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Roughly five years later…
"Gabriella, we don't have to go in if you don't want to," said Ryan, patting her hand that was resting on his arm.
Gabriella eyed the familiar building that was where she attended high school for a year and a half. "No, we came all the way back here to Albuquerque to go to this thing. We need to go," replied Gabriella.
Ryan couldn't help but chuckle at the brave face Gabriella just put on her face. "You know, this five year reunion isn't meant to be as torturous as you are making it out to be."
"No, of course not. Just a bunch of our old classmates with their current love interests and friends asking what you have amounted to and if you are still with that special someone from high school. Of course, what they are really doing is comparing each other to see who really has done better than the other to make themselves feel better," replied Gabriella.
"Wow, I never would have pictured our sweet Gabriella in high school to be such a cynic with a Bachelors degree under her belt," teased Ryan. "Is it just because you have to face explaining why I am here as your date?"
Gabriella gave Ryan a look. "Not even! You know I love having you here with me and am so thankful you are. I couldn't imagine going through this without you, even if you are this big Broadway star now."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Umm, I'm in the chorus of a big Broadway show, not the starring role. Although, if you want to tell everyone that I am a star, I would not dispute you."
"See? Even you, Mr. Honest, is tempted to make up some make-believe life to make your life seem better than what it is even though you are already at an amazing part of your career, especially considering your age."
Ryan let out a sigh. "All right, I admit, these reunions are a bit intimidating. You still all right with showing up on my arm?"
"Duh," replied Gabriella. "I wouldn't have gotten all dressed up in this red halter dress for just anyone."
He chuckled. "All right, Miss Montez. Point proven. Let's head in and face the music, shall we?"
Gabriella smiled in response and walked in through the main entrance of East High and walked with Ryan until they got to the entrance of the gym. After checking in and getting a few weird looks from the people running the table, Ryan and Gabriella went inside, only to stop to fight back the laughter that came up as they saw the familiar place all decked out in cheesy red, white, and gold decorations.
"Oh my God, are you serious?" asked Gabriella.
"Unfortunately, it is all too real," replied Sharpay as she and her fiancé George came up behind them.
"Sharpay! It's great to see you again, and George, you too," greeted Gabriella as she hugged Sharpay.
Sharpay returned the hug warmly before she stepped back, straightened her dress, and grabbed onto the arm of her fiancé again. Gabriella and Sharpay became friends over the past five years through their common bond of Ryan. For the first few years, they would just say hello and have civil chats when they were in New York together to visit Ryan, but in the last two years, Gabriella and Sharpay started to talk on the phone and found that they had quite a bit to talk about, even though Sharpay was still a little bit too over the top for Gabriella at times.
The four of them walked further into the gym and paused as they heard murmurs around them start to erupt.
"All right, is it that they see that Gabriella and I are friends now or that you two are together here?" asked Sharpay, intrigued by the drama in the air.
"Could be both, sis," answered Ryan. "Shall we pick out a table for ourselves?"
"Might as well," replied Sharpay.
They picked out a table off in the corner, as was the group's constant habit at these events, and placed their jackets, wraps, and purses on the table.
"GABRIELLA!" She turned quickly and grinned as she saw Taylor, Kelsi, and Martha quickly approach her before she was swept into big hugs from them all. The girls had done a good job of keeping in touch with each other, despite the distance, especially with Martha since the other three were in Boston or within a drive of Boston. Gabriella actually thought back to the memory of when she and Kelsi drove up to Dartmouth to be with Taylor when she and Chad broke up that one weekend in sophomore year.
Kelsi and Gabriella parked Kelsi's car in the student parking lot closest to Taylor's dorm after they stopped to get a guest pass for the weekend. They grabbed their stuff plus the groceries they bought on the way and headed over to the dorm, gaining access when some random guy left the building.
The two girls went right up to the third floor and down the hall where they knew Taylor's room was, which she shared with her best friend at Dartmouth. The door was slightly open and small sobs could be heard already. Gabriella and Kelsi exchanged worried looks but went inside anyway, saddened by the sight in front of them, Taylor curled up in a ball on her bed, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
"Oh Taylor," said Gabriella before she dropped the bags she was carrying and rushed over to the bed to hold her best friend in her arms. "Shh, everything is going to be all right."
Kelsi sat down on the bed as well and slowly stroked Taylor's hair while Taylor tried to regain some sense of composure. "I can't believe Chad broke up with me, after all this time of making this work with a country between us. He told me that I was being too paranoid about his cheerleader friends and the friends he has from the sororities, but I can't help it. Every time I've called him in the past month, there's always been some type of giggling in the background and I've heard him flirting with them when he thought the phone was covered. Maybe I was being too paranoid," stated Taylor, wiping some tears away while she leaned into Gabriella's embrace.
"No, I don't think you were paranoid at all, Tay," said Kelsi. "You know what you heard, and if Chad didn't want to explain things to you and just got all defensive, maybe there is something to it, but we'll never know because he didn't want to talk to you about it. Maybe it is a good time for you two to take a break, let things cool down. If he truly loves you like he says he does, he'll realize what he's missing before things are too late."
"But you and Jason never got back together," replied Taylor.
"That's true, but Jason and I realized that as much as we loved each other, we weren't in love with each other, especially after we started going to colleges that were so far apart from one another. We've met new people and have realized that our high school romance was special but that we are better off as friends. That all took time though, Taylor."
Taylor let out a sigh. "I guess it just hurts so much because I really, really loved that big lunkhead. I still do and him wanting to end things instead of communicating with me about what has been going on hurts."
"It will for a while, but you'll meet someone new, someone better for you here, and if not, there's always the option of reconciliation down the road if things change," replied Kelsi.
"Besides, you aren't the only girl in a long distance relationship who has wondered about the faith of her boyfriend. Remember when I went down to Duke freshman year and surprised Troy, only to be surprised myself? I won't ever forget the image of that brunette in his arms right after their win that night," said Gabriella.
Taylor gave her a sad smile. "But you and Troy worked it out. You are still together."
"Well yeah, but it was only because we were together this past summer. I'll never forget that look on his face after I approached him about it after I watched for a little while and then waited outside of the locker room when the brunette had left with only a kiss on his cheek. It was a mixture of excitement, surprise, and guilt. I knew then that something was going on and in some ways, I was lucky that I saw it in person. Otherwise, that could have been a bigger problem."
"That's right. You two ended up taking a break from each other for the rest of the spring semester into the summer," remembered Taylor. "I remember how heartbroken you were when you first came back."
Gabriella handed Taylor and Kelsi their own little Ben and Jerry's ice cream, each their favorite flavors and spoons before she sat back down. "Does this remind you of anything?"
Taylor and Kelsi let out a little laugh. "I guess this is breakup food," commented Kelsi. "The comfort it gives you though is amazing! And anyway Gabriella, you and Troy did get back in the end so there is still hope if Chad is still the one for you Taylor."
"But keep in mind, there's nothing wrong with moving on either," added Gabriella. "I'm not saying rebound to a guy, but when the time is right and you feel ready, don't be afraid to test those waters, just like you told me it was okay when I dated Rob those few times. You'll never know what happens until you try, like how Rob and I found we were way better friends than we were anything else."
"How did you and Troy get back together anyway? I don't think I really know the actual events," stated Taylor.
Gabriella thought back to the summer and smiled a little. "Well, when we were home for the summer, well for the month or so that Troy was home in Albuquerque before running off to basketball camp again, we just had sparks. After all that time and dating other people, Rob for me and that Cheryl girl for Troy, plus some other one daters he had, there was still this deep connection between us. I had already realized by then, as you know, that Troy was really the only guy I could see myself with down the line and I guess he came to the same realization, that I was the one for him. It helped that he never did cheat on me. He and Cheryl had up to that point of the game just been flirting, which still sucks but isn't technically cheating. Anyway, long story short, we talked in our spot at the park the second week we were home and agreed to give it a second shot at long distance. This time around, our communication and trust is way better than when we first tried it and I think we are both happy for it."
"Maybe Chad and I will be like that," murmured Taylor, thinking about the possibilities. "God, whatever happens girls, I am just so glad that you two are here with me this weekend. I can't imagine having gotten through this without you."
The three girls hugged and started laughing as Taylor's soft and sort of melted ice-cream almost spilled out of the carton. They proceeded to continue eating comfort food while spending the rest of the night just talking and spending quality time together.
Gabriella smiled softly at the memory, one out of many where the high school friends were able to be there for each other. 'Wow, I must have been lost in that memory for a while. When did Jason and Zeke get here?' she wondered before she moved to greet them both properly.
"I was wondering when you were going to snap out of it and say hello," teased Zeke as he returned her hug. "I want you to meet my girlfriend, Sara. Sara this is one of my good high school friends, Gabriella. I met Sara at the restaurant that I am a cook at in New York. Where's Troy, Gab?"
"Umm, not here? I'm here with Ryan," explained Gabriella, getting that curious look from both Zeke and Jason but neither said anything.
Just then, Gabriella spotted the head of a familiar "big brother," whom she hadn't seen since he started his NBA career. "CHAD!"
Chad grinned as he spotted Gabriella and the two hugged tightly. "It's good to see you too, Gab," returned Chad. "You didn't think I'd miss out on this big East High shindig, did you?"
"Well I had my doubts because you are Mr. Big Shot now!" answered Gabriella.
"That's true but so is Troy," responded Chad, grin faltering at the mention of the name. "God, I'm sorry Gab."
Gabriella just shook her head. "Don't worry about it. You are here and that's all that matters. Come on, you better greet your girlfriend lest she thinks I'm stealing you away from her!"
She dragged Chad over to Taylor and smiled as the two immediately embraced and shared a kiss. They had gotten back together in their senior year after Taylor and Gabriella made a trip out to watch the final rounds of March Madness as both UCLA and Duke were in the Sweet 16 when they decided to go. Luckily, Troy had a few extra seats to give them for the Final Four and Championship game as Troy's team did in fact go up against Chad's team in the end. Gabriella smiled at the memory of all the press that was surrounding that Championship game, some of it focusing on the fact that the two captains of the teams were old teammates back in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Even Mr. Bolton, who came out with his wife, was a bit torn who to root for and had decided to cheer for both sides.
In the end though, Duke pulled out ahead in the last few minutes and ended up winning the game by eight points. After Troy had celebrated quickly with his team, there was that famous moment where Troy and Chad shook hands and then embraced each other, a sign of their true, lifelong brotherhood and best friendship between them. Gabriella, the Boltons, and Taylor made their way down to the floor to offer their own congratulations and also sympathy to Chad for his loss, which was when Chad and Taylor started to spark again and decided to date shortly after that.
'If only everything would have been a fairy tale after that,' she thought, snapped out of her thoughts again, this time by Ryan.
"Hey, what's up with all the spacing tonight?" joked Ryan with a smile. "Are you actually getting lost down memory lane by just being in this dirty, smelly gym?"
The memory of her being here with Troy way back in junior year of high school came to mind immediately as she remembered Troy calling the gym exactly that after she had commented that this must have been his real stage. Gabriella shook her head. "Not memory lane exactly, but you have to admit there are a lot of things to think about when you think of the history of this group now."
"That's true. Remember when we all met in Vegas to celebrate your 21st?"
"Oh God, how could I forget? In fact, if I remember right, I drank you, Chad, and Troy all under the table that night," remembered Gabriella.
"And here we all thought you'd black that shameful moment in our lives out," teased Chad as the rest of the group started thinking back to that trip.
"Nope, sorry Chad. I still remember doing that and then dancing… Oh God, never mind," said Gabriella with a blush.
Jason chuckled. "You mean you remember dancing on the bar after that? I won't let you forget that, Gabriella."
"Neither will I," added Zeke. "Who would have ever thought our innocent Gabriella was really a wild child once we got alcohol into her system?"
"Hey, be nice," stated Taylor. "It's not like she stripped while dancing or anything. Besides, if I remember right, it was you, Jason, who lost all your dinner from earlier on that night onto some poor girl."
"Oh yeah! I remember that," agreed Martha. "That girl gave you such a nasty look after that J, if looks could kill, you would have been annihilated."
Ryan chuckled at the thought. "And then the bouncers came over and escorted you and Zeke both out right away, not knowing which of the two of you had did it but knowing you were both way drunk and out of control."
"Hey, I wasn't that bad. It was just J!" protested Zeke, hearing Sara laugh at the story.
"So, no Charles or Troy, huh?" asked Sharpay.
"No, Charles had some family reunion to go to and wasn't all that keen on showing his face at the reunion, something about a girlfriend from the past he didn't want to see or something," answered Jason. "He'll be around for our annual group gathering in a few months though. This time it's in Boston, right?"
"But of course. We have to show you around our town," responded Gabriella with a smile as she looked at Taylor and Kelsi, who were her roommates there, and to Chad, who had just been traded to the Celtics, joining Troy, who was originally picked up to join that team last year.
"And next year, Zeke and I will host you all in New York," announced Ryan, a nod being given in agreement from Zeke.
Just like old times, when a favorite familiar song came on, the girls vanished from the table and started dancing to the music, letting the rhythm move them as they relived all those fun memories of dances as high school students and other, newer memories from when they've gone clubbing together in more recent years.
Jason, Zeke, Chad, and Ryan all sat back, Zeke's arm around his girlfriend still, and watched the girls with interest as it seemed like they really were transported back to high school, when life was much simpler, despite the drama.
"So, are you ready for tonight, man?" asked Chad, feeling freer to talk to Ryan without Gabriella around.
"I don't know, I honestly don't know how Gabriella is going to take tonight," returned Ryan.
Zeke and Jason looked at each other and then at Ryan. "What's going on?" asked Zeke. "Ryan you have something planned tonight?"
"Sort of," replied Ryan. "Look, I don't want to talk about it, but it is special and it is for Gabriella."
Chad nodded his head. "I think you'll all be surprised about tonight, honestly."
"Hey, no fair! Chad knows but we don't!" complained Jason.
"Well in all fairness, the girls don't know either, none of them do."
"But I'm not a girl!"
Chad and Ryan laughed, along with Zeke. "We can see that clearly, Jason. At least we always thought you were a guy," stated Chad with a grin. "Man, how you haven't changed."
Ryan looked at his watch after some time of catching up with the guys and saw what time it was. "Looks like it is show time!"
Chad looked over at Ryan and smiled. "Go get her, bud! Break a leg!"
After standing up and fingering a small box in his pocket, Ryan nodded and nervously walked over to Gabriella just as a slow song started playing. 'How very appropriate,' he thought as Ryan neared the dance floor and immediately swept Gabriella into a dance.
After a few minutes of dancing, Ryan knew the time was right. He gently pulled himself away from Gabriella and stood just holding her hands.
Gabriella saw the look in Ryan's eyes had changed and his body language spoke volumes as to his nerves. "Ryan, what's wrong?"
Ryan eyed Gabriella before he very slow knelt down on one knee. "Gabriella, I have something for you…"
"Oh my God, what are you doing?" asked Gabriella, unable to comprehend what was going on. She watched as Ryan slowly pulled something out of his pocket, what appeared to be a small, black velvet box. 'Oh God, is he for real?'
Ryan took a deep breath, forcing himself to ignore the stares of their former classmates and of their close friends as people started noticing what was going on. "Gabriella, this is for you," spoke Ryan softly, slowly opening the box, which earned a gasp from Gabriella as she looked at what it contained.