Author's Note: This will be the last chapter. I hope you all enjoyed the story. I was a little disappointed from lack of reviews, however, I'm sure you guys read through and just didn't have time to say anything. I'll try to continue making stories . Review this one, guys.
Bold: Author's Note/ Other
Normal: Present
Italics: Flashback/ Song lyrics/ Texts
Gabriella's P.O.V.
Months had passed since we had arrive back in Albuquerque. It was as quiet as usual with lack of partying and loud entertainment. We preferred to live peacefully and no one would get upset. Fraternities and sororities were not a big thing here.
Today was Graduation Day. It was like the whole year had flown by like an eagle because eagles are fast and now, we were going to graduate from yet another phase of our lives. We were going to move up another level to college.
I had applied to go to U of A, just like Troy, Chad and Taylor. I would be studying Psychology since it spoke to me. I'd be able to understand why people did what they did since I'd had the experience of my dad's mind working… queerly. I was also going to study Theatre because it was a passion of mine. Taylor was going to study Science and Mathematics. Chad was going to study Basketball. Troy was going to study Basketball and Theatre with me. We had managed to get the same classes.
The college had given me and Troy notice about how they were worried that we would drop out of college halfway through it due to our participation in the entertainment industry, but we promised them that we wouldn't.
As I said before, it was Graduation Day. I was at Sharpay's house waiting for her to finish doing my hair.
"Hang on, Gabriella!" she said. "I promise I'm almost finished!"
"You said that an hour ago! And every 5 minutes since then!" I complained.
"Be a big girl and deal with it," she demanded. "There! Happy? Was the patience worth it?"
I looked in the mirror and nearly tipped backwards at the surprise I saw. It was a good one. She had really slowly made my wild curls more peaceful.
"You spent 2 hours making sure that none of my hair was out of place?" I asked.
She nodded eagerly.
"Do you like it?"
"Yeah! Of course I like it. I just think it could've been quicker. I'm not going to my wedding, so I don't need to pay that close attention to my hair," I explained.
"You'll soon be," she smirked slyly.
"Sharpay!" I scolded her.
"Can't wait to hear all about the proposal and what type of ring he gets you. Ooh! I hope it's one of those golden ones with a turquoise gem inside of it. I know you like that type of color! And then I can be your bridesmaid!" she squealed, clapping her hands excitedly.
"Not happening anytime soon," I mumbled.
"Oh, come on, Gabi. We all know that Troy would marry you right now if he could," she said, wiggling her eyebrows funnily.
"And Zeke could too," I shot back.
She blushed.
"That'd be a dream come true."
HSM
"Morning, beautiful," Troy greeted me when he spotted me near the library at school. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how annoyed are you at Sharpay as of now?" he asked knowingly.
"11," I replied. "She spent 2 hours on my hair."
He stared at it blankly.
"It looks the same as usual," he commented.
"Oh, thanks, Troy," I said sarcastically.
"What? I never said it was ugly, in fact, it looks really good, as usual," he defended himself.
"Oh, thanks, Troy," I said, this time in a sickly sweet voice.
"You know you love me," he smiled cheekily.
"That, I do," I replied, just as cheekily as him.
"So, how do you feel?" he questioned. "About graduating from this hellhole?"
"I feel like I'm going straight from hell to heaven without going to Earth in between. It's kinda like dry ice in Science. It's a solid and it goes straight to has with hardly any liquid stage," I explained. Then I face-palmed. "Oh my god! I hate how I do that! Every single day, I swear I relate something to school! They're like metaphors and now... I'm relating it to English!"
Troy chuckled.
"Yeah, yesterday when we were doing Gym, you were talking about how if 2 people sprint next to each other at the same time, they would naturally attract. Then you said something about how opposites attract like magnets and then about how if you're opposites, one of you fat and one is thin. The gravitational field around the fat person is stronger at it pulls the thinner person towards them. I didn't understand a single thing of what you said!"
"Honey," I said. "It's simple 7th Grade Science, not College Science. How are you graduating if you can't understand simple concepts like that?"
He shrugged.
"I don't know, but the teachers love me. That certainly helps."
"I can't disagree," I mumbled.
Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me. Actually, 2 presences. It was Chad and Taylor.
"Hi, kids!" Chad greeted us happily, bouncing around like a child. "We're graduating today! Can you believe that?"
"I'm surprised you're graduating, Chad," Troy remarked. "So no, I can't believe it.
I stifled a laugh behind my hand and so did Taylor.
"You know it's true, babe," Taylor told her boyfriend.
Chad put a playfully sad expression on his face and he pouted, storming away.
"Well, there he goes. I'd better catch up. See ya during the ceremony," Taylor said, waving vigorously to us.
Out of the blue, my phone began to ring my amazing ringtone for Zac. I answered like a good godchild, turning on speakerphone.
"Quoi de neuf?" I asked him.
"Pas grand-chose," he replied. "Okay, I'm faking my terrible French skills. Just wondering if you were coming back home after or not."
I turned to Troy questioningly.
"Is it okay if I steal her away and go to the beach?" he asked Zac.
"Yeah, sure. What time will you be back?" Zac asked.
"After sunset. That's for sure," Troy answered.
"Okay, fine. I'm coming to watch. See you in a bit. Love you guys."
"You too," I said before hanging up. "Why are we going to the beach?"
Troy shrugged.
"Dunno. Just thought it would be a good place to reminisce," he said. "It's quiet there too. A nice place to relax an let go."
"Fair enough. Oh look! It's time to go now. I can't wait!" I exclaimed.
"Can't wait to give your speech?"
"No! I can't wait till it's over! Why the hell would they choose me to be valedictorian?" I asked.
"Cause you're smart, artistic, sporty, kind, caring, loving and everything else that's a good quality. And on top of that, you have the most amazing boyfriends ever!" Troy playfully bragged.
"Okay, okay. Your ego is already big enough as it is. No need to boost it even more," I said, opening the door to backstage.
"Bolton, Montez. Just in the nick of time. We were just about to start without you," Darbus told us strictly.
Chad leant over and whispered in my ear, "You actually have like 5 minutes to spare. She's just trying to make you feel bad."
"Show's starting in 5 minutes," Darbus announced. "Take your places on stage."
We lined up along the stage in rows and I stood next to Troy. Such a memorable moment could go so fast. The curtain went up and the audience clapped.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen," Darbus said. "We have gathered here to congratulate our fellow graduates on their remarkable journey though the school years. East High has certainly been blessed with these pupils and it would be unpleasant to ignore the marvellous achievements the students have made. One student in particular has shown great growth through her 1 and a half years of being at East High. Please welcome Gabriella Montez as she makes her speech."
No! Public speaking sucks!
I meekly walked to the podium and spoke into the mic.
"Good morning, everyone," echoed loudly around the stage. "Even though I have only come to East High for 1 and a half years, I have witnessed a dramatic change in its sociality. When I arrived, the school was split into very visible cliques: the jocks, cheerleaders, nerd, loners and so forth. People had constant disputes and others just didn't want anything to do with particular students. I had predicted that I would be a loner when I arrive firstly because I wore shady clothes and secondly because I didn't talk all that much. I made 1 friend in 4 months, shout out to you, but afterwards, I made more. I was able to see that people sorted out their differences and we lived in harmony. Thank you."
Everyone clapped as I walked back to my spot on the stage. Out of the corner of my eye, I swore I saw Sharpay and Stacy Brighton giggling hushedly.
"Thank you, Ms. Montez. What a wonderful speech," Darbus commended me. "Now it's time for our awards ceremony. Zeke Baylor, Troy Bolton, Stacey Brighton, Martha Cox, Jason Cross, Chad Danforth, Ryan Evans, Sharpay Evans, Taylor McKessie, Gabriella Montez, Kelsi Nielson, Jacob Platelle."
Author's Note: I won't put all names otherwise I'll have to make up some.
Everyone clapped as we bowed and we walked off stage. Troy and I had decided to ditch the after party and go to the beach (as said before.) We walked hand in hand along the deserted area, taking in the beautiful scenery of the water and the sky. The sand was soft under our bare feet, not too hot.
"This has gotta be my favorite beach in the world," I said, softly, holding onto Troy's arm.
"Really?" he asked, looking down at me.
"It's so quiet and peaceful out here, where there's no one around. Feels very romantic," I explained.
"Romantic? I've got to agree with you there. When it's just us… on the beach, we can our alone time, away from everyone and everything else," Troy agreed. "Let's sit here."
We sat down under the shade of a palm tree that overlooked the ocean. There were no boats or anything, just the sand, ocean, sky and nature. I rested my head on Troy's chest and he stroked my hair delicately.
"Seems like it was just yesterday that you arrived at East High. You know, East High really did change when you came. I'll bet the Sharpay and Stacy are best friends as of now," Troy said, sweetly.
"I know, but it's not just me. You and everyone else helped. You were able to help me come out of my shell and talk. Who would've know that we'd end up here?" I asked, softly.
Troy kissed my hair and I smiled at the feeling.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too," I replied.
Seemed like love really did beat everything.
Author's Note: So, that's the end. What did you think? I might write another story, who knows?"
