AN: Back at it! I'm trying to time the updates to three weeks apart. I am pinky promising you devoted HSM lovers that I will keep on schedule until this is over. I'm looking at 10 chapters.

Gabriella fidgeted, rolling the red cellophane paper between her fingers. She had rearranged the welcome bags three times. The entry table only offered so many possibilities, but she still had forty minutes until the lunch started. Ryan's guest room came with a cost. He had woken her bright and early to lug boxes full of decorations to the East High gym. She flattened tablecloths, placed centerpieces, and hung photographs.

Ryan had made copies of yearbook photos from their senior year in black and white tones. It fit the throwback theme, but it also made those times look as far behind her as they felt. There were several photos from musical productions. Ryan was showing his bias, but most of them did not include him. He chose pictures of everyone else. Sharpay was in many and several focused on Kelsey. There was a collage of group shots taken after production or behind the scenes. The smiling faces of Taylor, Zeke, and Ryan were intermixed with the grins of Chad, Jason, and Troy. Troy drew her eye in every picture. He was captivating and she barely recognized herself beside him. They all looked so happy in each and every photo. She remembered the connection she felt between them all and the security she felt by having a support group. Gabriella hadn't had that since. She finished hanging the photographs quickly, trying not to relive each memory that they brought swimming to the surface.

With a final glance around the gym, she walked out. She found Ryan on his phone outside, arguing with the caterer. Gabriella walked the opposite direction before he saw her. Nervous energy fueled her feet. The chain link gate to the track was open and the pressed rubber bounced lightly under her steps. Maybe walking a few laps could tame the itch under her skin.

Gabriella focused on the toe of her shoes. She willed her thoughts in another direction, away from high school and musicals and Troy. The sound of her footsteps was not enough to drown out her thoughts and insecurities. Doing the math quickly, she noted that it had been seven years six months and sixteen days since she had last seen him. New Year's Day during their junior year of college.

The day before marked five years since the night at the ski lodge when they sang together. Since it was holiday break from classes, Gabriella had been with him at his parents. They waited for the clock to strike midnight. His parents had already went to bed, leaving them to watch the countdown to the ball dropping alone. The silence that stretched between them was not in anticipation of the new year. It was awkward. The strain was palpable, heavy enough that Gabriella had the sinking feeling that the new year was marking the beginning of the end. When Troy's phone calls and texts became fewer and far between afterwards, she knew that he had felt the same way. Neither one of them actually said the words to finalize the break, but their relationship faded away.

It set a new pattern for her. Meeting new people and making friends had never been her strong suit. The fizzling relationship with who she thought was the love of her life lessened her motivation to try. If by chance Gabriella managed to make a friend, she was apprehensive to put in the effort. This made most of her friendships temporary and born of convenience. Moving to a new apartment and starting a new job was easy since she didn't have many ties. Ryan was the only friendship that stood the test of time, and that was speaking to his extraordinary dedication, not hers. He was easy to love, and she always looked forward to his calls. Spending this week with him would be more fun if there wasn't the stress of the reunion.

She completed three laps before Ryan found her. He blocked her path. When she looked up to his face, he was shaking his head at her. "Is someone trying to make a break for it?"

Gabriella let out a deep breath and smiled. "Circles would definitely not be the best escape route."

Ryan laughed and hooked his arm through hers tightly. "I'm not taking any chances."

Sharpay enveloped her brother in a hug, pressing her small frame against him excitedly. She had to catch a cab from the airport to her alma mater. With her filming schedule, fitting in the reunion was a tight squeeze. She made it work and was glad to see her brother.

"Shar!" Ryan almost squealed her name. "I'm so glad you made it! How are you?" He hugged her again.

"Fantastic." Her pink painted lips were stretched wide in a smile. Ryan began talking animatedly. She listened eagerly, nodding and prodding at the right places. He had done a great job with the place. The caterers were setting up food that smelled wonderful and the decorations were tasteful.

When she complimented this to Ryan, he didn't take the credit. Instead, he pointed across the room to Gabriella. Sharpay hadn't noticed her when she walked in, and it was easy to see why. Gabriella was about as far from the entrance as was possible in the gym, adjusting a centerpiece that already looked perfectly centered.

Her attention was literally pulled away with a tug on her arm. "I knew it had to be you! How did you get away from LA?" was all she heard before being enveloped in a crushing hug. When she was released, she could see the grinning face of Zeke Baylor. He must have been blessed with amazing genes or a secret moisturizer because he looked like he hadn't aged at all.

Sharpay was surprised to know that Zeke had been watching the show. It was very strange to realize that people who knew the 'real' her also were familiar for the fictionalized television character she played. But, because of the viewers, A Girl's Best Friend had been renewed for a second season. "We start shooting season two on Monday, so I had a weekend off."

Before Sharpay could ask for an update on his life, a woman appeared at his side. She was a petite brunette and the baby balanced on her hip made it hard to believe she wasn't toppling over. "She wants you," the woman said. The baby reached out her arms towards Zeke.

"Sharpay," Zeke said, "This is my wife, Jennifer." She passed the baby and shook her hand. "And this little miss is Isabella." He settled the little girl in his arms, bouncing softly with an ease that showed his love.

"She is beautiful," Sharpay said, focusing on the baby's big eyes and curly hair. "So this is what you have been up to!"

"I don't know how he makes time for everything else." Jennifer smiled at her husband lovingly. "Tell her the news!"

Zeke returned her smile with only a twinge of embarrassment. "When Isabella was born, I started making her food. Once the other parents at daycare saw, I was making it for the whole neighborhood. We pitched it to an investor last week. They want to make Miss Mash a real brand!" The excitement in his voice was contagious, making Isabella and Sharpay join in.

"Congrats!" The little family was all smiles. It was obvious that the news was recent.

"Did you bring some with you?" a voice interrupted. Jason had the same floppy dark hair as he had in high school. His 'City of Albuquerque Water Utilities' shirt was stretched tight the beginnings of a pot belly. A toddler was holding his hand, looking around three years old. When he noticed Sharpay, he gave her a hug with his free arm.

"Martha! Look who I found!" Jason called out to the crowd coming in the doors. Martha joined the group. Her curly hair was in a messy bun and she also held a baby in some contraption over her front. Martha, Jason, and both kids were all wearing matching red wildcat shirts. Sharpay was introduced to the little ones and the conversation flowed back and forth between everyone.

Troy had pulled into a parking lot that was much more crowded than he anticipated. Reunions felt outdated in an era of social media, but it looked like most of the class had shown up. He wiped his palms on the leg of his jeans before getting out of his car. Rather than walking directly into the lion's den, he took the sidewalk looping around the gym. The door to the locker room was just as he had left it ten years go, metal and painted red with a dent right under the handle. He had no idea how it got there, but it had compromised the lock. Troy twisted the handle down and jiggled it a few times before jerking it back up sharply. The hinges squeaked as it opened.

The locker room had been repainted. It was still a mass of red and white, but the colors were brighter and fresher. The lockers along the wall were brand new, completely different from the one with a BOLTON nameplate that used to be there. Troy wound his way through until he found what was still his father's office. Through the window, he could see that the decor hadn't changed much. There was a picture of his dad in uniform from his high school days and a picture of Troy with number 14 on his chest. Between the two photographs was a large golden trophy from the 2008 championship season.

He looked away and hurried out. It would have been easier just to go right in. Basketball was never his entire life like it was for his dad or for Chad, but it had always been a part of him. He played from elementary until college. After his injury, he lost so much more than he expected, more than just basketball. It became a bitter subject, causing him to avoid his father. He didn't know how to cope. Troy became narcissistic and bitter. He was immature and did not handle it well, chasing away most of his friends. Especially Chad and Gabriella.

Now, it was time to face those same friends. Immediately upon entering the gym, Ryan greeted him warmly. His friendship with Sharpay had caused them to cross paths more often the last few years. Ryan moved on to the next guest and Troy funneled in.

He found his old team quickly. They were in a group, talking animatedly and laughing. Troy was apprehensive to approach, but they saw him first. He was waved over to many excited calls of his name. Jason gave him a bear hug, almost picking him up in the air and making everyone laugh. He bumped knuckles with the other guys, including Chad. Since his dad was still in town, most of them knew what he was doing with his life. The Bolton's were a East High family, even if Troy had been in California since graduating. Troy didn't have to explain himself or field questions about his basketball career.

Catching up with the boys was easier than he imagined. Zeke and Jason were proud dads, mentioning their families with joy. Chad looked happy even without the bulb of curls on top of his head. He was polite and amiable, but Troy felt the difference. The easy camaraderie they used to share was not there.

Taps on a microphone stopped conversation and brought everyone's attention to Ryan. "Welcome back, Wildcats! Thank you for bringing your families and remembering that we're all in this together," he spoke into the microphone.

Troy didn't hear anything he said after that.

Gabriella was standing beside Ryan, and the sight of her made his breath catch and his mind go blank. She wore glasses now. The black frames suited her well, accentuating her large dark eyes. Her hair was long, blocking her red shirt and almost reaching the waistband of her jeans like it had when he met her. As if she felt his gaze, she looked his way, locking eyes with him. Troy couldn't look away. She looked away after a couple pregnant beats. Ryan must have said something about the food being served, because everyone around Troy started to move, shuffling towards the buffet line. People blocked his view of Gabriella and left him alone in the center of the gym.

AN: Next chapter will have our Troy and Gabriella reunion. How do you think it will go? Thanks for reading and don't forget to leave a review!