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Troy stood up in the small room where he, Chad, Taylor, Tessa, and Sharpay were waiting now, as they had been for the past two and a half hours, to hear some type of news from Paul as to how Gabriella was doing. Nervous beyond words, Troy continued to pace back and forth, lost in his own thoughts and words to not even hear the comforting words the other four were exchanging with each other, Chad having a comforting arm around Taylor while Tessa and Sharpay hugged each other.
After another ten minutes, Paul popped into the room, a serious and upset look on his face. "You were right Troy. Gabriella's blood tested positive for what the doctor thinks is GHB that must have been slipped into Gabriella's drink by that guy you spotted leering at you guys earlier after the restrooms. We sent some of the team back for him but he was gone and no one there knew who he was."
"That's impossible though," argued Sharpay. "Gab only had bottled water and I was there for both."
"Did you buy them?" questioned Paul, turning his attention to the blonde.
Sharpay started to nod her head before she paled, realizing she hadn't. "No, that guy Fred did but I was there with him. We were the drink runners for the table."
"Sharpay, think clearly about this. Were those bottled waters in your sight at all times? Was this guy ever with his back to you?" pushed Paul, seeing Sharpay as the only clue in to how this could have happened.
She searched her mind, frantic now thinking she could have spared Gabriella another traumatic experience, and tried to replay the trips to the bar in her head, focusing on what the blonde guy was doing during each of those trips. "I can't remember. He might have. Oh God, I aided in Gabriella being in the hospital!"
Troy shook his head as he pulled the blonde girl into his arms, comforting her in the best hug he could give her. "You didn't, you didn't know Sharpay. The guy could have sneaked GHB into Gabriella's drink at any point without you seeing, especially if you had a full set of drinks yourself to carry. You wouldn't have even noticed from concentrating on not spilling them."
"Troy is right Shar, you couldn't have prevented this," agreed Tessa.
Chad slowly raised his hand, causing the rest of the group to look at him. "Call me dumb but what is GHB?"
"GHB is short for Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid, usually a liquid that is often used in date rape scenarios," explained Taylor, recognizing the term from her undergrad years as a science major. "It would explain so much like why Gabriella probably didn't detect its presence in her water. She wouldn't be able to see it or taste it as it is usually a powder that quickly dissolves into a liquid or a liquid base already."
Tessa paled at this explanation. "You mean, that guy drugged her water with intentions of…raping her?"
Troy's anger flared at these words, not at Tessa but at the guy who almost hurt Gabriella in the same manner in which Riley Sutton did years ago. "That SOB, if I ever find him," started Troy, jumping from his seat to stand on his feet again, stopping as he felt a gentle squeeze on his hand. He looked down and saw a still teary Sharpay looking up at him.
"You couldn't have known Troy, just as you said I couldn't have," returned Sharpay. "You saved her though. If it wasn't for you, God knows what that guy would have done to her. To be honest, I don't even know if any of us would have even noticed in time to save her from a déjà vu of an event she should never have to relive again. We are such horrible friends!"
"Hey, listen to me, all five of you," stated Paul, unable to witness anymore of the self-blame going around the room. "It doesn't matter about what we could have done or think about the what ifs. To put it simply, Gabriella is still with the doctor being checked out but she's going to live. He's not sure what was in the GHB as the doctor suspects it was home created but because Gabriella wasn't drinking alcohol with it, the effects aren't as severe as they could be, which is probably why she lasted so long coherently conscious. Just, please, try to keep it together. I don't know how much Gabriella is going to remember whenever she recovers but we're going to need to be prepared for anything, all right?"
Chad, Taylor, Tessa, Sharpay, and Troy all nodded at Paul before he got called back into the hallway. "God, he is such the voice of reason now," remarked Tessa, feeling new respect for the bodyguard.
"Yeah, no more humoring us because he had to because we were stupid teenagers," said Taylor. "He's treating us like adults, like equals."
"Hey, I resent that!" protested Sharpay, causing a round of laughter, even from Troy, as they all shook their head at Sharpay and her still elevated sense that she was better than the rest of them which still came out every once in a while. The tension eased a little from the room just then.
After another twenty minutes, Paul came back into the room, this time with a smile on his face. "Gabriella is going to be just fine. We're moving her back to your apartment Tessa and Taylor if that's okay. She's not awake but we want to get her out before daylight so it's not so much of a commotion."
"Of course," agreed Taylor, being the first to stand up. "Whatever we can do to help, we'll do it."
"Exactly! I just want to take our girl home, safe and sound," expressed Tessa, Sharpay nodding her head in agreement.
Paul smiled again at the group of best and close friends Gabriella was lucky to have in her life, even after all the years had passed. He looked over at Troy, who looked like he desperately needed to see Gabriella while also needed to do something with his pent up tension. "Troy, would you carry Gabriella for me from the stretcher to the car and then the apartment?"
Troy nodded his head, giving Paul a grateful smile. "Thanks Paul."
Paul nodded, leading the dark brown haired guy out of the room and into the room across the way where Gabriella still lay motionless. They waited for a few minutes for the cars to get ready before Troy scooped Gabriella back into his arms, securing his hold as she was now wrapped in blankets to keep her warm. While they drove back to Tessa and Taylor's apartment, Troy just stared at the brunette woman in his arms, silently relieved that color had returned back to her face along with the knowledge that she would be okay in a few hours when she woke. The doctor had said he would be around in the early afternoon to check on Gabriella again but that the worst was over.
When the car stopped in front of the apartment building, Troy got out and gently carried Gabriella into the building through the garage's side door into the lobby, following Tessa into the apartment and then into Tessa's room. After Tessa and Taylor worked together to clear the bed of Tessa's clothes, magazines, and CDs, Tessa pulled back a corner of the comforter and the top sheet, letting Troy gently place Gabriella onto the bed. He and Tessa worked silently together to unbundle the hospital's blankets from around Gabriella who was now dressed in only a hospital gown and her underwear, her dress having been taken off during the examination and now in Sharpay's possession. Once he was sure Gabriella was as comfortable as she could be at the moment, Troy pulled the sheet and comforter back over her, gently tucking her in and kissing her forehead one last time before pulling away, but not before he whispered his heart's message to her one last time that night. When Troy pulled away, he blushed as he saw Tessa knowingly smile at him, shaking her head a little as she left the room, leaving Troy to keep watch of the one person he was finding that he held above all others still, the true love of his youth and quite possibly the love of his lifetime.
Her forehead and nose scrunched up while Gabriella desperately tried to piece together what occurred the night before. 'God, I need to stop thinking, it's making my head pound more,' said Gabriella to herself, her head now resting in her hands, trying to massage the headache out.
"Hey, I thought I heard someone get up," whispered Taylor, smiling at Gabriella. "The doctor gave us some mild medicine for you to take to help with that headache. He should be around in less than an hour to check you over again. Want some lunch?"
Gabriella nodded her head, doing so carefully as to not cause any more pain. "Why are you whispering?" asked Gabriella, now looking up at one of her best friends.
"Troy," replied Taylor, tilting her head to the left.
Slowly, Gabriella turned her head and felt herself smile a little as she saw Troy sleeping against the wall next to the bed, a blanket thrown across him. "Has he been here all night?"
"More like all early to late morning, yes," answered Taylor. "Come on, I'll fill you in outside. Oh, here's some clothes from your bag I thought you may be more comfortable in than that hospital gown."
Gabriella took the clothes from Taylor and gave her a grateful smile. "Tay, what happened? Why am I in this gown?"
"I'll tell you outside. Do you need help getting changed?" questioned Taylor.
"I think I'll be okay," replied Gabriella, swinging her legs over, careful not to step on Troy, and standing up, wavering a little but happy she was able to stand up on her own. She went into Tessa's bathroom and washed up, taking her time in cleaning up and then putting the pair of khaki shorts and white baby doll top with multicolored flowers embroidered along the edges over clean underwear Taylor also gave her. Gabriella threw the used hospital gown into the trash and slowly walked out, pausing before she left the room to see Troy peacefully sleeping still.
Gabriella wasn't all that surprised to see Curtis and Paul both sitting on the living room couch, Paul especially looking at her with concern, while Chad, Tessa, Taylor, and Sharpay were sitting at the dining room table, Chad quickly getting up to let Gabriella sit down. "Thanks," murmured Gabriella.
"Here, take these," instructed Taylor, handing Gabriella two white pills and a glass of water. "Do you want a sandwich or a salad? We picked up both for you as we didn't know what you'd feel like."
"Troy will probably want the sandwich so I can eat the salad, thanks guys," replied Gabriella, unaware of the looks being traded around the table at the moment as she was passed a Greek salad. "So, someone want to fill me in on what happened?"
Sharpay dropped her mouth at this, only to pull it back up as she reminded herself they needed to be supportive and calm, which was currently a struggle for Sharpay. "You passed out in Troy's arms out on the dance floor. He carried you to the car and we rushed to the hospital where you were examined for a few hours. You had been slipped something by that jerk you were talking to most of the night."
"Fred?" asked Gabriella, following the story. "How? I had bottled water?"
Chad shrugged his shoulders. "Our best guess is that he opened it, dumped some out somewhere and slipped in the drugs. I think the doctor said it was homemade, GPS?"
"No, that's a navigation system sweetie," replied Taylor, gentleness in her voice. "It was GHB Gab."
'GHB, GHB, why does that sound familiar?' wondered Gabriella, paling as she finally placed it. "One of the common date rape drugs? The guy was working to rape me at the end of the night?"
Tessa heard the slightly hysterical edge in Gabriella's voice as she stopped eating and scooted her chair over to take Gabriella's left hand in hers. "Quite possibly but the key here is that he didn't succeed, right? You're safe, you're among friends, nothing is going to happen to you."
"But rape?" asked Gabriella weakly, flashes of an experience seven years ago entering her mind, images she had banished from her every day memory long ago. "Oh God…"
The four friends helplessly watched as Gabriella struggled to think about what she had just learned, all relieved when she seemed to be able to pull herself together again. After a few deep breaths, Gabriella returned to looking at her friends in the eyes, a brave front but one that she had mastered over the years. "I'm fine, honest."
Tessa just nodded her head, wanting to be there for her best friend in whatever capacity she was needed. "We believe you. Do you remember anything from last night though Gab?"
Gabriella thought for a few moments before she slowly said, "I remember us dancing, then having guys surround us, flirting with you girls. I remember talking to Fred the most of them while also talking to you three. I remember feeling really hot all of a sudden and tired, getting up for the restroom and telling Fred he didn't have to wait with me when there was a line for the ladies' room. He left and then I decided to just wash my face to cool off. I spent some unknown time there, trying to get control over feeling dizzy and slightly unfocused while also trying to cool down. Then when I left I ran into Troy, who steadied me. We were going to the table but then I heard a favorite and dragged him to dance with me. I remember feeling like I was in a dream state, that I think I started thinking I was dreaming, being back in his arms. After that, it kind of gets fuzzy and dark."
"Hello? Yes sir… Yes sir… Hold on," said Paul, getting up and exiting through the front door with his cell phone in his ear, giving Gabriella a look before he left.
"You don't remember anything after that Brie?" asked Troy, wearing a heartbroken expression on his face at that moment, clear to everyone in the room who was now looking at him that Gabriella wasn't remembering something emotional and important. "Nothing you said or did?"
She blinked a few times, trying to think of what he was talking about. "No, I don't," answered Gabriella. "I remember us dancing Troy, being together like it was old times."
"Think harder Brie, please," begged Troy softly, the pain in his eyes becoming too much for Gabriella to take, forcing her to break their gaze, instead looking at her half-eaten salad. "Please Gabriella, you must remember it."
As the silence stretched on, Sharpay, Tessa, Taylor, and Chad all exchanged glances, all four extremely nervous as to what would happen next.
"I'm sorry Troy, that's as much as I remember," replied Gabriella quietly, looking up just in time to see Troy shaking his head sadly before leaving the apartment, closing the door softly behind him.
Chad immediately followed Troy out, closing the door again, leaving the four girls sitting at the table, one very hurt and yet confused brunette among them.
"Troy! Troy man, hold up!" called out Chad, grateful that Troy stopped at the end of the hall, now leaning against a wall. "What's tearing you up Troy?"
"Evidently nothing," bit out Troy, bitterness in every syllable. "I just, I had hoped that last night meant something, that it was a confirmation from somewhere that she and I were meant for each other, that she still loved me."
Chad stood silently for a moment before asking, "What would give you that feeling, those thoughts? You're engaged Troy."
"I know!" exclaimed Troy, letting out a frustrated groan. "I know, trust me I know! I was up thinking about all this while watching over Brie to make sure she was going to be fine. You want to know what the hell happened last night? What she can't remember? She kissed me, or we kissed, I don't know who initiated but we both kissed each other! And, to top it off, she told me she loved me still Chad, that she missed me. It's like hearing those words from her mouth were the magic words to reopen pieces of my heart and soul that I forgot were locked away. To hear her say she didn't remember, it just crushed me man, totally and utterly crushed me."
"Wow," uttered Chad, completely shocked at this revelation. He just stared at his best friend from pre-school, unable to think of anything worthy of being said at the moment. Chad heard a discreet cough and looked to his left to see Paul standing there, a few feet away, an unreadable expression his face. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough, I just let the doctor into the apartment to check Gabriella out. Is that really true Troy? What happened before she passed out?" asked Paul, somehow not all that surprised that it had happened last night when he wasn't looking. He and Curtis had agreed with Gabriella to let her have some less guarded time while keeping an eye on her whereabouts. The last time Paul had seen Gabriella was when she was walking out of the restrooms with Troy, Paul not bothering to look again as he knew he could trust Troy.
Troy nodded his head, raising his right hand to rub the back of his neck. "That's what happened all right. It's burning in my memory like hot coals that don't want to be put out. Maybe instead of Gabriella having the dream it was me, some part me that desperately needed to hear that from her again after seeing her for the first time in years."
"I never understood why you two gave up," admitted Paul, being older and braver than Chad in this subject matter. "You went through so much together here in this city, you stayed in touch for about a year, and then it all just kind of tapered off."
"College happened, I got busy with school at U of A and Gabriella really stepped out into the Copanvy society as a princess while she also started school there. Our lives got hectic and we had one last conversation where we both agreed it was too hard to keep talking to each other like we were, never able to see each other. We wanted to be friends but neither of us were dating during that time period and we kept saying those three words, I love you, each time we talked. I think the time and distance just killed it in the end," reflected Troy, now finding the ceiling rather interesting as he thought about that time in his life. "We talked a few times after that but it wasn't the same, we were both so hesitant and guarded as to not be too flirtatious or affectionate that it just put a sour note on our relationship that deserved so much more."
"And then when she came two years after she left, Gabriella saw you with your then girlfriend," summed up Paul. "I guess that put the nail in it for sure then. I remember that night well."
Troy let out a dry chuckle that caught both Chad and Paul off guard. "You know, if I'm honest with myself, I'd admit that I've been Gabriella's since the moment I heard her sweet voice singing with me at that teen club on New Year's Eve. Even when we weren't talking, Brie has always been in my heart, in my mind, in my soul. Maybe that's why it took me so long to really settle with one girl."
"And now that you have, settled with Celeste and are planning on getting married, you're finding Fate a bit too cruel to bring Gab back in your life now, right?" replied Chad, knowing he spoke the truth as Troy nodded his head. "What are you going to do man?"
"What can I do? Brie is still a princess of some faraway land and I'm engaged to a woman who I've honestly cared and loved more than I have anyone else second to Gabriella. This isn't fair to Celeste, in fact I don't even know if she'll keep me around after I tell her about last night," admitted Troy. "I wouldn't blame her for kicking me to the curb, then I'll have two lost loves to think about at night."
"Don't do this to yourself Troy, please," pleaded Chad, walking over so he was leaning against the wall next to Troy. "I know it must hurt like all hell right now but think that at least you had some type of moment with Gab last night."
Troy scoffed a little at this. "And what a moment it turns out to be. One that she doesn't remember and that was probably drug induced."
"Come on Troy, stop this. This isn't like the Troy Bolton I knew when he was seventeen and I was the romantic cynic. I never would have thought you'd give up so easily right now," stated Paul, getting Troy's attention again as evidenced by Troy's gaze on the older man. "Yes, I think you are giving up. You say you love your fiancé, Celeste, but yet you are sitting here dreaming about a fleeting moment with Gabriella last night, admitting that you still think about her, feel for her, yet you are ready to let her go just like that, again?"
"What the hell am I supposed to do Paul?" returned Troy, a bit louder than he intended. "Gabriella is going to go back in a few days to Copanvy, you and Curtis with her, and I won't see her again for a while. How are we supposed to make this work? If not for the distance, there is definitely my inferior social class ranking as well. From what I remember hearing about her grandparents, I wouldn't be welcomed."
"That very well may be," conceded Paul, knowing that Troy spoke the truth there. "But you won't know for sure unless you fight for her, just as you fought for your 'Brie' back in high school. Look, I know you are engaged to another woman, I'm not trying to break that up, but I do want you to think about what you just said out here, what you felt last night. If something was so long and dead all those years ago, I find it hard that you would be feeling this all of a sudden now. Hey, my wife would be proud of me for that speech!"
Chad smirked at Paul. "You're married?"
Paul let out a little chuckle while he raised an eyebrow at the younger man. "Is that such a surprise? I know, romantic cynic and all, it's hard to believe but I got bitten by love's allure a few years back and now am happily married to Emma."
"Emma, that name sounds familiar. Oh God, Gab's psychologist Emma?" asked Chad.
Paul nodded. "That's the one."
"Wow, talk about unlikely!" exclaimed Chad.
"Says the guy whose fiancé has an IQ twice his own," teased Paul.
Troy grinned at this. "He got you good there Chad. Congratulations man, I'm happy for both you and Emma. You must find being married to your liking based on that smile of yours that's on your face when you just talked about her."
"I am happy. Oh, and that look? You were wearing it too a few minutes ago when you were talking about Gabriella. Look, here's some advice from an old guy. Take your time with this, think it through, but don't take too long. Gabriella and your fiancé both are wonderful women it sounds like, who both care for you a lot, probably even love, but you'll have to give up one for the other in the end. As for this idea that Gabriella confessed things out of being forced to by drugs? GHB made her feel like she was in a dream, it made her tired, it made her hot, it made her sweat, it made her pass out, but it did not make her say those things to you Troy. And I can tell you for a fact, she still feels those things but would never tell you now in a normal situation because she thinks you are happy with Celeste and is happy for that. That's just how she is," stated Paul. "The question is, are you really as happy as she thinks you are?"
"I honestly thought I was up until a few days ago. Celeste, she just is so down to earth and really cares for me for who I am, not because I'm some up and coming yet struggling basketball player trying to make it in the pros. We've had a lot of great memories together," confessed Troy.
Paul gave Troy a small smile. "Then maybe that's your answer Troy. Just, I don't even know why I'm telling you this, just know that Gabriella's window for you to be in her life is closing and it's closing fast. If you finish thinking and figure that she's for you, act on it before too much time has passed, all right?"
Troy and Chad looked at each other, stumped looks on both of their faces before they looked back to Paul, who had just answered his cell phone again and was walking back down the hall towards the apartment at a quick pace. "What was that about?" asked Chad, extremely confused by what Paul said and then the manner in which Paul walked off.
"Dunno but I sure as hell want to find out," returned Troy as he and Chad both walked back to the girls' apartment, opening the door just in time to hear Gabriella protest something.
"No! Paul, absolutely no way! I'm supposed to be able to spend more time here!" exclaimed Gabriella, standing up from her seat. "Paul, why do we have to go back today?"
Paul let out a sigh before looking Gabriella in the eyes. "Pictures and rumors have reached your grandparents and your parents and let's just say they are flipping out to put it mildly, using your lingo. There must have been some paparazzi outside the club that we didn't even see in the rush to get you out of there. We're both in deep trouble when we get back."
Gabriella closed her eyes and counted backwards from twenty, trying to get her emotions in check. "All right, let's go then. I'm sorry girls but I need to go home and face the music. Heaven help me if something else blows up in my face," muttered Gabriella, looking at Sharpay, Tessa, and Taylor who all worriedly looked back at her. "Don't worry, I'll be fine and I'll make sure Paul will be too but I guess this also means I have to cut this trip short, I'm sorry."
"Maybe you should check with the doctor to make sure you can travel," suggested Tessa, thinking of anything to try to keep Gabriella in town for a little while longer.
"If you don't mind me stepping in here, the princess will have no complications going on an airplane today," volunteered the doctor. "Her side effects look to be over and the GHB is more than likely completely out of her system now."
"Okay, let's not use that reason then," stated Tessa, giving the doctor a not so good look.
"Tessa, it isn't his fault, it's mine," commented Gabriella, seeing the look on Tessa's face. "Speaking of, thank you so much for taking care of me late last night, early this morning doctor. It means a lot to me and my family both that you left your family to help me out."
"It was my honor to help you Princess. Anytime you need anything, please call me," replied the doctor. "I guess I should go and leave you with your friends."
Paul nodded at the doctor and walked him out of the apartment, thanking him in the halls and paying for his services before returning to the apartment, seeing all the sad faces in the room now. "Look, I'm sorry I have to be the bad guy here but I got direct orders to bring Gabriella back today. There is a flight leaving in less than two hours we need to be on or I'll lose my job or worse, my head."
Chad chuckled. "Nice joke man."
Curtis shook his head. "He's not joking Chad, Paul is being serious. I know all of you guys love hanging out with each other but Paul and I have real jobs and lives at stake here. We need to return the princess back to Copanvy on that flight or there will be serious consequences for all of us, even Gabriella."
"And yet I feel like they already did their worst to me," mumbled Gabriella before looking back at Tessa, Taylor, Sharpay, Chad, and then Troy. "I'm so sorry everyone but I think it's best I get packed."
"We'll help," offered Taylor, following Gabriella into Taylor's bedroom where Gabriella's clothes were while Paul and Curtis packed their own things that were in the living room.
Sharpay and Tessa were uncharacteristically quiet as they waited with Chad and Troy, who both seemed to be lost in their own thoughts at the moment too. After fifteen minutes, Gabriella and Taylor both appeared again, Gabriella's bags in hand. The silence shared between the six friends hung in the air until Paul and Curtis came back in, Paul hating to rush the moment but knowing that time was of the essence.
"Come on Gabriella, we have to go. Curtis and I will wait in the hall," said Paul, waving at Sharpay before he was hugged by both Taylor and Tessa, shaking hands with Chad and Troy while Curtis just left without a word.
Gabriella waited a moment after the door closed and then turned her attention on her friends. "I hate these moments, can I just say that?"
"You and all of us," agreed Tessa, being the first one to approach the brunette, hugging her tightly. "I'm going to miss you like crazy, like always. We need to seriously talk when you get back, all right?"
"I have a feeling I know what based on the conversation moments ago but I'll call you as soon as I can. I don't know what's waiting for me at home but I'll call you when I can," promised Gabriella, returning the hug.
"Same goes for me," added Sharpay as she hugged Gabriella after doing air kisses on the cheeks. "Maybe we can video conference call or something."
"That's a possibility," agreed Gabriella. "Oh, and I think I have something you'll die for that I forgot to bring. I'll send it to you, promise."
"Hey, no designer things for me and Tay?" complained Tessa, grinning.
"Of course there are but we all know Sharpay is the most label conscious of us all," replied Gabriella, glad that the moment was far less dramatic and emotional as it was when she first moved away. 'In some ways, I think we've gotten used to saying good-bye to each other now since we've visited each other as often as we could in the past.'
Taylor was next and made sure she gave Gabriella as comforting of a hug as possible. "Be strong, all right? I know you're really confused, especially after last night, what you do and do not remember. Just know we are all here for you all right? I can't wait to see you at our wedding either."
"Me too, I know you'll be a beautiful bride Taylor," returned Gabriella, smiling once more. "Chad, you're going to take extra good care of her for me until then right?"
Chad nodded his head, getting his own hug from Gabriella. "Of course Gab! Do you think that girl would not make sure of that before she married me?"
Gabriella laughed. "That's true. I'll see you then too. I really can't believe it's so close!"
"Me either," replied Chad, instantly throwing up his hands in defeat as he saw three pairs of eyes glaring at him from behind Gabriella. "Hey, that was meant in a good way! Geez!"
Laughing, Gabriella stepped back and then turned her attention on Troy who had a multitude of emotions written on his face, especially in his eyes. "Troy…"
"Brie…" responded Troy before both of them walked towards each other until they were hugging each other tightly. "I'm going to miss you again, as I have since you left."
Gabriella hid her face in his neck, biting her lip as she listened to his words, more confused than ever about where she stood with Troy. "Me too, I'll miss you a lot Troy. Hey, maybe being friends will work better for us this time. You'll let me know when you and Celeste are registered and everything right?"
Troy's blue eyes darkened at the mention of his fiancé. "I'll see you at Chad and Taylor's wedding. Save a dance for me?"
Gabriella smiled a little as she pulled away, kissing him on the cheek, unable to resist the temptation to do so. "Of course. Bye Troy."
"Bye Brie," returned Troy, slowly letting go of Gabriella as she reluctantly pulled away from him. "Have a safe flight."
"Thanks," replied Gabriella, picking up her bag that she dropped on the floor and hoisting it onto her shoulder, walking towards the door and opening it, revealing a waiting Paul and Curtis. She turned a little and looked at Troy one last time over her shoulder. "And Troy? Thank you for last night. It means the world to me to know that you're still the sweet Wildcat I remember you to be."
Troy just grinned back at her as she crossed the threshold of the apartment and closed the door behind her. 'You're exactly as I remember you to be but we will never be as I remembered, as sad as that may be, and that's the truth. If only our lives had been different,' thought Gabriella as she followed Paul and Curtis into the apartment building's elevator and then into the waiting car, making time for the airport.