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It was now Thursday, which meant it was almost three full days since Alicia and Gabriella had faced off in the girls' locker room at East High. Alicia had been sent to the institution her parents had suggested to the Covina family but was still under suicide watch there. Gabriella on the other hand still hadn't returned to East High, still not having all the energy to do so quite yet. She did however have enough strength to make it down to the library, which is where Stephen and Annette found her, curled up on the window seat with a blanket tucked around her, a good book in her hand.
"Hey sweetie," greeted Annette, forcing a smile on her face that spoke volumes to Gabriella.
Gabriella looked back at both of her parents and was filled with a sense of dread, not knowing what could be actually going on now but from the expressions on their faces, not really sure if she wanted to know. "Afternoon Mom, Dad," greeted Gabriella, not bothering to put a fake smile on her face.
Stephen took a deep breath in and let it out while Annette took a seat on the window seat at Gabriella's feet. "What are you reading?" asked Stephen.
"Oh, Little Women. It's always been a classic for me," replied Gabriella, placing her bookmark on the current section she was reading and closing the book. "Why do I feel like my life is going to be dramatically changing?"
Stephen eyed Gabriella for a moment before he let out a sigh. "Always perceptive. I think you get that from your mother. Yes, your life is about to change. With the recent events to be considered, we're leaving for Copanvy on Sunday. It's not safe for you here, you're stuck in this mansion almost all the time, and there's no way we can risk sending you back to East High or any other public school around. I'm sorry Gabriella."
"No!" exclaimed Gabriella, surprising Annette and Stephen when she threw the book in her hands down on the ground. "You can't do this! Mom, you promised we could stay until graduation!"
"I know sweetie but things have changed, our lives have changed so much since last January. This is something I can't control, it's not like my company is moving us this time," replied Annette, reaching out to grab Gabriella's hand, which she immediately moved out of reach. "Gabriella, please try to understand…"
"I've tried to understand! I've tried to be the good daughter here, I've tried to be strong but you aren't making any of this easy on me! Dad got a choice as to what life he wanted to live, why can't I?" argued Gabriella, standing up and leaving the discarded blanket on the ground. "This isn't fair!"
"Gabriella Felicia Anna Lauren Montez, you calm down right this instant!" yelled Stephen, angered at his daughter's sudden outburst of attitude. "Do you think we're purposely trying to ruin your life? Do you think that your mother and I don't care for you enough to want whatever makes you happy? We do! We love you Gabriella! Why else are we trying so valiantly to protect you, to protect your life? Do you understand what type of threats have been going on? Not only what stupid stuff has been going on at school, not only your vandalized car, but there have been letters sent in the mail for you, over the trial, over you just being royalty. Threatening to hurt you, to kill you, do you think that's fair to any of us to leave you exposed to any of that?"
"Stephen!" scolded Annette, stopping her husband's rant. "That's unnecessary!"
"No, it is necessary, it's clear we've sheltered Gabriella too much, she needs to know what's really going on so she understands that we aren't just being harsh, unloving parents but quite the opposite, loving parents who don't want to lose their daughter," replied Stephen, the second half of his response said in a more controlled tone.
Both Annette and Stephen looked back to Gabriella, who was currently leaning against the wall, silently looking at both of them, her usually tanned skin pale. "Gabriella?" asked Annette.
"How long? How long has this really been happening?" questioned Gabriella in a tiny voice, blinking her eyes several times to try to control the tears.
Stephen let out a deep breath. "For a few months, increasing as the trial came to a close. A lot of it has been dismissed as practical jokes or empty threats although the team has caught some suspicious people lurking around the perimeter. They even almost pulled aside Troy one night when they spotted him sitting in his truck on his cell phone but recognized him at the last minute."
Gabriella thought back and realized that must have been the night Troy came to check on her, the night the news started covering the trial.
"Sweetie, we're sorry but there isn't much else we can do here," apologized Annette. "I agree with your father on this, it is just our time to go. If we stay here, it's not like we can send you to school here, you can't go back to East High."
"What about a private school then?" returned Gabriella. "Somewhere where no one will know me or the trial."
"That would be a distance away from here. I thought the whole reason why you would want to not go back to Copanvy is to stay here in Albuquerque," stated Annette.
"Well yeah, but if I can't stay here then at least I'd still be in the same country as everyone else you are asking me to leave behind," said Gabriella, starting to feel herself losing the battle of staying.
Stephen slowly walked over to Gabriella and took both of her hands in his. "Listen to me baby girl, I wouldn't put you through all this, I wouldn't ask so much of you, unless it was absolutely necessary. I know it's going to be tough to leave all the friends you've made here, especially one brown haired, blue eyed boy, but we have to go, if for no other reason but to keep you safe. I know you're far stronger now than back in May but having that inner strength doesn't make you invincible either. Even Superwoman has her weaknesses, right? We've already arranged for the team to take you back to East High to collect your stuff, so you can say good-bye, as Paul pointed out that having one last good-bye at a school is important to you. Is he right?"
Gabriella nodded her head, bringing herself to look her father in his eyes again. "He is, Paul is always right. That's also how the whole Riley thing happened though."
"We're sending you with a lot more than just Paul this time. Principal Matsui is going to meet you at the front and escort you as well. Will you be able to do this though? Physically?" asked Stephen. "We can certainly have someone go in place of you if you can't."
"No, I need to do this. Physically, as long as we go slow, I think I'll be fine. Emotionally, that's a whole different story. I have more attachment to East High in my heart and memories I think than West High or any other school I've been to," confessed Gabriella. "When do we go?"
Stephen looked at his watch and saw that it was close to the time. "About fifteen minutes. The school should be cleared out by the time you get there for the most part. Gabriella, please, forgive us but there isn't anything else we can do."
Gabriella stared back at her father and knew he was telling the truth, as hard as it was for her to still accept what was now happening. "I understand, well I'm trying to understand Dad, really. I didn't know so much was going on, I'm sorry for my outburst. I just wish I had more time is all. I don't even know how I'll tell the gang, especially… Troy. Oh God…"
Annette stood up quickly and gathered her tearful daughter in her arms. "Sweetie, it'll be okay, I promise you. You are both so young, you could have gone to separate colleges and been separated then anyway. If your love is true, you'll still be together in at least each other's hearts."
"It's not the same though Mom, it isn't," argued Gabriella while she clung to her mother and let the sadness that was inevitable fill her as her mother just let her cry there in her arms.
Stephen watched on, misery in his own eyes, as he saw how much pain his daughter was in, saw how much torture Annette felt as well. 'If there was an easy compromise that would allow me to give you the life you so desperately want, I would give it to you in a heartbeat Gabriella. There's just no other way, especially with all the tabloid and false reporting going on back in Copanvy. My parents aren't standing for it but there's no need for you to worry about all that now. In time all will be revealed, but I just want to protect you from whatever I can for a little longer.'
As promised, Principal Matsui had been waiting for Gabriella and the six bodyguards she had with her, including Paul and Curtis, when they reached the front of East High.
"I'm so sorry we have to meet and bid farewell under these circumstances Princess Gabriella," greeted Principal Matsui, giving her a sympathetic look.
"So am I Principal Matsui," responded Gabriella, not even bothering to correct him with using her royal title. 'Guess I have to get used to that too.'
Gabriella had kept her sunglasses on since before she left her room back at the mansion but had to raise them as they entered the halls so she could clearly look at everything and store all the images in her memory. They walked by the cafeteria and Gabriella couldn't resist one last peek, glancing longingly at the table that she and the rest of her close friends at East shared so many lunches at with so much laughter and memorable conversations. Next, they passed Gabriella's old locker, surprisingly cleaned, which made sense as Principal Matsui explained that he had a new door put on it just an hour ago after school ended. They finally reached the locker she shared, well used to share, with Troy and she put in the familiar combination, feeling her throat tighten with each turn of the knob.
She took in a deep breath and wiped away a stray tear as she opened her bag and hooked it on the locker's hook as she slowly filled it with her belongings, pausing as she fingered Troy's game jersey that she had never seen him wear more than a handful of times. Just then, Gabriella felt a comforting hand on her arm and turned to see a sympathetic Paul looking back at her. She looked around and was glad that everyone else, even Principal Matsui, had the decency to turn their backs to her so she could take care of this matter in private, everyone except for Paul, who understood the need to have someone with her. Gabriella gave him a watery smile before she took out a picture she had printed fresh from Taylor's posting and took a piece of tape and taped the picture on the locker. Paul couldn't help but smile as he saw that it was a picture that was taken the past weekend, with Gabriella and Troy with their foreheads leaned against each other, both staring deeply in each other's eyes.
"He'll love it," murmured Paul, reminding Gabriella in some ways that they had to go.
"Thanks," she whispered back, surveying the locker one last time before zipping up her bag.
Before she could put it on her shoulder though, Paul's hand shot out and took it from her. "Let me, your side is still healing," reminded Paul, slinging the bag onto his shoulder. "I'm guessing we need to stop by one last place, right?"
Gabriella looked at him puzzled for a moment before she realized what he meant. "Yes, please," begged Gabriella, relieved when Paul nodded his head and started the team in the direction of the secret spot after he and Gabriella both said a proper farewell to the principal of East High, both feeling it unfair of them to keep him tied up any longer.
"Chad, I'll be back! I left my game jersey in my locker!" called out Troy as he slipped on a practice t-shirt and ran out of the locker room, knowing that his father would be starting another session of pre-season practice in only minutes and wanted the entire team to be in uniform for the practice, to become one with their jersey or something like that.
He ran through the halls but skidded to a halt as he saw familiar looking guys in suits. "Paul?" asked Troy, somewhat surprised by the presence of the Montez's security team.
Paul looked over and sighed, realizing that he would have to clue Troy in on what was going on. "Hey Troy," greeted Paul as the high schooler slowly approached them. "How's it going?"
"I'm good. Why are you here? Where's Gabriella?" asked Troy.
Paul looked at Troy and found that he couldn't bring himself to be the one to tell him everything. "She's up there," answered Paul, not surprised at the speed with which Troy made his way through the security team and up the flights of stairs while Paul and the rest of the team stayed where they were in the hall.
Troy sprinted up the stairs, skipping every two but slowed down once he got near the top and heard quiet sobbing. He felt his heart clench as Troy's mind was slowly putting together everything that was going on. "Brie?"
Gabriella quickly spun around at the sound of her nickname only Troy used and immediately rushed into his arms, shoving aside the pain of the stitches in her side that began to burn at the sudden movement. "God Troy, I swear I didn't know this was going to happen so soon!"
"Shh, it'll be okay. What's going on?" asked Troy, gathering Gabriella into his arms, careful to avoid her injuries. "Why are you here?"
Gabriella took her time and tried to ease her breathing before she pulled back and looked Troy in the eyes. "I'm… we're… leaving for Copanvy on Sunday," announced Gabriella, closing her eyes and tucking her head back into the crook of Troy's neck as soon as she saw the pain cloud Troy's usually bright blue eyes. "I'm so sorry Troy. I couldn't stop them this time."
Troy couldn't think of the words to say to comfort her just then, for the first time in a long time, as Troy was not only shocked but in too much pain himself. He allowed his tears to roll down his cheeks unchecked while he buried his face in her hair, closing his eyes against the reality of Gabriella not being there, in his arms, in the matter of days, not even weeks or months now. Eventually, Troy forced himself to open his eyes again and instead stared off into the distant scenery, not really seeing the birds fly by or the clouds as they passed as all Troy could take in was that Gabriella, the young woman he promised himself to, that he loved, was leaving for what seemed like good.
After several more minutes of just holding each other, breathing in each other's scent, Gabriella managed to pull away slightly from Troy's chest, a bit embarrassed to see the huge water stain she had left on his t-shirt. "Sorry," murmured Gabriella, wiping away some of her tears.
Troy looked down at his shirt and gave her a crooked smile. "Don't worry about it. I'm sad that they are tears though. What are we going to do Brie?"
"I don't know," whispered Gabriella. "I can't imagine my life without you but I don't want to hold you back either, which, before you say anything, I know that I would be if we stayed together despite all the distance."
"But I don't want to let you go, I can't let you go," murmured Troy, dropping his forehead so that it rested on hers, blue eyes and brown eyes mere inches from each other.
Gabriella sniffled and smiled a little as Troy reached up and brushed away a few more tears that had escaped her now reddening eyes. "I can't either but what else can we do?"
Troy thought for a moment before he got an idea. "Let's elope! We'll run away, dodge Paul, and go to Las Vegas!"
Gabriella rolled her eyes at Troy as she could tell he was joking with the silly grin he always got on his face when he was teasing her. "Not funny. Besides, I don't see how you'd escape the wrath from my dad, for stealing me away, and my mom, for not allowing her to be there on my special day, once Paul and the team caught us when we realized finally that we couldn't wed until we were both eighteen years old without parental consent."
"Always have to use that brain of yours and spoil my fun," pouted Troy, glad that he was able to bring a little bit more fun into their current situation. "Seriously though, there has to be something we can do."
"I don't know what there is we can do but to live up these next two days together. Wait, what are you doing here at school at this hour?" asked Gabriella, realizing that it was well after school now.
"Pre-season practice," replied Troy.
"Troy! Your dad is going to freak that you aren't there right now in the gym!" exclaimed Gabriella.
"Let him, you are far more important to me," returned Troy, kissing her forehead and then her lips.
Gabriella sadly looked into his eyes. "Troy, this is what I mean, I can't ask you to give up your life for me."
"I'm not, it's just a stupid basketball practice," retorted Troy, causing Gabriella to arch her right eyebrow.
"Since when did you refer to basketball as stupid?" questioned Gabriella. "Look, I don't want to argue or fight with you, not when we have so little time left. I'm going to call Tessa, Taylor, and Sharpay over tonight, please come after practice. I know you have school tomorrow but I want to spend whatever time I can with you."
"I do too, trust me. And yes, you can bet I'll be there tonight, despite being outnumbered horribly," he teased, sobering as he heard not even a giggle at his joke. "I guess this is the last time I get to keep you up here, in our little spot huh? The last time I get to kiss you up here?"
Tears began to fill Gabriella's dark brown eyes as she sadly nodded her head. "I guess so," she whispered, feeling her body begin to tremble.
"Then let's make them good ones," replied Troy, his own voice huskier due to the unshed tears he was trying to hold back.
Gabriella and Troy leaned into each other as their lips softly met, each committing the moment to their memories. Troy savored the taste of her sweet cherry lip gloss mixed with the saltiness of her tears while Gabriella memorized the feel of Troy's hair as she slowly slipped her hands through it, wanting to remember each strand and the way they slipped through her hold. They shared that kiss for several minutes, neither wanting to break away, both unaware of the chill that was settling in as the sun began to set on the horizon, for Troy and Gabriella recognized that this was the last memory either would have of their shared time here in the halls of East High and that it would have to last a lifetime.