They did it. All that hard work. All those morning practices, all those late night scrimmages, all of those years of coming so close but never actually clutching it, they won. They won the state championship.
Up until that point Troy Bolton had no memories of the best night ever. Sure he had a few good nights, but nothing like this night. This night was electric. After the trophy was hoisted in the air, all the hugs were given, his father gave the speech to his team he's been waiting years to make, everything died down. The crowd had thinned and when he walked back out into the gym he found a girl waiting for him.
She turned around and beamed when she saw him. His heart skipped a beat just seeing her smile. It sent shock waves through his body. Even after being together three years the sight of her still excited him. Especially this night. She's the only person he wanted to celebrate with.
"I can't believe you guys did it!" Melanie cheered as she jumped in his arms. She pulled herself away from his body and gave him a kiss which made him laugh.
"Listen you, don't act so surprised!" Troy teased her back.
"You're right. Its only been a four year road to achieve this. I knew it was bound to happen. I am so proud of you!"
Troy kissed his love once more. "Thanks baby, now let's go get this party started!"
They began to walk off the court together when Troy heard someone call his name. He turned to find Chad running towards him. "Have you guys seen Taylor? I can't get a hold of her. Mel, was she with you?"
Melanie shook her head. "No, I knew she was working the booth with one of the many clubs she's apart of. I only saw her for a split second!"
"This is just really unlike her to not answer." Chad said looking down at his phone frantically texting her again. Troy saw the worry in his friends eyes and knew that this night was too gold to worry about something that they knew was completely fine. This is Taylor, she is probably cleaning up and has her phone on silent.
"Dude, relax. It's Taylor. Look, you start heading back to your place since you are the host tonight and we will find your princess and bring her to you okay?"
"I don't know man, I just want to find her."
Melanie walked closer to Chad and put her hand on his shoulder. "Chad, I saw her. I know she's okay I will track her down for you okay? Now go get ready!"
They both watched as Chad reluctantly made the decision to head back to his house while Troy and Melanie search for Taylor. After reassuring him again that they will bring her directly to him he jogged off the court.
"That boy is madly in love huh?" Melanie asked her boyfriend as they began to walk off the court again.
"Yes, it is about time someone has tamed that beast." The two laughed and walked out into the hallway.
"I'm gonna run to the bathroom before we head out okay? Two seconds!" Melanie called out to Troy before disappearing into the women's bathroom. As soon as she entered she knew something was off. She quickly heard a soft sob and knew that something was wrong. A break up perhaps? She didn't say anything and walked into the stall. She was just about to go to the bathroom when she heard her name in almost a whisper.
"Mel?"
Melanie heart dropped into her stomach as soon as she heard that voice. She quickly pushed herself out of her stall and stood outside the other one.
"Taylor? What's wrong?"
There was a long pause followed up with. "Something is wrong."
Melanie pulled back the bathroom stall which was only half locked so it swung right open. When she stepped inside she was Taylor sitting on the ground looking a little pale and in a puddle of blood.
"Oh my god," Melanie breathed before immediately at her friends side. "Taylor, talk to me what happened."
Taylor couldn't say it she just started crying. Melanie felt her whole body go cold. She quickly started to panic. She didn't know how to handle this situation. She froze.
"Tay, I will be right back okay?" She left Taylor on the floor and rushed out of the bathroom and to Troy in the hallway. She watched as Troy looked up and smiled his handsome smile towards her.
"You ready to go?" He asked walking towards her and then stopped when he saw the look of horror on her face. "Woah, whats wrong."
"Taylor...is in the bathroom and she's bleeding." As soon as the words escaped her mouth Melanie felt like she was going to vomit.
Troy immediately threw his bag on the ground and burst through the women's bathroom. There he found Taylor and the horrifying sight. He knelt down next to her and then called out to Melanie to call 911. As she did so Troy tried to get information out of his friend.
"Taylor, what happened?" but she continued to cry. Troy needed an answer. "Taylor, give me something."
It took her a moment but she finally let out. "You can't tell Chad."
In 20 minutes they were in the hospital emergency room where Taylor was whisked away and Troy and Melanie were left panicked and dumbstruck in the waiting room. Neither called Chad yet and he was blowing up their phones wondering where they were.
"I can't believe she didn't tell me." Melanie whispered to her boyfriend.
"She didn't tell anyone." Troy answered. "Not even Chad. This is going to kill him."
Troy heard a sniffle and turned to his girlfriend and found her trying to hold back tears. Troy put his arm around her and pulled her into his chest. "This could easily be us." She whimpered. Troy sighed knowing that she was right and he knew then in that moment that he would want to be the first to know what was going on with his girlfriend. He kissed her forehead and then got up to make a phone call he's been dreading to make.
The doctors allowed Troy to see Taylor and when he stepped into the hospital room to see her she looked small. He walked over and sat down next to her bed.
"I called Chad, he's on his way." He said to her and she simply just nodded. "Tay, why didn't you tell him."
Taylor sighed and pushed more tears away. "We are only 18 years old. Do you really think I was rushing to tell him I was pregnant."
"You and I both know that Chad would have supported you no matter what." He said to her.
She nodded. "I know, I know. I was going to tell him when I first found out but the team was doing so well and before I knew it the playoffs were here and then you guys went to the championship. I couldn't tell him then, it would have thrown off his game. He has worked so hard. I was going to tell him tomorrow after everything died down. Thats a conversation I don't need to have anymore." Her fingers began fiddling with her blanket. Troy stopped her and took her hand in hers.
"I am so sorry Taylor."
She turned to him and smiled. "Thanks, maybe this is for the best you know! I mean we have so much more to do. I just sucks, it really really sucks." She began to cry again and Troy got on the edge of the bed and held her. Taylor, his best friends girlfriend, and his friend for 10 plus years is going through something no one in their life should go through. It was gutting him.
He heard squeaks of sneakers outside the door and when he looked up he found Chad standing there with tears in his eyes and Melanie behind him. Troy got up and left Chad with Taylor. Troy walked out and finally let himself break in Melanie's arms.
Two of his best friends lost a child. Suddenly this night went from being the best night ever to a night that Troy never wanted to remember.
Troy was pulled out of his god awful memory when he heard a knock on the door. He rushed over to get it and let a frantic Chad in.
"Is she okay, whats going on?" He asked his best friend. Troy had seen this face before and he hated that Chad had this face, even this time when everything is fine.
"She's fine man, just come in here." Troy brought Chad into Gabriella's living room where they found Taylor a little better than how she was when she arrived. She was quickly on her feet and rushed to her fiancee.
"You know how to scare the hell out of a guy." He told her. "What is going on?"
Taylor looked back at Gabriella who took the cue.
"We will just be back here." She said and motioned for Troy to follow her.
Gabriella watched as the couple took a seat on her couch and then closed her bedroom door. When she turned around she found Troy sitting on the edge of her bed with his head in her hands. She walked over and sat down next to him and rubbed his back.
"Care to tell me the story I seem to be missing?" She asked hungry to know just what the hell is going on.
So, Troy recanted the worst night back to Gabriella. Every detail. Every single one. He watched as Gabriella teared up and pushed a few of her tears away.
"She's never told me this. In all the years I have known her not a single one." Gabriella said trying not to feel betrayed. She understands why. Its too big of a story to relive.
"It is something that they left behind that night. We did not speak about it much after that. They were upset for a long time but they healed. They got through it. They are two of the most solid people I know." Troy said to her with a giant sigh. "The doctors told Taylor that the baby was just not strong enough and then at 7 weeks she miscarried."
Gabriella shook her head still in shock by this decade old story. "God, no one should have to go through that let alone at 18." All she wanted to do was go and hug her best friend in that moment and tell her she loved her. Suddenly their little spat from this morning seemed so small. She turned to look over at Troy who was just staring out into nothing. "Hey," she called to him. "You okay?"
He snapped back into reality and cleared his throat. "Yeah...it's just one of those things that I haven't thought about in such a long time. It all just comes flooding back to you ya know. Like it happened yesterday."
"Yeah, I know what that feels like." Gabriella said to him.
With that, there was a small knock on the door and Chad peaked his head through. "It's safe to come out now." He smiled causing Gabriella and Troy to also smile. Chad pushed open the door and Troy got up and hugged him.
"Congratulations man!" He cheered and patted him on the back.
"Thank you." Chad said with a giant sigh of what seemed to be relief. "We're ready this time."
Troy just smiled and put his hand on his shoulder. "I know you are man. You're gonna be a great dad."
Taylor appeared in the doorway and Gabriella rushed over and hugged her tight.
"I am so sorry," Gabriella whispered to her.
"I'm sorry I never told you." Taylor said. "It is just something that I never wanted to go back and relive." Gabriella pulled out of their embrace and smiled at Taylor who had tears falling down her face. Gabriella giggled and pushed them away.
"Hey, no more tears okay! This is a happy time! The happiest of times in fact! You're gonna be a bride AND a mom!"
"Two for the price of one!" Taylor laughed and the two women giggled. "Thank you we are getting married now, its still too early to show and my wedding dress will hopefully fit."
"Either way you are going to look beautiful!" Gabriella assured her. She watched as Taylor looked over at the two guys standing in the other room.
"I'm sorry for giving you crap about Troy," Taylor said. Gabriella immediately went into defense mode but Taylor stopped her. "Like I said, I've known Troy for a long time...too long!" They both laughed. "But he really is the best guy I know. I see how much you have changed him already. He's happy, and so are you."
"I am!" Gabriella beamed. "Really happy!"
"That's all that matters in life I'm learning."
The foursome headed back out into the living room where they toasted to the new tiny human that Taylor and Chad created and continued to talk. Soon, everyone cleared out and it was just Troy and Gabriella again.
"Well," Troy said cleaning up some glasses left on the coffee table. "That date night was...interesting."
Gabriella laughed in agreement. "Yes, well, not what we expected thats for sure."
Troy put the glasses in the sink and then walked back over to Gabriella. His arms slinked around her waist and he pulled her into him. "Have I told you how absolutely beautiful you are?" Gabriella blushed and allowed herself to mold into him. He kissed her neck as his hands traced up her arms causing a shiver to go through her body. She turned to face him and put her arms around his neck. Their lips connected and before either of them knew it they were wrapped up in each other once more and everything was right.
Sunday morning and Gabriella was wide awake. She was too awake. After last night she has had so many things running through her mind. Gabriella had never thought about it until last night about Troy's history. Sure she knows about the nameless women that he has spent his nights with. She didn't care about those women. She cared about one. The last serious girlfriend he had. She knew it was a long time ago but that doesn't mean that he can't still have feelings for her. She knows she is married and is now starting a family of her own. But after hearing the story about that night with Taylor, she knew that they were close. Much closer than she thought.
She felt the other side of the bed shift and Troy's body rolled over to face her. She watched as he eyes opened gently to look at her and he gave her a small smile.
"Morning." He said.
"Morning." She answered back.
"What time is it?" He asked still sleepy.
Gabriella pressed the button on her phone to reveal at it was 7:30. Much earlier than she thought.
"7:30" She answered and slipped back down into the bed into his arms. She continues to be amazed how easy it is to fall right into Troy's embrace. She fit perfectly in his arms.
He heard him groan softly. "Why are you up so early?"
Gabriella just gave a shrug which was a gateway for Troy to ask her the real reason why.
"Come on, I know you know the real reason." He attempted.
His eyes opened and watched as Gabriella shifted herself up in bed. She rubbed her eyes and then took a deep breath. "After hearing about Taylor last night my mind just started to wander. There is just a lot I still don't know, especially when it comes to you."
Troy knew this was not going to be a quick conversation. He was now wide awake. He pushed himself up in bed and took Gabriella's hand in hers and placed a soft kiss on top of it. "What do you want to know?"
"Tell me about Melanie." She said.
"Gab," Troy started and his tone made Gabriella immediately regret asking.
"I don't want to upset you in any way I just wanted to know more thats all. She seemed like such a huge part of your life."
Troy smiled and then looked over at the beautiful woman sitting next to him in bed. She was stunning, good hearted, sexy, intelligent, loving. It was everything he has been looking for since Melanie but never got it.
"She was." He said. "I loved Melanie so much. We went through a lot together and grew up together ya know? If you were to ask me in high school how I saw my life in ten years I would have told you we would have been married and she would have been the mother of my children. But as you know that didn't happen." Gabriella smiled softly toward him, sympathetically. "We still speak, I am very friendly with her husband. We remained close. She is still one of the best people I know."
Gabriella nodded and squeezed Troy's hand as he continued. "Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?" He asked.
"Sometimes." Gabriella answered.
"I've had this thought a lot recently." Troy told her. "For a long time I was really angry you know? Like my life was already planned for me and I spent pretty much my entire twenties dedicated to something that I had no interest in. It is not what I wanted. It's what my family wanted. For a long time I was mad at myself that I didn't fight harder. Fight harder for the life that I wanted. But I was young, too young to realize all of this. But recently I've been thinking about all of this. Maybe I needed to experience all of those things, and the timeline had to play out this way so I can meet you."
Gabriella immediately stared beaming at the man beside her. "Gab, I haven't liked who I've become the last few years. But when I met you, something changed in me." She couldn't get the smile off of her face if she tried. "And I know it has only been a short amount of time but I know that I want to be the guy who makes you smile just like this, who wakes up to you every morning to give you a soft kiss, the one who makes you laugh, the one that makes you so happy."
The smile just continued to get bigger as Troy poured his heart out to her. Gabriella wanted information about the past, but instead she got something unexpected.
"I'm seriously falling in love with you Gabriella Montez. And it doesn't scare me one bit."
Gabriella leaned over and gave Troy a soft kiss. She pulled away and gave him another huge smile.
"And I am seriously falling in love with you. I'm only a little bit scared." She laughed. Troy took her in his arms and kissed her and he never wanted this moment to end. It was a good thing it was only 7:30...they had all morning.