"Gabriella, wake up honey," Ms. Montez whispered soothingly.

"Five more minutes," moaned Gabriella, pulling her blanket over her head.

Ms. Montez chuckled, "It's your birthday, sweetheart. Don't you want to get up bright and early?" At that, Gabriella rushed to get out of bed and ran to the bathroom.


"Happy birthday, Gabriella!" cheered Taylor, presenting her friend with a small box.

Gabriella smiled, "You didn't have to get me anything."

"Okay, I'll take it back," Taylor teased.

"Give it to me!" Gabriella squealed. She ripped off the pink-colored wrapping paper and opened a small, cardboard box, revealing a snow globe with two girls inside of it. It was engraved with, 'Taylor and Gabriella, Best Friends for Life.'

"Do you like it?" asked Taylor, excitedly.

Gabriella nodded, "I love it, Tay! Thank you so much!" she cried, giving her best friend a meaningful hug. "I can just see it, today is going to be the best day of my life!"


"This is the worst day of my life!" Gabriella yelled.

"Why? Just because our radio show won't air for another two weeks?" asked Troy, putting an arm around her.

Gabriella rested her head on his shoulder as they continued walking, "Not just that, it also has to do with the fact that I accidentally tore up my calculus homework!" she yelled.

"Oh come on, it can't be that bad." said Troy.

"Yes it can! Ms. Darbus is making me paint three sets of props for the spring musical after school just because I wasn't looking straight in her eyes when she was announcing that her 55th birthday was coming up!" she whined.

"Ms. Darbus is turning fifty-five? I thought she was like, seventy." mumbled Troy.

"So far, I have six hours worth of homework, on my special day!" she whimpered. "At least you remembered my special day, right Troy?"

"Uh…yeah!" he said hesitantly.

"Well, did you have any plans for us tonight?" she asked him.

"Ummmmmmm, no." he mumbled.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but did you at least get me anything?"

"Uh, not yet, what do you want?" he asked.

Gabriella looked heartbroken, "It's nothing,"

"Does she think you forgot her birthday? Is our plan working?" Chad asked his buddy when Gabriella was out of sight.

"Like a charm," answered Troy as the two boys high-fived each other. "Remember Chad; keep your mouth shut,"

"Aye, captain!" squeaked Chad.


"Are you ready, Gabs?" asked Taylor. "Are you done painting?"

Gabriella brushed a hand over her forehead and took off her gloves. "Taylor, you actually waited for me?" she asked in surprise.

"Of course, you're my best friend! So, I heard you were having troubles with Troy this afternoon." explained Taylor, although she was part of the plan. Her job was to keep Gabriella busy until Troy was ready.

"Yeah, I can't believe he forgot my birthday! As if my day wasn't rough enough already," Gabriella sighed.

"Are you done with your homework?" asked Taylor.

"I did most of it at lunch and during free period, so all I have left is reading two chapters of War and Peace. But I've already read it sixteen times," informed Gabriella.

"Do you want to get some frappuccinos from Starbucks?" Taylor suggested.

Gabriella pouted, "Sure, after the horrible day I've had, I'm up for anything."

Fifteen minutes later, Taylor and Gabriella were sipping away with their double chocolate chip blended crèmes. "Taylor, can you sleep over? I'm really not in the mood to be by myself tonight." said Gabriella, as she and Taylor pulled out their bus passes.

"I hate taking the bus," muttered Taylor as they stepped into the dirty vehicle.

"So do I," Gabriella agreed. "But Mom's using the car today so the bus is our only option. I can't wait until I get my own car, what's the point of having a driver's license when I don't even have a car to drive! I wish Troy were here with his fancy sports car."

"Ick," Taylor puffed as she pricked a piece of gum out of the bottom of her seat.

"When will Mom see that I'm old enough to maintain my own car? I'm seventeen today! When I was younger, my dad promised he would get me a car on my sixteenth birthday. Mom would always disagree, but Dad still kept his promise. Since his death, Mom never brought up the subject again." Gabriella told Taylor. "You're going to be in the talent show, right?"

Taylor nodded, "Yes, I'm going to sing 'I Will Survive.' And are you still judging?"

Gabriella huffed, "I don't know. Maybe Troy forgot since he also forgot my birthday."

"You know how boys are, always forgetting about their girl's special day. Maybe he just had a lot on his mind," said Taylor, trying to defend Troy.

"Come on Taylor, if he really knew me, he wouldn't forget my birthday." Gabriella rested her head on the window pane.

"You're really having doubts, aren't you?" Taylor questioned.

Gabriella nodded. "You know Troy means a lot to me. It's just, if he can't even remember my birthday, when I told him a thousand times how excited I was yesterday…" Gabriella paused. "I don't know,"

"You're not thinking about breaking up with him, are you?" Taylor asked worriedly, although she was certain Gabriella would change her mind after seeing what Troy had planned for her.

"I don't want to, Taylor. Let's just see what happens."


"Chad Danforth, reporting for duty!" yelled Chad.

"What are you doing?" asked Troy.

"You called me and told me to meet you here immediately. I was fast, huh?" inquired Chad.

"Chad, I called you two hours ago." explained Troy. "Anyway, now that you're here, I need you to call Gabriella's mom."

"Why?"

"To tell her that everything's ready," said Troy.

Chad pulled out his cell phone and dialed Ms. Montez's number. "I've got her on speed dial," Chad winked.

"Why?" asked Troy. "You know what? I don't want to know,"

"Hello?" Ms. Montez answered on the other line.

"Hi Ms. Montez, it's Chad Danforth."

"Oh, hi Chad! Is everything ready?" asked Ms. Montez.

"Yep, Troy told me to call you. Everything's set," he explained.

"That's great Chad. Thank you so much. Now all we have to do is wait for Gabriella to get home, she should be here soon." Ms. Montez informed him.

"Okey dokey, ma'am! Just make sure to call Troy when Gabriella comes home," said Chad.

"I will," Ms. Montez reassured him as she hung up.

"Today was the worst day of my life!" cried Gabriella, moping into the house.

"Oh honey, what's wrong?" asked Ms. Montez, kissing her daughter's forehead.

"Well, I accidentally tore up my calculus homework, Ms. Darbus made me stay after school to paint, and Troy forgot my birthday!" she sobbed.

"Oh Gabriella, I'm sure he didn't mean to! It must've just slipped his mind, that's all! Boys are always like that!"

Gabriella shook her head, "Not Troy, he's different," she dropped her book bag and collapsed on to the couch.

"Taylor, keep her busy, I need to call Troy." Ms. Montez whispered.

"Okay," Taylor winked and made her way to the couch. "So, any plans for tonight?" she asked her.

"I don't think so. I was hoping Troy had something planned for me, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen." Gabriella sighed and twirled a lock of her hair.

"Well, let's watch some TV." Taylor grabbed the remote control and turned on the television. It was set to MTV, and My Super Sweet Sixteen was on.

Gabriella winced and buried her head in her pillow. "Change it, Taylor!" she demanded.

"I am, I am!" cried Taylor, switching to another station.

"Oh Rodney, I knew you would never forget my birthday!" a girl cried on TV.

"Samantha, I would never do that!" exclaimed Rodney.

"Okay, no more TV." Taylor quickly turned the set off. "What do you want to do now?"

"Gabriella, Troy wants you to meet him at the park." informed Ms. Montez.

"So now he remembers my birthday?" she asked reluctantly.

"Sweetheart, just go!" her mother ordered.

"Can I take the car?" Gabriella asked.

"No, you're going to walk." her mother refused.

"But Mom, that's too far!" Gabriella ejaculated.

"It's good exercise! If you leave now, you'll get there faster!" Ms. Montez exclaimed. Gabriella grabbed Taylor's arm and sadly pulled Taylor outside.

"This is really the worst day ever," she grumbled.

"Who knows? Troy could have something really special for you!" Taylor assumed. After five minutes of walking, Taylor checked her watch. "Chad should be here any second," she muttered.

"Hey girls, need a ride?" asked Chad, pulling up in his car.

"Yeah, can you get us to Albuquerque Oaks?" asked Gabriella.

"Sure, hop in!" replied Chad. "Buckle up, it's going to be a wild ride!" As soon as the girls were strapped in, Chad started racing to the park.

"Ch-Chad, why are we going so f-fast?" Taylor could hardly get her words out.

"Because we're behind schedule!" yelled Chad.

"Behind schedule for w-what?" asked Gabriella.

"Oh, Chad's just going to be late for…ballet!" Taylor lied.

"So Troy takes yoga and Chad takes ballet? You guys are strange," commented Gabriella.

"Okay, here we are! Albuquerque Oaks! Now hurry up and get out, I'm going to be late for…ballet." he winked at Taylor.

Taylor rolled her eyes, "Just leave!" She then turned to Gabriella, "I'm going to take a walk." she informed her.

"Where are you going to go?" asked Gabriella.

"Way over there!" Taylor explained as she started running away.

"Taylor! Don't leave me here!" Gabriella cried helplessly. She turned around and saw Troy playing around on the swings. "What are you doing?" she asked as she approached him.

"Swinging," he answered, not even looking at her.

"So why'd you call? Why am I here?"

"Because I'm lonely. I need someone to play with," he responded.

Gabriella sighed, "That's why you want me here? To play with you? Troy, I don't think I can take this any longer! I really thought you cared about me! I guess I was wrong since you forgot my—" Gabriella was stopped when Troy's lips were pressed on her. "One kiss won't make up for it," she told him.

"I know," he replied. "But that might," he said, turning her around.

"What are you—" she paused when she saw a black Mercedes parked in front of her. "How will somebody else's car cheer me up? Especially when it's my dream car?" she looked in the window to see the keys in the key jack. "And who is stupid enough to leave the windows rolled down and the keys in the key jack? You could easily steal them."

"Take the key jack." Troy ordered.

"Now you want me to steal?" asked Gabriella.

"Just take it," he said again. She sighed and grabbed it. "What's the point of taking it? Why are you even—" she paused when she read the engraving on a silver tag. It read:

To Gabriella,

From Troy

"I am an idiot," she muttered slowly.

"Happy birthday!" Troy yelled.

"Wow!" she screamed as she started jumping up and down. "I knew you wouldn't forget my birthday, it's just not like you! And now I have my own car! Even better, my dream car! How'd you get it? These things are expensive!"

"My grandpa owns the dealer two blocks away. He's been urging me to take this car. But since I already have a car, I thought I'd give it to you. And since my grandpa owns the dealer, I got a discount! I only had to pay…three thousand dollars." he explained.

"Wow Troy, this is the best present I've ever received in my whole entire life! I finally have a car! Wait till Sharpay sees this! This beats the heck out of her beetle!" she squealed.

Troy frowned, he had never heard Gabriella talk like that. "Do you like it?" he asked, even though he knew the answer.

"Like it? I love it!" Gabriella answered, as she hugged him tightly.

Good job, Troy thought. You sure know how to make your woman happy.