Troy grinned at the sight of Gabriella, sitting at one of the lunch tables with Taylor and Chad. She was watching Taylor and Chad bicker with an amused smile on her face and Troy couldn't help but just stare at the girl who meant so much to him.

"Hoops! Finally you're here," Chad cried, shooting Taylor a mock-scared expression. "She wants to maim me!"

Taylor rolled her eyes, "Troy, you better control your boy before he finds himself unable to play basketball anymore." Chad opened his mouth to retort and they continued to bicker, smiles creeping on to their faces.

Troy shook his head, giving Gabriella a quick peck on the cheek. "Glad to see you didn't get too wet by the rain," he murmured. Gabriella giggled.

"I went to my first class and Mrs Harris took one look at me and told me to go dry off," Gabriella smiled. "Do you mind driving me home today?"

"It'll cost you," Troy teased, "I expect some of your mom's brownies in payment."

"Done." Gabriella took a sip o her water and began to watch Taylor and Chad's argument again, but Troy felt compelled to ask Gabriella something he wasn't too sure she would respond to.

"Can I ask you something?"

Gabriella smiled, "you already asked me to prom, Wildcat."

"I mean something to do with what we spoke about when I asked you," Troy laughed nervously. Gabriella's eyes widened in understanding and a soft smile graced her face.

"You mean about how my dad taught me to waltz?" Troy nodded slowly and Gabriella smiled reassuringly, her eyes brightening at the memory. "I know I don't talk about him a lot, but we used to do that a lot. I was watching Beauty and the Beast and of course Belle was my favourite. So, when I saw the dance scene, I demanded my dad to show me." Gabriella smiled as Chad and Taylor began to pay attention to her story.

"He was slowly getting worse with his condition, except I didn't know it at the time. I was still little so my mom and dad thought it would be best not to tell me. But he some how managed to muster up enough strength to make me stand on his toes and spin me around the room. He started singing too," Gabriella smiled nostalgically. "And with every step together, we just keep on getting better. So can I have this dance?"

"My mom always says that him teaching me how to waltz was one of the times he felt a bit more alive. He died three months later, but he was at peace and me and my mom always sing that song on his birthday – like a little tradition," she giggled softly. Troy and Chad smiled, whilst Taylor sighed at the beautiful memory.

"Maybe you should sing it for the musical?" Taylor suggested. "It sounds like a beautiful song, even just from that single line."

Gabriella shook her head with a smile, "nah. I like to keep that song to myself, it makes it more special." She glanced over at Troy, and he felt his smile widened at the thought that Gabriella had sung that song with him whilst teaching him how to dance.

Taylor and Chad waved goodbye as Chad offered to take Taylor to her locker and Troy turned to face Gabriella. "I love you."

"I love you too."