Disclaimer: I don't own Troy, Gabriella, or any of the other character. If I did, then I would a wealthy person. I only own my own characters.

A/N: Thank you guys for the feedback. To this point there have been 185 replies and feedback for this story! You guys are the best ever!


May 22, 2008 8:45 am

Well it's the day Troy, I, and all of our friends and classmates have been waiting for. It's graduation day. We have to be up at the high school at 9 for practice. I hear my mom talking with someone as I run down the stairs.

"Troy, for once in your life, you're early. You amaze me every day." I told him walking over to him and kissing him.

"Well for once, Montez, you're late. I guess I'll forgive you this time." Troy told me grinning.

"Watch it buddy. You're going to be toast." I told him grabbing a banana and walking towards the front door.

"Come on hon or we're going to be late." Troy told me as he followed me to the door.

We walked down my front steps and started to walk towards the school. I looked over at Troy, who seemed to be in deep thought.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked him squeezing his hand.

"I'm thinking about how fast high school went by. Freshman year was boring and high school for me didn't start until I met you in our sophomore year. And now we're graduating tonight and then we'll start college and who knows then." Troy told me as we neared the school.

"It will be ok. Taylor, Chad, you, and I will all be at the same college next year. We'll still see everyone and we'll keep in touch. You're going to have friends around you. You don't have to worry about that." I told him walking through the familiar halls of the school and heading down to the gym.

We walked in and saw all of our classmates standing around talking. I heard several people call our mine and Troy's names. Troy waved his hand at them as we approached our group of friends.

"I'm so going to cry tonight." I heard Sharpay say as we walked up to the group.

"Why are you going to be crying? There is nothing to cry about." Chad told her looking at me.

"I'll be crying, I guarantee it." I told them raising my hand and looking at the group.

"Me too." Taylor and Kelsi both agreed as Sharpay, Taylor, Kelsi, and I all stuck our tongues out at Chad.

"But why will you guys be crying?" Ryan asked us as the four of us looked at each other.

"Because it's the closing of a chapter of our lives and the beginning of another one. Plus we aren't going to be together in the fall. We'll be in different places. It's the last time our whole class will be together." I told him looking at the stage.

Our principle got up on stage and started to try to calm down our senior class. We all got up and walked to the cafeteria where they lined us up in the order we would be walking in. Troy and I were walking together; Chad and Taylor; Sharpay and Zeke; Kelsi and Jason; and Ryan and Peyton, a girl who was really big into the arts.

We walked in and practiced sitting down as one row instead of bunch a people individually. It didn't go very well, since our class didn't know how to listen.

We quickly went through the valedictorian and the salutatorian's speeches. Troy and I held hands as we listened to their remarks.

"You should be up there." Troy whispered to me while playing with my promise ring.

"No I shouldn't. I am graduating in the top ten of my class and I'm happy with that." I told him listening to the valedictorian's speech.

"You worked hard all through high school and you should be the valedictorian." Troy argued with me as I gave him a look.

"I'm graduating 5th in my class out of 230 students. I'm happy with that." I told him.

"Well I disagree but I'm not going to argue with you. What are you doing after this?" Troy asked me.

"Nice change of subject! I don't think I'm doing anything. Got something planned?" I asked him grinning.

"I'm thinking of inviting all of our friends to go out to lunch with us and then go hang out at my house and talk. Sound good?" Troy asked me.

"That sounds like fun. Get it planned and we'll go." I told him turning to Taylor and starting a conversation with her.

"I don't want tonight to come." I told her grinning.

"You are so ready for tonight and the future. Especially since you've got Troy by your side." Taylor told me grinning.

"And you're saying that you're not ready because you have Chad by your side?" I asked her giggling.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Chad ain't ready for the future." Taylor told me as we both erupted in giggles.

"Are you two done giggling? If so, we're all ready to go." Troy asked Taylor and I as we fell into giggles again.

"Girls, you can't live with them; can't live without them." I heard Chad mutter to Troy causing Troy to grin.

"You just don't know how to live with them. I do; watch skinny man and learn." Troy told Chad walking over to where Taylor and I were and leaned down and started to whisper in my ear.

"Come on you can spend all lunch talking with Taylor, Kelsi, and Sharpay. We don't want to spend more time than we have to, do we?" Troy asked me leaning down so I can jump onto his back.

"No we don't. So where did you guys decide on lunch?" I asked him jumping on his back.

"We're going to Pizza Hut for their buffet. Sound good?" Troy asked me while running.

"Stop running because you're going to drop me and that sounds good." I told him looking behind us at all of our friends standing there shaking their heads at us.

"Come on slow pokes. Or we're going without you." Troy yelled which I fell into giggles.

"Honey, we're going to have to go back to either mine or your house to get one of the cars." I told him ruffling his hair.

"Hey guys, we'll meet you at Pizza Hut because we've got to get my truck." Troy told them as we all walked outside.

"Ok we'll see you guys there. We'll pull a bunch of tables together." Ryan told us as we all went our separate ways.

Troy and I started to walk towards his house. We held hands which were swing back and forth gently. I started to hum a song. Troy turned to me giving me a weird look.

"Sing for me. Please?" Troy asked me giving me the famous puppy dog face.

"Are you going to make me do this now?" I asked him giving him the same look he just gave me.

"Fine! Don't sing but what song were you just humming?" Troy asked me.

"Hold on. Let me clear my throat and then I'll sing to you." I told him clearing my throat and started to sing.

Staring out at the rain with a heavy heart
It's the end of the world in my mind
Then your voice pulls me back like a wake up call
I've been looking for the answer
Somewhere
I couldn't see that it was right there
But now I know what I didn't know

Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself when nobody else can help
My world has twice as many stars in the sky

"That's beautiful but it doesn't give me a clue on who sang it." Troy told me grinning.

"You weren't a fan of Summerland or Jesse McCartney were you?" I asked him grinning.

"It was Jesse McCartney? You'll have to give me the C.D." Troy told me as we neared his house.

"Yes it was Jesse McCartney and the song was 'Because You Live'" I told him climbing into his truck.

"Do you have the CD with you?" Troy asked me as I rolled my eyes.

"Sure I just carry the CD around with me 24/7. No, Troy it's at my house." I told him as he backed out of my driveway.

"Ok we're going to make a pit stop at your house so we can listen to the CD." Troy told me as I stared out of the window.

"Why are you so interested in this CD?" I asked him holding his hand.

"You like his music and I just want to see what you like about it. I didn't even know you liked the guy." Troy told me as I grinned at him.

"You probably don't know who I listen to, do you?" I asked him as he pulled into my driveway.

"Think on it a few minutes while I go get this." I told him getting out of the car and going into the house.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were going to lunch." Mom asked me as I grinned at her.

"Troy wants one of my CDs to listen to and then we're going to lunch. I'll be back." I told her running up to my room and getting the CD.

I walked back downstairs and grinned at my mom before heading back out to Troy's truck. I slid into the truck and put the CD in the CD player. I scanned to track 10 and turned to Troy.

"This is the song I sang for you. Enjoy it and then you can tell me who I all listen to." I told him grinning.

He drove while we listened to the song and then Troy turned to me grinning.

"That's a great song and I'm glad you introduced it to me. Now for whom you listen to: NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Usher, Michelle Branch, Aly & AJ, Jesse McCartney, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, The Killers, Shakira, Green Day, Gloria Estefan, All American Rejects, Alicia Keys, Kristen Chenoweth, Daniel Powter, James Blunt, and the Fray. Is there anyone I left out?" Troy asked me grinning.

"No I think you did a great job. Now I've got a tough one for you. What's my favorite CD?" I asked him as we pulled into the parking lot of Pizza Hut.

"Oh that's a tough one. Can I think about it through lunch and get back to you?" Troy asked me as we both got out of the car.

"Sure think it over and let me know." I told him walking into the restaurant and sitting down with all of our friends.

The conversation was fun and entertaining as usual. Chad kept all of us laughing and I couldn't help but notice Troy looking a little down. I squeezed his hand and looked over at him.

"You ok?" I asked him whispering and giving him a concerned look.

"Yeah I'm fine." Troy told me showing me one of his fake smiles.

"Yo Troy where's your head at?" Jason asked him giving him a goofy grin.

"I'm trying to think of Gabi's favorite CD. Got any ideas?" Troy asked our group of 7 friends.

"Gabi's favorite CD? She seems like Rascal Flatts type of girl to me." Zeke told me as I stole a look at Sharpay.

'Don't tell them.' I mouthed to her when I caught her eyes. She nodded and turned back to the conversation.

"She seems like a Queen type of girl to me." Chad told the group as I rolled my eyes.

"Get real. Queen is a great band but not my favorite." I told him grinning.

"I'm thinking she's a James Blunt type of girl." Taylor told Troy nodding her head.

"She seems to me more like a Shakira fan." Ryan told the group as I grinned.

"Nah she's not that. She's a Daniel Powter type of girl." Jason told Troy.

"Nah I'm thinking she's more of a Wicked type of girl." Kelsi told the group.

"And Sharpay what do you think?" Troy asked turning his attention to her.

"I'm thinking she's more of a Jesse McCartney type of girl." Sharpay told him grinning.

"Hm . . . those are all good choices but I don't know which one I'm going to pick." Troy told me grinning.

"I will give you a hint. One of our friends hit it right on the head." I told him leaning into his embrace.

"Now I have to guess which friend, correct, my love?" Troy asked me.

"You sure do. I'll give you until we leave the building to decide and then if you don't get it, I'll just tell you." I told him.

"Hm. . . I'm thinking I'm going to go with Sharpay." Troy told me as Sharpay and I high fived each other.

"Um . . . sorry hun, you're wrong. Kelsi was actually right." I told him looking over at Kelsi.

"You like Wicked over Jesse McCartney?" Troy asked me in disbelief.

"I love Wicked and Jesse McCartney comes in a close second." I told him leaning over and kissing him.

"Now that we have that settled, how about we leave and go somewhere?" Chad asked us as we all agreed.

"But where are we going to go?" Zeke asked us as Troy and I turned to each other.

"We can go over to my house and hang out in the basement. My mom won't care." I told them as we paid for our lunch.

"We'll meet you guys there." I yelled as I ran out to Troy's truck and got in giggling.

"I can't believe you like Wicked more than Jesse McCartney." Troy told me shaking his head at me.

"You'll survive. You're not dead from shock yet so I don't think you will." I told him grinning.

The ride home was filled with Jesse McCartney and silence. I looked out the window and smiled at the thought of me spending time with my boyfriend and all of our friends.

We arrived home and quickly told my mom that all of our friends were coming over in a few minutes to hang out. She agreed to it and shooed us down to the basement because Lucas and Tina were napping. I could tell my mom was having a hard time with me graduating. She would be crying awfully hard tonight. I shook my head as I walked downstairs.

7:00 pm

"Remember you have nothing to be nervous about. You two will be fine." Jack told us as he stood in the cafeteria with the rest of the graduating class and all the teachers.

"Dad we'll be fine. I'm not nervous at all." Troy told his dad with cockiness in his voice.

"You're nervous Troy just like I am. Keep trying to convince yourself other wise." I told him coming over to him and wrapping my arms around his shoulders.

"I am nervous but I don't know why." Troy told me as we stood in line and waited to walk in.

"You're nervous because you are starting a new chapter in your life. You will be fine because you have your friends with you by your side." I told him as we walked into the gym, arms linked.

We made it up the aisle without tripping and before Troy and I knew it, we were walking up the stage to get our diplomas. I heard my name being called and walked up to huge amounts of screaming. When Troy received his, it was so loud in there. I walked back to my seat with a heavy heart and a huge grin.

Then before we knew it, our principle was motioning us to turn our tassels and pronounced as the Class of 2008. That was when it hit me that I was done with high school forever and then the tears came. The music started and we walked out as graduates of East High.

I don't remember walking into the cafeteria to get my actual diploma; Troy just led me where we were supposed to go. I had so many people, people I never knew, come up to me and congratulated me. I must have been looking for my mom because Troy turned to me.

"Gabi she's over there with my parents. You want to go see them?" Troy asked me grinning.

"Yeah let's get away from the noise and go and see them." I told him grabbing his hand and leading him over to where my mom and his parents were.

"Congratulations guys." Mom told me as new tears came rushing down my face.

"Aww Gabi you don't have to cry. It's going to be all right." Mom told me wrapping her arms around me and pulling me closer to her.

"I'm just so happy and that's why I'm crying. I'll be all right." I told her forcing a smile.

"You two have any plans tonight?" Jack asked us as I looked at Troy.

"We're going to get something to eat and then who knows." Troy told his dad.

"That sounds great. Don't be too late." Dana told us as I nodded my head.

"We won't." I told her as we walked to the car. We stopped so mom and Jack could take pictures of Troy and I before we took our cap and gown off.

"Come on dad, we'll do this later." Troy complained as I hit him.

"Stop complaining. He'll be done in a minute." I told him smiling at the camera.

"One day you will thank me for that." Jack told him as I nodded my head.

"I'm all ready thanking you for that." I told him as I took off my cap and threw it into my mom's car.

After my gown was off, I held Lucas and Tina for a minute while Troy held Sarah and Nathan. We said goodbye to both of our families and were on our way to Troy's Truck. We drove to Burger King, parked, and walked into the restaurant.

"So what will it be babe?" Troy asked me as my eyes swept the huge menu.

"I'll have a strawberry shake and fries." I told him as he gave me a look.

"You heard the girl and I'll have double cheese burger and a coke." Troy told the girl at the counter.

We waited a few minutes before our food came up. We picked a quiet corner and sat down. I waited a few minutes before talking.

"What are you thinking about right now?" I asked him holding out my hand for him to take.

"I can't believe we just graduated high school. I can't believe how fast it went by." Troy told me grinning.

"Me either. I can't believe in a little more than 3 months we'll be starting our freshman year at UNM." I told him giving him a look.

"We will be fine. By this time next year, we'll be engaged and planning our wedding." Troy told me grinning.

"Well that just gives me something to look forward to. Our lives together." I told him yawning.

"Aww is my baby tired? We should probably get you home." Troy told me as we stood up and threw our trash away.

I walked silently back to Troy's truck. I got in and laid my head against the cool window and looked at the window. I felt Troy stroke my hand as he drove me to my house. He pulled in the driveway and walked me up the porch steps.

"Congratulations wildcat graduate! I'm so proud of you baby." Troy told me wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Congratulations to you too wildcat. You're my favorite wildcat." I told him leaning up and giving him a kiss.

"Good because you're my favorite science geek." Troy told me as he gave me an earth shattering kiss.

"Good night princess and I'll see you tomorrow morning." Troy told me as he walked off the porch.

I opened the door as our cuckoo clock started to chime 10 o'clock. I heard Troy's truck back out of the driveway and watched it take off down the street. I turned off the living room light my mom always left on and walked silently upstairs. I peeked into Lucas' room and saw that he was sleeping peacefully in his bed. I then peeked into Tina's room and saw her sleeping at the foot of her bed. I covered her up and walked to my mom's room.

What I saw scared me to death. I started to panic when I saw what my mom looked like. Mom was the palest I had ever seen her. She was all sweaty and clamy. I walked over to my mom and put my index and middle fingers on her neck and checked for a pulse. I picked up the phone and dialed 9-1-1 and answered all their questions. I ran quickly downstairs and opened the front door. I ran upstairs and sat with her gripping her hand.

"Mom you've got to be ok." I whispered as I heard the sirens nearing our house.


Cliffhanger! I know I'm so evil! Reviews and Feedback are appreciated!

Oh I don't own any of the bands or artists named in this chapter!