- 6 -

Fall had come again, but the weather still felt like mid summer. Gabriella left the coolness of the air conditioned class building and rode her bike down the now-familiar paths at Stanford. It had been a long, lonely summer even though she'd tried to keep busy with an internship with one of her professors. She couldn't help remembering how much fun she and her friends had had the summer they worked at the country club. The one bright spot this summer had been a week-long visit from Taylor, and even that had been clouded somewhat because it reminded her of how much she missed her friends - and one person in particular.

She parked her bike at her favorite study spot beneath a quiet, shady tree, thinking - as she often did - of Troy and wondering what he might be doing right now.

As if her thoughts had conjured it up, she suddenly saw a truck that looked just like his in the parking lot.

"I figured you'd be the last one to leave the building," came a familiar voice from somewhere above her.

Gabriella looked up, searching the tree in disbelief. There stood Troy, on a branch, leaning negligently against the trunk. He smiled at her and for the first time in over a year Gabriella felt her heart beating again.

"You're crazy, Wildcat," she called up to him breathlessly. "And what is it with you and trees?"

He shrugged. "Maybe I see things a little more clearly up here," he replied, already swinging down to her. "Hi," he said softly, stopping a couple of feet way.

"Hi." She had to reach out to touch him, unable to believe her eyes that he was really there. But he was real and he was really there. Her hand clutched his sleeve. "What are you…? Shouldn't you be in Albuquerque?"

"No, I'm not going to U of A any more," he told her. She looked dismayed and he smiled. "No, I didn't drop out either. I've transferred." He hesitated, because now that it was the moment he could only hope for her reaction. "I'm going to Berkeley. I'm just down the road a ways."

The joy that lit her lovely face told him all he needed to know.

"Oh Troy! But what did your parents say? What about Chad?"

Now he laughed out loud. "They all said 'It's about time!' And they were right, Gabriella. It is time. I got a little lost, but I'm back on track." His eyes searched hers. "I'm hoping we can get back on track."

"Oh, yes, Troy! I'd like that more than anything! I've missed you so much."

"That's not all you've missed," he said, reaching into his coat pocket. Gabriella realized for the first time that he was wearing a suit, not his usual jeans and tee. He pulled out a corsage and slipped in on her wrist.

Gabriella felt tears in her eyes. "Troy, the prom was a thousand miles from here over a year ago!"

"My prom," he said solemnly, "is wherever you are." He stepped back and held out a hand. She placed her hand in it and came into his arms. He twirled her lightly, feeling like his feet weren't even touching the ground because he was with her once again.

"Take my hand," he sang softly in her ear. "I'll take the lead…"

THE END

… sort of