The Wildcats arrived at Homecoming and the dance was already in full swing. The venue had been transformed in the few hours between the game and the start of the event, making the gymnasium look almost unrecognisable. The bleachers had been pushed back and the space had been turned into a dance floor as well as a seated area acting as a dining area for meals. It also had a small podium acting as a stage for announcements and for the DJ to play music. Gabriella looked around in awe as they walked in and Troy squeezed her hand gently. "This is incredible, the gym looks so different."

"Yeah, it's always hard to believe how much it changes between when we play the championships to this. They do a great job every year."

Gabriella smiled and nodded. "How many of these have you been to?"

"I've been coming since freshman year, it's kinda required being a JV or varsity player but I mostly just hung with my friends."

The girl nodded. As they were walking to their table, numerous people stopped the guys – especially Troy – to congratulate them on the game. Finally arriving at the table, Troy pulled out the chair for his girlfriend and she smiled in thanks as she sat beside him. They all discussed the Championship game in hopes to calm themselves from the adrenaline of winning before moving on to their different conversations during dinner. After a few minutes, Troy dragged his hand across Gabriella's shoulders to get her attention as he stood. "I'm gonna get a drink, you want anything?"

"Whatever you're getting." She smiled but it was short-lived as she saw a girl approach her boyfriend, giving him a hug. Gabriella couldn't deny that the girl was gorgeous as she stood talking to Troy, she was fair, her golden blonde hair was curled perfectly and her green eyes were bright as she talked to the Wildcat captain. She felt so intimidated by the girl that she only caught the end of the conversation.

"Well I just wanted to say congratulations on the game today Troy, you played really well. I'll see you 'round."

After she left, Troy turned back to his girlfriend, squeezing her shoulder in a silent gesture that he was going before he walked off. When she turned back to the group, she saw the girls looking at her curiously as she timidly asked. "Umm who was that?"

Martha looked at her sympathetically. "That's Cara Swanson, she's a senior and the head cheerleader."

"Oh... ok, I was just wondering."

Sharpay placed her hand on top of hers in a reassuring gesture. "Don't stress Hun, Troy's not like that anymore." Patting her hand, she pulled her own back as she said. "Everything'll be ok Gabs."

Troy chose that moment to return and looked at his girlfriend curiously as he placed his hand on the small of her back. "Are you ok Brie?" She nodded in response and though he didn't seem convinced, he smiled at her before holding his hand out. "What do you say? Can I have this dance?"

She laughed at his cheesiness, placing her hand in his. "Of course."

Gabriella had been enjoying herself dancing with Troy and her friends on the dance floor. After an hour or so, the music is stopped and Principal Matsui takes the microphone and began talking. Gabriella tugged on Troy's hand and leant up to whisper. "What's going on?"

"They're announcing homecoming king and queen." He saw the curiosity in her eyes and chuckled lightly. "They're usually reserved for the seniors so you probably won't know who's gonna win but it's fun to watch."

Gabriella nodded and they continued listening to Mr Matsui as he spoke. "Once again, I want to congratulate the Wildcats for their victory today and a large part of the reason for the celebration this evening. Now, let's get to the part that we've all been waiting for: your homecoming king and queen. Once these individuals are announced, the royal pair will make their way to the floor to share a dance before the remainder of you can join them and the evening's festivities recommence." A sophomore beside the principal handed him the first envelope. "Without further ado, your homecoming queen for this year is Cara Swanson." The audience – especially the seniors – cheered for the girl as she accepted the crown. She stood to the side as principal Matsui was handed the second envelope. "And your homecoming king is Troy Bolton."

The junior's eyes widened in shock and his girlfriend smiled at him brightly as she squeezed his hand. He felt his friends pat him on the back as he walked up to accept the crown. He heard Cara congratulate him and he returned the sentiment before they walked down to the dance floor to have their first dance as East High homecoming king and queen. Gabriella watched wistfully as the pair danced together and she could see them quietly talking to each other during the dance. After a couple more seconds, she chose to quietly excuse herself and silently snuck away from the group - her friends too occupied with the dance to notice her absence. Once they finished the dance, Cara gave him a hug before going back to her partner and he went back to the Wildcats. Some of his teammates not part of their immediate group of friends pat him on the back for dancing with the named 'hottest girl in school.' He nodded slightly and went back to his friends, he looked around the group. "Where's Gabriella?"

They all shrugged slightly, Taylor offering. "Maybe she went to the bathroom or back to get some food?"

Kelsi added, "she could've gone outside for some air."

Troy nodded, "I'm gonna look around, let me know if you find her." The group nodded in silent response.

Gabriella walked out of the gymnasium, relieved as the fresh air hit her. She looked around and decided to walk over to the nearby staircase, sitting down a few steps up. She took a deep breath before looking up at the dark sky, comforted by the emptiness. After a few seconds, she pulled her phone out and dialled the Bolton's home number. She anxiously waited as the phone rang through before it was picked up. "Hello?"

Gabriella let out a sigh of relief as she heard the little boy's voice. "Hey Jakie, how has your night been?"

"Good, we had dinner and Lilly and I played hungry hippos but Mommy said it was too loud so we made the marble run."

"That sounds like lots of fun. I'm guessing it's time to start getting ready for bed huh?" Jacob responded with 'uh huh' making Gabriella laugh. "I thought so, well I'll tell you good night now because Troy and I won't be back 'til tomorrow morning so I hope you have a good sleep."

"I love you Gabi."

"I love you too Jakie, sweet dreams." Jacob returned a similar sentiment. "Can I get you to put your sister on the phone as well?"

Jacob agreed and she could hear him calling out to Lilliana. Soon enough, she heard the phone change over and her sister's voice. "Hi Bria."

"Hey Baby, I heard you and Jakie had fun."

"Yeah we played together after dinner... Are you ok Bria? I thought you were having fun at your dance."

Gabriella faltered slightly. "I-I'm alright, I just wanted to talk to you, that's all."

"Are you sure? You sound sad."

"I'm ok Liv, I'm just being silly. I just wanted to call and say good night, I know you're not used to sleeping on your own."

"Can you say my special goodnight?"

"Of course I can." Gabriella started singing the song before she ended with. "Tomorrow's another day Sweet Girl and I love you every day to the end of the universe. Sweet dreams Livie."

"Sweet dreams Bria, I love you every day to the end of the universe."

"I'll let you head to bed now and I'll see you in the morning. Good night Baby."

"Good night Bria."

Gabriella sighed as she hung up the phone, letting the device fall into her lap. Tucking her hair behind her ears, she looked up when she heard, "Gabriella?" Troy approached her and sat down beside her, turning to face her. "Are you ok? Nobody knew where you went, why didn't you tell anybody?"

The girl shrugged. "Sorry, I just needed some air." He repeated his first question. "It's nothing, don't worry about it. I just wanted to talk to Livie."

"You walked out of the middle of a dance, not many people do that." He said, gently bumping her shoulder with his own. "Do you wanna tell me what's up?"

"What's going on with you and Cara?"

His gaze immediately hardened at the question. "What are you insinuating?"

"Cara is really pretty and I've never heard you talk about her before but you seem really close. You were hugging and talking and it just seems like there's more going on than you've ever told me."

"What are you accusing me of Gabriella?"

"I'm not accusing you of anything Troy. I've been completely honest with you about everything that happened in Denver and everything from my past and I'd hoped that you'd have done the same. You told me when we got together that you did the one night stand thing. I just thought you'd be a bit more open with me as I have been with you."

He glared at her. "Are you accusing me of cheating on you?"

"No I'm not. I just hate being so oblivious to everything that happens at school and having to ask the girls whenever someone new comes along. Sometimes I feel like I don't know you anymore than the others do, and I'm your girlfriend and I live with you."

"Gabriella, you're being unreasonable."

"Unreasonable? I'm being unreasonable? So you were allowed to get upset with everything with Ryan and when he asked me to homecoming, so why are you allowed to react but I'm not. You're not the only one who feels jealous and intimidated at times."

Troy softened. "You were jealous?"

Gabriella shrugged. "She's gorgeous Troy and you two seemed to get along really well. Sometimes I get... insecure about our relationship, especially since we're not public. You're the most popular guy at school – tonight proved that – and almost every girl out of our friend group is practically in love with you. Can you blame me for not being completely certain? I get the slightest bit of attention from a guy outside of your friends and you react, why can't I have that same response when girls are hugging you?"

Troy sighed and pulled Gabriella into his arms. "I'm sorry." He said, right off the bat. "I should've seen this from your perspective and you're right, you're entitled to the same feelings you let me have and I should be there to comfort you." He placed a kiss on the top of her head before continuing. "And you don't have to worry about Cara, there isn't and has never been anything going on between us. She got into cheerleading as a freshman and knew how it rolled so when I joined JV as a freshman, she took care of me and made sure that the seniors didn't mess with me the way they probably would've. We're just friends – which even that is a stretch – and that's all."

Gabriella nodded and leaned into him. "I'm sorry for overreacting."

"No I understand." He rubbed his hand over her back. "You don't need to apologise, your feelings are valid." They sat holding each other for a few seconds before he pushed the fallen strands of hair behind her ears. "I love you Baby."

She smiled and placed a kiss on his lips. "I love you too."

"What do you say? Do you wanna head back to the dance?" Gabriella nodded and they went back to the gym, enjoying the remainder of the homecoming dance with each other and their friends.