Chad, Chucky, and Taylor climbed out of Troy's car after Troy parked in a parking lot three blocks away from the theater where the Royal Copanvy Ballet Company would be holding all of their performances for the season. Troy took an extra moment to pull out the flowers he had just bought at the florist for Gabriella, making sure that the arrangement was still neatly tucked in the clear and green wrappings with the yellow bow.

The four of them started their walk to the theater, meeting up with Ryan, Sharpay, and Tessa, who were standing at the corner of the block where the theater was waiting for them with Emma along with them.

"About time you four showed up. Thought we lost you for good after you left the palace with Taylor in tow," stated Tessa.

"Not that it would be a bad thing if we did," teased Sharpay. "We however would miss Taylor though."

Emma quietly laughed as she watched Gabriella's friends continue to bicker while they started moving with the line towards the front of the theater. Just as they were at the front, right under the big sign that displayed the name of the ballet and the leads, Paul appeared next to her, dropping a kiss on her lips before wrapping his arm around her waist.

"How's our little star?" asked Emma quietly, knowing that Gabriella hadn't told her friends about how involved Gabriella really was in this ballet.

Paul smirked. "How do you think she is? Stressed? Worried? Scared? Nervous? All of the above? Her parents are back there trying to soothe her still while her grandparents are in the royal box. I had to leave to make sure I'd be able to go in with you but the rest of the team is stationed around. I get to blend in though since I'm lead."

"Lucky us," teased Emma with a laugh, blushing as Paul leaned in and kissed her before taking her hand into his. "I wonder if they even suspect that Gabriella is what she is tonight."

Paul glanced back at the friends who were still digging into each other and laughing and shook his head. "Highly doubtful from that commotion."

However, Chucky and Troy both did look up just as they were about to walk under the overhang that held up the lit sign and both saw the words, "A Forbidden Love starring Christopher and Anna." Neither of them really took much notice after that though, figuring that it wasn't the same Chris as they had gotten to know and that Tessa was with most of the time while they were here in Louvis so far. 'If it was, Gabriella's name would be up there too right?' thought Chucky as he handed an usher his own ticket before walking into the theater, bringing up the rear of the group of friends.

They settled into the fourth row from the front with a clear view of the stage that currently had the curtains down and also a little into the orchestra pit where the instruments were being tuned. Troy brushed some of his brown hair out of his face and looked to his right to see Chucky, Paul, and Emma in a conversation while Taylor, Tessa, and Sharpay were giggling over something to his left, with Ryan studiously looking around the theater. To his immediate left, Chad seemed to be busy people watching, leaving Troy to his own thoughts, which mainly centered on how he thought his second practice went with his new team.

'Overall, they seem to be pretty accepting of me and they are all great athletes. Maybe Tomas Moreno and I could become friends in time,' he thought to himself as he recalled the average height but quick man he met first out of the whole team yesterday and who Troy paired up with for drills today. 'He seemed pretty cool but so does most of the rest of the team. I can tell I'm also being seen as somewhat of a threat too but that'll pass in time, I hope.'

Troy felt a slight jab from his left and looked over to see Chad grinning at him. "Dreaming of Gabs are we?"

"No," returned Troy with a chuckle. "Although she isn't far from my mind at the moment. I was actually thinking of practice and how I'm falling into the team now."

"I don't see you limping today. That's a plus from the hard practices you used to go to," commented Chad, remembering a time in college when Troy and Chad both could barely move and flipped coins to see who would get off their beds in their dorm to get things like food and water for them both. "How I do not miss that pain!"

Troy rolled his eyes. "The pain hasn't started because I think this coach actually would like to see his team intact with as minimal injuries as possible. I think it'll ramp up next week, at least that's what Tomas told me today."

"Better not be replacing me with some Hispanic or European basketball pro here, got me?" replied Chad with another grin on his face. "Then again, who could replace the all mighty Chad Danforth, best friend and used to be basketball extraordinaire?"

"Exactly man, who could?" returned Troy with a laugh just as the lights flickered and then dimmed.

Troy turned his attention from his best friend to the now rising curtains, his blue eyes intently focused on finding Gabriella out of all the dancers now coming onto the stage. After a full dance, Troy's gaze finally landed on the woman he had come to see tonight as Gabriella gracefully made her entrance on her pointe shoes and stopped in the middle of the stage. Everything else around Troy seemed to fade away into the darkness, including the other ballerinas, as he focused only on his Brie. His cerulean eyes observed the way Gabriella's body lightly moved across the stage, her hair that was left down in her half-do flowing behind her as she sashayed and performed other moves that Troy honestly did not know the names of. It was only when he saw a pair of hands lift Gabriella up that Troy realized that Chris was now on stage next to Gabriella, performing a small partner dance before she danced with another man all before finally exiting the stage several minutes later.

"Dude, that couple dance was awesome," murmured Chad, getting smacked on the arm by Taylor.

"Shh, and it's not called a couple dance but pas de deux," scolded Taylor, smiling as it appeared that Chad quieted down again.

Troy silently laughed before he looked back up just in time to see Gabriella make another entrance, this time leading a small group of ballerinas behind her. As time passed in the first act, Troy slowly began to realize exactly what role Gabriella was playing in this ballet. He ripped his attention from the stage as Gabriella made another exit and glanced down at the program in his hands, realizing for the first time that the picture on the cover was of Gabriella and Chris. 'How did I not see this? And the names outside! Wait, didn't it say Anna?'

He was distracted again when Gabriella made another appearance, this time being the last before the curtains finally dropped, leaving the image of her being dragged away from Chris in opposite directions by other ballerinas who were playing the role of their friends or family. Troy let out a deep breath before he turned his attention back to the program and saw that in the lead roles were the names Christopher Sonders and Anna. 'Why does it list Gabriella as Anna with no last name?'

Emma looked over and caught the confused look on Troy's face as he stared at the cast listing. "Anna is the name Gabriella goes by in the company and for publicity reasons, they chose to publish only that name. Gabriella didn't want the attention on the ballet to be all about her being in it. I think you could probably understand that."

Troy looked up at Gabriella's long time close friend and therapist and gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, I needed that explanation. Wow, I can't believe she's the lead and never said anything to any of us."

"I second that," agreed Taylor, also now looking at the program in her hands, seeing that Tessa and Sharpay were as well.

Sharpay leaned forward from where she was and looked down the row at all the people with them. "Did anyone besides Emma and Paul know about Gabriella being the lead and the fact that she kicks ass up there?"

Ryan chuckled. "I don't think anyone did based on that look. Guess this really was meant to be a surprise."

Paul nodded his agreement. "It was and let me tell you, Gabriella got ten times more nervous than she already was in the past few weeks when she realized you were all going to be here for the sneak peek tonight," he revealed, feeling a sharp jab to his side. "Oww, what was that for Em?"

Emma rolled her eyes at her sometimes clueless husband. "You don't have to announce to the world Gabriella's every feeling."

"But they're her best friends, not the world," protested Paul.

Chucky laughed at this. "Hey Chad, looks like it isn't just you who isn't so up and up with the wavelengths of your wife."

"Ha ha," got out Chad before almost sticking his tongue out at his brother, stopping at the sudden look he got from Taylor, reminding him of where they were. "Very funny brother."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say Gaby and Chris have real chemistry too," commented Sharpay thoughtfully, now looking at the picture on the program.

"Yeah, Shar has a point. Even in this picture of the two of them looking at each other while Gabriella has her leg extended behind her. Ryan, what's that move called?" asked Taylor, looking at her own program.

Ryan chuckled at him suddenly becoming the ballet encyclopedia, having taught Taylor and Tessa some ballet terms earlier while they were standing in line like pas de deux. "Gabriella is performing an arabesque while using Chris as a support per se. See how her leg is at a ninety degree angle but she is supporting her weight mostly on her right pointe shoe while using Chris to steady her but you can also tell she's so balanced that if he walked away, she'd be able to hold it without him."

"Which she could then turn into an attitude if she bent that left leg behind her at the knee at about one-hundred and twenty degrees and pulled her body and arms up," added Sharpay, looking up from the program to see the confused looks on her friends' faces. "Did I lose you somewhere?"

"I think I'm just going to nod and smile," said Tessa, laughing as she heard relieved chuckles from Chad and Chucky, who nodded their heads in agreement. "I am impressed though that you twins have this much knowledge of this form of dance."

"Of course we do silly Tess. We were forced to not only go through ballroom dance lessons but also ballet when we were little. Thank God Daddy came to his senses and realized that we were meant for theater. Ballet just bored me to tears," confessed Sharpay, ignoring the chuckle from her brother.

"Shar, you were never the patient and graceful type," teased Ryan, dodging the hand that came towards him in a slap but getting a glare from his twin instead.

"Gotta give it to your twin Shar, you just aren't that type," agreed Tessa.

The lights flickered ten minutes later and then eventually dimmed as the second act of the ballet began. Troy had talked amongst the group during the break but was mainly lost to his train of thought as to how much Gabriella's life had changed since high school. 'Being a princess is number one but there's also the volunteer work and becoming a stellar ballet dancer,' thought Troy as he watched Gabriella duck behind scenery and props only to pop out again until she full on ran towards Chris, who caught her and lifted her up over his head before letting her slide back down to the stage. Troy's eyes never left Gabriella when she was on the stage and automatically began searching for her when she was gone for her next entrance. He was able to follow the storyline in between it all and felt actual tears in his eyes at the end, as he watched Gabriella, in character, get married to another man while she thought her lover, played by Chris, stood her up in their running away together when he was really killed by the other man's goons at that exact moment.

'Since when did you get this sentimental Bolton?' questioned Troy in his mind as he blinked back the tears and pushed away the horrible feeling that haunted him for a moment as the lights on the stage turned back on and the curtains were raised again to start the bows. 'It's not like that really could happen right? Gabriella isn't set to marry another man anytime soon and you and she are just starting out again. There's still time to make a difference before anything gets that serious like death. It won't come to death this time right?'

As Troy saw the cast of the ballet company continue to come out and take their bows and curtsies, Troy fought the nagging feeling in his head that he was missing something. 'You're just being paranoid Troy. With all the violence that happened in high school between Riley and Alicia, it's no wonder you're apprehensive right now but that's then, this is now. The only thing that can stop you from being with Brie again is you and all these stupid thoughts.'

Troy had finally pushed away the last lingering negative thought out of his head just in time to see Chris and Gabriella take the stage together, both beaming from ear to ear at a successful completion of their first performance as leads. Already clapping from before, Troy, along with the rest of the group and the audience at large, stood up and clapped even louder for the pair who took turns bowing and curtseying before gesturing to the orchestra below them and moving backwards to behind the curtain line. Due to the amount of applause, the curtains were raised again for the entire company as they all bowed and curtsied before they waved to the audience in general, Troy grinning a little more as he felt Gabriella's gaze fall on him and smile just that little bit more before the ballet company moved back and were shielded with the final drop of the curtains.

"That was fabulous!" exclaimed Sharpay, grabbing her purse and turning to the others.

"Better than fabulous! Chris and Gabriella were amazing!" shouted Taylor, a smile on her face as well. "My God, that storyline too, was so romantic and sad!"

Paul saw a set of emotions cross over Troy's young face at these words and also saw them leave as Troy put a grin on to mask them. 'You always have been a smart one, Troy. Let's just hope that none of this really comes down to things being taken this far in reality.'

"Jealous Tessa? Gabriella and Chris do make a good couple," teased Chad before he got smacked by both Tessa and his own wife.

"You are such an idiot sometimes Chad," said Tessa as she shook her head. "They do look great up there together though, and it shows how much work they really put into this. It all paid off."

"I agree. Once this crowd thins out, how about we go around back to congratulate her?" offered Emma with a smile as Paul's hand slid into her grasp.

"Sounds good to me. Can't wait to get on her for not telling us this big secret of her being lead!" stated Chucky as he raised his arms and stretched a little from being crammed into the theater seat for the past two and some odd hours minus the intermission. After the crowd thinned a little more, the group joined the sea of bodies to congratulate both Gabriella and Chris.

Once the curtains dropped for the last time, Chris immediately swept Gabriella into his arms, twirling her around as they both let out a sigh of relief before they screamed in excitement with the rest of the company. "Ella, that was amazing! You were amazing!"

Gabriella, now back on her own feet, grinned back at her partner and good friend. "No, you were fantastic! Not even one drop tonight!"

Chris grinned back at her. "Well I had to make sure of that otherwise I'd be sent to the torture chambers with all your family watching."

"Whatever you say Christopher," replied Gabriella before she was swept up into hugs from other company members.

"Anna and Christopher, you did wonderful tonight!" exclaimed Rodger as he walked onto the stage, instantly having his way cleared for him as he approached the two who were standing still close together. "What a wonderful way to kick off this season! I can tell we are going to be a success because of you two!"

"Thanks Rodger," returned Gabriella before she returned Rodger's hug. When she pulled away, Rodger snapped his fingers and an assistant came forward with a bouquet of wildflowers. "These, my princess, are for my star this season. They compare very little to the roses that fill your dressing room but I wanted to give you something to celebrate your success."

Gabriella grinned back at him. "Just hearing you happy with our performance is more than enough but thank you Rodger. This means a lot."

"And my flowers are where?" demanded Chris, grinning as Rodger rolled his eyes at him. "Unfair treatment here Rodger!"

Just then another assistant appeared with a large box of Belgium chocolates. "Actually, I figured since I deprived you so many times of your candy bars while we were rehearsing nonstop in the past few months because I wanted you in shape, I would reward you this once with the finest chocolates I could find for you," returned Rodger, a smirk on his face as Chris's eyes lit up at the sight of the box he now held in his hands. "That suitable?"

"More than!" exclaimed Chris before shaking Rodger's hand. Immediately after, Chris tore the box's lid open and started eating one, savoring the taste on his tongue before he snapped the box closed again, making sure no one else could take any.

Rodger chuckled as he shook his head at his male lead. "Now, don't eat too many of those. We still have several performances to go and I expect every single one of them to be better than this one. You've all set the bar tonight as a company and I want you to keep raising it and have an amazing final performance in a few weeks. Great job everyone!"

The ballet company cheered together before everyone started dispersing, Gabriella and Chris going towards their dressing rooms with some of the other main ballerinas. Gabriella stopped though as she spotted her parents.

"Gabriella! You were amazing tonight!" exclaimed Annette, immediately embracing her daughter in a tight hug, which Gabriella returned. "You made us so proud!"

"More like an angel sweetheart, an absolute angel," said Stephen as he took his turn and hugged his daughter to him. "You really have worked so hard these past few months especially, not to mention over these years and I think I speak for all of us when I say we are so proud of you."

Gabriella pulled away and truly felt pride in what she, Chris, and the rest of the ballet company had accomplished so far from their rehearsals just by seeing the happiness in both her grandparents' faces over Stephen's shoulder. "I hope you both enjoyed it as well, Grandmother, Grandfather."

Edward made the first move and embraced his only granddaughter in a tight hug. "Of course we did Gabriella. You were wonderful up there and I couldn't be happier to call you my granddaughter than I am tonight. You really showed everyone what class and grace and talent our family really has."

"I knew you had it in you," murmured Lauren as she surprised Gabriella with a hug that wasn't all that tight but spoke volumes as to how happy her grandmother really was with Gabriella's performance and Gabriella herself at the moment. "You really were a vision and the living proof of why I love ballet so much. All the emotion you conveyed mixed with that skill you have out there. Gabriella, I am just so proud of you right now."

When Gabriella pulled back, she blinked back tears of happiness just knowing that she was able to bring those words out from her grandmother finally, after all this time. "That means so much to me Grandmother."

"I may not say it Gabriella but I am proud of you every day, I really am, but especially tonight. You truly were magnificent," stated Lauren, giving her granddaughter a kiss on the cheek.

Gabriella beamed just that much more, savoring this moment and storing it away in her memory for safe keeping, knowing this was a rare moment to have with her entire family. "Oh, and thank you so much for the beautiful and vibrant flower arrangement you sent to my dressing room earlier tonight! It gave me courage when I thought I had none left during warm-ups right before the show."

Edward smiled back at Gabriella. "It was the least we could do. Well, I'm sure your friends will be coming around to congratulate you so we best be on our way."

"Right Father," agreed Stephen, nodding his agreement. "We'll catch up with you later at home tonight or tomorrow after your coast trip with the gang."

Before they could leave though, Patrick quickly approached, bowing as was customary before the royal family before grinning at Gabriella and kissing her on both cheeks. "As I told you, you were phenomenal Ella!"

Gabriella blushed and gave him a smile back. "Thank you for saying that and for coming. Those gorgeous roses are all so beautiful too. Really, you didn't have to fill my room with them practically!"

"Since I won't be seeing you tomorrow after all, I wanted to do something nice for you tonight," replied Patrick with a twinkle in his eyes. "I totally understand though why you cancelled since your friends are in town for just this week."

Lauren raised her right eyebrow at this. "Gabriella, why doesn't Patrick join you and your friends tomorrow? I'm sure he'd like to get to know your friends as you have gotten to know some of his."

"Mother," hissed Stephen low enough so only Edward, Lauren, and Annette could hear him.

Lauren just gave him a look back that said to let the situation be and not say anything further. Stephen shook his head and just put his hand over Annette's that was now resting on his right arm, trying to soothe him. 'Just when I thought she was turning a corner with our daughter, Mother pulls another card out of her sleeve,' thought Stephen as he saw the now awkward situation between his daughter and her suitor unfold.

"It's quite all right your majesty. Ella deserves to have some good quality time with her friends without any outsiders around," said Patrick, fighting his urge to jump in and invite himself to the outing, especially knowing that Troy would be there without a doubt.

Gabriella licked her lips nervously as she debated with herself what to say. 'Do I invite him and stay on Grandmother's good side at the cost of possibly making tomorrow weird with him around or do I take his offer and deal with Grandmother's disappointment later?' she wondered as she looked over and saw the expectant look on Lauren's face.

"Hey Ella, before I forget, what time am I supposed to be at the palace tomorrow morning for the coast?" asked Chris as he jogged up to the group, in his street clothes but still wearing his makeup. As he slowed, he realized there was some type of moment going on and instantly knew from the look on Gabriella's face that something had just been decided that she wasn't too happy about.

"8 AM Chris and Patrick, it would be great if you would come. Can you meet us all at the palace at that time too tomorrow?" questioned Gabriella, hating herself for making the false invitation but also realizing that she wasn't all that set against it either. 'It just would be less strange if he could meet all the gang without Troy around. This is going to be way too weird to have both guys I am sort of dating there all day tomorrow.'

Patrick gave Gabriella his most charming smile and nodded. "I can certainly be there."

"Perfect. Well, we must go. Edward, Stephen, and Annette, shall we leave these young people to their own?" Lauren gave Gabriella one more smile before she left on Edward's arm, Annette and Stephen both following them out after giving their daughter one last congratulatory embrace and a sympathetic smile before they left.

After Gabriella's family left, Chris cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the chemistry in the air at the moment. "Umm, Ella, why don't you go and change? I'm sure that your friends will be back here in a few and would like to take you to celebrate or something."

Gabriella snapped out of her thoughts and realized that Chris was right, that her friends would of course be coming backstage as they were on the list to be allowed back here and that she was still in her costume. "I better go change. Patrick, will you be all right out here?"

"Go on in Ella, I'll keep him company," assured Chris, receiving a grateful smile from Gabriella as a reward before she turned and closed the door behind her in her dressing room to get changed.

Silence filled the air for a moment before Patrick decided to start a conversation. "So, great job tonight. You and Ella must have worked really hard to get to where you were tonight, pretty flawless."

Chris nodded his head. "We worked pretty damn hard, I have to say. I'm surprised you've never dropped by a rehearsal before or stayed for the classes."

Patrick gave him a sheepish smile. "Well, I figure Ella wanted her own space for her hobby and she seemed to take great pride in this and wanting to be able to concentrate when she was with the ballet company."

"Ah, I see. She does like to focus as much as possible. I do admit it's hard to do around me," replied Chris with a chuckle.

"Right, because you are so dreamy and attractive," teased Tessa, approaching both men quickly and kissing Chris soundly before looking at Patrick, realizing it was the first time she really met the other man Gabriella was seeing. "Hi, I'm Tessa."

"Patrick," he returned with his best smile, giving Tessa a very nice glimpse of what physically attracted her best friend to the guy. "Nice to meet you. Where are the rest of your friends?"

"Oh, they probably got caught up in the crowd of people who are swarming outside. So much chaos just because of Gaby. Honestly!" joked Tessa with a giggle. "Oh, Chris, you were so great up there!"

"Bout time you said something about my performance on stage!" exclaimed Chris, pouting a little to see if he'd get any sympathy but highly doubting it.

As expected, Tessa just rolled her eyes at him. "Please, like I really need to stroke your ego any more than it already has been."

Chris got a sudden look in his eyes as he wiggled his eyebrows. "How about stroking something else?"

"Eww, I so did not need to hear that!" complained Sharpay as she and the rest of the group of friends approached. "Seriously Tessa, is that all you and this fantastic male lead do and think about?"

Tessa and Chris both blushed as he wrapped an arm around her. "We think and do other things," returned Tessa.

Sharpay arched an eyebrow at this. "Like what?"

"Well, we, umm, talk about ballet!" exclaimed Tessa, grasping at the first thing she thought of.

"Even I am not dumb enough to believe that," chimed in Chad, getting an instant glare from Tessa.

"At least you admit you are dumb," fired back Tessa, a smirk on her face.

"Hey! Tay, get your best friend under control!" whined Chad.

"God Chad, can't you stick up for yourself against Tessa?" remarked Chucky, chuckling as he saw the start of another battle between the two.

Ryan laughed himself. "Yeah Chad, it's not like Tessa is my sister or anything. Now Sharpay, she's someone to be scared of."

"Ry!" complained Sharpay. "You make me out to be so harsh. I can't possibly be worse than Tessa PMSing."

"Hey! I object to that and you so are!" got out Tessa, getting into the rhythm of the banter going on.

As the friends continued to tease each other, Taylor looked over and saw that Troy and Patrick were exchanging a rather interesting set of looks, each man having a neutral expression on their face but their eyes telling the world that they were pretty much sizing each other up as the competition. Not wanting anything to happen on a night that her best friend should be happy, after a successful debut as the lead in a ballet, Taylor decided to intervene. "Wow, you must be Patrick Diaz. Gabriella has told us so much about you."

Patrick's brown eyes moved from Troy to meet Taylor's own before he smiled at her. "That I am, nice to meet you. I'm sorry, I don't believe I caught your name."

Taylor took his offered hand and found herself blushing a little as Patrick kissed the back of her hand. "Taylor, Taylor Danforth."

"Ah, Gabriella's best friend that just got married recently to a man named Chad I believe?" returned Patrick, another dazzling smile on his face.

"That would be him, the guy with the big untamed looking hair. Next to him is his brother Chucky, my brother-in-law, and I think you already met Tessa. The blonde guy with the stylish hat is Ryan Evans and next to him is his twin Sharpay Evans. I believe you know Paul and Emma, which leaves this guy here, Troy Bolton," introduced Taylor, choosing her words carefully towards the end.

The air seemed to still as everyone watched the two men look at each other for a moment before Troy offered his right hand out to Patrick first, reminiscent of the real first time they met at the ball. "Good to meet you again."

"You too," replied Patrick, his smile dimming a little from his face, despite his best efforts.

Just then, the door to Gabriella's room opened and a huge grin grew on her face as she saw that all of her friends were standing out in the hallway, waiting for her. "Wow, I didn't know you guys would get back here this fast," she said, brushing out some of her hair still. "I was just going to ask Chris to make sure you guys got through the door. I know I put you on the list but I was worried."

"Worried as usual, that's our Gab," replied Chucky, moving to be the first to congratulate and hug Gabriella. "You were wonderful out there! Made us all flabbergasted that you had such a hidden talent and proud!"

"Who said it was a hidden talent? I think it was just a gift she never shared," teased Ryan as he took his turn hugging her.

All of the friends took their turn each congratulating her, leaving Paul and Emma to be the last while Troy waited until the last moment, nervous about how he should act in front of Patrick, not really knowing how to handle this situation. Taylor glanced over with a smile on her face, which was immediately replaced with a look of concern as she saw Troy's hesitant look. She walked over and laid a comforting hand on his left arm. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Troy looked up from the ground and over at Taylor, catching himself rubbing the back of his neck again with his free hand that wasn't holding the flowers he brought for Gabriella. "I'm just, I don't know how to act with Patrick around. It's weird and yet it hits home as to what type of situation we all are in right now, the three of us."

Taylor nodded her head in understanding. "I can totally see where you are coming from Troy but think about this. You and Gab have a history together and you both know that you clearly love each other. Why not just give what you have a shot, forget about anyone or anything else. I think she'd really love those flowers you bought for her."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," admitted Troy, about to step forward as they both heard Sharpay's squeal.

"Oh my God Gabriella! Who sent you all these gorgeous long stemmed red roses in here?" exclaimed Sharpay from where she was standing on the threshold of Gabriella's dressing room. "They simply are amazing and they fill the air so sweetly!"

"I want to see!" called out Tessa as she ran over and saw the multiple arrangements of red roses that practically covered any flat surface in Gabriella's dressing room, leaving only enough room for her makeup on the vanity. "Wow Gab!"

Gabriella blushed deeply as she shot Patrick a shy look, causing him to grin in response. She was careful not to meet Troy's eyes just then, afraid of what she would see for once as she said, "That's actually from Patrick but my family sent the yellow arrangement of daisies, lilies, roses, and carnations on the coffee table."

Taylor sensed Troy's hesitation and discreetly tried pushing him a little on his back, Emma being the only other person to notice his reaction and Taylor's antics. Emma walked over and joined the two, wanting to help where she could, realizing that this could not be easy for Troy, having to face not only another man for the affections of the woman he loved but a man that he would soon learn had the favor of the King and Queen. "Troy, what lovely flowers! Yellow roses and a single sunflower. I didn't even get to admire their beauty outside. Why don't you give them to Gabriella now? I know she'll love them."

Troy gave both Emma and Taylor a grateful look but refused to budge, grateful that Gabriella was being distracted by Paul, Chucky, and Chad at the moment while Ryan talked to Patrick about something. "I appreciate what you two ladies are trying to do here but I can't give these to her. It's bad enough I thought she was just in the chorus but to have to give her this after he filled her room with long stemmed red roses, I can't live up to that!"

"But Troy, you can! These came from your heart and they show how much you know her," argued Taylor, desperately wanting Troy to give himself a fair chance. 'They really have come too far for him to lose hope now. He even moved here for her!'

"I agree with Taylor Troy. Where's the young man who was not only a phenomenal basketball player but had a love so fierce for the woman standing only a few feet away years ago that he put his life on the line for her? I thought that was the man who moved across the ocean for her," stated Emma, staring Troy straight in the eyes. "Was I wrong?"

Troy took in a deep breath, shaking his head. "No, you're not. I still do love Brie just as much as I did then today, if not more, but how am I supposed to compete against a guy like Patrick who clearly has money to burn?"

"It's not all about the money Troy," said Taylor. "In fact, the woman you and I both know would happily trade all of this for true happiness and love."

After a moment of thought, Troy nodded his agreement. "You're right Tay but this still feels weird being in front of him and approaching Gabriella. How do I act?"

"Maybe just tone it down a little but use your judgment. You should still be yourself but be respectful that he's there," suggested Emma. "Now, are we going to have to push you in her direction again?"

Troy chuckled as he felt the tension in his body drain away. "No, I think I can take it from here. Thank you both for the pep talk, I really needed it."

He hugged both Taylor and Emma quickly before he made his way over to Gabriella, leaving Taylor and Emma to watch the way Gabriella's face lit up as soon as she saw Troy standing in front of her, becoming even brighter as he shyly presented her with the bouquet he had hidden behind his back. Both grinned as Gabriella instantly threw her arms around Troy's neck, squealing in delight as he wrapped his own arms around her waist before twirling her around once, kissing her on the cheek.

"You were absolutely gorgeous, stunning, amazing, and so many more things up there Brie!" murmured Troy as he set her back down on her feet. "I had no idea that you were actually the female lead!"

Gabriella blushed more at his compliments. "Well, I wanted to keep it a surprise for you all since I knew you were coming and I was too nervous to talk about it before as I didn't want to jinx myself either."

"Hey, I think whatever you did worked because you were just that great. You too Chris," replied Troy, looking away from Gabriella and shaking Chris's hand.

"Thank you Troy, it wasn't easy lifting such a heavy woman all the time though. It's seriously tough work," deadpanned Chris before chuckling as Gabriella playfully swatted at him. "Careful! You may hurt those nice flowers he just gave you!"

Gabriella refrained from any further attacks, seeing that she had lost a few rose petals in her actions. "Fine, you're safe for now, but I have all season to get you back. Thank you so much Troy for these. You remembered didn't you?"

"Your favorite color being yellow? Yes. Your attachment to sunflowers because they are not only yellow but so definitely unique and yet underappreciated in the flower world? Definitely," replied Troy, grinning as she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "I remember everything you have ever told me Brie."

"And that's what makes you so special," she replied as she leaned up again, intending to kiss him on the lips this time but opting for another kiss on the cheek as she spotted Patrick looking on at them from his conversation with Ryan. 'God, this is so weird now, how is this going to be tomorrow?'

Luckily, Sharpay and Tessa both dragged Gabriella away from the whole situation and into the dressing room to get a private tour of Gabriella's stage home per se, forcing Gabriella to abandon all other thoughts over the tension as she showed them around, despite her protests that there wasn't much to see. Troy and Patrick though, they were left talking to the others out in the hallway, both not thinking of much more than wondering what the other man was about and who, ultimately, would get the woman who lived in both of their hearts.

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