This is the last chapter besides the epilogue!

Enjoy!

Chapter 32

Gabriella thought that school would never end. She got loads of homework, but she would have to worry about that later. Now, she had to get ready for the dance. She hoped with all of her might that she would see Troy there, but little did she know that he was the new captain of the basketball team.

****

Emmy had a feeling inside of her. She couldn't describe it, but she knew that she had to leave the hospital and find Troy.

So, when she tried to leave, a nurse yelled at her.

"You are not leaving, you still have many injuries and such!"

"I have to," Emmy said, trying to get past the nurse. "I have to. Please, just let me go."

"I will not," the nurse said, grabbing Emmy's arm.

"Let her go."

The nurse turned around to see Sharpay standing there. "I said let her go."

"Why should I listen to some prissy little teenager who thinks she's all that?" the nurse said.

Sharpay sighed. "I'm her sister, I've come to retrieve her. Just for tonight, at least. She'll be back by midnight."

The nurse hesitated. She looked at Emmy. "Is she you sister?"

Emmy nodded.

The nurse sighed. "Alright. Midnight, and I'll be watching the clock."

Sharpay helped Emmy outside.

"Thanks, Sharpay," Emmy said, limping. "But, you didn't have to lie. I mean, we're not sisters."

"I know," Sharpay said, with a smile. "But it feels like we are."

Emmy returned the smile, knowing now that many people really did care about her. She knew that things were going to be alright.

****

Velma heard Troy's car outside of her house. She ran outside in sweats, trying to fit the theme of basketball.

But as she got outside, she noticed that Troy was wearing a tux.

"Basketball is cancelled for tonight," he said.

Velma felt good about this, but then she realized that she had nothing to wear.

"Uh, okay, I'll just, go like this," she said, not knowing what else to do.

As she got into Troy's car, she felt tears in her eyes. She looked horrible.

****

Troy and Velma walked into the dance. Many people stared at Velma and started to laugh.

She quickly went over to the refreshment table, where Gabriella stood.

"I look horrible," Velma said, not realizing that it was Gabriella who was standing next to her.

Gabriella looked at Velma. "Were you crying?"

Velma nodded. "I mean, look at me, I look horrible. I can't possibly impress Troy if I look like this."

"Troy? You mean Troy Bolton?"

"Yeah. He and I are going out."

Gabriella felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Oh. Well, come with me." She grabbed Velma's hand and they headed off to the girls' bathroom.

****

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive."

Velma began to cry again, but for different reasons. "Thanks."

Gabriella sighed as she looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She looked horrible. She was wearing a sweat suit.

Velma smiled as she wore Gabriella's dress. Even though it was peasant-like (for Gabriella was assigned as a peasant) it was better than the sweat suit.

Velma looked for the first time at Gabriella. "Wait, you're Gabriella. Montez."

"Yeah, that's me. I guess you know me from those posters."

Velma felt sick. "Uh, yeah."

Gabriella began to leave the bathroom, but Velma grabbed her arm.

"Gabriella, even after you found out that Troy and I are going out, you still swapped outfits with me. Why?"

Gabriella shrugged. "I have nothing to gain, I have nothing to lose."

Velma smiled. "Well, thanks." She left.

Gabriella suddenly felt sick. Troy was there. At the dance. In the same building as her.

She looked at herself once more in the mirror, then returned to the dance.

****

"Whoa, nice outfit," Troy said, looking at Velma. "Where'd you get it?"

"Um, well, that's not important…"

"Excuse me, Troy?" A wimpy kid came up holding a crown. "You're the king, so you're supposed to wear this crown."

"Thanks, kid."

Troy put the crown onto his head. After this, a guy stood on a table with a microphone. "Alright, guys! We're going to start a contest! So, get your singing voices ready!"

After the announcer picked out a person, Sharpay entered the gym. She ran up to Troy and Velma.

"Hey, guys. Troy, I need to tell you something…."

"Um, Sharpay?"

The wimpy kid was back. "You're the queen, so you're supposed to wear this tiara."

"Uh, thanks."

Sharpay threw the tiara onto her head. "So, anyways, I have something really important to tell you."

"What?"

"Well, Emmy--"

"What about Emmy?"

"Uh, she's fine, but--"

"Troy, Sharpay, could I get your picture for the yearbook." It was the same wimpy kid.

"Yeah, I guess," Sharpay said, rolling her eyes. Troy and Sharpay followed him.

As Velma got some punch, Gabriella walked in.

"Alright, whose gonna rock the house next?!" the announcer said after the first song had ended.

Gabriella sat down in a chair. She looked around, noticing all of the happy people. Unlike her.

Suddenly, a spotlight came down onto her.

"Oh, ho, ho!" the announcer said, sounding like Santa. "Yeah, you! Come on up here!"

Gabriella tried to pretend that she didn't hear him, but the announcer came down and dragged her up to the table.

"Really, I can't sing."

"Ah, come on!" He gave her the microphone.

"Well, what am I supposed to sing?"

"You see that little screen? Just follow the words. It's karaoke!" The announcer stepped down from the table, leaving Gabriella.

The music started. Gabriella looked at the little screen. She sighed. "I can't do this," she said into the microphone, jumping off of the table.

Some people began to boo her. She threw the microphone at the announcer and ran outside. She needed to be alone.

****

Velma watched as Gabriella ran out. She became angry from hearing the booing. She got up on the table and grabbed the microphone.

"Hey! You people who are booing! Knock it off! I don't see any of you volunteering to come up here and sing! It takes actual guts! So shut you mouths! I'd like to see some of you get up here right now and sing!"

The booing stopped. There was silence.

Velma got down from the table and threw the microphone down. She met Troy across the room.

"Hey, you didn't have to stand up for Gabriella like that. She doesn't deserve it."

Velma frowned at him. "You still love her. I know you do."

"Velma, I am over her."

"No you're not! Just tell the truth! You still have feelings for her, I know you do!"

Troy was silent. He couldn't even look at Velma.

Velma snickered. "She gave me her dress so that I would look decent for you. I now realize that we weren't meant to be. Just-- go talk to her."

"But--"

"JUST TALK TO HER!"

Troy sighed. "Fine. Where'd she go?"

"Somewhere outside. She could've gone home. I don't know."

Troy sighed again. "I'll go try to find her."

He left the dance, in search of his true love.

****

Gabriella cried so much. She was in the back of the school, sitting on a bench.

After a while, she heard somebody coming up behind her.

"Uh, Gabriella?"

It was Troy.

"What do you want?"

"Gabriella, I need to talk to you…."