Author's Note: Soooooo sorry I didn't update earlier but the weekend I planned to update, my internet cut out and it's been like that for two weeks! But now it's back and I'm back with a new chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 19:Believing and Late Night Walkabouts

"Believe"

Troy: They said
Nothing would ever keep us together

Gabriella: They said
that we would never last

Both: But here we are

Troy: The two of us, together

Gabriella: Now and forever

Troy: Because we

(chorus)
Both: Believe
In standing up for what we love
We've been through it all
Again and Again
Our worlds may collide
But we're here side by side
We'll always believe in each other

Troy: No one knew
what could blossom from two different worlds

Gabriella: But I knew
Something special was gonna happen between us

Both: And here we are

Troy: This feeling I can not describe

Gabriella: is elevating me

Both: And we

(chorus)

Both: Believe
In standing up

Troy: For who we love

Both: We've been through it all

Gabriella: Again and Again

Both: Our worlds may collide

Troy: But I'm here by your side

Both: And we'll always believe in each other
(end of song)

Everyone got up on their feet and applauded the happy couple. Except Sharpay of course but even she smiled at them

Gabriella:(to Troy) We did it!

Troy: I know! You were great!

Gabriella: So were you!

Troy: Right, I think we better get off the stage. There's a guy over there who looks like he's going to juggle water melons..

An hour later, the group had seen the guy juggle watermelons, a little girl tap dancing (who later they found out to be Sharpay and Ryan's little sister), another girl who deafened them with her off-key opera singing, and another guy who tried to be a comedian. The man who had opened the talent show got up to announce the winner and runners up.

Man: Right, without further a do, lets announce the act in third place. The judges have made their decision. Little Miss Bryony Evens! Well done Bryony Evans!

The little girl shrieked and ran of to her mother. She appeared not to like coming third.

Man: Oh. Right. Well we'll get on with second place. And it is... Ryan and Sharpay Evans!

Sharpay: WHAT?

Sharpay had never lost at her family's annual talent show. Never.

Jason:(to Troy and Gabriella) Hey, we're all rooting for you to win

Taylor: yeah, Good luck!

Troy and Gabriella: Thanks

Man: And we move on to the winner. So, i am pleased to announce that the winner of The Evans Country Club Talent Show 2006 is...

BAM!!!!

Everyone turned around to see the door leading into the hall had been swung open and standing in the doorway was no other than the one and only..

Troy: Lydia?

Lydia looked venomous and stropped her way over to a table in the hall, noisily pulled out a chair and sat in it slamming her Prada bag on the table.

Zeke: What's she doing here? I thought they had arrested her for running over Chad?

Jason: Maybe she didn't do it

Taylor: Or maybe she can afford to get bail.

Man: Anyway, as I was saying, the winner of this years talent show is...
Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez!

The groups table got on their feet and whooped as everyone applauded them. Troy and a blushing Gabriella stood up and went onto the stage.

Man: On behalf of the Evens Country Club I present you with a cheque of $200 and a free weekend voucher for two at our luxury spa. Enjoy! Ladies and Gentlemen, the winners!

Troy and Gabriella beamed at the crowd before them who commended them, all except Lydia, whose eyes were fixed on a Mr Troy Bolton...

Troy and Gabriella walked along the corridor towards their rooms.

Gabriella: So, what do you want to spend the $200 on?

Troy: I dunno, there's these really nice sneakers at the mall back home. Half off! They're a bargain!

Gabriella: How much?
Troy: ... $197

Gabriella: What?

Troy: Think about it? You have a whole... $3 to spend on yourself!

Gabriella: (laughs) oh lucky me! You realise you're turning into a woman!

Troy laughs

Troy: great, soon I'll be collecting expensive shoes, purses and getting manicures

Gabriella:(grabs Troy's hand and looks at it) You know, I can so imagine you with French tips

Troy: I can see the front page headline now "Basketball Star With Neat Nails - Troy Bolton's Masculinity Questioned"

Gabriella: Front page headline? You really do live in your own little world.

Troy: Hey, I just thought. It's only 9.30. Fancy going for a walk.

Gabriella: Okay, let me just go get my coat

Troy: You don't need your coat

Gabriella: But what if its cold outside?

Troy: Then I'll keep you warm (wrapping his arms around Gabriella) Or at least lend you my socks.

Taylor walked into the empty dining room. She had forgot to take her purse with her when she left so she went to her old table and looked under her chair. It wasn't there. She started to panic. What if someone had stolen it? Just then a tall dark guy walked in.

Man: Oh, hi

Taylor: Oh sorry I was just looking for my purse, I left it here and it seems to have disappeared

Man: The blue one, right?

Taylor: yeah

Man: I found it, so I went to the front desk and handed it in as Lost and Found

Taylor: Oh thanks, that's a relief.

Man: I'm Jamie, Jamie Danforth

Taylor: Oh, you're Chad's older brother

Jamie: Yeah

Taylor: I'm Taylor, Chad's girlfriend

Jamie: Oh right! Yeah, Chad's told me about you. Multiple times.

Taylor: Yeah and he's told me about you too. You're at studying at Harvard, right?

Jamie: Right. Hoping to become a doctor.

Taylor: That's so cool.

Jamie: Yeah. But let me tell you, college? Not easy!

Taylor: Actually I've been tested at college level several times and have succeeded with pretty satisfactory results.

Jamie: Wow, and you're going out with my little brother?

Taylor: Yeah, weird huh?

Jamie: Yeah. Anyway I only just got here. My parents and I heard about the accident so we got the next flight out here. We've already visited Chad and my parents have booked in at another hotel while I'm staying here so I can find his friends. I've already found Zeke who was in the lobby. In fact, he should have been right behind me.

Taylor: Oh...right…

Zeke and Taylor hadn't spoken properly since their crisis. Taylor had the feeling that Zeke probably knew her now non-existent feelings for Zeke but she felt he had a right to hear it from her. She just hadn't found the right moment yet.
Jamie turned to the door behind him and opened it to see where Zeke was.

Jamie: Oh he's just coming

Taylor: mmm

Zeke then entered the room. He saw Taylor and his face fell.

Taylor: Hey

Zeke:...Hi, um Jamie did you get what you wanted?

Jamie: No the kitchen's closed for the night. I haven't eaten for hours and i just hoped that I might be able to nab something from the hotel kitchen.

Taylor: Riiight.

Jamie: Anyway, I better head up, I'm absolutely shattered

Taylor: Well Zeke and I kinda need to talk about something.

Jamie: All right well I'll see you tomorrow.

Zeke: Yeah, see ya.

Jamie exited, leaving Taylor and Zeke in an uncomfortable silence.

Taylor: Look Zeke, I just want to...

Zeke: No, you don't have to say anything. I know you're staying with Chad. I know you don't care about me the way I care about you.

Taylor: Well I do care about you. As a friend. And I don't want to lose a friend like you. I'm sorry about all this. I just got confused about my feelings. But I just want to know if we're okay. Cos I don't think we are if we can't talk to each other. What kind of friendship is that? So are we cool?

Zeke:... Yeah we're cool. I just want you to know that I'm there for you, whenever, whatever.

Taylor: That's sweet. And I'm grateful.

Taylor walks over to him and hugs him.

Taylor: Well, I'm tired so I'm going to bed. Oh wait, I have to go pick up my purse at the front desk.

Zeke: Yeah I was there when Jamie found it. And to think I almost took the ten dollars out your purse.

Taylor: Zeke!

Zeke: I was gonna donate it to charity! Honest!

Troy and Gabriella had walked around the pretty familiar gardens once again and had decided to sit down against the bark of a tree and stare up at the stars.

Gabriella: I used to know the names of a lot of these stars. I've forgotten them all now I think.

Troy: I know a few. That one, (points up at a star) that is called the Big, Shiny Dot and that one(points at another) is called the Thing-a-majig

Gabriella: Haha very funny

Then Gabriella heard a rustle of some sort.

Gabriella: Did you hear that?

Troy: What?

Gabriella: You didn't hear the rustle?

Troy: The big rustle in the dark that seems to have startled you? No.

Gabriella: Shut up (casually slaps him on the arm, then the rustle happened again) Okay you must of heard it that time?

Troy: Yeah I did, where's it coming from?

Gabriella: Sounds like its coming from the bushes over there.

The pair of them turn to look where the noise was coming from, Gabriella gripping Troy's hand tightly, and there they saw a figure appearing out of the bushes. A figure that looked awfully like...

Troy: Sharpay?

Sharpay heard her name and saw the couple by the tree. She stopped in her tracks.

Sharpay: Oh. Hello.

Gabriella: Sharpay, what are you doing out here alone?

Sharpay: Just...walking. Well I'm going now. Goodbye.

Then Sharpay walked in true Sharpay style towards the Hotel.

Gabriella: Well that was weird.

Troy: She took a walk. At night. Alone. In the bushes. Well I know Sharpay can be a little crazy sometimes but even that was unusual.

Gabriella: Well lets worry about it tomorrow. Lets get back to the hotel or i might have to take you up on the offer of your socks.

To be continued...

A/N:) I quite like that chapter as well. R&R!x