YOU AND ME
TEN
Elena woke up early each morning out of habit, rarely needing her alarm though setting it just in case. On the weekend, she'd prefer if she was able to sleep in properly but an extra hour of rest was all that she ever was able to achieve. In late spring and summer over the weekend, she liked to sit out on the patio with her morning coffee, breakfast and the newspaper so she could enjoy a bit of sunshine. The sun and fresh air always made her feel like her day was beginning on a positive note. It was around 8am when she came downstairs on Saturday morning and began her routine, getting the coffee brewing, collecting the newspaper from the front doorstep and bringing both her mug and the paper outside. She smiled a little wryly at the sight she was met by – her daughter and her boyfriend, together in their backyard hammock. They had a light throw covering them, even with their bodies concealed she could recognise how completely they were entwined. Gabriella was using Troy's chest as a pillow. How they were asleep when the sun was shining so brightly she wasn't sure, although it would've been a late night for them. She contemplated waking them up but decided it was innocent enough and instead, crept back inside herself.
Elena was putting a grocery list together after finishing her breakfast when the back door creaked open. She turned around, beaming at the somewhat dishevelled looking Gabriella and Troy.
"Good morning," Elena chirped. "Hope neither of you got sunburn in the morning lying out on that hammock."
Troy scratched the back of his head. "Hopefully more of a kick start on our summer tans," he joked, feeling slightly uneasy that she'd seen their nap. However she didn't seem too upset and so he figured it was best to act as though they were entirely innocent.
"Hopefully," Elena said, laughing along with them. "I'm taking it you didn't end up getting breakfast after the party?"
Gabriella shook her head. "We were actually really exhausted, so we decided to have a nap and just get some breakfast here."
"Since I'm in a generous mood, how do pancakes sound?"
Troy's eyes lit up – he'd had Elena's pancakes a couple of times before, and he was more than happy with the idea. However he glanced at Gabriella, wanting to gauge her reaction. She gave a small shrug, indicating she didn't mind.
"Sounds perfect," Troy declared.
"Good, because I already did the mix for you, so just need to wait for the pan to heat up and it'll pretty much be ready."
"I'm gonna go get your stuff out of my truck," Troy said, kissing Gabriella lightly on the cheek.
"Do you want me to help you?" she offered.
Troy shook his head. "It's fine, I'll be right back."
Elena took a moment to look carefully at her daughter. Gabriella wasn't obtuse to the look – a look as though she was trying to figure out what had gone on the night before.
"Going to the bathroom," Gabriella said abruptly, before disappearing from the kitchen.
She ran upstairs, taking a few minutes to use the facilities and to examine her appearance. She and Troy had given each other the once over before coming into the house, making sure that there weren't any stray lipstick marks on his face or spots on her neck where he'd suckled just a little too long. There was nothing inherently inappropriate about her appearance. She washed her face and did a half brush of her teeth – feeling a little bit furry from not having brushed them the night before, but not wanting the mint flavour to destroy the enjoyment of her pancakes.
By the time she came back down to the kitchen, Troy was back in the house and had placed her duffel bag at the foot of the stairs and hung her dress along the stairwell. Elena had the first pancake cooking in the pan and Troy had poured a juice for he and Gabriella and set it down along the breakfast bar.
"I'm surprised you didn't ask to swap around your shift for today," Elena observed, in conversation with Troy.
He shrugged. "I'd rather get next Saturday off, truthfully."
"Are you going to keep doing a few shifts over summer?" Elena asked. "I thought you were all going back to Lava Springs?"
"I'm waiting for Fulton to sort out the logistics. I might be able to juggle the two, even if I only do a shift or two at Smith's. The camp we're going to help Fulton run over summer only goes for a month. If I quit Smith's completely then it'll mean I have the second half of summer not working, unless Fulton comes up with something else. I really want to save as much money as I can."
Elena came over and placed a plate with a pancake each in front of Troy and Gabriella. Gabriella stood up to grab maple syrup from the cupboard and on second thought, also retrieved a tub of vanilla ice-cream from the freezer.
"So – are you going to tell me about it, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?" Elena asked, her voice clearly filled with anticipation.
Gabriella blinked. "Wha-? It?" For a moment, she genuinely thought her mom was asking about her and Troy's love making the night before.
Troy coughed. "I think your mom is asking about Prom..."
Elena blinked and managed a forced smile – despite she and Lucille's clear decision to start looking the other way, she wasn't at the gossiping with her daughter about sex point. "Of course I was! I want to hear all about it. Who wore what, was the food good, how was the music, did everyone have fun?"
Gabriella managed a quick recovery, giving her mom a beaming smile. With all that had happened, it felt like such a long time ago that they'd been at Prom, when really it was twelve hours earlier.
"You know in the movies and on TV shows when there's like a magic perfect prom?"
Elena smiled. "I've seen the type."
"That's what we had," Gabriella said, reaching over and squeezing Troy's hand. "I kept waiting for something to go wrong, someone to get into a cat fight or to spill a drink on someone's dress but it was genuinely such a lovely night."
"It was pretty perfect," Troy agreed. "We were sitting in like, two tables of eight, with all of our closest friends around us. The food was awesome, everyone was getting along well. They actually played some awesome music and people got into the dancing. Oh, and they had like, a photobooth thing, so you could go get group shots done with friends. They'll have the previews online in a couple of days and then you can buy any professional photos you want. We did a big group shot, and the girls made us do a girls photo and a boys photo."
Gabriella tsk'd him. "Those photos will be awesome, believe me."
"Please tell me you got some couples photos done?"
"Of course," Gabriella beamed.
"Was there any entertainment?" Elena asked, as she brought over another plate with two pancakes, placing it between Troy and Gabriella for each to take when they were ready.
"A few things. Prom Court of course. Did you know your daughter is now royalty?" Troy asked proudly.
"Just a princess," Gabriella shot back.
"I bet you never thought you'd be on the Prom Court at your senior prom two years ago," Elena observed with a laugh.
Gabriella nodded. "Seriously. Troy won Prom King and refused to wear the crown after about five minutes."
"It hurt my head!" he complained.
"The burden of the life of a King," Elena laughed.
Troy shrugged. "I don't really care about that stuff. It's all pretty stupid. They did these silly awards, that was a funnier part of the night."
"Troy!" Gabriella hissed.
"Oh, did you win something?" Elena asked, amused by the look of embarrassed panic on her daughter's face.
"Not telling."
Troy glanced sideways at Gabriella. "She'll hear about it sooner rather than later."
Gabriella exhaled, knowing it was true. She reluctantly abandoned her pancake, stood up and went over to her duffel bag she'd slung in the corner to retrieve the 'award.'
"Chad presented a joint award to Troy and I... this was our trophy," Gabriella said, and promptly handed a crowbar over to her mother.
Elena immediately burst into peals of laughter. "Absolutely classic."
"Maybe in hindsight the humour will be funnier," Gabriella said, cheeks flushing just with the recollection of their peers and teachers laughing.
Troy glanced at the clock on the wall. "Crap, is that the time? Already?" He stabbed at his second pancake with the fork, shovelling most of it into his mouth in one go.
"I thought you started at midday?" Gabriella asked.
The room was silent as Troy chewed, only after he swallowed did he reply. "Yeah, and mom texted me telling me I'd better come home and do my chores if I don't want to be grounded for our last week of school and the first week of summer," Troy said with a roll of the eyes. "She wouldn't actually do it, but I think I should play nice."
"You've learnt well. Always listen to what your mother says," Elena commented, nodding.
"How long is your shift?" Gabriella asked.
"Long shift. I won't finish until close this evening," Troy said with a pout. "All on the registers! Absolute killer. I may die."
"Poor working man earning money to pay for DVDs and video games," Gabriella teased.
"I'll remember you said that next time I pay for dinner," Troy said with a raise of the eyebrows. "I bet they'll separate me and Chad too."
"Separate you?" Elena questioned with a chuckle.
"Yeah, they put us on registers on opposite ends of the store. Stops us from talking." Troy quickly chewed the rest of the pancake. "Okay I'd better get going."
"I'll walk you out," Gabriella said, quickly hopping up, deciding she would go back to her last pancake after he'd left.
"I'll see you soon, Ms. Montez. Thanks so much for breakfast!"
"Not a problem at all. Hope you get through your shift."
Gabriella walked Troy out, murmuring a quick but tender goodbye at the door with a promise that they'd catch up the next day. Gabriella returned back to the table, the dreamy smile on her face not lost on Elena.
"So Prom was fun - how was the after party?" Elena asked casually.
Gabriella paused a beat, before responding carefully. "I had a wonderful night."
She was lying by omission. She didn't correct her mother but she wasn't lying – she did have a wonderful night. Elena pursed her lips, suspecting it might not be in her best interest to pursue her hunch about the direction the evening had headed.
"That's good."
Gabriella sensed the mutual understanding. "You're not going to ask anything else?"
Elena shook her head. "Free pass. Just this once."
Gabriella breathed a sigh of relief and impulsively reached across the table to give her mother a hug. "Thank you for staying here in Albuquerque. I don't know what's going to happen in the fall, but at least I'm getting to finish high school as perfectly as I possibly could. Which means the world to me."
The last week at school was more or less pointless. It was really just a week for clearing up all of the final bits and pieces of senior year. Assignments and exams were handed back. For a handful of students, they were being forced to look at options of having to sit make up exams in summer school or not graduate. All of the Wildcats had scraped through - Jason by the skin of his teeth in a few subjects, thanks to some pushing and prodding from his teachers and some help from friends to bring up his grades with his final essays and assignments of the year.
They had a whole day dedicated to a series of futures seminars - a session on how to find a summer job, a session on preparing for college, a session on budgeting, a session on pathways in life that didn't involve college. East High School wanted its students to depart as prepared as possible as they could be for the real world - not that a day of seminars could possibly come anywhere near truly preparing them, but all they could do was try. Every other person had a camera with them, wanting to capture the final moments of the their lives as high school seniors. Yearbooks were handed out during the week, students exchanging to write their final messages to their classmates.
Gabriella and Troy had traded yearbooks overnight on Tuesday, the day they'd received the coveted books. Gabriella had taken up a half a page with her heartfelt message, which in Troy's yearbook which was in hot demand for people to have their final stamp upon the big man on campuses yearbook, was a large chunk of space. Troy of course didn't care - Gabriella could have the whole book if that's what she desired.
When Gabriella received hers back from Troy, his words weren't quite as complex nor were they as eloquent, but the simple, direct, to the point nature was as emphatic and heartfelt as any speech could be.
I love you
Now, always and forever.
I started living when I met you - thank you for being you and for being in my life.
Love,
Troy xo
Sharpay was using a fine tipped pink Sharpie in everyone's yearbook, taking it as an opportunity to practice her autograph techniques. Chad's signature statement on almost everyone's yearbook was the same:
What team? Wildcats! East High Forever!
Chad Danforth
The easy week flew past, and it was very quickly Graduation Friday, with the ceremony scheduled to start at 2pm. Friday morning was bedlam - students were being allocated their robes, some looking aghast that they'd ordered the wrong size. The band had a final rehearsal, the AV club was making sure that all of the sound equipment was set up, the film class was making sure the presentation was perfect. Students were rushing around with their yearbooks passing the book around and trying to make sure that everyone who they really wanted to sign was given a space.
Before a break for lunch, they went through a run through of how the afternoon's proceedings would take place – seating the students in alphabetical order, having a rehearsal so they could see where they had to enter the stage, where to exit and how to file quietly back to their seat. There was emphasis upon decorum and efficiency – they had a large group graduating and so these qualities were necessary. After lunch period they were given a half hour to get ready, officially kitting up in their robes and being given strict instructions to be on the field no later than 1:15pm. By this time, parents, teachers and friends were filling the school grounds.
The ceremony itself had been timed to perfection. East High School had successfully secured a former graduate, Maria Rodriguez, to give the commencement speech. Kelsi and Gabriella in particular had been so excited to have her come back to Albuquerque. She had graduated and then studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and then went on to work in music journalism and eventually had become a published writer, and an advocate for women with Mexican heritage living in the United States.
After the commencement speech, Principal Matsui had said a few words before they proceeded with the handing out of high school diplomas. Students were seated in alphabetical order, and as per the intricate rehearsal they'd been through just a few hours earlier, row by row they moved up to the side of the stage, ready to do their individual walk across to accept the certificate which verified that they had made it – they had successfully graduated from high school.
On Monday, both Taylor and Gabriella had been pulled out of a class to report to Principal Matsui's office – and were advised that they had been appointed co-Valedictorians. Taylor had been working toward getting Valedictorian throughout her entire high school career, and earlier in the year it had occurred to her that with Gabriella now at East High School, her chances were slim. However the school didn't work purely on a GPA appointment system, it was appointed by an administration selection committee who took into account GPA and other civic involvement. When all of their final grades had been given back, Gabriella had emerged only just slightly ahead of Taylor on the GPA score; however the school felt that it was fitting that the girls receive the appointment together.
It had been, in many ways, the perfect way for Taylor and Gabriella to finish their time at East High together. Gabriella may not have participated in the scholastic decathlon for her senior year, but Taylor got what she'd wished for – something that was theirs. They spent a lot of their time collaborating to pen the perfect Valedictorian speech to close the East High School Graduation for the Class of 2008.
As the girls stepped away from the microphone, having completed their delivery, their classmates rose into a cheering standing ovation – and then the ceremony was declared closed.
The East High oval had been transformed into a party. Teachers, friends and parents hugged and kissed, congratulations being extended and tears scattered among the graduating class – and some of their parents. After having a long teary hug with her mother, Gabriella found herself feeling the need to see as many of her classmates as she could, at least, the ones that mattered. There were party plans for that night but she didn't want to rely on being able to find people at the party. She ran around, finding friends and acquaintances from the drama club, student council, her classes, exchanging hugs and with the few who she hadn't already talked about it with, finding out what their summer plans were. After finding the majority of her not-as-close friends, she turned to seeking out their main friendship group. After a hug with Jason, and then Martha, she found Kelsi and Ryan having a teary hug just behind them.
"You guys!" she exclaimed, tears shining in her eyes, and Kelsi and Ryan were quick to open their arms to welcome Gabriella into a three way hug.
Chad too had been running around farewelling people, but with a somewhat different outlook to Gabriella. He had been whooping and cheering, fist bumping and hand shaking. Upon spotting the trio of his teary friends, he ran over.
"No tears!" he exclaimed, piling onto their hug playfully, wrapping his arms around Kelsi and Gabriella from behind.
Troy wasn't far away, talking to Sharpay, Zeke and Jason and spotted the teary hug. He couldn't stand seeing Gabriella weepy, and strode over.
"Is this a private hug or is anyone welcome?" he asked, ruffling Chad's hair.
"You might be needed to look after this mess," Ryan joked, the hug breaking up to reveal a blubbering Gabriella.
"Aww, babe," Troy cooed, pulling her into his side.
"I can't believe that two years ago I was trying to convince my mom to let me skip junior year so I could graduate sooner and get to college as soon as possible. Now I don't want to leave!"
"Sure you do, there's a whole exciting world out there!" Ryan exclaimed, trying to cheer her up.
She shook her head, lip pouting slightly. "Once we walk out those gates – that's it. This is all over. I like our high school bubble! I don't wanna grow up.'
Troy took both of her hands in his, bring her hands up to press a kiss to her knuckles. "It is kinda inevitable though, you can't put off the future."
"And hey, we've still got nearly all of summer together. No one is moving away just yet. We might have graduated high school, but we're Wildcats for life," Chad pointed out, giving Gabriella a friendly squeeze with his arm around her in a half hug.
Troy reached up with his finger, gently wiping at the tears and slight black smears on Gabriella's face under her eyes from running mascara.
"I don't know what I'd do without you guys! How can I thank you all enough for just... making this the best possible senior year."
Troy shook his head, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I think it is us who have to be thanking you."
And there was me and you
And then we got real blue
Stay at home talking on the telephone
And we would get so excited and we'd get so scared
Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels
As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever
Vitamin C, 'Graduation (Friends Forever)'