Happy Reading! (I own nothing related to HSM or the HSM characters)

Chapter 9

Eight years. That's how long it has been. 8 years ago, Troy Bolton proposed to Gabriella Montez. 7 years ago, they moved in together. 6 years ago Chad and Taylor got engaged. 5 years ago, they all graduated from the University of Albuquerque. 4 years ago Chad became a physical therapist at the local hospital. Zeke opened his own bakery that had become very successful. Sharpay became a nurse at the hospital that Chad worked at. Taylor, Troy, and Gabriella all started medical school. 3 years ago, Chad and Taylor got married. 2 years ago, Zeke and Sharpay finally got engaged. One year ago, Troy and Gabriella started planning their wedding. And today, the day had finally arrived. Today, Troy Bolton was finally marrying Gabriella Montez.

The girls arrived at the church early that morning to start getting ready. Gabriella was so excited that she couldn't contain herself. "I'm getting married! I'm getting married! I'm getting married!" she sang while skipping around the room. She had on one of Troy's button-up shirts so that she wouldn't mess up her hair and make up when the time came. Sharpay walked in the room and laughed loudly. "Gabs, calm down! We have 3 hours until the wedding starts!" Taylor laughed and shook her head at Gabriella as she finally sat down. "I'm sorry! I'm just so excited! I just can't help it! I'm finally getting married to Troy Bolton!" She squealed loudly in excitement. Taylor was her matron of honor, obviously because she was married. Sharpay was her maid of honor. Then her friends from medical school, Kelsi and Martha, were her bridesmaids.

There was a knock on the door and Maria walked in, with the hair and make up crew behind her. Gabriella sat down in front of the mirror and they got to work. "Are you excited for the honeymoon, Gabs?" Taylor asked as she got her hair done. "Yes! A whole week with Troy in Hawaii! I can't wait!"

Meanwhile, with the boys…..

They pulled up to the church around 10:30 that morning and walked inside. Troy's dad was carrying all of the classic, black tuxes into the room. They walked down a hallway and stopped when the reached the door that said "Groom." It was right next to the door that said "Bride." Troy smiled and they walked into the groom's room to start getting dressed. Last night he didn't get much sleep. He tossed and turned all night because the bed felt lonely and cold with Gabriella. He was pulled out of his thoughts when Chad called him over. Jack and Carlos, along with his best men Chad and Zeke, and his groomsmen Ryan and Jason all did a celebration shot of Jack Daniels whiskey. Troy closed his eyes as he felt it trickle down his throat, burning as it made it's way down. They all cheered.

With the girls…..

Lucille and Maria were watching as the girls got ready. The 4 bridesmaids had their hair and makeup done by 11. They slipped into their black dresses. They were simple, yet stunning, black floor-length, strapless dresses. "You girls look beautiful!" Gabriella gasped. Next, it was Gabriella's turn to put on her dress.

Taylor spoke up. "Hold on, Gabs. We have to give you three things. First, something blue and something used." She carefully showed Gabriella her wedding dress. On the inside, where the dress would rest over her heart, was a blue heart sewn carefully on the inside. "It's from one of your father's suits, " Maria chimed in. Gabriella got tears in her eyes. "It's perfect."

"Something new!" Sharpay handed her a bag. Gabriella opened the huge bag and it was a huge photograph of Troy and Gabriella's engagement announcement photo. "Aww, Shar, I love it! Thank you so much!" She hugged her tight. At 11:30, all the girls were ready. The photographer came in laughing. "Those boys next door are one heck of a group." The girls nodded and agreement and started laughing. He took some pre-wedding pictures and then left to get ready for the ceremony.

There was a knock on the door and Carlos walked in. "Gabriella, sweetheart, you look beautiful." He hugged her tightly and she teared up. "Thanks daddy. How's Troy?"

He pulled back and smiled. "He is waiting for you at the alter." She smiled and the girls all walked outside. It was 11:55 and the boys, except for Troy, were waiting in the church lobby, behind the closed double doors. "Gabster, you look amazing!" Chad said hugging her tightly. "Troy's not going to be able to speak!" She laughed and smiled big. "He better be able to! He's got some vows to say!" They all laughed. The wedding planner walked up to them and told them to get into places. The wedding party moved over to the side so that when the doors open, the guests couldn't see them. Soft music started to play and two greeters opened the door. The guests stood up and turned their attention towards it. Jack appeared and walked down the aisle, stopping at the alter to hug his son. "She looks beautiful," he whispered, before sitting down. Next, Lucille and Maria appeared, arms linked together and they slowly walked down the aisle. Maria sat in the front row, but on the bride's side and Lucille kissed Troy before sitting on the groom's side next to Jack. Troy smiled when he saw his best friend appear at the door with Taylor.

They walked down the aisle. Chad stood a step down from Troy and Taylor took her place across from them. Sharpay and Zeke were the next to walk down the aisle and stood a step below Chad and Taylor. Next, were Jason and Kelsi, who were followed by Ryan and Martha. Then the big double doors closed. Troy took a deep breath as Chad patted him on the back.

"You ready, baby girl?" Carlos asked Gabriella as she linked her arm in his. She nodded and smiled big. The wedding march played and the big doors opened. Her eyes instantly locked on the piercing blue eyes at the alter and she smiled, tears already forming in her eyes.

Troy smiled widely as she made her way to him. "Who gives this woman to this man?" the priest asked when Carlos and Gabriella reached the end of the aisle. "Her mother and I do," Carlos spoke as he kissed her cheek before placing her hand in Troy's and taking his seat. Gabriella stepped up and handed Taylor her bouquet then faced Troy as he held both her hands. Their eyes locked as the guests sat down. "You look beautiful," Troy whispered as she blinked back tears and smiled from ear to ear.

"Dearly beloved," the priest started, "we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Troy Alexander Bolton and Gabriella Elizabeth Montez in marriage. Through their time together, they have come to realize that their personal dreams, hopes, and goals are more attainable and more meaningful through the combined effort and mutual support provided in love, commitment, and family; and so they have decided to live together as husband and wife. True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding. Troy and Gabriella have written their own vows. Troy?"

Troy smiled and looked into Gabriella's eyes. "Ella, growing up I had always heard my parents speak of yours, yet I didn't realize how big of an impact you were going to have on my life when my parents said you and your family were moving to Albuquerque. We hit it off right off the bat and were best friends, pretty much from the moment we met. I knew I could trust you and confide in you. You quickly became my world. Nothing felt right unless you were by my side. We have been together for 10 years, 28 days, 3 hours and 27 minutes and they have been the best years of my life. We have had our ups and downs, but we got through them because we had each other. I can't wait to see what memories lay ahead for us, but no matter what, I will be right by your side. I, Troy Alexander Bolton, promise you, Gabriella Elizabeth Montez, that I will be your husband from this day forward, to be faithful and honest in every way, to honor the faith and trust you place in me, to love and respect you in your successes and in your failures, to make you laugh and to be there when you cry, to protect you from danger, to care for you in sickness and in health, to softly kiss you when you are hurting, and to be your companion and friend, on this journey that we make together."

He slowly reached up and wiped the tears away that were cascading down her cheeks. There wasn't a dry eye in the church. Even the men were tearing up. It was just something about weddings…

"Gabriella?" the priest motioned for her to begin. She sniffled and smiled. He squeezed her hands and smiled as he saw her blink back tears. "Troy, the first time our parents introduced us, I immediately thought you were the cutest boy ever." Some chuckles could be heard throughout the crowd and Troy winked at her saying that. "But as we started hanging out and becoming best friends, I quickly realized there was more to you than meets the eyes. Before I knew it, I was head over heels in love you with and to this day, 10 years, 28 days, 3 hours, and 31 minutes later, I am falling more in love with you as the seconds pass. I love way you rub the back of your neck when you get nervous. I love how you can always make me smile. I love how you have the best sense of humor that can brighten up my darkest days. I love everything about you and not a second has ever gone by when I questioned that love for you. I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together and even more wonderful memories that I will cherish forever. No matter what happens, Troy, you will always be the music in me." He felt tears well up in his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. "I, Gabriella Elizabeth Montez, promise you, Troy Alexander Bolton, that I will be your wife from this day forward, to be faithful and honest in every way, to honor the faith and trust you place in me, to love and respect you in your successes and in your failures, to make you laugh and to be there when you cry, to protect you from danger, to care for you in sickness and in health, to softly kiss you when you are hurting, and to be your companion and friend, on this journey that we make together."

Troy took off her engagement ring before turning to Chad. Chad handed him the wedding bands and placed one on her ringer, followed by her engagement ring, followed by the second wedding band. While he did this, he spoke, "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day."

Gabriella turned to Taylor and took Troy's ring. She slipped in on his finger as she repeated the words he had just spoken. "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day."

The priest then spoke once again: "Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. May these rings remind you always of the vows you have taken here today."

The priest continued speaking. "Troy and Gabriella will now light their unity candle." Maria and Lucille picked up their candles. Carlos and Jack each lit the mother's candles, then mother's stood up and walked to the alter. Maria used her flame to light the candle Gabriella was holding, while Lucille did the same to Troy's. They then lit the unity candle. "On this day you make a new light together, symbolizing the two becoming one. May you also continue to recognize that separateness from which your relationship has sprung. May the lights of your own special lives continue to feed the new flame of love which will fuel your future together - through all its hopes and disappointments, its successes and failures, its pleasures and its pains, its joys and its sorrows - a future filled with the warmth and love of the flame you share today." the priest said.

"And now, by the power vested in me by the State of New Mexico, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." Troy smiled big and wrapped his arms around Gabriella's waist as her hands cupped his face and they kissed passionately as he dipped her before standing her back up. He placed one more soft kiss on her lips as they broke apart smiling. "Family and Friends", the priest spoke, "I present to you, for the first time: Mr. and Mrs. Troy Bolton!" Taylor handed Gabriella her bouquet as her and Troy descended down the steps and started walking down the aisle as the crowd clapped and cheered loudly. Chad and Taylor met at the middle and started walking down after them, followed by the rest of the wedding party. The wedding party made their way outside to get some pictures while everyone else headed over to the reception out by the lake. Troy kissed Gabriella passionately, unaware of the photographer snapping pictures. He pulled back and smiled, "I love you, Gabriella Elizabeth Bolton." She smiled and kissed him again. "I love you too, my sexy husband."

I'm so sorry for skipping so much time in the story, but I didn't want it to get boring and it would have been boring with just a bunch of filler chapters. I hop you guys enjoyed this chapter! It was definitely my favorite to write!

I also want to thank pumpkinking5 for reviewing every chapter! I always look forward to your review and I can't thank you enough for taking your time to do that! So thank you, thank you, thank you! It really means a lot!