The last month of school flew by, and before everyone knew it, graduation day had approached. There was three months of summer vacation ahead of them, before the gang would have to go their separate ways... off to college. Ryan, Gabriella, and Jason were all headed to New York. Ryan was going to NYU, Gabriella was going to Syracuse University, while Jason headed to Cornell University. Troy and Taylor were also headed to the East Coast. Troy got a full ride basketball scholarship to Boston University in Massachusetts. Taylor was valedictorian of their class, and received an academic scholarship to Duke University. Zeke was going to the Art Institute of Las Vegas, for a degree in the culinary arts. Kelsi's dad got a job transfer to Texas. She didn't want to go far away from them to college, so she chose to go to Texas A&M. Chad and Sharpay were the only ones going to the same college. USC. Chad was excited to find out that Sharpay had applied there as well. When the both found they were accepted, there was no other choice but to attend USC.
The graduation ceremony was long and drawn out, just like all ceremony's before them. Taylor's speech was eloquent and thoughtful. The group of friends, all cheering as loud as they could for her. Gabriella had to wipe a tear from her eye at the end of Taylor's speech. She was always the emotional one, and she couldn't have been more proud of her best friend. Soon all the names were called, the caps were thrown into the air, and the graduates rushed around to find their parents and take pictures with their friends.
Chad said goodbye to the Bolton's, after promising Troy he would be at his house early to help him set up for the graduation party that he was throwing. He had already taken pictures with Troy and Taylor, now he hoped to find Sharpay and Ryan.
Ryan and Chad eventually put their problems aside and learned to cope with being in the same room with each other. They only did this because Sharpay demanded them too. They did everything they could to avoid each other, but Sharpay finally yelled at them, saying that they couldn't keep making their friends choose, and there was only a month left of school so they were all going to hang out whether they like it or not. Chad and Ryan weren't necessarily friends, but they could be in the same room without fighting. They never hung out just the two of them though, it was always with a group.
"Chad." Chad heard his name being called, and turned around to see Ryan walking towards him.
"Hey."
"Dude, Sharpay is looking everywhere for you. She is ready to explode. She says that we have to take some group pictures and if you missed it she is never going to speak to you again."
Chad chuckled. "That's a little extreme isn't it?"
Ryan laughed along, "You know Sharpay. Come on, we better go find her, before she does something she is going to regret." Ryan grabbed Chad's hand and started to lead him through the crowd. When he felt Chad tense in his grasp, he quickly let go but continued to walk ahead.
"There you guy's are!" Sharpay yelled as the two boys walked towards her, "We have all been waiting for you." The whole gang was standing around, waiting for Sharpay to give them directions. After what seemed like fifty pictures later, Sharpay finally let them go, with the promise to be at Troy's house by nine.
"Chad, Ryan, wait. I want to get a picture of you two."
"Sharpay, stop it." Ryan said.
"Don't be such a baby, just stand over there, and smile." Sharpay demanded.
Ryan and Chad stood next to each other, but made sure they weren't touching. "Move closer," Sharpay tried to direct them. When they barely moved, she walked over to them grabbed Chad's arm and put it around Ryan's shoulder, and took Ryan's arm and placed it at Chad's waist. "Now, smile." She quickly snapped a picture, for fear they would break apart at any moment. When the flash went off, they backed away as if they couldn't get enough space between the two of them. "What a cute picture."
"Whatever Shar, I'll meet you at the car." Ryan walked away, without looking at Chad again. Chad stood there watching Ryan's retreating figure, thinking about how weird and wonderful it was to be in Ryan's arms again.
Sharpay's voice broke through his thoughts, "You still love him don't you?"
Chad rolled his eyes. "I'll see you at the party Shar." This time he walked away, not giving Sharpay a chance to try and carry on this conversation.
By the time Ryan and Sharpay walked into Troy Bolton's house, the party was already in full swing. Troy's family members were everywhere, talking about how strange it was that Troy had already graduated high school and was on his way to college. Troy's friends littered the house as well. Some were dancing to the music in the living room, others hung around the kitchen for the food, some stood in the hallways just talking with other guests, while the rest were out back playing a pick up game in the backyard court Troy had.
Sharpay and Ryan made their way through the house, smilingly politely at the people they pass, greeting some of their acquaintances. Finally they reached the back door, and walked outside. They immediately saw practically the entire basketball team, including Troy, Chad, Zeke, and Jason playing a game in their nice suits and ties. Taylor, Gabriella, and Kelsi sat off to the side, cheering the boys on.
"Hey party people." Sharpay always liked to announce her presence.
"Hi Shar, Ryan." Gabriella greeted.
"Hey guys." Ryan said.
"Can you believe high school is over?" Taylor asked. "It seems like just yesterday that we were freshmen, and none of us were friends."
"I'm glad we all became friends. I know senior year would not have been as great as it was without all of you." Kelsi said.
"I agree." Sharpay said. When her friends looked at her doubtingly, she added, "Hey I can be sentimental too. I know I was a bitch the better part of high school, but I'm glad that all of us became friends. We've all had a great time together, and created memories that I'm never going to forget."
The group smiled at her.
"Aw, Shar, you're going to make me cry." During the speech the basketball game had ended, causing the four boys too approach the rest of the group.
"Shut up Danforth. I might regret ever becoming friends with you."
"You'll never regret me. I'm the greatest thing that has happened to you since you won your first lead role in a play."
"That, I highly doubt, but you're right. I'll never regret you." She smiled at Chad as he sat down next to her, and threw and arm over her shoulder and brought her into a half hug.
"I'll never regret you either Shar."
Ryan watched the exchange between his sister and his ex-boyfriend. He knew they were still really good friends, probably one of the best his sister has ever had, besides her own brother of course. He was happy they could still get along, even after Chad and Ryan split.
He had to admit however, he was a little jealous. He missed Chad and wanted desperately for things to be okay between them again. He wanted to spend time with him before they both went away to college. He knew it was wishful thinking, but he couldn't help it. And would it kill his sister to be mad at Chad for breaking his heart, even just a little bit? She was his sister for crying out loud, why did she have to act all buddy, buddy with Chad? Immediately he realized how selfish that was, but again, he couldn't help it. They were the two most important people in his life, he wanted them all for himself. He figured if they had to hang out with other people, the fact that they hung out with each other was a good thing.
"I can't believe we only have three months left. It sucks we won't get to do this anymore." Gabriella's voice brought Ryan out of his Chad-trance.
"Do what anymore?" Zeke asked.
"This, all of us together. When I moved here, I had no idea what to expect. I sure didn't expect what I got though. Great friends, wonderful boyfriend, amazing memories. I guess what I'm trying to say, is thank you all for making the last two years of my life, the best they could possibly be."
The group once again smiled. Troy pulled Gabriella closer, and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"We wouldn't have had it any other way." Taylor said.
"That's right," Troy spoke up. "We're all in this together, no matter what happens next. Sure all of us are going our separate ways excluding Chad and Sharpay," glancing at the two of them, as Chad still had his arm around Sharpay's shoulders, "but, we are always going to be friends. Our friendship will last a lifetime."
"How do you know?" Ryan said, speaking for the first time since he got to the party. "How do you know that the distance in between all of us isn't going to tear us apart?" Chad cringed at how familiar those words sounded, seeing as how he knew that distance was one of major reasons for the end of the their relationship. "We are all going to be so busy with our new lives, in new states, with new friends. How do you know that we will still be friends four years from now?"
"I just do man."
"But how?"
"Because I know that I personally am still going to make time for all of you in my lives. I know that I will make new friends, and have a busy schedule with basketball and school, but that doesn't change the fact that the eight of you are my best friends, and nothing will ever change that. If you called me one night and needed my help," Troy went on, directing the statement at Ryan, "I would drop everything to help you. That's a promise. You all mean too much to me, to let you slip out of my lives because you're a few measly miles away."
At this Ryan swiveled his head, to move his gaze from Troy to Chad. He found that Chad was already looking at him. He missed the feeling he got in the pit of his stomach when Chad looked at him like that. He gaze was so intense, so full of desire and love. When Chad cast his eyes downward he turned back to Troy. "I wish everyone felt that way." Chad again cringed, and everyone else felt slightly uncomfortable. They knew who that statement was intended for.
He stood up, pulled Troy up with him as well, and pulled him into a hug. "Thank you. For everything. What you just said means a lot to me." When he pulled away, he walked away from the group without looking at any of them.
"Where is he going?" Jason asked.
Chad spoke up before anyone could answer Jason's question. "Thanks a lot, Troy."
"What did I do?"
"A few measly miles? Come on. If that wasn't a slap in the face, I don't know what was."
"I swear man, that wasn't my intention. All I was saying is that all of you are still going to be friends, no matter what."
"I know, I'm not really mad, but did you have to say it like that? I mean you pretty much took every reason I gave Ryan for us breaking up, and told him that those weren't good excuses for you to not be friends."
"Being friends and being in a relationship are two completely different things..."
"I know! God, I know. I just... I don't know, never mind, forget I said anything."
"Chad, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to..."
"its fine, Troy. I'm going to go get something to drink." Chad walked into the house.
"Do you really believe everything you just said?" Gabriella asked her boyfriend.
"Of course I do."
"What about those two? Do you think they will ever be able to back to being friends? Like real friends? Do you think they can ever hang out with each other and not feel a handful of pain in the process?"
"I don't know. I hope so."
"Me too." Kelsi added. "I can't stand to see the two of them like this."
"Me either." Taylor said. "Chad used to be larger than life, always smiling, always in a good mood. Now he smiles, but the gleam in his eye is gone."
"Ryan has always been somewhat of a moody person, I guess it runs in the family. I have never seen him as happy as he was when he was with Chad though. A smile was permanently attached to his face, and now a smile is a rare occurrence." Sharpay said. "But like I've said before, there is nothing we can do."
"I refuse to believe that." Gabriella always liked to be the mediator. "There has to be something we can do to help them. We can't just sit around and watch two of our best friends walk around in pain for the rest of our lives."
"What do you suggest we do?" Sharpay asked. "The pain will ease, it just takes time."
"We have to do something!"
"Look Gabriella, I know you like everyone to be happy, and trust me I want Chad and Ryan to be happy just as much as you do, but Shar is right. There is nothing we can do. They have to work this out on their own." Troy said taking Gabriella into his arms once again.
Gabriella sighed, but said nothing else.
"Hey, this is supposed to be a party." Zeke stood up, like he was about to give an inspiring speech. "We are supposed to be having fun, celebrating the end of high school, and the beginning of the rest of our lives. Chad and Ryan are still in pain from their break-up and I get it, but that doesn't mean we can't still have fun. I say we get inside and show everyone who the Wildcats really are. I think it's time to break it down on the dance floor."
"I agree, Zeke. Let's go." Taylor stood up as well, pulled Sharpay and Kelsi to their feet. Jason, Troy, Gabriella followed them into the house.
As they passed the kitchen, Troy called out to his best friend, "Chad, come on. We're headed to the dance floor."
Chad was about to protest but Taylor cut him off, "Chad Danforth if you don't get your ass on the dance floor, I'm going to tell everyone what you're mom calls you when you're in trouble."
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Who was he to argue with Taylor when she throws a threat like that at him?