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The following morning, Gabriella, Sandra, and Tristan woke up and decided to go to another favorite diner of Gabriella's that she claimed served the best brunch in all of Albuquerque. Tristan and Sandra had quickly packed up their bags as they would need to head to the airport after the diner to make their flight back to Los Angeles. Now, two hours after waking up, all three were sitting in a small booth in a corner of the diner, menus open in front of Sandra and Tristan while Gabriella used the time to just gaze at both of them, memorizing how they looked in her mind. 'Silly to do such a thing but I feel like it's going to be ages until I see them again and I just need to remember this moment like all the others,' thought Gabriella before turning her head and smiling at the waitress who had just approached the table.
"Hi, I'm Maxine and I'll be your waitress. Are you ready to order or do you just want to start with drinks?" asked the blonde.
Gabriella looked to the other two and saw that both were ready. "Sandy, why don't you go first?"
"Umm, I'll have the scrambled eggs with waffles and sausage please," ordered Sandra. "Oh, and a tall cranberry juice."
The waitress wrote down the order and then smiled at Gabriella, letting her know she was ready. "The meat lover's breakfast, no ham though please in the eggs. A tall orange juice to drink."
"And for you?" asked Maxine after she finished writing Gabriella's order down, looking at Tristan.
"Actually, the exact same. Gabriella has great taste, apparently in breakfast too," replied Tristan, handing the menu to Maxine but keeping his gaze locked on Gabriella.
"I'll be back with your drinks then," said Maxine, collecting the menus and disappearing from the table.
Gabriella looked back into Tristan's green eyes and found herself blushing at the pure intensity she found there. "I have good taste huh?"
Tristan chuckled. "Well, you did date me right?" teased Tristan. "Your friends here too seem pretty cool for the most part. I think I speak for Sandra and me when I say that we had a blast with them at the picnic. They welcomed us like we were their own which speaks a lot of their character. No wonder you weren't so homesick for L.A. after you moved here."
"Whatever Tristan," replied Gabriella. "So you really liked them?"
Sandra nodded her head. "Especially Taylor, she totally is your type of best friend, kind of reminds me of myself in some ways. I'm just glad you are so happy here. I think I need to schedule another time for me to come out to spend some more time together, maybe on a break or a three day weekend."
"Absolutely, I would love that," returned Gabriella. "So are you guys nervous about the first day of school?"
"Gaby, we're going to be seniors. What's there to be nervous about?" asked Tristan, his confidence in himself showing. "We're actually the top of the food chain now, looking down. Life can only get better for us at school, trust me."
"Well unlike the stud over there, I am a bit nervous. Yes it's senior year but that also means it is our last year and you know me, I loaded up on AP classes to try to get early credits for college and I think I'm going to end up killing myself in the end," confessed Sandra. "I really missed you last spring when I had to study on my own for those exams. It's no fun without your best friend to bounce things off of."
Gabriella gave her a sad smile. "I know, I missed you too, just as I will again when you leave. At least with AP exams, we will be studying for the same thing at the end so maybe then?"
"Conference call studying? Might be a bit pricey but hey, if I get my study buddy back I'm not complaining!" exclaimed Sandra, excitement in her voice. "That's actually an amazing idea Gabriella!"
"Thanks, I get those every once in a while," joked Gabriella just as their juices were put down in front of them. "I'm thinking the final year at East is going to be fun but I know I subjected myself to self-imposed punishment with all the AP classes I could sign myself up for. I think the only classes that aren't AP are PE and Accounting."
Tristan scrunched his face up at this. "Accounting? Why the hell would you want to do that?"
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders. "Something different and I didn't feel like doing something like art would really help me in the future. Accounting will at least give me a taste of what a business course would be like in college and at the same time teach me important things like keeping things balanced and finding out the logic behind certain things. I think it'll be fun."
Tristan chuckled. "Still the same brainiac," teased Tristan, his green eyes twinkling with laughter.
"Hey!" protested Gabriella, throwing a sugar packet at him that landed between his eyes. "Not nice mister!"
Sandra just shook her head at this interaction, inwardly wondering where this would leave both of them in just a short amount of time when they were dropped off at the airport again. She didn't have to wait long as the three friends left the diner shortly after getting the bill an hour later, all three full from their food, piling back into the car as Gabriella drove to the airport, the car unusually quiet with the anticipation of the goodbyes coming. Gabriella parked in the airport's garage and helped Sandra carry her bags in, waiting in line with both Tristan and Sandra as they checked in and then walking with both of them to the security check point.
There was a moment of silence between the three before Sandra decided to give Tristan and Gabriella some time to themselves. "Umm, I'm going to the restroom. Gaby, can you watch my stuff?"
"Sure," answered Gabriella, knowing exactly what Sandra was doing as her best friend gave her a smile before disappearing towards the restrooms. "So…"
"Gabriella I know what you're probably going to say, I'm not stupid. You just want to be friends right?" replied Tristan, cutting to the chase, unable to deal with the nerves he was feeling in his stomach. "You want to date Troy exclusively?"
Gabriella found herself speechless as she stared back at Tristan who had the saddest look in his green eyes just then as he gazed back at her. 'Is that what I really want? I know Tristan has treated my badly in the past but he's so different and for him to come all the way here to give us a chance, can I just walk away from that second chance?'
"Ella?" he asked, growing more concerned as he just saw her staring back at him, her mouth a little agape. "Please, say something, even if it is a yes and a goodbye."
She nodded her head to show him she heard him before taking in a deep breath, thinking one last time before she spoke. "I want to be friends with you Tristan, yes, but to be honest, I don't even know if I want to be exclusive with anyone right now. Yes, Troy is a factor but he's got his own thing going on too."
"With Sharpay," provided Tristan. "Yeah, I noticed that at the park but the important thing here is what do you want?"
"In all fairness, I don't know," admitted Gabriella, giving Tristan a sad smile. "I'm confused and at the same time, I don't want to string either you or him along, that's just not me. I think, what'll be best for everyone, is if we just leave this as friends, as I plan on leaving it with Troy. Tristan, you've shown me that you've changed from that guy who cheated on me less than a year ago but if I'm honest with myself, I can't help but find myself wondering if you'll do it again, especially with all this distance between us. Don't think that I don't recognize your effort in bettering your past tendencies because I do, but it just wouldn't be fair to either of us to get into a relationship right now, not with our past and the miles between us."
Tristan nodded his head in understanding. "I guess then we leave it here, the way we left it in L.A., friends with feelings for each other huh? Can I at least see you the next time we are in the same place? Take you out?"
Gabriella smiled at his question. "Of course Tristan. I'm not going to not talk to you as soon as you pass through security. I just, it's better for us this way, no commitments to each other, no hearts to break that way. I hope you understand."
"I do, really. I'm just happy that you seem to still care for me, after everything that has happened in our past," admitted Tristan, taking her left hand in his right, bringing it up to his lips so he could kiss the back of it. "That means a lot to me right there Ella."
"Thank you Tristan for being so sweet and understanding," returned Gabriella, giving him another smile. "You've really proved to me that guys can change when they really want to."
"They do for the love of a girl they realized they had a little too late, after he's lost her," replied Tristan, giving her his own sad smile. "Well I better go. Tell Sandra I'll meet her at the gate?"
"Sure," answered Gabriella, realizing that it must be painful for Tristan just to stand there, having this conversation with her. "And Tristan, thank you for coming out and visiting. It means a lot to me."
"Anytime," replied Tristan before he leaned down and kissed Gabriella softly on the lips, smiling gently as he felt her return it. "Goodbye Ella."
"Bye Tristan," whispered Gabriella, feeling sadness seep into her heart as the two shared one last hug before he picked up his bag and walked through the empty security checkpoint queue, giving his ticket and ID to the official before taking it back and placing his bag on the security x-ray machine. Gabriella continued to watch as he took off his shoes and put his toiletries in a bin before shoving it all through. Tristan turned, sensing Gabriella still watching him, and smiled back at her, that grin of his that always melted Gabriella's heart, waving goodbye one last time before he went through the metal detector and retrieved his belongings on the other side.
A single tear fell from Gabriella's right eye just then, leaving her wondering if she had made the right decision with Tristan. "What if he is the one?"
"Ah, so you are still confused after all," concluded Sandra who surprised Gabriella by appearing right next to the brunette. "No closure?"
Gabriella wiped away the tear and looked back at her best friend from L.A. "No, there's closure, just the uncertain kind. I left it as friends with Tristan but with the possibility of still seeing each other when I'm in town. I know, I know, scold me now, it's not the firm answer I should have given him but Sandy, I just don't know if I really want to be with Troy and not Tristan or vice versa or with either guy right now. I mean, Troy has Sharpay in his love life and I have Tristan but I still feel the old chemistry between me and Troy while Tristan still has this way of tugging at my heart despite our ugly breakup last year. God, I'm a total mess!"
Sandra chuckled a little and shook her head. "I don't think you're a mess at all. Just your average, confused, love struck teenage girl. I've said it before and I will say it now, I don't envy your position at all. I will promise you though that I'll keep an eye on Tristan for you. It'll be easier I think if you know he's seeing someone else or whatnot. Based on last school year though, I have a feeling he won't be but I'll pay attention for you. Either choice you make Gabriella will be the right one if just follow your heart and not let your mind rule so much."
"You sound like my mom," teased Gabriella, giving Sandra a big hug. "I really don't know what I would do without you Sandy. Thank you for coming out with Tristan, it was a wonderful surprise. Oh, and he said he'd meet you at the gate."
"Thank you for hosting us! I'll be sure to come back out as soon as I get the chance. In the mean time though, keep your head up Gaby. Everything will turn out as it is supposed to in the end," said Sandra, picking up her bag that was lying at her feet. "Until next time?"
"Until next time," confirmed Gabriella, hugging her best friend before letting her go through the same security process Tristan had just moments before, walking back to the garage alone only when Sandra had waved one last time to her.
Gabriella drove home in silence, having turned off the radio of her mom's car as she let her thoughts wander while keeping an eye on the road. She really did find herself in a complex situation as she had old feelings turned new for Tristan but couldn't seem to get herself to completely forget the pain he inflicted on her before her move to Albuquerque while Gabriella also recognized her growing feelings and attraction to Troy who was there in Albuquerque with her, having only caused her some pain in freely dating Sharpay as was their deal. 'Ugh, I just need some real, quality alone time!' thought Gabriella as she pulled off the freeway and navigated the car back to her home.
When Gabriella pulled up to her house though, she instantly spotted a familiar truck parked along the street. Excitement filled her being while a sense of dread mixed in with her emotions for the moment, knowing she would have to have a similar conversation with Troy as she had just had with Tristan just over an hour ago. Gabriella got out of the car and locked it, walking around to the front of the house to see Troy sitting on her porch, giving her Troy's trademark grin that always caused Gabriella to smile back, as she was now.
"Hey Brie, I thought I'd wait for you to come back from the airport since your mom wasn't home," greeted Troy as he stood up. "I hope you don't mind."
Gabriella shook her head. "No, not at all. You look like you have something on your mind," commented Gabriella, seeing the intense look he was giving her. "Do you want to come in?"
"Sure, thanks," replied Troy, following Gabriella inside to the Montez's living room after she unlocked the front door. The two settled down on the couch, both staring at each other in silence for a few moments before one of them got the courage to speak.
"Troy, I think I know why you're here and I just want to say that I just want to be friends," spat out Gabriella in a rush, wanting to get the words out there before she lost her nerve. "I know we have some amazing chemistry and I really do like you but I'm feeling so indecisive now, it wouldn't be fair to expect anything more from you."
Troy blinked a few times at this, letting out a huge sigh as he understood the words Gabriella had just spoken. "So that's it huh? You're going back to your ex without giving us any further chance?" asked Troy, a trace of bitterness in his tone as he not only felt saddened by this revelation but also disappointed, having come to her house with a very different motive.
"No, it isn't like that," replied Gabriella with a shake of her head to emphasize her words. "I am telling you both that I just want to be friends. To be honest Troy, I'm confused more than I have ever been before in regards to my love life. Tristan and I have a history, a not so good one but he's shown me he's tried to change. You, well you I haven't been able to resist since we met at the lodge at that stupid teen party. You've been on my mind, even when I didn't want you to be during this summer."
"Then don't," whispered Troy back, blue eyes connecting with brown before he leaned in softly kissed Gabriella, gently holding her chin in his right hand. He looked back at her as he slowly pulled away a little. "Brie, I came here today to tell you that it's you that I want in my love life as you called it, not Sharpay, not anyone else. If what you say is true, that you still have feelings for Tristan, I can deal with that as they fade but what you and I have now, this opportunity, I don't want to blow it like I almost did already. Please Brie, give us a fair shot this school year and possibly more."
Gabriella stared back into those cerulean eyes of his, struggling to do the right thing while her heart was still aflutter from their kiss. "Troy, as much as you'd be okay with me being with you while still dealing with feelings for Tristan, I won't be. I can't be in the committed relationship with you if I myself doubt what is going on with us. Just please, give me some more time. It's a lot to ask, I know, but I just wouldn't feel right doing this any other way Troy. I'm sorry."
Troy eyed her a little longer before he resigned himself to this reality. "All right, if it is time you still want, we'll give it time. Just, don't make a final decision without letting me know beforehand all right? I want to be with you each step of the way in this journey of yours, even if it isn't as a boyfriend but as a guy who really likes you in that romantic, cheesy way."
She let out a little laugh at this. "I think I can handle that. Thank you Troy, for being so sweet and understanding."
"Well, you don't give me much choice when I want to keep you in my life as more than just a friend but it's a choice I'll willingly make to make this happen for us. We're still on for Friday night though right?" asked Troy, hope in his voice.
"Of course. Speaking of, weren't we supposed to talk about all this then?" returned Gabriella, arching an eyebrow at him.
"Guilty!" exclaimed Troy, chuckling a little. "I couldn't help but come here though as soon as I decided what I wanted but don't let that pressure you Brie. I can wait, honest."
"Thank you," returned Gabriella in a quiet voice as she allowed herself to lean her head against Troy's shoulder, taking comfort from the caring embrace he immediately wrapped her in, almost sensing on his own that she just needed to be held as her thoughts began to clear and she allowed herself to just enjoy her time with Troy, all her old feelings for him bubbling to the surface. 'I have a feeling I know what I will decide in the end but I owe it to both Troy and Tristan to give this the due diligence it deserves.'