Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or places created by the High School Musical franchise or by Disney nor the songs used in this story by various artists.

Prologue

As Gabriella Montez stepped out of the cab, outside the house she knew held at least one of her most favorite people in the world, Gabriella took her time and soaked in the familiar sights and sounds of a world she left behind almost two years ago here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Despite all the promises to visit, Gabriella had only managed to see Sharpay and Ryan Evans a handful of times, mostly because Sharpay had the means to travel to Europe whenever she and Ryan wanted to, while she had seen Tessa Grainger and Taylor McKessie only once over the two years and that was during the summer between their freshman and sophomore years at their respective colleges. After hearing a discreet cough, Gabriella turned around to see Paul Westmore, Gabriella's constant companion and bodyguard, paying the taxi driver while he pulled their bags to the curb.

"Thanks Paul," murmured Gabriella, reaching out to take her bag from him only to have Paul draw it further away.

"No way, we've gone through this Gabriella. You are not to carry these bags or I'll get my head chewed off when we go back to Copanvy," scolded Paul. "The last tongue lashing I got was harsh enough for me to not let you do anything your independent mind wants to now."

"I know, and I'm sorry I caused you to get lectured but really, having to carry everything and drive me everywhere is just crazy unless it's official business. I could understand why we both got in trouble when we were going to the ball for that one girl coming out and I was seen driving the car but carrying my own luggage while on vacation? I don't think that's a violation," expressed Gabriella, reaching out as she tried to grab her bag again but missed. "Fine, have it your way. I don't want to hear about how heavy it is."

Paul rolled his eyes. "Now you are calling me weak? What is this world coming to?"

Gabriella laughed as the two made their way towards the two-storied home in front of them, one that was very familiar from her past, the Grainger household. "Do you know what you're going to say to them?" asked Paul, seeing Gabriella hesitantly stop herself from ringing the doorbell when they reached the porch.

"Surprise?" offered Gabriella.

"Do they even know you're coming?" pushed Paul.

"Umm, not really. I know that at least Tessa is here. There's a huge college party the gang who is home is going to bring in the New Year's and I know she was going to get ready here. In fact, if you listen, you can hear her singing at the top of her lungs," replied Gabriella, smiling more as the voice got louder as the music got louder.

Paul did listen and chuckled as he heard exactly what Gabriella had described. "Good luck getting her attention with just the doorbell then."

Gabriella rolled her eyes and pushed the doorbell, pausing to see if anyone answered the door. She tried a few more time and finally got someone to answer the door on the eighth ring.

"This better be good, I was in the middle of… GABRIELLA!" screamed Tessa, immediately engulfing the other girl in a tight hug. "I can't believe you're here! Why didn't you tell me? What are you doing here? Did you bring something dressy? You so are going to this party with us tonight! How was your flight? Where are you staying? How could you not tell me you were coming?"

"Whoa Tessa, slow down," said Gabriella, pulling away and grinning back at her best friend. "I wanted it to be a surprise as I had some time off from my own schooling and desperately wanted to see you all. Now do you know why I was information fishing with you a few nights back?"

Tessa thought back before she lightly hit Gabriella on the shoulder. "You sly little girl! Shar is going to flip when she sees you!"

"Sharpay is here?" asked Gabriella, stepping into the house with Paul right behind her. "As for where we are staying, can Paul and I crash here? Only for a few nights before the family plane has to take off again to take me home. I have some royal social something to attend in a few days in England."

"England? Royal? Oh my God! You're going to meet Prince William and Prince Harry!" screamed Tessa, spinning around after she closed the front door.

"Who is going to meet Prince William and Harry?" asked Sharpay, coming down the stairs before she stopped, a wide grin on her face forming as she saw the still petite, dark haired beauty. "Well, well, aren't we full of surprises Princess?"

"Hi Sharpay," returned Gabriella, instantly finding herself in a big hug which she returned. "How are you?"

"I'm fabulous, as usual. Tessa and I have plans to go to a party in an hour or two though. You are going to come right?" questioned Sharpay. "Paul here too of course."

"Gee, thanks," got out Paul, setting down their bags. "Where is it? I have to go check it out before I am allowed to let her go."

Tessa arched her left eyebrow at this. "Say what? Still?"

Paul shrugged. "My orders on this trip. Can't let Gabriella go without doing due diligence of checking out the area, making sure there are no real threats. Hey, you're lucky it's just me on this trip. Curtis was also scheduled to come but Gabriella and I managed to beg the powers to be to let us come alone."

"Curtis still stiff as a starched collar?" asked Sharpay, giving Gabriella a knowing look when Gabriella nodded her head. "Surprise, surprise. Guess we couldn't have him here now to spoil all our fun. Here Paul, go check out the place, I'll give you my keys. You scratch it one bit though, you pay."

Paul half saluted before he caught the keys Sharpay threw at him. "Someone going to give me directions?"

Tessa laughed. "I think that can be arranged. This way," directed Tessa, leading Paul into the kitchen to give him written directions to where the party would start in just an hour.

Sharpay used this time to survey Gabriella and shook her head. "If it is at all possible, I think you have gotten more curvy and yet skinnier. How is that possible? You didn't…"

"No!" exclaimed Gabriella. "As if my parents, let alone my grandparents, would let me have any type of plastic surgery! I guess I was just a bit of a late bloomer or something. How are you and your latest college guy doing?"

"And what a transition that was!" joked Sharpay with a laugh. "Ben is doing well but he's starting to bore me. You know who really has my eye now? This really hot guy that works for Daddy at Lava Springs full time. Not like a pool boy or golf instructor but one of the men on the management team. He is absolutely gorgeous, I'll have to tell you more about him later!"

Gabriella just nodded her agreement as she picked up her bag and just stuck out her tongue at Paul as he came into the hallway and caught her, giving her an immediate disproving look. "You never change Gabriella," said Paul, shaking his head as he went out of the house through the front door, leaving the three girls together.

"So, shall we finish getting ready or what?" asked Tessa, even more excited now about the party because her best friend was in town to help celebrate the night.

Sharpay and Gabriella just looked at each other before they both grinned, the three girlfriends hugging each other tightly before grabbing Gabriella's and Paul's bags both and hauled them upstairs before getting ready for the party.

- - -

Two and a half hours later, Paul was back behind the wheel of Sharpay's pink Mustang but with Gabriella, Sharpay, and Tessa all piled in with him. While he was out scoping the neighborhood and place where the party was being held, Paul had spotted some of the other security team lurking around as well. He took the time to tell them to stay out of sight when Gabriella was around as he knew how upset Gabriella would be if she knew they weren't truly on their own. It had been a long time since Gabriella had been able to get away from Copanvy and the numerous pressures she dealt with as being a princess to the country so Paul wanted to give Gabriella the sense that she truly was independent here on a visit, with the exception of him, letting her have at least a few days where she didn't feel that she was being watched and singled out as she felt every other day.

'Maybe it's called lying but to me, it's just giving the poor girl a break. She doesn't need to know she has a team of seven other men around, looking out for her,' thought Paul as he smiled a little more, seeing Gabriella more relaxed and happy than he had seen her in the last two years since they left Albuquerque.

Once he parked the car, he opened the door and got out, helping Gabriella out before locking the door and following the three giggling girls into the huge fraternity house on the University of Albuquerque campus. Paul shook his head as he quickly moved out of the way of a fraternity brother who had just rushed outside and was now puking his guts out into the bushes. 'And knowing that type of guy, I bet I see him around drinking again in twenty minutes,' thought Paul before continuing to trail the three girls.

Gabriella, Tessa, and Sharpay found the drink table and grabbed their drink of choice. Sharpay had a vodka something drink in a red cup, Tessa filled her red cup with beer, and Gabriella popped open a can of soda and poured it into a red cup so it wasn't so obvious she wasn't drinking, well except to the people who saw her.

"Gaby, are you still not drinking?" demanded Tessa, smirking a little at the blush on Gabriella's cheeks. "I thought the legal drinking age over there was eighteen."

"It is but I still don't like the taste Tess," returned Gabriella with a small smile. "Besides, it's a bit frowned upon back home."

"You mean no one in Copanvy likes to drink?" questioned Sharpay. "I don't believe that for a second!"

Gabriella shook her head. "Oh no, Copanvy has some of the best wine in the continent but unless it is wine taken moderately, my grandparents have instilled it on me that I should not be partaking of such beverages freely."

Tessa stared at her best friend for a moment before shaking her head. "Well they aren't here tonight so drink up!"

Gabriella laughed. "Just the same, no thanks."

Tessa rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say Gabriella."

The four walked around the fraternity house, going room to room, looking for people they recognized and wanted to hang out with. Gabriella watched as Tessa and Sharpay would wave at a few random people and was relieved that only a few people seemed to recognize her but didn't say or do anything out of the ordinary. 'Maybe time is a great mask for one's identity and past.'

They decided to hang out in what usually was the dining room of the fraternity house that had a great view into the living room which served to be the dancing room for the night. Paul chuckled as Tessa, Sharpay, and Gabriella lasted only half a song before he saw them scurry off to the dance floor to move with the beat. 'Those girls could never resist a good dance.'

Gabriella lost herself in the music, as she was always prone to do, and let herself get loose, letting her guard down that she was so used to having up back home in Copanvy. Here, no one really cared who she was and the paparazzi didn't seem to be aware of her presence, which she was very grateful for. She found herself laughing as three cute guys quickly approached and started dancing with them, the girls making sure they were close together and keeping an eye out for the other while still having fun. Gabriella started feeling the guy behind her slip his hands lower than her waist after the fourth song so Gabriella gave him an apologetic smile before spinning out of his grasp, right into Paul's arms, which were waiting for her just a few feet away.

"I hate that we have this down to a science, me rescuing you like this," murmured Paul, smiling down at Gabriella who was twirling in front of him.

"Hey, you have to admit, this goes a lot smoother than it used to the first few times I ventured out," replied Gabriella, using a louder voice than normal to be heard over the music.

Although her grandparents were strict, Gabriella had found that when she was away at school, the equivalent of the United States' college, she could be a little less reserved although Gabriella still had to be on her best behavior. After some pleading, Paul had eventually agreed to sneak off with her to some dance halls with some select friends and would let her have her fun, being there whenever she needed someone to deter any unwanted advancements.

Paul, feeling silly as always dancing with the princess of his country, eyed the next room over again which was a little quieter. "Want to take a break?"

Seeing that Paul needed a rest from the music, Gabriella nodded her head and followed him back to the little corner they had picked out earlier, leaning against the wall and just enjoying watching Tessa and Sharpay dance with the two guys still.

"Gabriella?" asked a very familiar voice.

Gabriella snapped her head to the left and grinned as she saw her other best friend from high school. "Taylor!"

Both girls immediately hugged each other, not caring who was looking. "I can't believe you are here! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Hey, I'm allowed to have my own surprises when I can. I'm so glad I found, well you found me! Tessa had mentioned a few nights ago that you would probably be going to this party with her and Sharpay and I thought that this was a great opportunity to see all of you at once. I'm here for two more days before I have to go back," explained Gabriella, smiling more as Taylor hugged her again.

"That's great! We definitely need to hang out then! I'll make sure to clear my schedule the next two days then. Where are you staying?" asked Taylor.

"At Tessa's with Paul here," returned Gabriella, alerting Taylor that Paul was also there.

Taylor blushed at having missed him earlier. "Hey Paul, sorry about not greeting you properly."

Paul just nodded his head in understanding. "Don't worry, I know you were way more excited to see Gabriella here."

"Understatement of the year!" threw in Tessa as she and Sharpay made their way back over to the little group. "Glad you made it and found our little surprise guest star for the weekend Tay!"

Taylor smiled back at them before a different expression covered her face suddenly, without warning, as if she had just remembered she left the stove on at home. "What is it? What's wrong?" asked Gabriella, instantly concerned.

Before Taylor could say anything, a pair of arms slipped around her waist while another familiar face joined the group. Taylor turned her head to kiss her boyfriend, Chad Danforth, before looking over at Jason Cross, another high school friend, to see who between the two guys would register a special face in the group.

Much to the girls' surprise, Jason was the first to realize Gabriella was there. "Gabriella!" yelled Jason, a bit intoxicated. "You're here!"

"Hey J," greeted Gabriella, trying not to gag from the strong scent of alcohol coming from her high school friend. "How's it going?"

"I'm good! Whoa, what are you doing here? Aren't you like in Asia or something?" returned Jason.

Chad rolled his eyes before slapping Jason on the back of the head. "Try Europe dude. Hey Gabriella," said Chad, turning his attention back to Gabriella, stepping around Taylor to give Gabriella a big hug. "It's so good to see you! When did you get into town?"

"A few hours ago," replied Gabriella. "I'm glad I'm able to see so many familiar faces! So you all are home for Winter Break?"

Taylor nodded. "Well everyone except for Jason and Chad here. They both belong to this fraternity actually. It's the same one that Chucky belonged to, surprise, surprise."

Just then, a loud chorus of a guy's name started to be yelled throughout the front of the fraternity house, announcing someone's arrival. While Gabriella was straining to hear whose name it was, Chad quickly shot a worried look over to Taylor who returned it, both unsure of what to do with the newest arrival at the party. Sharpay and Tessa were next, recognizing the name and both wanting to smack themselves for not realizing that he would be here since the fraternity had some of his old East High basketball teammates as members. Although he wasn't a member himself, it should have been a huge given that Troy Bolton, the now dark brown haired Big Man On Campus, would be here at the fraternity party.

Tessa watched as realization slowly dawned on Gabriella's face once she realized that the name being called was "Troy" and not "Roy" or any other name she wished it would have been instead. Gabriella's heart began to speed up at the prospect of seeing the love of her young life again, after a little more than two years of not seeing each other, a little more than a year of not really talking. She raised herself up on her tiptoes to see over whatever heads she could manage and felt her breathing stop as she spotted him, for the first time in so long. Gabriella watched as Troy made his way from the front door to the living room, coming more into view as he greeted various people who were shouting his name. She felt some part of her melt again as Gabriella saw that stunning grin of his, noting somewhere in her mind that Troy had gotten even more muscular since the last time she had even seen him via web camera.

Before she knew it, Gabriella felt like something had started drawing her towards him, some invisible force, that caused her to walk through the circle of friends in front of her, disconnecting only when she was on the threshold between the dining room and the living room. That's when she saw it, Troy's hand tightly grasping that of a tall, red haired girl with beautiful green eyes. Now, Gabriella's breathing became more labored, not from seeing Troy after all this time but from realizing that she had, quite possibly, really lost the guy of her dreams. She watched, transfixed, as Troy laughingly took the red head into his arms, holding her tight against his body as their bodies slowly started to grind together to the music, Gabriella's gaze following his hand as they cupped the girl's butt, drawing the girl impossibly closer. It wasn't until she watched them lean towards each other, felt the ache in her heart as their lips touched and ignited a passionate kiss, that Gabriella realized that she was silently crying, feeling a teardrop hit her right hand.

Gabriella tore her eyes away and looked down at the hand that still wore Troy's promise, as it had every day since she had left Albuquerque, and began to wonder if it was all a dream she had made up in her silly, romantic head of hers. She raised her eyes again in their direction only to close them against the image of Troy laughing as the girl in his arms began to nibble on his neck. The next time she opened her eyes, she was staring into the concerned blue eyes of Paul, who had seen enough from where he was in the other room to know that Gabriella needed to escape, and quick.

"Come on Gabriella, let's go. Sharpay, Tessa, and Taylor are ready to go," said Paul, making Gabriella realize that her best friends were now around her as well, all working as a block from whatever was going on with Troy and the other girl beyond them.

"It's okay, I'm fine," protested Gabriella, wiping away her tears, glad that they had stopped. "He's not doing anything wrong. We aren't even dating."

"But it doesn't make it hurt any less," commented Tessa, giving Gabriella's left hand a squeeze.

Gabriella sadly nodded her head before looking at Chad, who was standing next to Jason on her right. "Who is she?"

Chad looked at Taylor, almost as if he was asking if he should tell Gabriella, before gazing back into Gabriella's hurt brown eyes. "Her name is Tara and they've been going out for most of the last semester."

After a moment, Gabriella asked only one more question on the matter. "Is Troy happy Chad?"

Hesitating a little, Chad nodded his head. "I think he is."

"Good," answered Gabriella, realizing that Chad's words hurt her but at the same time also made her feel better about the situation. "I think maybe we should go. Chad, J, please don't tell him I was here. I don't want him to know."

"But Gab, I know he would love to see you," protested Chad, seeing where this was going. "He hurt for so long after you left Gabriella, he really did."

"I know he did, as I did too," replied Gabriella. "It's better this way, that I just leave my part in his past buried and forgotten. Take care of him for me, all right?"

Chad let out a sigh, knowing when he was beaten. "As always. Will you come and visit again sometime soon at least?"

"I'll try," responded Gabriella. "Thank you Chad, for the truth. It means a lot to me."

Gabriella quickly hugged both Chad and Jason as there was a loud commotion as some guy knocked over the stereo, causing all the music to stop. "Bye Chad, Jason. It was great seeing both of you!"

Paul helped Gabriella quickly make her way out of the fraternity house just as Troy and Tara made their way over to the gang who were not so quick to leave. "Hey guys," greeted Troy. "Great party huh?"

"Oh, just the best! Actually, Tessa, Taylor, and I are actually heading out. Too much fun for us," said Sharpay, using her best acting skills as she forced a smile on her face. "We'll see you guys later! Toodles!"

With that, the three girls made their way out to join Paul and Gabriella who were waiting them at Sharpay's car before they all piled in and took off for Tessa's house again, to spend the following fifty-six hours together, much to Paul's chagrin, sleeping, talking, and just spending good, quality girlfriend time together.