So this is the last chapter (omg!). I'd just like to thank you ALL for reading, and reviewing and favouriting etc this story - I've had so much fun writing it, and knowing people like to read it is awesome.
As you know, I do have a sequel planned on the road trip, and I haven't started writing it yet - but I will start as soon as I can, so story alert me so you know when it comes out!
Once again, thanks for following the story to the end - your all amazing :
REVIEW! (Last time I'm saying that haha!)
Rhia xx
Chapter 26 - Graduation
"I can't believe it ends today." Zeke said sadly, as he Chad, Gabriella and Sharpay sat in homeroom.
"I know right, but at least we still get an awesome graduation party at Troy's right?" Chad told them, trying to lift the mood.
"How did he get his parents to say yes to that?" Gabriella asked. She knew Troy's parents would have never of let him throw a party, never mind a graduation party – they were pretty wild.
"He didn't – he kind of shipped them off to Paris for the weekend. Told them it was his thank you for being great parents – and they didn't suspect a thing. What a classic."
"Hey guys, I'm just going to head for the bathroom a sec." Gabriella told the three of them, then quickly rushed off the girl's toilets, and shut the door tight behind her.
Gabriella ran her hands through her hair again, the started to go through her speech for the thousandth time that day. She was starting to get more and more nervous by the hour. Would they like the speech? Or think it was a waste of time writing it?
"Good afternoon everyone," She started again, reading through the small cards in her hands. "I'd like to thank you all for coming to support us all on this very big day, and," Gabriella stopped when she saw a certain somebody's reflection in the mirror.
"Sounding good."
"You do know this is the girl's bathroom, right?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.
"I do. But rumour was that my girlfriend was here, practising her speech – so I thought I'd come by and check it out." Troy grinned, and then wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Well you're going to have to wait till later to hear it." She smirked, and then kissed him on the cheek. "Anything else?"
"Fine, fine, I know where I'm not needed." He lifted both of his hands up, and began to back away.
"Come find me later okay?" Gabriella smiled. Troy nodded then walked back out of the bathroom, leaving Gabriella to carry on rehearsing.
"Good afternoon, my name is Gabriella Montez…"
--
"Now please welcome your class valedictorian, Gabriella Montez!" Principle Matsui announced at graduation later that day.
This was it. Gabriella took a deep breath, and then walked up to the podium. "Good afternoon everyone and thank you for coming today. Today is the last day we are high school students. All those years of wishing college would come around quicker, have gone by, and now here we are – about to start the rest of our lives. Whatever you chose to do, whatever path you take, I know your all going to achieve great things. This is the time we take control of our own knowledge, and start carving our future out."
"It seemed like it was just yesterday when I first started high school. My thoughts were no where near college; I just wanted to get through the first day in one piece. In just weeks or days, we'll all be separated. There'll be no more high school; we'll be face to face with the real world. I wish every single one of you the best, and I hope you all do well at college, or wherever else you are going too. High school may be over for us, but the friendships and relationships we've made over the last four years, will remain with us forever." Gabriella stopped, and then remembered something. "Right, Chad? Thank you all for listening."
The whole room stood up and began clapping. Gabriella sighed of relief once she saw the happiness on everyone's faces. She waved and nodded then went back over to her seat on the stage.
"Thank you very much Gabriella, and now, I give, East High Schools Graduating Class Of 2008!"
--
"It feels so strange to know we'll never be back in that school, as students." Taylor said. She was sitting on her bed with Gabriella and Sharpay, going through their yearbooks.
"I know. Hey, what did Troy write in your yearbook, Gab?" Sharpay asked, taking the book of her, and began flipping the pages over until she found the one she was looking for.
To the most amazing girl in East High,
I love you so much, and meeting you was the best thing I've ever done. I know your most probably thinking; I'm going to return to playboy Troy Bolton when college starts – but your wrong. I'm going to wait for you Gabriella Montez.
Just you see.
"Oh my god! That's so sweet!" Sharpay gushed. "This is what Zeke wrote in mine." She handed over her book for Taylor and Gabriella to read it.
Sharpay,
I've liked you forever, and it feels so good to be finally with you, even though I know it's going to be over soon.
You're my first love, and I know I'm going to be thinking of you all the time over the next years. It's going to be torture not seeing you everyday, but I just want you to know that I love you, and I'm always here for you.
Can't wait to see your designs in the shops one day, I'll definitely be buying them.
X
"You two are so cute together." Taylor laughed then handed them her book. "I guess I better show what Chad wrote."
Tay
I'm going to miss you so much.
I don't really know what to put other than you've changed my life for the better, and I cant thank you enough.
Good luck in college, I know you're going to be a top scientist or something really clever – and I'll be able to tell everyone that you were my girlfriend, and I never stopped loving you.
And then you'll be able to say the same about me, when I'm a top basketball player.
I'll be sure to send you a signed poster, don't worry.
C'
Gabriella burst out laughing then grinned. "Well it was a sweet, in a Chad kinda way." She told Taylor.
"Yeah I guess it's the best I'm going to get." She shrugged, and then checked her watch. "We should start getting ready – can't be late for the party."
An hour later, and the girls were completely ready, and were just checking over things. Sharpay was wearing a cherry coloured mini dress, with chunky stones on the white straps. Taylor was in a turquoise halter neck, which had a green jewelled encrusted belt on it, and finally Gabriella was wearing a silver sequined shift dress with black tights.
"This is like the last party were ever going to." Sharpay said sadly. She practically lived for high school parties – and had attended every single one. She even managed to come to one straight after her uncles wedding last year.
The three of them headed downstairs, said goodbye to Taylor's mom, and headed off. Troy's house was only a two minute walk from Taylor's, so before they knew it they were outside his front door, already hearing the music blasting from inside.
Not bothering to knock the door, as they knew nobody would hear it anyway, they walked inside to see huge groups of seniors lurking around, smiling and laughing.
"I'm really going to miss this." Sharpay told the girls, and then went off in search of Zeke.
Gabriella waved goodbye to Taylor then walked off into the kitchen, knowing Troy would be in there. She spotted him pouring himself a drink near the sink, so walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. "Guess who?"
"Hmm, this has to be one of my three girlfriends I invited tonight, can you give a clue?"
"It's the one you love a lot."
"That doesn't really narrow it down.."
Gabriella laughed then turned him around. "Does this narrow it down?" She smirked, the leaned in and kissed him, not pulling back for a few moments.
"Definitely." He grinned then gave her a quick hug. "How are you holding up?"
"Good, sure it's sad, but we gotta make the best of it, right?"
"Right. Now I'm going to let you say goodbye to some of your cheerleading friends, and whoever else you wish to bid farewell too. Come find me later on, okay? Now have fun." He kissed the top of her head, then watched her walk away into the crowds of people.
Troy leaned back onto the kitchen counter and sighed. He had been keeping positive and happy for Gabriella, to show her not to be upset, and make the most of the time she had left with everyone. But the truth was, he was nearly dying inside knowing she'd be gone from his life within a month.
--
Later that night, Sharpay and Zeke were sat on Troy's sun loungers that surrounded the pool.
"Pretty ironic, huh? We first properly met here." Zeke laughed.
"Yeah." Sharpay answered, snuggling closer to him, and bringing the blanket lying beside them, up to cover them both. "I wish I'd met you earlier."
"Yeah. I doubt anything would have happened it's basically because of the draft we got together."
"Yeah, we have Gabriella to thank for that." She smiled. "And strangely Sarah, for picking Gregg."
"Yeah I think that's the only good nice Sarah done this year." Zeke laughed.
"So I worked out how far our colleges are apart. Two hours on a plane. I mean I can afford to come see you like every two weeks." Sharpay told him.
"Come on Shar, I can't expect you to pay for a flight all the time." Zeke said sadly.
"I know, but I want to do this – I want to be able to see you."
"I want to be able to see you too. So does this mean were not going to break up? Were just going to stay together, and see each other every so often?"
"I don't know.." Sharpay's voice trailed off. Her plan seemed like such a good one, she forgot about whether they were going too stay together. "What do you think?"
"Do you really think this relationship would work seeing each other twice a month?"
--
The next morning Gabriella woke up in the same room she woke up many weeks ago. It was in the same state, cans and bottles all over the floor, but this time it was different. She wasn't confused, she was happy. Tomorrow morning they left for their road trip – and she couldn't wait.
"Well I can happily tell you, that you made no promises to me last night." Troy smirked as he stood over her, with a glass of orange juice in his hands.
"Well that's an improvement." Gabriella took the glass off him then looked over to the sofa against the wall – just like last time, Sharpay was laid across it, sleeping. "At least Zeke's on there this time, not Gregg."
"Yeah. Anyway I'm guessing you still haven't packed?" Troy raised his eyebrows at her.
"And what, you have?"
"Well obviously no. But I was wondering whether you wanted me to drop you off at your house now, so you can pack?"
"Oh right – okay that would be great." Gabriella grinned then slipped her heels on and followed Troy out of the door, and into his car. He drove to her house in silence, the two of them deep in thought about college. That's all that was on their minds the past week - the fact that they'd be leaving each other soon, kept repeating and repeating itself, over and over again.
"Well here we are." Troy informed her. "Call me later, when you're done or something okay?"
"I will." Gabriella smiled then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before getting out of the car, then walked up her driveway and into her house. "Mom I'm home!"
"Gabi! How was the party?" Ana Montez smirked at her daughter.
"Party? Mom - I just slept at Sharpay's."
"Oh come on, how stupid do you think I am?" She laughed. "One, you graduated yesterday - everyone goes to the graduation party - trust me. And two, you come home in your party dress, obviously telling me you slept at Troy's."
"How do you know Troy hosted the party?" Gabriella asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Biggest party of the year? Of course Troy is going to throw it."
--
"Well this is it." Gabriella told her mother the next morning, as they stood outside her house.
"Have fun, and be safe - call me if you need anything. Even if your hours away, I'm still here to help, got it?"
"Got it - and don't worry mom, Taylor's planned out the whole journey, we'll be fine." Gabriella told her, then hugged her once more. She picked up her bags and put them in the back seat of Sharpay's convertible.
"I'll let you get on with your road trip then - have a good time sweetie." Ms Montez blew her daughter a kiss then laughed and walked back into the house.
"Next stop - Arizona." Sharpay grinned, then opened her car door and got in. "Everybody got everything?"
"Yep." Gabriella answered, closing the door behind her. Taylor give her a quick wave from the front seat then turned back to turn on engine. "I'll just quickly phone Troy to see if they've headed off yet."
Gabriella quickly dialled his number, and waited for him to answer. "Hey - where are you?"
"Just headed off."
"Okay cool, were just leaving my house."
"Great - we'll see you in Arizona then."
Also, any fans of Anywhere But Here and Where I Belong - the prequel/sequel has been uploaded - This Is The Life. Be sure to check it out, and review it - not many people have :(!
And review this, and look out for the sequel!
Love you all
xx