Back to the Dream Page
Taylor arrives at the Montez household around 5:30 to start getting ready for the Homecoming Dance with Gabriella. They take turns doing each other's hair, Gabriella's being put half up and half down while she puts Taylor's hair all the way up, sweeping all Taylor's hair in a slick up do. Before changing into their dresses, each applies their own makeup, Gabriella keeping hers more light and natural looking as usual.
Once done with that, Taylor helps Gabriella slip into the empire cut black dress with spaghetti straps, zipping her up as Gabriella once again admires the sparkles that are placed between layers of fabric of the knee-length skirt. Taylor ties the black ribbon that is mid-chest and smiles over Gabriella's shoulder. "You look wonderful, once again," she comments, seeing Gabriella grin back.
"Your turn!" Gabriella announces, turning Taylor around so she can help her into a short red strapless dress with a black ribbon around Taylor's middle. Once zipping her up, she turns Taylor around to face the mirror and smiles as Taylor grins. "Perfection!"
Taylor starts putting on her jewelry as Gabriella works on transferring things from her everyday purse to the purse she would be using for the night. Via the mirror, Taylor watches as Gabriella moves things, spotting a familiar item being put into tonight's purse. 'Is she really still carrying that around with her?' she wonders. Not wanting to cause any drama for her best friend tonight, she decides not to say anything about what she noticed.
The doorbell rings and both girls grin as they know the guys must be waiting for them downstairs. Gabriella makes a move to go out of her room but Taylor grabs her arm gently and shakes her head. "Wait, they have to wait, remember?" Taylor reminds Gabriella, who reluctantly nods. "Are you disappointed that you aren't going tonight with Troy? Honestly?"
Gabriella takes her time in answering. "If I was honest, I'd say yes. I had hoped when everything was all done and over that he would be able to see what I did for the true reasons, that I wanted to help out a beautiful couple as well as a good friend. It seemed to me on Monday though, that all Troy could see is that I held the truth from him and hurt him unnecessarily. I think sometime this week, I resigned myself to the fact that I will always love Troy, no matter what, but that if he cannot accept what I did and who I am, then maybe it wasn't meant to be after all," Gabriella concludes.
Taylor hugs Gabriella tightly, careful not to mess either of them up in the process. "It'll all work out Gabriella, I promise."
Gabriella returns the hug but eventually pulls away. "All right Taylor. I know you love keeping Chad in suspense, but I think five minutes of being up here since they came is a bit on the side of pushing it."
Taylor laughs and nods her head, grabbing her purse. "Ready?"
Gabriella allows Taylor to walk down stairs first, smiling as she sees Chad very close to drooling as his mouth hangs open at the sight of his girlfriend. "Chad, I think a fly just flew into your mouth," Taylor kids, giggling as he snaps his mouth closed. He crosses over to her from the open doorway and presents her with a corsage of mixed white and red roses and carnations. Taylor turns to Mrs. Montez who is ready and picks up the boutonniere she bought for him of a single red rose and pins it on his suit.
"Gabriella, aren't you going to come down and greet me?" Hunter asks, reminding Gabriella that she had stopped mid-walk down her stairs to watch the couple, who had just kissed.
Gabriella blushes and finishes walking down the stairs over to Hunter, who smiles down at her warmly. "Sorry," she says, remaining a short distance away to take in the image of Hunter in a black suit with a white shirt and green tie. "Wait, I thought you told me you were wearing blue."
Hunter lets out a laugh and shakes his head. "Always ever the observant Gabriella. Aren't you going to give me a hug?"
She grins and steps towards him to give him a big hug. "Thank you for coming Hunter, all the way from Toronto so I wouldn't be a stag wallflower tonight. It means a lot."
He returns her hug and smiles over at Chad, giving him the signal with a wink. Chad leaves unnoticed by Gabriella momentarily and comes back with a single yellow rose, which he hands to Hunter. Hunter steps away from Gabriella and looks down into her brown eyes. "Here, I guess I forgot this earlier," he says as he hands her the yellow rose, which she puts up to her nose to smell. "Poor thing, it doesn't stand a chance to compare in beauty to you tonight or ever."
"Hunter!" Gabriella exclaims, feeling her face heat up even more, much to his delight. "Stop it!"
Chad grins over at the two with anticipation for what is about to happen next while Taylor is eyeing Hunter, knowing something is off tonight. Mrs. Montez is sitting back with the one remaining boutonniere in her one hand while also snapping pictures with her other.
"You know Gabriella, I am just getting so forgetful nowadays. I totally forgot about one other thing!" Hunter exclaims with a little too much mischief in his voice and in his eyes. Gabriella instantly gets suspicious.
"What else could you have possibly forgotten?" she asks, knowing she walked right into the set up.
"Him, your date," Hunter announces with a bigger grin on his face, stepping aside to reveal Troy, who is standing there with a corsage box in his hands and wearing a blue tie. "Liam, you can come out now!"
Liam walks around Troy and joins Hunter in the living room of the Montez household, wrapping his arm around Hunter's waist as they both watch Gabriella and Troy just stare at each other, small smiles on their lips.
"Hi," Troy says, finally breaking the moment and walking into the Montez house for the first time in weeks. He closes the door and approaches Gabriella, who is still standing in the same spot she was a few minutes ago. "Surprised?"
Gabriella slowly nods her head, unaware there is a tear sliding down her cheek, which Troy reaches up a hand to brush away with his thumb, leaving his hand on the side of her face for a moment longer. He then takes her right hand in his as he slips on the corsage of two white roses with blue and yellow ribbons hanging onto her wrist, leaning down to kiss her hand when he is done. Gabriella smiles up at him, staring into his blue eyes, completely lost in the moment. Troy grins down at her, memorizing her face at this exact moment so he would remember how precious and gorgeous she looked, the love in her eyes.
After hearing Hunter cough rather loudly, Gabriella snaps out of her trance and blushes deeply as she sees everyone, her mother and her friends, are all staring at her. "All right, all right, show is over!" she says, trying to get them to stop watching her. She walks over to her mom who hands her the box with the boutonniere with a grin and a wink. Gabriella feels herself flush again as she pins the single white rose with a small blue and yellow ribbon at the base onto Troy's suit.
"Mrs. Montez, would you mind taking a few pictures of us before we leave?" Hunter asks, a grin remaining on his face.
"Of course Hunter! I was going to force you to stay put for pictures anyway. Now it seems like I'm not the overbearing mother here, thank you," Mrs. Montez replies.
The three couples get together for a few group pictures, Liam at one end with an arm around Hunter, who is next to a posed Gabriella and Troy, with Taylor and Chad also posing at the other end. The guys then bow out so the two girls could have their pictures together, followed by just the four guys, Liam stepping out for a few so it could be just Chad, Troy, and Hunter. Once that pose is done, Chad steps away and drags Gabriella back over to Hunter and Troy, placing her in the middle so there could be a few shots of the three of them alone, the hopefully reunited couple and matchmaker. Before leaving, Mrs. Montez also insists on a few shots of Chad and Taylor alone, them with Gabriella and Troy joining, and lastly of Gabriella and Troy by themselves, facing each other, smiling at the camera and then at each other.
"All right lovebirds, we have to get going! The rest of the gang is meeting us there and will worry we bailed," Chad calls out, smiling as he gets a familiar glare from Troy.
"Gabriella, one more second," Mrs. Montez calls out to her daughter as the others depart with Troy waiting in the doorway. Mrs. Montez approaches her daughter and gives her a big hug and a kiss on her cheek. "Make the most of tonight my darling. Take that leap of faith and I have a feeling you won't be disappointed."
Gabriella nods and smiles back at her mother. "Thank you for everything mom. Thank you for being there," she says, giving her mom one last hug before turning and taking Troy's offered hand as they walk to the limo and join the other two couples in the limo.
Once seated, the driver closes the door and Gabriella smiles as she feels Troy place his arm around her shoulders, bringing her closer to him. After enjoying his closeness for a few more moments, Gabriella turns her attention to Hunter and Liam who are sitting together, watching her and Troy. "All right, what gives?" she asks, directing her focus on Hunter who shrugs, trying to look innocent. "No way mister, innocent does not fit you. Now explain."
Hunter rolls his eyes and replies, "Can't you be satisfied with Troy being your date tonight? Geez, I bet Cinderella's fairy godmother didn't get this type of grief!"
"This is different and you know it. You had this planned since I talked to you on Monday didn't you?" she accuses.
"Guilty!" he answers. "Well sort of. After our conversation, I realized how much I did want to come back for Homecoming so I could say that I had experienced at least one high school dance with my friends at East High. Also, it gave me a good avenue to bring Liam with me for everyone to see. We decided it was time after my announcement this past weekend. But, back to you. Besides wanting to be here for the fun, I wanted to also help you put back together what I and our plan had taken apart…you and Troy."
Gabriella looks over at Troy who she finds is still looking down at her with a serious but caring look. She nods and looks back at Hunter. "Go on please," she says.
"Well, I talked to my director who didn't have me scheduled for yesterday or today to shoot and he let me come back out here for the two days. I have to go back tomorrow morning. Anyway, back to the point, I came out here yesterday morning and found Troy in his usual spot after school, the gym, practicing with Chad, Zeke, and Jason. Believe me, getting this guy to talk to me was beyond difficult. Chad had to step in to get Troy to hear me out but I can't say that I blame him," Hunter explains. "Once I had Troy seated, and after apologizing from the bottom of my heart, I explained to him my intentions of helping the two of you get back together. Those details that happened after, I will leave for him to fill in but nonetheless, here we are, with you having a hopefully wonderful surprise, despite your hatred for surprises."
Gabriella looks up at Troy, who sees the questions in her eyes. "I'll fill you in more when the time is right Gabriella. Tonight, tonight I just want us to enjoy the dance, okay?" Troy says, kissing Gabriella's forehead.
"All right, I think I can do that," she replies with a smile.
Taylor watches from her seat next to Chad and sees there's still something not falling into place between the couple who seem happy enough to be in each other's arms. 'There's a lot more to be said,' Taylor thinks as Troy starts talking to Chad about basketball, much to Taylor's annoyance. 'God Chad, could you maybe let Troy spend some time with Gabriella?'
The limo pulls to a stop and Hunter exits first with Liam following. Chad then gets out, turning around to help Taylor step out. Next out is Troy, who offers Gabriella both of his hands, which she happily takes and steps out to join the others. They walk into the East High gym, Troy holding Gabriella's hand in his. The group looks around the gym for a few minutes before spotting Jason with Kelsi, Sharpay with Zeke, and Ryan who brought Martha as a friend, all around a tall table in the opposite corner.
"OH MY GOD!" Sharpay exclaims, seeing the three couples approaching. "HUNTER AND HIS BOYFRIEND ARE HERE! TROY AND GABRIELLA TOGETHER? I'm so going to faint!"
"Always the one for dramatics," Ryan says with a grin. "Hello everyone."
Gabriella smiles back at a shocked Sharpay before giving her and the rest of her friends a hug. Everyone looks really sharp and pretty tonight, not a single one of them being under or over dressed. Gabriella turns around to go back to Troy, realizing that behind him are a group of students all staring at their little group. "Uh oh, we have an audience," Gabriella announces.
Hunter takes a peek over his shoulder and laughs. "Never stops, huh? This time, I think you are causing the stir Ms. Montez, not me," he responds, laughing more as she rolls her eyes.
"Well, I think it's time to take those professional pictures," Kelsi announces, earning nods from everyone.
They leave the gym to head into the cafeteria where the professional photographers are stationed. Each couple takes turns taking their individual ones, leaving Troy and Gabriella to be last. When they step up to the "set," the photographer positions them right in the middle of the starry sky with a fake Eiffel Tower in the background, a banister sitting low, trying to make it look like a balcony of some sort.
Troy murmurs, "You can't ever say I didn't take you to Paris," close to Gabriella's ear, making her giggle.
They are positioned so that Gabriella's back is against Troy's front, Troy's arms wrapped around her waist and her arms over his, over his hands, intertwining their fingers as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The photographer snaps the picture and grins at the couple. "Probably the most charming couple tonight. Thank you," he says, letting them break their pose and join their friends at another background where they are all ready for a group picture.
"Seriously, took you long enough!" Chad complains as he stands with his arms around Taylor for the picture.
Taylor turns around and smacks him on his arm. "You make it sound like holding me is absolute torture!" she complains.
"No, I didn't mean that, really," Chad stumbles, knowing it was okay as Taylor and Gabriella giggle.
Troy leads Gabriella over to the open spot in the center, it being clear that the friends wanted them there. Taylor and Chad are next to them, Hunter and Liam on the other side. In two rows on their knees are Sharpay and Zeke, Kelsi and Jason, and Ryan with Martha. The photographer modifies the positions of a few people and then has Troy and Gabriella face each other, arms wrapped around each other. They all grin as he takes a few shots, making sure there would be one that is perfect for the group of teens. Once done, everyone gets up and heads back to the gym.
All the way back, Hunter grins as he watches Troy and Gabriella walk together, hands intertwined, never breaking. 'I think for once, I might have done something well worth my efforts,' he thinks. He looks over at Liam and kisses him on the cheek.
"Ah, always the little romantic you. You're watching the couple ahead aren't you?" Liam responds, smiling at his boyfriend.
"Can't help it. She's probably one of my best friends in my short lifetime and he's the love of her life that I almost lost for her. I can't help but want the best for them," Hunter responds.
Liam gives Hunter a squeeze from his arm around Hunter's waist. "As do I and probably the rest of your friends here. I think we should give them their space tonight to let them do their thing. They aren't back together quite yet, I can tell Troy still has a lot of reservations, but they are enjoying the moment if that makes you feel any better."
Hunter nods his agreement as the two walk past the couple, Hunter giving them a grin, and joining Sharpay and Zeke who are up ahead.
"What was that about?" Troy asks, looking down at Gabriella.
Gabriella shrugs. "Just Hunter being Hunter," she replies with a small smile.
Seeing that they are left by themselves to walk back to the gym, Troy decides now may be a good time to talk. "Want to go walk out to the field?" he asks, knowing his spot, their spot, would probably be locked up.
"Sure," Gabriella replies, knowing that they needed to talk.
They walk over to an all too familiar bench to them now and sit down, Troy first making sure it isn't wet before Gabriella sits down. She shivers a little in the cold wind blowing and Troy takes off his jacket to put it over her shoulders, which she gratefully accepts. He wraps an arm around her back, rubbing her arm with his hand trying to warm her up.
After a few moments, Troy decides to be the one to start the conversation. "I guess we surprised you tonight, huh?"
Gabriella looks over at Troy with a smile. "The best surprise I have ever had," she returns, meaning every word.
He nods with a smile. "I admit, I wasn't all for this plan after he told me about it yesterday. Not that I don't want to be with you. It's more like, there's so much to be said between us. When I saw Hunter today, even knowing he is no real threat to us anymore, I couldn't help but feel jealous all over again," Troy confesses, looking at Gabriella the whole time. "Even knowing what I know now, a part of me can't help but feel hurt that you didn't trust me enough to tell me about Hunter. We could have seen each other in secret or something!"
Gabriella shakes her head at this. "It wouldn't have worked that way Troy. There have been paparazzi following me, when I'm with Hunter or not, since almost the first time he took me to dinner. They would have seen you and me, and if what Hunter said to me is true, that he could see the deep feelings we share by just looking at us, it would have been blown. Yes, I did a lot of this for Hunter, but I did a lot of this for us. You were so dead set on us exploring the waters that I knew, even if I technically wasn't, I had to give you the time to do your own searching."
"Which left me with dating Marlene," he supplies.
"Right. Which, even after you found out about her and Jasmine plotting together, I don't think you regret," Gabriella says.
"I don't. My date with Marlene kind of proved to me that forcing this break was good because I realized how there is no one else but you for me, but I also realized how much you have ruined me for other girls. I'll never be able to feel the way I do for you, and when I'm with you with anyone else. Gabriella Montez, you have my heart and soul," Troy confesses, knowing he sounds like a sap again.
"Troy Bolton, you may be cheesy at times but I feel the same way. Yes, I wasn't ready to date Hunter right away, but he was there for me as a friend. The only kiss we shared was pure accident but even then, it wasn't the same for me and I was going to tell him that the night we made our plan. When he suggested it to me, I couldn't bring myself to tell him no because he had been so sweet to me plus, I didn't feel there was any future for you and me at that time. Can I tell you that you are one stubborn lunkhead as Taylor would say?" Gabriella states, causing a smile to appear on Troy's face.
Troy kisses Gabriella's cheek and says, "I may be a 'stubborn lunkhead' but I am yours, Gabriella, whether you want me or not."
Gabriella smiles over at him, genuine warm emotions finally appearing in her eyes for the first time that night. "I want you Troy, regardless of everything that has happened. I made this decision a few weeks ago and I haven't regretted it since. You are the man for me."
He smiles brightly at her before tilting his head and kissing Gabriella softly on the lips. Sparks fly as they both feel the warm sensation traveling through their bodies. "As you are the woman for me Gabriella. You always will be," he says before leaning in and kissing her again.
They continue to kiss for a few moments longer before he feels a wetness on his cheek. He opens his eyes and pulls away, seeing a few tears slip from Gabriella's eyes. Before she can wipe them away, he gently brushes them aside, as well as the ones that are on his cheeks from her tears. "Do you have a tissue or something?" he asks.
"In my purse," Gabriella answers, trying to hold in the tears of happiness.
Troy opens the purse and gets out a tissue for her, which she gratefully accepts, spotting in the process something shiny. He reaches for it and grins as he realizes it is the T-necklace he gave her what seemed like years ago on the last day of their junior year. "You must have known about tonight's plan. You have the necklace," he states, looking over at Gabriella with a questioning look.
Gabriella finishes wiping her eyes and shakes her head, suddenly becoming shy with him. "No, I had no idea," she says as she pulls out a mirror from her purse and examines her eyes, sighing gratefully that her mascara hadn't run. 'Thank God for waterproof!'
"So, why do you have this in your purse?" Troy pushes, now fingering the T as the necklace sits in his hands.
"Because I've had it with me every day we weren't together, even after it was clear that you had given up on us. It's been in my pocket or my purse, everywhere I go. I used it not only as a good luck charm but as a reminder of my first true love, the one I felt had gotten away in truth, maybe never to be reunited," Gabriella slowly explains, watching Troy's expression.
Troy takes a few moments to absorb all this in, staring at the necklace in his hand. "Will you openly wear it now?" he asks, looking back up into her brown eyes, love shining from his blue ones.
Gabriella nods and turns around so he can place it back around her neck, just as he had that day after school. She turns back around and surprises him as she leans over and kisses Troy with all the emotions she felt at the moment, which he happily returns. Suddenly, Troy hears a familiar mechanical sound and realizes that the sprinklers are coming up out of the ground to start spraying. "LET'S GO!" he yells, grabbing Gabriella's hand and her purse as he pulls her up and runs with her across the lawn, making it safely to outside the gym with only a few wet spots on both of them.
Both are laughing as they can't get over their mischief with water. "I think the sprinklers have it out for us," Troy exclaims, laughing.
"I'd have to second that," Gabriella returns, laughing too. "Always something that breaks the moment right?"
"All too often," Troy says. "I've waited so long for tonight Gabriella, whether it was conscious or not. I'm sorry for being so obtuse and breaking up with you all those weeks ago. It was my own stupidity and jealousy and I promise, never to do it again."
"Promise is a strong word," Gabriella returns. "I'd settle for I will never do it again. I don't want any more broken promises between us Troy. You never know, someday in the future, you may just get a fancy for Jasmine and break my heart again."
"Never," Troy responds. "There will be no one in my life but you Gabriella Montez. I love you."
Gabriella smiles back up at Troy. "I love you too," she sweetly returns, leaning up to meet him half way to share another kiss.
"There you are! We've been worried since you have been gone for so long!" Chad interrupts, stopping yet another kiss.
"Chad Danforth, I swear you have the worst timing ever!" Gabriella exclaims at her friend, just as Taylor comes out, evidently having tried to stop Chad.
"Sorry you two, you know how he is. I think Troy is kind of like his security blanket or something," Taylor apologizes, knowing without having seen it that Chad had interrupted the couple again. She looks at them while she has the chance and sees Gabriella and Troy in each other's embrace and grins, knowing that they are back together with no more tension or doubt.
"Yes Taylor, we are back together," Gabriella states, knowing what is going on in her best friend's head while fingering the necklace that is back around her neck. "Troy branded me his again."
"Hey, that's not what that's for," Troy defends. "Okay, maybe a little."
The four laugh as they head back inside the gym to join their friends, for an uneventful rest of the night full of fun, laughter, love, and memories.