bowl from the table before he could grab it and quickly washed it out before placing it in the dishwasher.
"Hey, I was going to do that," protested Tristan.
"It's fine, you're a guest," replied Gabriella. "Now go get ready!"
Tristan chuckled. "All right," said Tristan as he walked back to the guest bedroom but not without giving Gabriella a quick kiss on the cheek.
Gabriella herself hurried back upstairs and picked out a pair of khaki shorts and a blue tank top. She accessorized a little bit with a necklace and watch before she applied a bit of blush and lip gloss on her face.
Just as Taylor pulled up, Gabriella, Sandra, and Tristan were leaving the Montez home with baked goods, blankets, and a few other drinks and munchies in their hands. They loaded Taylor's car up, Gabriella locked up the house, and they were off.
Once Taylor parked at the closest parking lot to the barbeque area they chose, all four teens piled out of the car and managed to carry everything over in one trip. Jason and Chad were already on the grills, trying to get the flames just right.
"Hey boys," called out Gabriella with a smile as they waved.
Taylor quickly kissed Chad before she went over to the already set up blanket to put her stuff down. Within the next couple of minutes, Martha and Kelsi arrived, and then Zeke. Gabriella made sure to do all the introductions and unconsciously chose to sit on the other side of Sandra, putting her best friend between Tristan and her.
Sandra and Taylor both noticed but decided it was best not to say anything as they knew Gabriella would have a tough time with both guys she was dating being together at the same place today.
'Speak of the devil, here he comes, with Sharpay,' thought Taylor as she spotted Sharpay's pink Mustang pull up and saw the two come towards the gang.
"Hey everyone," greeted Troy as he laid out the blanket he brought with him as they finally arrived at the spot. "We're not late are we?"
"Nah, you're good man," replied Zeke, looking a bit longingly at Sharpay. "Chad and Jason are taking their sweet time over there!"
"Hey, we don't see the master chef helping," defended Chad.
Zeke chuckled at this. "I better go help then."
When Troy and Sharpay were settled, Gabriella felt herself being elbowed in the side by Sandra, who motioned to the newcomers with a tilt of her head.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Sandra and Tristan, this is Troy and Sharpay. Troy and Sharpay, meet my friends from L.A. who are visiting, Tristan and Sandra," introduced Gabriella.
Sharpay did a one over on Sandra but grinned as she took in the view of Tristan. "Christian is it?" she asked.
"Actually it's Tristan," he responded with a smile.
"Nice name, kind of like mine, unusual," remarked Sharpay. "Tell me a little bit about yourself."
While Tristan started talking to Sharpay from across the way, Taylor and Sandra both leaned over closer to Gabriella to take the scene in.
"So there's definitely enough evidence to support the theory that Sharpay just wants whatever you have," observed Taylor. "First Troy and now she's openly flirting with Tristan?"
"But he's not flirting back. And dang Gabriella, you have really great taste! Troy is way cuter in person than that picture you showed me this summer!" exclaimed Sandra.
Gabriella blushed as she ventured to look at Troy, who had stood up to talk to his buddies around the grill since Sharpay was busy talking to Tristan. He caught her looking though but smiled back at her, winking at her in the process, which made Gabriella blush more.
"Notice neither of them said anything Gab? They know they are each other's competition," stated Taylor. "Seems to be okay though."
"Please, you make it sound like they should be duking it out or something," replied Gabriella. "That is so far from what I want to happen today. And Tristan can flirt with Sharpay all he wants, just as Troy can. Not exclusive with either."
"But you want to be," said Sandra. "You are a romantic, have been as long as I have known you, albeit a year and some odd now but that is a long time. This means of course that you want to find your Prince Charming and settle down with him, not this free lance dating you have been doing ever since you ended things with Tristan last year."
"Wait, you haven't been in a relationship with anyone after Tristan?" questioned Taylor.
"Haven't had the chance and when Troy and I would have gone forward, I left for the internship in L.A. and he went to Lava Springs and evidently hooked up with Sharpay," returned Gabriella.
"But that's all they did, hook up, right? There's still a chance for you two to work things out and have that happy ending you want with him. You do still want that relationship with Troy right?" pushed Taylor.
"Or are your old feelings truly back on the surface for Tristan?" asked Sandra.
"Girls, come on, give me some space here!" exclaimed Gabriella. "I don't know what I want to be honest, what teenager does? Troy is one of the sweetest guys I know but it looks like he may have moved on with Sharpay. Tristan knows me better than I know myself sometimes and it scares me but he is also quite a bit of distance away from me on a normal basis. There's pros and cons to both and I'm starting to think maybe I should just be single and forget the whole thing with either of them."
Taylor and Sandra stared at their friend, taking in the confused mess that she was. "If that's what you want," said Sandra. "I just think you should go with your heart and let Tristan down easy."
Gabriella looked startled for a second. "You are insinuating that Troy is in my heart, not Tristan."
"Seems to me that's what it is. Look, I know you don't want to talk about the past and I know that Tristan seems to have changed, but as one of your best friends, I can't safely say that I see you two together without you getting hurt. You are too sweet and, don't take this the wrong way, innocent for him."
"How do you know Troy isn't the same way?" asked Gabriella.
Taylor spoke up this time. "Sandra may not but I do. Yes, Sharpay and Troy have been dating all summer but doesn't that mean something that he never went past that point with her? You and I both know that Sharpay moves fast, that she would have wrapped him around her finger that quickly if she could have. Look, I'm not telling you to forget what Troy did this summer by dating her but to keep in mind that he did basically what you did this summer, dated, albeit he did it with a blonde that is a bit too full of herself to really realize it."
Gabriella laughed a little at this last part before she sighed. "I don't know girls, honestly. Maybe I just need to spend some more time with both of them today and see what feels right."
"I don't pity you for this decision," admitted Sandra. "Although, does that guy, Zeke I think his name is, have a crush on Sharpay or something? He keeps stealing glances at her while she is talking to Tristan."
"Zeke and Sharpay? I don't know," said Gabriella.
"Truth is, he does actually," replied Taylor. "The guys figured it out shortly after the big championship game. I guess the saying is true, opposites attract."
"Well bless his heart," said Sandra with a smile. "All right, if we are going to get you to make up your mind today, you need to get up and talk to the both of them, starting with Troy since Tristan is otherwise occupied."
Taylor nodded in agreement while Gabriella just stared for a moment at both of her best friends. "I would if it was that easy but isn't it a bit strange? We just talked about how awkward this whole situation is!"
"Right but it is also only this awkward if you let it be! Come on Gabriella, how are you going to figure out what is right for you if you don't rightfully do the leg work and find out how you feel about both? Today is your perfect opportunity, especially since they don't seem to be coming to blows over you at the moment," replied Taylor.
Eyeing both girls, Gabriella knew they wouldn't leave her alone unless she at least attempted to hang out with Troy and Tristan so she got up and made her way over to the barbeque area, ignoring the feeling of Tristan's eyes on her. "Hey Troy."
"Hi Gabriella, come to make sure we don't burn the park down?" joked Troy, a smile on his face.
"Something like that," returned Gabriella. "So what's on the menu boys?"
"The usual, hot dogs and hamburgers," said Jason.
"And don't worry Troy, we brought Swiss just for you," added Zeke.
Troy laughed, remembering how he had sent a cheeseburger back to the kitchens at Lava Springs because it didn't have it. "Yeah, well what can I say? Cheeseburgers aren't anything unless it has Swiss. Kind of how a guy really isn't a real guy without the perfect girl," stated Troy, his blue eyes looking directly into Gabriella's brown, making her blush.
Chad and Zeke caught this little exchange and both smirked, both happy to see that Troy and Gabriella clearly had that chemistry they shared before Gabriella left for L.A. "You think they'll be together by Homecoming?" asked Zeke.
Chad laughed. "Are you kidding me? My boy Troy is not dumb, he knows Sharpay isn't the real thing for him. He'll have her to himself in three weeks tops."
"What about Tristan though?" asked Jason, jumping into the conversation.
Chad looked over and saw Tristan grinning back at Sharpay, who was doing her fake giggle at the moment. "If he's into Gab, he sure has a hell of a way of showing it. He keeps that up and that guy has nothing on Troy. Now, Troy just has to keep from blowing it."
Oblivious to the side conversation going on a few feet away, Troy walked over to Gabriella and gave her his best smile. "You still look beautiful when you blush like that Ella."
"And leave it up to you to make me blush like this," murmured Gabriella, finding herself somehow transfixed by Troy's gaze, finding the warm feeling she used to always have with Troy course through her body again.
"Aww, I'm touched, only I bring out the blush?" teased Troy, smirking a little now.
Gabriella felt her cheeks grow warmer at this. "No, you just take the most delight out of it."
Troy chuckled. "I guess I do," agreed Troy, surprising her by leaning and kissing her on the right cheek and then the left before holding her hand in his for a moment before forcing himself to let go. "I can't resist nature's true beauty."
"Wow, what the summer has created and left in one Troy Bolton. I don't remember you being so flirty before," commented Gabriella, sad that he had dropped her hand so quickly.
"Oh, it's been there, I think I've just gotten over the shyness around you is all. So I know we talked about us talking about us and things next week. Can I take you out for dinner on Friday night? Spend some 'us' time together?" asked Troy, hope in his eyes.
Without hesitation, Gabriella nodded her head. "I'd like that Troy, really."
"Troy!" called out a familiar high-toned voice. "Can you bring me a glass of iced tea?"
Troy barely suppressed a groan much to Gabriella's amusement, along with the other guys who were still barbequing.
"Best go fetch Troy," teased Chad, chuckling a little at Troy's annoyed face. "Hey, you chose her!"
Troy glared at his best friend before leaning to his right a little to force a grin on his face. "I'll be right there Sharpay!" returned Troy, leaning back so he was looking back at Gabriella whose brown eyes were dancing with laughter. "You think this is so funny too don't you?"
"As Chad said, you chose her," teased Gabriella, quickly leaning up and kissing Troy's cheek. "Talk to you later Wildcat."
Troy turned his head and watched her walk back to where Sandra and Taylor were sitting, instantly getting into a deep conversation with them before all three girls burst into laughter. He stayed motionless as he watched Gabriella throw her head back in laughter at something else Sandra said, grinning as he soaked in the scene in front of him that he had unknowingly missed a lot over the summer. As soon as Tristan joined the three girls though, Troy forced himself to look away, not wanting to see the other guy who held Gabriella's affections with her. Instead, he went over to the picnic table with the drinks and poured a pitcher someone made of iced tea and brought the glass over to Sharpay, sitting down next to her after she took the plastic cup from him.
"No lemon?" asked Sharpay, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "Ice?"
"Sorry Sharpay, no lemons and the only ice is what's in the cooler with the cans of soda and some other chilled items. I didn't think you wanted those," replied Troy, knowing that Sharpay would rather drink the iced tea as it was than have dirty ice cubes in her cup.
"You know me so well," purred Sharpay, leaning her blonde head on Troy's shoulder. "I'm so glad we came to the picnic together Troy."
Lucky for Troy, he didn't have to answer as Sharpay continued talking about something he was absentmindedly responding too while he watched Gabriella talk with Sandra, Taylor, and Tristan, who currently had an arm wrapped around Gabriella's shoulders. Troy pushed down a flare of jealousy he felt at seeing this as he thought, 'That has to mean something, right? The fact that I can't get Gabriella out of my mind since she appeared at the party and now, when I have Sharpay in my arms per se and am still gazing longingly at the girl I definitely had feelings for in the spring and seem to still. They are so different too, like night and day. One's high maintenance but very outgoing while the other is down to earth but very intellectual, as evidenced by her scoring a rare internship this summer. I think I know what I'm going to say on Friday night but what of her?'