Disclaimer: I own the DVD, the soundtrack . . . . that's about it.

A/N: Inspired by the previous chapter, but it will still work as a stand alone. This one is my favorite so far, for whatever that's worth.

9:17 am HWY 285 rest stop

It takes Gabriella some time to get the tangles out and her hair put up into a sloppy bun. At least it will keep the hair out of my face, she thinks as she exits the restroom and scans the area in search of Troy. She spots him not far off, studying the New Mexico road map displayed behind a heavy sheet of Plexiglas near the parking lot. She sneaks stealthily up behind him and splays her cold hands under his shirt across his warm, toned abs. He lets out a surprised yelp.

"Your hands are like ice, Gabi."

She nuzzles his arm and pokes her head around him to glance at the map. "That's why I keep you around; you're always nice and warm. Have you figured out where we're going yet?"

He spins around and her cold hands trail from his stomach to his back. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders he pulls her close kissing her slowly and completely. His hands are still in her hair as he looks at her, really looks at her.

And all he can see is his future.

It's not a scary feeling, like he thought it would be. He doesn't feel oppressed or limited or anything like he always assumed he would, instead there is an unimaginable sense of lightness, of hope and of absolute certainty.

"Nope. But it's all about the journey, and so far so good. Ready to get back to it?"

His eyes have darkened a few shades; no longer cornflower now almost navy, but the laughter still sparkles behind them. Looking up at him, she instantly knows that he loves her. She just knows it, without any doubt in her mind, Troy Bolton loves her. This is the moment she will always remember; always go back to when they argue or even worse, when they don't speak at all.

And it's nothing like she had planned. No soft music or elegant lighting, no flowery declarations of everlasting love under the stars in the perfect prom dress. She's wearing jeans and his oversized Wildcats Basketball sweatshirt and her windswept hair keeps falling out of the careless bun.

But this is better than any plan she may have had because it's real and it's hers.

This mid morning revelation at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, brought on not by words but a kiss and something in his eyes that was never there before, but that she will never fail to identify from this day forward. She doesn't understand why she's been so blessed, but she's thankful none the less.

"Gabriella, you ready to hit the road, or is this our final destination?"

For a moment of irrational panic, she doesn't want to leave, doesn't want to move for fear of loosing this incredible feeling. She wants to set up a historical marker, a little bronze plaque on a pedestal that would mark this day and this spot for always.

Then the trance he has her under breaks, just a little, and while she's tempted to say, 'let's just stay here forever', she pulls away after one final hug and takes his hand.

"Yeah, let's get going."

Fin.