Chapter 19 – A magic moment caught
We stood in the snow by the lake watching the snowflakes land on the water and in the grass around us. Troy had his arms wrapped around me, holding me close as we stood there in silence just admiring the snow.
"You just made this day the best day in a long time," I said as I rested my head against his chest.
He kissed the top of my head, "I hoped I would," he said. He moved an arm and placed his hand in his pocket. "What do you say we go around the lake?"
I nodded, "let's do that, since you brought my boots," I giggled. I grabbed his hand in mine and we walked towards the white bridge that lead people over the small stream. At the bridge Troy suddenly stopped and looked around. "What's up?" I asked him.
He smiled at me, "I just thought, it was a nice view here," he said and stood by the handrail at the bridge. I stepped up beside him and looked over the lake. He was right, it was a nice view. You could see how the city was becoming dark as people started to go to bed and turn out the lights, and you could see how the snow landed on the roofs and the streets around the lake.
"It's beautiful," I smiled, "don't you see why I love snow?"
Troy chuckled, "I am starting to get it, but I'll never be as big a fan as you are, I really like the summer," he said.
I smiled up at him, "I know, but at least you enjoy it with me."
"I do," he said smiling at me. "Should we see how the view is from the next bridge?" he pointed to the next bridge. We walked there, hand in hand, catching snowflakes with our tongues and laughing.
Once we reached the bridge we took in the view. The bridge was a bit higher than the first bridge, so we could see more. It was facing the church, where the bright light was making the church tower glow up as the snow landed around and on it.
I smiled up at Troy, "thanks for doing all of this for and with me."
He wrapped his arm around me, "I'll do anything for you."
I rested my head against his shoulder, "I can't believe that we have been together for almost 4 years now," I said smiling.
He chuckled, "me neither. It still feels like yesterday that we finally got together," he smiled down at me.
I nodded looking up at him, "I'm so glad that you are mine forever."
"I'll never be anyone else's," he promised me and leaned down and kissed me softly.
"Good, because I don't want to be anyone else's either," I smiled.
"I'm happy to know that," he smiled caressing my cheek with his cold fingers.
"You're cold, babe," I said softly taking his hand.
He nodded, "yes, but we will be around the lake soon and then we can go home and cuddle up at the couch with some hot tea and a blanket around us," he said. "Besides, it's worth getting cold watching you all smiling and happy because of the snow," he chuckled.
I smiled at him, "I promise, I'll get you warm again later," I whispered.
Troy smiled, "I really should take you out more," he chuckled and started walking further around the lake holding my hand.
We stopped at the spot, where Troy had given me the promise that he one day he would marry me. I smiled up at Troy, "I like this spot."
He smiled down at me, "yeah, me too," he said. "Actually, I planned to take you here," he admitted.
I smiled, "why?"
"Because this spot is special to us," he smiled and leaned down and kissed me softly.
I nodded, "it is."
"And today, it is two years since I promised you to marry you at this spot," he smiled.
I nodded, "it is, and on that day, it was snowing too," I smiled.
He nodded, "it was, it was magical," he smiled.
"It truly was," I smiled. "And everything ever since has been amazing," I said.
"It has. Every day is amazing with you," he smiled.
We stood there looking into each other's eyes, holding each other's hands and enjoying the silence around us for some time.
"I wanted to bring you here today, because I really want to treat you better after all of those months, where we have not had much time together," Troy smiled at me. "I know I've been busy with soccer, school and work, and I've not been as much with you as I really want to. So, I will promise you to spend more time with you, where it is just the two of us doing something we like," he said caressing my cheek.
"I'd love that," I smiled at him caressing his hand.
"Good," he said. He took a deep breath, "I love you, Gabriella," he whispered.
"I love you too," I smiled at him.
Troy nodded, "I know," he smiled. "And that's why I want to be with you forever," he said.
"I want to be with you forever too," I said smiling up at him.
"Good, because I'll never let you go. Not now, not ever," he smiled.
"I'm glad to know that," I smiled, "because I won't let go of you either." Troy took another deep breath and put his hand in his pocket. "Are you cold babe?" I asked.
Troy shook his head, "no babe, I'm not cold. I'm preparing myself to do something," he said.
I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What are you planning on?"
He kissed my forehead, "something," he chuckled.
"Hey, tell me," I giggled.
"Okay, okay," he chuckled. And then it happened. Troy Bolton took out a black velvet box from his pocket and then dropped to one knee smiling brightly up at me with his light blue eyes. "I know that I am going to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, and I can't imagine any day without you in my life. Gabriella Sophie Montez, will you please do me the favor and marry me?" he said as he held the box with a simple silver ring with a small diamond in.
I put my hands up to my mouth, smiling happily, blushing and getting teary. "Yes," I smiled and kneeled down in front of him, "yes, I will." I kissed him softly.
"I just became the happiest man alive," Troy smiled as we kissed once again. Troy slipped the ring onto my finger. "Thank you," he smiled and kissed me softly.
We stood up not being able to take the eyes of off each other again. I finally broke the glance, but only to look down at the ring shinning at my finger. I smiled and then looked up at Troy again, "it is so beautiful."
"I thought so too," he smiled, "and I thought it would be even more beautiful on your finger, and I was right," he said and kissed me softly.
"You are amazing," I smiled at him. "Thank you so much for making it like this," I said as we leaned our foreheads against each other's.
"It could not have been any other way," he smiled at me.
We heard steps coming towards us. Apparently, there were other people in the park at this time of the day too. We looked towards the steps and saw a man coming towards us.
"Hey, sorry to interrupt your moment," he said as he came closer to us. He was holding a camera in one hand. "I saw you before at the first bridge as I walked around the lake snapping pictures in the snow. I took the freedom and snapped a few pictures of you at the bridge and saw something magical about you, so I followed you." He blushed a bit, knowing it sounded a bit crazy. "I have snapped a bunch of pictures of you, and I caught the moment just before, where you," he looked at Troy, "proposed, I suppose."
Troy nodded, "I did." He smiled brightly at me, "can we see the pictures?"
The man nodded and held up the camera showing us all of the pictures he had taken of us. "I just found that you were such a magically, romantic couple that I just had to snap the pictures." He confessed.
I smiled at him, "they are great. No one has ever snapped pictures like that of us," I said.
"I can send them to you, when I get home. Then you can have them as a memory of this day forever," he smiled at us.
"That would be nice," Troy smiled. "Are you going to use the pictures somewhere?"
The man smiled at us, "only if I'm allowed to by you two," he said.
Troy looked at me and I smiled, "you can post them," he smiled at the man.
"Wow, thanks," the man smiled. "I'm Luke by the way," he said putting out his hand.
"Troy," Troy said taking the man's hand.
"And I'm Gabriella," I smiled shaking the man's hand too.
"You two are a perfect couple as I see it through the lens," he said.
"Thanks," I smiled as I felt Troy's arm sneak around my waist.
"Can I have you e-mail address, then I'll send the pictures to you, when I get home?" Luke smiled at us.
Troy gave him his e-mail address so that he could send the pictures to us. We thanked him for sharing it with us and for taking the pictures so that we could have pictures of the moment where Troy proposed to me. After talking a bit longer with Luke, we said goodbye to him to walk to the car.
"Wow, that was a bit crazy with that guy," I smiled.
"Yeah, but nice that he caught the pictures of us," Troy smiled as he opened the car door for me.
I got into the car, and Troy ran to his side of the car and got in. "It was nice of him to share them with us," I smiled at Troy.
He nodded, "yes, it was. I can't wait to have the pictures," he smiled at me.
"Me neither," I smiled at him as he turned on the engine and drove off to our apartment.
As we reached our apartment, we got out of our jackets and shoes, before cuddling up in our nice clothes at the couch. Troy had put on a movie, but we actually did not watch it, because we were busy making out, talking about our day and how lucky we were to have each other.
I rested my head against Troy's chest placing my hand with the engagement ring on his chest beside my head. I smiled at the view. Inside of me the 9-year-old girl, who fell in love with Troy Bolton at his 10 years birthday was screaming out her happiness. I, Gabriella Sophie Montez, would marry Troy Bolton. It was crazy! I looked up at Troy, who was smiling down at me.
"What?" he chuckled.
"The little girl in me, who fell in love with you, is screaming out her happiness about this," I giggled.
Troy chuckled. We had talked about those feelings, and how we both had been more or less in love with each other since we met, and how those children inside of us still found it somehow unbelievable that we were together. "The little boy inside of me is thrilled that he finally get to marry that girl with her long, dark curls and dark brown, shiny eyes, who smiled shyly at him at his 10 year birthday," he said leaning down kissing me softly after finishing his talk.
I giggled, "I can't wait to share the news with everyone."
"Me neither," Troy smiled caressing my cheek.
I smiled at him, "thanks for everything, babe," I whispered.
"Thank you yourself," Troy smiled at me.
I yawned, "we should move this cuddling to our bed."
Troy nodded, "we should, but I feel pretty good lying here with you." He placed a kiss on my forehead.
I nodded, "me too. But I know we will sleep better in the bed," I smiled up at him.
Troy chuckled, "always so rational."
I giggled, "most of the times," I said kissing his chest.
"Okay, let's go to bed, princess," he smiled and pulled me on top of him so that I could leave the couch.
I sat up on top of him and smiled down at him, "it's a good thing that we are both off tomorrow."
"I think so too," he smiled at me as he let his hands run up and down my legs. "By the way, you owe me a massage," he chuckled.
"You'll get it tomorrow," I promised him and leaned down and kissed him. I felt Troy's hands move up my back. "Are you going to unzip my dress for me?" I giggled between our kisses.
"Yeah, as much as I love seeing you in this dress, I also love to see you without it," he chuckled and found the zipper and unzipped my dress.
"Well, then I better get this shirt off of you too, because I also love to see you without it," I smirked at him as I started to unbutton his shirt. I felt his lips on my collarbone and neck as I unbuttoned his shirt. I shrived from joy. I guess you can figure how it ended at the couch.
After cuddling and getting our breath at the couch, Troy climbed out of the couch and picked me up, "now it's bedtime," he chuckled as he lifted me up in bridal style and walked to our bedroom. Leaving our clothes behind in the living room.
I woke up the next morning finding Troy smiling down at me. "Good morning, my love," he whispered and leaned down and kissed me.
"Good morning," I smiled sneaking my arms around his neck.
"So, will my future wife join me in making breakfast?" Troy smiled at me.
"She most definitely will," I smiled at him and kissed him softly.
We spent the day together making food, talking, looking at the pictures that the guy at the park had taken of us, and just enjoying each other's company.
"When do you want to tell everyone?" Troy asked wrapping his arms around me as I stood by the stove making our dinner that night.
"Actually, I was thinking that we should just let people figure it out themselves and see how long I can go with this beautiful ring before people notice," I giggled.
"That's pure evil, babe," Troy chuckled kissing my cheek.
"I know," I smiled.
"So, I can't tell everyone that I finally pulled myself together and proposed to the love of my life?" Troy pouted.
I giggled, "we could invite our families over for dinner tomorrow and see if they notice the ring," I suggested. "And then after they have noticed it, or at least Shar has, we can announce it at the social medias," I kissed his cheek.
"That's a plan," he smiled. "Let's call them to invite them over then," he chuckled.
We made the calls and managed to get all of them to come. Jack, Lucille, Shar and Jonas, and my parents too. It did not happen a lot that we managed to get them all together within such a short time, but it happened. Troy and I finished making our dinner and sat down to eat planning what we should serve the next day. We spent the night at the couch watching a movie, eating candy and talking.
The next day Troy went shopping for groceries, while I cleaned the apartment, and then we started preparing the dinner for our families. We tried to make dinner together as much as possible, because we had a good time doing it together. We spent most of the afternoon in the kitchen.
"Okay, so now we need to set the table, and then we are ready," I smiled at Troy.
"Yeah, let's do that, and then we can sit down and enjoy a glass of wine," Troy smiled at me. We set the table and then Troy poured a glass of wine for each of us, as we sat down at the kitchen counter waiting for our guests and watching over the food at the stove and in the oven.
A few moments later the doorbell rang. It was my parents, who for once was the first to arrive, when we had invited them. None of them saw the ring on my finger. I did not expect them too, but I was still a bit sad. Troy noticed and kissed me softly, stroking my back before we followed them into the living room, where Troy poured a glass of wine for each of them. Troy sneaked his arm around my waist as we stood talking to my parents, waiting for the others to arrive. Once again, the doorbell rang, it was Troy's parents, or well to be clear, Troy's father and Shar's mother, but Troy could hardly remember anything else than living with them together, so we always said his parents about them. They did not notice the ring either. We started to find it a bit funny, because I was not trying to hide it at all. Troy smiled at me and shook his head. We both knew that in a matter of minutes Shar would walk through the door and she would notice it right away.
"If you stay in the kitchen preparing the last things, then I'll open the door for Shar and Jonas that way she will notice in front of everyone," Troy whispered to me, before we followed his parents into the living room. I nodded agreeing with him. Troy poured wine for his parents too, and we talked.
"I'll finish the food, Shar and Jonas will be here any moment now," I smiled.
"Do you need help?" my mom asked.
"If you want to help putting things into bowls and such, it would be nice," I smiled.
My mom and Shar's mom followed me to the kitchen. We helped each other prepare things for serving, when the doorbell rang again.
"I'll get it, babe," Troy called from the living room, where he talked with our fathers.
A moment passed before Shar and Jonas came into the kitchen to greet me. And before Shar even was in reaching distance of me, she squalled.
"Is that what I think it is?" she squalled almost running towards me grapping my hand.
Troy stood in the door with our fathers looking around the doorframe too. My mom and Lucille looked from Shar to my hand and smiled.
"Is that why we are invited today out of the blue?" Lucille smiled at her son.
Troy nodded, "and yes, Shar, I think it is exactly what you think it is," he chuckled.
I nodded smiling brightly at Shar, "yes, it is."
"Oh, finally!" Shar giggled and hugged me tightly, "congratulations, Gabs," she said.
My mom and Lucille came around and hugged me too and congratulated me, before they did the same to Troy. Our fathers and Jonas did the same.
"How did he propose?" Shar asked as we put the food on the table.
As we sat down to eat. We told about our date two days before, and how we had been walking in the park, when he had asked me to marry him at the exact same spot, where he had promised me that he would marry me one day. We told them about the man, Luke, who had taken pictures of us without us knowing about it. We showed the pictures to them. Everyone was happy for us.
"So, Jack," my father chuckled, "we were right from the very start."
I looked at my father, "what?"
Jack smirked, "remember when you were smaller, and we had those parties at the street?"
Both Troy and I nodded.
"We always talked about that someday, we would expect you two to end up together," Jack chuckled.
Troy took my hand, "apparently we should just have asked our parents about us," he chuckled.
Shar giggled, "it's just like the Taylor Swift song Mary's Song."
I gave Shar a confused look. Taylor Swift was not much of my taste of music.
"I find it at my phone after the dinner," Shar smiled.
We finished eating our dinner talking about our plans for our wedding, which we had been talking about for some time even before Troy had proposed to me. Troy and I took out the food and dishes after everyone had finished.
"The faces of our parents were priceless," Troy chuckled lightly as he wrapped his arms around me in the kitchen.
I nodded, "they were," I smiled and sneaked my arms around his neck.
He leaned down and kissed me, "it was a good way to tell them," he smiled.
We went back to the others, where Shar had found the song on her phone. We all listened to it.
"See," she said. "You met in your childhood, and Gabs has been in love with Troy since that moment. Our parents have been joking about you two ending up together ever since, and then you finally grew up and got together. Our parents have been ecstatic about it through it all. And even though we all somehow knew you'd end up together, both of you tried to deny it. Always beating each other up at soccer in the garden, Troy always saying he'd win, because he was bigger and better, but he never actually did. At first your world was our street, nothing more. We all grew up together playing around. And on one of those nights with the street party, Troy was dared to kiss Gabs. I know for sure that there was nothing she wanted more, but she ran, when he tried."
Shar smiled happily as she continued. "When Troy came back from boarding school, everything changed. Gabs was not just my friend, Troy started seeing Gabby differently. She still admired him like a crazy person. Our parents still joked about you two ending up, but they had started to be more joking than actually believing it, because you both were too stubborn to realize that you belong together. Then something happened and you two became close, and then finally, you ended up together not leaving each other's side. When you two had your first fight, you, Gabby, slammed the door in front of Troy, leaving him outside. He stayed there all night to wait for you to open up again, so that he could tell you he was sorry."
Troy and I looked at each other, we both remembered that night. None of us was proud of that night, and ever since then we had not really had a fight. "And now," Shar continued, "Troy has finally proposed to you at your spot in the park. And there is nothing that has changed between the two of you. Gabby still looks at Troy like she does at the stars in the sky, or at the snow when it finally starts falling. Troy still watch out for Gabby like nothing else, and there is no doubt about your love for each other."
I smiled at Shar in amazement, "wow, you are right. That song could be about us," I giggled and looked at Troy.
Troy nodded, "it could, but I like our love story better than a stupid song," he chuckled and kissed me softly.