Gabriella walked down the hall with Sharpay into the old apartment she used to share with Troy. It was the last day she'd be collecting her stuff, before the end. They were over. All her hopes and dreams for their future, gone.
"Gabs! Are you taking the Television?" Sharpay shouted from the living room.
Gabriella walked into the room and hesitated. Troy had chosen the T.V but she had paid for it. He used it to watch all the sports and things, she barely even watched it. But then again, it was a lot of money to just give away. But she loved Troy, did love Troy. She couldn't take everything from him.
"No. Leave it here"
"Okay, I'll go do the kitchen, you do the bedroom"
Gabriella nodded and cleared her things out from the bedroom, she was just finishing off when she heard Sharpay shout again.
"What?"
"I think you should take a look at this"
Gabriella huffed and followed the noise.
"Shar, can't you just d-oh my god"
"I know" Sharpay whispered back.
On the wall in front of them were 5 giant posters, each carrying a word.
'Gabi...Will...You...Marry...Me?"
"So...this is what you wanted right?" Sharpay squealed.
Gabriella shook her head.
"No! This isn't what I wanted! I don't want proposing to just because he'll think I'm going to stay with him! He can't just stick a few words on a wall and think it will make everything better" she said, fighting back the tears.
"But they're not just a few words! They're the most precious words in the world!" Sharpay protested.
"Yeah, and sticking them on a kitchen wall doesn't do them justice okay? Let's just get out of here"
Sharpay obliged and carried the remaining boxes to the car. It was finally sinking in that her two best friends were never going to live happily ever after.
--
'So she rejected you?'
'That's what Zeke said. Sharpay told him Gabi had seen it, and she was like...he's only saying it to make me stay...they're on a kitchen wall...hardly romantic...that kind of thing'
'And all her stuff's gone?'
'Yep. Everything'
'Even the funky exercise ball?'
'Yes Chad, even the funky exercise ball'
'What about that big ass TV I was always so jealous about?'
'No, not the TV, she left that for some reason'
'She left the giant TV that she paid for?' Chad questioned down the phone.
'Yeah...why?'
'Exactly. Why did she leave it? You think she'd take it with her. If she really hated you, she'd have trashed your flat as well...'
'Well she hasn't, she's even tidied up a bit'
'There you go then! She's still in love with you! You just have to think of a new way to woo her all over again!'
'Since when did you become so clever?'
'Since I fell in love'
'Taylor's stood next to you, isn't she?'
'Umm...maybe, anyways, got to go. Toodles!'
Troy laughed and put the phone down. Chad was obviously spending too much time with Sharpay as well.
2 Weeks Later
Gabriella groaned as she slipped her heels off and sat at her desk in her office. She'd been working non-stop for 10 hours straight in the stupid killer heels she chose to impress her Boss.
He was making an inspection that day and she wanted to look her best and prove she was doing just fine.
As an afterthought she clicked open her emails, rubbing her sore feet as it loaded.
A frown passed over her features as she saw she had a message from Troy.
It read;
Job Application for the Position of Husband to Gabriella Montez
Pros
Have loved this girl for 11 years straight, forsaking all others, since the day we met.
Dated the said girl since we first met.
We were each other's first sexual lovers.
I think she's the most amazing, beautiful, intelligent, funny, sexy woman I've ever known.
She makes me smile when she walks into the room.
I love her with all my heart.
Cons
Have been a complete idiot in the past, and in the recent few weeks.
Have the tendency to be clueless quite a bit of the time.
Don't always do as I'm told, i.e. not leaving the bath towels on the bedroom carpet.
Bought a dog...BIG mistake.
Lost my heart to a girl I met 11 years ago and have dated ever since, which she still has.
I'll never be able to love any other girl but her.
Am I a suitable candidate for the job? I love you Gabi, I always will. Please say yes. I can't afford a ring right now, but I've attached what one day I hope to buy you.
All my love, Troy x
Gabriella clicked open a new email and responded;
Troy,
Please stop doing this. You missed your chance. We're over. I'm not going to marry you. What we had was great, we had an amazing time together and I love you, but this wouldn't and will never work. I'm sorry. Please leave me be. Maybe one day we can be friends and can move on, but for now, let me just move on.
Gabriella
Putting her head in her hands she sobbed. Leaving him was harder than she thought. She loved him. It's hard to move past that. However much she tried to convince herself and everyone else, she knew that you can't just drop an 11 year relationship and move on. But she was going to try her hardest to prove it could happen.
--
Troy's heart dropped when he saw her reply. That was his master plan. They always sent emails to each other during the working day, he was sure she'd say yes. But she didn't.
'She rejected you...again?'
'Yes Chad, but thanks for the reminder'
'How many times have you asked now?'
'I don't know, I think...4?'
'4 times! Maybe you should just give up?'
'I can't! She's my life Chad! I can't just give up on her!'
'What did she say in the email?'
'You missed your chance. We're over. I'm not going to marry you. We had an amazing time together and I love you, I'm sorry. Please leave me be. Maybe one day we can be friends and can move on. That kinda thing'
'She said she loves you, not she loved you?'
'I love you and I'm sorry, something like that'
'Dude! She put I love you! Not I loved you. You still have a chance!'
'Chad, you said that last time and it didn't work'
'Please, that was because of a TV. It's hardly the same, she freakin' loves you man!'
Troy grinned and whispered,
'She loves me'
'Damn right she does!'
'What do I do?'
'This time it has to be perfect. Fairytale, like she always wanted. It's gonna take a lot of planning whatever you do'
'What have you got in mind?'
'Nothing. You have to think of this. It's got to come from you'
'I got it. I'll think of something so brilliant she'll be swept off her feet'
'Alright! Umm...'
'Yeah, yeah. You gotta go'
'Toodles!'
'Chad! Stop saying that!'
But he'd gone. Troy shook his head and began to sum up a master plan.
2 months later
'So you haven't heard from him since that email?'
'Nope. Not a call, not a text, no emails, no letters. Nothing'
'But that's good right, as you don't want to hear from him?' Sharpay questioned, glancing at Taylor.
'Yeah, I just...I didn't expect him to give up that easily'
"Well what did you expect? You told him through email to stay out of your life and stop contacting you? It doesn't mean try harder and work for me!"
'I know that! I just...'
"You just what?"
"I just miss him is all."
"Then fight for him" Sharpay exclaimed.
"No! I deserve better. I'm sorry but if he can give up that easily on us then maybe it's not worth the pain"
"But-"
"Can we just drop it? Please?" Gabriella shouted.
Taylor and Sharpay glanced at one another before nodding their heads meekly.
It was a long road before Gabriella would start forgiving Troy, and there was nothing they could do.
--
'Hello?' Gabriella said into the reciever.
'Gabriella? It's Troy'
'Oh' Gabriella froze, 'Troy'
'Yeah…um, look, can we talk?'
'Actually I'm meant to be going out for lunch, I'm already late'
'Anywhere nice?' he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
'Just a work lunch with my Boss' she responded, hesitantly.
Troy's hopes lifted when he heard the words 'just', 'work' and 'Boss'.
'Ok, um..'
'Was it something important?' she asked edgily. She still thought it was too soon to talk like friends.
'Actually, yeah. Can you meet me tonight?' he asked wistfully.
'I don't know Troy...' she said.
'Please. It's nothing bad, I just want to...apologise, and say a few things. Please?'
The pleading tone in his voice persuaded her.
'Ok. Where abouts?'
'The park? 8:00?'
'8:00? Isn't that a bit late for a quick talk?'
'Um, I guess, but it's really the only time I can make it'
Gabriella rolled her eyes, why didn't that surprise her?
'Sure, whatever. See you then.'
'Oh and Gabs?'
'Yes Troy?'
'I want you to know. I don't wanna pressure you into anything. You don't have to come tonight, but I'd really love it if you could'
There was something about the hopeful, child-like way he said it that made her smile.
'No, I'll come. I understand. Bye Troy'
'Bye Gabi'
The phone clicked when she put the receiver on the hook.
'I love you' he whispered.
--
7:58pm
"So you know what you're doing?" Troy asked.
"Yes! You've briefed me twelve times! I know the deal!" Chad said impatiently.
"So are all systems go?"
Chad's face immediately lit up.
"All systems are go!"
"Good work soldier! Now go, go, go! To action stations!"
Chad disappeared and Troy sprinted his way across the perimeter of the park to where Gabriella was waiting.
"Oh so you made it?" she asked, sounding halfway angry.
"Sorry" Troy panted.
"So, what have you got me here for?"
"Can we walk and talk?"
She nodded and delved her hands deep into her pockets.
"I wanted to...apologise, for treating you so badly. You deserved to be treated like a lady, and I disrespected that. I'm sorry" he said.
"And so you should be! No-one should be treated like that Troy! Least of all someone you're supposed to love!" she snapped angrily.
"I know! I'm so completely sorry and I'm terrified you won't accept my apology. I hurt you and it kills me to know that, It really does"
Gabriella smiled softly.
"I know, I know you're sorry. But we can't just go back to how we used to be. It doesn't work like that. We've grown too far apart."
"Not too far apart I hope?" Troy questioned.
Gabriella didn't answer.
They'd reached a big oak tree, carved into the bark were the words, T&G 4EVR. Troy stopped and rubbed his thumb over the words.
"Do you remember when we did this?"
"Yeah, Senior year. In the Spring." Gabriella replied, smiling at the memory.
"You know, they say this tree is magic"
"Magic?" Gabriella snorted.
"No, it is. There's this myth that if you tell it your wish, it will grant it straight away"
"Bullshit!" she exclaimed, grinning.
"Try it!" Troy egged.
Gabriella studied his face before smirking.
"I wish for the new Prada heels I saw at the Mall"
Nothing happened.
"You're not trying hard enough! Wish again!"
"I wish...I wish to be blonde and a famous supermodel!"
Again...nothing happened.
"I guess it doesn't work for you" Troy said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Come on," she said, pulling on his arm, "Let's go"
"No wait! I haven't had a go. Maybe it's just you it doesn't grant wishes for"
"If that tree grants your wish I'll...kiss Chad"
Troy smirked.
"I wish...I wish for an engagement ring to woo the girl of my dreams"
Gabriella's smile faltered.
A box dropped from the highest of the branches and fell at Troy's feet, he bent down to pick it up and knelt on his knees.
"Troy..." she began.
"Gabriella. Ever since the first day we met, I've known you were the girl I wanted to marry. These past few weeks I've been a total dip-shit. I've always been ready to marry you, always. And now that the mythical tree has granted my wish...will you do me the greatest honour I could ever think of, and agree to spending the rest of your life with a clumsy idiot, i.e. me? I could think of nothing I want more"
"Troy..."
"Please Gabi, I really, really mean this. I've never hurt so much in my heart as I have when you were gone. I don't want you to leave; I love you with everything I have. We're meant to be Gabs. We're just meant to be."
"Troy...are you sure? You're not just saying it? Marriage is forever, not just a whim. If you mean this, and I mean really mean this...then this is forever"
"Forever and ever" Troy added, holding out the box for her to open.
She gasped as she opened the lid. It was a gorgeous rectangle-cut diamond with a silver band.
"I thought we couldn't afford a ring?"
"Why do you think it took me so long to get here?"
Realisation dawned.
"You sold the Porsche? Your pride and joy?"
"No, I sold the Porsche, but you're my pride and joy"
Gabriella grinned despite the cheesiness and kissed him full on the lips, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Troy responded with vigour and they soon pulled away for air.
"So, will you marry me?"
"Yes!" she squealed, jumping into his arms.
"I was really worried this was gonna go wrong" he admitted, as they walked away slowly, arm in arm, Gabriella's new ring glittering on her finger.
"How do you mean?"
"I was scared Chad would fall out of the tree and ruin everything"
"So the tree isn't magic and mythical?" she teased.
As if to make the point, there was a loud thump and an,
'Ooft' as Chad did indeed fall out of the tree.
Gabriella laughed.
"Night Chad" she said, giggling.
Chad groaned in response.
"Troy?"
"Fiancee?"
"About the dog?"
"Taken care of"
"What?"
"You don't like dogs and I'm not having my future wife and mother of my children unhappy, so I found him a new owner"
"Who?" she enquired, kissing his arm.
"No-one in particular" he said, smirking.
--
"You really are one heck of a hairy, slobbery dog" Sharpay muttered and lightly kicked the newest addition to her family.
