A/N: Thank you guys for reviewing! I got fifteen reviews for my last chapter! Which was five more than the chapter before that! Thanks to my new reviewers:Bebe, Phoenix Feather Queen, xXsilversunXx, pebbles-05, HorseLover20693, lace, and Disneychannelchick. I'm sorry if I missed anybody it's just that, there are so many chapters now that I can't keep track of who's new or not! You guys are awesome!

Those of you asking where'd Troy go, don't worry, he's in this chapter. And the plan is going well.

Well, this is the next chapter. It's not that long but it's longer than the last one! Enjoy!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Kiss Or Not To Kiss

Chapter 12: Mates, Dates, and Heartaches

"Would you be my date to the party? Rayner asked. Gabriella was dumbstruck for the moment but when everyone was shaking her vigorously, she finally came to.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I heard you asking me to the party." Gabriella finally said.

"I did. Just now. Would you be my date to the party?" Rayner said. Gabriella became woozy and she fainted. Daddy Evans caught her just in time before she hit the cement. He brought Gabriella into her dressing room and laid her on the small couch.

About a couple of minutes later, Gabriella woke up.

"So I guess that was a yes?" Rayner said.

"Yeah, that was a yes." Gabriella answered.

"Great! So, I'll see you there!" Rayner said, winking at the gang. They nodded back.

"Where is it gonna be anyway?" Gabriella asked.

"The party's gonna be in my vacation house here in LA." Daddy Evans replied.

"Which is where exactly?" Jason asked.

"It's just a couple of blocks from here. It's a big red house. Or rather, mansion. You can't miss it even if you tried."

"You have two mansions?" Zeke asked Ryan.

"Actually, we have about six. We live in the Albuquerque one, there's the LA one, the NYC one, the Paris one, the Tokyo one, and the Sydney one."

"You guys must be really, really, really rich!" Kelsie said. "What do you do with the other one's when you don't stay in them?"

"We let people rent it. That's how we get a couple more bucks." Daddy Evans said. "Well, anyway, princess, kiddo, you can stay at the hotel if you want. I'll be at the mansion, okay?"

"I'll stay at the hotel. But I'll come by sometimes." Ryan said.

"Me too, daddy!" Sharpay said.

"All right, you kids have fun. I'll be heading home." With that, daddy Evans left the studio.

That Friday, the gang watched Gabriella film an episode of the show. There was an audience for the show since it was a sit-com. People never knew how complicated it was. You have to follow the director's instructions all the time. Even when you just turn your head. There was the lighting, the many cameras, the microphones, the slates, and everything else. And you have to remember your lines and say them like you mean them on top of that. The gang was confused. But they got through with the episode.

The cast went to their dressing rooms and changed to their regular clothes. Then they met their fans outside to sign some autographs and take some pictures. Gabriella couldn't believe how many different fans she had every week.

"Gabby that was awesome!" Taylor said after Gabriella finished meeting her fans.

"I know!" Chad said. "Do you think you could get me a small walk-on role?"

"I'll tell the director and see if he likes you." Gabriella said.

"Cool."

"Gabby, we never realized how hard it was just to film one episode." Zeke said.

"It's not really that hard once you get used to it." They continued talking for a while and then they headed to their homes.

Three weeks later, it was almost time for the party. The girls are taking Gabriella shopping for a new dress to wear to the party.

"So, what do you think of this one?" Sharpay said, holding up a bright pink very short dress.

I don't know. It's too bright for me. And I'm not exposing myself that much."

"What about this one?" Taylor said, holding up a long full-length black dress.

"It's too black."

"This one?" Said Kelsie, holding a blue mid-length dress with a ribbon.

"Kelsie, that's awesome! I'll take it!" Gabriella got the dress and paid for it. "What about you guys? Aren't you guys getting dresses?"

"We are." Kelsie said. So they spent a couple more minutes looking for dresses.

Sharpay found a bright pink mid-length dress with a quite low neckline, but she knew how to fix it.

Taylor found a strapless black dress with a pink bow. So now all that's left is Kelsie.

"What's wrong Kels? Why don't you try out some dresses?" Gabriella asked.

"Well, I'm not used to wearing dresses, really."

"Come on, you'll like it. Try this one." Gabriella handed Kelsie a dress. A few minutes later, Kelsie came out wearing an orange, strapless, mid-length dress, with a side ribbon.

"Kelsie, you look amazing! And I don't say that to anybody!" Sharpay said.

"We should go get that! Come on! Get dressed back to your regular clothes! We are getting that dress for you." Taylor insisted. Kelsie did what she was told and Gabriella paid for the dresses.

"Is this a formal party?" Gabriella asked.

"I think it's semi-formal. Because it'll be like going to the prom or homecoming."

"What time is it going to start?" Kelsie asked.

"Seven o'clock." Sharpay answered.

Meanwhile back in Albuquerque, Troy was getting ready to. Getting ready to leave. He still cannot believe that he was flying all the way across the country to see Gabriella! For free! Sharpay (actually, Sharpay's dad) was paying for it. The plane ride, the cab, the hotel room, everything! Even when he eats, it's all free!

He was leaving Friday morning. He had all his things packed and he was ready to go. Hollywood, get ready because Troy Bolton is coming! Troy thought.

Friday morning came. Gabriella woke up at five-thirty. It was earlier than usual because she was excited about her date this evening. She placed her dress and shoes on the bed and took a shower. After she took a shower, she went straight to the set to film the episode.

They ended filming at five-thirty. Just enough time for Gabriella get dressed, get her hair done, and primp before the party.

At six, Gabriella was finished getting dressed. All she has to do now is put her shoes on and get her hair done. Which would take her about thirty minutes since she's just going to curl her hair and let it down.

Meanwhile at the LA airport, Troy has just arrived and Sharpay and Ryan were picking him up.

"Listen, we can't let Gabriella know you're here." Sharpay ordered.

"Why not?"

"Because it'll ruin the surprise." Ryan answered.

"Oh, okay. Can we stop at the flower shop before we go to the hotel? I wanna get Gabby something."

"Sure. But remember, you only have an hour until the party." Sharpay reminded him.

They stopped at the flower shop and Troy was browsing through the flowers. He finally found a bouquet that he thinks Gabriella would like. It was a bouquet of white roses with a big red rose right in the middle. It's perfect. Troy thought. He got the roses and Sharpay paid for them, even though Troy said he wanted to pay for them but he didn't wanna upset Sharpay. Then they went to the hotel.

Everybody was getting ready. Troy had on black pants, black shoes, a white undershirt, a blue long-sleeved polo, which isn't buttoned, a loose tie, and a suit jacket on top. He was ready. But Sharpay said, that she was gonna call him when Gabriella was ready.

Fifteen minutes before the party, daddy Evans sent two limos out. One to pick up the boys, and one to pick up the girls. Everybody went in their perspective limos.

When they arrived, the boys got out first. They stood in front of the mansion, waiting for the girls to come out. They were all wearing suits except their shirts were unbuttoned and untucked, and their ties were loose. They all had different gifts for their dates.

Finally, the girls came out, starting with Kelsie. Everyone was stunned to see her. She was wearing a dress and she was all made up! Make up and everything! She went to Jason and Jason gave her a pair of earrings that matched her dress perfectly.

Then, Taylor came out. She was wearing her black dress and came to Chad. He gave her a silver, chain necklace with hearts. He put it around her neck.

Then Desiree came out (A/N: Desiree is in the show). She was about as tall as Ryan, with straight brunette hair, and gorgeous greenish-blue eyes. She was wearing a short, aqua dress. She went right to Ryan. Ryan gave her a three-carat diamond ring. (A/N: Man, he's rich!).

"They're going out?" Zeke asked Rayner.

"On and off in the past two years. If you ask me, I think it's really getting serious between them."

"Why hasn't Ryan said anything about her?" Zeke asked.

"Because he wanted to keep it a secret. He didn't want people coming up to him saying, 'Can you give me Desiree's number? She's so hot! You're not going out with her are you?' If someone said that to him, he would've probably said something that he would regret for the rest of his life. He really likes her, and she really likes him."

Then Sharpay came out wearing the pink dress that she bought. She went straight to Zeke. Zeke gave her a small cake with the words, "For my Cinderella" written in pink icing.

Finally, Gabriella came out. She was looking gorgeous! She was wearing her blue dress that she got with silver shoes and a silver necklace. She went to Rayner and Rayner put a corsage on Gabriella's wrist. Then they went inside and started the party!

Everyone was dancing with their dates, talking to their friends, really having a great time. Gabriella was really happy dancing with Rayner,

At eight, Troy couldn't take it anymore. He was going to the party right now whether Sharpay wanted him to or not. He got down to the lobby and called a cab. He got in the cab, gave the driver the address and waited. When he got there, he went right inside and went to find Sharpay.

"Sharpay! I was bored in the hotel, why haven't you called me yet?"

"Because it's not time yet. Just stay here and I promise you'll see Gabriella soon enough." Sharpay gave the signal to Zeke by pulling her right earlobe twice. He passed it on to Kelsie, who passed it on to Chad, who passed it on to Ryan who finally passed it on to Rayner.

Rayner led Gabriella outside to talk.

"I'm having really fun tonight." Gabriella said.

"Me too. I'm glad I asked you out."

"I know. I had a really huge crush on you even before I started doing the show."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And I imagined being with you, hugging you and kissing you."

"Oh. I think I'll make your imaginations come true."

They were leaning in for the kiss real slowly.

Meanwhile inside, Sharpay got Troy's arm and led him to a doorway. "Stay here. You'll see Gabriella." With that, Sharpay left him alone. When Troy was looking out, he did see Gabriella. Her lips a few inches from Rayner Richardson's. Tears started to form in his eyes but he wiped it off with his sleeve. He dropped the roses and walkedaway from everybody else.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DUN, DUN, DUN! Poor Troy!

Coming up next chapter: What's Gabriella gonna do when she finds out Troy came to see her?

Coming up in later chapters: Just wait for it! (Yes, there's more!)

If you wanna see the dresses mentioned in the story, come to my profile! Sorry if you guys don't like the dressesI picked! I don't really have a sense of style when it comes to dresses.