AN: Yo. =P so I was grinning like such an idiot in my chem class while I wrote this wedding scene out. I think my teacher believes i really love chemistry or something because she got really into teaching today and asked me after if i liked the lesson. haha. i told her, "of course." =P [at the end of the day she gives me my grade. so anything to keep her happy.]
Anyway -- quick disclaimer: I own nothing.
I wish The High School Musical series was mine because then I would (for one thing) BE A WRITING GENIUS! and would be successful enough to get my parents off my back and make them stop asking me to change majors to something more "substantial" like pre-med or pre-law (yuck.) But it's not. so therefore I must endure the constant pestering.
NEWSFLASH PARENTS: I'm an English major because all I've ever wanted to do is write. that's life and it's just going to have to be accepted.
But enough words: ON WITH THE STORY!
Zeke stepped out of the bathroom and sighed, feeling the weight lift from his shoulders as he made his way back down the hall towards the lobby of the church. He had checked to make sure everything was ready for Kelsi and then stepped into the restroom to call the caterer and make sure his cake was already at the reception hall without any issues. Everything was perfect, which made him feel a whole lot better. Now he could enjoy the wedding without worrying if he would have to face an upset Kelsi and salvage his masterpiece of a cake, but as he made his way down the hall he stopped at the familiar song being sung around the corner by a familiar voice.
Kelsi had told him that Taylor and Chad were going to sing her wedding song for Troy and Gabriella with the two of them and he had happily been relieved, knowing that the wedding activities had just taken up his time, preventing him from properly learning the song. So when he heard a gentle voice waft down the hall towards him, he wouldn't have been surprised if it had been Taylor. But he knew the owner of that voice very well and she was definitely not supposed to know that song, at least...not yet.
Cautiously Zeke peeked around, hoping beyond hope that maybe it was Taylor and she had just gained a voice that sounded exactly like Sharpay's. Hell, he would have even been relieved if it was Chad that sounded like Sharpay when he sang, but no. Almost immediately his gaze fixed on a blonde, leaning up against the wall with her blue bridesmaid's dress and her hair in a tasteful updo, humming the chorus to Kelsi's wedding song.
"It's like catching lightning
the chances of finding
someone like you
It's one in a million,
the chances of feeling
the way we do
And with every step together,
we just keep on getting better
So can I have this dance,
Can I have this dance."
He would be lying if he said he didn't miss her voice; strong and pure, maybe even better than the last time he had heard her live, but his mind was going a mile a minute trying to understand why Sharpay knew that song and even more importantly, why was she practicing it?
He then realized that sitting her spying on her wasn't going to get him any answers, so he took a breath before stepping from around the corner with a small smile, "Hey, I know that song."
Sharpay seemed to jump at his voice and turn to look at him, surprised and slightly confused, "You do?"
Zeke nodded, "I do. The only question is, how do you know it? That's supposed to be a surprise."
Sharpay chuckled, slightly rendering Zeke weak in the knees, before he composed himself and leaned up against the wall in front of her while she answered, "Taylor and Chad asked me to learn it this morning." She waved the music in front of his face and shrugged, "They couldn't get the song down. Total amateurs." And Zeke chuckled, maybe a little quicker than he should have, but none the less did so, then coughed nervously to cover up. Sharpay raised her brow raise her brow, "Are you okay Zeke?"
Zeke nodded, "Yeah, sure. I just was surprised is all, I was just expecting Chad and Taylor to sing. That was the original plan."
Sharpay could only shrug, "Yeah, well plans change," She eyed him steadily suddenly with slight pout protruding from her lip, "What? Do you not think I'll do the song justice?"
"What?" Zeke's eyes nearly popped out of his head, "N-no! Of course not! That's not what I meant! It's just--uh--you know--I just thought--"
"Woah, woah Zeke calm down!" Sharpay said, chuckling but still eyeing him curiously, "I was only kidding, jeez. What's with you? You're so jumpy."
Zeke sighed and laughed himself, feeling like he wanted to kick himself for acting such ways as he shook his head, "Sorry. It's just you always tend to shake me up Sharpay."
But as he said those words he heard her scoff under her breath and respond quietly, "I could say the same about you."
Suddenly the air around them changed as his eyes found hers, confusion reaching his brow while he looked into her brown eyes. He was trying to figure out if he had really heard her when she coughed nervously this time and turned away, breaking the gaze. "Well," she said, "Um, I've got to go and find Ry so we can run through this song. I think he went to go check on Troy so..."
Zeke's brain stopped at the mention of Ryan, "Wait. Ryan? Ryan's here?" He didn't know that Ryan had come into town for the wedding, in fact when he had arrived he could have sworn Taylor said that Ryan probably wasn't going to make it to the wedding and been slightly relieved enough to let Kelsi know. He of course had picked up her slight disappointment, but chose not to bring it up because she had seemed to be more at ease.
"Yeah, he flew in yesterday from New York last minute and has been keeping a low profile since. The media has been surrounding him lately with his new album in the works and he doesn't want to take too much attention away from the Troy and Gabriella,."
"Oh." Zeke said, the reality of what this meant crashing down on him as he asked the only question that he could think of, "And you're brother is singing too?"
"Yeah, is something wrong?"
Sharpay was feeling, for the second time that day, that she wasn't being told the whole story, but Zeke could only stand his ground as he replied, "No, no not at all. um. Hey I gotta go, I'll see you in there okay?"
He didn't leave room for Sharpay to reply and took off down the hall, his mind whirring and panic setting as he heard the music start to play, signaling the start of the ceremony. He was too late. As he entered the church and took his seat he fervently looked at the door where Kelsi was waiting, pulling out his phone and pulling up an empty text message. He had only one bar inside the sanctuary, which was part of the reason why he had gone to the bathroom to make his earlier phone call, but hoped beyond all hope that Kelsi would get it in time.
He quickly typed, 'Kels, don't freak out, but Ryan is here. Just take a deep breath and remember, that this is for Troy and Gabriella.' Then he pressed send and could only hope from that point.
Kelsi was hiding in the back room of the church going over the sheet music in her folder as she waited for the wedding to start. Zeke had picked her up this morning and stowed her away in the back room while promising to make sure that the choir was taken care of, knowing that if he didn't Kelsi was likely to leave her hiding place and be found out. So, in attempt to stifle her impatience she looked over the Legally Blonde music, slightly frustrated that over the course of the last few days she hadn't been able to come back to it.
She had gone over the script, finding it to be a lot more refreshing than the actual movie, and, though the lyrics were classically corny, she couldn't help but applaud the actual music. It was fresh and catchy and she made a mental note to say so to Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin when she met with them back in New York. She found herself humming the song she was looking at now called "What you Want" which was Elle's song to illustrate all she went through to get into Harvard law school.
"How about love?
Have you ever been in love?
Cause if you have you'll know--
That love never accepts a defeat
No challenge it can't meet
No place it cannot go,
Don't say no to a woman in--"
She stopped, the music outside was starting and she began to bounce slightly in her chair. She was strangely excited, the same way she got before every show she did and smiled, pulling out the right music and standing ready by the door. She counted the beats in her head to the music and swayed along with it while her fingers tapped against her folder as if she was playing along when the door opened and June, Pastor Dan's wife stuck her head in and smiled, "It's show time." Kelsi couldn't help but smile widely and nod, letting June lead her out of the room, not hearing her abandoned purse vibrate as she closed the door.
June led her through the door to the side and pointed to a platform lighted by single stain glass window. Kelsi nodded back and smiled in gratitude before making her way up the stairs, while June bustled away back to her place at the organ. Kelsi could smell water and was glad that she only had to endure a small amount of time up here before sitting at the piano and patiently waiting while watching through a small monitor the festivities down below. The piano had been moved to a platform above the congregation where the church usually held baptisms, the floor beneath the piano a sturdy wood that covered the small empty pool. It was a large church and the high altitude was so that everyone could see during baptisms, but today it was where Kelsi would make her big entrance. She was actually surprised they were able to get the piano up and steady, but she didn't question it. When it came to Troy and his love for Gabriella, nothing could stop him from going all out.
To the side that faced the congregation was a wooden retractable door. June would open once it was necessary and Kelsi sighed while goiver over the plan in her head once more. June would play the beginning of the wedding march on the organ to throw everyone off and once she stopped Kelsi would sing and play, making Gabriella, and everyone else believe that it was simply a recording or something. Kelsi couldn't be detected just yet. It was supposed to be later, during Troy's vows that Kelsi would be revealed and she would play again, proving that she had been there the whole time and had not missed the wedding. Originally Troy had just wanted Kelsi to play for the wedding march, but he apparently got into the espionage of the whole situation pulling Kelsi in to the adrenaline rush as well. What made her even more excited was the fact that Troy didn't know she had the choir ready to back them up, as well as the orchestra.
Then she heard the familiar opening to the wedding march and the shuffle of people rise to their feet, and she watched in the monitor as everyone turned to the big double doors. They opened and in walked Gabriella in all of her shining white, heavenly glory; her mother, who was already crying, at her side. June stopped playing as a pregnant pause filled the room and everyone seemed to be taking in the sight of Gabriella which only made Kelsi smile wider.
So with a sigh Kelsi smiled, set her fingers to the poised position as she played her first chord.
"Na na na na
Na na na na yeah
You are the music in me'
She had chosen to play it slower, so that it was steady and meaningful, like a ballad, rather than the original score.
"You know the words Once Upon A Time
Make you listen.
There's a reason."
She sang into the mic and turned to watch Gabriella through monitor, her happiness simply exuding from the screen. She couldn't help but think that coming back was worth it.
"When you dream, there's a chance you'll find
A Little laughter
Or happy every after..."
As Ryan heard the music play his first thought was on the song itself, shaking his head and muttering, "Of course they would choose this song," As he let a light chuckle escape him. Then his attention turned to the voice, soft and sweet, familiar even. The song seemed to stir up more than mixed feelings for him, his mind wandering to Kelsi for a second time that day. He hadn't seen her at the wedding, so he could only assume that she was not here, which disappointed Ryan in a way, though he honestly didn't know what he would say to her if he saw her again.
"Your harmony to the melody
It's echoing inside my head.
A single voice
Above the noise
And like a common thread
Hmm, you're pulling me"
He followed Gabriella as the others in the congregation did but felt himself only listening to the voice that continued to sing purely and passionately; the familiar words burning into him.
When I hear my favorite song
I know that we belong
Oh, you are the music in me
Yeah it's living in all of us
And it's brought us here because
Because you are the music in me
Na na na na
Na na na na na
Yeah yeah yeah
You are the music in me
The music came to a soothing resolve and Ryan forced himself to shake out of his reverie just as the minister asked everyone to sit. His eyes traveled over to Gabriella as she kissed her mother and took her place with Troy who seemed to be incandescently happy that he just had to smile.
There had been a time when he had thought that would be him, standing there, giddy as a fool, saying "I do" to the only woman he had ever loved. But he pushed all thoughts of Kelsi out of his mind and focused on Gabriella and Troy. This was there day. Not his.
Kelsi could not keep the smile off her face. All thoughts of doubt that she had had about coming to the wedding seemed trivial now as she looked at the faces of Troy and Gabriella as they held hands. The love that was apparent between the two of them was so thick that it could have been cut with a knife and it simply tickled her pink to know that she was helping that. Pastor Dan finally got to the exchanging of vows and Kelsi had to fight the tears that came as Gabriella went first. She took the ring from Taylor and took Troy's hand placing the ring on his finger with a sniffle before she began.
"Troy Bolton, you amaze me." Her giggle was a giddy and watery one from what Kelsi could tell. "In all the years that I've known you, you have never ceased to put a smile on my face and through all of the changes and struggles we've gone through, you and your crazy antics have stayed consistent, as well as, one other thing. The fact that as crazy a wildcat as you are. You are my crazy wildcat and I love you."
There was a collective "aw" rippled through the crowd and Troy took her hand and kissed it lightly before she continued.
"You have loved me without fail; even through all the times that I was ready to give up, the times that I was ready to walk away. You fought for me, you changed for me, and I don't think I've ever told you just how much that truly means to me. I can't imagine where I would be now if you didn't come to my house that night junior year, or stood up to Sharpay that summer, or even came to California on prom night. There were so many things that threatened to break us apart, but you took it all head on and made sure we would get here, because you believed in us and you believed in our love." She sighed and shook her head, "You are just too good to me Troy Bolton, that sometimes I don't know if I really deserve it, but, what I do know is that I promise to love you without fail just as you've loved me. I promise to prove, not just to you, but to the whole world that my life is nothing without you in it and I promise to never ever walk away from you again, because I want to spend the rest of my life loving you."
Troy looked at Gabriella as if she was the only person in the room and shook his head, looking completely overwhelmed, but incredibly happy. He reached a hand out and wiped away a stray tear and the two shared a small chuckle as Gabriella blushed and seemed to roll her eyes as if to make fun of herself for crying. But Pastor Dan cleared his throat and seemed to sniffle slightly as well, which birthed a low rumble of laughter from the congregation before he turned to Troy, "It's your turn son."
Troy took a deep breath and smiled, sharing a significant look with Pastor Dan before turning to Chad and taking the ring from him. He then faced Gabriella and sighed, "Gabriella you have changed my world." He placed the ring on her finger, "From the minute I heard you sing that New Year's Eve I've known that you were someone special and over the past ten years it has been my greatest pleasure to show that to you ever day." He sighed, "Now, granted we've had our moments where it came really close to falling apart, but I knew from that first audition for the winter musical that I just could never let you go so that's why I fought for us. Because you were worth it. You are more than worth it."
Gabriella seemed to smile even wider and sniffle as he smiled down at her and continued, "You are so important to me because you forced me to be more than the basketball boy; more than the coach's son, more than the Troy Bolton. You saw through the titles and came to see me and that's why...I think it only best," He grabbed the mic that Dan had been holding out for him, "I tell you in really the best way I know how, with the best song ever written."
He turned to June and Kelsi knew that was her cue, coming in with the end of the first chorus and playing it as a lead in for Troy. She watched as the retractable door lowered and heard everyone's gasp as her eyes found Gabriella's with a huge smile, "Hi Gabriella!" She called toward her completely surprised friend. She looked from Kelsi to Troy back to Kelsi then Troy where her gaze settled in disbelief and he could only laugh, "She is responsible for the soundtrack to our lives, it was only fitting." And then he fell into the song.
"Na na na na (Ohh)
Na na na na na
Yeah yeah yeah (Na na na na)
You are the music in me.
It's like I knew you before we met
Can't explain it
There's no name for it"
Pastor Dan held out a mic to Gabriella who took it and looked completely confused, which only caused laughter from Kelsi. She came in for the harmony and echo in order to cue the shocked bride.
"I'm saying words I never said
And it was easy (KELSI: So easy)
Because you see the real me (KELSI:I see)"
It was when Kelsi started singing that Gabriella caught on and smiled, coming in just in time as Kelsi continued playing.
"As I am
You understand
And that's more than I've ever known"
GABRIELLA:
"To hear your voice (TROY: Hear your voice)
Above the noise (TROY: Ohh ohh)"
GABREILLA AND TROY:
"And no, I'm not alone"
GABRIELLA:
"Oh you're singing to me (TROY: Ohh yeah)"
Then the side doors opened and in walked the choir, singing in full force as the orchestra and band came in to aid Kelsi.
"When I hear my favorite song
I know that we belong (TROY: Yeah ohh)
You are the music in meIt's living in all of us
And it's brought us here because
You are the music in me"
Both Troy and Gabriella seemed shocked but happy, falling into giggles but none the less still singing. They came to the bridge and turned their attention back to each other while the choir falling into echoes in the background.
TROY AND GABRIELLA:
"Together we're gonna sing (TROY: Yeah)
We got the power to sing what we feel (GABRIELLA: What we feel)
Connected and real
Can't keep it all inside (GABRIELLA: Ohh)"
Kelsi watched as the whole congregation became involved, Zeke, Taylor, Chad, and Sharpay all clapping and singing along as the choir clapped in time as well. The whole church was full of music and she closed her eyes, feeling the music take over.
"Na na na na (Ohh yeah)
Na na na na na (Ohh yeah)
Yeah yeah yeah (Na na na na)"
GABRIELLA:
"You are the music in me (In me)"
EVERYONE:
"Na na na na (Ohh yeah)
Na na na na na (Ohh yeah)
Na na na na
You are the music in me
When I hear my favorite song (Favorite song)
I know that we belong (We belong)
You are the music in me
Yeah it's living in all of us
It's brought us here because (Here because)
You are the music in me
Na na na na (Ohh yeah)
Na na na na (Ohh yeah)
Na na na na
You are the music in me (Yeah)"
The song came to an end and the whole congregation clapped in huge thunderous applause while Troy and Gabriella took hold of each other and, not being able to help it, gave into one kiss. Pastor Dan, with a laugh, called out, "Hey! Hey! Don't get ahead of the game here!" And caused the couple to pull away while the rest of the congregation chuckled. While Troy nodded to Pastor Dan to continue, "Alright, just so we can get through the logistics of the rest of the wedding, Gabriella Anne Montez, do you take Troy Henry Bolton for your lawful wedded husband, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort, and cherish him from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?
Gabriella squealed, "I do!"
"And do you Troy Henry Bolton, take Gabriella Anne Montez as your lawful wedded wife, to live in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love, honour, comfort, and cherish her from this day forward, forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"
"I sure do."
Pastor Dan smiled, "Then by the power vested in me by the state of New Mexico, before God and all of these witnesses, I now pronounce you man and wife." He laughed, "Now you may kiss the bride."
The amount of applause that erupted from the congregation was deafening and Kelsi could only wipe her tears away as Troy and Gabriella took hold of each other again and kissed, Troy turning to dip her dramatically with a laugh. When they pulled apart again Pastor Dan clapped his hands and addressed the congregation, Troy and Gabriella facing them as well. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Troy Bolton." And with that the couple happily began walking down the aisle hand in hand and Kelsi looked down at the June hoping to catch her attention. The woman was already looking at her nodded in agreement before gaining the attention of the orchestra and the choir while Kelsi herself began to play again, leading back into the final chorus.
"When I hear my favorite song
I know that we belong
You are the music in me
Yeah it's living in all of us
It's brought us here because
You are the music in me
Na na na na
Na na na na
Na na na na
You are the music in me"
The doors opened and Kelsi watched Troy and Gabriella walk out the doors as man and wife and Kelsi finally shook her head, feeling tears threatening to spill at the beauty of the wedding. She sighed and turned back to her music, her eyes flitting over the music and the memories of when she wrote it coming back. It had always been for Troy and Gabriella and she couldn't believe that after ten years it had served it's purpose.
She then took her folder and moved to leave the platform, fully intending to go down and thank the choir and the orchestra and of course Pastor Dan and June when something caught her eye. Many of the guests had begun to move out of the church on their way to the reception, but there was one person who stayed fixed in his chair staring up at her. She could feel the gaze boring into her and she felt herself blushing, wondering who this person was and why would he be staring, but it was when she turned to take a good look that she felt all of her insecurities come back in full force.
Blue eyes.
Blue eyes that pierced through her and caused her breath to hitch and heart to stop.
"Ryan."
AN: DunDunDuuuuuuuuuuun. And so it begins.
[oh. ps: there really is a church like this in Long Beach. my cousin's church has a baptism tank above the congregation on an elevated platform so that everyone can see it. There is also a see through window so you can see them in the water. I don't know if you can put a piano up there though. maybe i'll ask next time. XD haha tootles]