Thanks for the great reviews! They truly mean the world to me. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.
"Alright ladies, let's line up!" Gabriella instructed the group of six year old girls.
It was now almost the end of summer. The recital for the dance studio where Gabriella and Sharpay worked during their summer breaks. The Friday before the kids went back to school, they put on a huge recital that also show cased their instructors as well. This year they were putting on 'The Little Mermaid'. Gabriella and Sharpay taught the two youngest classes. Their first classes were grouped together as Guppies. The first one to go onstage was Gabriella's class. They were the 'Ballet Guppies'. They were the opening act. Gabriella and her own dance instructor placed them in their spots. Gabriella was playing the part of Flounder while Sharpay was Scuttle. Their instructor, Debbie was playing the lead part of Ariel.
Gabriella and Debbie took their spot in front of them. They were up there to make it easier for the younger dancers to be on stage in front of so many people for the first time. The curtains opened and the audience began to clap. Gabriella smiled excitedly for the girls. The music started up and the girls began to dance. Gabriella mouthed their steps to them to keep them from getting lost.
The first group of Guppies 'swam' offstage as Gabriella directed them and the second half of the group came onstage. These were Sharpay's group of dancers and were tap dancing to the same song. Sharpay had given Gabriella the choreography so she could learn it so she could help them due to the fact that she couldn't be on the stage with him. Sharpay smiled proudly from the wings as she watched her little ones. She then noticed that one of them was crying and scared stiff. The girl was closer to Gabriella then she was to comfort her,
"Gabriella." Sharpay hissed getting her attention. "Elizabeth."
Gabriella nodded and got up and went to the scared dancer. The young woman knelt down to try and comfort her to see if she would start to dance. When she refused to, Gabriella brought over to where she was sitting and placed her in her lap so she could continue to help with the other dancers. Sharpay had taught them to say their steps out loud and they continued to do so even on stage. When their song ended, the girls sat down and waved goodbye to the audience. Sharpay came out onstage and led her girls off with Gabriella behind them leading Elizabeth back to her instructor.
The first act of recital went along perfectly. Both Gabriella and Sharpay's solos were in the second half. Sharpay kicked it off with an amazing tap dance routine that made Gabriella want to get out of character and stand up and cheer. Gabriella was next with a great pointe routine that had everyone on their feet cheering. Her instructor gave her a subtle thumbs up as she sat down next to her.
For the rest of the show, Gabriella and Sharpay helped lead girls, even a few boys, on and off the stage as each routine told a part of the story of Ariel and all her friends. As a grand finale, the troop presented their competition team's routine, which Gabriella and Sharpay were apart of. Gabriella had a solo with the one male teacher, Chris Daniels, that the school had and the audience cheered when they finished.
"Thank you all for coming out tonight. We're now going to bring all the dancers onstage for their final curtain call and then hand out a few awards." Debra Mitchell, the owner of the dance studio announced. "We'll first start with our little ones, our Guppies."
Each group of dancers were brought up and then sat down starting from the back of the stage. Since they were going to be one of the last few to be called, Gabriella and Sharpay hurried back their dressing room to change out of their competition team costume and into their character costumes. They made it with two other groups in front of them waiting to be called.
"Scuttle." Debra called.
Sharpay walked out with a smile on her face. The audience cheered for her as she bowed at center stage. Her father approached the stage and handed her a huge bouquet of flowers. Sharpay beamed happily as she accepted them. She then walked back to sit where there was an open spot for her and set her flowers down to save it for Gabriella.
"Flounder."
The audience cheered and got its feet as Gabriella came out. The young woman smiled shyly as she walked to center stage. She curtsied amid the flash of cameras and cheers. She turned to head back to sit with Sharpay when she saw the dancers telling and signaling her to turn around. Gabriella turned around expecting to see her father there prepared to hand her flowers. And she was right except that Troy was also standing there with a huge bouquet of pink roses for her. Gabriella walked over and accepted both of them and kissed her father on the cheek and quickly kissed Troy on the lips.
"And Ariel and Eric." Debra introduced as Debbie and Chris walked out.
"Did you know he was coming?" Sharpay asked Gabriella as she sat down.
"No, I didn't." Gabriella said tearfully as she was so touched that Troy surprised her by coming all the way to see her dance recital.
"That's so romantic." Sharpay squealed.
"We're going to give a few awards out to some of the dancers on stage here." Debra said. "And the first one is a Beginning Pointe, Tap and Jazz and it goes to Brittany Lewis."
"Brittany!" Gabriella exclaimed as one of her students came up to get her award.
The young girl ran up to receive her trophy. Debra got to her level and handed her award with a loving hug. Brittany ran over to Gabriella and hugged her even tighter. Gabriella held the young girl in her lap as they continued to give out awards.
"This is an Advance Pointe, Tap and Jazz and it goes to Sharpay Evans."
Gabriella hugged her best friend tightly as Sharpay got up and accepted her trophy. Debra hugged the young girl tightly and whispered her congratulations to her. Sharpay smiled and waved to her girls, who were jumping up and down in the back row.
"This is an Advance Pointe, Tap and Jazz and it goes to Gabriella Montez."
Gabriella got up after Brittany moved off her lap. Debra had a huge smile on her face as the very talented dancer approached her. Gabriella hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. Brittany hugged her tightly as she returned to her seat and listened to as the final few awards were given.
"This is the final award of the evening and it is given to the instructor chosen by their peers, students and parents." Debra told the audience. "This award is called the Prima and this year's recipient is Ms. Gabriella Montez."
Everyone cheered loudly and her fellow instructors gave her a standing ovation as Gabriella stood up with tears in her eyes. Debra hugged her tightly and handed her two plaques. One was more Gabriella to keep and take home with her and the other one was to hang up in the dance studio with her name and the year she won it engraved into it. Someone took photos of Gabriella and Debra that would hang up in the studio as well. As she turned around she was met with all of her students surrounding her excitedly. Gabriella smiled excitedly as she hugged them all tightly.
"Thank you all for coming out tonight and I hope you enjoyed the show." Debra said to the audience. "You will be able to meet your children in the lobby."
Gabriella and Sharpay headed backstage to grab their belongings before they met their families. As they headed to the lobby, they were stopped several times to pose for pictures with girls from their classes. As they walked into the lobby, they spotted their families waiting in the corner.
"You girls were great." Derby told them as she and Elaine hugged them tightly.
"Thanks, Mom." Sharpay said.
"Congratulations, Baby." Alexander told Gabriella of her award.
"Thanks, Dad." Gabriella said before she turned to Troy.
"Surprise." Troy stated.
"I can't believe you flew all the out here just to see this recital."
"It was important to you, plus you were in it, therefore it was important to me."
"I'm glad you're here."
"I am too. So where to now?"
"Now, we go out to eat." Vance replied.
"Where to?" Gabriella asked.
"How about Cheesecake Factory?" Alexander asked.
"Ok, we'll meet you there."
"You didn't tell me you were that fantastic of a dancer." Troy said as he took Gabriella's hand and the two of them and Sharpay headed out to Gabriella's car.
"Well, I don't really consider myself that fantastic of a dancer. I'll never be up there with the dancers in the New York Ballet Company or any place like that." Gabriella replied as they got into her car.
"Don't listen to her, she's just being modest." Sharpay stated. "She's make national ballet companies if she'd audition."
"Why haven't you audition for any of them?" Troy asked his girlfriend.
"Because to me ballet is something I do for fun and I don't want to lose my love or passion for it if it because a job to me." Gabriella said. "Plus, I don't just want to be a dancer, I want to help make the planet a better place."
"So, where's this place we are going?"
"The Cheesecake Factory, it is one of our favorite places to eat." Gabriella answered.
"There are so many types of cheesecakes that you can't choose which one." Sharpay added. "It takes me all through the meal to settle on which one I want."
Everyone laughed as they pulled onto the highway. Gabriella and Sharpay would point out certain landmarks to Troy and give him a brief history of them. Troy had to admit that he didn't mind coming back to spend time with his girlfriend in the town she considered to be her home.
"Here we are." Gabriella announced as she pulled into Northstar Mall and parked the car in front of the entrance.
The three got up and headed inside the mall. Gabriella reached over and took Troy's hand led the way. When they got to the restaurant, they were led to where their family had already gotten a table for them.
"So, when are you going back to Ronaldi?" Derby asked Gabriella and Troy.
"Well, I'm going back in two weeks." Gabriella said turning to Troy. "But I don't know about when you are."
"I shall be returning with you." Troy said.
"Well, you're going to have another traveler with you." Vance stated.
"Who else is coming?" Gabriella asked confused.
"Me!" Sharpay squealed excitedly.
"What?" Gabriella asked excitedly.
"Yeah, I'm the newest student at the university, I transferred. I couldn't be away from you for another school year."
"I'm surprised you made it as long as you did." Alexander told her as everyone laughed.
"I am too." Sharpay added. "And although I probably won't find another prince, I hope I can find my own Prince Charming."
"Are you going to stay in the dorms?" Gabriella asked.
"No, I actually have an apartment that's not too far away from you guys' townhouse."
"Looks like your country managed to catch another beautiful young woman, Troy." Alexander said.
"And I will watch out for her carefully." Troy added.