On Friday night, the entire gang went out to spend good quality time together but were missing two people, Gabriella and Troy, at the billiards hall they went to.

"Do you think they could be on a date?" asked Jason. "You know, now that they are both free and clear?"

Kelsi shook her head. "No, I don't think so. Too soon for both of them. I know that Gabriella, for one, is still heartbroken."

Ryan felt everyone look at him. "Hey, that's a road both of us went down together, and just because I am standing in front of you right now doesn't mean I'm not hurting either."

Martha moved over to put a comforting hand on Ryan's shoulder. "Relax Ryan, I don't think anyone is blaming you for the breakup. We're all in some way just unsure of what to do with this situation. It's nothing against you, we know that both of you decided on this. It's just tough because we're all in the middle here."

"I know," responded Ryan. "Look, can we just not talk about this? Gabriella and I ended on good terms, we're going to be best friends again in time. Just give us some time to work it out, okay?"

The group nodded their heads in acceptance. "Speaking of time, these tables don't come cheap guys, how do we want to split up?" questioned Zeke, diverting the group's attention back to playing pool.

Since it had been only three days really since she and Ryan broke up, Gabriella wasn't all that enthused about hanging out with the entire gang tonight. 'Not that anything is Ryan's fault, it's just too fresh. I thought ending things was the right thing to do, I know it's the right thing to do, but it still hurts. Guess you can't have everything, right?' she thought as she found that she had walked to an all too familiar bench in the park, one that she always went to when she needed to think. It was the one bench that was off on its own, deeper into the park, right by the lake and under an archway covered in vines and tiny flowers. Gabriella sat down and just breathed in the fresh air as she enjoyed the comforting smells of nature around her.

As she stared at the stars above and their reflection on the lake, Gabriella felt her mind clear for the first time in a long time. 'So much has been going on in my life, I don't think I've ever been so confused before. First, it was Troy turning into Sharpay's Troy this summer, me breaking up with him, starting school no longer a couple with Troy, falling for Ryan, dating Ryan, breaking up with Ryan when Troy started coming around, and now wondering what in the world I need to do to get my life back on track,' she reflected. 'It's amazing how much can happen in the span of what, five months? I used to be so happy in junior year after our move here, right?'

Gabriella and Taylor were at the biggest mall in Albuquerque on their own on a Saturday morning as their boyfriends hadn't wanted to join them. They were shopping for junior prom dresses and so far, after two hours, neither of them were having any luck.

"How many dresses have we tried on now?" asked Taylor, sitting down on a bench in the center of the mall. "A hundred?"

Gabriella laughed. "Not even close. Combined, maybe thirty. We'll probably hit that hundred number combined though in the next four hours if we keep this rate up," she said.

"Why do we have to always put ourselves through this torture of shopping for dresses when all the guys have to do is get fitted for a tux or pull out that old suit and get a new tie? It seems so unfair!" exclaimed Taylor.

"True, but aren't we supposed to have the better fashion sense?" challenged Gabriella.

"I agree that we do, but why do we get punished for knowing that polka dots do not go with plaids?" questioned Taylor. "Just seems unfair."

"I agree, but would you have it any other way when Chad drops his mouth and drools after you when he sees how wonderfully hot his girlfriend is?" returned Gabriella. "I know you blush every time he calls you hottie but I know you deep down love it."

Taylor giggled. "Got me there. All right, now that we let our feet rest, how about continuing on in our quest and seeing about that dress for both of us? Maybe we should go and wear the same dress!"

Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Right, that would so be brilliant, not! I love you Taylor, but wearing matching dresses at a formal dance is just as appropriate as wearing neon colors at a black and white themed dance."

Taylor and Gabriella laughed together and continued on with their shopping, both having found their perfect dress within the next three hours. When Taylor and Gabriella pulled up to the Montez house, both smiled as they spotted Troy and Chad sitting on the bench on the step of the porch.

"Hey guys," Taylor greeted, immediately taking a seat next to Chad as Troy got up and pulled Gabriella into his arms, spinning her around and making her laugh.

Once put back on her feet, Gabriella leaned up and kissed Troy's cheek. "Well hello to you too, Troy," she greeted.

"Hi," he returned, smiling down into her eyes. He was about to lean down and kiss his girlfriend when he heard an indiscreet cough from his best friend. "Chad, man, why do you always have to ruin it?"

Chad laughed at his best friend's frustration. "It was an accident, honest!"

"Right," Taylor responded. "Anyway, not that we aren't happy to see you two, but what are you two doing here?"

"Just thought we would come over and surprise our lovely ladies after almost a full day of shopping. Did you not find your dresses?" answered Chad. "I don't see anything in your hands."

"Oh, we did. We just left them in the car in our excitement to see you," answered Gabriella. "But, you don't get to see them, just because you are here."

Troy instantly pulled a pout. "Please? I just want a peak!"

"Troy Bolton, no little boy pout is going to cause me to reveal my secret, not until Junior Prom!" stated Gabriella. "Besides, since when did you care?"

"Because I want to know what I can imagine you wearing for three weeks! Besides, I need to know the color so I can match!" replied Troy.

Chad laughed. "That's true!"

Taylor hit Chad on the arm. "We can easily tell you the colors. Mine is dark blue and Gabriella's is a soft yellow. There, you know what you need to."

Troy continued his pout. "Can you give me just a quick look?"

Gabriella laughed. "No!"

"Even in the eyes of a tickle threat?" Troy pressed as he advanced on Gabriella, forcing her to back up quickly.

"No!" she returned as she started to run back down the driveway. Troy soon caught Gabriella in his arms and proceeded to tickle her as she squirmed in his embrace. "Not fair!"

"All you have to do to get this to stop is show me the dress, one simple act," Troy got out as he joined her laughter as she continued to get out of his embrace and away from his fingers. Gabriella put all her energy into one strong effort to get out but ended up knocking the two of them over and onto the grass instead. Troy's hold on her loosened as they hit the grass. Gabriella recognized this as her chance and started to scoot away but was soon tackled again onto the thankfully soft grass.

"Troy!" Gabriella squealed as instead of fingers tickling her, Troy had started giving her one sloppy kiss on her neck. Her ear tickled as his low laughter filled her right ear. Gabriella stopped struggling and relaxed into his embrace, enjoying the feel of his arms.

Troy smelled Gabriella's hair and breathed in the familiar scent that he knew was Gabriella. "I could stay like this forever, Gabriella," he murmured.

"Me too," she responded as she turned herself around to return his smile and gaze.

Just as their lips were centimeters apart, they were interrupted by another laugh from the porch. The moment was lost again as they spied Taylor chasing Chad across the lawn for something he must have done. Troy quickly got up and pulled Gabriella with him just in time as Chad ran right over where they were laying. Gabriella put out her right arm and grabbed Chad around the waist, effectively having stalled him long enough for Taylor to catch up.

"No fair!" complained Chad as Taylor gave him a well-deserved smack on the arm for his quip about how girls always had to shop together, that they had to put their minds together to find the right outfit. "I was just joking!"

"Joking or not, you insulted both mine and Gabriella's, as well as every other woman's intelligence!" exclaimed Taylor. "Not acceptable!"

"I'm sorry, okay?"

Taylor continued to glare at Chad as Gabriella and Troy started laughing at the two. "Maybe we should start bickering like them Troy, it seems like a lot of run," commented Gabriella, a twinkle in her brown eyes.

"No! I'll end up with bruises every time I upset you, no way! I'd rather be well-behaved," returned Troy, earning a smile from Taylor and Gabriella both.

"Traitor!" yelled Chad. "You are way too soft, my man!"

"Can I help it if I want to make my girl happy?" challenged Troy as he brought Gabriella back into his arms and she leaned her head against his chest. "See, this is what it is supposed to be all about, being with the girl who makes life worth living."

Chad rolled his eyes. "Gabriella, quit feeding Troy lines!"

"That wasn't me!" defended Gabriella. "You're just upset because you never come up with those on your own."

"Yeah, you rarely do if you do say those things," added Taylor. "If you did, I would not have to smack you so much."

"Right…" returned Chad as he wrapped his arm around Taylor's waist. "You know you are crazy about me, hottie."

Taylor pretended to glare at her boyfriend for a moment before she gave in and leaned into his side. "Maybe," she answered.

Chad smiled down at her and then over at Troy who had a grin on his face. "Man, how did we end up with these girls?"

Troy shrugged his shoulders a little bit. "I don't know, but I count my lucky stars that we did. I can't imagine my life being this amazing without Gabriella by my side."

"Really?" she asked.

"Really," he returned while he looked into her eyes.

'Such an amazing memory,' Gabriella thought as she found a smile on her face. 'That is just an example of the happy times we shared. Will we ever get back to that place again or are we better off apart?'

Gabriella stood up from the bench she had been occupying and walked to the edge of the lake. She looked up and stared up at the stars twinkling far above her head. 'If I could make any wishes tonight, I would wish for everything that was meant to be to be, to find a resolution to all this confusion and heartache, for all my friends, especially Ryan, to find the happiness they deserve, and to be with my one true love,' wished Gabriella in her head as she allowed a fresh tear to roll down her cheek.

Gabriella continued to stare up at the stars, lost in her own moment. After a while, when she felt she had cried whatever she had left to cry, Gabriella took in a deep breath and let it out, steadying herself again.

"Gabriella?" she heard an all too familiar voice ask. "What are you doing here?"

She turned around and looked at Troy, who had a surprised look on his face. "I didn't feel like facing the gang tonight."

"Neither did I," replied Troy. "I was meaning right in this spot too though. This is where I usually go to think."

Gabriella laughed a little as she answered him. "This is my spot to think and reflect too. How small is our world?"

Troy chuckled a little as well. "Tiny evidently. I can go find somewhere else to go though since you were here first."

"No, it's okay. I'm all wishful thinking outted, if that made any sense," replied Gabriella.

Troy thought for a moment before he smiled at her. "Why don't we both take a seat on the bench? It's not like we can't share the spot, now that we both know each other uses it."

Gabriella studied him for a moment before she nodded her head. "I think I can share with you," she agreed.

Gabriella sat back on the part of the bench she had previously occupied while Troy sat on the other side. "So, what brought you out here tonight?" he asked.

"Just had to think, didn't really feel up to facing the gang tonight," answered Gabriella. "I love them to death but with everything that has been going on, I needed a break, for myself."

"I know what you mean, a lot has been going on for sure," he replied. Troy examined Gabriella's familiar profile and decided to take a chance. "I actually came out here to think about you, to think about us."

This caught Gabriella's attention as she turned her head to look at Troy fully. "Me? Us?"

Troy nodded his head. "I know that what I feel for you still are true, untainted, sincere feelings. And I know that you are hurting over breaking up with Ryan. You're starting to be a real heartbreaker." He realized how wrong what he said was though as he saw tears well up in Gabriella's eyes. Ignoring the voice in his head that told him this was unwise, Troy reached over and wrapped his left arm around her shoulders, bringing Gabriella's upper body closer to him. Troy ran his left hand through her hair as he tried to soothe her. "Hey, I didn't mean it like that, it was a joke! Obviously, a stupid one."

Gabriella sniffled and shook her head. "No, you're right. I have been breaking up with everyone lately."

"You're just doing what you think is right for you and the other person," he answered. "I mean, us breaking up wasn't your fault at all, Gabriella. I hurt you a lot this summer, and had you stayed with me, I honestly don't know how much longer I would have gone on with the way things were before I realized I had killed every single thing we shared together with my idiocy. This summer, I got so caught up in my dreams and my focus for my future that I didn't see what was going on right then and there. I don't blame you at all Gabriella for walking away. In hindsight, I wouldn't have wanted you to stay there and continue to be hurt like you were."

Gabriella picked her head up off of Troy's shoulder and looked at him, into his blue eyes. "That means a lot, Troy. And since you confessed your feelings, I owe it to you to confess that I still care for you too," replied Gabriella. "I don't think I ever stopped. Even when I tried to bury it all under piles of emotions and new memories, I knew it was still there the whole time. Answer me something though. Why Sharpay?"

Troy breathed in deeply and closed his eyes briefly before he answered her. "Sharpay, well she was there."

She pulled out of his embrace and stared at him. "She was there? That's your answer?" questioned Gabriella, slight anger in her voice.

"Okay, I keep sticking my foot in my mouth tonight evidently," commented Troy. "Look, what I meant was that Sharpay happened because she was pursuing me so hard this summer that when you left me, when the gang wouldn't talk to me, when Chad barely acknowledged that I breathed, Sharpay was there to keep me company. After a while, she pushed for dating status and I had no reason to refuse her. I thought I had lost you forever Gabriella, which isn't an excuse, but it wasn't a block from that path either. If I was with Sharpay, the way I saw it, I wasn't alone."

"So you dated Sharpay so you wouldn't be lonely?" asked Gabriella as she searched his familiar face for a truthful answer.

"Mostly, yes. In some ways, I think I can admit now that I used her, as she was using me. That's probably why I can't be that angry with her. Sharpay wanted me for status, I used Sharpay and her family to continue with the life they gave me at Lava Springs. The fine clothes and golfing, the playtime with the Redhawks, and the assistance with getting the right foot in the door with U of A for that scholarship," explained Troy. "But at the end of the day, I always knew it wasn't a real relationship with her, she was just someone who accepted the new me and even encouraged it. I appreciated that until I started to see how much it had cost me, how very different I was from who I thought I was. Watching you and Chad and the rest of the gang at the start of school moving on probably was the best thing for me to see as it started to put the brakes on the ambitious Troy who would go to great lengths to get a grip on his dreams. I slowly started to realize at the start of senior year as well how much Sharpay really didn't know me. Instead of making me feel better about life, the way I was used to a girlfriend making me feel thanks to you, she put me down, whether it was intended or not."

"Doesn't surprise me," Gabriella mumbled. "So you ended it with her because she made you feel bad?"

"Partially," Troy responded, "but also because I couldn't keep up with the farce anymore. I didn't know about her stunt with the talent show and that was probably what really sent me over the edge, to know that I had just stood by her while she did something against the gang, even though I had no idea what was going on. Also, I honestly couldn't handle the drama and being with her when I knew I should be with you." Troy stopped talking and looked over at Gabriella, who was staring back at him.

The two continued to look at each other as they examined each other's body language and expressions. Gabriella hesitantly said, "Troy, as much as this means to me, we can't be dating, not right now."

Troy nodded his head in agreement. "I know that, I'm not a total oblivious guy. I didn't expect to say my piece and get lucky that you forgave me and wanted me back right away."

"I do want you back, but I can't. I can't take this step forward with you until I know in my heart who you are and that this is the best thing for both of us. No more rebounding, no more rash decisions. I want us to be friends Troy, try that avenue first," explained Gabriella. "If we were meant to be, we'll know when the time is right, but this doesn't feel right to me at the moment. Things are just too complicated."

"I understand Gabriella, completely," answered Troy. He saw the relief that washed over Gabriella's face and knew he finally said the right thing tonight. Troy continued to admire Gabriella's quiet beauty until he noticed her shiver a little. "Hey, do you have a jacket?"

"No, forgot it at home. Actually, I didn't think I'd be out here this long," responded Gabriella.

Troy took off his letterman jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. "This should keep you warm then," he said. "Want a ride home?"

"Sure," she replied as she took his offered hand to get up.

Troy and Gabriella walked to the parking lot with their arms brushing against each other. He helped Gabriella into his truck and got into the driver's seat to drive her home. Once at the Montez home, Gabriella unbuckled herself and looked over at Troy. "Thanks for the ride home," Gabriella murmured, all of a sudden feeling shy around Troy.

"Anytime," he answered her, seeing the blush on her cheeks despite the darkness.

Gabriella shrugged out of his jacket and handed it back to him. "See you Monday?"

Troy nodded his head. "Monday."

"Good night, Troy," she whispered just before she leaned over and kissed him on his cheek. Gabriella scooted out of the truck and up to her door before she turned back one last time and waved from her doorway and closed the door.

Knowing that Gabriella was now inside her house, Troy brought his jacket up to his nose and smelled it out of instinct. The smell brought a smile to his face as he took in their mixed scents, reminding him of when she used to wear it all the time in the late winter and early spring. 'This is what is right, I just have to give it time and actually work to get it all really back.'

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