Back to the Dream Page
The gang was sitting down for lunch in the East High cafeteria on Wednesday of the first week of December, which also happened to be the last week of final rehearsals for the fall musicale. Gabriella smiled over at Audrina, who had been looking nervous all week so far. "It's going to be okay, Audrina. I know you'll do great!"
Audrina gratefully smiled at her friend, who she still considered to be like her older sister. "Thanks. Actually, Gabriella, can we go talk for a moment?"
"Sure," agreed Gabriella as she got up from her seat and started to walk outside with her little sister. "Spill!"
Audrina took a deep breath and stopped their walk as soon as they were far enough away from the rest of the kids at East High. "Well, I wanted to talk to you about Ryan."
"Oh," returned Gabriella, kind of a little shocked. 'I thought this was about the musicale this weekend.'
"I wanted to make sure it was okay with you for me to date Ryan," said Audrina. "I really care about him and I think he returns those feelings, but I am not about to embark on something if I think it is going to hurt you, Gabriella, or our friendship."
Gabriella forced a smile on her face and shook her head. "No, you should be with Ryan. I think somewhere along the line, I kind of already thought you were together already actually. I mean, to tell you the truth Audrina, I also ended things with Ryan because I saw how much chemistry the two of you shared whether it be on stage or off."
It was Audrina's turn to look shocked. "You broke up with Ryan because of the feelings you thought we shared?"
"Among other things," stated Gabriella. "But, for me, you and Ryan having shared feelings for one another was a positive reason to let things go between me and him. Audrina, Ryan really cares for you, I know he does. I want you two to be together, truly. I would be very happy if you two got together actually."
"Are you sure?" pushed Audrina. "I don't want something to happen and then have you hurt."
"No, I'll be fine. I want you two to be happy. My little sister and one of my best friends together. What reason would I have to not be happy?" questioned Gabriella.
Audrina smiled at her pseudo big sister. "Thank you, Gabriella!"
Gabriella pulled her into a hug and squeezed tightly. "I know you two will be happy dating, a perfect match if I ever saw one."
Audrina stepped back from the hug and continued to smile. "That means so much to me Gabriella, to hear that. And you know I am rooting for you to put the final piece back into your life too."
"Final piece back into my life? What?" asked a confused Gabriella.
"Troy," stated Audrina. "You belong together, Gabriella, and I'm not just saying that to make sure you are taken so my hopefully soon boyfriend won't still crush on you. I mean it, I can see that you two still share some type of bond and feelings together and that shouldn't be passed up just because little Ms. Sharpay managed to tweak with your lives this summer. I've had my own fair share of run-ins with her and I would hate for her to win, especially in this case. You always put everyone else first in your life, maybe it is time for you to do something you want to do."
Gabriella smiled a little at her friend. "Maybe, we'll see. I'm letting nature take its course actually."
Audrina nodded her head. "Well, with the way I've seen things developing, my bet is by Christmas, something will have happened in the right direction. Now come on, I am starving!"
Gabriella laughed as Audrina pulled her back into the cafeteria to rejoin the group, Audrina taking her seat back next to Ryan and Gabriella's between Taylor and Troy. "Everything okay?" asked a concerned Troy.
"Yup, just perfect," answered Gabriella as she watched Ryan and Audrina laugh over something he just said to her. "Couldn't be better."
Troy looked in the direction she was looking and grinned himself. "Guess that your instincts were right about those two."
Gabriella nodded her head and turned her attention to Troy. "Lately, my instincts have been pretty much on the spot actually, well except the results of the finals for the city league. I actually thought you guys were going to win."
Troy shrugged his shoulders at this. "Well it wasn't for the lack of trying, that's for sure. Then again, we aren't invincible either. Those college guys deserved it."
"Talking about our loss in the final round of city hoops?" questioned Chad. "Yeah man, I think we can take them next year though."
"If we're all together and here," threw in Jason. "Remember college?"
"Had to put the damper on things, didn't you?" teased Zeke. "Honestly though, whether or not we are all here next year, I think we'll all play ball again together, even if it is in the backyard of the Bolton house."
Taylor nodded her agreement. "I highly doubt that this group of friends is going to sever ties over time and distance. If nothing else, there are those high school reunions, right?"
"True," agreed Ryan. "Then again, why are we even thinking that far ahead? Why not just live it up now?"
"I like your way of thinking," replied Troy with a smile.
The girls started laughing all of a sudden, which puzzled the boys. "What was that about?" asked a very confused Jason.
"Because we ourselves made that agreement a few weeks ago during one of our trips to the mall," explained Kelsi as she patted her boyfriend's arm. "And I think we've already been doing a great job at that."
Kelsi, Martha, Taylor, and Gabriella all exchanged looks and a shared smile. Audrina too joined in with the look although she still didn't really feel part of the real group. The guys just shook their heads at the girls' latest girl thing.
"Please, don't act like you don't understand what we are about," exclaimed Martha. "It's the same thing Ryan and Troy just agreed to. To live our senior year up, no regrets, and to enjoy it while it lasts, to live in the moment."
"Wow, actually sounds like a smart idea," commented Chad, having earned another smack on the arm from Taylor. "Okay, seriously Taylor, this is starting to be abuse!"
Taylor ignored the tease and rolled her eyes. "Of course it is a smart idea, us girls thought of it!"
"Are you back at calling us guys lunkheads again?" questioned Chad.
"Umm, when has she stopped?" teased Gabriella with a giggle. "I think that's her loving pet name for you jocks, especially you, Chad."
"It's not like you don't call Taylor brainiac or hottie," added Kelsi.
"But both of those are true!" exclaimed Chad. "She is smart and Taylor is definitely hot."
Taylor felt a deep blush on her cheeks at Chad's proclamation in front of the whole group, in the middle of the cafeteria. Having realized what he just did, Chad himself also shut up while he blushed too.
Gabriella smiled at the couple who were looking at everyone and everything but each other. "Now that is what I call cute," she said, feeling her heart warm at the sight. "See, all the bickering makes these moments that much sweeter."
"I'd have to second that," said Kelsi.
"Me too," added Martha and Audrina at the same time.
The guys just stared at each other and grinned at their friend who was still blushing. "Guess we'd have to agree," relented Troy. "Then again, I think Taylor is the only one that can ever shut that guy up."
The table laughed at this and moved on to another conversation, much to the relief of Taylor and Chad who finally looked at each other with their feelings in their eyes. They shared a quick kiss and held hands under the table as each savored this special moment among their friends.
After the usual tutoring session that afternoon, Troy escorted Gabriella to his truck and helped her in. For the past two and a half weeks, since that Monday when Taylor left early, Troy had gotten into the habit of just driving Gabriella home after their tutoring sessions. Sometimes, they would just part ways at Gabriella's house and sometimes, they would spend more time studying together or working on college applications at the park or library. Both were getting more accustomed to each other and the dormant feelings for both were slowly starting to make themselves known again.
Today, Troy drove the two of them over to the park so they could take a quick walk before studying again. Both needed the fresh air to keep their brains thinking correctly. Once parked, Troy ran around to the other side of the truck and helped Gabriella down for which she smiled at him in a type of gratitude.
They started their walk around the lake and decided to sit down in their shared thought spot as they came across it.
A few moments of silence passed between the two before Gabriella decided to talk. "So, I know we have been working on college applications together but it dawned on me. I have no idea where you are applying."
Troy chuckled. "Well it's fair since I don't know where you are!"
"Okay, so it's time for us to talk then. So, where are you going to apply to this December?" questioned Gabriella.
Troy thought for a moment before he replied, "Well there is University of Albuquerque, bet that really surprised you."
Gabriella laughed at this. "All right, and the rest? I know there must be at least a few others in your pool of consideration."
"You'd be right. There is also USC, UCLA, Duke, NYU, and UC Berkeley," answered Troy. "And now that you know mine, yours? Although, I bet I can tell what they are."
"Maybe, maybe not. I have finished my applications for Harvard and MIT but am also planning on applying for UC Berkeley, UCLA, and U of A," replied Gabriella.
Troy let out a whistle. "Wow, all high end schools with the exception of one. Very impressive," said Troy. "Now, you aren't trying to run away from good old New Mexico, are you?"
"Haha, no," returned Gabriella. "Remember, I've moved a little bit all over the place because of my mom. Those are just some places that I enjoyed, or at least that general area. No running away for me. What's your excuse? You aren't exactly staying too local either."
Troy grinned at her challenge. "Well, what can I say? I follow the basketball teams, just kidding! No, those are the schools that I thought had not only a solid basketball team but also a great academic curriculum. Someone who was very smart once made me realize that my life extends way beyond just the basketball court."
Gabriella smiled. "Sounds like a very intelligent young woman to me."
"Hey, who said the person was female?" kidded Troy. "Thank you for that though, Gabriella. If nothing else, I am just happy that you helped me realize what else was out there in the world besides basketball."
Gabriella was curious about this so she asked, "Like what?"
"Well," started Troy, "there is the academic side to school. I mean, I did the work for classes before but I didn't really do it to learn. I did it to keep my teacher's off my back but now, I actually have found that learning isn't as torturous as Chad would like to believe it was."
Gabriella laughed. "Yeah, Taylor still hasn't had much success with him and his academics."
"I don't think she ever will. Remember, Chad is the guy who is always behind on his homework, ever since kindergarten. Let's see, what else, oh yes. You showed me what it was like to have an amazing best friend who was of the female persuasion, as well as sharing with me what it was like to be truly cared for by someone besides the family," stated Troy who was studying Gabriella's face. "I still think that some divine force above sent us to meet on that fateful New Year's Eve last year."
"Maybe," answered Gabriella with a small smile. "Well I'm glad I was able to share things with you as you did me. I mean, who else would have helped me truly appreciate the art that is basketball?"
Troy chuckled at this. "Oh Gabriella, always the teaser," he said.
"Oh, and that's another thing I learned from you. How to tease someone else better than before," added Gabriella.
Troy studied her smiling face for a moment before he decided it was now or never. "Gabriella, I have something to ask you."
Gabriella noticed the seriousness in Troy's face that had just appeared. "What is it?"
Troy struggled with his words for a few moments before he asked, "Will you go to Winter Ball with me? I know it's only in a week and a half away, but I would be honored if you would attend with me."
Gabriella smiled again at Troy and nodded, washing away the nerves that had gathered in his stomach. "I'd love to, Troy."
Troy found himself smiling back as he picked up her right hand and kissed the back of it. "I think you just made the happiest guy of East High."
"Just for saying yes to a dance?" asked Gabriella as she giggled.
"No, for being Gabriella Montez, the girl who never ceases to amaze me," returned Troy. "And, I am very honored to escort you to city hall next week. Guessing you are going to have to go on a shopping trip with Taylor this weekend, huh?"
"I don't know, maybe I'll pull a guy move and just wear some old dress I find on the floor of my closest," teased Gabriella as she earned a laugh from Troy.
"I'd believe that except that I've never seen any clothes on your floor at all," returned Troy. "Well whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll be beautiful in it."
"Thanks," said Gabriella. She found herself getting closer to Troy as he started moving more towards her…
Familiar music began to ring from Troy's pocket as he groaned and looked sheepishly at Gabriella. "Sorry," he mumbled as he pulled out his cell and almost had to laugh at the absurdity as he put the phone up to his ear. "Chad man, what's up?"
Gabriella laughed softly after hearing who it was and decided to walk towards the edge of the lake to give Troy some privacy for his call while she allowed for her thoughts to clear, as it often did in this particular spot. 'Wow, we almost kissed. And it felt so right,' she thought to herself, smiling at the memory from a few moments ago. 'Maybe Audrina and Taylor are right, maybe the last piece of the puzzle is coming into place sooner than I thought.'
"Hey, sorry about that. Funny how Chad always knows when to call," joked Troy as he joined Gabriella by the water.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
Troy nodded. "Just wanted to run through some play ideas he had. Anyway, I better get you back home so you can finish up on your own homework and college stuff. Ready to go?"
"Sure," she responded.
Troy smiled and felt his hand naturally reach out for hers on their way back to his car. To his amazement, Gabriella didn't pull away from holding his hand but squeezed his hand in return while she wore a smile that he had missed for so long. 'Could it be? Are we finally on the right path to each other?' he wondered. They finally reached the truck so he helped her back in and closed the door before going to the driver's side to get in the truck to drive her home.
Not far away, in her pink Mustang with a college guy kissing her neck, Sharpay took in the scene of what looked like newfound lovebirds. 'Won't be for much longer if I have any say in it,' she thought as she pushed the guy away and started the car.
"We're going?" asked the guy.
"You bore me. I'll take you back to the golf course now unless you want to walk back," said Sharpay. After he didn't say anything, Sharpay pulled out of the parking lot and drove to the golf course the guy worked at and dropped him off without more than a "bye" from her. Sharpay's mind was already too busy to think of anything other than how she needed to influence Troy once again before things got too far.