WOW!!! I'm SO very sorry that it has been so long since I lasted updated!! I feel really awful, especially since I've had this chapter written in my notebook for weeks, but have been too lazy to type it!! I hope ya'll like it!!

Enjoy!!

Chapter 28: With All My Heart

Okay, are we going to get graduations dresses or wedding dresses first?" Gabriella asked as they pulled into the mall parking lot.

Taylor considered the question for a moment, tapping her finger against her chin. "Graduation, just in case we run out of time."

"How long do you think you can walk on your crutches, Sharpay?"

Kelsi's voice was filled with concern, which touched Sharpay more than she would admit.

"How about we help you into the mall and then we can rent on of the scooter things?" Gabriella suggested, glancing over at Sharpay.

Sharpay nodded, a smile pulling at her lips. It was so nice to have friends who looked out for her, who really cared. "Sounds good to me. Thanks."

All three of the other girls seemed to notice the emotional note in her voice and they all returned her smile.

Kelsi leaned over and squeezed her hand. "No problem."

When they got into the mall Kelsi sat down with Sharpay and Gabriella and Taylor went to get the scooter. It was about fifteen minutes before they returned, Taylor riding along in the small machine. They came to a stop and Taylor reluctantly stood, giving Sharpay the scooter.

Gabriella waited a minute for Sharpay to get settled in the scooter, before she said, "Ready?"

Sharpay nodded. "Yup, let's go."


Troy pulled to a stop in front of a small shop and turned off the car.

"I don't understand why we have to get fitted for the suits, why can't we just buy them? And why do we have to get them now? The wedding is still three weeks away."

Troy rolled his eyes at Chad's complaints. "First of all, if we didn't get fitted for the suits you might end up getting a suit that is three times too big or too small for you." He paused and Ryan quickly jumped in to answer the second question.

"And second of all, if we waited until the last minute to get our suits, we wouldn't be alive for the wedding, Shar would kill us."

Troy nodded in agreement, an amused grin crossing his face.

Davide patted Chad's shoulder. "Don't worry, if you cooperate it will be over before you know it."

Chad sighed. "That won't be soon enough." He glanced into the back seat, a sly smile appearing on his face. "Are we going to the dress shop next, so that the maid of honor can pick out his dress?"

Ryan shot him a glare. "No, we're going to the lost and found to see if we can find your brain. You seem to have lost it somewhere along the way."

Troy and Davide burst out laughing and Chad just narrowed his eyes threateningly before getting out of the car.

"Good one, Ryan, hardly anyone can get the last word with Chad," Troy said, his voice still shaking with laughter.

Ryan shrugged, obviously proud of himself for thinking up such a great comeback. "No one makes fun of the man of honor and gets away with it."

Troy and Davide looked at each other and nodded. "We'll remember that," they quickly replied in unison.


Sharpay watched in amusement as Taylor emerged from the dressing room, her nose scrunched in disgust. She had found yet another dress she disliked, making it an even ten.

Sharpay found it most amusing that herself, Gabriella and Kelsi had found dresses for graduation within their first half-hour at the mall, but Taylor still hadn't found one and they were just passing their second hour.

Beside Sharpay, Gabriella faked a yawn, causing Taylor to aim a glare in her direction. Gabriella couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Taylor, why does your dress have to be perfect? It's going to be under your graduation gown most of the time."

Sharpay giggled softly. "Taylor wants it to be perfect because Chad is taking her out for a celebration dinner afterwards," she explained, trying to keep the teasing tone from her voice.

Gabriella smiled knowingly at Sharpay and Taylor shifted uncomfortably.

"What time are we meeting Kelsi at David's Bridal?" Taylor was clearly read for a subject change.

Sensing her friend's urgency to get away from a big conversation about Chad, Sharpay went along with the change of subject. "We don't have to meet her until three-thirty. She wanted to have a lot of time in the music store."

"And she mentioned something about stopping at that big hat store. It's having a closing sale and she thought she might get a couple new hats for Ryan," Gabriella added, her smile widening.

Taylor shook her head in amusement. "Have they gone on a date yet? It's so obvious that they like each other."

Sharpay thought of the fondness that always echoed in Ryan's voice when he spoke of Kelsi. And then she thought of how Kelsi always blushed when Ryan was mentioned. Taylor was right, it was obvious. Well, at least it was obvious to everyone but Ryan and Kelsi. "They went to the movies together a couple weekends ago, but Ryan insists that it was just as friends. He'll also be escorting her at the wedding, but he says that was my decision, not his. Which it was, but I'm doing it that way because I know that's what he wants."

"I don't know why they deny it so much. I mean, they're perfect together," Gabriella exclaimed.

Taylor nodded in agreement before saying, "If both of them continue being so shy, they'll be dating until they're thirty."


Sharpay felt as if she had tried on fifty wedding dresses, before she finally zipped up the perfect one. And as soon as she stepped out of the dressing room, she saw that all three of her friends' expression mirrored how she felt.

"You look gorgeous, Sharpay," Gabriella stated, a smile turning up the corners of her moth.

Sharpay returned the smile feeling a blush heat up her cheeks. "It's perfect, isn't it?"

Kelsi, Taylor and Gabriella all nodded enthusiastically.

Gabriella helped Sharpay walk over to the three-way mirror to admire the dress. Sharpay slid her hands over the smooth, satiny fabric and shifted back and forth just to hear the "swoosh" that it made. The inch long sleeves rested off the shoulder and the bottom of the dress fell in ruffles all the way to the floor. A two foot long train followed her as she moved slowly around the room with Gabriella's help.

Sharpay finally let out a contented sigh and nodded. "This is the one."

The four of them didn't take too long to pick out the bridesmaids' dresses. Sharpay had already decided that she wanted them to be deep blue, so all they had to decide on was the style.

After about half an hour, they found one that all three bridesmaids agreed on. It was sleeveless, with a sweetheart neckline and a ruched bodice. The bottom was similar to Sharpay's gown, ruffling all the way down in a tacking sort of way.

The girls were able to try on that style dress, but were told that the dresses would have to be ordered to get the right color. Nonetheless, the four friends left the bridal store feeling satisfied and ready to meet the guys for supper.


Troy helped Sharpay up the stairs that led to her front porch. The cool night air drifted around them and he noticed a blanket of fog resting on the wet grass. "Do you have an appointment to get your prosthesis?" Troy asked as they reached the door.

Sharpay nodded quickly, obviously anxious to get her fake leg. "Yeah, I'm going in two days. My appointment is at 3pm." She paused, than let out the next sentence in a rush. "Will you go with me, Troy, I-"

"Absolutely," he cut in, touching his thumb to her soft cheek. "I'd do anything for you, Sharpay Evans."

Sharpay felt tears gather in her eyes at the simple but sweet words. "Do you really mean that?"

One corner of Troy's mouth turned up in a half smile. "With all of my heart."

Sharpay leaned her crutches against the house and threw her arms around Troy's neck. "I love you, I love you, I love you," she whispered. Her arms were holding his neck so tight, she was sure that she was strangling him to death. But, if she was, he wasn't complaining.

When she pulled away, she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and smiled. "Why do all of our conversations end up being so clichéd?"

Troy chuckled, an amused spark lighting his eyes. "I have no idea." He planted a gentle kiss against her forehead and whispered, "But, clichéd or not, it's all true."


So, how did you like it?? PLEASE review and tell me!!

LanaLang79