Eyes. Thousands of them staring. Staring at her.

Gabriella swallowed and took a deep breath before gesturing for the music to start. The familiar intro played and Gabriella stared over the heads pointed at her, to the back wall lost in the darkness. Feeling calmer, she licked her lips and started to sing.

The words have been drained from this pencil.

Sweet words that I want to give you.

And I can't sleep,

I need to tell you,

Goodnight.

It was getting easier now. Gabriella let the music take over her mind and focussed solely on the piano playing, making sure she kept pace with the music.

When we're together I feel perfect.

When I'm pulled away from you,

I fall apart.

All you say is sacred to me.

Your eyes are so blue,

I can't look away.

Whispers, giggles, and squeals erupted in the audience and caused Gabriella's heart to stutter, but she continued the song, refusing to let the tittering get to her.

As we lay in the stillness,

You whisper to me.

'Baby, marry me,

Promise you'll stay with me'

Oh you don't have to ask me

You know you're all that I live for.

The whispers had just about died down now and for that she was grateful. Her voice was steady and sure now, she was comfortable with what she was doing and what she was singing.

You know I'd die, just to hold you

Stay with you.

Somehow I'll show you,

That you are my night sky,

I've always been right behind you.

Now I'll always be right beside you.

Gabriella lowered the microphone as the instrumental took over and Gabriella found her confidence growing higher. So high that she decided to take a chance and look around the audience.

Big mistake.

As soon as all of the faces registered in her head she felt her breathing speed up and tears well in her eyes again. What was she thinking performing in front of an audience? She shouldn't have let Troy talk her into this.

Troy. Where was Troy?

Gabriella searched the crowd with a purpose this time, struggling to find the face that she wanted to see the most. She knew that she wouldn't have the courage to sing the end of the piece without seeing his face, a fact that made her nervous. She couldn't just walk off stage in the middle of the piece. That would be worse then just standing there for the rest of it. What was she going to do?

"Gabs!" A whisper caught her attention and her eyes snapped to the front row where it had come from.

A sigh of relief passed through her lips as her eyes met the familiar blue ones of Troy. Gabriella struggled to control her hitched breathing as she stared at him, wanting to finish the song.

Troy smiled at her and nodded in encouragement. Gabriella bit her lip, trying to find where she was in the music. She still had a few bars until she was due to come in and Gabriella took a few deep breaths, struggling to get her emotions and heart under control.

Troy leaned forward in his seat and moved his lips in a silent statement.

I love you.

Gabriella gasped quietly and she knew her eyes showed her surprise. Troy grinned again and winked at her. Gabriella was able to blink and then realized she had to continue with the song. She put the microphone to her mouth and began to sing the last verse.

So many nights,

I've cried myself to sleep.

Now that you love me,

I love myself.

With a sudden spark of realization Gabriella understood that what she had just sang was now entirely true. She remembered countless nights that she had fallen asleep in tears because she had been ignored and humiliated at school, and had wished she were anyone else but her.

I never thought I would say that.

I never thought there'd be you.

Her eyes had stayed glued to Troy the whole time she had sung the last verse and Gabriella now knew that Kelsei had been right. Troy knew that Gabriella had sung the whole song for him, and only him. Troy's smile was infectious and Gabriella felt herself smiling, her eyes still on him even as the audience erupted in cheers and whistles.

Troy stood up, clapping and now Gabriella glanced around, realizing that half the audience were standing and whistling for her. Gabriella giggled and curtsied, feeling self conscious. She wasn't used to so much attention and wasn't sure if she wanted it or not. She grinned and curtsied again as she heard Chad chanting her name.

Gabriella searched for Troy again, only to realize that he wasn't in his seat, but had jumped onto the stage and was a few feet away from her on her right. Gabriella locked eyes with him and then without realizing what she was doing she ran to him and threw her arms around him to hug him tightly. Troy held her to him and ran his fingers through her hair, chuckling quietly in her ear.

The audience 'ahhhh'ed and Gabriella laughed, pulling away from the hug even though she didn't want to. She glanced into the sea of faces and then felt a gentle touch on her cheek. She looked up at Troy and saw him smiling down at her with a knowing smile on his face.

He moved his hand from her cheek to her chin and tilted her face up, watching her carefully. When she didn't pull away he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

The crowd went wild-literally-but Gabriella hardly heard them, she was so happy. Troy pulled away a few seconds later and then kissed her forehead, pulling her against him.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." He whispered in her ear.

"Actually I do." She replied, with a small smile.

Troy laughed and then released her as the crowd starting chanting for them to kiss again.

Gabriella curtsied once more, then hurried off stage, her cheeks the colour of tomatoes. Taylor squealed and grabbed her best friend in a tight hug.

"Oh my Gosh Gabi! What a way to go!!" She shrieked.

Gabriella giggled and blushed even more, if possible.

Kelsei hugged her friend too and whispered that she had done an amazing job with song, especially the last verse.

"The finale was great too." She added, with a wink.

Gabriella pressed her hands to her flaming cheeks, with a moan of embarrassment and then jumped a bit as two arms went around her waist from behind.

"Sorry." Troy mumbled, resting his cheek on the top of her head.

"It's fine." Gabriella replied glaring at Taylor as she whistled and then darted off with Kelsei in tow.

Gabriella turned around in his embrace, wrapping her arms around him. Troy kissed the top of her head and then stroked her hair a few times, the two of them revelling at what had just happened.

"So…if Sharpay hadn't spilled the secret…would you ever have told me?" He asked, his blue eyes twinkling.

Gabriella smiled and blushed a little.

"Who knows?" She replied. "Maybe…maybe not. Does it matter?"

"Not anymore." Troy said, leaning to brush his lips across hers. "Now you still up for that talk?"

"Wouldn't miss it." Gabriella replied, meaning every word.

AN: Yeah okay so the ending was a bit crappy but how was the chapter? Yay for TROYELLA!!! They are officially a couple now…how awesome is that? Okay so I have one more chapter to write and then it is finito! Thanks for reading and pleeeease review!

And for any of you who were wondering, the song that I used is called "You" and it's by Evanescence. There's a link in my profile if you want to hear it! It's an amazing song and I love it to death!