Epilogue
"Love is, above all else, the gift of oneself." -Jean Anouilh
They were married in the small church next to Tiffany's, at the beginning of the next March. All of Gabriella's family was there, and a few Evans' were there as well, filling up the first few pews in the tiny building. The church itself was decorated in white and gold, with lilies and roses and ribbons and bows adorning ever nook and cranny. Gabriella had never been much of a decorator; Sharpay had been in charge of that.
Most of their classmates were there from high school. Chad was sitting in the next row behind the direct family, watching his new wife, who was one of the bridesmaids, shoot him flirtatious glances. They had been married in January. Next to them was a short, brunette girl with dangling, gold earrings and a shy smile: Kelsi, the ambitious composer. She had gotten contacts since Gabriella had last seen her. Next to Kelsi was Jason, followed by Zeke, and a couple of other basketball players whose names Gabriella had long since forgotten. Troy had invited them, no doubt.
As she walked down the aisle, her arms intertwined with her new husband's, Gabriella could see (could it be?!) Mrs. Darbus sitting in the very last pew, watching two of her greatest pupils at their best. In the next row up was the Bolton family. They had come with Troy; while still shocked that Gabriella wasn't marrying their son, they considered Gabriella a part of the family. Besides, Kayla, along with Sharpay, Taylor, and one of Gabriella's cousins, was a bridesmaid.
The reception was held back at the Evans' house, which was also decorated with flowers, ribbon, and the like ("I imagine that our house is pretty embarrassed, having to wear all of these bows, wouldn't you say?" Ryan had noted the day before). Gabriella couldn't count all of the guests who congratulated her as she walked around the place, trying not to get her white train dirty, now that there was no one to hold it up for her.
"I'm so proud of you!" her mother had already said about twenty times. "You're married!"
It had struck Gabriella a few times that she was now a married woman. Those days of parties and flirting and boys were over. Finally, she added. No more heartbreak. No more breakups. What a relief.
That night, once everyone had left, Gabriella found herself sitting in sweatpants and a T-shirt on the back porch, looking out over the pool and the backyard.
"Care for some lemonade, Mrs. Evans?" Ryan teased, stepping out onto the porch. He set the glasses of lemonade down in front of Gabriella and himself.
"Sure," Gabriella said with a nod. She took a sip of the yellow liquid and exhaled deeply.
"Glad it's all over?" her husband asked, taking a seat beside her.
"Sort of," Gabriella answered, smiling. "But it was worth it." She leaned over and kissed Ryan on the lips. "I got a pretty ring, a new last name, and-" she kissed him again "-I got you."
"Maybe you should drive into ditches more often," said Ryan. "Good things come out of it."
"Nah." Gabriella shook her head. "I already have everything I want." She sipped on her drink. "And once Troy proposes to your sister, we'll have this huge house all to ourselves."
"He's going to marry her?" Ryan looked interested.
"Yep," Gabriella said. "He took me to help him pick out the ring last week. He's going to ask her on their date Friday."
"Gosh," Ryan commented. "So many weddings, so little time! It can really overwhelm a guy!"
Gabriella smiled again and leaned back in her chair. She had a husband, a new home, and this summer, she was graduating from college to be a math teacher and music major. She had her whole life ahead of her to look forward to. What could ever be better than this?
She went on to teach Algebra II at a local high school, while Ryan bought, managed, at went on to be director at a prestigious theatre in downtown Lewisville. Gabriella served as the music director for all of his shows.
Sharpay married Troy the following winter and they moved to a friendly development half an hour south of Lewisville. Within a few days of their one year anniversary, their first child, Marcus Gabriel Bolton, was born. And a month after that, Gabriella and Ryan had their first child, Charlotte Jacqueline Evans. Both children went on to sing and act at their schools and in local theatre.
The future had never looked so bright.
And all thanks to a crash.
I can't believe it: I finished a story! I've never done that before! Really!
Thanks so much to all of you who reviewed! I relaly appreciate everything y'all said! It made me want to write even more! I'll hopefully have my next HSM story up soon (unfortunately not a Ryella one), so be looking out for that!
I really hope y'all liked this story. I know I sure did. It was a lot of fun to write, and I only got frustrated and erased a whole chapter, like, twice, which is a record for me. One chapter of Gotham Prep has been written, lke, five different times. I'm not even kidding.
Well, ciao for now!
One last time, Giz.
