Finally, it was the day of the wedding. True to her word, Gabriella had not slept with Troy. Troy thought Gabriella looked beautiful and she did. He looked quite handsome in his tux as well.
The ceremony was over and all the girls were in tears. The guys were trying not to cry. Finally, it was time for the best man's speech. Chad got up and tapped his glass with his spoon.
"May I have everyone's attention, please?" he asked. "I would like to propose a toast to Troy and Gabriella."
Everyone turned to look at Chad.
"I think the reason Troy might have chosen me to be his best man is because he knows that I get stage fright easily," Chad said and everyone laughed as Troy patted his back. "Anyway, I've known Troy since preschool. We used to have a lot of fun together. We still do. Troy's my best friend and I'm honoured that he picked me to be his best man."
Chad stuck his hand into his pocket and looked around. Taylor winked at him and he smiled.
"I learnt something very important from Troy," Chad said. "You don't give up in the face of true love, even if the object of your affection is begging you to. We should follow and chase down what we dream of. I learnt something from Gabriella as well. We must forgive those who make mistakes. Gabriella gave Troy the gift of the second chance. And, I'm lucky to have someone, I hope, would do the same for me."
Everyone clapped as Troy and Gabriella shared a kiss.
"I'm not done yet," Chad said and everyone turned to stare at him again. "Troy and Gabriella broke up at the end of our senior year in East High. And, Troy regretted it. Everyone knew that. He changed in college. He started acting like this whole other person. Someone I have never known. He was some kind of a lunatic. He was drunk all the time. Almost every night, I had to drag him out of some club and take him back to his dorm. And, every single night, he would go on about how he's an idiot and how he loves Gabriella. It was then; I realized that Troy and Gabriella were meant to be. I knew that someday, somehow, they would be together. Also one night Troy told me – he may not remember this, because he was drunk – that he fell in love with Gabriella the moment he met her when she bumped into him and her books fell. He said that it was love at first sight. Troy and Gabriella are meant to be together. Nothing can tear them apart for their love is too strong. To Troy and Gabriella."
He raised his glass as everyone echoed his words. Troy got up and gave Chad a hug.
"Thank you," he said, softly.
"Anytime, brother," Chad smiled.