Summary: The gang go through tough times at university with family illnesses to secrets as to two members accused of cheating. They are all attending UCLA and all the girls will be sharing an apartment just as the boys will. Someone's dad gets ill and causes them to withdraw from the gang and hurt the ones they love the most. How will they cope? Two people are helping each other out but with the amount of time they are spending together their other half's start to question them. Will they all still be friends by the time they've finished? Who will suffer heartache and will the pressures of being so different finally get too much?
A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys. I made this chapter longer because Chad is going to propose. Anyway here's the next chapter. Please R&R.
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except the plot, Annabelle and Aaron.
Chapter 21
The gang were all finishing packing their bags as they were flying back to Albuquerque in a few hours. Taylor was still avoiding Chad at all costs and was barely talking to the other girls.
"Taylor!" Gabriella shouted from her room. Taylor came in a few seconds later.
"What's the matter?" Taylor asked concerned at Gabriella's shouts.
"I need help." Gabriella answered chucking clothes all over the apartment. A black top landed on Taylor's head as she laughed at Gabriella.
"What are you doing? And you do know we are leaving for the airport in 2 hours." Taylor stated.
"I have to find something." Taylor couldn't understand what Gabriella was on about since she was barely making sense.
"Gabi you have to say more if you need help." Taylor's only answer was a t-shirt being thrown at her.
"I need to find THE bag." Taylor laughed.
"Why do you need the stuff in that bag?" The bag Gabriella was referring to was where she kept her more revealing outfits.
"I always take it with me just in case." Gabriella said as she continued looking. She turned around and dropped to the floor to look under her bed.
"So you want to get laid." Gabriella looked up and stared at Taylor.
"Shut up at least I still have my boyfriend and I didn't break up with mine and then regret it the next day." Gabriella smartly pointed out. Taylor blushed.
"I was so certain that Chad and Sharpay were up to something but I can see they aren't but one thing doesn't make sense. Chad whenever we argue always comes begging for forgiveness but he's tried only a couple of times and seems to have given up." Gabriella tried to hide her smile. She knew now that her plan should work because of how Taylor was talking.
"I'm sure he is just giving you space. Anyway you going to help me find this bag or am I going to have to call Troy who will then get his hopes up for this trip." Gabriella and Taylor laughed as they continued searching.
A few hours later everyone was on the plane ready to head home. Chad was sitting with Zeke and Sharpay talking about the plans with Kelsi and Jason sat behind them. Taylor was sitting with Troy and Gabriella. Troy knew he would be bored listening to the two just talk but knew he needed to make sure Gabriella didn't blab the secret to Taylor. When Taylor went to the bathroom, Gabriella turned to Troy.
"Sorry if I'm ignoring you and I know this must be boring," Troy nodded, "but I love you for staying with me." Troy smiled and kissed Gabriella.
"It's ok, as long as I can see you and admire you then I'm happy." Gabriella pulled him back into a kiss. Taylor came back and sat next to them and just tried to stop herself from laughing at how caught up they were. She turned to Chad, Zeke and Sharpay.
"Their at it again." Sharpay grinned evilly. "What are you going to do Sharpay because I know that look and its not good?"
"I'm going to get their attentions again." And with that Sharpay banged her fists on the chairs in front causing Troy and Gabriella to pull apart.
"I'm going to kill you Sharpay." Troy exclaimed as he turned around.
"Kill me Mr Bolton, I'm scared please don't." Sharpay pouted as the others laughed.
"Aww Sharpay not getting any attention." Troy asked in a baby voice.
"Shut it Bolton otherwise my Zekeykins will hurt you." Everyone laughed and looked at Zeke.
"Zekeykins?" Jason asked as Sharpay whacked him over the head as he leaned forward.
"Leave him alone. He's my baby and I love him more than any of your girlfriends love you lot." Troy looked at Gabriella and raised his eyebrows and Jason did the same to Kelsi. Taylor and Chad just sat there uncomfortably.
"Oh shut up you know I love you." Gabriella said hitting Troy on the arm.
"But do you really love me?" Gabriella shook her head.
"Do you really need to ask me that? If you don't think I do then how can I prove it to you?" Gabriella asked as Troy smirked at her.
"I think you know very well Miss Montez how to show me." Troy whispered seductively in her ear.
"Oh think again buddy." Gabriella sat back down and went back to talking to Taylor while the boys carried on mocking Zeke for his nickname.
With Jason and Kelsi
"Kelsi can I ask you something?" Kelsi nodded telling him to continue. "What would you say if I said I wanted to propose to you soon, what would you say?" Jason asked shyly as Kelsi looked at him in shook.
"I think I would say yes but you have to get my parents to agree first because I would never marry someone they didn't approve of." Jason knew how close she had gotten to her parents since Lily died.
"Don't worry I will and I'm not saying when but I promise one day I will. I guess being around Chad the last few days made me realize how lucky I am to have you." Kelsi smiled and gave him a small kiss on the lips.
Once they had arrived back home everyone apart from Taylor arranged to meet up at Troy's knowing they needed to finish their planning. They had told Taylor they were having a family bonding day and would meet up the next day. Troy and Gabriella were both awake in Troy's bed just thinking. They were both undressed only wrapped in the sheets after their 'activities'. Gabriella turned to look at Troy.
"Do you think Taylor will be mad at me for lying to her for so long?" Troy could sense the worry in her voice.
"I don't know exactly but I doubt it. You are like her sister and I think as long as she does feel the way you say she does then she will be too excited to care." Troy tried reassuring Gabriella. It seemed to work as they both fell asleep soon after.
The next morning everyone apart from Taylor was gathered in Troy's kitchen.
"So is that all arranged?" Gabriella asked Sharpay who nodded. "Good so all we need to do is set it up and make sure Taylor is no where near at the time." Gabriella explained.
"How will we know that she won't be around?" Jason asked.
"Because I'm going to call her up in a bit and say I need to get away because I'm thinking of my mom and she will suggest we go to the mall like she always does. When we've finished I will text Troy and tell him we are on our way." Gabriella told them.
"How are you going to get her to come?" Zeke asked as Gabriella thought for a minute.
"Ok Troy when I text you get Sharpay or Kelsi to ring me and then I'll tell Taylor whoever calls suggested we meet up and ta-da we will be there." Everyone laughed at Gabriella's spirit and excitement.
"You do know you have one very mad and hyperactive girlfriend." Chad told Troy who smiled at Gabriella as she carried on writing down everyone else's jobs.
"So Chad you have the ring and all you have to do is dress smartly and bring yourself and the ring, Sharpay and Kelsi you know what you have to do and Jason, Zeke and Troy you all have to set the things up." Everyone got up and left to do what they needed to do.
"Good luck with Taylor and try not to spend all your money." Troy said as Gabriella wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I won't." they kissed softly before Gabriella pulled away and went to her cell.
"Hey Taylor I was wondering if you wanted to help me get away from Troy and his family because I'm missing my mom too much… Yeah the mall sounds good… I'll see you there in 10m minutes." Gabriella hung up and smiled. "It's on." Troy nodded as they both left and went to where they were meant to be going.
With Gabriella and Taylor at the mall
"Hey Gabs." Taylor shouted as she approached Gabriella.
"Hey Tay, thanks for doing this." Taylor nodded as the two linked arms.
"I know this is probably hard for you with not having your mom around but just remember you got me, my family, Troy and his family and the others and their families so if you are ever feeling down you can go to any of us." Gabriella smiled at Taylor's kindness.
"Thanks Tay so you ready to spend the money you don't have." Gabriella laughed.
"Absolutely." The two walked off ready for their shopping spree.
With Troy and the others at a mystery location
"Troy can you pass me that." Jason said pointing at something behind Troy. Troy passed it to him as he felt his phone vibrate.
"Dude that better not be Gabriella already because we have got nothing done." Zeke said as Troy pulled out his phone and read his message.
I miss you baby. Taylor won't stop moaning about how much she misses Chad :D she's going kill me I know for keeping this secret. I know she will say yes now because this freaky guy and his nerdy mate came up to us and tried to make a move but don't worry babe I made sure they knew I was Troy Bolton's private property and Taylor was Chad Danforth's. You should have seen there faces when I said private property of Troy Bolton they were horrified. G2g Love you Gabi xxx
Troy laughed as he read the message.
"What you laughing about?" Chad asked as everyone looked at Troy.
"Gabi said Taylor won't shut up about Chad which is a good thing and when to nerds tried it on with them she told them they were private property of Troy Bolton and Chad Danforth and they were horrified." Everyone laughed.
"They better know they are private property or else I would kill them." Chad said as the others shook their head and got back to work.
A few hours later and everything was set up and ready. Chad had gone home to change and get the ring that Troy had kept reminding him was the most important thing he needed to bring.
"I have never done so much work." Sharpay complained as she leaned on Zeke.
"Sharpay just think it will all be worth it when we see Taylor's face." Kelsi reminded her as Troy's cell went.
"They're on the way out." Sharpay nodded and pulled out her cell. After Sharpay told Gabriella where they were Troy called Chad to tell him to get there ASAP.
With Gabriella and Taylor
"So why did Sharpay want us to meet her there?" Taylor asked as the two walked with 5 shopping bags each.
"No idea so come on lets go see." Gabriella said excitedly as she pulled Taylor along. When they slowly got closer Taylor stopped.
"Why are we going to the park because I know Sharpay hates coming here because she gets dirty?" Gabriella frowned knowing Taylor was catching on something was up.
"No idea, come on." Gabriella pulled Taylor without giving her chance to talk. When they got closer Taylor's jaw dropped at the sight in front of them as Gabriella smiled at how well everything looked. There in front was a small make shift stage with white fairy light's and white flowers wrapped around an oval shape canopy and all her friends and family standing around while Chad stood on the small stage. Gabriella nudged Taylor to go on taking her shopping bags from her. Gabriella then went and stood next to Troy.
"You did a great job." She whispered in his ear before kissing him on the cheek. Taylor then moved forward her eyes never breaking contact with Chad's.
"Taylor Anne Mckessie, I know you think I'm the biggest jerk in the world but I love you with all my heart. I've never felt so weak around anyone as I do when you're around. My legs go weak, my heart melts and I start talking stupidly and I know I will never have any other girl do that for me so will you do me the greatest honour and marry me?" Chad asked getting down on one knee. All the girls had tears in their eyes and held on to the boyfriends. Taylor wasn't saying anything.
A/N: What will Taylor say? This chapter was 7 pages long so I hope you liked it. Please review. Thanks!