Chapter 11

It had been two long draining weeks since he left, since he disappeared, since she had a clear head. Nothing in life was simple anymore, that was the idiom of a teenage life that every teenager came to terms with at some stage of their progress into life. This young girl was unfortunately going through hers.

Mummy could not be their to pick up the pieces anymore, she was too old for that now, she had to go through life's enchanting experiences on her own, solve them on her own (not the type of solving she was used to, sure she could solve an algebraic equation that was aimed at the brightest of einsteins, but this ongoing hole and never ending confusion wretched with pain was unsolvable to even her) she had to go through it alone, learn her way through. Even if mummy wanted to pick up the pieces, she couldn't or wouldn't, there wasn't much of a difference between the two words anymore. Her mum went on her business trip the day after the eccentric event, the event that must not be named…in her presence anyway. God knows the rest of the school were still talking about it. She was just waiting for the next scandal to overtake her on the juiciest gossip list that East High held.

One good thing did come off it though. She gained her first official friend at East High. The shock level was high not just to her but the school too. It was Sharpay Evans who took her under her wing when he stormed out into the storm that day. She didn't know though of what he had said to Sharpay when he left her there like a deer caught in the headlights.

Strangely they got on really well. The two different personalities blended well into each other and certainly kept the conversation lively and entertaining. Sharpay helped her block out all the comments and looks that came from a normal school. She gave them a right seeing too. It was Sharpay who had let her stay at her house while her mom was away. Despite her helpful hand, Gabriella would not let her in too much. Sharpay only knew the basics, not the whole story. Not her despair and longing for the wrong man. Her home problems, her wishing and her not so much feelings for someone who she really should have feelings for and her annoyance at a friend she really shouldn't really be annoyed at.

Confusing much?

A lone tear cascading down her face, her long curls whipped round her due to the sudden breeze. She was in the park, the park that she saw from the top of the cliff she was looking at. Everything she saw or looked at bought her thoughts back to him. Just him. Her phone was off, she lost count how many times the blonde girl had called, she even saw the called ID of her…well Jamie. Pang of guilt. It was just the way it went.

Somehow Jamie didn't get wind of the story, of her adulterous act or acts but not many knew of them, actually just Chad. It is adulterous though? Is it cheating? When you don't have feelings for the person you're cheating on. She supposed the reason was being because none from both schools interacted with each other, they only did through him, and he was the only one allowed to communicate with the dark side. She hadn't spoken to him at all since the incident; she couldn't bring herself to do it. It was too hard to be with him in the normal (well not normal) situation she had with him, let alone when she was confused, guilty and anguished.

She hadn't spoken to Taylor either, and Taylor hadn't tried either, understandable though; when your 'best friend' screams and shouts out at you for just telling the 'truth' about a guy she was supposed to hate, well she used to have to hate him. Taylor must have told Jamie though about the exchange of words and the abnormal characteristics of Gabriella Montez that she witnessed.

Then she had Chad. He found it all her fault he had gone, he seemed certain she was the bad guy, that she bewitched him, but Sharpay had said that he would disappear for weeks sometimes, why nobody knew, but it wasn't indifferent. So why was he the one who gave her the coldest stares and curious looks more than anybody? She bet he had something to do with the pieces of gossip that flew around.

It wasn't as if it was her fault that his best friend didn't find him as much as a best friend as he did. That he couldn't confide in him the way he had once done to her (insert sigh here). If anything wasn't she the victim? She was the one who was left behind, had to deal with all the whisperings and goings on that were less than friendly, she had to deal with all the confusion and pain…and now anger.

This happened a lot; she would lament on the situation and find small lava bubbling up inside her that liked to be called anger. Then she'd think about him; his looks, his eyes, his voice, his touch and his kiss.

And it would all disappear.

Like right now.

Then it would turn to sadness.

Like right now.

Then she'd sigh.

Like right now.

Then another tear.

Like right now.

But she usually didn't get interrupted by a little girl.

Like right now.

"Hi." The little girl said, with her eyes sparkling with innocence only little girls could withhold.

"Hi cutie. What are you doing here?"

"I'm plawing with my big bwother." Gabriella tried not to laugh at the little girl's pride she had.

"Oh really, and where is he now?"

"I saw you and you wooked wonley. So I thought I come pway with you."

She giggles, this girl was so charming and so unaware of the hardships of life, and she also had courage. Gabriella as a child would never have been able to come up to random people like she had.

"Well sweetie I bet your big brother is very worried right now."

"Of course he is, he woves me, my big bwother does and I wove him too!"

That caused a smile on the saddened girls face; she never had a sibling which she could bond with. She always wanted on though.

"Wats your name? You're very pwetty."

Another smile. "Thank you cutie, you're gorgeous too. My names Gabriella, what's yours?"

"That's a very pwetty name. My name pwetty too. My brotha told me it was. My name Stacey, but he calls me pwincess."

The little girl's blonde hair was swinging freely in the wind, just like the little girl was, Gabriella would give anything to have the freedom of a little girl.

"Your brother's right, that is a very pretty name" she picked the little girl up and sat her on her lap. "How old are you sweetie?"

"This many." She was holding up three of her tiny fingers to show Gabriella how old she was.

"Wow, that's a big number." The little girl nodded her head. That is when she noticed the tiara on the little girl's head. "This is very pretty, where did you get it from?"

"My big bwother." There was that pride again.

"Wow he must love you lots and lots and he is right. You are a princess." Stacey gave off a cute little giggle that Gabriella found absolutely adorable.

"He does. Gabwiella?" Gabriella locked eyes with the little girl's amazing blue eyes. Blue eyes?

"Yes sweetie?"

"You look very sad. Wats wong? I help."

She gave off another sigh. This girl was too clever. She was about to speak when there was an interruption. A voice.

"Princess, where are you? Stace? Stacey?" the voice sounded frantic and panicked. Gabriella was quick to deduce that this must be the big brother.

"That's my bwother."

Gabriella looked over to where the smart girl was pointing and immediately felt every part of her body freeze with shock and pain.

He saw her too. He immediately stopped in his tracks, unable to do anything, too shocked to see his little sister sitting on her lap.

"Twoy!" the little girl clapped her hands and giggled. "You found me!"

Clearing his throat and taking small footsteps forward he kept his eyes trained on the brunette.

"Yeah princess I did." She wasn't looking anymore, her head turned sharply the minute she recognised him.

"this is Gabwiella Twoy. She's very very nice, and very pwetty isn't she Twoy?"

Both of them lost the ability to breathe, but still she refused to look at him and still she refused to look away from her.

"Yeah she is." Her eyes closed, why did he have to do this to her?

"She said that I was pwetty too, and that I was a princess, just like you say." She held her head high with such likeable pride, it even caused both of them to smile, just a little bit.

"Well Brie is a very smart girl." That made her look at him, the use of the nickname. Eyes locked.

"No it Gabwiella not Brie." She told him crossly and he put his hands up in a mock surrender.

A few moments of silence, Gabriella refused to say anything, well she couldn't if she wanted.

"Princess, I thought you wanted to play on the swings."

"Oh yeah!" her little eyes lit up with the possibility of her big brother pushing her on the swings. Then she turned to look at Gabriella, who was looking at her big brother, who was looking back at Gabriella, what was going on?

Smart isn't she for a three year old.

"Gabriella can you come pway with us too?" a puppy pout she knew too well.

"I…I dunno cutie."

"Oh pwease, pwetty, pweety, pwease."

She looked over to Troy who was still looking at her. He hadn't changed, there he stood unable to read, expressionless, like always. She knew he wasn't expecting this though, who would. He was still as handsome as ever, maybe even more, maybe it was the long period of time she had gone that made him seem that way. His messy perfect hair was draped over his eyes like always, the mysterious look. His bright cerulean eyes were mystifying as ever. He looked even better built, like he was going through some intense training when missing in action. He was wearing light blue jeans with a red polo shirt that made his figure bulge out, amazing sight. Even if she didn't want to admit to it.

And there she was looking a mess. Great. What a sight for him to see on his first glimpse in two weeks, such an impression.

He thought differently.

She was sitting on a wooden table where people had their picnics. She was wearing a purple long sleeved but short cut top and skinny black jeans. A gorgeous sight, so naturally but yet such a turn on. It hugged her figure so well, no one else could look how she did. Her hair blowing back like it did in her car from the gentle breeze. It was a nice day, the sun was out, brightening the place up but the wind was still there. So much different to the weather they had on their last visit. Her cheeks were slightly pink from the breeze or from embarrassment he did not know. It didn't falter her looks though, just intensified them.

"It's up to your brother." She finally spoke up. Timidly though, something he had tried to rid her off before he left her. Pang of guilt. It was just the way it went.

"I don't mind…if you don't."

"I don't mind."

"Yey!" that caused their attention back to the little princess. "come on Gabwiella." She tugged at her hand and Gabriella couldn't help but laugh, and he couldn't help but smile, she noticed the smile, so she smiled. A smile was all it took. It was all that was needed and wanted for.

She took off to the other end of the park to the swings with Gabriella lagging behind holding onto her hand. "God she's fast for a three year old, the Bolton athletic gene must have been passed down to her as well".

He looked on, he might not have shown it but it pained him to see her, to know what he had done, left. It couldn't be helped though, he had too. He always had too at this time. He had another reason though this time, he had to protect her, all he wanted to do was be with her, but it couldn't be, she was not up for grabs, even though it didn't stop him before he knew he wanted to have taken it further, so it couldn't be. The first time he wanted to have taken it further, he was scared, scared and worried. He also had to protect her, protect her from so many things she couldn't understand.

"Twoy you slow poke, hurry up." The unmistakable shout of princess Bolton was heard and he smirked towards her. "Don't you give me that look Twoy." Oh dear she was cross, better not keep the princess any longer.

So he speed down to where they were. Picked her up and swung her round causing a fit of giggles he was so used too but never tired off. "You missy cannot tell me what to do."

"Yes I can, I'm a princess and princesses can tell people what to do."

"Oh your right your highness I forgot, now what do you wish of me."

She could only giggle at the sight she was witnessing, the totally human side of Troy Bolton. The caring and sensitive big brother mode he was in could only raise his attraction levels higher, even if she was hurt and angry at him. Her giggle made him turn to her for a slight moment, but in that moment was another smile, that made two smiles, so that made an even bigger smile.

"You can put me down now."

"Certainly Princess."

"Now you two stay here while I pway on the swings, don't go anywhere."

She took off leaving them there in silence. There was so much to say between them both. Yet it took so much time for someone to say something, even then it was nothing that needed to be said.

"She's so smart for her age." He turned and looked at her, she was watching his precious little sister having the time of her life. He was quite surprised she broke the silence. It was a very un-Gabriella like thing to do.

"Yeah she is." Now she looked at him. They were so close but so far away.

"She really looks up to you and loves you, I always wished I had an older brother."

"I know she does, I really love her too, couldn't do anything with out her." Painful memories exposed. "My mum and dad always say to her that she wont like it when she's older though and when she wants boyfriends, but I've already said she wont because by the time she does have one I'll be dead. She is not aloud one till that time."

"The typical big brother."

"Yeah."

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

Words.

"Troy…"

He turned to look she wasn't looking.

"Where did you go…why did you go?"

Now she looked and he wasn't looking.

Now it was his turn to sigh.

"Well.."

Stacey Bolton looked from the corner of her eye and saw her big brother and the pretty girl talking and smiling, she liked this girl and knew her big brother liked her too. She was going to help make it happen. She wanted the pretty girl as her sister. The Princess always got what she wanted and Troy always did say he'd give her anything she wanted. It was a good thing he wanted it too, not to mention Gabriella. Such a smart three year old.

Sorry for the long wait but thank you for all the awesome reviews I love them all.

I know troy was being a bit…well a lot of a jerk but there is a good reason. I promise

Love ya all

Viki

x