Outside on the campus, the students made their way to buses or cars all heading homeOutside on the campus, the students made their way to buses or cars all heading home. In the parking lot, Mina searched the grounds for someone in particular. When she spotted the curly cutie a smile spread across her face. She had had a thing for Chad ever since she laid eyes on him. He was a basketball player and she was a cheerleader, they were perfect for each other. Why hadn't he seen it before? This being their last year at East High, was her last chance to make him realize how much valuable time he wasted away not asking her out. Especially since Prom was coming up. After taking a moment to check and fluff her dark hair in her car's side mirror, she started over to him only to stop a second later once she saw Taylor grab him from behind. Watching intensely, Mina groaned as he wrapped his arm around Taylor and they began to walk together. He could not be serious, she thought to herself. Wasn't she like a science geek or something? What was the world coming to? He deserved someone much better, like a cheerleader for instances, not some human calculator.

"Uh, trying to drive here!"

Mina spun around, reacting to the honking of the car she was standing in front of. Ryan, the owner of the undeniably awesome blue convertible, stared impatiently at Mina. Giving him a dangerously violent stare, she stormed towards her car that was parked right next to his.

"Thank you!" Ryan yelled over to her insincerely.

She gave him a noticeably forced smile and he drove off. Rolling down the window she continued to gaze at Chad and his new girlfriend, who should have been her, contrary to what anyone else thought. Now how was she going to get her hands on him? She was not going to let this year go out without a bang and definitely not without Chad on her arm. That was a given.

She stuck her key into the ignition and zoomed off.

"Mina on the loose!" Zeke laughed. He, Troy, Gabriella, Chad, Taylor, Jason and Kelsi were all crowded together near the entrance.

Chad snickered. "Who gave her a license?"

Gabriella watched Mina race down the road in her sporty silver car. Except that she was the captain of the cheerleaders, Gabriella didn't really know much about her. From what she heard from practically everyone, she was a lot like Sharpay. Already having her disputes with Sharpay, she really hoped that she didn't have to one day go up against Mina as well.

"Hey!" Troy said. "Hoops at my place?"

The gang agreed and departed their separate ways.

The two on two game was tied, 4-4, and to the dismay of the girls, just getting started. Gabriella, Taylor and Kelsi looked on, unable to decipher the basketball lingo that was being called down the court. Zeke had backed some of his delicious cookies, that the girls almost devoured, which kept them occupied.

"You know that they could go at it forever, right?" Taylor assured her friends, nibbling on her fourth cookie.

Gabriella washed hers down with a bottle of water. "At least we have these!" She held up her half bitten cookie. Taylor mimicked her and Kelsi giggled as they hit their treats together before continuing to munch on them.

"Whoo!" Troy held up the time out sign, which Gabriella only recognized because she once mistook it as him holding up his initial. "I think I need a break!" Flopping down next to her, he leaned over and grabbed a cookie for himself.

Chad held up the lunch bag disappointedly. "Wow you guys. Thanks for saving us some."

"Don't worry about it," said Zeke, taking the bag. "There's more in the fridge."

Gabriella smiled as Zeke, Chad, Taylor, Jason and Kelsi rushed into the Bolton's' house. Zeke would make a great chef one day. He was always so prepared. Not to mention that his desserts were amazing.

"Hey!" She turned to Troy and looked into his eyes. "Where do you want to be after this?"

Troy thought about it for a second. "Well, we could go to the movies."

Gabriella giggled. "No. I mean, where do you want to be after high school is over?"

The look on Troy's face became more serious. "You know what happened the last time I thought too much into the future."

Of course, she remembered. It almost ruined their friendship. They all got a job working for the Evans' and thanks to Sharpay's persistence, Troy was handed some really great opportunities that had some not so great impacts on him. It was like he was turning into a different person. One Gabriella wasn't really into.

"I know," she said meekly, sorry for bringing it up again. "It's just, everyone else seems to know exactly where they're going, and I'm still trying to figure out who I am."

Troy gazed into her eyes, and she knew he understood. "You're Gabriella," he sighed. "The nice, sweet girl who just so happens to be smart and an awesome singer. That's all you need to know right now."

He was right, Gabriella thought. The last thing she wanted to do was lose herself in the days that lied ahead instead of living in the day that was going on just then. "And you're the guy who always knows just what to say, Troy Bolton." They leaned into a kiss just to be interrupted by the sound of the door behind them.

"Zeke," Chad began with a mouthful of cookie. "We are so starting a bakery business after graduation."

"Can I be the waiter?" Jason piped in. Everyone looked at him perplexed at his random request. He shrugged. "I kind of miss it."

Chad shook his head in disbelief. "Sure Jason. Whatever you say." He stuffed another cookie into his mouth and took a seat next to Taylor.

"Just think," Taylor said, leaning into Chad's shoulder. "This could be the last few months we ever spend this way. Together."

Everyone glanced from one person to the next, their faces filled with sadness. Gabriella looked over at Chad and saw that instead of his usual comedic comeback, his expression was solemn. Troy also seemed to notice the mood change, so he stood up and snatched the ball from Chad's grasp, bouncing it in front of him.

"Until then," he smiled. "We have a game to finish!" The boys ran back onto the court, all signs of gloom vanishing from their faces. They were livening in the moment and they were making the most of it by enjoying every sweaty second of it. From that point on, Gabriella promised herself that she would do the same.

After the game, Jason and Kelsi walked home together since they only lived a few houses away. There had been something on Kelsi's mind that she had wanted to say, but too afraid to let it out. This seemed like the perfect time since she and Jason were now alone.

"Um, Jason…" she started nervously.

"Yea?"

She bit her bottom lip and decided to go for it. There was no telling when she could ever get this chance again. "You know prom's coming up…"

Jason frowned. "Yea. I know." He stared down at the cracks in the concrete as they continued to walk. "I'm not going."

"Why not?" Kelsi asked a bit disappointed. "It's our senior year."

"I just can't." Jason replied quickly. "I gotta go. See you tomorrow."

Kelsi stood in place as Jason walked away, his focus on the ground. Well, that didn't go so well. Why wasn't he going to his senior prom? She was like the shyest person in the school, and even she was going. There had to be a good reason, but what?