Last chapter! Hope you all enjoyed this story and will cherish it for years to come.

Chapter 11. A New Life

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"Happy Birthday, Troy!" everyone shouted as Troy blew out the 18 candles on his cake.

It had been half a year since Troy had come back with Gabriella, and things were really looking up. Troy got an even better job helping coach the town's little league baseball team, but that wasn't needed for long. A few week later Troy's mom got a raise and they were able to go back to almost normal. Now it was Troy's birthday and in a few months he, Gabriella, Chad, and Taylor would be going to Yale.

"Thanks for the cake, Zeke!" Troy said as they all sat down with a piece.

"Well it wasn't all me, Sharpay helped a lot." Zeke said putting an arm around his girlfriend.

At this Chad dropped his cake, put his hands over his throat, and started to act like he was suffocating.

"Oh, stop." Taylor said playfully slapping him on the back of the head.

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"Present time!" Troy shouted after everyone had finished their cake.

"Here you go. This one's from me." Troy's mom said as she handed him a flat present.

Troy ripped open the wrapping paper and opened the box to find two shirts, a pair of jeans and a pack of socks.

"You're going to need new clothes for Yale." Troy's mom said as she picked up the wrapping paper and threw it away.

"Gee thanks, mom. This is so special." Troy said unamused but sarcastic.

Mrs. Bolton laughed and handed him his next present.

"That one's from me." Chad said sitting down beside him.

"I could tell." Troy said holding what ever it was wrapped in three Sunday's worth of sports sections.

Troy tore open the newspaper to find the autographed jacket Chad "got" for him.

"You deserve it more than I do." Chad said smiling.

"Thanks, man." Troy said before giving Chad a big hug.

By the time Troy was done he had gotten a monogrammed director's chair that had a basketball and a microphone from Sharpay and Ryan, a digital hologram clock from Taylor, and new basketball shoes from Zeke.

"Thanks, guys. All this stuff is great." Troy said after he was done.

"Your not done just yet." Mrs. Bolton said with a big smile. "There's one more gift from Gabriella.

"I knew it." Troy said as Gabriella came over and sat down beside him.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hands." she said smiling.

Troy did as she said. After a little while he heard his mom come back into the room and stop in front of him.

"Happy Birthday, Troy." Gabriella said.

Right as she said that Troy's mom placed something warm and a little bit heavy in his lap. After she did Troy felt what ever it was start to lick his chin.

Troy opened his eyes and sitting in his lap looking up with big, happy eyes was a Golden Retriever puppy.

"Thanks, Gabriella!" Troy said smiling as big as he could.

He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss which she gladly accepted. Troy then sat down on the floor and sat down the puppy who then started to run all over the living room sniffing and playing with everyone.

"Now, Troy. You know you'll have to house train him." Mrs. Bolton warned.

"I will." Troy replied as his new puppy ran over and jumped up on him.

"So what are you going to name him?" Ryan asked.

"I don't know. What do you think he looks like?" Troy said holding the puppy up to his face who in return started licking his nose.

At that everyone started to call out names they though would be perfect.

"Hold on guys! I know exactly what I'm going to name him!" Troy shouted above everyone.

Troy held the puppy up to his face.

"Welcome to the family, Jack."

THE END