Ryan has told Gabriella but will she be able to stop Troy from quitting the musical? Read, find out, and Review!!!

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Back Together

After School, Drama Room, Musical Rehearsals

The setting for the drama room was normal. Art department in one corner of the room discussing new ideas for the sets they were going to create. The stage crew in the other corner of the room, waiting for the head of stage to tell them what to do. Sharpay and the thespians by the window, talking non-stop. There was something missing from the air of excitement.

Troy walked into the room and searched to room for Ms. Darbus. No sign of her.

"I've go to drop out because Gabriella won't be here. There's no way I can do this without her," Troy thought to himself.

As soon as class ended, Gabriella rushed out of the room to tell Taylor and Chad that she was fine. That they didn't need to worry about her anymore.

Taylor was at her locker, talking to Chad. She hoped that Ryan cleared it all up.

Gabriella was practically running down the hallway, trying to hurry and tell them.

"Look, there's Gabriella," Taylor said to Chad, "Judging by the smile on her face, she now knows the whole story."

Gabriella was breathless by the time she reached them.

"Gabriella, do you finally understand?" Chad questioned.

"Yeah, I'm so sorry I didn't take the time to listen to you guys. I now totally understand."

"Yes?" Taylor said.

"Yea. Now I better hurry myself over to the drama room before Troy tells Ms. Darbus he's quitting. Bye, see ya," Gabriella said and then disappeared off into the crowd of students hurrying to get out of school.

"Finally, things are back to the way they need to be," Chad said, relieved.

"Yeah, they were meant to be together," Taylor said.

"You have some free time?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Let's go to the park," Chad said with a smile.

"Alright."

They both walked out of school, Chad put his arm around Taylor.

Back in the drama room, the crowd was growing more and more anxious. Ms. Darbus had not appeared yet.

"Where's Ms. Darbus?" Rachael questioned.

"It's not like her to be this late," answered Sharpay.

"Do you know who else isn't here?"

"Gabriella!"

"That's great news for you."

"I still can't believe it worked that well."

"Not that I thought it was going to fail but I didn't think that it would go so smoothly."

"Exactly. Look there's Ms. Darbus," Sharpay said as Ms. Darbus and Kelsi were walking into the room.

"Hello everybody! Sorry that I'm late. Kelsi and I were running a little late. We were checking the music's compositions, just to make sure they fitted Troy's and Gabriella's voice. Speaking of Gabriella," Ms. Darbus said, looking around the room, "where is she?"

"I can explain," Troy said.

"Yes, Troy."

"Well, me and Gabriella kind of got in a fight and she didn't show up today."

Ryan got up because he sensed that Troy was getting to the part where he was going to say that he's dropping out. "Troy. Don't say it. You're making a huge mistake of you do it."

"Ryan, I expect better from you," Ms. Darbus said, scolding, "Let Troy finish."

"But…"

"Sit," she said intently staring at him.

Ryan took his seat again, sad that he can't stop Troy now.

"Continue, Troy."

"And I'm going to drop out of the musica…"

"That's you're doing what?!" Gabriella exclaimed as she walked into the room.

"Gabriella!" Troy said, surprised.

Rachael and Sharpay were both equally surprised. How could she be here after what she saw? How did she find out? Or who told her?

"I'm sorry Ms. Darbus. I know I'm late but Taylor held me up to talk about the Scholastic Decathlon," Gabriella lied.

"That's alright, Miss Montez. Just don't let it happen again," she said, shifting her attention back to Troy. "Now Troy. What did you want to say?"

"It's nothing, now that Gabriella's here," Troy said, looking into Gabriella's eyes with admiration.

"Okay, then. Actors, please come up and get your scripts and head out to the stage."

Troy and Gabriella both looked into each other's eyes.

"Troy, I'm sorry I didn't hear you out. I guess I really need to get the whole story before I react," she said burying herself into Troy's arms.

"No, it should be me that should be sorry. I shouldn't have done that favor. I should've listened to you about Rachael." Troy whispered to her, putting his arms around her.

"Let's promise to never to not trust each other again," Gabriella said.

Ryan watched, with happiness in his heart and a smile on his face, Troy and Gabriella become friends again. He knew that he finally done something right. And he hoped that Sharpay and Rachael won't find out.

The room filed out and headed to the stage. Troy and Gabriella walked out together again, hand in hand, Sharpay and Rachael walked out still confused, but Ryan felt the best out of them all.

After drama rehearsals, back in the drama room

Troy and Gabriella were packing up their things, preparing to leave.

"Gabi, how did you finally realize the whole thing?" Troy asked, curious.

"Ryan told me. Did you know that he has a crush on Rachael?"

"No. Why?"

"Rachael may be a little mean, but she only did it to get you and help Sharpay. Even with that it doesn't sound good, but I think we should help Ryan out."

"I see what you mean. Alright, I'll help."

"Thanks, Troy," Gabriella said, giving Troy a kiss on the cheek.

"No prob. Anything for you."

They walked out of the building, Troy's arm around Gabriella, both of them smiling at each other.