E! News: East High School: Behind The Scenes

The Story Of East High: The Way it Happened

(Note: These characters are not mine and I do not own E! News or any program related to it.)

Chapter 1: You are the music in me…

The four couples arrived home after their interviews. Even though they were tired they couldn't help but dwell on the memories they had shared that night.

" It felt good to see everyone and talk about old times." Gabriella said to Troy as they sat curled up on their couch.

"Yeah." responded Tory as he felt himself being pulled into a flashback.

Troy sat on his bed and dialed the number of his best friend Chad.

"Hello?"

"I'm proposing to Gabriella."

"Huh? Troy is that you?"

"Please don't tell me you were sleeping!"

"Yes, I was. Now repeat what you just said."

"I'm proposing to Gabriella."

"I must still be asleep. I could've sworn you said you're proposing to Gabriella."

"No, you heard me right."

"You're kidding."

"I'm serious."

" You can't be."

" I am. This week at the game."
" But… huh… I …I'm coming over."

Before Troy could respond Chad arrived at Troy's dorm.

"You couldn't of put on clothes?"

"This is too important."

"Nice boxers."

"Will you concentrate?"

"Sorry."

"Why are you proposing? You're only 22!"

"Well, Dad, I've known Gabriella for a long time and I feel that we're ready."

"Really? You're graduating in three months and you feel you're ready to be tied down?"

"Marriage is not about getting tied down. It's about two people making a commitment to love each other until they both die."
" But you can do that without having a ring shoved on your finger."

" Look, I know you're not that big on marriage but I am. I love Gabriella and I want to make her a permanent part of my life. Right now our relationship isn't official. I want everyone to know how we feel about each other. I want her by my side every minute helping me make decisions. I don't want to see her only once a week. I want here to be there when I wake up and go to sleep. I want to be more than just her boyfriend. I want to be her husband. And I want you to help me."

"What do you need my help for?"

"I need you to help me pick out an engagement ring."

"But…"

"Do you think you could do that Mr. Supportive?"
"Fine. I'll go get dressed."

The two friends spent the rest of the day driving from store to store trying to find a ring that fit Troy's price range. At the end of the day Troy settled on a 2-karat-single diamond ring with a curved band.

"Do you want it engraved, Sir?"

"How much extra would that be?"

"$300."

"Um, I think I'll pass."

"As you wish."

After their eventful shopping excursion the boys decided to have quiet dinner out.

"I can't believe your really doing this."

"I know, it's crazy."

"Are sure you're making the right decision?"

"Yes. Look my dad said the same thing. That he thinks I'm too young and that marriage should be for mature adults but I can't help myself. I know I'm making the right decision."

"But how do you know?"

"It's just a gut feeling. Whenever I look at her I see our entire life play out before my eyes. It's like in 'When Harry met Sally', you know in the final scene. Billy Crystal comes to the party to tell Meg Ryan that he loves her and he says 'When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.' And that's what I want. I don't want to wait any longer. I'm ready for the rest of my life to start.

"Wow. That's pretty deep."

"Thanks."

"Alright, enough grilling. How are you going to do it?"

"Well, during half-time I was going to take her out to the middle of the court and give her the ring."

"She'll flip."

"I know; it's perfect."

Troy spent the rest of the week planning out every detail of his proposal including asking Gabriella's mother for permission.

"You have to ask permission?" Chad asked as the guys were working out in the school gym.

" I don't have to but I thought it would be polite. Plus, most girls think it's very romantic."

"True."

Later that day Troy made the trip to Gabriella's mother's house. He was nervous but he knew this had to get done. As he knocked on the door, he silently prayed for Gabriella's mother to be out of the house.

"Troy! What a surprise! Come on in.", Mrs. Montez said when she opened the door.

"Thank you."
"So, what brings you to my house this time of night?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you something."

"You couldn't do that over the phone?"

" This is kind of important."

"Alright. What is it that you wanted to ask me?"

" Your daughter and I have been dating since high school. I know that you're fully aware of our feelings toward each other. Because of these factors I've decided that the time is right for the two of us to get married. That is where you come in. Before I propose to Gabriella I need your permission. So, what do you say?"

Mrs. Montez sat on her couch, frozen. She had a feeling that this would happen but so soon? They were only 22!

"Mrs. Montez?" Troy said to break the silence.

" I'm going to be honest with you, I'm a little surprised. Are you sure you want to do this now?"

"Yes. Look I understand we're young but I can't wait any longer. I'm about to graduate from college. I'm going to officially start my life. It would be great if I could do that with my wife by my side."

" What do your parents think about this?"

"They feel the same as you but they're willing to support me."

" Well, I am apprehensive but if you're sure about this then I guess I can't stop you. You may propose to Gabriella."

"Thank you, Mrs. Montez!" Troy said as he hugged his future mother-in-law.

"You're welcome, Troy but you're cutting off my circulation.

"Right, sorry."

Finally, the big night arrived. Troy looked out at the stands as he finished up in the locker room. Sitting in the second row was Gabriella dressed in his favorite outfit of hers.

"Nervous?" Chad asked.

"No, we've beaten this team before. Just because it's the championships doesn't mean they'll change their tactics."

"Not about the game! About proposing!"

"Oh, a little but I know she'll say 'yes'. She will say 'yes' right?"

"This is Gabriella we're talking about. Of course she'll say 'yes'."

Before Troy knew it, half time arrived. There was no turning back now. As Troy ran back to the locker room to grab the ring an announcement blared over the loudspeakers.

"Will Gabriella Montez please come to center court? Gabriella Montez to center court."

Bewildered, Gabriella went to stand in the middle of the court. Before she was there 30 seconds Troy appeared in front of her with a microphone in his hand.

"Troy, what's going on here?"

" Funny you should ask Ms. Montez."

" Troy please explain yourself."

" Alright." Tory said into the microphone, " Gabriella I have been in love with you since high school. And I know that I will continue to love you until the day I die. So, will you marry me?"
Gabriella's mouth fell to the floor as her boyfriend got down on one knee. Her shock grew when she saw he had a diamond ring in his other hand.

"I …oh my gosh…y… yes. Yes, I'll marry you."

The couple began to embrace as Troy finished placing the ring on Gabriella's finger.