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 awesome reviews. This chapter is fluffy at the beginning but sad at the end. Here's the next chapter. Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except the plot and any original characters.
Chapter 30
As Gabriella opened the door she brought her hand up to her mouth and let out a asp at the sight in front of her. The whole room was covered in red and white rose petals covering the floor leading a trail up the stairs. There was a note written in petals on the bottom step, which read 'follow the roses'. As she walked up the stairs, which were covered in white fairy lights, she followed the trail into Troy's room where she saw him standing in the middle of his room looking very nervous but still had a huge smile on his face. Gabriella then looked on the bed where rose petals lay surrounding a black velvet box.
"Gabi, ever since we got together all those years ago on that school trip, I have fallen more and more in love with you each day. You have made my life so much better and you have made me a better person. My dad told me one day I would find someone who I loved with my whole heart and loved me back for me and would win this whole family over. That person is you Gabriella Montez. My parents treat you like their own daughter and would literally kill me if I ever hurt you." Gabriella smiled. "You have made my life better than I could have ever imagined and have helped me experience things I would never have even dreamed of doing before I met you. When I was little my Grandma told me I had to give this to someone who won over our entire family and would be honoured to wear this ring so what I'm trying to say is," Troy got down on one knee while tears fell down Gabriella's face, "Will you do me the greatest honour and marry me?" Troy asked opening the black box to reveal the sparkling ring. (Picture in profile)
"Yes." Gabriella managed to get out, tears falling freely down her face, while Troy stood up and slipped the ring on her finger before pulling her into the most passionate kiss they had ever shared. Gabriella's arms were wrapped around Troy's neck while he held her by the waist tightly. Troy pulled back slightly keeping his forehead against hers.
"I love you Gabriella Montez." He said lightly kissing her on the lips.
"I love you too Troy Bolton." Troy smiled as he swung her round in his arms. She giggled as he put her down. "I am honoured Troy really that you want me to wear this ring." Troy kissed her.
"There is no one else I, or the rest of my family, would rather have wearing that ring than you." Gabriella kissed Troy as the two fell back on the bed and celebrated their engagement and love for each other. (If you get what I mean ;)
The next morning Gabriella woke up after feeling the rays of sun hitting her. She opened her eyes slightly, adjusting to the light before she turned on her side. She saw Troy still asleep as a grin came across her face. She lifter her left hand to look at the ring on her finger. She giggled softly before making her way out the bed and downstairs. The stairs were still covered with the petals. She quickly flopped down on the couch once she got a cup of coffee and just smiled as she played with the ring on her finger. Gabriella took a sip from her coffee before hearing the front door open. A few minutes later Lisa walked in.
"Why do you look so happy?" Lisa asked. "Actually if its something about you and Troy that I don't need to know don't answer." Gabriella smiled at her.
"How does being called mom sound?" Lisa stood there confused for a few seconds before her eyes went wide.
"You mean…" Gabriella nodded. "OMG! I can't believe it. My baby is getting married and to the most amazing girl ever. I'm guessing the petals have something to do with it." Gabriella nodded again as she showed Lisa the ring on her finger.
"He asked me when I got home last night." Lisa smiled.
"How did he ask you?" Gabriella then went into telling her everything. "I never knew how sweet and romantic my son could be."
"Hey I can be romantic when I want to be." Troy voice came from behind. They turned round and saw Troy leaning against the door already dressed. "Hey mom. Fiancée." Gabriella laughed as she stood up.
"Your crazy." Troy walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Congratulations guys. I'm really happy for you." Troy and Gabriella smiled at each other.
"Thanks mom. It means a lot that you support us and are happy for us." Troy noticed something was up with his mom.
Troy can I talk to you alone for a minute?" Lisa asked.
"I'm going to go change, I'll be back in a bit." Gabriella kissed Troy on the cheek like they always did in front of his mom and went to shower and change.
"So what's up mom?" Lisa looked at Troy.
"Troy your dad has taken another turn for the worse again. They're not sure whether he will be able to make it now even if he has treatment. I didn't want to say anything in front of Gabriella because I didn't want to upset her too much because she is so happy." Troy just sat there with a blank face, not showing any emotion.
"I'm going to go for a walk." Lisa just nodded as Troy left.
With Troy
Troy walked towards East High where his dad had still been working till he got ill. As he entered through the glass doors, he was instantly filled with memories of him and his dad. He made his way to the gym and to his dad's office remembering memories as he walked by something.
Flashback
Troy and Chad were walking down the corridor after practise when they heard coach calling them.
"Hey coach what's up?" Chad asked as the two stopped.
"I was wondering if you two were up for more practising tonight." Troy tried to hide his groan, as did Chad who failed miserably.
"Coach there is no way I want to play anymore basketball today. I'll see you tomorrow dude." Chad walked off leaving Troy standing there with his dad.
"Its ok Troy forget what I said." Coach walked away and Troy could tell he was disappointed and was trying not to show it too much.
"Hey dad we can play a little one-on-one later if you want." Troy smiled at his dad.
"You're on and I'll show you whose boss." Troy shook his head before walking away. He was about to walk around a corner when he bumped into someone catching them by the waist.
"Sorry." A quiet voice apologized as Troy kept his hands on their waist. The girl looked up and smiled at Troy who looked in her brown eyes, having never seen someone so beautiful.
"Its fine." Troy said as he reluctantly removed his hands. The girl just walked off leaving Troy there. It wasn't until later when he was home playing with his dad who had seen the whole incident told him her name was Gabriella Montez.
End Flashback
Troy smiled as he passed his old locked remembering quite a few times his dad caught him and Gabriella making out up against his locker.
Flashback
Troy had snuck out of practise early without his dad knowing because Gabriella normally snuck out her decathlon meetings to so they could meet up. Troy was standing next to his locker waiting for Gabriella to come. He leaned back listening to the silence that filled the hallway. A few minutes later he heard heels running on the floor as Gabriella then came into sight.
"Your late." Gabriella smiled.
"Well what you going to do about it then Mr Bolton?" Troy smiled as he pushed her against his locker.
"You are going to be punished right now." Troy then closed the gap between them as they started making out. Troy's hand stroking the top of her thigh with his hand under her short skirt which she wore especially for him on days they had practises.
"Troy put miss Montez down and remove your hand." Coach Bolton's voice said from the side of the couple. They both turned and smiled sheepishly at him. "You two are unbelievable. Troy back to practise and you too Gabriella. You can see each other later. Gabriella you need a lift today?" it had become a regular thing Gabriella coming to school with Troy and Coach Bolton.
"Yeah she does because she's coming over to ours after school." Troy said before Gabriella could answer.
"She is?" Coach Bolton asked.
"I am?" Gabriella said as Troy nodded.
"Yep. It's all sorted with your mom too. I took the privilege of ringing her and asking her myself." Gabriella smiled before kissing him on the cheek before heading back to the scholastic decathlon meeting.
"Come on lover boy." Coach said giving Troy a slight push to pull him out of his daydream.
End flashback
Troy entered the gym lockers room and went straight into his dad's office and sat down at the desk. He picked up a picture of the 4 of them. Jack always thought of Gabi as his daughter so he made sure he had a picture of her with him all the time to just like he did with Troy and Lisa. There were another 3 photos on his desk: one of himself and Lisa, one of just Troy and Gabriella and lastly one his dad had of the two of them after the triple win. Troy sighed as anger built up inside knowing there was a chance they would never be able to do stuff like that again, the two of them happy. Troy put the pictures back down as he looked through the different things his dad had got.
"I thought I might find you in here." Troy looked up and saw Gabriella standing there. "How you doing?"
"How do you think Gabi? My mom told me the chances of my dad dying are pretty high right now and you have no idea how that feels." Troy snapped at Gabriella who looked at him.
"Troy" Gabriella said softly as she walked towards him and touched his arm.
"Just leave me alone Gabriella." Troy stood up and walked out leaving Gabriella there hurt and upset at the way he treated her.
A/N: What's happening with Troy? I'll put the link to the ring up in a few minutes. Please review. Thanks!