Hello everyone! I've finally updated! I know I've made you all wait and I'm sorry… Also… this will sadly be the last chapter for this fic… so sorry for that too… Hopefully though, I somehow managed to make this chapter both worth the wait and a worthy ending to this story… I really enjoyed writing this and I just want to thank everyone who sent a review... especially Brishty, Zanessa Fan, Randomly SmuRfy, HSMHP and LuvHighSchoolMusical who reviewed either all or most of the chapters! Oh and that reminds me, special message to Zanessa Fan… I was finally able to watch that performance thing, and I think it was awesome! Thanks for sending me the link… I don't think I actually thanked you before so thanks anyway.

Okay I think that's all the formalities out of the way… so how about we get on with the chapter, eh? I hope you like it:)

Disclaimer: I do not own HSM or any of the HSM characters in this fic…

CHAPTER 11: The Perfect Birthday

Everyone had a great time during the party, even Taylor, despite the sizeable embarrassment she consistently declared that she had sustained from the continued public antics of Chad…

The group had continued to dance and party for hours more, Chad choosing to show off his dance prowess through a number of different dance styles with some… interesting combinations of music… he went through combinations such as belly dancing to 'Window Shopper' by 50 Cent, all the way to attempting an Irish River dance to 'Promiscuous' by Nelly Furtado… in fact Chad got so into his River dance that he shed his pants so only his boxers remained and wrapped his jacket round his waist as a makeshift kilt.

"CHAD! Why the heck did you take your pants off?" screamed Taylor horrified, as everyone else looked away in embarrassed amusement, "Are you insane? How many times were you actually dropped on your head as baby? And more importantly… how many times have you hit your head since?"

"What? I just created myself a temporary kilt… I'm doing the Irish River dance here, a kilt makes it more genuine…"

"What are you talking about! They wear kilts in Scotland not Ireland! That's a completely different country!"

"Really? Are you sure? Isn't it that little one, that's shaped like a boot?"

"That's Italy!" yelled Taylor, shrieking in frustration, while Chad just shrugged and continued to jump up and down, kicking his legs out, on the spot, in what he called an 'Irish River dance'.

Taylor just looked at him, shaking her head and muttering to herself, "Oh God… What did I ever do to deserve this cruel and unusual punishment?"

The other boys were all laughing uproariously at the scene that had just unfolded, while the girls attempted to look sympathetic for Taylor, each making an abysmal attempt at stifling their giggles.

"Aww… Taylor… it-it's alright…" said Kelsi, gagging slightly on a choked chuckle.

"You know what Chad's like… he's just Chad… being Chad…" added Gabriella, hardly containing her smile, "… you know that he doesn't mean any real harm… he's just enjoying himself."

"Yeah I know… it's just sometimes he can be a little over-the-top… you know?" replied Taylor, looking at them… and all three of them nodded in agreement… yes he certainly could…

"Well don't worry Tay, because like Gabriella said, he's just being Chad… and anyway he's definitely livened up the party…" said Sharpay, "You can't pretend like you don't find his antics at least… a little amusing… can you?"

Taylor hesitated slightly before looking down… "Yeah you're right… he is quite amusing… I guess I'm just over-reacting a little…"

"Yeah a little, but that's okay… if Zeke ever did anything like that I'd be never forgive him…" said Sharpay, earning herself a glare from Gabriella and Kelsi, "What? What did I say?"

"Come on Tay, let's go dance… you should just relax and enjoy the evening…"

The girls started to move to join the boys, all of them now smiling, but were stopped in their tracks at the sight in front of them…

"Oh my… wha-what're they doing?" questioned Sharpay, as all four of the girls exchanged shocked glances.

"I-I… I don't know… it looks like they're doing the…" started Gabriella.

"… Waltz…?" they all finished together, once again exchanging glances and raised eyebrows.

In fact they were right… it would seem that Chad's antics had rubbed off on the others… there were Troy, Zeke, Ryan and Jason striding around the room, waltzing with invisible partners, to the highly mismatched beat of 'Pump it' by the Black Eyed Peas… Even more shocking than this, as the girls soon found was that Chad was not joining in… in fact Chad was standing to the side on a chair, apparently directing the movements of the other boys; he appeared to be… teaching them… or rather… bossing them around…

"No Jason, keep those arms wider apart… it looks like you must be dancing with a toothpick, right now! Larger strides Zeke, move those long legs! More bend in the knees Troy, and keep you back up straight! ... Keep those canteen lady arms up there Ryan!"

"Hey! I don't have canteen lady arms!" cried Ryan, slightly offended.

"Whatever! Just keep them up there!" cried Chad impatiently. He glanced around the room and grinned as he spotted the girls, watching them… "Oh look boys! You've got actual dance partners here, just waiting to be paired up!"

"Ah… no… I don't think so..." spoke out Taylor, while the other girls shook their heads.

"Okay, Troy! You take Gabriella! Zeke with Sharpay! Jason with Kelsi! And Ryan can have Taylor, while I direct you all from here!" cried out Chad, completely ignoring the outcries of the girls.

The boys walked to their assigned partners, grinning broadly and encouraging the girls.

"Come on girls! It'll be fun! Just let yourself go!" said Ryan, taking Taylor's hand.

"But it's so embarrassing… eugh… the waltz? That's like the dance the grandparents of my grandparents danced to!" complained Sharpay.

"Just don't worry about it… us boys have been thinking… and we decided that Chad has done sooo much to make a fool of himself already that nothing any of us could possibly do, would be anymore embarrassing…" declared Troy as he spun Gabriella around…

"Troy's right… plus we're all doing it together so no one will know about it but us… let's just have fun with it!" added Gabriella, wrapping her arms around Troy's neck, pulling him close and smiling up at him. Troy smiled too, staring down at Gabriella as he ducked his head in closer.

"Gabriella! Troy! That's not the right stance! This is a dance, not a make-out session! Troy you should have one hand on Gabriella's waist and the other outstretched and intertwined with Gabriella's! And Gabriella you should have your other hand on Troy's shoulder!" yelled Chad, shaking his head in annoyance before muttering to himself, "… amateurs…!"

Troy and Gabriella laughed out loud at Chad… as did everyone else… the song that was playing soon finished but the group continued to waltz, under the orders of Chad, to Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie".

The group danced around for a couple more songs after their waltz, freestyle this time, before deciding to end the night… Gabriella bid them all farewell, receiving a hug and a final greeting from each… only Chad was reluctant to go… well actually, Chad and Troy, but Troy's another story all together. Chad pouted like a little boy at Taylor whining,

"Aw… Tay… can't we stay just a little longer…? Just one more dance… I'll teach you guys how to do the tango!"

"No Chad! You don't even know how to do the tango! And plus you have no more students!"

"Gabriella and Troy are still here!"

"Gabriella lives here and Troy is probably, just about to leave, right Troy?"

"… Uh… yeah… well… I-I was going to help Gabriella clean up a little first… but yeah I won't be long…"

"See Chad? You don't want to stay and clean up do yo-" But Chad was already out the door before Taylor could finish, she shook her head, looking back at Troy and Gabriella and giving them one last wave, before walking out of the house in the direction of Chad.

"Oh, Troy… you don't have to stay to clean up… I'm sure there's not that much mess… mum and I can handle it…" said Gabriella softly, putting a hand on his arm as Troy bent to pick up an empty soda can.

"No Gabriella… don't be silly… I think your mum has already gone upstairs and I don't want you to have to clean up after your own party… you might as well go and take you presents up to your room and change into your pajamas or something, because I'm not letting you do anything down here," replied Troy firmly, shaking off her hand gently, "Go Gabriella… I promise I'll come up and say goodnight before I leave."

Gabriella sighed, realizing that there would really be no arguing with Troy about the matter. She looked up at him gratefully, "he truly is wonderful to me… the best boyfriend ever…" Gabriella smiled to herself as she thought this… "I really can call him my boyfriend now!"

"Oh okay… but you better not break your promise… if you leave without saying goodbye then… then… we're over…" warned Gabriella, trying to look serious.

Troy raised his eyebrows at her in surprise.

"Already? We've barely even started yet! That would have to be a breakup record for sure!" cried Troy perplexed.

Gabriella only laughed at him, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek before walking towards the stairs… she turned back to eye Troy sternly…

"Don't forget! You've been warned!"

Troy smiled to himself as he watched her disappear up the stairs, leaving only her shadow, which was also gone a second later… he brought a hand up to touch the cheek that Gabriella had kissed just a second before… he could still feel the warmth there… just like he could still smell her perfume, lingering in the air… Troy felt a weird tingling in his stomach, one that had become more and more of a common fixture since the time he'd first met Gabriella… he was falling deeper and deeper… and he knew it… but he didn't care... because he'd known it was inevitable since the day that she transferred to East High. Troy smiled to himself again, before shaking his head and getting back to the matter at hand.

Gabriella leaned against the railing of her balcony… looking out at the darkness of her yard. She had already changed into her pajamas and said goodnight to her mother, who she'd met on the way up. She now looked out at her surroundings, but saw nothing… partly because her it was dark and partly because her mind was wafting over the events of the day… it had truly been a wonderful birthday… maybe the best one yet… no… definitely the best one yet… and all because of Troy. Gabriella grinned to herself as she thought of Troy… Troy had done and planned so much to make her birthday special... he had really gone all out for her...

Troy was definitely the most wonderful boy she'd ever met… and Gabriella couldn't help but feel a vary apparent nervousness in her stomach when Troy was around… his gaze made her body tingle and a simple touch sent goose-bumps up her spine. She'd never felt this way about anyone before…

"Gabriella?" the sound of Troy's voice aptly snapped Gabriella out of musings, and she whipped around to see Troy leaning against the door frame of her balcony door.

"Oh, Troy! I didn't know you'd come in… how long have you been standing there?"

"Not long… I've finished downstairs… it looks livable now…"

"Thanks again Troy… you really didn't have to do all that…" said Gabriella softly, walking over to stand in front of him… "I really don't know how I'm going to repay you…"

"It's okay Gabriella… I really didn't mind…"

"But it's not just the cleaning… this whole day… this whole day has been absolutely perfect… I have to thank you somehow…" said Gabriella, smiling suggestively, as she stepped even closer to him.

"Well… yo-you… don't have…" started Troy, as Gabriella reached her hands up to his neck and started to pull him closer… "Wait! Not yet!"

Gabriella stopped her movement and looked at him in confusion… uncertainty flashing through her eyes… "Wh-why not? Do-don't you want me to?"

Troy looked down at her, alarmed at how she must have interpreted his reaction… "No, no! That's not what I mean! Of course I want you to!"

"Then… why?"

"… Uh… because I don't think your day has been absolutely perfect yet…"

"Huh? What do you mean…?" Gabriella looked at Troy and smiled softly, "Troy… you've made this day the most wonderful birthday that I've ever had… there is nothing you can do to make it any better…"

"Well… actually Montez… I believe there is… I have another gift for you…" said Troy as he reached into his jacket and pulled out a thin, rectangular box… almost identical to the one he'd given her this morning.

Gabriella looked at it skeptically and couldn't help but chuckle slightly…

"It's not another pen, I promise…" said Troy guessing Gabriella's thoughts.

"Well what is it? A pen case?" laughed Gabriella as Troy pretended to glare at her. (A/N: Credit to Zanessa Fan for the pen case joke… although I have half a mind to actually make that the gift… just to torture you all, lol! But I won't be that cruel)

"No… it's not a pen case! You better watch it Montez, or I won't let you have it at all and then you'll never know what it is!"

"Oh okay… I'm very sorry Troy… I'm sure it's a very lovely gift, whatever it is… may I have it now please?" asked Gabriella, flashing him her most winning smile.

Troy watched her for a moment, before shaking his head and chuckling to himself.

"Hmmn… you know most days that look would work for you… but not today Montez… I think you need to do something extra special…" Troy thought for a moment, looking back and forth from the box in his hand to Gabriella, "Okay Montez… in order to get this gift… you must say the following words out loud… 'Troy Bolton is the best and most handsome boyfriend in the whole entire world!'"

Gabriella felt her heart start to thump at his words… and the butterflies declared war in her stomach… "He actually said it! He said boyfriend… I know we're official and everything already but it just sounds so fantastic to hear him say it out loud."

She looked up at Troy, who was still waiting for her answer… she smirked to herself as she noticed he looked kind of nervous.

"Troy Bolton is the best and most handsome boyfriend in the whole entire world!" parroted Gabriella obediently and Troy grinned at her handing her the gift.

"Well it's just as well that I actually am your boyfriend now, or this gift would be awkward to give you…" commented Troy, causing a confused look from Gabriella, "I gave you the pen this morning because it represented our relationship then… you know, best friends… this gift however… this gift I wanted to give to you to represent the relationship we have now… and I want you to keep it forever as a memory of today… of when he finally became a couple."

Gabriella felt her insides rack with anticipation… Troy's words made her nervous, "What could be in this box?" Gabriella slowly opened the box and lifted the lid…

Gabriella opened the lid of the box and looked down at the object the lay embedded in the cushion of the box… her eyes opened wide in both awe and surprise and she brought up one hand to cover her mouth. Her head snapped up to look at Troy, and he chuckled at the surprise that was etched across her face.

"Well?" prompted Troy, when Gabriella failed to make a sound, "Do you like it?"

Gabriella looked up at Troy who was eyeing her expectantly.

"Oh… I love it… it's beautiful Troy… thank you so much..." Gabriella looked back down at the gift, where it still lay inside it's box… a gold, heart shaped locket, with a small star sign embedded in its middle.

"Why don't you take it out of the box… there's more to it then you think…" said Troy, once again sparking Gabriella's curiosity.

She slowly pulled it out of the box, running the chain through her fingers… as she pulled out the end, Gabriella noticed what Troy must have been talking about… there attached to the lock on the chain was a thin gold slab… and as Gabriella brought it up closer to the light she saw that it had writing engraved upon it…

"Gabriella… I think- no, I know that this is how I really feel…" whispered Troy, looking at her softly… Gabriella looked back at him for a second before looking back down at little gold bar so she could read the writing…

For Gabriella,

I love you,

Troy

Gabriella gasped and snapped her eyes back up to look at Troy, the question in her eyes. Troy nodded… and Gabriella felt her heart flutter…

"Yeah I do, Gabriella… I love you… I think about you all the time… and… and I probably wouldn't have done all this for you today if I didn't," whispered Troy.

"I-I think I love you too…" replied Gabriella just as softly and Troy smiled at her happily…

"Okay Montez… now you can go ahead and thank me," said Troy grinning and Gabriella smiled too, as she leaned in to kiss him softly.

Troy was the first to pull away and he looked down at her, a goofy smile playing on his lips… of course he tried to take it off, but it just kept on coming back, causing Gabriella to giggle heartily at him.

"Err… Do you want me to help you put it on?" asked Troy, still trying to control his facial expressions.

"Um… yeah… but… what shall I put in it? It holds two pictures doesn't it? So… one of you and one of me?"

"Uh… yeah that could work… only… you actually only have one space left… I may have filled the other already…" replied Troy, looking away.

Gabriella raised her eyebrows at him and looked back down at the locket, flipping it open immediately… She gasped slightly in surprise as she looked down at the picture of the two of them… kissing in the photo booth.

"I told you I wanted it to remind you of today and how we got together…" said Troy matter-of-factly as he took the locket from her and spun her around so he could put the necklace on.

When he was done, Gabriella turned back around, wrapping her arms around Troy's neck, while he wrapped his around her waist. Gabriella looked up at Troy and smiled. She leaned in closer to him as if she were going to kiss him but just before their lips grazed each others, she whispered softly,

"I think I can now officially say that this was the perfect birthday…"

THE END

Okay… well it's all over… so what did you all think? I really wanted to make this chapter the best chapter that I could… hopefully I achieved that, I don't know… I'll have to wait and see what you all have to say…

So I really enjoyed writing this story and I'm a little sad it's over… however I do have many ideas about a sequel… or possibly sequels… hmmn… what could I possibly mean by the plural? Well I'll tell you… I'll tell you in a special "Sequel Proposal" that I'll post on the end of this story as if it were an additional chapter… it's not however! This fic is over, I'm just going to post a sequel proposal on the end, sometime in the next couple of days… so I won't yet mark it as complete… in any case I probably won't start the sequel for quite awhile… the HSC starts for me next month and I want to get much further along in my other story… but I'll see how it goes…

Anyway… thank you all so much for reading! I really appreciate it, and leave a review I think they're awesome!