Okay. Guys...this one I want you guys to review! Review. Review. R-E-V-I-E-W! REVIEW! Plz! But I know you guys have been waiting for this chapter...for, so long. For so long. Hah..psh. You only had to wait for 7 chapters. But the reunion is at the end...so read all the way through!
Chapter 7
Gabriella stared at her ring some more. "Well...if it brings back memories, why not make those memories real again." Tyler said, having to put that out in the air.
"Tyler. Remember. I'm engaged. I'm getting married. To Ryan." Gabriella said sternly. "Besides, Troy probably has a girlfriend back in UCLA." Gabriella reasoned with him.
"Yeah." Tyler rolled his eyes, "If you call, saying no to every girl who asks him out, a girlfriend, sure....he's not single." Tyler laughed loudly.
"Wait...what do you mean?" Gabriella said, her mood turning into confused and curious.
"I mean. He tells us stories, and he says that he rejects every girl that asks him out. He never asks a girl out. He hasn't dated anyone after you, except that one girl...who he dumped after a week of dating." Tyler explained. Hoping, wishing, no...wanting her to feel a little more comfortable about Troy being back in town.
"Oh..." Gabriella said as it all sunk in. Why did he stay single for all these years.
"Because he still loves you Gabi." Tyler said, like he read her mind, and answered the questions.
"No." she confirmed.
"No what?" Tyler asked, suddenly confused.
"No Tyler. He doesn't love me anymore. I don't love him anymore. We both got over each other." Gabriella said, in a calm, but very serious tone. 'Why? Why aren't you admitting you still have something for Troy?' Tyler thought angrily.
"Tyler. I know you want us back together. But I don't want to get together with Troy. Just drop it." Gabriella said as sweet as possible. Was she really telling the truth?
"Ok." she heard Tyler murmur, as he went to go put his stuff to his locker.
With Troy-
Troy sat up in his bed. Looking around his room. It brought back so many memories. "Why did you dump her!?" Troy yelled angrily.
"You said that you needed to find another girl. And that you didn't feel a 'connection'." Chad said leaning against the doorway, arms crossed as he stared at Troy, who was now sitting on the side of the bed with his head in his hands.
"I know..." Chad heard, from Troy's direction.
"You miss her?" Chad asked, wanting comfort him. Wanting to help in someway. Chad was there through everything. From when they got together, to the break up. And even after the break up. Troy was beating himself up, for about a month after the break up. But never seemed to want to go back to Gabriella. He didn't want to hurt even more. He didn't want to go up, and have Gabriella reject him. That would kill him even more. It left them both, with a broken heart.
"Yea..." Troy finally admitted, "Badly." he heaved a sigh.
"I think we all do. We miss you guys being happy." Chad explained, as he sat down at Troy's desk.
"Yea. I never realized how stupid-well I did. But I realized yesterday, I saw her...it was..." Troy paused. He couldn't put it in words. He was astonished, amazed, happy, sad...emotions mixed through his body that day.
"I get it man..." Chad nodded, "But...in 6 days, we're going to the reunion. Then, for another week...then back to L.A." he explained softly.
"Yeah...I get it." Troy nodded, "But why was I so stupid to give up! To let her go!" he yelled in anger. Troy was the person who beat himself up.
4 days later-
With Tyler and Gabriella-
Gabriella walked into the gym, and put herself down. Changed her heels, into tennis shoes. Put her hair up. Put her rings in her bag, with the rest of her jewelry. For the last days, Tyler and Gabriella came to the gym and practiced. Played basketball. But this time...Tyler added one more person.
Gabriella dribbled the ball, and shot from off the back board. She still had it. Troy taught her everything he knew about basketball. They always played each other. Gabriella passed the ball to Tyler, who dribbled the ball, back to half way of the court, ran, while dribbling and jumped and put it in the basket. "Show off..." Gabriella mumbled.
"No. I'm just-Okay, I'm not better. But I know more tricks than you do." he laughed. He knew he wasn't better than Gabriella. Who was brilliant. Tyler looked at Gabriella who was smiling, he passed her the ball.
Gabriella dribbled the ball, and stepped back, and shot from the 3 pointer.
"AND THERE IT IS!" Troy yelled, as he walked into the East High gym. Gabriella froze, paralyzed.
"Hey Troy boy!" Tyler laughed. Actually, that was Gabriella's nickname for him, but they all ended up calling him that after a few months they went out.
"Hey Ty..." he said. Troy knew that Gabriella was here. Tyler knew Troy wasn't going to play with him. But when he told him that Gabriella was coming he said yes. But Gabriella...she wouldn't have came if Troy came.
"Hey Gabriella." Troy nodded towards her, as he smiled at her. That Troy smile. Gabriella was still froze. Then blinked her eyes, in realization, that it was Troy. Wait-did he just call her Gabriella? He always called her...a nickname of some kind.
"Hi. Troy." she said. That was all she able to say. She was still shocked. That shock, was erased, and anger was growing inside her.
"Tyler..." she mumbled under her breath. Troy stared at Gabriella, smiling, as always.
"Ready for some b-ball?" Tyler laughed, as he grabbed 2 more balls and threw one at Troy.
"Totally." Troy laughed. "As if I don't play it everyday back at home." Troy laughed. Gabriella laughed. L.A was his home now.
Troy stopped, as he looked at Gabriella. He missed that laugh. So much. "So, Gabi? You still play?" Troy said, as he shot from the free throw line.
"No." Gabriella said. Really, she did, not at all.
"Well, then...what are you doing with my brother?" he asked suspiciously.
"He said that he wanted to catch up. And he wanted to see how good I am. I haven't played since." she explained, as she threw the ball into the basket from the 2 pointer line.
"Well...looks to me my-uhm.." he paused. He was about to say 'My Gabi.' But she wasn't his anymore. "It looks to me, like you still have it." he chuckled nervously. Gabriella hid a smile. She knew what he was about to say. She missed that.
"Yeah...sort of." she nodded, as she dribble the ball.
"Yea...sorta. She beats me every time I play her!" Tyler laughed out loud.
Troy snapped his head towards Tyler. "You let her beat you!" Troy said astonished.
"I didn't let her. She beat me! Fair and square!" he said. "And you shut up. It's not like you haven't been beat by Gabriella." Tyler said. Gabriella was a good basketball player. Because of Troy. Troy was actually better than he was in high school. But he missed high school...
"How about you guys play a game. I'll watch. Besides, my legs hurt from playing everyday." Gabriella said, as she sat down on the bleachers, next to all of their stuff.
"Okay...it's not like my little brother will beat me." Troy laughed, "Especially if you can beat him." They played for about an hour, and Troy won. Troy really missed high school. When he was playing, the whole game, he wanted to show off for Gabriella. Just like he did in high school. Whenever Troy played in high school, he played his best. But for Gabriella. But...in UCLA, it was all the pressure of winning. Troy liked to impress Gabriella.
"Well..I see Troy Bolton has not lost any talent at all." Gabriella smiled at him.
"Nope." he said popping the 'p'. Gabriella giggled. He smiled, "I can't. Not when I'm playing in the big leagues." he explained.
Gabriella nodded in response. "Well..." Tyler laughed. It was getting awkward.
"I'm going to go put my stuff in my locker." he laughed as he left the gym, and went off. He wanted them to talk.
"So? Gabs....you work here?" he laughed, as he looked around. It was still the same.
"Yeah..." she laughed nervously.
"You wanna walk?" he asked, getting up, drinking some water.
"Sure." she nodded and they walked into the "hall of fame" of East High. Gabriella smiled. There was a picture of Troy, holding the trophy. The winning ball. "I still have that ball." he laughed.
Gabriella smiled. "I bet." she nodded.
"So...Troy? How's UCLA?" she asked, wanting to change the subject to him. Not her.
"Good. You know...basketball's...basketball. Same as it ever will be. I share a dorm with Chad the afro man." he laughed. He hadn't used that line, in...forever.
"Is he here? With you?" Gabriella asked. Chad and Gabriella, were like brother and sister. Were like that for, forever. Chad watched out for Gabriella, when Troy was sick. Or, not at school.
"Yeah...he's picking me up. I walked here." he laughed.
"Oh..." Gabriella nodded. Tyler walked up to him.
"So...what did I miss?" he laughed.
"Come on dork. Let's go wait for Chad." Troy laughed, as all 3 of them walked out to the parking lot.
"I'll wait here...with you guys." Gabriella said kindly. Troy smiled. She was still the Gabriella he fell in love with so many years ago. Sweet, kind, beautiful...Gabriella.
Chad pulled up in Jack's car, and got out. "Who is that I see?" Chad smiled widely, as he ran up the steps and picked up Gabriella and twirled her and while hugging her tightly.
"Okay Chad. I'm getting dizzy..." Gabriella said.
"Oh...sorry." he laughed as he put her down. Then stared at her.
"What?" Gabriella asked beginning to blush and get nervous.
"It's you...Gabriella." Chad smiled as wide as possible and hugged her again.
"Yeah...it's me." Gabriella laughed, "No, Chad. I'm... Roger Bucks!" she laughed loudly.
"Hahaha...make fun of the dummy." he said offended.
"No, your not dumb. You're just...Chad." she laughed, as she got out her keys to her car.
"Nice ride...or should I say...YOU GOT YOUR DREAM CAR!! And jump and down and shriek with you...like a girl." Chad laughed.
"Hah...very funny Chad." Gabriella rolled her eyes.
"How'd you get it." Troy asked, as he looked at Tyler.
"Friends." she shrugged. Ryan paid most of it, but she had Shar and Taylor help, it was her birthday gift from last year. Actually...her birthday was coming up. "It was a birthday gift. But I helped pay for it." Gabriella explained as she put her stuff in the passenger seat.
"Well...speaking of birthday? Isn't your birthday...in 3 days?" Troy asked. It was the day after the reunion.
"You remember?" Gabriella said amazed. It had been 5 years...and Troy remembered.
"Of course." Troy nodded, "But we gotta get going...I'll see you...later. Maybe. But Zeke and Jase are waiting for us." he explained.
"Oh...well tell Jason and Zeke I say hi." Gabriella smiled, as she got into her car.
"Bye 'Brie...it was awesome seeing you..." Troy smiled and shut the car door for her.
"Still the same gentlemen I fell in love with." Gabriella smiled, as she put the key in the ignition.
"Yeah..." Troy smiled.
"Bye Gabs...I missed you." Chad waved as Gabriella drove away.
2 days later-Day of the reunion-
"RYAN! WHERE'S MY SHOES!" Gabriella yelled, getting ready, putting on the dress that Taylor and Sharpay bought for her.
"In your closet!" Ryan called back, as he walked in. He was already ready.
"Why...you look so handsome." Gabriella giggled, as she stared, gawed over at Ryan. He was in a suite, and he looked amazing.
"Gabi...I'm nothing when standing next to you." Ryan smiled at his fiance'. "But...is this too much?" he said spinning.
"No Ryan. It's perfect. Your perfect." Gabriella smiled, as she searched through the closet and found her shoes, and put them on.
"Okay..." he sighed, "I'm just nervous. I didn't go to East High. And I'm going to be meeting everyone from your-"
"Ry. It's okay. It's no biggie. But I need you there..." Gabriella smiled, as she went into the bathroom and took the curling iron out of the bottom of the sink, and started to do her hair.
"Okay..." Ryan said as he put on his shoes.
With Troy, Chad, Zeke, and Jason-
"Dude! DO I HAVED TO GO?!" Troy whined.
"Yess! This is why we were here in the first place!" Chad said as he tied his tie around his neck.
"Dude?" Troy laughed, as he watched Chad "trying" to put it on.
"What? I know how to do it..." Chad laughed, knowing he couldn't do it, "This one goes over, and through....and...there!" he said. Troy went into histarics. The tie was, completely...wrong.
"Kay!" Chad yelled. Kayla ran in, and held in a giggle.
"Who did your tie?" Kayla said, still trying not to laugh.
"Him." Troy said still laughing.
"Oh...no wonder." Kayla laughed as she began to tie it for him.
"There...now you all are the most handsome in the house." Kayla smiled as she looked at her brother, and his friends.
"Okay..." Troy said, getting ready for the "big night."
"Off we go!" Chad said, being superman, putting his arm out in front of him and ran towards the car. Chad drove and Troy was in the passenger seat. The drove to the school, and waited in the gym.
Back with Gabriella-
Gabriella looked at herself. She was ready. Her dress was perfect. Her hair was perfect. She had the perfect man, to go along. Everything was perfect...maybe it was just too...perfect. "You ready?" Ryan said as he took her hand.
"Ready as I'll ever be." Gabriella said calming herself down, as she grabbed her purse and they walked out to Gabriella's car. "Shar and Tay are meeting us there." Gabriella explained as Ryan opened the door for her, then walked over to his side and got in the drivers' seat.
"Okay..." Ryan said as he started the car and they drove off to East High. Gabriella looked at it. It was the same, as it every was. It was the same when she was in high school...as same now, now that she teaches there. Ryan got out and opened the door for her, and they walked up the steps of East High. Gabriella took a deep breath, as Ryan opened the door to East High. Gabriella walked into the gym. Everyone was there. Everyone. Ryan and Sharpay Evans, Martha, Kelsi, Taylor, Sharpay, Zeke, Jason, Chad, and even....Zac.
"Omigosh!" Sharpay ran over to Gabriella.
"You look beautiful!" Sharpay shrieked.
"So do you." Gabriella laughed, as she held tight to Ryan. Still nervous as ever.
"Hey Ryan!" Sharpay said hugging Ryan.
"Hey Shar. You look, amazing." he smiled.
"You don't look too bad Mr. White." she smiled, "So, you ready to meet everyone..." she smiled at Ryan.
"Sorta..." he laughed nervously. They walked over to the gang. The old gang.
"GABI!" Kelsi shrieked, as did Taylor, and they were in a group hug.
"We saw each other only a few days ago." Gabriella laughed.
"Whatever! I'm still siked!" Martha laughed.
Gabriella looked around in the gym, and there was a banner that read, "Welcome Back Class of '04!" Gabriella smiled.
"So who's this?" Jason asked, looking at Ryan.
"Oh...right." Gabriella giggled. She took Ryan's hand and held it tight.
"This is, Ryan...my fiance'." Gabriella smiled all of her friends.
Troy went wide eyed. "Wow..." Chad smiled, but his smile faded, "When?" Chad asked nervously.
"A month and half!" Gabriella sounded excited.
"YAYY!" Kelsi said excited. Troy tried to smile, "That's awesome!" Troy smiled, then walked away with his hands in his pocket. Chad looked at Troy.
"Excuse us." Chad said and walked faster to catch up with Troy.
"You okay?" Chad asked finally catching up with him in the halls.
"Yeah...I just...thought Gabriella would tell me.." Troy said as he leaned against the trophy cadse.
"Oh...yeah..."
Okay...I couldn't write more! I just...couldn't! Lol. So I'll update soon!
xxxKendahl
