Disclaimer, I don't own High School Musical or any of the characters associated with it. Please, Please Review!!

Author Note: The song referenced is Journey to the Heaviside Layer from Cats. I don't own it.

Epilogue

Deanna POV

After the cops take Biff away, I stay by the lake.

I know why they have to, but it doesn't seem fair. She wanted to die. Biff was just the gun.

I let my eyes run out over the surface of the lake. There's a raft in the middle of it, its pilot standing up.

Suddenly she turns to face me, shielding her eyes from the sun. I know who it is. Mum.

Her eyes lock with mine and she smiles and waves. The woman I want to remember. The one who loved us. The one who was trapped and now is free.

Which is why as I wave back I whisper "Goodbye."

She turns and the raft carries her to where the sun is sinking into the lake.

Dave steps out beside me and wraps his arms around me.

"I saw her too." He whispers softly.

"She had to say goodbye." I say gently.

As Dave leads me back to the car, I know I'll never return to Hill Valley. It was my home, but evil, hidden below the surface corrupted it. I need to move on with my life. I don't know where that will be, but I know it won't be here.

Which is why, as we drive away, I turn back in the passage seat.

It's a long way from the lake, but I can still make out the raft. A figure, a soldier, has joined the woman there. I never met, but I've seen his face in a thousand photographs. Uncle Jonny came to bring her home.

Which is why I whisper yet again,

"Goodbye."

Troy

"Can't believe you talked me into this." Troy said, gazing at the heavily made up face that stared at him from the dressing room mirror. The stripes of Munkustrap, the Jellicoe cat stared back.

"You're only saying this before the last song?" Gabriella asked, adjusting her makeup. In less than three minutes, Grizabella would be reborn, requiring a very quick costume chance.

"Wasn't talking to you." Troy said, grinning. He pulled her towards him.
"I love you." Those three simple words were out before he could stop them. Despite that he was unafraid. Before either had a chance to say anything, the music for Magical Mr. Mistoffeles finished, and they were on.

"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

Looking out across the audience, Troy could see the wild cats with Chad, been prodded occasionally by Taylor to make sure he stayed awake.

"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

He could see his family. Jack watching with trepidation, Lucille enjoy every moment.

"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

Deanna fighting not to cry. Well he thought as the songs continued, she might cry all though memories, but she'd be smiling soon, if Dave's plan came off.

Sam and Jake both had their eyes closed and both were simply lost the music. Remembering songs that they had half forgotten.

"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel
Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer"

It was as the last line of this song came, as Gabriella big costume change came, that he was aware of someone else. Someone standing, just by the door, watching. He could only just see her, but he knew who she was. Mum.

As the audience applauded rapidly, she joined in too, though there were tears on her cheeks. As he watched, her mouth formed the words, "goodbye."

Then she turned and left.

Troy was about to go after her, when Gabriella gripped his hand for the bow and he stopped.

Instead, he whispered in her direction,

"Goodbye."

Dave.

The applause is almost finished as I make my way on to the stage. I've got this huge speech planned in my head, but once I'm up there I can't remember any of it.

Which is why I just get down on one knee with the emerald ring held out,

"Deanna Christine Holmes Bolton. Will you marry me?"
In answer she runs up on the stage and pulls me in for a kiss, much to Jack's annoyance. For a moment, there's only us. Then I'm aware of someone else, smiling and clapping near us. I can see Betty standing there.

"I'll protect her forever." I promise softly.

She nods and then turns, walking out of sight. As I hug Deanna against me, so absorbed in my own joy, a part of me still whispers.

"Goodbye."

Jake

Red, green, blue, were flung on the canvas. It had been in work since the day he received the letters, but it was only now that he stood back to admire his handiwork.

He had originally planned it as the final scene from the lady of Shallot, but as he now stood admiring the work.



It showed a glass box, dusty and covered with dirt. A metal lid, lay in a hand, that was as old and as gnarled as Biffs. A butterfly was emerging from the bottle, its wings badly damaged. But it was still flying away.

Looking closely you could see a human face gazing up out at it. Jake's fingers ran across that face, as he whispered,

"Goodbye."

Sam

Sam stood beside the road, waiting for the beeping to announce it was safe. His finger's stroked the bracelet, fastened that morning by Deanna on his upper arm. He knew it was there.

The beeping came, and he walked across, counting the steps to the curve. It was as he got up on to the sidewalk, that he was aware of someone there beside himself. He knew the person, so he let them take his fingers and run them softly over her face, to let him "see" them.

"I love you Mama," he said softly, and for a moment he could see her face smiling sadly at him. Maybe he imagined it, but he knew he hadn't imagined the voice in his ear that gently whispered

"Goodbye."

Jack.

There was a photo of all them. It had been take when Deanna was 9, Troy 7, Jake 3 and Sam 1. Betty had just returned from rehab and was at least for the moment sober. To celebrate they'd gone out to Desert National Refuge to celebrate. The 

photo showed them all grouped together, gazing out at the camera. Troy and Deanna knelt at the front, grinning stupidly. Betty was just behind them, her arms wrapped around Jake and Sam. His arms were wrapped around Betty's neck.

Signing Jack Bolton slipped the picture into the frame, and placed in pride of place on the mantel piece. Turning he saw a woman standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

"Betty?!" he whispered. She nodded softly, her dark hair bobbing with her.

"Betty, I'm sorry."

She smiled sadly, both accepting his apologise and giving her own in the same breathe. Gently she turned and walked away, but the hot desert breeze, blowing in though the open kitchen door carried to him her words,
"goodbye."

Fini

Well that's all folks. UNLESS YOU HIT THAT LITTLE BUTTON AND LET ME KNOW THAT YOU WANT A SEQUEL!